The Republican journal., 1876-05-04

Baltimore Cor. Oh the Washington Chronicle.
Nine. Bonaparte, the sister-n-law of the First
Napoleon and widow of jerome BOnaparte, is
still living in Baltimore at very advanced age
A little less than q century ago her father, Mr.
Patterson, was wealthy. and distinguished
citizen here, and about seyenty-tiyc wears ago
his daughter. the subject of this sketch, CAV,
brilliant, lmperlous, and a noted beauty, made
ready conquest of the heart and hand Of the
French Emperors brother, jerome, who was
then sojourning here. With high hope and the
bodcSt ambition, the Young bride set sail for
France with her royal consort in ship present
ed by her father. But thc American bride was
promptly disowned by the Emperor. On reach
ing French waters they were met by ship
commanded by a French naval officer, who pre-
sented royal order to Jerome to report at once
to the Emperor, ,unaccompanied by his compall-
ion, the young American lady, who was not to
be recognized as his wife. Jerome, fearing to
di-obey, took leave of his wife and boarded the
French ship. The captain Of the American YES
sci was then commanded to follow But Nine.
Bonapare fearing to place herself within the
power OF Napoleon, commanded the captain Of
her vessel to sail for England, which order was
executed by q successful ruse, and she made
good her escape. so sir" said the Emperor
coldly on meeting his brother, you have pre-
sumed to dishonor your blood by an alliance
with a backWoods milk-maid. You must al
once consent TO honor my commands. or be for
ever disowned." The desertion Of his wife bv
brothers command are well known. Subse-
quently the Emperor somewhat relented, and
for time Nine. Ronaparte received an allow
ance from him of $4,000 per annum, which she
has by judicious Investment so multiplied that
she Is now worth something over 81 100000
But the Emperor would never consent to meet
her and she had never seen him. Notwihstand-
ing his ungraciOus treatment she has ever been
an ardent admirer of his character. She con-
slider, him the greatest man the world has ever
a
this reason and no other she has never reln-
pushed it. To-day she is Nine. Bonapartc and
her marriage has always been sustained by the
Catholic Church. She had one child. a son, now
deceased, but she has two grandsons still liv-
in9. The elder, who was the pride of her old
age, and on whom she had set great hopes, was
gallant and spirited fellow and an officer in
the French army. The madame supplied him
abundantly with money to entertain as became
one Of his blood. Although the French author-
ties would not permit him to bear his rightful
name of Bonaparte her patron had set her
hopes on his forming noble alliance. But
when the Young officer married against her
wishes She transferred her favor to his younger
brother, who is to-day modest yet honored
member OF the Baltimore legal fraternity.
But 10 return; | am unable to trace the
course of Nine. Bonapartc chronologcailv
though l have heard it from her own lips. She
has spent altogether, about twenty years at the
various capitals of Europe, though her princ-
Pai ltNotl IdS htCll ttIltNtt ANU Sllc HIS Ill-
gled freely with the best society of the Old
World. She is something more than the result
of rare opportunities for culture and social in
tercourse. On meeting her one become instant
ly conscious that he is in the presence of su-
perior intelligence and Il royal soul. But she is
very oid-mOre than ninety She seems like the
spirit of past age risen from the graves of the
NapOleons and Welngtons and Byrons to utter
over again the sayings OF the wits and stars of
that early period. She is still witty epigram-
matte, full Of incidents and memories, and of
the wise savings of the notable persons whom
she had known. If time and space would per-
nit, should like TO report some incidents con
cerning NOltaire, Lamartne, Guiccoi and Il
score of others, which she remembers rs if they
occurred yesterday. Nine. de Stae she refused
to meet, and when l expressed surprise, she
said: ooh, De Stael was accustomed to pro-
nounce judgment on every one she met, and
there was no appeal from her decision II q
person newly introduced did not strike De
Staels fancy, or invent some remarkable With
cism out OF hand. her death sentence was in
stantly pronounced" Nine. Bonaparte lives in
a very modest and retired manner, and occupies
herself chiefly in reading her favorite authors
and in writing journal and autobiography
which are not to be published until after her
death She is dsinrlined to converse on relig-
ious matters but says that her religious opin-
ions are fully expressed i'll her writings. How
ever. one may infer from her high apprec iation
Of Noltaire's work that her religious views are
not unlike his.