AN EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF THE HAPSBURGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 743, 22 October 1870, Page 4

AN EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF THE HAPSBURGS.

[belokavia.] The Archduchess Maria Joscpha was the fairest, the gentlest, and the most beloved of the six beautiful daughters of Maria Theresa and Francis of Lorraine. The Emneror idolised her, and the imperious Empress Queen, who had little time or inclination to lavish caresses on her children, was known to regard her with peculiar indulgence. Contemporary writers all agree in praising the beauty, the peculiar sweetness of disposition, and the winning grace which made the young Archcloches3 so lovely and so loveable ; whilst her passionate attachment for her family, and especially her father, made her their idol. The sudden death of the Emperor Francis in 1764 was the first shadow cast on the bright existence of Josephs ; and, it is said, that from thenceforth a deep melancholy oppressed the young Archduchess. Time passed away— the Princess was now in her sixteenth year, and rumors of her approaching marriage had already been for some months in circulation, when it was officially announced that the hand of Maria Josepha of Ha psturg-Lorrain had been plighted to the young King Fredinand IT. of Naples. The alliance was in every way brilliant and advantageous ; it secured an influential and important ally to the Austrian empire ; it increased the dignity of the imperial family ; aud it enabled Maria Theresa to encircle the brow of her beautiful daughter with a crown,matrimonial. The marriage-treaty was signed, the preparations completed, and the betrothal took place on the Bth August, 3767. The Empress was radiant with smiles ; the Court put aside the mourning and gloim which had hung over it since the Emperor's death, and became once more the scene of gaiety and splendor. Fetes, ball, entertainments of every kind, followed in rapid succession, and only one person seemed to shrink from the bridal festivities — that person was the imperial bride herself. From the moment when the fact of her betrothal to Ferdinard of Naples had been announced to her, Josepha's deep melancholy had steadily increased Day by day she became more gloomy and depressed. She showed no interest in the preparations for her journey. She appeared at the court festivies, but it was evident that her thoughts were far otherwise occupied. More than once she was heard to declare that her marriage would never take place, and that the journey to Naples would never be \indortaken by her. But no one heeded the Princess's prediction. The day for her marriage by proxy was fixeo 1 , and also that for her quitting Vienna. The evening before the wedding-day the Empress sent for her daughter, and commanded her to repair alone to the imperial vault ; and there, kneeling by her father's coffin, to pray for the repose of his soul. The Archduchess shrank from this ghastly ordeal. She entreated her mother to spare her so painful and terrifying a task ; but prayers and entreaties were in vain. Maria Theresa was little used to opposition, especially from her own children ; she refused to listen to her daughter's pleading, and she peremptorily insisted on her orders being obeyed. Josepha descended alone into the vault, where a short time before had been buried the remains of the Empress Marie Josephine of Saxony, wife of Joseph 11. , who had died of malignant smallpox. "1 go to my tomb," were the mournful words of the Archduchess ; and her presentiment was fatally verified. The following day she vra.s taken ill ; small-p'>x soon declared itself, and after a very short struggle for life, Josepha died on the day that had been fixed for her leaving Vienna for Naples. The coffin of the Archduchess was placed by that of her father ; and if Maria Theresa felt any remorse for her cruel despotism, she speedily' forgot her bereavement in negotiations for securing the Neapolitan alliance to her next daughter, the Archduchess Caroline. She became Queen of Naples, and her career of political and personal infamy is too well known to need any recapitulation. The eagerly-desired alliance brought only shame and disaster to those concerned iv it. And who will not say that the more fortunate of the royal sisters was the early dead, dying in the spring-tide of her youth, unsullied by the worM, ignorant alike of ita pleasures and its sorrows.