The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-20
]

When jerome Bonaparte landed at Nor
folk. Va, on July 20, 1903, he seems to have
been sincere in his intention of proceeding
at once to France in n neutral vessel. Four
days later, he was in Baltimore, where every
door was thrown open to him as soon as it
became known that the young lieutenant
was no less a person than a brother Of the
famous First Consul of France. He seems
to have arrived in the States with a good
deal OF money, drawn presumably from
France through Napoleon's secretary, Bour-
rienne, and he was already a master in the
art of spending. With his prodigality, his
rood manners and his moderately good
looks, he had no difficulty in getting himself
taken at his own valuation by the citizens
Of the little Maryland seaport. To any one
possessing even the slightest acquaintance
with Jerome's life, 1t is quite needless to say
that he did not avoid ladies' society during
his stay in America. 1t is to his credit,
however, that his only known love affair in
the States was, in its beginning, honorable.
Unfortunately, the romance had not long
developed into marriage before it assumed
an aspect entirely ~disgraceful to Jerome.
That he suffered before consenting to his
own dishonor is the only mitigation which
can be urged, and his suffering was small
beside that of his deserted wife.
Elizabeth Patterson was Is years OF
age when she met Jerome Bopaparte. The
fact is here recalled that she was the eldest
daughter in a family of thirteen children
born to William Patterson, an Irish farmers
son who had come to Philadelphia at the
age of IA, and who, from a humble place
in a shipping merchants counting house,
had risen to a commercial and social posi-
ton second to none in his adopted country.
President Thomas jefferson, writing to the
United States Minister in Paris at the time
Of Flizabeth's marriage to Jerome, described
her father as "a man Of great worth and OF
great responsibility, and the family's social
standing as "the first in the United States"
He had given large sums of money in sup
port of the war for independence and was
q friend of all the American leaders in that
struggle. The esteem in which he was held
and his wealth united to make his eldest
daughter prominent in Baltimore, apart
from her good looks; and she was, in addi-
ton. the belle Of the town. She is described
as having possessed %the pure Grecian
contour We read that "her head was
~exouisitely formed, her forehead was fair
ana SIaDGly, HeI tJob ihi &c oilu uoi .
with an expression Of tenderness which did
not belong to her character; and the delicate
loneliness of her mouth and chin, together
with her beautifully rounded shoulders and
tapering arms, combined to form one
OF the l~oveliest OF women The Amor
lean verdict on her beauty was Endorsed
by Europe afterward. Nine. Junot
found in her appearance a distinct re-
semblance to Pauline, the most beautiful
Of the Bonaparte women. With regard to
her mental accomplishments. Elizabeth
P Patterson has been variously described,
according to the writer's bias, as we'll edu-
Gated and as quite ignorant. When she
married Jerome her chief characteristic
seem to have been ambition, love of pleasure
and self-will. Under the influence OF the
cruel fate which the B~onaparte family
brought upon her she developed an admir-
able courage and a less admirable but
pardonable hardness. Her native wit,
perhaps stimulated by early reading, was
trained by undeserved humiliation into a
bitterness, which caused it to be said of her
afterward that she charmed with her eyes
while she slew with her tongue. She has
suffered somewhat in reputation from the
NlIlultllNc 'tlClpliNc w iNi ~ ioi iosHci n
will. The vindictiveness may not have
been justified. but her side Of the case has
not been set forth in any document known
to the author Of this biography.
William Patterson has been accused OF
secretly promoting the match, but he I'M
u~uestionably made a considerable outward
show Of opposition. Writing to the United
States Minister in Paris. he declared that he
had never encouraged Jerome, but had re-
sisted his pretensions by every means in
his power consistent with discretion; finding,
however, that nothing short OF force or vio-
lence could prevent the union, he had, with
much reluctance, consented. 1t is n fact
that he sent his daughter 10 Virginia to
place her out of Jerome's reach, but the two
were determined to have their way, and
ultimately abe US permitted to return to