The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-12

Madame Bonaparte was the daughter
Of Scotch-Irish merchant, VIM. Patter-
son, though her mother was a native Of
Maryland. Mr.. Patterson was president Of
the bank Of Baltimore, and the richest man
OF his time in Maryland, perhaps in the
United States, except Charles Carroll Of
Carrolton. He enjoyed the intimate ac-
quaintance of Washington, Lafayette and
all the revolutionary galaxy Of Maryland
ers. Her mother was sister of the vile Of
Gen. Smith, distinguished officer in the
old Maryland line. Robert Patterson, her
brother, married Miss Cation, grand.
daughter Of Charles Carroll of Carrollton,
who, when widow, visited London, where
she married the Marquis of Wellesley,
brother Of the duke of Wellington.
jerome Bonaparte, native of Ajaccio,
in the Island Of Corsica, and the young
est brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, came
TO New York 10 command Of French
frigate in 1903. He came to Baltimore
to visit Captain Joshua Barney, who had
served six years in the navy Of France.
At the house Of Samuel Chase, one of the
Maryland signers of the Declaration Of In-
dependence, he was introduced TO Miss
Elizabeth Patterson, then one Of the bellies
of Baltimore, though not yet eighteen
She was beautiful in person, and possessed
sprightiy wit, fascinating manners and
many brilliant accomplishments. She is
said, moreover, to have strikingly resem
bled the Bonaparte family. jerome be.
came, or professed to become, much at
tached to Miss Patterson, and she accepted
his offer Of marriage, (made through tho
Spanish minister at Washington, } and was
united to him December "a, 1903. There
can be no doubt whatever Of the validity
of the marriage The ceremony was per-
formed by the Bishop Of Baltimore, John
Carroll, brother of Charles Carroll Of Car
rolton, aud in accordance with the ritual
Of tho Roman Catholic Church
The marriage contract, considered Of
Importance, was drawn up by Alexander
j. Dallas, subsequently Secretary of the
Treasury, and witnessed by several official
pcrsonages, including the mayor of Balti-
more The father Of Miss Patterson, a
man Of plain, practical sense, was strongly
opposed to the marriage. He remonstra-
ted against it, and friends uttered their
admonitions, for Jerome was the weakest
and most worthless of Napoleon's brothers
Miss Patterson, however, who was the
Napoleon of her own family, determined
to marry, declaring that she ''would rather
be the wife Of Jerome Bonaparte for an
hour than the wife of any other man for
life After the marriage Jerome Bona
parte remained in America for full year
visiting, with his wife, various parts oil
the country. There are still extant docu
ments, in the shape of receipts, showing
how Mr.. Patterson, the father, paid toilors
bills, &e., for jerome Bonapartc. Trou
Bile, however, was brewing in France, from
which alarming news arrived even during
the bridal tour. Napoleon was furioui
when he heard of Jerome marriage. He
spoke Of it as messaliancc, and directed
that jerome should return to France BY
the FIRST frigate, on pain Of being regarded Al
deserter. There is no need to comment
on the inconsistency of man who wa
simply the sou of popular lawyer, anC
who, after he had separated from th,
noble woman (Josephine) who he hac
married on account Of her beauty aud &C
complishments, and became q sutton Of
Maria Louisa, said to the father Of
the latter (the Emperor Of Austria) thai
che dated his nobility from Mellessiuo and
Monte Notte," two Of his great victories
over the Austrians. jerome was forbid
den to bring his wife to France, aud all
the captains of the French vessels were
prohibited from receiving on board "thc
young person to whom be had attached
ed himself"
Jerome was alarmed, and for some time
feared to return. At length on the 1lth
of March, 1905, he aud his wife embark
ed at Baltimore for Europe, in the Amer.
lean ship Erin, and arrived safely at Lis
bon Among the receipts Of VIM. Patter-
son, copies of which are now before us,
are some for cabin stores furnished fol-
passengers on board this ship, as well as
clothing and shoes furnished the crew Of
the French frigato President, and for
passage money Of Mrs. Bonaparte and
family in the brig Mars from London.
We have also before us the manuscript
Journal Of Capt VIM. Stevenson, Of the
ship Erin, 1905 We make the following
extract:
"My first destination was Lisbon, the
ship being engaged to carry Mons. Jerome
Bonaparte to that place. Madame Bona.
partc and her friend, Mrs, A., we're like
wise on board, as were Mr.. W. Patterson
brother to Madame Bonaparte, a secretary
surgeon, and four or five domestics of Mr.
BonOparte. The embarkation Of those
persons on board the Erin was intended
to be kept secret, yet nothing was less
SO. Each of the ladies' protested to theil
innocence of diyulging the voyage, and
one of them, it is very possible, may moi
have spoken Of it, but certain il Is the
tho great secret was known 10 my family
indirectly from the other one.
1.-The passage to Lisbon offered very
little to interest the attention. Mr.. and
Mrs Bonaparte were both sick during
the greater part Of the passage aud oeca-
sionally Mrs. A."
ave found Mr.. Bonaparte quite al
agreeable passenger, requiring very little
attention, very familiar and extremely good
humoTed, His secretary, NJ, I4e Cannes
! was much pleased with as a man Of GOOD
understanding and agreeable manners; the
surgeon quite gentleman, full Of life and
animation, and Of most admirable anne.
tile. Having said something about talking
OF our absent friends above, | would not
by any means thereby insinuate that Mr.
Bonaparte was in that way, or indeed any
Of the gentlemen; It was left entirely 20
the ladies, aud could not be in better hands.
Jerome always spoke well Of the people
OF baltimore and Of the Americans il gen
eral On the arrival of the vessel at Lis.
bon on the I'd day Of Aprila French guard
was placed around the ship, and Madam
Jerome was not allowed to land. An en-
bassadof from Napoleon waited upon her
and asked what he could do for Miss Pat.
te'son. To whom she replied :--.Tell
your master that Madam Bonaporte i
ambitious, and demands her rights az a
member Of the imperial family.
This pithy aud high.spirited reply strikes
the keynote Of q character which was Inn.