Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-05-30
AMERICAN BONAPARTES.
THEIR AMBITION AND FAILURE TO
RULE FRANCE.


Patterson Was Insulted by Napoleon
and Learned to Despise Her Country.
The late Prince Napoleon was the sob
of Jerome, the youngest brother of Napo-
leon the Great This fact brings nearer
to us that great series of events beginning
with "a Whit of grape shot" and ending
with Waterloo. His death, moreover,
has a peculiarly vivid interest for Ameri-
cans, because 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
ambition, and diplomacy. Napoleon had
already won undying fame in Italy when
his young brother, Jerome, was but IL
years of age. He soon entered the French
navy, for it was his great brothers am
bition to make of I'm fighter on the
seas fit to cope with Nelson. 1t was an
English frigate that destroyed this plan
by driving the French frigate bearing
Jerome into American waters. At Balti-
more Jerome fell madly in love with and
married Elizabeth, the beautiful daughter
of William Patterson, rich merchant
and an Irishman by birth. Elizabeth, or
Betsy, as she was called, had consuming
ambition, and when friends opposed the
marriage she said: Il would rather be
the wife of the brother of Napoleon foi
one hour than the wife of any other man
for life"
Napoleon was highly displeased with
this match, because he already saw him
self on the throne and wished his brother
to marry only blue bloods." jerome
and his wife only learned of the establish
ment of the empire when about to sail
from New York to beg the forgiveness Of
the first consul. They learned at the same
time that both Jerome and his brother
Lucien were debarred from the line Of
Succession for marrying against Ma
couple, still hoping forgiveness and ad.
vancement, sailed for Lisbon in 1905.
There Jerome was arrested and taken
to France, after fearful adieu and pro-
testations of everlasting fidelity to his
wife, who was not allowed to land. She
sent message to the emperor which
tickled him immensely.
Tell the emperor, she said, shat
Nine Bonaparte demands her rights as
member of the imperial family"
She proceeded to England, where boy
was soon born to her and christened
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte. Jerome,
the father. proceeded to Paris, little think
ing that he would never see Betsy again,
save asa stranger and with another wife
upon his arm.
Napoleon positively refused to recognize
the marriage. but promised Betsy an an
nua1 pension of $4,000 provided she
would return to America and renounce
the name of Bonaparte, which conditions
she accepted. Many times in later years
she returned to Europe and figured as the
center of sensations in foreign courts,
winning the homage, not only of her hus-
bands mother and other members of the
family but also from the Duke of Well
ington, Nine. de Stael. Byron, and even
the equity old Louis XVII, who tried to
have her appear at court; but as she still
received pension from the exiled en-
peror she declined.
Her husband, Jerome, thus separated
from her, was compelled by his brother
to marry Catharine, the daughter of the
king of WurtemberT. Soon after he was
made king of West 'halia. He then sent
to America for Betsy's child, "Bo"-an
abbreviation for Bonaparte. She refused
to give him up, and in reply to the offer
of her husband of ducal crown, with
an income of $40, 100 a year, she sent
back the scornful message: "Westphalia
is too small for two queens; besides, al
ready receive $12, 900 year from the en-
peror, and would rather be protected by
the wings of the eagle than be dependent
on the bill of goose.
She ever afterward spoke with con-
tempt of her husband, although "Bo"
frequently visited his fathers family in
Europe, where he was treated as son
and a brother, his half sister, Princess
Mathilde, being especially fond of him.
Afterward "Bo" married a Baltimore
lady, causing his mother, Madame Betsy,
great anger by doing so. His cousin,
Emper4r Napoleon III, invited him to
France, where he was legitimized and re-
ceived as member of the family. His
half brother, the son of Jerome by Cath
arine, quarreled with the emperor, and
there was at one time strong intention
to make "Bo" the heir presumptive, but
ultimately "Bo" was declared ineligible.
He declined a duchy, refusing the condi-
ton attached of surrendering the name of
Bonaparte. On the death of King Jerome,
in 1860, his American wife, Betsy Patter-
son, contested his will. She was, how
ever, refused share of his property.
The letters show great contempt for
her native land. She wrote to her father
from Florence in 1929 as follows:
"A parent can not make a silk purse
of a sow's ear, and you found that you
could not make a sow's ear of a silk purse.
1t was impossible to bend my talents and
my ambition to the obscure destiny Of a
Baltimore housekeeper, and it was alb
surd to attempt it after had married the
brother of an emperor. had not the
meanness of spirit to descend from such
an elevation to the deplorable condition
of being the wife of an American.
II often tried to reason myself into the
courage necessary to commit suicide when
l contemplated long life to be passed in
trading town, where everything con-
trasted SO strongly with my wishes.
Il never could have degraded myself
by marriage with people who, after had
married prince, became my interiors.
1.-The Americans themselves had sense
and good taste enough to feel that I had
risen above them, and have always treated
me with the respect and Difference due to