New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-12
N4D1ME BETTTE MCR4E

From The Neu- Orleans Times
The recent destruction by tire OF what was known
a. the Murat House, near Tallahassee, Florida has
el.cted an affecting incident relative to lady well
remembered by many old residents Tor her many
ms Iady was the widow of Napoleon Achie
Charles Louis Nurat the elder son OF Murat and
Caroline Bcnaparte. tor brief period kIng ana
Ouecn of Naples Alter the execution OF his father
~ an insuruent against the restored Bourbon
dynasty of Naples, AcuIIe came TO tins country ana
purchased plantation IN Florida. Vel tduCaicu
OF an inLuIriHg and literary turn, he devoted NM
self TO the study OF our institutions anu laws, ana
wrote several able papers on political ana leGal
questions and the resources ana pecularl!les OF
America which were highly commended III literary
circles in France. where they were published
Whether before or after purchasing MS IlOrida
plantation are not informed, but iOI 4 lew years
h.. took up his residence IN tnls city and engaged III
the practice of law. His name Will be found IN our
repOrs 40 of counsel in several important eu L.
Finally however, lac returned 10 his plantation IN
Jefferson County Florida aud there established ms
nertnanent residence. HIS death occurred in lNII.
On his first visit to Florida, Achille Murat, ming
ling IN the then gay and refined society ol lana,
ha,see was captured by the charming, accomplished
and hiQh-born Miss Bette Wills. whom he married.
Mis-, Bette was the daughter OF Colonel Byru
Willis who was notable parsonage III ms gay,
notable for his high lineage, his relationship 10 the
Washington Lee aud Gusts families, for his lavish
hospitality. his wit humOr anu great Gorpuiency.
When Louis Napoleon entered upon his scheme OF
reviving tue gOres OF the NapOleOnc dynasty, some
years alter her husbands death; Madame AchiIIe
Nurat was invited to Paris, and regularly intro
duced into the Napoleon family ana cutJlrC Il
Princess as her husbands mother had been Queen
ana Princess But, while from reduced circum-
stances not nsenslble 10 ungrateiul Tor the ac-
,ompanying benefits of her admission INTO the then
prosperous imperial dynasty Of France, she sighed
for restoration TO her loved native land aud was
never happy or ccntented until she could regain
the scenes OF her married life IN beautiful IOlid'
But alas, after the death of her husband their me
establish ment in Jefferson County had become Il
tesolate waste and wilderness. Then she purchaser
a modest lot and erected Il small cottage near III
lahassee where she could enjoy the society Oh her
old friends and pass the remnant OF her IKE lar
away from all the excitementS aud disturbing assO-
Citations Of fashionable and arStOcralc society anu
political intrigue and contention. w hen she per-
celved the approach of the inevitable termination
OF all human careers and the shadows OF approach
inr dissolution began to gather over her, sue III
sisted upon being borne u the old plantation house
and TO rhe chamber wherein she had closed her
AcLilIes's eyes Thus vanished from this world OF
trouble the proud aud pure spirit OF the virginia
maiden who in her days or glrllsh susceptibility
and Youthful rOmantIcsm had a led herself To Tue
son Of an sx-kiug-whO. even when endowed WIN
fine titles honors and emoluments OF Princess OF
the most brilliant court IN Europe, Deyer suIreh-
dared and finally reclaimed the still higher ana
pronder title OF a Virginia lady and cItzenhe OF thls
great Republic and the even higher title conveyed
IN the last manifestation OF moral ana lnteiieclua
consciousness of an ever-iaIthlul ana ueNOteu
wife. ,. Os
The Princess" Murat left no descendants. vi
her collateral relatives there are many yet living
vvuo are scattered through the southern states