Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-11
N.NE RONIp1RTE.
The Career Of - NOTABLE. woman Just
Dead nt Baltimore,
IFfom ihe \. Y. Evening Posi-

The Career ofa NotabI- woman yusr
Dead at Baltimore,
from the y. Y. Evening Postl
II would rather be the wife of jerome
Bouaparte one hour than the wife Of any
other man for life" So the cstimable Mad
anne Bouaparte Of Baltimore is reported to
have said when after her brilliant marriage to
the brother Of the first Napoleon, her friend,
suggested that perhaps trouble was in store foi
her. The trouble came. II was on the 2ith
OF DECEMBER, 1903 that jerome Bonapartc,
commander Of French frigate. was married
in Baltimore to Miss Elizabeth Patterson the
beautiful daughter of the wealthy ship owner
William Patterson. Before the marriage hci
father opposed it, and sent his daughter t.
Virginia to get her away from the fascinating
foreigner. After the marriage the Emperor
Napoleon opposed it, and ordered that the
young wife should not be permitted to set her
foot on the soil of France.
Betscy Patterson was eighteen years old
when she first saw Jerome Bonawrte. Her
beauty was remarkable, and so were her nc
Complishmants. Nobody was surprised that
the young Frcuchman, then on visit to
Capt. Joseph Barney Of Baltimore. with
whom he had served in the French navy.
should surrender to her charms Of person, OF
mind and Of fortune. Indeed, tho fact that
at an evening party his gold tch-chain be
came en(angled somehow or other in her hair
was very generally mentioned rs IA pretty and
favorable omen. lie seems 90 have loved her
with Gallo ardOr and even to have resolved
give up all hope of preforment under the en-
pre. in order that he might stay in this rcla-
tionship to her. Napoleou's luminosity, how
ever. was ON the increase, and the pair re-
solved to 20 to France aud plead their cause
before him. Meanwhile Jerome's supply of
money was cut of, and the following com
munication was received from his imperial
brother II will receive Jerome il leaving
in America the young person in question. he
shall come hither to associate himself to my
fortune. Should he bring her along with
him, she shall not put foot on the territory
of France. II he comes alone | shall recall
the error Of "A moment and the fault of youth.
Faithful services and the conduct which he
owes to himself and to his name will regain
him all my kindness At the same time the
youthful bridegroom was informed that SO far
as France was concerned, his marriage had
been auuuiled by decree of the French Sen
ate.
Commander aud Mrs. jerome Bonaparte
nevertheless tried to sail for France. They
were unsuccessful At length they embarked
in ship bound for Cadiz, Spain. and were
wrecked on the coast of Delaware. jerome
and his young wife being saved with ihculty.
Not in the least dnunted they finally on the
| lth of March, lNOj, about fifteen months af-
ter their marriage. took passage III the Erin,
one of Mr.. Patterson's packets, for Lisbon.
After various yicissitudcs, they arrived at that
city found French man-of-war III waiting,
and learned that It's captain had been forbid
den to receive the young person TO whom
Jerome had attached himself"
1t was critical hour in the lives Of the
travellers. They resolved to separate for a
time. jerome to 90 to France and appeal 10
the mercy OF the emperor his wife to pro.
coed to Amsterdam and await the result Of
his mission. They never saw each 9th
er again. The Erin proceeded to Holland,
but was not allowed to land her passenger,
French men-of-war again being in the way.
She put back to Dover where the young
wife, about TO become a mother. distmbarked
and went to Camberwell. near London. Here,
on the 7th Of July, loOj. her son, jerome
Napoleon Bonaparte, was born. His father
entreaty was spurned by the emperor. The
first Napoleon had a name to make, and did
not propose to see his brother allied to an un-
titled American dnmseL Your marriage.
he wrote to Jerome, lis null, both in a rehg-
ious and legal point Of view. | will never Rc-
knowledge it. Write to Miss Patterson TO re-
turn to the United Stats. and tell her it is
not possible TO give things another turn. On
condition of her going to America | will al
low her Il pension of sixty thousand franc :
per year, provided she does not take the name
of my family, to which she las no right, her
marriage having no existence Subsequent
ly he granted jerome an interview. so,
sir" said he, on seeing him. Won are the
first of the family who hns shAmefully ahan-
doned his post. 1t will require many SPLEEN
did actions TO wipe OF that stain from your
reputation. As 10 your love affair With Your
little girl, | do not regard it"
The husband communicated to hi, VIII, the
Emperor irr,vocahle decision. He advised
her to 20 hon- TO her father with the hope
that her obedience and lii own mi Elt yycttu-
ally soften Napoleon's heart. III one of his
letters he says My dear and well l., loved
wife, life is nothing to me without thee and
my SOD BE tranquil thy husband viii not
abandon thee" In another, 80 leave thee.
my good wife, | have never had tina; fatal
thought | act as a man Of honor rs u BRAY r
and loyal soldier. love lay country | love
glory: but ! love thee as u man who, accus-
toned to fear nothing, never iorg T., that IA, is
the father Of jerome Napoleon and the hus-
band of Elise. | embrace you rs | love you,
and love you rs my life" He tells her that
so far "a, b. is concerned she is preferable 10
a crown and add: Believe me my Elise.
my first thought on awakening, aS vel as my
last on falling to sleep, is always Of thee aud
if were not sure Of the blessed happiness Of
rejoiuing my well beloved wife | should cease
TO live Madame Bonapnrte and her son re-
turned to Baltimore The husband, WHOSE
temporary affection for h,r there seems 10 be
no reason to doubt, yielded to the solicitation
of his brother, the Emperor aud in about two
years married the Princess Frederick Cathari-
ma Of Wurtemburg.
Madame Bouaparte mad several visits to
Europe after the second marriage Of her hus-
band On one occasion, in Florence. she met
him in picture gallery. The encounter az
itated him more than her. He whispered to
the Princess Frederick, who accompanied
him, That is my former WIFE" and disap-
peared. In spite of persistent efforts on her
part, her marriage was never recognized in
France. The case was formally tried after the
accession of Napoleon Ill. but the judgment
went against her. That sovereign, however,
instructed his council of ministers to issue a
decree that the Madame's son, Jerome Bona
parte, was "a legitimate child of France
whatever the words may mean. The failure
of Madame Bonaparte did not conduce to
sweetness of temper. She became noted for
her Opinionativeness, Rvarice, atheism and
general eccentricity. OF late her peu has
been busy, and "rhe Memoirs Of Madame
Bonaparte, written by herself, " viii doubtless
soon astonish world that will consider Gre
Wills Memoirs tame by the side Of them. For
several weeks Madame Bonaparte has been
very i'll, and her death, which occurred Fri
day, had long been expected. She was "a
years old.