New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-07
CENTENNIAL OF A CODE.
That Which Bears Name of Napo-
leon His Most Lasting Monument.


fitting ceremony the centenary OF that Code Ma
poleon which IN the eyes OF all thoughtful people.
constitutes the most enduring, well the
grandest. memorial OF the first Emperor Of the
French Other OF his creations have crumbled into
the dust. But the code OF laws with which he F-o-
vided France IS in existence TO this day and has.
moreover been adopted more OF less completely
by many other of the Old World nations. while IN
this country It in force believe the State
louisiana.
Strictly speaking the Code Napoleon was not
promulgated in its entirely completed form until
after Napoleon had been several years on the
throne. But. naturally, the republic does not wish
20 promote the cause Of the Bonaparttst Pretender
by extoIling the founder of his dynasty. and Il
takes advantage OF the fact that the most in
portant portion OF the code promulgated
March FL 1904, at which time France was stil
republic, and Napoleon it's First Consul. TO cele
brate the centennial on March q next In this
way whatever honors are paid to the first Ma
poeon as the creator of the code will be accorded
to him as Chief Magistrate Of the first French Re
public and not as Emperor. Students OF French
history will recall that he only assumed the title
Of Emperor some weeks after the PRONUNCIATION OF
the Code Civil. namely, in May. 1904
Of course Napoleon did not actually compile the
code himself but the merit its creation belongs
him, all the same, since it was he who selected
the commission of learned men. headed by Iron
Chef, who drew I'D the two thousand and more
laws comprised in the code. He himself took fire.
quent part In the deliberations OF the commission.
and failed to describe 1t as the greatest glory
Of his reign Let me add that the present French
government has abolished its name Of code Ma
poIeon" and now officially describes It the Code
Civil" the name which II bore when its first por-
ton was promulgated, just one hundred years ago.
Through the death OF Robert John Ralph Boreel
Anglo-Dutch relative Of the house OF Astor, an
American woman is deprived Of the prospect Of be-
coming English 'baronetess" and Of the sue
To an urlfs for
whose demise Is reported having taken place
quite recently at Guildford In England, was the
heir presumptive to the baronetcy OF his cousin,
Sir Jacob Boree who Is not British subject but
a Dutchman. being the Burgonaster Of Harlem and
a gentleman OF the Privy Chamber OF the late
King Of Holland. Robert Boreel who was but
thirty-seven years old. married Miss Edith Ives.
daughter Of Philip Ives, OF Hartford. Conn, and
leaves son. but only two little girls. who. to
gether with their parents, were well known TO all
American visitors at Pau. in the South OF France,
where they made their home.
The late Robert Boreers grandfather was grand
master OF the ceremonies OF the court o. the
Netherlands and married in April. 1884. Sarah
Astor Langdon. niece Of the original John Jacob
Astor. and who after her marriage created
dame du palais to Queen Sophia Of the Neither
lands.
The Boreel relatives Of the Astors have not kept
up much intercourse with their American kins-
folk. and the latter have never taken the trouble
to 60 into mourning when there have been any
deaths among the children and grandchildren Of
Sarah Astor Langdon Boreel who include. In add-
ton TO those mentioned. the Baronesses de Pal
laudt and de Groenince. Moreover. when the
Chevalier de stuers. the Netherlands envoy at
Paris. was abandoned by his American wife. one
Of the Astor Careys, who, after her divorce, mar
ried the Elliott Zborowski. Gil the Boreel
uections the Astors sided with the Chevalier de
Stucrs against her.
Tho Boreel baronetcy originally conferred BY
King Charles I IN 1875 upon William Boreel a
famous Dutch diplomatist. who accredited
ambassador TO the English court, his father. curl
ously enough. having occupied similar position In
London during the reign Of King James I. and was
kniehted by that monarch Sir William Boreel. the
first baronet, was equally favored by King Charles
H. and Il Is stated that he was created by that
sovereign a baron Of England. with a seat In tho
House OF Lords. The BoreeI family have stil IN
their possession the royal warrant granting this
peerage and bearing the signature Of King Charles
II But the latter seems 10 have been Informed by
his ministers that n foreign envoy could not pos
sihlv be created English peer with seat In the
upper house OF Parliament. and consequently the
formaIlties IN connection with the peerage were
never completed. and the honor, such as II was.
lapsed on Sir Williams death.
notice that some Of the standard peerages de-
clare that at the Heralds College In London moth
ing whatever Is known to the right Of Sir Jacob
BoreeL the actual head OF the house. to Sir VIII
Jams baronetcy. no pedigree having been officially
REGISTERED In England since its creation But the
Boreels arc an old family OF the Dutch patriciate.
who can trace their ancestry back in an unbroken
line to the fourteenth century, at Client. and
whose lineage has been officially registered IN the
Netherlands ever since the death Of Peter Boreel.
in 155s.
II is possible that may be taken 70 task for the
use OF the word "barouetess" in order to describe
the wife OF a baronet- But while # Is true that
the use of this title has become in a measure
obsolete yet II IS nevertheless Official and was
euployed in the reign Of King James L who
founded the order Of baronets and likewise In the
reiens Of King Charles I. King Charles II and
King James H. to designate the consorts Of
barouets Indeed. King Charles ! actually con-
ferred a baronetcy upon a woman. Mary Bodies, or
Osberton. Notts. whom he created baronetess OF
Nova Scotia, while in 1856 King James II con-
ferred a baronetcy on General Cornelius spellman,
OF the Netherlands. with special clause con-
ferring on his mother the rank and title OF a
..baronetess Of England.
The great London banking house Of Coutts, where
British rnonarchs and the members OF their farni-
lies have banked and kept their private accounts
since the reign Of King George H. is about TO move
from No 80 Strand. where IL has been established
since 1892 to a handsome building which has been
completed for It's accommodation a little further
west on the opposite side of the same thorough