MARRIAGE OF NAPOLEON III.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 747, 11 June 1853, Page 8 (Supplement)

MARRIAGE OF NAPOLEON 111.

The civil marriage of (lie Emperor took place at Ihe Palace of the Tuileries on Saturday night, February 1, with all the ceremonies incident to such an occasion, and with an immense display of the slate belonging to an imperial court. Not the least curious feature of the proceeding was, that the minister whose duty it was to perform the ceremony, as Minister of State, was M. Fould, the Hebrew banker. The Emperor and Empress having taken their scats on the throne, the Minister of State said, ''ln the name of (he Emperor" (at those words the Emperor and Empress rose) —''Sire, docs your Majesty declare that he lakes in marriage her Excellency Mademoiselle Eugenie dc Montijo, Countess de Teba, here present?" The Emperor replied, "I declare that I take her Excellency Mademoiselle Eugenie de Montijo, Countess de Teba, here present, in marriage." The Minister of Slate then said, " Mademoiselle Eugenie de Montijo, Countess de Teba, does your Excellency declare lhal you take his Majesty the Emperor Napoleon 111, here present, in marriage ?" The Countess replied, " I declare that I take his Majesty Napoleon 111, here present, in marriage." The Minister of Slate then announced the marriage in the following terms :—" In the name of the Emperor, of the Constitution, and of the law, 1 declare that his Majesty Napoleon 111, Emperor of the French, by the grace of God and the national will, and her Excellency Mademoiselle Eugenie de Montijo, Countess de Teba, are united in marriage." These words having been pronounced, the Masters of the Ceremonies and their assistants brought forward the book conlaining Ihe elat civil of the Emperor's family, and which had been preserved in the archives of the Secretary of Stale. The first entry in it is daled the 2nd March, 1806, and notes the adoption of Prince Eugene as son of the Emperor Napoleon I, and viceroy of Italy. The last entry, immediately preceding the act of the present marriage, is that of the birth of the King of Rome, bearing dale March 20, 18M. The Emperor and Empress signed the book, after which it was signed by a great number of witnesses, both French and Spanish. The Princess Marie de Baden (Duchess of Hamilton), who had been intited to the ceremony, left the palace before the signing of the act of marriage, because no special place had been marked out for her in the ceremonial. The 'Emperor wore his usual dress on such occasions, the full costume of a Lieut.General, with the star and cross of the Legion of Honour and the collar of the Golden Fleece, said to have been that worn by the Emperor Charles V. The Empress wore a rose-coloured satin dress, with a rich garniture of lace, and a circlet of gold and diamonds. Alter Ihe concert, which followed the ceremony, the Empress, her mother, and her attendants, returned to the Elysee

with the same escort and ceremonial as before. On Sunday morning, at eleven o'clock, two oi the Court carriages went to the Palace of the Elv'see and conducted the Empress to the 1 liberies in great state. At noon the procession left the Palace of the Tuileries; it was headed by a squadron of the mounted National Guard, and was followed by regiments of Lancers, Dragoons, Carabiniers, Cuirassiers, and Guides. Jibe Juie of the procession was kept by a double Me oi National Guards and troops of the hue. lhe Princess Mathilde, and Prince Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, and Prince Napoleon, were in carriages drawn by six horses, followed by a brilliant staff, composed of General officers not in command. After them came the Imperial carriage, surmounted by the Imperial crown, and drawn by eight English horses, magnificently caparisoned, with their heads ornamented with j plumes of white feathers; on the lop was the! Imperial crown; the sides were all glass, and permitted a full view of the Emperor and Empress. Here and there the immense crowd oi spectators cheered them as they passed, but the prevailing sentiment appeared to be one oi curiosity rather than enthusiasm, and in many parts of the liue of procession, the splendid pageant passed along in utter silence. All the people, however, look off their hats as the cortege approached, and seemed delighted with the carriages the horses, and the cocked hals of the running footmen—spectacles of which lhe republican regime had for some time deprived them. The cortege crossed the Carousel, the Louvre, and passed through the new Rue Kivoh, the Place lTlotel dc Ville, the Quays, and the Kue d'Arcole, to Noire Dame. It is superfluous to say that the cathedral was superbly decorated, and that evervthing which French lasle can do was successfully done in honour of the day. The flcur-de lis of olden times, however, were supplanted by bees, which studded the decorations in every part. The letters N. and E. figured in the prominent positions of the edifices, and at each corner of the two great lowers of the cathedral large gilt eagles were placed, where, as the programme says, " Ihey seemed to be preparing to take their (light for the four cardinal points." It was near one o'clock when the imperial cortege arrived at the cathedral, its approach was announced by a flourish of trumpets and the music of a military hand, and , the orchestra then struck up lhe wedding march. In a few minutes the Emperor appeared, pre- ] ceded by the Great Officers of the Slate, and I leading the Empress by the hand towards the | altar. The Emperor wore his usual costume, and the Empress a dress of white velvet, termed e'pingle, richly ornamented, a diadem of the crown jewels on her head, and a long veil of; poinle d'Alenoon lace. They were followed by the Countess de Montijo, the Ladies of Honour, the Ministers, the Marshals of France, and other great dignitaries. The Archbishop of Paris and his clergy met (hem at lhe central gate, and preceded the cortege towards the thrones, which were phiced in the centre of the transept on a raised floor, covered with an ermine carpet. The j Emperor and Empress immediately took their places on lhe Ihrones. On the right of the altar the five Cardinals were seated, and furlher down the Marshals of France in full costume, and holding their batons of command. The church was crowded in every part, and from the remotest corner of the nave and high galleries, hundreds in vain tried to catch a passing glimpse of the ceremony. As soon as their Majesties placed themselves on the thrones, lhe Archbishop officiating saluted them, and the ceremony of marriage then commenced. After the blessing of (he pieces of gold and lhe nuptial ring, their Mnjeslies advanced to the foot of the altar, remained standing and gave each other their right hand. The Archbishop, addressing himself first to the Emperor then to the Empress, received their declarations to lake each other for husband and wife, and successively presented to lhe Em- j peror the pieces of gold and the ring, (he Emperor presented the pieces of gold to the Empress and placed (he ring on her finger. After (he prayers ! Ihey returned (o (heir Ihrones. They then successively presented themselves at the offering. After the Pdlcr their Majesty's went to the foot I of the altar and knelt ; The first chaplain of lhe Emperor and another bishop extended above their heads a canopy of silver brocade, and kept it so extended during the oraision. During the episcopal benediction and the reading of (he Gospel the choir chanted several times the Domine Salvum. The Archbishop then pre-' sentcd holy water to their Majesties, and commenced the To Dcum, which was taken up by the orchestra and the singers. After the TeDeum the great officers of the Crown, the Princes, the Ministers and other persons who arrived in the cortege resumed their places, their Majesties des-! cended from their thrones, and the procession I having re-formed, the Emperor gave his hand to lhe Empress, and, after bowing on all sides, ! left the Church. It was remarked, as they i walked down lhe nave, that the newly married j pair arc almost exactly of the same height. The eortege returned in the same order as before, by the Hue d'Arcole, the Quai Napoleon, the flower market, the quays of (he Louvre and Tuileries, to the place de la Concorde, where it entered the garden of the Tuillcrics by the gate of the PontTournanl. The garden presented the most picturesque aspect. The terrace adjoining (he river was occupied by deputations from all the Corporations of lhe cily, each distinguished by a banner bearing appropriate mottoes. The operatives of lhe Canal St. Martin had a live eagle standing on (he top of (heir banner, to which it was attached by (he feet. This exhibition . afforded the soldiers much amusement as they filed by. The bird also attracted lhe notice of the Emperor, v/ho laughed

very heartily and showc! ill o{ y v s the villagers of the Banlieu wer> r f young girls, attiicd in white, adifdvS^ by silk scarfs of different colours p over, carried a banner, ornarßer<(ed and vivas for the Emperor ami half-past 2 o'clock the cortege e n t fe ' Jen of Ihe Tuiieeries, and thecava?^" to the Palace, turned to the leftaadl the alley adjoining the U ue ,£ moment the Imperial carriage ' ance, all the young girls rushed hj 9% actually filled it with boquels. so great at one moment, (hahhe* obliged to interfere. The impress]? the Empress's appearance was decided! able. Everybody thought her hand• graceful. At three o'clock their?* 1 appeared at ihe balcony of the p I" I'Horloge looking into the Carroussel i ! promised presentation by the Enin4 5 bride to the troops took place. M&§ their acclamations for a few jesties retired, and appeared a) [l ,l which commands a view of the gardens t I crowded to excess, but the applausei^ill means energetic. At four o'clock ifec J and Empress entered a travelling ca-rij?! escorted by a picked squadroaof f3li and attended by several other carriages*! pied by members of their suite, set Cloud. The troops and the immense J' soon dispersed. Before seven o'clock minalions commenced, but, with rare extirthey were confined to (he public bnS which the Hotel de Ville and the Elvstt the most conspicuous. The excitement* by the marriage has already passed aJ given place to a period of lassitude and & Tlic great subject of conversation now j splendour of the scene within tlie cathedral the coldness and indifference of the pog without. The absence of Lord Cowlevboth' (he civil and religious ceremonies has bea subject of some surprise, and an atta been made to give his absence a political« racier, but it was occasioned simply byaai of the prevailing influenza. Lady Co»! eTj all the staff of the Embassy were preser both occasions; so also were the Duke"; Duchess of Hamilton ; but, although the k Master of the Ceremonies, at the refe ceremony, weul three times to ask themto'tj places in (he Im perl rail gallery with "ike" family of the Emperor," they declined' honour, in consequence, it is supposed, of slight of the previous evening! Holhtrdi and Duchess declined (osign theaciofmarrij But, besides our countrymen, several n members of the Imperial family have gjrai of dissatisfaction. Prince Lucien Mural.at: family, and Prince Pierre Bonaparte, derlk figure in (he ceremonies, becausethevdid; consider the places allotted to them as id their rank. As the first result of theme the Moniteur announces that amnesty is < gran led to 5000 of those who were cipelW: France after the coup d' elal of the 2nd At ber, 18oi. 11 appears that the persons ion the amnesty will be made lo apply an p pally poor ignorant peasantry from Umfe menls of the Var and the Drome. NA yet determined with respect to Ihe-tots generals, or the ultra-Republicans reste London; and it is supposed their casei3 brought before the Council of Minister. 1 H Ihe publication of the names. The la;e has decided that all the expenses imw the fetes of his marriage shall be out of iui;i list, and the Empress has requested (hatfe which the municipality of Paris lias fsHil the purpose of presenting her with jeuek: appliable to charitable purposes. Empress's household has been public week. It contains no names of the <Mte' aristocracy ; and is filled chieflv wuli :te ! Bonaparlist officers and their wives. M peror arrived in Paris from St. Cloud oi*i ; neoday, and presided at a Council oflfift at the Tuillerics; the object of Itenw&P said to be connected with the impend (ircmcnl of several members of the Cafe l

- Earthenware from tue Australia* f; Diggings.—ln the window of a in Bernard Street, Southampton, there ij hibiled a water-bottle made from the clay* at the Australian gold-diggings. a much darker colour than that from i water pitchers are made in this country. > bottle is shapely, but it is ornamented. On a close inspection «* minute specks of gold are observable cesurface of the bottle. The ' Shipping Gazette stales that vcrnment has resolved to establish m, at the shipping oflices for seamen ti* the kingdom. Last week no less than eleven valeg Greenwich emigrated to Australia, IWgy it is expected, will very shortly be cotsw increased, as much activity body to better their condition, which nav; years, deteriorated in remuneration- , them were youns men, just served \\W j|j ticeship, who had been attracted thitner , high wages being now paid to them. [E Scarcity ok Sailors.—There is a - l lying at Kin-road. Bristol, and the w sent to Cardiff, Newport, Glouce mm Liverpool, and other ports, to gel *. cldcoull not complete the required num to the present great scarcity aim seamen.