Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1880-02-19
NapOIeOn's American Dream.

The following deeply interesting ac-
count, never before given to the public,
of the escape of King Joseph from
France, and his voyage to America,
was communicated to the author by
Adolph Mailliard, of San Rafael, Cal,
the son of Louis Mailliard, the devoted
secretary and most confidential friend
of the ex-King:
GA few hours before embarking on
the French brig which was to take him
to the United States, Joseph sent Mail
lizard to the Emperor, with letter urg-
ing again his brother to exchange
places, and make his escape from
France in Joseph's vessel But Napo-
leon replied verbally to the messenger:
Tell my brother that 1 have well con-
sidered his offer, and that l cannot ac-
cept it. 1t would seem like flying away
from danger; besides, l could not leave
behind me so many brave officers, who
have sacrificed everything for me.
Tell my brother that | hope he will es-
cape the cruisers of England and arrive
safely
"Joseph on receiving this last an
swer sailed Immediately for America.
Had Napoleon accepted, he would prob
ably have reached New York safely, as
every precaution had been taken to
avoid detection. The vessel selected
was a small, common looking brig, the
Commerce. of two hundred tons,
loaded with cargo of Bordeaux wines
for market. She was fast sailer and
was strongly built and was commanded
by skillful Captain, Messervey, a
Swede by birth. Although three times
on the high seas the brig was stopped
and searched by English frigates which
were on the lookout for Napoleon, the
passports and papers of the passengers
on board had been so carefully pre-
pared under fictitious names that they
were not discovered. The Captain of
the brig did not even know who they
were until few days after they landed
in New York.
"The newspapers having published
an account of his successful escape, and
given the name of the vessel, the poor
Captain could hardly contain himself,
and called at once upon Louis Mailliard
who assured him that it was true, and
presented him in all formality to King
Joseph. But why did you not tell
meP' said he, i never would have be-
trayed him. Mailliard had to explain
to him that it was thought best to con-
ceal 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.
l think you were right said the Cap
tain; Il would have sunk my vessel
rather than let them come on board;
you were rightr Joseph was much
amused by his demonstration of Bona
partisan, and sent him very handsome
present to show that he had appreci-
ated his treatment on board"
1t is well known that some years
prior to the final abdicatiOn of NapO-
leon the contingency of his being 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
Mailliard related to him once, when the
Emperor was speaking upon this sub
iect in presence of Joseph and some of
his officers, he unrolled a map of the
United States, and placing his finger
on spot in New Jersey, said, in sub
stance: If am ever forced to fly to
America, I shall settle somewhere be-
tween Philadelphia and New York,
where l can receive the earliest inteli-
gence from France by ships arriving at
either port" This idea probably gov
erned the Count in his location
Woodo0ard's B0napGrte's Park.