The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-11-21
THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS MURAT.

Old Pensacolians know the romantic
story of the Princess Murat, who was
an aunt of Mrs. Mary Dallas Strong,
now Mrs. Quicksan Of Washington. d.
c. The Prince Murat married great
aunt of Mr.. Lewis Willis of Pensa-
cola, and aunt of Mrs. Quicksall.
The following interesting story of
| the Prince and Princess Murat who
| are inferred in q Tallahassee GENE
| terry, is taken from the Southern Wo
mans Magazine. published at Nash
! vile, Tennessee:
Under the dropping oaks of Flor
ida it was once my lot to chance on
| one OF the finest Napoleonic collec-
! tions to be found outside of France.
| 1T is owned by a niece of Princess Mu-
rat wife of Prince Achille Murat son
of Joachim Murat, ,erstwhile Marechal
in the French army, husband of Caro-
line Bonaparte, and King of Naples.
Princess Murat was a southern
woman, and the first American wo-
man to gain recognition from any
European court. She was a widow
when Prince Murat met her, for at
the early age of sixteen she had mar
ried young Alfred Grey. of Willis Hall.
Fredericksbu Va, and had almost
laughed herself into Mysteries on her
wedding day. when a palmist, reading
her hand, told her that before her
death she would live close to kings
and queens. It is said that once when
She was ABOUT to start for stay at
the Tuileries. in order to assist in
the welcome of some royal visitor. she
gayIy recalled the palmist's prophecy.
The prince, happening to hear her.
gaZed curiousry at her for moment
and asked TELL me then. cherie. do
you really believe that the palmists'
foretelling this had anything to do
with it,"
"Ah. who can tell?" she retorted.
Whereupon he caught her in his arms
and kissing her French fashion on
both cheeks, cried, Mon Dieu. how
my Uncle Napoleon would have adored
your superstition" arms, have been
pleasing, for somewhat to the surprise
of all Concerned she received cor
dial welcome, based possibly on the
fact that she was a kinswoman of
George Washington. Queen Caroline
wrote her son that close relative
of the erstwhiie head of the great re-
public was eligible for marriage with
an offshoot of the ruling power of
France, and that his bride would be
welcomed at court, and naturally this
But that hers was anything but
a fateful nature is shown by the
shrewd wisdom with which she OBJ
tanned the royal sanction to her mar
riage before she was placed in q. posi-
ton to share the fate of Elizabeth
Patterson of Baltimore. whose mar
riage with Prince Jerome Bonaparte
the Emperor Napoleon had publicly
annulled.
mo doubt mindful of this woman's
unhappy fate, the young widow, Mrs.
Gray, made her acceptance OF the ar
dent Prince AchilIe Murat contingent
on the written sanction of his royal
mother and of his uncle. Louis Ma
poleon. then Emperor of France. This
cautious Difference must nave opened
other European circles TO her. Imme
diateIy after the receipt Of this letter.
and OF a more cordially persona one
from the Queen mother to the Princes
fiancee the marriage took place.
However by the time all this was
accomplished the radical prince heart
fIy tired of court etiquette. foreswore
life on the continent and purchasing a
few acres near Tallahassee, made his
home there Life in America was va
ried with an occasional visit TO Paris
where he, and especially his wife the
Princess AchiEe, as she was always
there called. received most cordial
welcome Louis Napoleon was par
tfc1llarIy devoted to his american
Princess" and required that she be
placed at his right hand when a state
dinner occurred during her stay. He
showed her especial honors in every
way, and always showered gifts upon
her when she returned home
'She was a. childless woman and
outlived the Prince. hence many Of
these gifts were bequeathed TO her ia
vorite niece and 10 her namesake,