Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-22
WIFE OF A BONAPARIE.
HISTORY OF THE FAMILY OF MA
POlEoN'S YOUNG BROTHER.

Connected with American Relatives.
French History.
The late Prince Napoleon was the son of
jerome, the youngest brother of Napoleon
the Great. This fact brings nearer to us
that great series of events beginning W tn
"a Whit of grapeshot" and ending with
Waterloo. His death, moreover, has a
peculiar vivid interest for Americans, oe-
cause it recalls the story of the first love of
his father, jerome, for young American
girl. Betsy Patterson, of Baltimore
1t is a sad tale of romance, imperial am
bition and diplomacy. Napoleon had al
ready won undying fame in Italy when
his young brother, Jerome, was but twelve
years of age. He soon entered the French
navy, for it was his great brothers ambi-
ton to make of him fighter on the seas
fit to cope with Nelson. II was an English
frigate that destroyed this plan by driving
the French frigate bearing jerome into
American waters. At Baltimore Jerome
fell madly in love with and married Eliza
beth, the beautiful daughter OF William
Patterson, a rich merchant, and an Irish
man by birth. Elizabeth. or Betsy, as sic
was called, had consuming am bition, and
when friends opposed the marriage ste
said, Il would rather be the wife of a
brother Of Napoleon for one hour than the
wife Of any other man for life"
Napoleon was highly displeased with tbs
match, because he already saw himself on
the throne and wished his brothers 70
marry only blue bloods." Jerome and his
wife only learned Of the establishment Of
the empire when about to sail from New
York to beg the forgiveness of the fret
consul. They learned at the same time
that both jerome and his brother. Lucien,
were debarred from the line of Succession
for marrying against Napoleon's wishes
Nevertheless the young couple, still hoping
forgiveness and advancement, sailed for
Lisbon in 1906
HISTORY OF "Bo''
There Jerome was arrested and taken 70
France, after fearful adieu and protesta-
tons Of everlasting fidelity TO his wife, who
was not allowed to land. She sent mes
sage TO the emperor which tickled him i'm
mensely.
Tell the emperor she said, that Nine
Bonaparte demands her rights as mem
Der of the imperial family"
She proceeded to England, where a boy
was soon born TO her and christened
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte Jerome, the
father, proceeded 20 Paris, little thinking
that he would never see Betsy again save
as a stranger and with another wife upon
his arm.
Napoleon positively refused to recognize
the marriage, but promised Betsy an an
nual pension of $4,000. providing she
would return to America and renounce
! the name Of Bouaparte, which conditions
/ she accepted.
| Her husband, jerome, thus separated
/ fr,rrr, har Ia1 Iy-h lr1
marry Catharine, the daughter of the king
| of WurteInburg. Soon after ne was made
| king of Westphalia. He then sent to
America for Betsy's child, "Bo''-an alb
| breviation of Bonaparte. She refused to
! give him up, and in reply to the offer from
| her husband Of ducal crown, with an in
! come of 10000 a year, she sent back the
| scornful message: 'Westphalia is too
| small for two queens: besides, I already
receive $1,000 a year from the emperor.
! and ! would rather be protected by the
| wings Of the eagle than be dependent on
/ the bill of a goose"
She ever afterward spoke with contempt
/ Of her husband, although DO" frequently
/ visited his father family in Europe, where
/ he was treated as a son and "A brother his
| half sister, Princess Mathilde, being Is
| pecially fond Of him. Afterward DO
! mar 4cl a 11d4lA4L4OIt AstOAs CduS4u- us
mother, Madame Betsy, great anger by
! doing so. His cousin, Emperor Napoleon
! III, invited him to France, where he was
| legitimized and received as a member of
/ the family. His half brother, the son of
| jerome by Catharine, quarreled with the
| emperor, and there was at one time a
strong intention to make DO the heir
presumptive but ultimately DO was de-
clared ineligible.
| BETSY's POSITION.
| He declined a duchy, refusing the condi-
| ton attached of surrendering the name of
| Bonaparte. On the death of King Jerome
in $50 his American wife, Betsy Patter-
SOD, contested his will. She was, however,
refused share of his property.
The letters show a great contempt for
her native land. She wrote to her father
from Florence in 1899 as follows:
| "a parent cannot make a silk purse of a
sow's ear, and you found that you could
not make a sow's ear of silk purse. 1t
was impossible TO bend my talents and
| my ambition TO the obscure destiny of a
Baltimore housekeeper, and it was absurd
to attempt IL after ] had married the
brother of an emperor. l had not the
meanness of spirit to descend from such
elevation TO the deplorable condition OF
being the wife of an American.
Il often tried to reason myself into the
courage necessary TO commit suicide when
| contemplated long life TO be passed in
n trading town, where everything was dis
gushing to my tastes, and where every.
thing contrasted so strongly with my
wishes.
Il never could have degraded myself by
marriage with people who, after ! had
married prince, became my interiors.
THE Americans themselves had sense
and good taste enough to feel that l had
risen above them, and have always treated
me with the respect and Difference due to g
superior.
When / first heard that my son could
condescend to marry any one in Baltimore
/ nearly went mad.
81 repeat that / would have starved
died, rather than marry any one in Balti