Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-02-18
THEGUARDIAN.
N8sAs American Dream.
Iron v(b.iwaras "Bspaparte's Park,
"a Just uA,listrd.

jury "hsl
The following deeply Interesting
account, never before given to the
public Of the escape Of King 10
seph from France and his voyage
tb As3sfica vas communicated to
the esSth0r by A,lolph Maitland, Of
San Rafael, Cal, the devoted sec.
Rotary aud most confidential friend
q the 'ex.Kirg:
"a few hoars before embarking
on the French brig which was to
take him to the United States, 10
seph sent Maitland 10 the Emperor.
with q letter urging again his
brother to exchange places and
make Ills escape from France IN
Joaepii's vrSsel. But Eap~lron re-
piled verbally TO the messenger:
"Trll my brother that ! have well
considered his offer, and that | eau
not actept il. IL woul, seem like
flying away from danger; besides,
/ could not leave behind me so
many brave officers, who have sac.
rificed everything tor me. Tell my
brother that | hope he will escape
the cruisers Of England, aud arrive
safely"
Joseph, on receiving this last
answrr, sailed Immediately for
America Had Napoleon accepted.
he wOnld probably have reached
New York safely. MS every prrcan.
ton had been taken to avoid ic;cc.
tiOn. The vessel wds II small, com.
mon looking brig, the Commerce.
of 20O tons, loaded with n cargo Of
Bordeaux wines for market. She
was u fast sailrr and was strongly
built, and was commanded 10y II
skillful captain, Mcs"rvry. II Swrd,
by birth. Although three times on
the high seas the brig WAS stopped
and searched by English irlgatrs
which were on the look0nt for Ma
pOleon, the passports and papers
Of the passengers on board lEd
been so carefully prepared under
fictitious names that they were M,
discovered. The captain ot the
brig did not even know who they
were until "a few DAYS after Joseph
had landed in New York.
1.-THE newspapers having publish
ed an account of his successful IS
cape, and given the name of the
vessel, the poor captain could hard
IL contain himself, and called AT
once upon Louis Maitland, who as
surel him that il was true, and
presented him in all formalliy to
King Joseph. 'But why did you
not tell mer said he. Il never
would have betrayed him Mail
lard had to explain to him that it
was thought best to conceal the
real names and positions of his
passengers, for fear that he might
have shown some hesitation. or less
assurance when boarded by the
English officers. Il think you were
right sai,kthc Captain; Il would
have sunk my vessel rather than
let them come on board; you were
rightr Joseph WAS very much
amused by his demonstration of
Comparison and sent him very
handsome present To show that he
had appreciated his treatment on
board
1t IL we'll known that some years
prior to the final ab,lication OF Ma.
poleOn, the contingency ot his he.
ing forced to abandon France and
seek refuge in America sometimes
presented itself to his mind. The late
Esquire Edward Robbins stated to
the authOr that Louis Mailiard re-
lated to him that once, when the
Emperor was speaking npon this
subject in the presence of Joseph
and some of his officers. he unroll
ell map of the United States,
and, placing his finger upon n spot
in New Jersey, said. in substance:
aft am ever forced to fly tn Amer.
lea, | shall settle somewhere be
tween Philadelphia and New YORK,
where | can receive the earliest in.
telligence from France 10y ships
arriving at either port This idea
probably governed the Count in
his location.