The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-11
MEMOIRS OF LUCIEN BONAPARTE

PARIS, May 3O.--Lieut-C Col. Jung, whose
important work ON Bonaparte and his Times"
appeared some eighteen months ago. has just
published the first two volumes OF a work even
more interesting and moro rich in new docu
ments. This new work Is entitled Lucicn
Bonaparte and His Memoirs"
Several political publications were issued by
Lucien Bonaparte and his wife, The Truth
on the Hundred Days" 1885. Memoirs Of
Lucien Bonaparte. Prince de Canine. Written
by Himself" II vol 1886; The Revolution OF
Brumaire. or Relation Of the Principal Events
OF the 18th and 10th Brumaire " uS45D. Alto
gethcr there exist at tho present time in the
archives OF tho French Ministry of Foreign
Affairs about three thousand pages Of manu-
script. out OF which not more than two hun
dred pages have been printed in the works
above mentioned. 1t is In the remaining two
thousand eight hundred pages. almost all an
notated by the hand of the Princess do Canine.
that Col. Jung has found the material of his
work. which is to be completed in three volumes.
and which will comprise period extending
from 1775 to 1910.
Lucien Bonaparte's memoirs are not me-
moirs properly SO called but fragments of me-
mors. detached souvenirs. summaries OF
occurrences. impressions. In the narration Of
events they are often inexact. and they neces-
Jung observes. the writings left by Lucien
Bonaparte are the perfect expression OF the
character of their author. Lucien was the image
OF his father. both morally and physically.
fact which explains the real and persistent
preference Of his mother. Nine. Letitia. for him.
He was man OF medium height. His physiog-
nomy was expressive. His short-sightedness
gave a certain embarrassment to his manners
and bearing. He liked to talk. and talked we'll.
He was witty and clever. Always in movement,
he had neither perseverance In his object nor
large views. He passed from one subject to
another with surprising facility. He was man
Of little things. little details. little works, He
" in nothing. One day poetry attracted him;
the next day he would be absorbed II, astron-
In his occupations. he was also versatile from
the point OF view OF his habits Of life. Little
scrupulous In the means he employed to ac-
Qure fortune, he was ready to set UP for
model OF integrity and honesty when he had
the means Of satisfying his caprices; EXtraya-
CANT and without order. like his father he was
constantly buying property and houses. in
none Of which he lived long together. Like his
truth, but. being gifted With lively magma
ton he was generous and susceptible OF good
and noble sentiments. out OF bravado and
In politics Lucien Bonaparte displayed the same
qualities and defects as he did in his life and
his memoirs We can follow him in his political
career with a minuteness Of detail whose re-
suits and conclusions alone L am here attempt
ing to sum up in the most concise terms.
Jacobin OF the most, PRONOUNCED type, he be:
bpe as Wben md Ss Of
Cents, he saw the possibility of participating
in the direction Of public affairs. rival of the
place in the State and In his turn the first. and
then he suked because he was not taken seri-
his brother and to recognize the defects OF that
monstrous political machine called the Consul
late; and alter , the ,Esmrire; he did not
opportunity. Being afraid of everything. OF
himself Of Bonaparte and of events. he began
war. whose fatal results he foresaw. Meanwhile.
taking refuge in the Papal States he thought
that everything was for tho best at Rome, pro-
vlded he could pose as poet, as an unappre-
cciated politician. and pass as good fellow. al
nSTsa FRS on NJ sGR Rd 2 aG aygs
he had hopes of recovering the place in the state
which he thought belonged 10 him by right;
role then disappeared, TO make a ncW effort, ut
the, moment when his nephew, the young King
hidden ambition.
Lucien Bonaparte. particularly after we have
read his memoirs, scarcely inspires respect.
and still he remains the, most sympathetic
member of the whole family, rs he always has
and his children. Furthermore his opposition
fifteen. years drama, at the side OF the great
tragedian Napoleon L., Lucien took the comic
character OF me kfunlDltf, Alter al, humanity
would sooner laugh than cry and Lucien. the
enJdn terrible. the ungoyernable brother al
wagi GR IL S A a rs
all from higher point of view if 1ucien Bona
parte did no good 10 France. he did no particu-
lar harm. In the eyes of pOSterity the curious
notes he has left about the sombre figure of
the first Napoleon will cntitle him TO much in
Tie Importance of these memoirs Is such
that they will inevitably be translated into the
the man and an idea Of the nature OF his
Desultory. unconnectrd. intcrmingled with IL
lcgbe notes and drnl narratives. they are al
ways interesting; They are very Incomplete
laneous and strange beginnings of the strange
fhamily to Thi S their %u tho hS9ngGSd
| Hundred Days and the Restoration. tn" notes
and letters OF I.ucien are full of new facts and
new views. and rich i'll the most curious and
prominent figures OF the time Members of
the Consular family, courliers, French and
foreign statesmen. Generals. artists. writer's.
actors and actresses. all are passed in review.
| 1t is with these elements, taken from Lu:
| cien's manuscripts and from documents found
! Jung has reconstructed the existence Of Lucien
Bonaparte. The first volume Of the work, from
| the birth Of Iucien TO his nomination as Am
1900, is the least interesting; The second vol
| ume. comprs ing the period from his departure
| for Spain TO his final rupture with Napoleon
| $500 lsoi) goes on increasing in interest from
! the frSt page u inc ihSt, Inn lnlrd volume. to
| be published shortly Will embrace. the last Pc
riod of Lucion ; life from lSui to lsiO. 1t can
| not fail to be Of immense value. inaSmuch as
| II will consist entirely of new documents which
will nocessitate considerable notifications in
! the existing accounts OF tho events OF the be-
ginning Of this century.
| In one chapter l.ucicn Bonaparte records n
| curious conversation. in the course of which
the Corsican patriot Paoli spoke OF America
and its future n subject which occupied much
| OF his attention.
Franklin" said Paoli TO Iucicn. has sew
eral times told me that he and the other found
| Washington himself If he had really believed
himself authorized 10 do So would have pre-
| ferred the monarchical constitutional govern
ment Of the English. with some reforms rather
| than the republican government; but the mass
| of the nation, so To- speak, forced our hand
| depression of Frankinl less out Of love for the
republic than out Of hatred for England"
Paoli was of opinion that the United States
would necessarily increase erterIitory which
was daily being covered by new populations