The San Francisco call., 1907-06-16
BY William F. Mannix

M HIDDEN away IN the western part
IL Of tha Adirondack mountains. on
tia shores OF a comparatively
tnsignincant but lovely little
body OF water. now down upon the
maps as Lake Bonaparte, was the scene
OF perhaps the nearest approach to a
royal court ever known on the North
American continent. Here during the
summer and fall months Of several
years Joseph Bonaparte. formerly king
OF Spain and Naples and brother ef
Napoleon. lived, hshed and hunted, and.
gathering about him many mobiles and
nOtables of Europe, talked and dreamed
OF an American empire. Here followers
Of the fortunes OF Napoleon I gaze
grave consideration to the establish
ment OF q Bonapartist monarchy in the
new world and looked forward to the
day when the prisoner of st. Helena
would again WELD the scepter OF i'm
Perial power.
That the great corsican himself
dreamed Of freedom from his island
prison and the CALLING chains Of Britain
and that he looked to America as the
most promising field for the rehabilita-
tion OF his imperial fortunes, has long
been the belief Of far Seeing historians
fortified. however. by but fragmen-
tary bits Of evidence, not at all direct.
There were other researchers. though,
who claimed 70 doubt that the Man
OF monarchical honors and prerogatives,
either in Europe or America. and still
others have fatty asserted that Ma
poleon, without courage or ambition
because Of his long period of exile.
wished only for a quiet freedom in his
native Corsica
Bequest of the Diary
A new light has been thrown upon
this most fascinating subject, and from
the least expected source; indeed, Il
source scarcely known TO sexist-the
diary OF the Count Jean de BaImat. con-
fdentiaI friend and agent of Joseph
Bonaparte, who prepared for the for
mer king his "mansion" in the Adiron-
dack wilds and was privy to the most
personal affairs OF Joseph. He was as
well participator in the many coun-
cils. social and semiohiciaI. which were
held on the shore OF lovely Lake Bona
parte. situated IN that then remote
region OF the new world.
Count Balmats diary-a very ordi-
nary appearing volume OF some $50
pages, about half OF which are still
blank and bound (outside its original
cover) with untanned deerskin-is, IN
view OF its contents, an almost price
less historical treasure. That the count
intended il TO be g careful record OF
the events within his particular OBJ
servation and sine and, a such, a val
liable document for future generations,
is shown by the fact that ne was care
fuI in his viii TO becueath It to the
French COVER S1aent through his son.
David de Balrat upon the Iatters
death.
David, at the age Of 81. died a short
time ago. He was nst ill many days.
but when he found himself approaching
the end, he sent for his friends, the
Rev. Father T. X. Turgeon Of Three
Rivers, Quebec; Captain r. r. James
OF Montrel and Justice OF the Peace
Samuel Vidal of Long Lake, ~ Y, and
to their joint care intrusted the book,
20 be forwarded by them to the French
Academy. in compliance with note OF
some years ago from the government
OF France regs-ding It's proper dis
posaI under the VIII OF Count Jean.
Attached within the diary and plain
2 number sof letters, pasted and folded
IN at the edges. One of them is long
enistle from Robespierre to Count de
Ralmat himself in which the famous
minister refers to q former disagree
able incident" between them and hopes
that no .ill viii remains in the heart
~ GOOD Jean" Another letter IS from
Joseph Bonaparte, written at Borden
town. n. J., in which. among other
things, he says:
1T will not be long until ] am with
YOU again in our little France but as
c-orae and La Mont you know their
families. both--are going with the dou-
ceur, send you nappy greetings.
Make use OF so fluch of the 'douceur'
as Won have occasion in repairing the
surroundings and the wood road.
viii have some nezv friends 'rhen
come and letters that viii interest and
amuse you. The madame sends greet
ing 70 Madame de Balmat. and is strug-
Cling for the present with an early
desire TO be in the forests"
The diary speaks some weeks later
august 81 OF the arrival Of the @cou-
aaux- IN the shape ~ Spanish gold.