The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-04
EUGENIE'S GIFT.
Disposition of the MarseiIIes villa After
the Ex-Empress Had Won a Judicial Vie
jourrled.

Disposition of the MarseiIIes villa After
the Ex-Empress Had Won a judicial Vie
tory.
Paris Special to London Daily News.
Whatever opinion may be entertained OF
Bonapartsm and the late emperor, the bit
terest opponents of the dynasty and of Ma
poleon III must render homage to the gen
erous highmindedness that distinguishes his
august widow. 1t will be fresh in the menu
Dry of our readers that the city of Mar
seilles which overlooked with liberalty to
Napoleon III when he was in the zenith OF
his glory, sought to recover its gift, with in
terest, as soon as blind fortune turned her
back upon his dynasty. The municipality
of the great commercial emporium so famous
for the modesty of its citizens, presented the
late Emperor certain plot of ground, then
valued at 100000 francs. Napoleon spent
LOGO, 900 francs more in building palace and
laying out grounds, so that the present value
of the Pharo property-even assuming that
the price of land has not increased during
the past decade-must be put
down at nearly 100000 francs The
chivalrous municipality brought an action
against the Empress, after her husband
death, for the recovery of the property; but
the Phocian burghers were nonsuited in the
courts of their own quondam imperialistic
and now radically republican city. They
then carried the case on appeal to the higher
there. The Empress mas thus trumphed,
but, as though to give a lesson to certain
princes of another repudiated dynasty, she
now, having established her right by the laws
of the country which is still hers though she
is in exile, abandons her claim in favor OF
the city which has used her so ill, and gives
up voluntarily what she refused to yield to
threats. 1t is believed that the exiled EN-
press is by no means so rich as are the Or
leans princes, who accepted the restitution of
their confiscated property before even the
war indemnify to Germany was paid. Her
generosity Is all the more to her credit, and
Englishmep- will read with interest the
simple and dignifed words in which she sig
nifies to an old political friend the determin-
alton to which she has Gomez
'FARNBoRoUGH-HILL, Hants,
Dec. 15 1882
'My Dear M. Bouher | have Just received
the letter in which you inform me that the
AK Court of Appeal has confirmed the judg-
ment given by the Marseilles Court in the
action brought against me by the town coun-
Gil OF the latter town. In defending my
rights before the law courts | was specially
animated by respect for the French magis-
tracy, for to have believed that my cause
was lost beforehand would have been tanta-
mount to an admission that passion or per-
sonal interest could influence the course of
justice in our country. Now, however that
these rights have been recognized, do not
wish to retain the ground which the city of
Marseilles once gave of its own free will to
the Emperor, and the possession of which it
now disputes. Therefore, you are to take
the necessary steps for the presentation to
the town in my name of the park and chateau
OF the Pharo the latter of which the EN-
peror built at his own expense. In acting
thus 1 think that 1 am behaving as those who
are now no more would have wished, and
trust that you who were their devoted
friend, will approve of my decision. l can
not close this letter without asking you to
thank on my behalf the distinguished lawyer
who, although separated from us by his po-
litical opinions, has, consulting only equity
and law, defended my interests with the ut
most talent. | remain, ETC., EUGENE"