BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 575, 25 April 1873, Page 3

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

—o — The biography of the lato Fmperor is that of one of the most remarkable men of our age- - of a man who having for twenty years occupied a foremost personal place in the eyes of the world, lias made very unusual demands upon its attention. The life of Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, as Prince, as Exile, as President, as Dictator, as reigning Emperor, as Commander of armies, and, finally, his death in exile,“will fill volumes; its chief incidents are known to all. We may remind our readers of some ofthe facts'of ids early life He was third son of Louis Bmmaparte, ex-King ol Holland, his mother being Hortense, the daughter of the Empress Joshe-* phine by her first maniage. His birth, which took place at the Tuilcries, April 20, 1808, was announced through the Empire; and in Holland, by the roar of artillery, and he was baptised by Cardinal Fescli, Nov. 4, 1810, the Emperor and Empress Mane Louise beinghissponsors. After Napoleon’ return from Elba,bis young nepliew accompanied bin) to the Cha. .p do Mai, and was there presented to the deputies of the people and the army His elder brother died at Forli, Ma’ch 17, 1831, and Louis escaped through Italy and France, to England, where he remained a short time, and then retired to the castle of Ahrenbrrg, in Tliurgan, devoting a part of his leisure in 1832-5 to the prepara lion of several books. The first of these appeared under the title of “Reveries Politiqnos,” in which he declared his belief that France could only he regenerated by one of Napoleon’s descendants, as they alonecould reconcile republican principles with the mi itary aspirations of the nation After the death of the Due de Roich-stadt,’and-of his own brother, Louis Napoleon became the legal heir ofthe Imperial family. His designs upon the throne of France became evident in the early part of 1835, and in 183G bis plans were so far matured as to induce him to make an attempt to seize the fortress of Strasbrng. In the event of success Louis Napoleon intended to inarch rest day towards Paris, to raise and arm the intermediate Province', to lake with him the principal garrisens on his route, Imping to reach tiro metropolis before this Government took any active measures against him. The affair, however failed miserably. Tire Prince himself was captured, and was detained prisoner in Strasburg from October 30 to November 0. When he was conducted to Paris, ho learnt that on the first intelligence of bis capture his mother had repaired to the neighbourhood of the French capital to try to obtain his pardon and save life, or to excite sympathy, lor him. I 1 is life was spared on tiro condition that he should be sent to the United Stares. He protested against this, but in vain and he was accordingly conveyed to that country. There, however, ho did not long remain, hut returned to Switzerland, where ho found his mother on her death bed. At tiro end of 1838 he took up his residence in Louden, and in 1839 published his celebrated work the “ Iclees Napoleon iennes.” In 1840 determined to make another attempt to secure the French crown. He hired in London a steamer called the City of Edinburgh, ami embarking •with Count Montholom General Yoisin, at.d 53 associates, lauded with party near Boulogne, Thursday, August G, and summoned the troops to surrender or join them. He, however, failed in tiro attompb and, as the. National Guard beat to arms and began to muster in force, Prince Louis retreated with his followers out of tiro town towards the Pillar of lire Height? above Boulogne, and there planted a flag with a golden eagle at the top of the staff. Being pressed by superior numbers he retreated to tbc beach, and was captured with his followers., at attempting to es-capc to lire steamer. The trial of the prince and his followers took place at tire beginning of October, before upwards ol ISO of lire peers of France, many of whom had owed their elevation to his uncle. Ho was conveyed as a prisoner to lire citadel of Ham, where; after the revolution of July, the members of the Polignacadministvation had been immured, and after having been confined here six years, made his escape May 25, 184G, having effected his exit front tire castle by assuming as a. disguise the dress of a workman, thereby deceiving tiro vigilance of the guards in command. Ho crossed the frontier into Belgium, and fov tire third time took refuge in England, where ho resided until tiro revolution of 1848, an event which speedily led to his being elected a representative in the National Assembly, and afterwards President of the French Republic In tiro autumn of Autumn of 1852 ho made tours through several of tire departments of France, and on his return, his most devoted adherents in tire Senate represented that the cries of “ Vicvo 1’ Em. perenv!” with which the President had been greeted during Iris progress, unmistakably indicated the will of France, and prop's d that the question of restoring the Empire, should bo formally submitted to the nation. The proposal was accepted- The French nation, by a majority of five or six millions, voted the restoration of the Empire which was then proclaimed

D cember 2, 1852. Tlie Prince assumed the style and title of “ Napolc orr 111 , Emperor of the French, by the grace of God and the will of the People.” He was recognised by the English Government, afterwards by other Powers, and Eventually by the Emperor of Russia and the German sovereigns, The events of his nineteen ‘year’s reign, with the wars in the Crimea, Italy, China, Mex : co, and, finally, with Germany, are familiar in the memories of most persons. To England he nas been a faithful friend, and, when he has found refuge here, he has been surrounded with much respect. It is a strange fate that the onlyreiguing members of the Napoleon dynasty shofild have died on English soil.