New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-30

Of the near eight hundred titles OF nobility con-
feTred by the first Napoleon about one hundred
years ago there only thirty-seven authentic ones
stu IN existence-that is TO say. which have been
inherited in the male line direct although there
are a quantity Of them which have been as
suned without authority by cousins. nephews,
Eons-in-laW. etc, or even by the husbands OF the
granddaughter CT the original holders of the titles
while Napoleon II in a good natured way revived
titles conferred by his uncle IL favor Of equally
remote knsEnen OF the generals and statesmen TO
whom they were granted in the first place. The
first Emperor. il creating dukedoms, princedoms
and other titles Of nobility. invariably accom-
panied the honor by the grant OF an annuity
payable by the government treasury long
the ''Msjorat" remained in exlstence-that is 10
say as long as there was legitimate descent IN the
male line the idea being Of course, 10 assure the
people whom nc had thus honored and their
descendants that there should always be enough
10 maintain TIE title with the proper amount Of
dignity.
The thirty-seven dukes princes and counts who re-
main and who have Inherited their dgutties in the
mae llle direct from ancestors ennobIed and dow
cred by the first Napoleon hundred years ago,
still draw 10 this day from the national treasury
The annuities given the time Of the grant Of
title
Repeated attempts have been made to abolish
them. But the pTOposal has almost invariably been
opposed by The Minister Of Finance for the time
being. matter what the shade OF his political
opinion, on the ground that such action would in
5ure n very serious manner the credit of the
a. the Bourbon restoration in 1875 at the time of
the July revolution in 1880 which landed King
Louis Philippe the throne; IN 1875. IN 1871 when
Napoleon II was proclaimed Emperor and again
IN Ig70-'1 the constitution Of the present
public one OF the first OF the legislature was
70 assure the credit Of the nation and thus facii-
tate financial operations Of the national Treasury
by placing the creditors OF the state under the
safeguard Of the honor and loyalty OF the French
nation"
Among the creditors Of the State are these hold
ers Of annUlties conferred, along with titles OF
nobility by the first Napoleon. and which are in
scrbed according TO Official parlance the Grand
Idvre De FTance''-that IS 10 say, on the Grand
Ledger Of the State France Most Of these pen
stoned thirty-seven mobiles. who draw large annui-
ties from the national treasury are declared op-
ponents Of the republic openly agitating for its
overthrow and for the restoration either Of a Ma
poe0nic empire or Of Bourbon kingdom, for quite
= large number Of the nobIes who owe their coro-
nets 10 the first Napoleon have become OrIeanists
owing the fact that for some years past TOyalsm
IS more fashionable than Bonapsrtism
That is 10 say. the French republic which does
not officially recognize titles Of orders Of nobility
and which is based upon the doctrine Of absolute
equality, pays each year large sums drawn from the
taxpayers for the support Of thirty-sevea French
dukes. princes and counts, who not only render
service whatsoever 10 the country but striving
10 upset IFS government and who are the avowed
foes OF The republic
10 wonder that the demand for the abolition Of
the najorats IS being made upon the government
each year with increased vigor. But the admins
traton sun hesitates fearing 70 affect the credit OF
the State IL remains TO Be whether il viii
decide 10 continue them until they lapse for want
Of direct male heirs Ike the remainder OF the peer
ages created by the first Napoleon, IL they viii
be wiped by legislative vote and erased from
the Grand Livre de France"
Let ne add that, IN addition 10 these lowered
fhrty-seFen peerages, there two others granted
by King Louis XVIII They are the dukedous Of
ecazes and OF Avaray, the first wife Of the present
Duke OF Decazes having been Miss Isabella Singer,
daughter o. the celebrated sewing machine manu-
facturer.
Among the Napoleonic mobiles drawing annuities
from the government IS the Duke Of Bassano.
whose grandfather the first duke after the down
fa Of the first Napoleon, sold I'll the latters pri-
rate papers. which had been IntrUsted 70 his
charge 70 Emperor Alexander Of Russia Thanks
this piece Of altogether inexcusable treachery all
the private correspondence and confidential state
papers o. the first Napoleon, filing some twenty
seven big cases. are now preserved among the
Russian imperial archives az ST. Petersburg. An
other French duke drawing an annuity from the
state is the Duke Of RivoI. grandson OF Marshal
Masseua- Then there IS the Prince and Duke OF
Wagrsm, grandson OF Marshal Berthier. This
prnce-dule is married 70 Baroness Bertha de Roth
schild. and certainly does not need the money