Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-26
NAPOLEON AND MARIE LOUISE.
Review Of the MetieIneh Memoirs

NAPOLEON AND MARIE LOUISE.
Review Of the MetieIneh Memoirs
Metternich retired from the French
mission in 1909 to become the Austrian
Minister of Foreign Affairs, posi-
ton which he held from that time
down to lS4S, and when he at last re-
tired in 1S48 he had the satisfaction,
he says, to see his own system fire
proof" against the conhagration of
lS4S and 1S49. There is considera-
bic matter in one of the volumes con-
cerning the marriage of Napoleon
with Marie Louise. The subject was
first broached, it seems, to Meter
nich's wife. She had received "a very
pressing invitation" to a masked ball
in Paris, and while there was ap.
preached by person whom she recog-
nized as Napoleon, and who took
hold of her arm and led her into n
private room.a at the end of suite of
apartments:
after some unimportant jokes, Ma
poleon asked if she thought the Arch.
duchess Marie Louise would accept
his hand, and whether or not the En-
peror Francis would agree to this alli-
ance. My wife, much surprised by
this question, assured him of her ina
bility to answer it. Upon that Napo-
leon further asked her if she, in the
place of the Archduchess, would be-
stow her hand upon him? My wife
replied that she would certainly refuse
him. You are cruel 7 exclaimed the
Emperor, write to your husband aud
ask him what he thinks of the mat
ter. My wife declined to do this,
pointing out that Prince Schwarzen-
berg was the organ through which he
should approach the Imperial Court I;
nor did she delay to inform our Am
bassador. who was present at the ball,
of what had passed between her and
the Emperor As soon as the
courier brought me this news, re-
paired to the Emperor and said to
him, Your Majesty is here placed in
a situation in which the Ruler and
Father can alone say yes or no. One
or the other must be spoken by you,
for a doubling or hesitating answer is
not possible The Emperor collected
himself and then asked me what |
should do in his place (Metternich's
reply was to the effect that in such a
case, nobody but the Emperor, as SOW
ereign and parent, could assume the
responsibility of a decision.) L shall
leave it in my daughters hands, ex-
claimed the Emperor, warmly, for |
will never constrain her; and | desire,
before consulting my duty as mon
arch, to know what is her wish in the
matter. Find the Archduchess, and
let me know what she says to you. |
will not myself speak to her on the
subject, lest it should seem as though
wished to influence her decision "
When Metternich saw the Arch
duchess, she answered as follows: Il
wish only what it is my duty to wish
where the interest of the Empire is
concerned, that interest must be con-
suited, not my will. Ask my father
to consult his duty as a ruler, and TO
subordinate to that any interests con-
nected with my person." This reply
being reported to the Emperor, he ac-
cepted Napoleon's offer with an ex-
press reservation that on neither side
should any condition be attached to
the alliance, and added that there
we're sacrifices which must not be
contaminated by anything approach
ing to bargain" "This," continued
Metternich, "is the truth respecting
the marriage of Napoleon with the
Archduchess Marie Louise"