The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-07-12
LONDON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent

found sensation in Europe, than the death of
the Prince Imperial has created The French
Republic was 10 all appearances, firmly estab-
Ilished, but the comments Of the continental.
press and the shock created in every Europe.
az capital By the tragic intelligence shows
how ineradicabe was the idea that the House
of Bonaparte would ultimately succeed to the
French throne.
No positive intelligence Of the death of the
Prince was received at Chislehurst the home
of his mother, until the morning of June 21st
The duty of breaking the fearful news to the
eX-Empress tell upon Due de Bassano He
asked permission 10 see the Empress She
knew that the Prince had been very i'll, and
noticing probably from the expression of his
Icoun.enance that he was greatly troubled,
begged to know at once al he mad to tell her
He said, Madame, the Prince is very III more
dangerously than he was when we'last heard"
Immediately her Majesty exclaimed, Il will
go to him; | must 90" 10 which he replied
nothing and retired, a quarter of an hour
elapsed, and then he returned to her. He told
her that further news had come, which made
the aspect of affairs still eraver. She cried
out, Il will 90 al once; where is he:n To
which he replied, ut is too late, madame" on
which her Majesty burst into a food Of tears,
eXclaimng, Mon fls, mon pauvre fils." my
son, my poor SON.
| The principal religious functions relating TO
the death Of the young Prince will be solemn
lied on the return Of the body 10 England. 1t
is not expected till the middle OF July, In
addition 10 the mass at Camdenhouse, at
which the Empress was present, three masses
were solemnized yesterday at Chislehurst Ca.
tholic Church, at each OF which reference was
made TO the event which has filed this pleasant
country village with mourners. \ constant
procession OF black clad visitors from London
and Paris passed from the station to the gates
Of tumteu.hoU.e AM thence ..rros, the com.
men 10 Tic little chapel The building IS
without commentator, and It is situated in
the midst Of tall trees, becches and Towering Ia
burnums. Within the walls are plain, only
relieved by the stations Of the cross IN colored
terra-cotta The gorgeous Paschal ornamental
tons have been removed-lhe satin curtains
offered by the Empress, the carpet woven by
ladies Of France, A few flowers decorated the
walls and there were roses and peonies among
the tapers on the altar, where the chalice or
the gold mOnstrance was the only ornament
Above II the light came through rose WIN
dow in which the Virgin IN painted glass sup
ported her child on her knees \ perpetual
lamp was suspended from the roof The
swinging censor made the ar faint and heavy.
Within the sanctuary stood a chair draped in
black. 1t was one Of three reserved for the
Emperor, the Empress, and their son. Another
chair in the mOrtuary chapel at the side where,
in the great marble sarcophagus presented by
Queen Victoria the body Of the third NapO-.
leon reposes, wa. also d-aped in black. There
were no other sable hangings Indeed, the
altar furniture was white and gold, for yester-
day was the festival Of the Sacred Heart, To
day at II o'clock the Black Mass will be cele-
brated and Will be attended by all the house
hold of the Empress. Monsignor Goddard
said the first mass, and afterwards proceeded
to Camden.house, where temporary altar had
been erected in the Princes room. \ prize
ex. Empress, and shs was surrounded by her
immediate attendants. The Monslgnor re
turned to the church for the mass of the day
at II O'Clock At the end of the mass he came
into the sanctuary and went at once into the
pulpit. He announced that the mass for the.
repose of the soul Of the Prince Imperial
would be said today at II, and, after reading
this and other notices, he said few words
to his flock, evidently unprecedented, and
spoken from the heart with much emotion.
The paIishioners, on their part, were deeply
affected. 1t would be easily understood, the
Monsignor said, that his whole duty that
morning consisted in asking them to pray
earnestly for the Prince and for the Empress
for the dead and for the childless mother In
his anxiety about the Prince, knowing the
dangers to which he would necessarily be ex-
posed by circumstances and by his own dar.
ing, he himself wrote to his Imperial High
ness, and reminded him that it was the season
of the year in which every Catholic approached
the altar and performed his sacred religious
duties. He added that he was afraid lest IN the
hurry of preparation for his departure this
shosld have escaped his memory In replying
the Prince wrote these words in French:
Il thank you, Monsieur lie Cure, for the let
ter YOU have been kind enough to write to me
1t proves once again the love you bear me;
bu; am anxious that you should not believe
that the hurry of my departure or the care OF
It's details should make me forget my duties as
Christian l will present myself tomorrow
morning at s o'clock to receive for the last
time the HOLY Communion IN the Church of
Chislehurst, where desire to be placed when
| die"
As vet no news has reached Chislehurst
NTH reference either 10 the embamment or
forwarding of the Princes body All that is