New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-22

ticular being an ambassador. But chivalrous
Mokrani whose Instruction. after all, was OF Ear
less reprehensible character than that OK the Com
mune, was LEFT in tho convict settlements Of
New-Caledonia. abandoned 20 the most severe
treatment consideration being taken ot the fact
that he had declined participate In the success
ful escape from the colony OF Henri Rochefort
Indeed, Mokrani would have been forgotten had
not one OF HIS former adversaries IN the French
Army thought OF interesting the Duo dAumale in
MS case he could not have gone to better man.
since II is In great measure due to the prowess
OF the duke IN Northern Africa during the reign
OF his father King Louis Philippe. that France is
Indebted for her great Algerian dependency. The
duke not only called upon the late President Faure
at the Elysee 20 endeavor to the release or
Mokra1i-the President promising TO give his at
tenton TO the matter, but doing nothing whatso-
ever in the arair-but he was led by the interest
which he developed In the mans fate to study his
history.
BY means OF those careful researches in which
the duke delighted. and which for him so
great name IN literary, historical and archuo-
logical circles. he ascertained positively and be-
yond fear OF contradiction that Mozrani was the
only surviving descendant in the male line OF the
INDUSTRIOUS French duCal house Of Montmorency.
1t seems that during the Crusade which resulted
IN the capture by the Saracens OF that French
king known in history Saint Louis there was
among his fellow captives OF the principal
scions OF the illustrious family OF Montmorency.
This nobleman lost his heart to a daughter Of
Sultan Saladn. and when, after the restoration or
peace. King Louis and his companions were per
mitted to return TO France, he embraced the Ma
hometan faith. married the Saracen princess and
became the founder OF the great and celebrated
Arab family. Of which the pardOned convict
MoHrani IS the chief and the direct and lneal
representative.
Now, the last rightful duke OF the senior and
French branch Of the house Of Montmorency died
in 1852 at Paris leaving only sister. Alice BY
name. married TO the late Duke OF Sagan and OF
Talleyrand. and mother consequently Of the pres
eut Duke OF Taleyrand and OF the latter's younger
brother. Adalbert. The dukedom thereupon
claimed by a distant cousin OF the dead man. who
bore tho title Of Duke Of Beaumont However.
Napoleon III declined 70 admit his pretensions.
owing TO the fact that he was adherent or ex-
King Henry Of France Comte de Chambord.
and conferred the title OF Duke Of Montmorency
instead upon Adalbert de Talleyrand-Perigord on
the occasion Of the latter's marriage to Carmen
Aguardo daughter OF Empress Eugcnie's Spanish
Partisan banker.
The old aristocracy Of France. however. has al
vays declined to recognize Adalbert de Taleyrand-
Perigord's title OF Due dc Montmorency, regarding
Il as usurped. and as merely the price paid 10 him
by Napoleon III FOR his adhesion to a court so
lamentabIy deficient at the time in rlustrious
French names
In 1857 the Duo de Beaumont died. leaving only
one daughter and male relatives. The result Is
that. according 20 the late Duo dAumale and 10
ell those eminent geuealogi-ts who have invesu-
gated the matter. the only riEhtful Duo dc Mont
morency and the sole lawful heir 10 the proud
Crusader title OF Premier Baron OF France al
ways borne by the head OF the Montmorency fam
Iy is no other than Ahmed Ben Mokrani who.
after a captivity Of thirty years spent in the penal
settlements OF New-CaIedonia, has now been at
length restored to liberty by the free pardon
granted 20 him by President Loubet
NARQUISE DE FONTENOY.