Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 924028271 330 J i\ I JJ "< VfJN'Jf'J'Lf^U'Bt^ LO un s rmfr iQi pJr, fli w u THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY NAPOLEON THE THIRD, EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH; )i0pa;p|inl i^fftitis MOST DISTINGUISHED MINISTERS, GENEEAIS, EELATIVES. AND FAVORITES, AND VARIOUS DETAILS DESCRIPTIVE OF FRANCE UNDER THE SECOND EMPIRE. BY SAMUEL M. SMUCKER, A.M., AUTHOR OP " COIJKT AND REIgVoF CATHERINE n ;" " HISTORY OP NICHOLAS I. OP RUSSIA ;* "LIFE OP ALEXANDER HAMILTON;" "LIFE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON;" "MEMO- RABLE SCENES IN FpENOH HISTORY ;" " LIFE OF DR. E. K. KANE," ETC. PHILADELPHIA: J. W. BRADLEY, 48 NORTH FOURTH ST 1859. Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by SAMUEL M. SMUCKER, tn the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern DisUict of Pennsylvania. BTEREOITPED BT J. FAQAB. PREFACE. Evert age produces its master-spirits ; and it is absurd at this late day to deny that Louis Napoleon occupies that position in reference to the present cen- tury. It is equally evident that he has already fulfilled his mission; or that he has at^least achieved the greater part of the brilliant or the tragical destiny which may have been allotted him. He has revived the defunct empire of the great Corsican ; he has in- herited his colossal power ; and he now sits upon that perilous throne which was formerly purchased by the blood and tears of a continent. There is henceforth little more of consequence which Louis Napoleon can accomplish. He may indeed live in the enjoyment of his imperial state for some time to come; but beside this, the brief record of his future history will very probably comprise but one thing more : that he will either be dethroned, or be assassinated, or will die in his bed with all his blushing honors thick upon him. In preparing the following work for the press the author has exhausted all the reliable materials which were accessible. These include everything that is valuable, which the literatures of France and England contain in reference to the subject. Several »biogra- (iz) X PREFACE. pMes of the Emperor of the French have already appeared in this country ; yet none of them are com- plete even as far as they go ; none bring the narrative of events down to the present time ; all of them speak of the subject of their narratives with the exagge- rated ardor and unfair coloring of partisans ; and they have been indiscriminate either in their censure or their praise. The present writer has endeavored to avoid these errors ; he is not conscious of yielding to the least degree of prejudice in either direction; and he has aimed at elaborating such a history of the public and private career of Louis Napoleon in all its stages, as will describe it precisely as it occurred. The reader himself will judge how far the author has been successful in achieving a correct historical por- trait of the most extraordinary man, beyond all com- parison, who has flourished during the middle epoch of the nineteenth century. The biography of Napoleon III. does not occupy the whole of the present volume. It had been easy by the use of larger type to have filled all the allotted space with that portion of the work alone ; but the writer has endeavored to render it more valuable by the addition of other interesting and useful matter which illustrates the history of the French Emperor. These articles form Part Second of the work. SAMUEL M. SMDCKER. Phiiadelphia, July, 1858. €zn\tuU. CHAPTER I. FAfll Splendor of the Napoleonic Dynasty — Relative Importance of , Louis Napoleon in that Dynasty — His Birth — His supposed Hlegitimacy — His Infancy — Interest felt by Napoleon I. in his fate — The Fall of the Emperor — Heroism of Hortense — Her Departure from Paris with her Sons — Her Residence at Malmaison — Death of Josephine — Boyhood of Louis Napo- leon — His early Education — Napoleon's return from Elba — Waterloo — Capitulation of Paris — Flight of Hortense and her Sons — Her Residence at Aix — Her Husband demands their eldest Son — Her Residence at Constance — " Pariant vour la Syrie^' — College Studies of Louis Napoleon — Hor- tense purchases th« Estate of Arenemberg — Her occasional Residence at Rome — Progress of Louis Napoleon in Mili- tary Studies — The Revolution of July, 1830 2] CHAPTER II. Outbreak of the Revolution in Italy — Secret Conclave of the Bonapartes in Rome — Louis Napoleon commanded to with- draw from the Papal Capital — He joins the Revolutionists — Death of his elder Brother at Faenza — His own Sickness — His Arrival at Paris with his Mother — Their reception by Louis Philippe — Compelled to retire to England — Their removal to Arenemberg in Switzerland — The Polish Revo- (xi) XII CONTENTS. lution — Death of the Duke of Reiehstadt — Louis Napoleon complimented by the Polish Refugees — His private studies at Arenemberg — Publishes his Reveries Politiques — Nature and Contents of this Work — He publishes his " Consideror tions Politicpies et Militaires sur la Suisse'' — Character of this Work — Compliments of the Helvetic Diet — Louis Na- poleon invited to marry the Queen of Portugal — His reasons for refusing to do so 39 CHAPTER III. Pursuits and studies of Louis Napoleon at Arenemberg — His Manual of Artillery — Character of that work — He begins to plot — The Escapade of Strasburg — State of public feeling in France at that period — Unpopularity of Louis Philippe — Preparations for the plot at Arenemberg — The Hunting Party — The Prince arrives at Baden-Baden — He meets Madame Gordon — Her Beauty and Talents — Her former History — She becomes a Devotee to the Prince — His arrival at Strasburg — Meeting of the Conspirators — Suspicions aroused and allayed — Six o'clock arrives — Colonel Vaudrey — Submission of the Fourth Regiment — General Voirol — The Prince's Identity denied — Total and rapid Failure of the Conspiracy — Arrest of the Conspirators — Examination and Responses of Louis Napoleon 53 CHAPTER IV. Presence of mind and Intrepidity of Madame Gordon — Her Trial and Acquittal — Her subsequent Fate — The Gratitude of Louis Napoleon— His removal to Paris^Intercessions of Queen Hortenae in his behalf— The Prince Banished — His voyage to Rio Janeiro — His arrival at New York — His con- duct in the United States — Letter from Hortense — His Re- turn to Switzerland — Death of Hortense — Brochure of M. Persigny — Republished by M. Laity— Letter of Louis Napo- leon to Laity — Louis Philippe demands his Expulsion from Switzerland — The Cantons Refuse — War threatened Voluntary withdrawal of the Prince — He goes to England CONTENTS. Xiii — PubUahes his " Idees Napoleoniennes" — Gore House — The Countess of Blessington — Lord Eglinton — The Prince's habits of Dissipation in London — His connection with Mrs. Howard — Her History and Career 65 CHAPTER V. Louis Napoleon in England — The Insurrection of Barbes — False Opinions as to the State of Peelings in Prance — The Affair of Boulogne — Want of Organization and Preparation in France — Louis Napoleon and his Friends embark on the " City of Edinburgh" — Their arrival on the Coast of France — They Disembark — Proclamation to the Soldiers — Attempt to corrupt the Garrison of Boulogne — Partial Success — Subse- quent Failure — Arrest of Louis Napoleon and his Associates — Colonel Puygillier — Trial of the Conspirators — Evidence against them — Eloquence of Counsel — Berryer — Ferdinand Barrot — Conviction of the Prisoners — Their Sentence — Louis Napoleon condemned to Imprisonment for Life — The Fortress of Ham — Prevalent Opinions in reference to the Affair of Boulogne — Its peculiar Error — Its advantageous Results on the subsequent Fate of Louis Napoleon 80 CHAPTER VI. Origin and History of the Fortress of Ham — Its situation and appearance — Louis Napoleon conveyed thither — His Rigor- ous treatment — His Protest to the French Government — Removal of Napoleon's Remains from St. Helena — Louis Napoleon writes and publishes his " Historical Fragments" — His "Considerations sur la Question des Sucres" — His " Extinction of Pauperism" — His " Canal Napoleon de Nicor ragua" — The Prince desires to visit his Dying Father — The Request Refused — He determines to Escape from Ham — The Astuteness and Ability of the Plan adopted — The Prince's Costume — He leaves his Prison and evades the Scrutiny of the Guards — Adroitness of Th61in — The Prince reaches Valenciennes, Brussels, Ostend, England — The skil- ful proceedings of Dr. Conneau — The Astonishment and 2 Xiv CONTENTS. Terror of the Commandant — The Prince refused Passports to Florence by the Tuscan Minister 92 CHAPTER VII. Interview of the Prince with Count d'Orsay — Lady Douglass- Death of the ex-King of Holland — The "Melanges Politiques" — History of the Downfall of Louis Philippe — State of Poli- tics in France — The Monster Banquets — Popular Tumults — M. M0II6 — The new Ministry of Thiers — Delusion of the King — His Flight from Paris — Establishment of the Pro- visional Government — Letters of Louis Napoleon to the Provisional Government — His Return to London — He is elected a Representative by Four Departments — His Letters to the Electors and to the Assembly — He sends in his Resig- nation as Representative to the Assembly — Popular Tumults — Cavaignac appointed Dictator — Louis Napoleon re-elected Representative by Five Departments — His appearance in the Assembly — His Speech — Decree of Banishment against the Bonapartes annulled 108 CHAPTER VIII. The new Constitution — Candidates for the Presidency — Cavaignac — Ledru Rollin — The Immortal "Name" — Ac- tivity of the Partisans of Louis Napoleon — Manifestoes of the Candidates — Results of the Election — Inauguration of President Louis Napoleon — Difficulties of his Position — De- fects of the New Constitution— The Cabinet of the President — Activity and violence of the Red Republican Clubs — Fouchet's Bill for their Suppression — Ledru Rollin pro- poses the Impeachment of the Ministers — The President's Intrepidity — Conspiracy against him throughout Prance — Opposition to him in the Assembly — Revolution in the Ecclesiastical States — Roman Republic proclaimed — Maz- zini and Garibaldi — Defeat of General Oudinot — The new Legislative Assembly — Louis Napoleon's Message to the Assembly — Downfall of the Roman Republic 123 CONTENTS. XV CHAPTER IX. Louis Napoleon in the Workshops of Paris — Incidents and Escapes — His Tour through the Provinces — Committee of Permanence — Decree permitting the Return of the Bour- bons — The President's Letter to Colonel Ney — Duel between Thiers and Bixio — Victor Hugo's Hostility to the President — New Ministers appointed — Sudden growth of Socialism — Election of Representatives — The Law of Universal Suffrage — Increasing Hostility of the Assembly to the President — In- crease of the President's Salary — His second Tour through the Provinces— Hostility of Changarnier to the President — The Reviews at Satory — Conspiracy to Arrest the President — The False Message — The Revision of the Constitution dis- cussed — The President's Speech at Dijon — Universal Suf- frage again discussed — ^New Cabinet of the President — State of France — Approach of the Decisive Moment for Action . . 137 CHAPTER X. The Ccmp d'Etat — Ball at the Elysie Palace — Louis Napoleon in his Cabinet — Printing of the Proclamations — Their Distri- bution throughout the Capital — Simultaneous Arrest of the chief Enemies of the President — The Soldiers take posses- sion of the Hall of the Assembly — Fragments of the Assem- bly convene elsewhere — Events of Wednesday — Prepara- tions for Thursday — Appearance of Paris on Thursday — The Military — The Barricades — Massacres in the Streets — Rout of the Insurgents — Defeat of the Red Republicans — Number of Killed and Wounded — Louis Napoleon's Pro- clamation — The General Election — The President's Active Measures — The Results of the Ballots — Louis Napoleon President for Ten Years — TeDeum — The President removes to the Tuilleries — His subsequent Proceedings — General Changarnier — Cavaignao — Lamorici6re — General Lefl8 — General Bedeau — La Grange — M. Grippo — Colonel Charras — M. Roger (du Nord) — M. Baze — M. Thiers— The consterna- XVI CONTENTS. tion of the Historian of the Bevolution, The Consulate and the Empire 152 CHAPTBE XI. Progress of Louis Napoleon's Ambition — The Empire — Popu- lar Acts of GoTernment — The new Constitution — The Preva- lence of Alarm — Growth of Socialism — The President's Journey through the Provinces — The Infernal Machine at Marseilles — Decree against the Property of the Orleans* Family — Excuses for that Decree — The Restoration of the Empire — Return of the Votes — Reign of Terror — Proposals for the Marriage of the Emperor — Their Refusal — The Parisian Belle — Qualities of the Countess de Teba — She is selected by Louis Napoleon as his Empress — His Address to the Senate — The Imperial Nuptials — Imposing Ceremonies on the Occasion — National Rejoicings and Congratulations — The Emperor's Address to the Senate — Prospects of the Empire 172 CHAPTER XII. Origin of the War in the Crimea — Insulting Letter of Nicholas I. to the French Emperor — ^Early History of the Crimea — The Empress Catherine II. — She subjugates the Crimea — Origin of Sevastopol — Nicholas I. resolves on the Conquest of Turkey — The Holy Places in Palestine — Communications between Nicholas and the British Government — The War — ■ The Peace — The Treaty of Paris — Provisions of the Treaty — Louis Napoleon the real Hero of the War — The English Press and its Adulation of him — A Contrast — Visit of Louis Napoleon to Queen Victoria — Extract from the London Times — Addresses by Corporations — Attempt to Assassinate Louis Napoleon in Paris — Visit of Queen Victoria to Louis Napoleon — The Exhibition of the World's Industry — The French Press on the English Alliance — Birth of the Prince of Algeria — Frantic Joy of the Nation — Addresses of Con- gratulation — The Emperor's Reply to the Senate — His Pious Response to the Corps ieicuZo^i/— Abd-el-Kader— Barbes. . . 185 CONTENTS. XVU CHAPTER XIII. The Relations of Louis Napoleon to Marslial St. Arnaud — The Army of the Allies — St. Arnaud and the Coup d'Etat — He takes no part in the Revolution of February — Leading Qualities of St. Arnaud — His peculiar Afflictions — His Suc- cesses — The Slanders which those Successes elicited — The Mental Tortures which they Inflicted on him — His only Remedy — St. Arnaud and the Priest — He is appointed Com- mander of the Army of the Bast — Suffers under a dreadful fatal Disease — Proceedings at Varna — Embarkation for the Crimea — Battle of the Alma — Heroism of the Zou.ivos — Exertions of St. Arnaud — The Victory — He sleeps on the Battle-field — His Farewell to the Army — Resigns the Com- mand to General Canrobert — His Death 204 CHAPTER XIV. General Canrobert — His peculiar Genius — His remarkable Activity and Vigilance — His personal Appearance — His Birth and Youth — His Exploits in Algiers — His Conduct in the Crimea — He succeeds St. Arnaud to the Chief Command — Lord Radcliffe — Difficulties of Canrobert's Position — He Resigns the Chief Command — He is the victim of Diplomacy — His Mission to Sweden — A Greek Myth — The Future of Canrobert and Pelissier 216 CHAPTER XV. The great Rival of Louis Napoleon — Marshal Bugeaud's esti- mate of Cavaignac — A better Estimate of him — His conduct as Dictator of France — Cavaignac's Birth and early History — He makes the Campaign of the Morea — Policy of Louis Philippe — Cavaignac is sent to Algiers — His Bravery and Ability there— The Revolution of 1848 in France— The Pro- visional Government appoint him Governor-General of Al- giers — He declines the Office of Minister of War — Resent- 2* XTlii CONTENTS. ment of the Provisional Government — He accepts the post of Minister of War from the Republic— The Downfall of the Executive Commission — Cavaignao appointed Dictator of France — His Cabinet — Results of his Measures — Louis Napoleon elected President — Subsequent insignificance of Cavaignac — He is arrested at the Coup d'Eiat — Conduct of Mademoiselle Odier — Correspondence between Cavaignao and De Morny — Cavaignac's release from Prison — His mar- riage to Mdlle. Odier — His subsequent Obscurity — His Death 223 CHAPTER XVI. Louis Napoleon's Reputation for Gallantry — "Was always re- garded in England as a bad matrimonial match — He is rejected by Miss Belleu — He afterward Rejects Tier — The Princess Mathilde — Louis Napoleon's Intrigue with Mdlle. Lautre — His connection with the Countess de Castiglione — Despair of the Empress — The Opera of Joconde — The Count De Morny — The Prince Walewski — Influence of Louis Napoleon's reign on French Society — The contrast between its Influence and that of Charles X. and Louis Philippe ■ ■ . . 234 CHAPTER XVII. The visit of Napoleon III. and Eugenie to England in 1855 — The Journey of Queen Victoria to Paris — The Inundations in France in 1856 — Louis Napoleon's great Administrative Talent — The pacific Splendors of the Empire — Visit of the Grand Duke Constahtine of Russia to Paris — Review of Troops in the Capital in 1857 — The magnificent Coup d'CEil — Louis Napoleon's Etat Major — Private Amusements of the French Court — Pol'itical Apathy in France — Causes of that Apathy — The " Council of Regency" — The Elections throughout France in June, 1857 — Attempted Assassina- tions 241 CONTENTS. Xix PART SECOND. NAPOLEONIC MISCELLANY. No. I. Louis Napoleon's Views of the English Kevolution ; from his " Historical Fragments" 251 No. II. Louis Napoleon's Letter respecting his Father, to the Minister of the Interior 256 No. IIL Letter to Louis Napoleon respecting the Nicaragua Canal. . . . 256 No. IV. Letter of Odillon Barrot to the Prince Napoleon 259 No. V. Louis Napoleon's Letter to M. Vieillard 260 No. VL Letter of Louis Napoleon to the National Assembly 262 No. VII. Curious Scene in the National Assembly 262 No. VIII. Speech of Louis Napoleon in the National Assembly 265 No. IX. First Inaugural Address of President Napoleon 268 No. X. Letter of Louis Napoleon to his Cousin 269 XX CONTENTS. No. XI. Proclamation of Louis Napoleon, the President of the Repub- lic of the French People 270 No. XII. Annual Message of President Napoleon to the Assembly, November, 1850 271 No. XIII. Famous Speech of President Napoleon at Dijon 273 No. XIV. Second Annual Message of President Napoleon 275 No. XV. Memoir of Louis Bonaparte, ex-King of Holland 279 No. XVI. Memoir of Hortense Beauharnois, ex-Queen of Holland 296 No. XVII. Rivals of Napoleon III. to the Throne of France 383 PUBLIC AND PEIVATE HISTORY OF NAPOLEON THE THIED. CHAPTER I. Splendor of the Napoleonic Dynasty — -Relative Importance of Lonia Napoleon in that Dynasty — His Birth — His supposed Dlegitimacy — • His Infancy — Interest felt by Napoleon I. in his fate — The Fall of the Emperor — Heroism of Horteuse — Her Departure from Paris with her Sons — Her Residence at Malmaison — Death of Josephine — Boyhood of Louis Napoleon — His early Education — Napoleon's return from Elba — Waterloo — Capitulation of Paris — Flight of Hor- tense and her Sons — Her Residence at Aix — Her Husband demands their eldest Son — Her Residence at Constance — " Partant pour la Syrie" — College Studies of Louis Napoleon — Hortense purchases the estate of Arenemberg — Her occasional Residence at Rome — Pro- gress of Louis Napoleon in Military Studies — The Revolution of July, 1830. The career of the great Napoleonic dynasty is without a parallel either in ancient or modern times. The universal judgment of mankind has long since decided, that its founder, Napoleon I., was in every respect as great a hero, and pro- bably a greater, than Alexander, C»sar, or Charlemagne, the three most renowned representatives of ambitious and martial daring in the world's history. It has been conceded that the variety and, extent of Napoleon's abilities, both as a com- mander, a legislator, and a ruler, place him above all his rivals. It is also granted that the splendor of his victories, the extent of his conquests, and the grandeur of his elevation, exceeded theirs in an eminent degree. (21) 22 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY But in addition to all these elements of superior greatness, it must be admitted that the family of Napoleon I. add an unequal attraction and halo to his career. Neither of his illustrious rivals could boast of a wife as graceful and be- witching as Josephine, or as high-born and nobly descended as Maria Louisa. None of them possessed a sister who, like Pauline, deserved the distinction of being called the most beautiful and fascinating woman of her time. None could point to a Caroline who combined beauty, intrepidity, and talent, in so pre-eminent a measure. None of them could claim brothers as sagacious as Joseph, as gallant as Murat, as romantic as Jerome, as capable as Lucien. None of these rival conquerors could point to as many relatives who were sovereign princes and princesses, and who owed their dizzy eminence to his own powerful arm. And none of them had a successor equal in talent, and in desperate, successful daring, to Napoleon III. It must be admitted, also, that the present Emperor of the French is the second personage in point of consequence, celebrity, and interest, among all that illustrious company who bear the name and share the glory of the Bona- partes ; and that his career possesses an importance and splendor, inferior only to that of the great head of the family himself. Charles Louis NAroLEON Bonaparte was born at Paris on the 20th of April, 1808. He was the third and only sur- viving son of Louis Napoleon, the King of Holland, and Hor- tense, the daughter of the Empress Josephine, by her first hus- band, the Viscount de Beauharnois. The infant prince first saw the light at one o'clock, and the Chancellor of the Empire immediately wrote to the Emperor, the Empress, and to Louis Napoleon, informing them of the happy event. At five o'clock in the evening the act of birth was received by the Arch-Chancellor, assisted by his eminence, Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, the minister of state, and secretary of the imperial family. Salvos of artillery announced the happy event along the whole line of the gj-a7ide armie, through- OF NAPOLEON III. 23 out the entire extent of the empire, from Hamburg to Genoa, from the Danube to the Atlantic. This was an honor which fell to the lot of only two members of the imperial family, Louis Napoleon, and the King of Rome ; for they only were born under the imperial regime. Notwithstanding these and other testimonials of the legiti- macy of Louis Napoleon, it has been gravely asserted by au- thorities of no mean importance, that not a drop of Bona- parte blood flows in his veins ; and that he is, in reality, the son of the favorite lover of Hortense, Admiral Verhuel, a Dutch nobleman connected with the court of her husband, while king of Holland. It is well known that the marriage between Louis Bonaparte and Hortense was a compulsory one, brought about by the tears and persuasions of Josephine. Napoleon's Minister of Police, the celebrated Pouchy, boldly asserts in his Memoirs, that Hortense was then already preg- nant by the Emperor ; that the latter first determined to marry her immediately to Duroc ; that Duroc positively re- fused, being engaged to another lady whom he loved ; and that then Louis was absolutely commanded to accede to a union with the daughter of Josephine. Subsequent events seemed indeed to give the color of truth to these assertions. From the day of that union, the young couple,never pretended to entertain the least affection for each other. From January the 20th, 1802, the date of the marriage, down till September, 1807, the period of their separation, they never resided toge- ther more than four months, and that at very remote inter- vals. Some months after their final separation, and after Hortense had taken up her permanent residence in Paris, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was born. The strongest proof which supports the assertion of the illegitimacy of his birth, is his own peculiarly apathetic Dutch temperament ; a tem- perament such as no other Frenchman ever possessed since the national existence began. To this may be added the total want of any resemblance in his features to the Napoleon family, and their very considerable similarity to those of the courtly and accomplished Dutch Admiral already referred to. 24 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY The family of Hortense and Louis Bonaparte consisted of the eldest son, called Napoleon Louis Charles, born in 1802, who died in ISOt ; the second son named Napoleon Louis, who was born in 1804, was baptized by Pope Pius YIL, and who died in 1831 ; and the subject of this history. The family register of the Bonapartes which contained the evi- ' dence of the right of the succession, had been deposited in the keeping of the Senate. By the Plehiscite of the year 1804, the children of the brothers of Napoleon I., in the ab- sence of his own direct heirs, were entitled to the succession to the throne in the order of their ages. Accordingly,, at the period of his birth, Louis Napoleon was regarded as the second heir of the empire, and considerable interest clustered around his person from his earliest years, as one who might perhaps be reserved by the mysterious vicissitudes of fate, for a brilliant or at least a checkered destiny. He was baptized in 1810 by Cardinal Fesch, with great splendor, at Fontain- bleau, the Emperor and Maria Louisa themselves acting as sponsors. His earliest years were spent in his mother's private resi- dence in the Rue Cerutti, now Lafitte, in Paris. She was his first preceptor ; and she was well fitted for the task. Hor- tense was a woman of great intelligence, refinement and taste. Herself educated by the accomplished Madame Campan, she possessed a well-cultivated mind. She had, when quite a girl, distinguished herself in the celebrated school d'Ecouen, by her superior talents for music and drawing. She was learned, witty, and exceedingly attractive in her manners. In a word, she was worthy to be the daughter of Josephine. She reared her two sons with great strictness ; and the severity of the training to which she subjected them, was intended both to enlarge and cultivate their minds, as well as to strengthen and develop their bodies.' ' Horlense was, in all respects, a remarkable woman ; beautiful in person, in organization peculiarly delicate, feeble in health, flexible in her principles ; yet, when a resolution had once been adopted, she dla- OF NAPOLEON III. 25 Napoleon himself took a deep interest in the progress of the boys. He frequently sent for them, while he was break- fasting hastily in his cabinet, in order to converse with them, to ascertain their progress in learning, and to scrutinize the displays or evidences which they might give of intelligence and talent. Not even the subsequent birth of the king of Rome seemed to diminish the intense interest which Napoleon felt in the children of Hortense. His sagacious mind well appreciated the uncertainties of human life, and the possibility of the death of his direct heir. There is ample evidence to prove, that both in prosperity and misfortune, until the end of his marvellous career at St. Helena, the great conqueror regarded the fate of the two sons of Hortense with solicitude, and watched their career with a vigilant eye. Louis Napoleon continued to reside in Paris with his mother till 1814. During the interval between this period and the separation of his parents, his father had led a retired life at Gratz, in Germany. When the first great disasters of Napo- played so much tenacity of purpose as to expose her justly to the ch.arge of obstinacy. Tn courage, whether active or passive, she was uncon- querable. To the unfortunate, she was kind and generous; she was affectionate in her friendships ; and, towards her children, tender, gentle, and full of solicitude. But her ruling passion was attachment to Napo- leon I., which, in times of great difficulty and danger, overmastered even her maternal feelings, and led her for his sake to set the whole world and her own interests at defiance. , Hortense possessed the, most beautiful and luxuriant hair, of a light shining blonde, tinged with an ashen hue, which imparted to it an ex- traordinary appearance. It was nearly long enough to reach the ground, and when she sat upon a chair to have it dressed, she suffered it to fall over her whole figure like a veil, and trail on all sides upon the floor. Even at such times her two little sons were always present, and often used to amuse themselves by hiding in turn under their mother's hair, and bolting out suddenly to produce a laugh. When she was dressed they generally went down with her to the carriage-door, one of the little fellows carrying her gloves and shawl, the other performing the duties of a page, and bearing her ample train. — Life of Louis Napo- leon, by J. A. St. John, p. 8. 3 26 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY leon occurred after the Russian expedition, when the mighty Colossus who had so long overawed the world lay prostrate on the earth, the former king of Holland hastened to Paris. When the allied armies drew their vast lines closely around the French capital, Hortense was undismayed by the dangers which surrounded the imperial family, and remained. She actively employed herself in procuring relief for the thousands of wounded French soldiers who crowded the hospitals of Paris. She praised the fortitude of her husband in remaining near the Emperor. No perils nor threats could appal her ; and she displayed pre-eminently on this occasion the leading attribute of her character, which was. the secret of all her domestic difficulties and troubles — her unconquerable ob- stinacy. "When she beheld Maria Louisa desert with cowardice and pusillanimity the capital of her husband's Empire, thus betraying his dearest interests in the moment of his greatest peril, she gave way to excusable paroxysms of rage, and exclaimed to the Empress, " I am incensed at the weakness which I see. You intend to destroy France and the Emperor. You must be aware that by quitting Paris you neutralize its defence and lose your crown. You make the sacrifice with great resignation !" "You are right," replied the pliant Austrian princess ; "but it is not my fault. The council have thus decided." Hortense being asked what she intended to do, answered : " I shall remain at Paris, and will share with the Parisians all their fortunes, be they good or bad." "I wish," said she, energetically, "that I were the mother of the King of Pvome ; I would inspire all around me with the energy I could exhibit." Speaking to Regnault, the Colonel of the National Guard, she said : " Unfortunately I cannot fill the place of the Empress; but I do not doubt that the Emperor is executing manoinvres which will soon conduct him hither. Paris must hold out ; and if the National Guard is willing to defend it, tell them that I pledge myself to remain here with my sons." Such was the heroism and determination of the mother of OF NAPOLEON III. 2T Jie present Emperor of France, and such the noble example which she gave to him, and to the world, of devotion to the interests of her illustrious benefactor. After all was lost, Hortense was directed by her husband to send him their children in order to convey them to a place of safety, as they might be taken by the enemy as hostages. She accordingly left Paris only two days before the entry of the allies. She commenced her sad journey at nine o'clock at night, taking the road to Glatigny. When she reached Ram- bouillet, she received an order from her husband to repair with her children to Blois. She considered this requisition as an insult, and exclaimed, with her usual determination and obsti- nacy, which had long before induced her brother Eugene to call her his Dear Stubborn — " I was going to Blois, but since I am ordered to go, I will not go." She crossed the forest of Rambouillet, even at the risk of being captured by the Russians, and reached Navarre, whither her mother Josephine had taken refuge.^ At this retreat Hortense was undetermined what to do. 1 The folio-wing anecdote is told in reference to Prince Louis and the celebrated Madame de Stael: On one occasion, hating dazzled and bewildered every one else, she turned to the children of Hortense, resolved apparently to extort admiration even from them. But children form a world by themselves, and require to be subdued by very different arts from those which succeed with grown-up people. She overwhelmed the young princes with questions ; she investigated, she made long speeches, and she at length inspired them with intense ennui. " Do you love your uncle ?" she inquired. "Very much." " Do you think you shall be as fond of war as he is?" "Yes, I should be, if it did not cause so much evil." "Is it true that your uncle often used to make you repeat the fable which begins with these words — 'The reason of the most powerful is always the best ?' " " Madame, he often used to make me repeat fables, but not that one oftener than any other." The younger Napoleon, who had a judgment beyond his age, replied to her with great calmness and circumspection, and when the dialogue was over came to Madame Boubers, saying, " That lady is a great question- monger; I wonder,, now, if that is what people call genius!" — Set Life of Louis Napoleon, by J. A. St. John, p. 50. 28 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY Once she thought of retiring to Martinique and residing upon the family estate which her mother still possessed in that island. This project however was soon given up. After the allies entered Paris, her elegant hotel was occupied by Swedish officers ; but having soon received assurances from the Em- peror Alexander that she and her mother should be protected, and their interests provided for, she returned to the capital with her sons, and there awaited the final issue of events. It was stipulated by Napoleon in the act of abdication at Fon- tainbleau, that Hortense should receive a permanent yearly revenue of four hundred thousand francs, and that she should retain possession of her sons. Through the influence of the Russian monarch, her estate of St. Leu was erected into a duchy, of which she took the title and the dignities. The government of Louis XVIII., however, did not treat the fallen queen with the same generosity. A portion of the forest of St. Leu was restored by him to its ancient proprie- tor, the Prince de Conde ; the sum of six hundred thousand francs, which had been deposited by Napoleon in the hands of the Receiver-General of Blois, to the credit of herself and Josephine, was given to the Duke d'Angouleme ; and the in- scription on the national treasury of a million and a half of francs, which "Napoleon had guaranteed to Hortense, was repealed. After the departure of Napoleon to Elba, Hortense resided with her two sons chiefly at Malmaison with her mother. Here the family were frequently visited by the illustrious strangers who were then in Paris, and especially by the Em- peror Alexander. It is said that on one occasion, Alexander, Josephine, Prince Eugene, and Hortense, with her two sons, visited together the works of Marly, in the vicinity of Mal- maison ; that Alexander's dress was on the point of being caught in the machinery, in consequence of his too near approach, and that his life was saved by the sudden move- ment of Hortense. Thi? act of sincere devotion completely or NAPOLEON III. 29 won the heart of Alexander, who from that moment became nuch attached to her. Greater misfortunes now overwhelmed Hortense and her children than had ever before fallen to their lot. On the 29th of May, 1814, her amiable and illustrious mother Josephine expired in her arms. Regretted as this noble woman was by every one with whom she had ever come in contact, none felt the blow so profoundly and acutely as Hortense. Of Josephine alone, of all human beings, could it with truth have been said, as indeed it was frequently asserted, that " she never caused the shedding of a single tear." The grief of Hortense was agonizing beyond description ; and the baseness of the government of Louis XVIII. added a still sharper pang to those which already distracted her bosom. Josephine was scarcely laid in her grave when M. Blacas, on the part of the king, demanded the pictures which were at Malmaison as the property of the State ; and other indignities were subsequently offered her. Notwithstanding these reverses, the characteristic generosity of Hortense still marked her conduct in settling the estate of Josephine with Eugene. She reserved to herself the payment of twenty thousand francs in salaries, and gave away a hun- dred thousand francs in presents to the needy and faithful dependants of the fallen dynasty. In consequence of the reduction of her pecuniary resources from various causes, she now curtailed her style of living ; relinquished all the useless expenditures of the days of her splendor ; and dismissed her attendants, except three women and the tutor of her sons. At this memorable and exciting period Louis Napoleon was five years old. He was even then remarkable for the taciturnity of his disposition. Though he spoke very little, he seemed to be reflective and intelligent. His progress in his studies was moderate ; neither deficient nor remarkable. His mother had taught him to regard the Emperor Alexander as a friend. Accordingly on one occasion when that monarch was present, Louis Napoleon quietly approached him, and 3* 30 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY placed in his hand a little ring which his uncle Eugene had given him. When his mother inquired what he had done, he answered : " I have nothing. but the ring which uncle Eugene gave me, to give ; and I wanted to give it to the Emperor because he is so good to you." Alexander embraced the child, and retained his present. The nurse chosen by Hortense for her son, was a lady named Madam Bure. This person was a handsome and pretty brunette, small in stature, but possessing remarkably fine, ex- pressive black eyes. On one occasion, when attending young Louis at the Tuilleries, she attracted the attention of the Emperor Napoleon, and elicited his rather significant com- pliments. At length he fixed bis eyes upon Madam Bnre so rudely as to cause her to blush. Napoleon, seeing her con- fusion, turned away, exclaiming : " That young rogue has a very charming nurse !" Madam Bure wag much attached to the family and person of Hortense ; she continued in her suite during the lifetime of the ex-queen, and resided with her till her death at Arenemberg. The chief solace of Hortense at this period was, the pos- sion and education of her sons. She was threatened even with the loss of these ; for her husband, having retired to Italy, now demanded them from her. She refused to resign them ; and a lawsuit was commenced to recover possession of them. A verdict was given in favor of the father ; but before it could be executed, Napoleon's sudden return from Elba suspended the proceedings, and again threw France and the whole continent into confusion. On the 20th of March, 1815 he reached his former capital. The ex-queen of Holland was among the first to congratulate him. Her reception at the Tuilleries, contrary to her expectation, was rather cold. Na- poleon condemned her for having remained at Paris during the supremacy of the Bourbons. But Hortense had an excuse ready, which was both reasonable and adroit. Said she: "Sire, I had a strong presentiment that you would return; and I waited for you here." The great hero and OP NAPOLEON III. 31 stern conqueror at once melted down very perceptibly at this skilful reply. The day after Napoleon's return, Hortense presented to him her sous. He received them with warm and affectionate feelings. The King of Rome was then a captive and a state- prisoner at Venice, with his mother ; and the importance of the children of Hortense became magnified in consequence of that fact. They became the inheritors of the attentions which would have fallen to the lot of the son of Maria Louisa. At the august ceremony of the ratification of the new con- stitution, in the Champs de Mai, they stood by the side of Napoleon's throne ; he presented them separately to the de- putations of the army and the people ; and he regarded them as pledges to confirm the new alliance which on that day had been made between France and the returned Emperor. At Napoleon's request, Hortense wrote to Maria Louisa to urge her to make some movements toward reaching her husband. But all her arguments were thrown away upon the stupid and imbecile nature of the ignoble being, whom fortune had in- sanely elevated to share the throne of the aspiring hero of a hundred battles. Hortense received no answer to her elo- quent and impassioned representations. In the absence of Maria Louisa from the imperial court, Hortense assumed her place, and did the honors. She was consequently beset with an infinite number of applications ; and she displayed in this high place the same generosity and benevolence in relieving the miseries of others, which had so eminently characterized her mother in former years, when she occupied the same posi- tion, and possessed the same power. At her instance. Napo- leon permitted the dowager Duchess of Bourbon, and the Duchess of Orleans, to remain in France, and even bestowed on the former an income of four hundred thousand francs, and one of two hundred thousand on the latter. At length, on the swift wings of time, the decisive day of Waterloo arrived. On its ensanguined plain the vast empire of Napoleon fell prostrate in the dust, never to be revived 32 PUBLIC AND PKIVATE HISTORY again during his own existence. Six days afterward, Hor- tense and her sons met their fallen benefactor at Malmaison. The ex-queen did her utmost to console and encourage him ; she offered to place her whole fortune at his command, and to share his destiny, whatever it might be. When at last a final separation became necessary, and Napoleon was com^ pelled to commence that journey, which eventually resulted in placing him as a prisoner for the rest of his life in the stern grasp of his foes, the parting was most affecting. The youpg Louis, especially, — his future, though then unsuspected heir, — clung to his uncle, screamed, and refused to leave him. He was taken away at last by main force ; and as Napoleon was then in possession of but slender means, Hortense in- duced him to accept her diamond necklace, worth eight hun- dred thousand francs, which she sewed up in a silk ribbon, and concealed in his dress. This jewel Napoleon never parted with ; not even amid the deprivation and semi-starvations of St. Helena ; and by his will he requested Montholon to re- store it to Hortense. The important trust was faithfully exe- cuted, and it was returned to its generous donor in an hour of dire necessity. In her old age, Hortense sold it to the King of Bavaria for the trifling annuity of twenty-three thou- sand francs ; which she survived to enjoy only two years. Shortly after the capitulation of Paris, a strong current of hostile public feeling arose against Napoleon ; and Hortense and her sons, who still remained in the capital, were in con- siderable danger. She succeeded in concealing them safely in a hose establishment on the Boulevard Montmartre, kept by one of her faithful personal friends, Madame Tessier. During the second occupation of Paris by the allied troops, her hotel in the Rue Cerutti was occupied by the Austrian Prince Schwartzenberg ; and she hoped that this circumstance would increase her security. She was mistaken. She shared the general odium, which now gathered around the Bonaparte family. Even the attachment and esteem of the Emperor Alexander seems to have strangely waned ; and he even called OF NAPOLEON III. 33 at her hotel to see the Prince Schwartzenberg, without ever inquiring after her, or showing her the slightest courtesy. Such are the vicissitudes of fallen greatness ! At length the hostility of her enemies became so great, that the Allies sent her an order to leave Paris within two hours. Accordingly, on the 19th of July, 1815, she passed the barriers in the evening, under the conduct of the Count de Voyna, aide-de-camp to the Prince of Schwartzenberg, and chamberlain of the Austrian Emperor. She spent the first night at the Chateau de Bercy. On her route she met with demonstrations sometimes of popular hatred, and some- times of popular favor. At Dale, the multitude who crowded around her carriage, supposing that she was being led into captivity, were disposed to effett a rescue, and assail her con- ductor. They were appeased only by assurances from Hor- tense herself that such was not the fact. The first design of the fugitive and unfortunate ex-queen was to retire with her sons to an estate which she owned at Pregny, near Geneva. As soon as this purpose became known, the French Minister in Switzerland procured an order from the Swiss government prohibiting her from doing so. In this emergency she directed her course to Aix, hoping there to find repose and protection. But here vexations of another nature awaited her. She was there met by an order from her husband, the Count de Leu, conveyed by the Baron de Zuite, to deliver to his messenger, their eldest son, Napo- leon.^ This demand was based upon the judgment which ' This Baron de Zuite is described by an English writer, as possessing a countenance indicating in the most uumistakeable manner, the exist- ence of every evil passion, and the predominance of every detestable vice. At first, Hortenge refused positively to entrust her son to his care. She induced him to protract his stay by several clever pretexts, such as that it would be better for him first to form some acquaintance ■with his charge, before his journey began. During the interval thus obtained, the tutor whom Hortense had sent for, arrived, and accom- panied her son, when his departure at last became inevitable. C 34 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOET had been rendered by the Parisian courts on the subject ; and there was no power which could or would prevent the execu- tion of the decree. Accordingly, Hortense was compelled, after many protestations and many tears, to resign her eldest son to the custody and possession of his father. For the first time, the mother and son were separated ; and the part- ing scene was affecting in the extreme. At length the last embraces were given, the last adieus were uttered ; and the young Napoleon departed for Rome under the conduct of a preceptor chosen for him by his mother, together with his father's confidential agent. Young Louis Napoleon also felt this separation keenly. He was then seven years of age, and the brothers were much attached to each other. Napoleon the elder, was bold, reso- lute, and determined in his disposition. Louis was taciturn, timid, mild, yet intelligent and reflective. The one even then was in every sense a Frenchman. The other already seemed to all intents and purposes a Dutchman. There was no rivalry, because there was no similarity between their natures. They loved each other ; and found an appropriate and harmonious counterpart in each other's peculiarities. The younger, especially, was much affected at the loss of his bro'ther's animated and agreeable society ; and he turned with great tenderness to his mother's protection. But Hortense was not permitted long to remain, even at Aix.' The Sardinian government was disposed to sympathize 1 While at Constance, as well as at Aix, Louis was in the habit of playing with all the boys of the neighborhood, among whom was the miller's son. The father of this lad lived on the bridge which spanned the Rhine, close to the house of Hortense, and the young miller, being older than Louis, often tempted him to go beyond the limits which he had been forbidden to exceed. One day, when he had made his escape, and the abbg at the top of his voice was shouting after him to return, Mdlle. Cochelet, his mother's principal companion, observed him ap- proach, making a most ludicrous figure. He was in his shirt-sleeves, and walking barefoot carelessly through the mud and snow. Had he been able to reach his own room unobserved, it would have been all OP NAPOLEON III. 35 with her enemies, and it scrntinized her movements in the most vexatious manner, and eventually compelled her to resume her wanderings. She concluded to repair to Constance, in the Grand Duchy of Baden. She thought she would there be protected, inasmuch as the Grand Duchess, Stephanie de Beauharnois, was her cousin. But to reach this spot she was compelled to obtain permission to pass through Switzerland. After great difficulty this permission was obtained, and Hor- tense, accompaned by her son Louis Napoleon, his tutor, the Abb6 Bertrand, Mademoiselle Cochelet, her reader, and a servant, departed from Aix. She desired to pass the first night on her own estate at Bregny ; but even this small boon was denied her by the French and Swiss authorities. At Morat she was even put under temporary arrest. Having arrived at Constance, she was immediately informed that however much the grand duke and duchess might be anxious to serve her, they were under the control of higher powers, and therefore could afford her no protection. She answered to these representations, that her health and the season of the year — it was then November — did not permit her then to continue her journey ; and she desired to be permitted to remain only till the ensuing spring. At this, moment of gloom and despair, when thus appa- rently an outcast from every clime and country in Europe, Hortense received a secret letter from the grand duchess, in which, after having given her encouragement, she added : " Have patience, and do not be uneasy ; perhaps all will be right by spring. By that time passions will have calmed, and many things will have been forgotten." Comforted by these very well ; but lie was put considerably out of countenance by being found in such a condition in the street. Upon being questioned how he came to be in that plight, he explained how, while playing at the en- trance to the garden, he had seen a family go by, so poor and miserable that it was quite painful to look at them. He therefore took off his shoes, and put them on the feet of one of the children; and gave hia coat to another, because, as he said, he happened to have no money to give them. 36 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIBTOET words, Hortense rented a modest mansion on the beautiful shore of the lake of Constance, and resumed her usual habits iOf life. There she remained during the year 1816. Her drooping spirits again revived.' She was visited by many illustrious personages in her obscure retirement. Here she enjoyed for a time the society of her brother Eugene. The Austrian prime-minister. Prince Metternich, offered her a » more agreeable residence at Bregentz on the same lake, which, however she declined. Her health became restored, and she again resembled the graceful, accomplished, and attractive woman who had once shone as one of the brightest ornaments of the brilliant court of St. Cloud. She indulged in her usual amusements ; and, inspired by the romantic scenery which sur- rounded her, she gratified her taste for literary and musical composition. It was here that she composed, among many other songs of great taste and beauty, the celebrated national French air, Partant pour la Syrie, which to this day remains, after the celebrated Marseilles Hymn, the nation's favorite. In the following spring, Hortense and her son visited Prince Eugene at Berg, a country seat of his father-in-law, the King of Bavaria, where she was received with the respect and affection which were due her. She passed the summer with her son at the baths of Geiss, among the mountains of Appen- zell, and derived great benefit from their medicinal qualities. In the fall of 1816 she returned to Constance, and here devoted the whole of her attention to the education of her son. She herself taught him drawing and dancing. On each Saturday she spent the whole day in reviewing the studies of the week, and marking and commending his progress. At this period Louis was not remarkable for intellectual improvement. His physical development seemed now to predominate, and he be- came restless, active, and almost ungovernable. The gentle cares of the Abb^ Bertrand wore now useless, and Hortense provided for him another and more resolute tutor, M. Lebos, from the Normal School at Paris. Yet, at this period, the developing impulses of his nature were generous, noble, and OF NAPOLEON III. 31 * manly, and gave promise of a more vigorous and active man- hood than his more youthful years appeared to have prognos- ticated. His active habits served to develop his physical energies. His' features gained in expressiveness what they lost in regularity. They lost something of the beauty of his supposed father, the Dutch nobleman, but they displayed more of the intelligence of Hortense. Thus the life of the persecuted ex-queen Vfas flowing for a brief interval tranquilly along, when once more, in the be- ginning of ISIT, the hostility of her enemies drove her and her son from their chosen retreat. The Grand Duke of Baden received orders from the Allies to send her out of his dominions. Her thoughts now recurred to the generous treatment which she had received in the neighboring district of Thurgovia ; and in her rides through this canton she had often admired the picturesque beauty of an estate and manor known by the name of 4-renemberg. She now proposed to purchase it, and to obtain permission from the authorities of the canton ta reside there. SLie was successful in both applications. Are- uemberg became her home, at the cost of sixty thousand francs. There she spent many happy years, and there at last she died. In 1818 a partial reconciliation happily took place between Hortense and her husband, and the latter permitted her to enjoy the society of her eldest son for several months. After an absence of three years the brothers again met. Louis Napoleon was now seventeen years of age, and had finished his studies in the college of Augsburg. In 1824 Prince Eugene died, and in 1825 his father-in-law, the best surviving friend of Hortense, King Maximilian, of Bavaria, followed him to the grave. It was after these sad events that she determined to divide her time between Arenemberg and Rome, the residence of her husband. The winters she spent in the capital of the Christian world ; the summers were passed at her delightful retreat in Switzerland. At Rome she became the centre of the most brilliant society, for there 4 38 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOKY • she was surrounded not only by the polished and illustrious princes of the church, but she also met her accomplished and fascinating relative, Pauline Bonaparte, who had married the Prince Borghese. Hortense resided with this lady at her Yilla Paolina, where she was constantly addressed with the title, and served with the ceremonial, of loyalty. Her chief wealth, and her most precious relics, were collected to- gether at Arenemberg. It was here that she cherished and preserved, among many other sad and affecting souvenirs of those unparalleled days of glory, felicity, and splendor which had forever passed awaj^ the beautiful miniature of the King of Rome, which, on the bleak and rocky summit of St. Helena, had received the last kiss of the expiring Emperor.' At this period Louis Napoleon commenced his military studies and exercises, in connection with a Baden regiment garrisoned in Constance. He now also devoted his attention to the study of physics and chemistry, under the direction of a learned Frenchman named Giestard. He was afterward admitted into the camp of Thun, in the canton of Berne, where he studied engineering and artillery-practice under Colonel Dufour, an old hero of the Grand Armie. His per- sonal activity and martial bearing made the young prince a great favorite in the camp. He excelled in all martial exercises and manosuvres. -He seemed to be fond of fatigue, and became particularly partial to artillery practice and science. When the imbecile Bourbons fell, in the revolution of July, 1830, Louis Napoleon cherished the enthusiastic hope that he might at last be permitted to return to his native land. In this expectation he was disappointed ; although Louis Philippe sent to Hortense assurances of his esteem and protection ; and intimated to her that the future might per- haps enable him to gratify his wishes towards her more effectually than the existing posture of affairs then permitted. I Vide Memoires sur la Reine Hortense et la Famille Imperial par M'lle. Oochelet, Lectrice de la Reine [Mad. Parguin), Vol. III., p. 162. OF NAPOLEON III. 39 CHAPTER II. Outbreak of the Revolution in Italy — Secret Conclave of the Bona- partes in Rome — Louis Napoleon commanded to withdraw from the Papal Capital — He joins the Revolutionists — Death of his elder brother at Faenza — His own Sickness — His arrival at Paris with his Mother — Their reception by Louis Philippe — Compelled to retire to England — Their removal to Arenemberg in Switzerland — The Polish Revolution — Death of the Duke of Reichstadt — Louis Napoleon com- plimented by the Polish Refugees — -His private studies at Arenem- berg — Publishes his Reveries Folitiques — Nature and Contents of this Work — He Publishes his Considerationes Folitiques et Militaires sur la Suisse — Character of this Work — Compliments of the Helvetic Diet — Louis Napoleon invited to marry the Queen of Portugal — His rea- sons for refusing to do so. The revolution of 1830 in France rekindled, the fierce flames of popular discontent in Italy. The tyranny of Aus- tria was then, as it is now, both a curse and a disgrace to the land of the ancient conquerors of, the world ; and there were not wanting men among their degenerate descendants, who possessed the courage to strike a deadly blow at the despot's power. Louis Napoleon spent the witfter of 1830 in Rome with his mother. He was surrounded by revolutionary influences and elements, and became imbued with their spirit. He identified himself with the principles and measures of the patriots. Excluded by the jealousy and caution of Louis Philippe from taking^ any share, however humble, in the movements which were progressing in his native country, he turned with greater sympathy to the similar revolutionary and popular changes which were taking place in Italy. He became the object of much interest to the progressive party ; and this circumstance excited at once the distrust of the Papal government. Another incident served to increase the Suspicion with which he was now regarded. In December, 40 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTt)IlY 1830, a portion of the Bonaparte family had held a secret conclave at Rome. It was composed of Madame Letitia, the mother of the ex-Emperor, Cardinal Fesch, Jerome Bo- naparte, Hortense, and her two sons, the elder of whom, having married his cousin, the second daughter of Joseph Bonaparte, resided at Florence. It could not be doubted that the object of this secret assemblage of the fallen dynasty bore some reference to the political events which were then transpiring. The Papal government immediately requested, through Cardinal Fesch, that Louis Napoleon should with- draw from Rome. The request was not complied with. The government then sent a guard of fifty men to the residence of the prince, for the purpose of conducting him by force to the frontiers. He escaped their grasp, and fled to Florence. Scarcely had he disappeared when the insurrection of the Romagna burst forth. The main object of this movement was to overthrow the detested power of Austria in Italy, and to restore the national unity so long dissevered and broken. Louis Napoleon and his elder brother entered with enthusiasm into this movement. Tri-colored flags waved above the bat- tlements of Ferrara, TJrbino, and several other Italian cities. Louis Napoleon was active in forming moving columns, and in organizing the revolutionary efforts. Nor were the endea- vors of the insurgents fruitless of results. They defeated the Papal troops on several occasions ; and high hopes began to be entertained that something might yet be won for Italian liberty. The Vatican was filled with terror, and the worst consequences were apprehended. At this crisis, Hortense was constrained to leave Rome and yepair to Florence, the head-quarters of her sons, whose influence among the revo- lutionists, young as they were, was almost unbounded. Hor- tense herself was not opposed to the share which her Sons took in these transactions ; but her husband. Cardinal Fesch, and Jerome Bonaparte, were highly incensed at it, and demanded of them that they should abandon a career which they deemed pregnant with the most injurious consequences, not only to themselves, but to the whole family. Their re- OFNAPOIiEONIII. 41 presentations were useless, and the brothers remained un- moved. They took part in an action fought at Bologna between the Papal troops and the insurgents, and highly dis- tinguished themselves by their intrepidity. But the Austrians came to the relief of the government forces, and the insur- gents were at length compelled to retire to Porli. As is usually the case, treachery, more fatal than the Austrian bayonets, infected the camp. The two princes were deprived of their commands, and disunion began to prevail. , The ul- timate result was, that the revolution became a total failure, and the chief care of those who had participated in it was to escape, if possible, the grasp of the offended and terrified, but now triumphant authorities.^ ' It is very clear that the presence of the young Napoleon was looked upon by the Papal government as the chief support of the insurrection. Jerome saw the Pope, a, consultation was held, and an officer, M. de Stoelting, was despatched to the republican camp, authorized by His Holiness to enter into a parley with the insurgents, to inquire what they wanted, and to promise compliance with their wishes. Stoelting saw the elder Prince Napoleon, and desired him to draw up a statement of the demands and complaints of the aSrmy. He consulted its chiefs, and with their authority delivered to the Pope's envoy a summary of the reforms for which the people asked. Whatever may have been their secret intentions, it seems probable that the pertinacious interference of the effete and timid members of the Bonaparte family at length produced its effect. The provisional government of fologna was seized with timidity, and refused to attempt the storming of Kome. It then dispatched General Sercognani with fresh troops, to replace the young Napoleons. During the progress of this revolution, the father of the young princes behaved with singjilar folly and absurdity. He compelled Hortense to write to General Armandi, who commanded the revolu- tionists, and who had been the tutor of the elder of the young men, re- questing him to dismiss them from the camp. He refused to send his sons any assistance, not even the money neoess.ary for their comfort and equipment. His narrow policy may be said to have caused the misery of both, and perhaps the death of one of them. He also wrote to them iu p^son, desiring, them instantly to abandon the revolutionary standard. 4 * 42 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY Other and greater misfortunes now overwhelmed the un- happy Hortense and her sons. The elder of them, when on the retreat to Forli, was attacked with the small-pox, or as others have asserted, by an internal inflammation of some kind, and expired on the 21th of March, 1831, at Faenza. Hortense had received information of his illness, and she im- mediately started from Florence to his relief. She arrived toq late, and the young Napoleon expired in the arms of his brother. The latter was himself attacked with the small-pox at Ancona. The care of his mother, who reached him when in rapid retreat at Pesaro, rescued him from the fate of his brother. On leaving Florence she had provided a passport, under the name of an English lady travelling with her two sons. She still used this passport, and represented one of the young insurgent chiefs, the Marquis Zappi, as her son. The Austrians had set a price upon the head of the surviving Napoleon. Strict search was made for him, but in vain. A report prevailed that he had escaped in a small vessel to Malta, and this delusion served to relax the severity of the efforts made to capture him. Thus favored by for- tune, Hortense and her son succeeded in evading the Aus- trian troops, embarked in a vessel for Cannes, and safely ar- rived at that port ; the same which sixteen years before had witnessed the bold and desperate return of the great Napo- leon from Elba. They resolved to travel directly to Paris, and throw themselves upon the generosity of Louis Philippe. Having arrived, at length, at Paris, the first act of Louis Napoleon was to address a respectful letter to the king, ask- ing permission to enter the French army as a private soldier. This step Hortense, less enthusijistic than her son, did not approve. She took up her residence at the hotel de Holland, and immediately informed Louis Philippe of her arrival. It is said that her letter communicating this fact arrived at the palace just as Sebastiani, the sagacious minister of the king for Foreign Affairs, informed the Council that she had landed at Malta. Louis Philippe sent Casimir Perin, the President of the Coun- OF NAPOLEON III. 43 cil, to wait upon her. She excused herself for violating the law which banished the family of Napoleon from the French territory, and confidently claimed the mercy of the sovereign. Louis Philippe granted her an audience, during which he said to her: " I know what exile is, and it is not my fault, if yours has not already terminated." She was also per- mitted to see the queen and Madame Adelaide, the king's sister. Her presence in Paris was still a secret to the public^ when the 5th of May arrived, the anniversary of the Emperor Napoleon's death. On that day the Parisians were in the habit of covering the base of the column in the Place Vendome with evergreens ; which, therefore, seemed dedicated to the memory of Napoleon. Hortense and her son had now been twelve days in Paris, and by this time the news became known that they were present. The multitude who surrounded the trium- phal column rushed, as if by a common impulse, to the hotel where the ex-queen and the prince were sojourning, and filled the air with their shouts. Marshal Lobau, commander of the National Guards, dispersed them by the novel means of fire-engines, which ^ectually quenched the intensity of their enthusiasm by immense discharges of water instead of grape- shot. But this incident, though it terminated so comically, un- happily excited the fears and jealousy of the king. Hortense was given to understand that she could not longer remain in the French territories. Accordingly, she once more resumed her pilgrimage, and on the 10th of May embarked, at Calais, for England.' Her son accompanied her, for he too had » : 1 A day or two before her departure from Paris, Hortense had attended mass at the church of St. Boohe, in the rue St. Honors, where by acci- dent she sat next to M. Lamartine, who was pointed out to her by the Marchese Zappi. She had always admired Lamartine'a writings, and now she extended her admiration to the man. What would she have said could she have foreseen that he would one day be her son's com- petitor for the presidentship of the French Republic ; that the admission of the Bonaparte family into France would be in part owing to his re- 44 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOUT become personally obnoxious to the reigning family. He bad uttered sentiments, in the letter which he had addressed to the king, which indicated a superior degree of intelligence and determination, —acknowledging the right of Louis Philippe, as the representative of a great nation, to occupy the throne to which they had invited him. He was too aspiring, and too dangerous, to be permitted to remain in France. In England, and especially at Woburn Abbey, the seat of the Duke of Bedford, the ex-queen and her son were treated with great consideration. They were honored by men of all parties and factions. The adroit Talleyrand did his utmost to worm himself into the intended aims and purposes of Hor- tense, but her self-possession and her, superior sagacity com- pletely foiled him. While, perhaps, herself uncertain what course to take, the authorities of the canton of Thurgovia presented her son with the rights of citizenship. This was the district in which her estate of Arenemberg was situated. The document which conferred upon the young prince this honor recited how the canton was under great obligations to the duchess of St. Leu for many favors ; and that the said honor was bestowed in consideration of those favors. It bore date the 30th of April, 1832. To this grateful testimo- nial of esteem the prince replied in appropriate terms. He thanked them for the honor of being made "the citizen of a free nation, " expressed the pleasure which his mother derived from their courtesy, and tendered his best wishes for the prosperity of the canton. He also sent them, as further testi- monials of his esteem, two six-pounders, with complete trains and equipage ; and he also founded a free school in the vil- lage of Sallensteiu. In consequence of the state of kindly Diissness; and that he ■would have to repent in sackcloth and ashe3 all the days of his life for this act of negligence and weakness ? On the 6th of May they left Paris, and proceeded to Chantilly. lu four days they reached Calais, crossed the Channel, and were on their way to London. Here Louis Napoleon was attacked by the jaundice, and looked as yellow as a guinea. OP NAPOLEON III. 45 feeling expressed by the Swiss toward her and her son, Hov- tense now determined to take up her permanent residence at Arenemberg. She proposed to pass through Belgium and Brussels ; but this was forbidden her, as her presence in the Belgian capital, with her son, might lead to serious conse- "quences. The Belgians might, perhaps, elect the prince to their then vacant throne, and results of the most important nature might ensue. The whole corps diplomatique in Lon- don assembled together, and the most earnest representations were made against granting her a passport through France. At length, in August, Hortense left England, and landed at Calais with her son. Avoiding Paris and Brussels, in ac- cordance with the requisitions of Louis Philippe, she visited the tomb of her mother, Josephine, at Ruel, passed through Chantilly and other cherished and familiar places, and finally reached Arenemberg in safety.^ On his return to Switzerland Louis Napoleon was honored by a deputation of Poles sent from Warsaw, who proposed to place him at the head of their revolutionary movements, 1 On arriving at Chantilly, she visited the palace of the Condfo find the magniiicent forest "which, during the era of the Empire, had been her own private property. It "was extremely natural that Iltfrtense should wish to know whether or not she was still remembered in the re- gion where she had once been 30 powerful. She inquired of the man who conducted them through Chantilly and its vicinity, to whom those woods formerly belonged. He replied, to Queen Hortense, and added, that for many years she was supposed to roam about the forest in disguise, but tliat for some time people had ceased to talk of her. "Ah! without doubt, she is dead," replied the queen; and the idea pleased her — find- ing that she was forgotten by the world. After wandering about, reviving sad reminiscences at every step, Hortense and her son proceeded to St Denis, and afterwards through a number of other places, in many, if not in most, of which she had seen happier days. In company with his mother Louis Napoleon visited Ermenonville and Jlorfontaine, where she had once resided with her mother Josephine. A rickety old boat took them over, at Ermenon- ville, to the Isle of Poplars, consecrated to the memory of Rousseau, where she and her son inscribed' their names upon his tomb. 45 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOKT with an ultimate prospect of the possession of the throne of - the Jagellons. The young prince was at this time twenty- three years of age. The letter which the deputation bore was signed by many of the most distinguished patriots of the nation, including General Kniazewicz, and Count Plater. The prince enthusiastically accepted the high mission ; and fearing the more cautious opposition of his mother, he left Arenemberg without,her knowledge or permission, and started for the Polish frontier. But, happily for his future destiny, ere he had progressed far upon his journey the news of the fall of "Warsaw on the Ith of September, put an end to his progress and restored him to his home. When the melancholy death of the Duke of Reichstadt took place at Vienna, in July, 183^, the importance of Louis Napoleon in the great system of European politics became immensely magnified. He became thenceforth the direct and recognized heir of the Napoleonic dynasty. The thoughtful solicitude of all the sovereigns of Europe now clustered around the obscure estate and manor of Arenemberg. It is well known that Talleyrand, on behalf of Louis Philippe, sent a secret emissary to reside permanently near Arenemberg, for the purpose of watching the movements of the prince. The castle was secretly surrounded by invisible but vigilant agents of many anxious and uneasy kings, who intently yet unobtru- sively scrutinized his conduct. But their labors led to no satisfactory results. The truth was that the prince now led a retired life, engaged in literary pursuits. He did not forget that he was the direct heir of the claims of the great Napo- leon, inasmuch as Joseph Bonaparte had no male children, and Lucien Bonaparte and his family had been expressly ex- cluded from the succession by the will of the Emperor himself, and by the provisions of the Plebiscite; but Louis Napoleon felt convinced that the time of action had not yet arrived. It would have been well for his fame and fortune had he enter- tained the same opinion on several important occasions of his subsequent career. Although his thoughts at this period OP NAPOLEON III. 47 were chiefly engaged in studious labors, he was not forgotten by the chivalrous people who had once invited him to ascend their vacant throne. He was constantly visited by crowds of Polish refugees, and his purse was always open to relieve their necessities. He sent to the Polish committee at Berne a beautiful and valuable casket, which Napoleon himself had once possessed, in order that a lottery might be organized to relieve the wants of many of the exiles. He received in return the following expressive reply : " Five hundred Polish refugees, grateful for his generous solicitude, have the honor to present their sentiments of the most profound regard to the illustrious descendant of the Emperor Napoleon, August 6th, 1833." Nor were the various studies in which Louis Napoleon had already engaged fruitless in cultivating his intellectual powers, in storing his mind with valuable knowledge, and in enabling him to systematize and settle his own views on the great themes which appertain to the science of government. He now employed his leisure in the composition of his "Reveries Politiques,'^ which work was published in 1832. This pro- duction, emanating from a young man of twenty-four years of age, indicates more than ordinary ability. It displays an originality of thought and powers of generalization which very much exceed the usual range of juvenile capacity. The author clearly describes and characterizes the several forms of government which had successively prevailed in Prance, and the relation which they severally bore to the development of liberty. He very truly says of the reign of Louis Philippe, that while it indicated the sovereignty of the people, and promoted the reign of merit, its passions were fear, egotism, and meanness. The whole reign of Louis Philippe was over- shadowed and tarnished by a craven fear of the powers and movements of the people ; by a constant endeavor to magnify and glorify the Orleans dynasty in every possible way ; and by despicable and greedy avarice of money, of dignities, of alliances, and of emoluments. 48 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY In this work, Louis Napoleon also asserts very positively the great ideas which he has since endeavored to realize in his own administration. "A day will come," says he, "when virtue shall triumph over intrigue, when mei'it shall have more power than prejudice, when glory shall crown liberty." He declares that this noble end can only be accomplished by uniting the two popular causes, th^t of the people, with that of him who came forth from among the people and ascended to unparalleled heights of power and glory through their means, — the Emperor Napoleon. He contends that with this great name the people never associate the ideas of terror, of imbecility, or of insecurity ; and he urges on the Prench nation their obligation to be grateful to him who, springing from the ranks of the people, did everything for them and through them. He asserts that if they ever become free, it is to Napoleon — his genius, his imperishable spirit, and his undying glory that they will owe it. "Do not reproach him for his dictatorship, his despotism, if you will," says he. " The Emperor was leading us to liberty, as the ploughshare cuts the furrows to prepare the fertility of the soil. Equality before the laws, the superiority of merit, the prosperity of commerce and industry, and the emancipation of -nations, — these are the glorious consummations to which he was con- ducting us." Many sentiments are uttered in this book, which, though possessing neither originality nor intellectual merit, are yet important, as having been declared by the man who after- ward ascended to such a brilliant eminence. Thus he asserts that the first wants of a country are liberty, stability, the supremacy of merit, and the general diffusion of physical comfort among the people ; that the best government is that in which every abuse of power can always be corrected ; and where the head of the government can be changed at any time without social disorder, and without the effusion of ■blood. How widely Louis Napoleon has himself wandered from these admirable principles, in the later and more decisive events of his career every intelligent reader can readily judge. OF NAPOLEON III. 49 Unhappily some of these Beveries PolUiques remain to this day a silent, yet potent reproof of the monarchical and despotic tendencies' of their author. Yet it is not probable nor pos- sible that he intended to execute all of them, should he ever attain to the possession of power. They accomplished the purpose for which they were written ; which evidently was to win the confidence of the French nation, to indicate that he was employing his leisure in intellectual pursuits, and to prove to the world that he possessed the power and capacity to write and think. The same work contains the project of a Constitution, in which some remarkable ideas are set forth. Its fundamental principle is universal suffrage. It contains a declaration of the rights of man, which reiterates the same great doctrines which weffe put forth in the declaration proclaimed in 1T89, when the billows of the first great revolution began to surge and roll over France. The legislative power was to be delegated to two assemblies, the Tribunate and the Senate. The imperial dignity was to be hereditary ; although at each new accession to the throne, the sanction of the people, and their free approbation, were to be essential to the validity of the claim' to the possession of the supreme power. The author asserts, also, that harmony between the governor and the governed can only be maintained by one of two means, either where the people allow themselves to be ruled by the absolute will of one ; or where the sovereign rules according to the will of all. The utter absurdity of the latter proposition must strike every reflecting mind ; for where the will of the nation becomes the absolute guide of the ruler, he cannot be said, in any sense, to rule ; but he is in reality the servant and slave of the popular behest, which thus becomes the supreme and despotic master in the State. The p7-ofessed aim of this Constitution was to suggest the means of securing internal order and liberty by the strengthening of authority. Its real effect would have been, as it actually has become in its present developed and realized state, to establish order and to 5 D 50 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY strengthen despotism, by the curtailment and suppression of liberty ; for it must be conceded that the Constitution pro- posed by Louis Napoleon, in 1832, has been retained by him in its leading ideas through all his subsequent career, until it became in a great measure realized by the memorable events of 1852. He deserves the merit of consistency; for those provisions of this constitution which promote liberty, he obeyed and realized during the earlier and more dependent period of his career ; those vfhich commend despotic measures' he has followed out and executed afterward, when he possessed the power so to do. This Constitution is double-faced ; and so Louis Napoleon has himself pre-eminently been through- out his whole career. A second work issued from the pen of our princely author in 1833. This was his " Considerationes Politiques et Mili- taires sur la Suisse." In this production a marked im- provement was perceptible in the writer's powers of thought and composition. It attracted considerable attention both among diplomatic cii'cles throughout Europe, and also among military men. It discusses with discrimination and ability all the various Constitutions of the Cantons, their merits and provisions ; and it also examines the military position, inte- rests and necessities of the Swiss. It designates, in this con- nection, a line and method of defence which, if adopted and energetically executed by the Helvetic Diet, would render the territories and the homes of the bold mountaineers impreg- nable to any foreign foe. The style of the work is elevated and scholarlike, and would have made a mark in the litera- ture of the day, independently of the relations and prospects of the writer. It was referred to in the sessions of the Diet as a remarkable work ; and as a reward for his labors, and for his interest in the prosperity of the Swiss, that body unani- mously decreed to him the honorable epithet of citizen of the Swiss Republic. This was a token of esteem which had very rarely been bestowed. Two instances of the kind only are on record, and these involve names with which Louis or NAPOLEON III. 51 Napoleon need not blusli to have been associated. They were Marshal Ney, and Prince Metternich. In June, 1834, the Diet again expressed their esteem for the person and cha- racter of the Prince, by conferring upon him the rank of cap- tain of artillery in the Bernese regiment. In truth he became exceedingly popular among his adopted countrymen ; nor did he neglect any means whereby he might win their esteem. He attended the great gymnastic festivals which are held in many of the Cantons, and took part in their manly combats. He frequently bore away the prizes which were awarded to superior skill in the use of fire-arms, in horsemanship, in the management of the spear and lance, and even in aquatic exercises. At this period a gleam of brighter fortunes seemed to dawn upon the dark horizon of his career. His European import- ance had then become so great, that when the constitutional party triumphed in Portugal, in 1835, and the young and beautiful Donna Maria was elevated to the throne, the lead- ing statesmen of that country proposed Louis Napoleon to the queen as an appropriate match for her. She herself ac- quiesced in the proposition ; but the Prince declined it. He assigned two reasons for this course of conduct, both of which were satisfactory and honorable. The first was, that such an alliance might, and probably would, separate his fate and interests from those of France. The second was, that his acceptance bf the offer would interfere with the wishes and aspirations of his cousin, the Dake of Leuchtenberg, the son of Prince Eugene, who desired the alliance himself. In consequence of this refusal, the Queen of Portugal married the Duke of Leuchtenberg. That prince died very soon after his marriage ; and again the same proposition was made to Louis Napoleon. Again the latter declined it, and published the following letter in vindication of his motives and his conduct : " Several journals have made known the intelligence of my departure for Portugal, as a pretender to the hand of Queen 52 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOEY Donna Maria. However flattering for me may be the idea of a union with a youngr queen, beautiful and Tirtuous, widow of a cousin whom I tenderly loved,., still it is my duty to re- fute such a report, as no step of mine, that I am aware of, could have furnished any grounds for announcing it. " I may even add that, notwithstanding the strong interest attached to the destinies of a people who have just recovered their independence, I would refuse the honor of sharing the throne of Portugal, if by any chance I should be offered such an exalted position. " Thelioble conduct of my father, who abdicated in 1810, because he could not reconcile the interests of France with those of Holland, has not escaped my recollection. " My father has proved to me, by his own example, how much to be preferred my country is to a seat on a foreign throne. I feel, in effect, that, habituated from ray childhood to love my country above all things, I can prefer nothing to the interests of France. Convinced that the great name which I bear will not be always regarded by my countrymen as a ground for exclusion, reminding them as it does of fifteen years of glory, I wait calmly, in a free and hospitable coun- try, until the people recall those exiles that were banished in 1815 by twelve hundred thousand foreigners. This hope of one day serving France, as a citizen and as a soldier, strengthens and consoles me in my retirement, and, in my eyes, is worth all the thrones in the world.'" ' See Uistoire de Napoleon III., par Paul Lacroix, vol. i., p. 210. OF NAPOLEON III. 53 CHAPTER III. Pursuits and Studies of Louis Napoleon at Arenemberg — His Manual of Artillery — Character of that Work — He begins to plot — The Escapade of Strasburg — State of Public Feeling in France at that Period — Unpopularity of Louis Philippe — Preparations for the Plot at Arenemberg ^ The Hunting-Party — The Prince arrives at Baden- Baden — Hemeets Madame Gordon — Pier Beauty and Talents — Her former History — She becomes a Devotee to the Prince — His Arrival at Strasburg — Meeting of the Conspirators — Suspicions aroused and allayed — Six o'clock arrives — Colonel Vaudrey — Submission of the Fourth Eegiment — • General Voirol — The Prince's Identity denied — Total and rapid Failure of the Conspiracy — Arrest of the Conspi- rators — Examination and Responses of Louis Napoleon. Louxs Napoleon continued to pass a retired and unobtru- sive existence amid the congenial shades of Arenemberg. His restless and inquiring mind felt the constant necessity of employment, and his habits at this period indicated that he both anticipated and prepared himself for a future career of adventure and activity. Ambition now seemed to become the predominant passion within him ; and his time was chiefly spent in intellectual pursuits and physical exercises. He lodged, not within the castle itself, which the cultivated and queenly Hortense had fitted up and adorned with every pos- sible appliance of luxury and enjoyment, but in a small and rude pavilion near its massive walls, and beneath the shadows of the surrounding forest. Here his frugal table was spread. His pursuits were laborious, and his habits partook of the rigor of military life. Neither a carpet nor an arm-chair adorned Ms simple abode ; but it was garnished with books, charts, philosophical instruments, and fire-arms of every de- scription. At break of morn the prince leaped into his sad- dle, and usually rode several leagues before he returned to breakfast. The rest of the day was spent in his studies, his 5* 64 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOET writings, and his practice with -the sword, the rifle, and the lance. Both his studies and amusements now assumed a military turn; and in December, 1835, he completed and published his "Manual of Artillery, for the Use of Artillery- Officers of the Helvetic Republic." This third production of Louis Napoleon evinces the pro- gress which he had made in intellectual and professional training. The volume contains everything of importance which can be said in reference to the subject of Artillery, both field, siege, and stationary. It contains an introduction which presents a comprehensive historical survey of the inven- tion and progress of cannon. The body of the work may be divided into three general departments. The first treats of field-artillery ; the second, of siege and stationary artillery ; the third, of the manufactories and constructions which are necessarily connected with their use.- Th« work also dis- cusses the service and management of cannon, both upon the march and in action ; and it enters into scientific researches in reference to the theory of initial velocities, and the eleva- tion, pointing, and direction of guns. Other related topics are ably discussed, such as the science of fortification, both of attack^ and of defence ; the manufacture of gunpowder ; the casting of cannon ; and, in fact, every other theme which legitimately came within the scope of the subject. This work gives ample evidence of the industry, research, and discrimination of its author. It made him well known in the military circles of Europe ; and it clearly indicated that he was not only possessed of intellectual energies, which honorably distinguished him from the great herd of vapid and imbecile European priuces, who dreamed away their useless and pernicious lives in idleness, luxury, and vice ; but also, that he was preparing himself for scenes of more than ordi- nary vicissitude and importance, to be developed in the uncertain future. Thus far, indeed, the events of the life of Louis Napoleon had passed by without a stigma ; each succeeding year had OF NAPOLEON III. 55 added to, the respect which was entertained for his character and talents ; and had augmented the interest, both hopeful and apprehensive, with which his future fate was contem- plated. Thus far the reasonable, the prudent, the commend- able, had predominated in the life of the prince ; but now an unhappy episode commences in his history, in which the ab- surd, the ridiculous, and the unfortunate, fill up the chief measure, and give the main coloring, to his career.. We have now arrived at the memorable farce and the laughable escapade of Strasburg, whose origin, progress, and termina- tion, form one of the most ludicrous and anomalous scenes presented in history. The state of France at that moment was peculiar. The prevalent feeling was one of disappointment and contempt for the government of the selfish, avaricious, and perfidious Louis Philippe. The great mass of the nation wefe filled with regret that they had approved the Revolution of July, which placed him on an undeserved and now tarnished throne. The small party of the Legitimists regarded the public dissatis- faction with favor ; because they were waiting for an oppor- tunity to promote the reviving hopes of the Bourbon family. The national suffrage had become a mere mockery. Among the thirty millions of Frenchmen, scarcely a quarter of a mil- lion of electors deposited their ballots. Louis Philippe, "the citizen king," had created a vast number of petty offices, which he had filled with his obsequious tools ; and their agency at the polls rendered the national will a nullity. The prejudices and hatreds which had once existed against the first Napoleon, had, with the lapse of time, in a very great measure passed away ; and the remembrance of his ancient glory began to resume its resistless sway over the minds of a martial and chivalrous nation. The statue of the dead Emperor had been restored to the summit of the pillar in the Place Vendome ; the magnificent triumphal .4rc de VEtoile was in progress of rapid completion ; already the project of removing the ashes of the mighty conqueror from 56 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY their ocean-bed at St. Helena, to the banks of the Seine, and among the French people whom he loved so well, was agi- tated and discussed ; and thus while Louis Philippe absurdly hoped to surround himself with perpetual glories borrowed from the brow of Napoleon, he unconsciously increased the disgust of the nation at his own inferiority, and revived their admiration for the departed hero. This state of things natu- rally led to the revival of the hopes of the partizans of his family, and of his representatives. Every day Louis PhiHppe was transforming his government more and more into an un- principled despotism, in violation of every dictate of honor, honesty, and patriotism. The house of Orleans was in truth rapidly descending from its once high 'estate, to the ignoble purpose and occupation of filling their money-bags, of marry- ing their debauched sons to the daughters of royal houses, and of promoting their most selfish personal aims, at the sacrifice of the liberties and dignity of the nation. From 1830 till 1848, the whole reign of Louis Philippe was a continued attempt on his part, by intriguing, evading, manoeuvring, and lying, to perform as little as was possible of all the solemn promises and sonorous professions, with which he ascended the throne. The most sordid, grovelling, perfidious, and disgraceful reign which has ever occurred during the whole progress of French history, taking all things calmly into consideration, was the reign of Louis Philippe. Its symbol should have been, and should forever continue to be, a full money-bag surrounded by a chain 1 It was not singular that, while this reign was becoming the object of the hatred of the nation, and of the contempt of Europe, Louis Napoleon should, with his eyes vigilantly fixed upon his native lapd, perceive the progress and ten- dency of public opinion. His partizans throughout France now earnestly assured him, and that with singular unanimity, that the propitious period was approaching when he should proclaim his aims and purposes, should assume the lead in the expression of public sentiment, should ofi'er himself to OPNAPOLEOJIIII. 5T 'the nation as their chief, and should overthrow the existing government. Louis Napoleon was still residing at Arenemberg, when he himself believed the critical moment for the execution of his designs had arrived. It is highly probable that Queen Hortense both knew and approved of his plans. She still intensely yearned to see her darling and only son seated on the majestic throne of the fallen Emperor. Her conduct, when the prinde left the Castle of Arenemberg under the pre- text of a hunting expedition into the principality of Hec- kingen, but really for the purpose of proceeding to Baden- Baden, and thence to Strasburg, was not such as comported with the innocence and security of his alleged destination. She displayed intense emotion. She threw her arms around his neck, and repeatedly embraced him. She wept profusely ; and as her son at last was about to depart, she solemnly placed upon his finger the marriage ring of Napoleon and Josephine, both as a talisman of future safety, and as a memento of past glory. The prince arrived at Baden-Baden, and an incident there occurred which threw an air of romance around his fortunes, and pleasingly contrasted with the general gloom and cheer- lessness of his impending fate. It was here that he first met the lady known as Madame Gordon. This person was the daughter of a former captain in the Imperial army, who had followed the vicissitudes and witnessed the glory of the elder Napoleon throughout his whole career. Her mind had been early stored with legends of the Empire, and her youthful admiration had been profoundly enlisted in behalf of the great Corsican. At the period of which we now write, she was young, very beautiful, and full of bewitching arts and coquetry. Thrown at an early age upon the world, she had adopted the profession of a public singer as a means of sub- sistence ; while, at the same time, the charms not only of her exquisite voice, but also of her beautiful face and person, were rendered tributary to the task of ministering both to her sup- 58 PTJBLIO AND PRIVATE HISTORY port, and to her fondness for dissipation and luxury. She had had many intrigues ; but they were always with the wealthy and the noble. Passing lightly from one amorous connection to another, as caprice or interest dictated, her life had not been devoid of deep romance. Among her various lovers, the last was one of the most distinguished and active partisans of the Bonapartist cause ; who, in a moment either of excessive carelessness or intense affection, had revealed to her the con- templated plan of Louis Napoleon, to assail and overthrow the existing government. Devotedly attached to the name dud family of Napoleon, Madame Gordon became deeply interested in favor of the young adventurer. She immediately journeyed to Arenemberg, but arrived there on the very day on which Louis Napoleon departed for Baden-Baden. She instantly followed him to that retreat, ascertained the place of his temporary abode, obtained an interview with him, in- formed him of the fact that she had been initiated into the plot, declared her ardent devotion to his person and his cause, and offered to serve him to the utmost of her ability. That offer was gladly accepted. Love and ambition both plead powerfully in behalf of the fair devotee; and both seemed compatible with the interests and the tastes of the prince. By means of Madame Gordon's intelligence and beauty he opened direct communications with the ofiBcers of the regiments then stationed in Strasburg. She possessed arguments adapted to the passions of all. To the aged she presented the thrilling souvenirs of the Empire, and those triumphant and glorious scenes in which they had participated ; to the avaricious she offered immense riches ; to the ambitious she held forth the glittering meed of glory ; to the discontented the soothing solace of revenge ; and to the chivalrous and gallant, the potent blandishments of love. It was not strange that with such an emissary, assisted by others of a different character, a sufficient number of the officers of Strasburg should have been corrupted, to have induced the prince to suppose that the remainder would be easily won over to his OF NAPOLEON HI. 59 cause after the public demonstration in his favor had been begun. A few weeks having been spent by Louis Napoleon at Baden-Baden, devoted to the fascinating society of Madame Gordon, and to his intrigues with his partizans and emissaries in Strasburg, he secretly proceeded on the 30th of October, 1836, to that city. He was accompanied by that lady, to whom, in this important emergency, he entrusted his papers and effects. He repaired first to the house of M. Persigny, where he remained concealed during the day. When night arrived, he proceeded to another house in a distant part of the city, in the Rue Fontaine, in the basement of which all the conspirators were to assemble at an appointed hour. The weather was cold, but a bright autumnal moon illumined the ancient and narrow streets of the city. The conspirators, to the number of thirty-five, remained in consultation during the night, intending to strike the decisive blow at six o'clock on the ensuing morning. During the night the prince arranged with Colonel Vau- drey, the chief conspirator, the plan of the next day's pro- ceedings. The Colonel said to him : " There is no question here of a conflict of arms ; your cause is too French and too pure, to pollute it with the effusion of blood. There is only one way for you to act, which will be worthy of you. When you are at the head of my regiment we will march together to the residence of General Yoirol, we will show him the im- perial eagle, and he will be persuaded that the whole garrison is in our favor, and will join us. " During the tedious progress of the night the deliberations of the conspirators were inter- rupted by the inquiries and apprehensions of the lodgers in the upper part of the house, who became alarmed by the mysterious and unusual noises which the conversation and movements of so many persons inevitably made. Silence was again commanded, and the people fortunately retired to their beds. At length, when morning dawned, the bells in the great GO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY tower of the Cathedral solemnly tolled forth the hour of six ; and the impressive sound striking on the expectant ears of the conspirators, summoned them to their task of glory or of ruin. They emerged into the streets and proceeded toward the barracks of the artillery.. Having arrived there in com- pany with M. Pasquin, Louis Napoleon, who had assumed the uniform of a brigadier-general, found the fourth regiment of artillery, of which Colonel Vaudrey was the commandant, drawn out in the open space before their cantonments. The colonel stood alone in the middle of the yard. Louis Napo- leon proceeded immediately to join him. The colonel then drew his sword, and exclaimed to the soldiers : " Behold the nephew of Napoleon 1 A great revolution is being accom- plished at this moment. The nephew of Napoleon, his heir and representative, comes to reconquer the rights of the people. It is around him that all who love the glory and liberty of France, should rally. Soldiers ! you must feel, as I do, all the grandeur of the enterprise in which you are about to engage, all the sacredness of the cause which you are about to defend. Can the nephew of the great Napoleon rely upon your fidelity ?" The soldiers responded to this speech with as much enthu- siasm as could reasonably be expected on a cold autumnal morning ; while Louis Napoleon himself, boldly facing the regiment, tried his best to look as much as possible like the " Nephew of his Uncle I" He then spoke as follows : "Re- solved to conquer or die for the cause of the French people, it is to you that I wish to present myself in the first instance, because between us there exists great and thrilling recollec- tions. It was in your regiment that my uncle served as cap- tain ; with you he fought at the siege of Toulon ; and it was your brave regiment which first received him at Grenoble on bis return from Elba. Soldiers ! new destinies are in store for you ! To you is offered the honor of commencing a great enterprize ! You will have the glory of being the first to salute the eagle of Austerlitz I" OF NAPOLEON III. 61 At this crisis, tlie prince, receiving the eagle from M. do Querelle, one of his confederate ofBcers, held it forth at arm's length toward the regiment, and exclaimed: "Behold the symbol of the glory of France ! It is destined to become the emblem of liberty 1 For fifteen years it led our fathers to victory ; it glittered on all the battle-fields, and in all the capitals of Europe. Will you now rally around it, and march with me against the traitors and oppressors of our country ? Vive la France.' Vive la Libertef" And once more, in re- sponse, a reasonable number of soldiers shouted out : "Vive Napoleon! Vive VEmpereur !" Hnviug thus assured himself of the attachment of the fourth regiment of artillery, the next object of the prince was to repair to the quarters of the commandant of all the military forces in Strasburg, General Voirol, in order to win him over to his cause. On his way thither, it was necessary for the prince to traverse a considerable distance, and during his progress he sent an officer, with a company of men, to the printers, to prepare and publish his proclamation. He sent other detachments to arrest the prefect of the city, and to per- form several important commissions. At length the prince and his friends arrived at the residence of General Yoirol. The commandant was still in bed. He refused to admit his visitors, and Louis Napoleon, Taudrey, Pasquin, and two other officers, ascended to his room and broke open the door. On being thus assailed, Voirol gazed with mingled astonish- ment and terror upon the intruders. The prince, approaching him and holding toward him the eagle of Austerlitz, ex- claimed : " General, I approach you as a friend. I would be sorry to raise our old tri-color without the assistance of a brave soldier like you. The garrison is in my favor ; decide, and follow mel" But the old general caught none of the enthusiasm of the prince. Sitting up in bed, he began to read him a severe lecture, which, to the prince, was both in- opportune and disagreeable. Said he: "You have been wofully deceived. The army knows its duty, and of this you 6 62 PTIBIilC AND PRIVATE HISTORY will soon be convinced. Your undertaking is hopeless, youi attempt is criminal, and will end only in your ruin. I adjure you to go no farther." The prince was naturally disgusted at such unwelcome advice as this, turned on his heel, ordered a file of his soldiers to arrest and guard the general, and hastened, with consider- able abatement of enthusiasm, to execute the rest of his pro- gramme. He directed his steps toward the barrack of Fink- matt, in order to secure the allegiance of the regiments quartered there. Having arrived, the soldiers crowded around the prince, more from curiosity than from any other motive ; and he began to harangue them. Some of thera shouted Vive Napoleon ! Vive VEmpereur! but the majority of them said nothing. At this crisis an unfortunate incident occurred, which blasted the success of the enterprise, even though the battalion of the pontonniers, and the third regi- ment of artillery were marching to join the prince, having been won over by the arguments of their officers. Colonel Taillander, being among the disaffected, raised the shout that • the alleged Prince Napoleon was not he, but a nephew of Colonel Vaudrey. " I know him well," said he, "for I have studied with him." This revelation, coming at such a time and in such a manner, produced an electrical effect on the soldiers. The pretender was immediately greeted with loud jeers and laughter ; and instantly, the romance, the glory, and the success of the enterprise were at an end. Louis Napoleon tried in vain to speak to the malcontents. Tail- lander ordered the gates to be closed, and the drums to beat. In vain the desperate prince demanded to be heard. His screams and violent gesticulations were only as a dumb show to the astounded and diverted lookers on ; while each moment the confusion continued to increase. Muskets were discharged, swords flashed in the air, the cannoneers arrested infantry officers, and the infantry in turn arrested officers of artillery. A general melee ensued in the space before the barracks, during OF NAPOLEON III. 63 which the prince, seeing his case becoming desperate, in vain besought one of the artillery-raen to lend him his horse, with which to escape ; and he came very near being crushed to death under the feet of horses and men. The confusion sub- sided as soon as the prince and his attendants were all arrested. They were immediately taken to the guard-room and confined. The disaffected regiment, covered with shame, returned quietly to their quarters ; and thus ended in igno- minious failure and disgrace, the memorable conspiracy of Strasburg. A few moments after the arrest and imprisonment of the prince. General Voirol entered, who greeted him with the remark that he had found but one traitor in the army, mean- ing Colonel Vaudrey. Louis Napoleon responded: "Say rather, general, that I have found a Labedoyere;" and he assured him that he should interest himself for the Colonel's children, because it was through that officer's regard for General Yoirol, and the waste of time spent in parleying with him, that the failure of the enterprise was in some measure to be attributed. In a few hours the prince was removed to the prison of Strasburg, and subjected to a formal examination. He was asked what had induced him to conspire against the govern- ment. He responded that his political opinions, and a desire to reside again in his own country, from which he had been unjustly exiled, were his motives. When asked whether he had intended to establish a military government, he answered, that he desired a government based on popular election. He declared that his first step would have been to assemble a National Congress, and thus appeal to the nation for its sup- port. He insisted that the whole rigor of the law should fall upon himself, who was the sole originator and leader in the attempt ; from whom only any danger was to be apprehended. The unfortunate prince was then left alone in his dungeon, to indulge in profound and useful " Beveries" on the vanity 64 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOKY and instability of human grandeur 1 He discovered, when too late, that he had acted very rashly in commencing deci- sive measures, as the legitimate heir and successor of the great Corsican, before the arrival of the appropriate junc- ture, without proper preparations, and probably by the use of means which are not wisely adapted to the accomplishment of the intended end, even if used at the most propitious time. I OF NAPOLEON III. 65 CHAPTER IV. Presence of Mind and Intrepidity of Madame Gordon — Her Trial and Acquittal — Her subsequent Fate — The Gratitude of Louis Napoleon — His Removal to Paris — Intercessions of Queen Hortense in his behalf — The Prince Banished — His Voyage to Kio Janeiro — His Arrival at New York — His Conduct in the United States — Letter from Hortense — His Return to Switzerland — Death of Hortense — Brochure of M. Persigny — Re-published by M. Laity — ^Letter of Louis Napoleon to Laity — Louis Philippe demands his Expulsion from Switzerland — The Cantons refuse — War threatened — Voluntary ■withdrawal of the Prince — He goes to England — Publishes his Ideei Napoleoniennes — Gore House — The Countess of Blessington — Lord Eglinton — The Prince's Habits of Dissipation in London — His con- nection with Mrs. Howard — Her History and Career. The inhabitants of Strasburg learned almost at the same moment the outbreak of the conspiracy and its suppression. On the arrest of its chief, his principal confederates were also taken into custody, though confined in separate prisons. The de7oted Madame Gordon had awaited in her apartments, with intense anxiety, the progress of the insurrection ; and she soon received information of its total failure. She dis- played in this great crisis as much intrepidity as she had before exhibited adroitness and tact ; and instead of seeking her immediate safety in concealment or flight, she employed the precious moments in committing to the flames all the papers and memorials connected with the plot, which had been left in her keeping. This act of superior courage and sagacity on her part preserved many persons from ruin, and from the vengeance of the government of Louis Philippe. She had scarcely completed her generous task, when her apartment was entered by the police, and she herself con- veyed to prison. Her subsequent fate is interesting. At her trial she was acquitted, inasmuch as no evidence could be 6* E 66 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY found to implicate her. Her services were appreciated by Queen Hortense, whose grateful munificence she soon expe- rienced. The beautiful conspirator ever after remained devotedly attached to the person and the fortunes of the prince ; and during his subsequent wanderings and vicissi- tudes, she occasionally enjoyed his society. It may not be improper here to add, that both during his imprisonment and exile in after years, she often relieved his pecuniary necessi- ties ;' and that, when he rose at leiigth to imperial power and splendor, she was not forgotten. Colonel Vaudrey was also rewarded, and was appointed the Governor of the Hotel des Invalides, after the coup d'eiat. Madame Gordon is said still to reside in Paris, under another name, in the enjoyment of all the opulence and luxury which the gratitude and ad- miration of the Emperor can bestow. Whenever the monarch can secretly escape from the heavy cares of empire, and from the lynx-eyed vigilance of Eugenie, his first retreat even yet, is to the sumptuous residence of the still pleasing and at- tractive Madame Gordon ; where wit, cheerfulness, luxury, and the thrilling reminiscences of the checkered past, present a welcome contrast to the gorgeous and stupid monotonies of the imperial court and palace. After a confinement of ten days in the castle of Strasburg, Louis Napoleon was informed that he was to be transferred to another prison. He was first taken to the hotel of the prefect, where he found two post-chaises in waiting. He was ordered to enter one, in company with M. Cuynat, commander of the gendarmerie of the Seine, and Lietenant Shiboulet ; while the other was filled with oificers. They immediately started for Paris. During the journey, his attendants treated the captive prince with respect ; and they arrived at the capital on the 11th of November, at two o'clock in the morning. Immediately after the outbreak of the insurrection Queen Hortense, being informed of its failure, braved the prohibition which still excluded the Bonaparte family from the soil of Erance, and hastened to the presence of Louis Philippe. OS NAPOLEON III. 61 She implored his clemency in behalf of her son with frantic earnestness ; and not in vain. She was able to point to the lenity of the fallen emperor toward the Duchess de Berry, on a former occasion ; and, under similar circumstances, Louis Philippe was convinced that policy itself commended the path of generosity, because he thought that, if he punished the prince severely or capitally, he would incense the great Napoleonic party iu France ; whereas if he forgave, he would both conciliate them, and at the same time convince the na- tion that he regarded the attempt and the influence of the prince as too insignificant to deserve any serious penalty. Louis Philippe, accordingly, promised to deal gently with the hero of Strasburg, but only on certain conditions. One of these was that he should forever absent himself from France ; and the other, that he should renounce all claims and aspirations to the throne. The former condition the prince promised solemnly to fulfil ; the latter he adroitly evaded. What assurances Queen Hortense may have made in behalf of her son, it is impossible to say. He himself gave none, except a promise of perpetual exile from Prance. In pursuance of his sentence of banishment, the prince was conveyed to the citadel of Port Louis. Here he was detained ten days, waiting for a favorable wind. He was to be con- veyed to the United States in a French frigate. Before he set sail he wrote to M. Barrot, the distinguished Parisian advocate, requesting him to take charge of the defence of Colonel Vaudrey. He also wrote to Louis Philippe, asking his indulgence in behalf of his confederates in the insurrection, and declaring that the sole blame should rest with him, who had seduced them by glorious recollections^ in a moment of excitement and confusion. It is doubtful whether these repre- sentations had any weight with the crafty and selfish monarch who then governed the destinies of France. The offenders were brought to trial, but the jury acquitted them. This "mad affair of Strasburg" has always been regarded in different lights by different parties. The prevalent senti- 68 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOEY ment throughout Europe in reference to it, has generally been unmixed ridicule and contempt. The press during many months overflowed with innumerable satires and outbursts of derision. The movement was described as the absurd attempt of an obscure and unknown boy to imitate the memo- rable and triumphant return of Napoleon from Elba ; and, as a proof that the prince did not possess sagacity enough to see the difference between the two cases, they cited the several results. Perhaps the best excuse for Louis Napoleon on this occasion, will be found in the fact that, being excluded from the soil of France, he was readily deceived by his enthu- siastic emissaries in reference to the existing state of public opinion ; that he was led to believe that the whole nation was ready to rise at any instant, in support of his pretensions ; that Louis Philippe was then tottering on his throne ; and that the most propitious moment for action had already arrived. It cannot be denied that during the progress of the insurrection the conduct of the prince was not deficient either in energy, fortitude, or determination. The following extract from a letter, written by him after his departure from Prance, and addressed to M. Villaud, explains his own views in refer- ence to the matter: "I had two lines of conduct open to me: the one, which in some respects depended on myself; the other, which depended on events. In deciding upon the former, I became, as you very truly say, a means ; in waiting for the other, I should only have been a resource. According to my views and my convictions, the first part appeared to me much preferable to the other. The success of my project would offer to me the following advantages : I should have done in one day, and by a coup de main, the work of perhaps ten years : successful, I spared France the conflicts, the trou- bles, the disorders, attendant upon a. state of general confu- sion, which must, I think, occur sooner or later. 'The spirit of a revolution,' M. Thiers observes, ' consists in an ardent passion for the object in view, and a hatred for those who oppose an obstacle to its attainment. ' Having led the OF NAPOLEON III. 69 people with us, by means of the army, we should have had all the noble passions, without animosities ; for animosity only results from a conflict between physical force and moral force. Por myself, my position would have been clear, simple, and easy. Having carried a revolution with the aid of fifteen persons, if I had arrived in Paris, I should have owed my success to the people only — not to any party: arriving there victorious I should, of my own free will, without being com- pelled to itj have laid down my sword upon the altar of my country ; and then they might well have confidence in me, for it was no longer my name alone, Ijut my person, which became a guarantee for my conduct. In the other case sup- posed, I could only have been called upon by a fraction of the people ; I should have had as my enemies, not only a debilitated government, but a crowd of other parties, them- selves too, perhaps, of a national character.'" It was nearly a fortnight before the vessel which carried the adventurous prince and his uncertain fortunes passed through the channel, being detained by contrary winds. The commander was Captain Villeneuve, and his orders were first to sail to Rio Janeiro, where the vessel was to be re-viotualled, thence to proceed to the port of New York. The voyage to Brazil was, for the most part, a tranquil and pleasant one. On crossing the line the prince was e.xempted from the usual ceremonies in honor of Neptune, which are then performed. He passed his time chiefly in reading. On New Year's day all the ofiBcers of the vessel entered his cabin to compliment him with their good wishes. His thoughts, he tells us, re- verted with painful emotions to the castle of Arenemberg. He thus wrote to his mother on that day : "I am fifteen hun- dred leagues away from you, in another hemisphere. Happily, thought traverses all this space in less than a second. And in thought I am near you : I express all my regrets for the ' " Napoleon the Third ; Review of his Life, Character, and Policy, Sgc , bg iM British Officer:" London, Longman ^ Co., 1857, p. 78. "TO PUBLIC AND PEIVATE HISTOEY torments I have occasioned you ; I renew the expression of my tenderness and gratitude. This morning the officers came in a body to wish me' a happy new year — an attention with which I was sensibly touched. At half past four we were at table ; as we are seventeen degrees west of Constance, it was at that time about seven o'clock at Arenemberg ; you were then, probably, also at dinner. In thought I drank your health ; perhaps you did the same towards me ; at least, I took pleasure in thinking so. I also thought of my com- panions in misfortune. Alas ! I am always thinking of them. I thought they were more unhappy than I, and this idea rendered me more unhappy 'even than themselves. "January 10. We have just arrived at Rio Janeiro. The coup d'anl of the harbor is magnificent : to-morrow I shall make a sketch of it. I hope this letter will reach you soon. Do not think of coming to join me. I do not yet know where I shall settle ; perhaps I shall find more inducements to live in South America ; the labor to which, in order to create myself a position, the uncertainty of my fate will compel me, will be the only consolation I shall enjoy." Having at length arrived at New York, Louis Napoleon there found two of his cousins, Achille and Lucien Murat. One of these had just received the rank of colonel in the army of the United States, and the other held a lucrative civil appointment. Louis Napoleon, during his short stay in the land of Washington, employed himself in studying American politics, institutions, arts, and society. It has been asserted that his life now became the life of an abandoned debauchee ; that he was overwhelmed with want, and borrowed money from all his friends, which he never returned ; that he was even arrested for debt, and cqnfined either in the Tombs or the Debtor's Trisou in Eldridge street, in New York ; and that he acted in every way unworthy of his character and his hopes. It is probable that these stories are exaggerated, and that his conduct is confounded with that of some other mem- bers of the Bonaparte family, who have at different periods OF NAPOLEON III. H Bojourned in the TJnited States. It is not probable that lie was poor, for Hortense possessed ample resources, and had opportunities of conveying funds to her son. It is nevertheless true, that the prince was fond of luxurious livinp:, and indulged to some degree in dissipation during his residence in New York. Among his favorite places of resort was a public saloon which flourished at that period in Grand street, under the superintendence of an abandoned French woman, named Meroier. This place was frequented by the most dissipated adventurers in the city of both sexes, many of whom were natives of Europe. Among their number was a courtezan of more than ordinary beauty, a native of Bayonne, who was generally regarded as a Spanish Jewess. Her name was Josephine Ballabo ; and with her the young prince formed the only liaison with which he was reported to have been concerned during his short residence in the United States. He became attached in no small degree to the im- passioned and ardent Josephine ; and when at length he parted from her, it was with considerable regret. This event took place suddenly, in consequence of the reception by the prince of a letter from his mother, which induced him to return to Arenemberg. It was as follows : " I am about to undergo an operation which has become absolutely necessary. In case it should not terminate suc- cessfully, I send you, in this letter, my blessing. We shall meet again — shall we not — in a better world, where may you come to join me as late as possible ! And you will believe that, in quitting this world, I regret only leaving yourself, and your fond, affectionate disposition, which alone has given any charm to my existence. This will be a consolation for yon, my dear friend — to reflect that, by your attentions, you have rendered your mother as happy as circumstances would . allow her to be. You will think also of all ray affection for you ; and this will inspire you with courage. Think upon this, that we shall always have a benevolent and distinct feeling for all that passes in this world below, and that, 72 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY assuredly, we shall all meet again. Reflect upon this con- solatory idea ; it is one which is too necessary not to be true. And that good Arese 1 I send him my blessing as to a son. I press you to my heart, my dear friend. I am calm, per- fectly resigned ; and I would still hope that we may meet again, even in this world." Immediately on the receipt of this letter Louis Napoleon embarked for Europe, and arrived at Arenemberg in time to render the last oflices of affection to his dying mother. After her death he continued to reside at Arenemberg ; but he was an object of great jealousy and mistrust to Louis Philippe. He was constantly surrounded by vigilant spies. At this period M. Persigny, one of his confederates in the affair of Strasburg, resided in England, and published a plain and truthful narrative of all the details connected with the con- spiracy, in answer to the innumerable libels and caricatures which were constantly printed and distributed. The brochure of M. Persigny was widely diffused, and many copies were conveyed into France ; and M. Laity, another partizan of the prince, undertook to republish it even in Paris. This bold proceeding at once brought upon him the vengeance of the government. Laity was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced, for an attempt against the peace and safety of the state. During the progress of this trial Louis Napoleon wrote a long letter to M. Laity, in which he commends his conduct, justifies his publication, and consoles him for his misfortunes. In the course of this letter he says : " But if, at some future day, parties overthrow the present government, (and the ex- ample of the last fifty years permits us such a supposition,) and if, accustomed as they have been, for twenty-three years, to despise authority, they undermine all the bases of the social edifice, then perhaps the name of Napoleon would prove an anchor of safety for all that is generous and really patriotic in France." This declaration was too distinct and unequivo- cal to be misunderstood. It clearly indicated that the prince OF NAPOLEON III. T3 still proposed and anticipated the overthrow of the Orleans dynasty, at some future and more propitious period. The result was, that Louis Philippe immediately demanded from the Swiss government, the expulsion of the prince from their territory, on the ground that he had solemnly promised to remain in America for ten years, that he had violated his en- gagements, and that he was then plotting against the security of the French government. The note addressed to the Helvetic Diet by the Dulie of Montebello on behalf of Louis Philippe, set forth these facts, and contained this demand ; but the Cantons at once resisted the proposal on the ground that it was hostile to their independence. Louis Philippe ordered an armed demonstration to be made on the frontier to over- awe the Cantons. The latter were not dismayed, however, but soon assembled twenty thousand men to defend the in- tegrity and freedom of their native rocks and hills. An effu- sion of blood would doubtless have ensued, which the insig- nificance of the occasion would scarcely have justified, had» not Louis Napoleon adroitly evaded the difficulty by volun- tarily withdrawing from the Swiss territory. He wrote a letter to the Landamaiin Anderwert, the president of the Council of Thurgovia, in which he announced his intention to withdraw, and added : " In leaving voluntarily at this time the only country in Europe where I have found support and protection, in departing from scenes which had become dear to me for so many reasons, I hope to prove to the Swiss people that I am worthy of the marks of esteem and affection which they have lavislied upon me. I shall never forget the noble conduct of the Cantons that have spoken so boldly in my favor, and above all, the generous protection of the Canton of Thurgovia will forever remain deeply engraven on my heart." The policy of Louis Philippe in thus publicly demanding the expulsion of the prince from Switzerland, was the most short-sighted which could possibly have been pursued. Until that moment Louis Napoleon had been an adventurer, 1 74 PUBLIC AND PBIVATE HISTORY without claims, and without principles, and almost without partizans. The condnot of the French king at once gave him, in the eyes of the whole world, as well as in his own, an acknowledged importance He had made an equal of the former despised refugee, in a great struggle, and in that struggle the prospect was that the monarch would have been ultimately defeated. The ancient and heroic spirit of Wil- liam Tell had been aroused and re-animated from the grave of centuries, and the struggle on the part of the Swiss in defence of their rights and territory, would doubtless have been desperate and protracted. These events took place in September, 1838. After the departure of the prince from Switzerland Louis Philippe re- called his armies, and exulted in the withdrawal of his foe, now for the first time really made important by his own folly ; the Swiss patriots returned to their watch-making, their chamois hunting in the lofty solitudes of the Upper Alps, and to their farming. Louis Napoleon, the single cause of all this ex- citement, quietly passed over to England, there to await in security, but with little probability of success, the advent of more propitious times. During his residence in England the prince assumed a new aspect. In suspending for a period the yearnings of ambi- tion, he seems to have appropriated the interval to the grati- fication of his passions. This is the portion of his career upon which it is least attractive to dwell, and which is most discreditable to his fame. For a time all his high, aspiring hopes, his assiduous studies and labors for his own improve- ment, even his personal character and self-respect, were a.b- sorbed and lost in his devotion or abandonment to pleasure. His residence was at Carlton Terrace. During the first year of bis abode in England he still devoted some time to study, and wrote and published his work entitled: " Dea Mees NaiMleoniiJnnes," ov Thoughts on Napoleonism ; or, ill other words, the establishment of the Napoleonic Dynasty and power in France. The purpose of this work will be OF NAPOLEON III. 15 gathered from the following extract from his preface : "If the destiny promised me by my birth, had not been changed by events, nephew of the Emperor, I would have been one of the defenders of his throne, one of the propagators of his ideas ; I would have had the glory of being one of the pil- lars of his throne, or of dying in one of the squares of his guards, fighting for France. The Emperor is no more ; but his spirit is not dead. Deprived of the opportunity of de- fending his protecting power with the sword, I can at least try to defend his memory with the pen. To enlighten opinions by searching for the thought that presided over his lofty conceptions, to recall to men's minds the memory of his vast projects, — this is a task which still gratifies my heart and consoles me for exile. Pear of shocking contrary opinions shall not stay me ; ideas which are under the eegis of the greatest genias of modern times can be avowed with- out circumlocution ; they cannot vary with the thermometer of the political atmosphere. " There is nothing either original or remarkable in this book, and it is in itself devoid of all interest, except that which is derived from the birth and subsequent career of its author. He asserts that the great object and aim of the first Napoleon was to guide France to liberty ! The absurdity of this de- claration will strike every one ; for there never existed a more powerful and resistless despotism in any country than that exercised by the hero of Austerlitz over the French people. So far as material splendor was concerned, he increased and diffused it. But so far as true liberty, both of word and action, was concerned, he crushed out its last glimmering spark. Such "liberty" as this, Napoleon III. may also be said to have bestowed on France in the largest and most abundant measure, since his assumption of the imperial purple. The publication of his Ideas on Napoleonism oc- cupied but a small portion of the prince's time and attention. A recent biographer, whose whole work is a tissue of perversions and flatteries of the prince, for which he was no T6 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY doubt handsomely rewarded, thns describes and endeavors to defend his conduct in England:' "He studied us through ourselves, as well as through our literature, and by mingling in general society, observing men, women, thoughts, habits, and institutions, obtained in all probability a more intimate acquaintance with our real state and condition, than is pos- sessed by some of those who share in making our laws, and giving the tone to our policy, botSi domestic and external." The truth is, that the prince obtained just such an ac- quaintance with the British nation, as any intelligent de- bauchee might secure, who mingled intimately with all the more dissipated classes of society; with voluptuous nobles, with polished adventurers, with horse-jockeys, gamblers, women of easy virtue, political desperadoes, foreign refugees, etid ovine genus. The British aristocracy tolerated him in their society, because to this his birth and associations en- titled him. His most welcome haunt among them was at Gore House, the residence of the Countess of Blessington. This lady was celebrated for her beauty and her accomplish- ments, both of person and of intellect. Her saloons were frequented by the most polished, the most cultivated, and the most distinguished members of society. All the beau monde of the intellectual class constantly met at her residence. Lady Blessington herself had seen Queen Hortense and Louis Napoleon in Italy, in 1828. She had become much attached to the fallen queen, and felt an interest in the fortunes of her son, which ever after continued till her death. At Gore House, therefore, the prince was always a welcome guest, and there was thrown into the society of the most distin- guished personages of fiie time in England. ' See "Napoleon III., Review of his Life, Character, and Policy, by a British Officer," London, 1857, p. 104. A careful reader of this book must come to the deliberate conclusion that it is nothing more than a State-paper, prepared and issued by the government of Louis Napoleon in his defence ; so utterly false, perverted, unfounded, and unfair, is almost every statement contained in it from beginning to end. O'PNAPOLEONIII 11 In the summer of 1840, he was also invited by Lord Eglinton to attend the festivities of a grand tournament given by him at his castle in Scotland. The queen of beanty on that occasion was Lady Seymour. The appearance which he made among the splendid and opulent nobility who were there congregated, was not deficient in elegance and taste. But he won no prizes in the lists. While such occasional intercourse with the highest rank of British society adorned his career and residence in England, it must be admitted that its general character was much less commendable. It may be that the agony of "hope deferred" may have at length rendered him desperate, and indifferent to public opinion. Certain it is, that in London he now led the life of a dissipated adventurer. He visited the most celebrated gambling-houses in the metropolis. He betted on the horse-racing at New-Market. He was a frequenter of the most fashionable houses of prostitution, and spent days and nights in their drunken, licentious, and boisterous orgies. It was in one of these resorts that he first met a woman whose name has since been publicly associated with his own, and whom, therefore, it is proper that the pen of history should notice. During the darkest and most desperate period of his career in London, Louis Napoleon was indebted to Mrs. Howard, not only for the solace of her love and attach- ment, but also for the means of subsistence. When he first became acquainted with her, his pecuniary resources had be- come exhausted, and he was living in straitened circumstances. Mrs. Howard was a woman of great talent and beauty, and possessed considerable romance of character. The career and family connections of the needy prince charmed her fancy, and she was flattered with the idea of becoming both his pro- tector, his cher aniie, and his partisan. This remarkable woman deserves a word of passing de- scription. If the sketches of her career which have been published are to be believed, she almost deserves the title of the Ninon de I'Enclos of the present century. It is said that 1* TS PUBLIC AND PEIVATE HISTOKT she was born in Yorkshire, the daughter of a small English farmer. Her youth was passed in the simple and healthy pursuits which naturally engrossed her attention ; while the very superior personal charms which nature had bestowed upon her, were ripened and developed by the fresh air, the vigorous exercise, and the nourishing food of her native fields. She received the usual amount of elementary instruction which falls to the lot of farmers' children in England ; but she pos- sessed what was of much more importance to her than mere book-learuhig, — great natural intelligence, an agreeable and vivacious wit, womanly adroitness and craft, together with more than ordinary resolution and determination of purpose. At the age of seventeen she met, at a neighboring fair, a handsome young English nobleman, whose fancy was imme- diately taken by her superior beauty, by the natural ease and gracefulness which she possessed, and by her pleasing vivacity. He promised her the enjoyment of wealth, luxury, and splen- dor in the capital. He pictured to her imagination scenes of pleasure and indulgence, which the simplicity and poverty of her native hills rendered impossible ; and he plead beside all this, the ardor of his own love. The fair young girl was flattered and attracted by the protestations of the youth, and after some hesitation, resigned herself to his wishes. He returned with her to London, took apartments for her there, and during some months he seemed entirely devoted to his beautiful rural conquest. The rest of the history of this woman is but a repetition of the vicissitudes which usually befall the victims and the votaries of vice. Deserted in the course of a year by her first love, Mrs. Howard was thrown upon the world. She had made the acquaintance of several nobleman to whom the soi-disant Colonel Howard had intro- duced her during the period of their intimacy. To these she now applied for assistance, nor was the application in vain. She was still in the first blush of her beauty, still young, still gay, still fond of pleasure ; and what was now of more im- portance to her, she had aptly learned from ber seducer the airs OP NAPOLEON III. 79 and manners of aristocratic and polished life, which served con- siderably to enhance her charms. Like Mrs. Gordon, she passed, with the progress of time, from one admirer to another. Sometimes she lived in luxurious and lavish opulence ; some- times she was strailened for the most necessary means. Her chief impediment to uniform prosperity in her precarious and discreditable course of life, was the ardor and impetuosity of her temper. She ruled her lovers with a rod of' iron ; and her supremacy usually ended after a period of amorous attachment, in the breaking of those chains which she invari- ably rendered too heavy, even though they might have been gilded. Her last lover was a young nobleman, who had, on dissolving his connection with her, made her the mistress of an establishment of a sumptuous but questionable character in the metropolis ; and it was while thus situated that she formed the acquaintance of the penniless aspirer to the ancient throne of the Bourbons. 80 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORT CHAPTER V. Louis Napoleon in England — Insurrection of Barbes — False Opinions as to the State of Feeling in France — The Affair of Boulogne — Want of Organization and Preparation in France — Louis Napoleon and his Friends embark on the "City of Edinburgh" — Their Arrival on the Coast of France — They disembark — Proclamation to the Soldiers — Attempt to corrupt the Garrison of Boulogne — Partial Success — Subequent Failure — Arrest of Louis Napoleon and hia Associates — Colonel Puygillier — Trial of the Conspirators — Evi- dence against them — Eloquence of Counsel, Berryer and Ferdinand Barrot — Conviction of the Prisoners — Their Sentence — Louis Na- poleon condemned to Imprisonment for Life — Fortress of Ham — Prevalent Opinions in reference to the Affair of Boulogne — Its pecu- liar Error — Its advantageous Results on the subsequent Fate of Louis Napoleon. ALTHorGH Louis Napoleon had in a great measure aban- doned himself, as far as his limited means enabled bim so to do, to a life of pleasure, during his residence in England, yet he did not wholly forget his former political aspirations. Ambition was not yet dead within him ; though adverse cir- cumstances, and probably the death of his mother, had for a time weakened its power over his mind. He was constantly associated in London with many Frenchmen, who from time to time assured him of the growing dissatisfaction of the French nation with their imbecile and perfidious king. The insurrection o{ Barbes, which took place in May, 1839, was a spark which emanated from the great volcano which burned with suppressed, but growing, fury beneath the throne of Louis Philippe ; and that insurrection was a proof of the general state of public feeling and discontent. Louis Napoleon was charged with having instigated the movement of Barbes; but that charge was false. He denied the imputation in the public press; and said, with considerable assumption of heroic OP NAPOLEON III. 81 valor : " If I were the soul of a conspiracy, T should also be the leader of it in the day of danger. I should not deny it, after its defeat." But Louis Napoleon began to weary of his obscure life in London, of his insignificant associations and pursuits, of his midnight dissipations, and even of the voluptuous, though tyrannical, supremacy of Mrs. Howard. Some of the despe- rate French refugees then residing in the English capital, suc- ceeded in persuading the prince, that a particularly favorable period had arrived for the assertion of his claims ; and that if he then showed himself in France the whole nation would rise en masse in his favor, would hurry him to the summit of power, and forever expel, perhaps even destroy, the hated Orleans race. It is singular that a man possessing ordinary sagacity should have been so easily misled, both as to the state of France, and as to the means necessary to overthrow the government. There was then no organization or prepara- tion made for Louis Napoleon's reception. There was no body of men with whom a correspondence had been carried on, and who were prepared to second and complete the movement on the arrival of the Pretender. Everybody was to be taken by surprise. Neither soldiers, nor officers, nor citizens, were to greet his presence by any preconcerted movement. And if the affair of Strasburg had been badly managed, the affair of Boulogne was about to be infinitely worse. In the former instance there had been concert of action, a pre-organization of assisting and confluent forces, a definite and prudent pro- gramme of anticipated events, which were to be consecutively brought about and executed.' ' It is probable that the strongest and most conclusive consideration, which misled Louis Napoleon as to the propriety of bis moving at that time was, that a law had recently passed the Chambers in favor of bringing the remains of the great Napoleon from Kt. Helena to Paris ; and because the proposition was greeted with applause by the whole French nation and by the press. The Prince do Joinvillo had been appointed to the command of the frigate La Bdlc Poule, in order to eieonte the project. 82 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY But in the Boulogne movement there was nothing of all this. A desperate adventurer was about to throw himself upon an astonished nation of thirty millions of people, whose government had already condemned hira ; while in addition to this, his entry upon their forbidden soil was for the pur- pose of committing an act for which the law would sentence him to death. In a word, Louis Napoleon was about to attempt the overthrow of the existing government of Prance, without an army, without confederates, without any personal character or popularity to aid him, attended only by fifty nameless adventurers, as desperate and as imbecile as him- self I Such was the real character of the most absurd and preposterous movement ever undertaken, either in ancient or modern times. It is not strange that it ended in ignominious failure, and that it covered the prince with a universal flood of ridicule and contempt. The necessary means for this expedition were raised in London by borrowing money at exorbitant rates from Jews; stock-jobbers, and speculators. The steam-frigate " City of Edinburg " was chartered for the occasion, and she was amply supplied with arms, ammunition, liquors, together with a live eagle, which was intended to represent the victo- rious bird of the Empire. On the 6th of August, 1840, the adventurers embarked at London ; and the utmost convi- viality prevailed on board during their progress down the Channel. In fact, a very large proportion of them became completely intoxicated. At length, having approached the coast of France near Boulogne, an officer of the customs named Audinet discovered the mysterious vessel when about a mile from shore. At first, he thought it was an English steamer waiting for dispatches. But when the oificer perceived a boat full of passengers detach itself from the vessel and row toward the shore, he hastened to the spot where they were about to land, and hailed them. They answered that they were soldiers of the fortieth regiment of the line, that they were OP NAPOLEON III. 83 proceeding from Dunkirk to Cherbourg, and wished to land to repair tlie broken wheel of their frigate. The officer was satisfied with this story, and made no fur- ther opposition. Fifteen soldiers immediately landed, the boat then returned to the steamer, and making three succes- sive voyages, conveyed the whole party to the shore. During the landing, four men who came from Boulogne, were greeted by the conspirators as friends, and were immediately invested with the uniforms of officers. This was the extent of the preparation which had been made to receive and support the prince. By this time, Bally, lieutenant of the customs at Boulogne, had been informed of the arrival of the vessel ; and he supposed that it was an attempt to evade the sanitary laws. He hastened from Boulogne to investigate the matter. As he approached Vimereux, a village in the close vicinity of the spot where the landing took place, he was arrested by the officers of Louis Napoleon, and compelled to accompany •them back to Boulogne. He was then also informed of the nature of the movement, and was invited to join the con- spirators, who assured him that in a few days the prince would be the absolute sovereign of France. But the as- tonished Bally remained incredulous, declined the offer, and indignantly refused a handful of gold which was tendered him. Yet was he compelled to lead the way for the detested rabble toward the gate of the grand rue of Boulogne. As they approached, they did their best to shout Yive I'Empe- reur ; and they cast loose from time to time the live eagle which they carried with them, drawing him back again by means of the cord attached ignominiously to his talons, whenever his flight threatened to be too ambitious. Soon the company ap- proached the barracks of the forty-second regiment of the line, before which the principle demonstration was to be made. The conspirators were led on by the prince, General Montholon, Colonel Voison, Pasquin, and Persigny. Arriving at the quarters of the regiment, the prince drew from his pocket the following proclamation, and boldly read it : " Sol- 84 PUBLIC AND PKIVATE HISTORY diers 1 France is made to command, and she obeys. You are the ttite of the people, and you are treated like a vile herd. You are made to protect the national honor, and it is against your brothers that you turn your arms. Those who rule you would degrade the noble profession of soldier. You have been indignant, and have asked yourselves, 'What has become of the eagles of Areola, of Austerlitz, of Jena?' Here are those' eagles 1 I restore them to you : take them back : with them you shall have glory, honor, fortune, and what is more than all, the gratitude and esteem of your fellow-countrymen. "Soldiers! between you and me there are indissoluble ties : we have the same objects of hatred and love, the same interests and the same enemies. " Soldiers ! the mighty shadow of Napoleon speaks to you in my voice. Hasten, whilst it crosses the ocean, to send away those traitors and oppressors, and show him at his ar- rival that you are tiie worthy children of the Grand Army,- and that you have resumed those sacred emblems which for twenty years appalled the enemies of France, amongst whom were those that are ruling you to-day, " Soldiers ! to arms ! Vive la France!" This proclamation being read, a considerable number of the soldiers immediately shouted Vive Napoleon! Lieutenant Aladenize was particularly energetic at this crisis, and exerted himself to win over the soldiers, in which purpose he was, to some extent, successful, The next step was to induce the garrison of Boulogne to accompany the prince to St. Omer, and corrupt the troops there stationed. Had he succeeded in both of these purposes, the consequences might perhaps have been different. But at this critical moment the com- manding officer of the garrison. Colonel Puygillier, who had been attracted to the spot by the commotion, made his ap- pearance ; energetically denounced the prince and his con- federates ; ordered his men with the utmost ferocity to return to their quarters ; and thus succeeded in confoundiug and OP NAPOLEON III. 85 eventually in destroying all the plans and the partial success of the conspirators. By this time, also, the civil authorities of Boulogne had received information of what had transpired, and they were rapidly assembling the National Guard. Colonel Puygillier at this moment peremptorily ordered the prince to leave the barracks, and the soldiers to drive out the conspirators. They obeyed. A general stampede then began on the part of the conspirators toward the shore, with the design of reaching the frigate, which still rode at anchor there. The soldiers, headed by Puygillier, followed them. It was a regular chase ; velocity of heels now became an affair of the first consequence ; but the advantage of numbers was in favor of the pursuers ; and at the column of Napoleon the fugitives were completely surrounded. The prince then exclaimed: "All is lost; there is nothing left but death 1" At the same moment he drew his pistol, fired at his assailants, and shot a grenadier. The fighting continued while the parties were approaching the shore. By this time a consider- able number had been wounded and killed on both sides. The prince himself was slightly wounded in two places, and two of his officers were shot dead at his side. At length the fugitives, notwithstanding their resistance, were all over- powered and captured. They were first taken to the castle of Boulogne ; the next day they commenced their journey toward Paris. Thus ended the famous affair of Boulogne, which resulted most disastrously to the fortunes, the reputation, and the prospects of the future emperor of the French. The frigate was soon captured by the custom-house officers, and one thousand muskets, together with a hundred thousand dollars, were found secreted on board. ^ The excitement produced in Paris by the affair of Boulogne was considerable. Many persons were arrested in the capital whose attachment to the Bonaparte cause was known. Even harmless females fell beneath the vengeance of the government. 8 86 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY Among these was Madame Salvage de Fogerolles, formerly maid of honor to Queen Hortense. On the 28th of September, Louis Napoleon was arraigned for trial before the Chamber of Peers. He was defended by M. Berryer, the distinguished Legitimist lawyer, who was celebrated both as a statesman and as an advocate. The evidence against the prince was perfectly conclusive. Beside the two proclamations which he had published to the soldiers and to the people of Boulogne, there were two others which tvere equally positive and unambiguous. These were addressed to the French people. One of these contains the following language : " "What have those who govern you done, to pos- sess any claim on your love ? They promised 3'ou peace, and they have brought upon you civil commotions and the disas- trous war of Africa ; they promised a diminution of the taxes, and all the gold you possess would not glut their avidity; they promised you a pure administration, and they reign only by corruption ; they promised you liberty, and they protect only privileges and abuses ; they promised you stability, and in ten years they have established nothing. In short, they promised to defend conscientiously our honor, our rights, our interests, and they have on all occasions sold our honor, abandoned our rights, betrayed our interests ! It is time such iniquities should come to an end ; it is time to go and ask them what they have done with the grand, generous, unani- mous Trance of 1 830 1 Farmers, they have laid on you during peace heavier taxes than Napoleon ever demanded during war. Manufacturers and merchants, your interests have been sacrificed to foreign exigencies ; they use the gold in corrup- tion which the emperor employed to encourage your efforts and to enrich yourselves Finally, all you classes, industrious and poor, who are in France the refuge of all noble senti- ments, remember that it was amongst you Napoleon chose his lieutenants, his marshals, his ministers, his princes, his friends. Give me your support, and let us show the world that neither you nor I have degenerated. OP NAPOLEON III. 8t " I entertained a hope, as did you, that without revolution we might be able to correct the evil influences of the govern- ment ; but to-day no more hope. In ten years they have changed the ministry ten times ; and they may change it ten times over again, and the grievances and the miseries of the country would still continue the same." Such language indicates the purpose of treason as clearly as language possibly can do. The Ottin proclamation was, however, still more explicit, and must have excited the deri- sion of the whole nation, from its astounding tone of arro- gance and confidence. " Prince Napoleon, in the name of the French people, de- crees as follows : "The dynasty of the Bourbons of Orleans has ceased to reign. " The French people have resumed their rights. The troops are released from their oath of allegiance. The Chamber of Peers and the Chamber of Deputies are dis- solved. " A National Congress shall be convoked on the arrival of Prince Napoleon at Paris. "M. Thiers, President of the Council, is appointed, at Paris, President of the Provisional Government. " Marshal Clausel is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the troops assembled at Paris. " General Pajol preserves the command of the first military division. "All the commanders who will not immediately conform with his orders shall be removed. "All the officers, subalterns, and soldiers, who will ener- getically display their sympathy for the national cause shall be nobly recompensed in the name of their country. " God protect Prance ! " But the French people refused to permit the prince to ",decree" in theiV name. They could decree for themselves without his assistance ! The specific charge made against 88 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTOUT the prince at this time was, that on the 6th of August, 1840, T he made an attempt, commencing at Boulogne, to destroy or change the government, to excite the citizens to talte up arms against the royal authority, and to kindle the flames of civil war. The Chancellor Pasquier was President. The government was represented by the Procurator-General Carrl, assisted by the Attorney-General Bouchy, and the Deputies Nanquier and Glandaz. Against all these combined the ability and eloquence of M. Berryer was considered a suffi- cient counterpoise. During the course of the trial the prince was permitted to speak in his own defence. He addressed the Chamber of Peers, composed of a hundred and fifty members ; and it was a remarkable circumstance that a large proportion of his judges were the former companions in arms or members of the household of Napoleon himself. During the progress of the interrogatories which were addressed to the prince by the chancellor, he did not deny that he had attempted to over- throw the government, but justified his acts by pleading hia good intentions, and desire to promote the welfare of France. At the same time he refused to compromise any of his secret confederates. General Montholon, General Yoisin, MM. Lom- bard and Persigny, were also interrogated, with the same re- sult. The witnesses for the prosecution described all that had transpired at Boulogne. The testimony of Major Puygillier was most conclusive of all. After the examination of the witnesses for the government the procurator-general addressed the chamber. His task was an easy one ; for never was the truth of any charge more clearly evident. The speech of M. Berryer displayed great ability. Fully conscious of the des- perate nature of his client's position, who, if convicted, would probably be condemned to death, he put forth his utmost abilities. His oration was marked by the peculiarities which usually characterize French forensic efforts ; and had it been possible for the judges to have been deluded in reference to the nature of an act whose guilt was as clear as the litcht of or NAPOLEON III. 89 the noonday sun, he had done it. He assumed the position, that after the principle established in France by the events of 1794, an appeal to the nation, calling upon it to declare its sentiments in reference to any existing or proposed govern- ment, was legitimate and not treasonable ; that this principle had been acted on by every government which had ruled France since the death of Louis XVI., and that such, and such only, was the basis and claim upon which the govern- ment of Louis Philippe itself rested. He concluded with an able argument to show that under such circumstances the attempt of Louis Napoleon was nothing more than a legiti- mate and justifiable appeal on his part to the French people, asking them to decide for themselves what their form of government in the future should be. Ferdinand Barrot de- fended the rest of the prisoners with great eloquence. After he had concluded, the procurator-general summed up the case. When he ceased, Louis Xapoleon made a few remarks, and the trial terminated. The court required some time to delibe- rate. Three days afterward the sentence was made known upon which they had determined. Louis Napoleon was condemned to imprisonment for life in a fortress situated within the French territory ; Montholon, Pasquin, Iiombard, and Per- signy, to twenty years' imprisonment ; Mesonan to fifteen years j Dr. Conneau to five years ; and others to shorter pe- riods. ' Four only out of nearly fifty persons were acquitted. The fortress selected as the long home of the chief conspi- rator, was the Castle of Ham, situated in the province of Picardy in the department of Somme, ninety miles north-east from Paris. There can be but one opinion as to the extreme folly which characterized the conduct of Louis Napoleon in the affair of Boulogne. It has been urged in his defence that, like the attempt of Strasburg, it was forced upon him by the very necessities of his name, his nature, and his associations. Even if this position be granted ; even if it be conceded that his aspiring disposition, and the glory of the great name 8* 90 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY whicli lie had inherited, urged him with irrepressible eager- ness to seek the possession of superior power, he should have acted with greater circumspection ; he should not have moved until the ramifications of his conspiracy extended throughout all France; until that conspiracy had become formidable, in influence and members ; and until it bore some proportion in its power and resources to the pon'er and resources of the government which it attempted to overturn. The move- ment was ridiculous and merited contempt, because its or- ganization was such as to render its failure and the ruin of its agents, inevitable. The prince placed his life and for- tunes on the cast of a die, and the chances against him were a thousand to one. Louis Napoleon in after years himself severely condemned the enterprises both of Boulogne and Strasburg. In July, 1849, he visited Ham, when President of France; and in the address which he then made to the municipal authorities of the town who received hira, he said : " To-day, as by the choice of universal France, I have become the legitimate chief of this great nation, I cannot glorify myself for a cap- tivity which was the result of an attack on a regular govern- ment. When we see how many evils even the most just re- volutions bring in their train, we hardly know what to make of the audacious man who takes on himself the terrible re- sponsibility of a change. I do not complain of having ex- piated here, by six years' imprisonment, a rash attempt against the laws of my native land." Such a concession does little credit to its author. He kneu just as well in 1840, as in 1849, that his conspiracy was rash, that it must lead to great evils and miseries, and that h» deserved a penalty much more severe than he had received. The attempts of Strasburg and Boulogne, though in both cases they covered their author with universal derision, and failed in accomplishing their intended object, may still be said to have been in some respects useful to the prospects of Louis Napoleon. They at least prevented him from being 0¥ NAPOLEON III. 91 forgotten both by the French people and by Europe. They gave him widely-extended notoriety. They even secured him what was of much more value, political consequence and im- portance. They caused his name and person to be recog- nized as the chief representatives of a great political prin- ciple and party, which, though not then sufficiently organized and consolidated as to render them successful in overturningthe existing government in France, might possibly become so, in the progress of time, and might occupy a place among the various vicissitudes to which the versatile, changeable, and excitable people of France were liable in the future. Viewed in this light, these ignominious failures were not entirely pre- judicial to the interests of their author. Their influence on the events of the Revolution of 1848 may have been decisive. The unchanging devotion of the prince to the cause which he represented, may have won the admiration of France, over prone to the glorification of Napoleonism. "Without these movements he might have been forgotten, and the cause might have suffered under the most ruinous of all disadvan- tages, — the supposed absence and want of a great leader. The French people were taught to believe that, if Louis Napoleon was rash, foolish and precipitate, he was at the same time brave, chivalrous, and constant to the triumph of a noble enterprise, and the glory of an immortal name. 92 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY CHAPTER VI. Origin and History of the Fortress of Ham — Its situation and appear- anoe — Louis Napoleon conveyed thither — His rigorous treatment— His Protest to the French Government — Kemoval of Napoleon's Re- mains from St. Helena — Louis Napoleon Writes and Publishes his " Historical Fragments ;" his Considerations sur la Question des Sucres; his " Extinction of Pauperism" — The "Canal Napoleon de Nicaragua" ■ — The Prince desires to visit his Dying Father — The Request Re- fused — He determines to Escape from Hnm — The Astuteness and Ability of the Plan adopted — The Prince's Costume — He Leaves his Prison and evades the Scrutiny of the Guards — Adroitness of Th^lan — The Prince reaches Valeneiennes, Brussels, Ostend, England — The Skilful proceedings of Dr. Conneau — The Astonishment and Terror of the Commandant — The Prince refused Passports to Florence by the Tuscan Minister. The fortress of Ham, which was destined to be the abode of Louis Napoleon daring six long and cheerless years, is one of the most interesting monuments of mediaeval and feudal architecture in France. The name itself is probably derived or corrupted from the old Teutonic Tieim, signifying home ; and the existence of the word can be traced as far back as the Prankish invasion. In the ninth century Ham was the capital of a small territory, known by the epithet Hamois. The founder of the family of Ham is supposed to have been Duke Simon, who lived in the latter portion of the tenth century. That family became extinct in the person of John IV., who died in 1315. The lordship of Ham has belonged, during the progress of successive centuries, to many illustrious families, among ■ which have been those of Luxemburg, D'Enghien, Rohan, Navarre, and Vendome. The fortress is surrounded by a town, which has been often taken and retaken during the many wars which have repeat- edly desolated the country. la 1411 it was captured and OF NAPOLEON III. 93 burned by the Duke of Burgundy. Luxemburg reduced it in 1423. The battle of St. Quentin, in IBST, placed it in the possession of the Spaniards. It was restored again to France by the treaty of Cambresis in 1558. Some portions of this fortress are very ancient. A wall still remains which, for a thousand years, has resisted the countless shocks and storms of tifae. But the larger part of the present castle dates from the year 1470, when the Duke of Luxemburg, then Constable of France, reared it upon the foundations of the preceding structure. Its great tower ascends to the height of a hundred feet ; it is a hundred feet in diameter ; and it boasts of walls thirty feet in thickness. Its master, on its completion, inscribed upon its loftiest battlement the words : Mon Mieux, My Best ; as indicating the great confidence which he reposed in its strength and impregnability. Yet his boast was vain ; for he was shortly afterward delivered by a stratagem into the hands of his offended king, Louis XL, and beheaded on the Place de Greve. The chief purpose to which the fortress has been appropriated in modern times, is that of a state-prison. Its most recent occupants of distinc- tion, in addition to Louis Napoleon, have been Polignac, Peyronnet, and other ministers of Charles X., who, after the fall of their master in 1830 expiated within its walls some of their follies and their crimes. The appearance of this fortress forcibly reminds the intel- ligent- observer of the distant times of feudal tyranny and splendor. Its lofty battlements ascend far above the summit of the eminence on which they repose. Its shape is square, and its four angles are flanked with immense towers. It has but one entrance, which is in the north-eastern wall, and this is protected by a strong square tower. The ramparts are washed on the southern and eastern sides by the canal of St. Quentin, and the river Somme. Within the quadrangle two brick buildings of modern date serve both as barracks and as prisons. One of the latter is a low, miserable edifi^, which is entirely overshadowed by the massive walls of the 94 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY battlements which surround it. Here it was that the dis- comfited hero of Strasburg and Boulogne was condemned to an imprisonment for life. On the 1th of October, 1840, at midnight, the prince wag ordered to enter a carriage, and under the escort of a colonel of the Municipal Guards, he was conveyed from Paris to his destined prison. The apartments assigned hiA were those which had been previously occupied by M. de Polignae. They were in a dilapidated condition, the ceiling was full of holes, the floor was uneven and broken, the doors and windows were rotten and unfit to e.xclnde the severity of the weather. Repairs were absolutely necessary, and the govern- ment of Louis Philippe, after very considerable hesitation and difficulty, became strangely liberal, and allowed the sura of a hundred and twenty dollars to be appropriated to the im- provement and embellishment of the abode of the representa- tive of Napoleon ! His duily expenses were fixed at the moderate sum of seven francs. M. Landenois, an officer whom the great Corsican had himself promoted at Montereau, regulated, and as much as possible curtailed the personal expenditure of the prince. The garrison consisted of four hundred men, sixty of whom were constantly on duty, watch- ing the exterior as well as the interior of the fortress. In addition to these there were a large number of doorkeepers, turnkeys, and guards, to whom the care of the prison was pai'ticularly entrusted. The commandant of the fortress was M. de Marie. This individual, though polite and courteous, was a most vigilant and inexorable disciplinarian. He treated his prisoner with great politeness, but at the same time did his best to prevent his escape. During the first few months of Louis Napoleon's captivity he was very closely and rigidly watched. He was allowed, at stated times, to walk on the ramparts through a space forty ytfi-ds in length and twenty in breadth. During this interval he was attended by numerous sentinels at a distance, and a special keeper constantly followed him closely at his heels. OP NAPOLEON III. 95 He was allowed to retain, as his valet de chambre, his favorite body-servant, Charles Th^lin, who had attended him during his whole life. This person was as closely imprisoned as if he himself had been condemned for some grave offence. The soldiers were forbidden, on pain of four days' confinement in the guard-house, to honor the prince with the military salute ; yet it deserves to be noted that sometimes they braved the threatened penalty, and not seldom the subdued sound of Vive VEmpereur ! was heard from their ranks. Strange as it may seem, the very same soldiers to whom the custody and defence of the fortress were then entrusted belonged to the forty-sixth regiment of the line, which had been present and had taken part in the conspiracy of Strasburg. But soon the fears which the government entertained of the man to whom they alone had given importance, became mag- nified, and the treatment which he received in his prison- house was more rigorous. To such an extreme was this severity carried, that it drew from Louis Napoleon a protest, in which he speaks as follows : "During the first months of my captivity every kind of communication from without was forbidden, and within I was kept in the most rigorous confinement. Since, however, several persons have been admitted to communicate with me, these internal restrictions can have no longer an object ; and yet it is precisely since they have become useless that they are more rigorously enforced. "All the provisions for the supply of my daily wants are subjected to the most rigid scrutiny. " The attentions of my single faithful servant, who has been permitted to follow me, are encumbered with obstacles of every description. Such a system of terror has been established in the garrison and among the officers in J;he castle, that no individual dares raise his eyes towards me ; and it requires even extraordinary boldness to be commonly polite. "How can it be otherwise, when the simplest civility of look is regarded as a crime, and when all those who would 96 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HISTORY wish to softftn the rigors of my position, without failing in their duty, are threatened with being denounced to the autho- rities, and with losing their places. In the midst of this France, which the head of my family has made so great, I am treated like an excommunicated person in the thirteenth century. Every one flies at my approach, and all fear my touch, as if my breath were infectious. " This insulting inquisition, which pursues me into my very cham'Der, which follows my footsteps when I breathe the fresh air ill a retired corner of the fort, is not limited to my person alone, but is extended even to my thoughts. My letters to my family, the effusions of my heart, are submitted to the strictest scrutiny." In coiiRcqneiiee of this appeal some of the rigors of his captivity were softened. TTis valet, Thc'Iin, was permitted to visit tlie town of Ilnm, and execute such commissions for his master as ho miglii desire. Tlie prince was allowed to receive the visits of those who wished to pay him their respects. Among these, on several occasions, it may be proper to mention, was the beautiTul and heroic Madame Gordon, whose a