ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 814, 21 May 1853, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Femalk Specueations. —The reign of women, so long looked for, has arrived at last. The fureur which has seized upon the men in their speculations at the Bourse has reached them likewise. They will not be behindhand in the race for riches, they have more arms than the naeu with which to combat, and the French female nature is certainly the most wonderful. The great lionne of the day in those serious matters is a certain Madame D . to whom rumour assigns the recent grant of the great line of railway which is to run the whole length of the Pyrenees, to have branch lines in every watering-place in that favored region.and to join the Spanish line riglit away to Madrid ! Ten years ago this lady possessed but little claim to the trust of such an enterprise as this. —Paris Correspondence of the Atlas.

Tits Bonaparte Family in America.— The priests of France are repaying the kindne»s of Louis Bonaparte by predicting the Presidency of the United States to the grandson of his uncle Jerome. The organ of the clerical ptrty, the Univers, says :—": —" The popularity of the Prince Piesident has extended to America in spite of bis triumphs over the democracy in France ; and to that circumstance must be ascribed the recent publication at New York of a splendid book, illustrated with numerous portraits, called " The Napoleon Dynasty." It calls to mind that a branch of that family resides at Baltimore ; and as youog Jerome Bonaparte, who after studying for some years at the Polytechnic School of Wesi Point, has just quitted it with the grade of Lieutenant of Cavalry, the whole press has recorded that he is the giandson of Miss Pallet son and of the former King of Westphalia. The public are agreeably^fiattered at seeing American citizen* bear with distinction the glorious name of Bonaparte ; they congratulate themselv s that ono amengst them enters the army, which may lead him to the highest dignity of the Republic : an I in prevision of that eventuality, we think it will be interesting to make known some details of contemporary history, which will probably for many of our readers have the merit of novelty. It is known iliat the Prince Jerome, th<> youngest of 'he biothers of Napoleon, entered the na»y after

\»»«ing quitted the College of Joilly. The ambition of the Emperor was to place him at the bead of the fleet ; bat the naval disasters of the time pat an end to the nav al career of tbe Prince. If be had been able to display bis valour at tbe head of a powerful fleet, — if the offer made by Robert Fulton to the First Consul * to construct a whole fleet which would navigate, without sail, against winds and tides at the rate of twelve miles an hour,' bad been accepted, — if steam, more powerful than gunpowder, had lent its services at sea to France, — our destinies might have been changed, and England have been for ever overthrown. In 1801, the Prince Jerome received the command of the corvette the Epervier, and sailed for Saint Domingo with tbe expedition commanded by Generr.l Leclerc. In the month of March of the following year h« returned to France with despatches announcing the fortunate disembarkation of the army, and the capture of tbe French Cape. After a stay at Brest, tbe Prince tailed for Martinique. Here be learnt the resumption of hostilities with England, and anxious for an opportunity to distinguish himself 'he began to croize along tbe coasts of the United States for the purpose of surprising English vessels. Having atopped at New York, the young officer became the object of tbe most flattering attentions. Feted with as much cordiality as enthusiasm in tbe best society of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, the Prince Jerome made in the latter town the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Patterson, a yonng lady of marvellous beauty and the rarest talents. She was the daughter of a rich planter of Baltimore, descended from an honourable family in the north of Ireland. In tbe course of a short time the two young people conceived a mutual passion for each other. Tbt Marquis de Casa Trugo, Ambassador of Spain, formally demanded tbe band of Miss Patterson from her father for Prince Jerome. The contract was signed by M. Sotin, commercial envoy at Baltimore, and by the Mayor of that town ; and the religious service was afterwards solemnly celebrated on the 24th December, 1803, by Mgr. Carroll, first Bishop of tbe United States. The Prince was then 19 yeart of age. After having resided more than a year in the United States, hoping to cause his marriage to be recognised by Napoleon, the Prince Jerome resolved to return to Europe, and in tbe Spring of 1805 he embarked with his young wife on board the American ship Erin. He arrived at Lisbon in the mouth of May, and left almost immediately for Paris, in order to justify himself to bis brother. Tbe ship proceeded to Amsterdam, where the young man promised to go and see bis wife, when be should have made his peace with tbe Emperor. But on the arrival of the Erin at the TexeL Madame Bonaparte learned with sorrow that the most severe orders had been received from Paris, and that be would not be allowed to embark. It was necessary to leave for England, although her health bad become affected by the fatigues of the sea voyage. She went to reside at Camberwell, near London, and on the 7th of July, 1805, she gave birth to a son, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, at present a citizen of Baltimore. She long flattered herself that she would be able to rejoin her husband, for wbom she -entertained tender affection. But she at last learned that the Senate had pronounced her divorce, and that the King of Weatpbalia had married, on tbe 12th August, 1807, the Princess Catherine of Wurtemberg. She then resigned herself to returning sorrowfully to America with her son. She claimed divorce from the Legislature of the state of Maryland ; but although sought in marriage by wealthy men, she always refused to marry, saying that when a person bad the honour to bear the name of Bonaparte she could not change it. The lady is now 61 years of age, and she has preserved in a remarkable degree traces of her early beauty. She is celebrated for the delicate and minnte care which she takei of her person, of her complexion, and of her bands ; she never tskes off her gloves, except at the last extremity, and is rarely seen without a veil. The history of the Dynasty of Napoleon thus speaks respecting her : — " Opulent, highly distinguished by -education and manners, and gifted with qualities which have partially rendered her happiness independent of others, she has passed a long, terene, and useful life ; and she now, in the evening of her days, thinks that fortune was not so adverse to her by depriving her of a diadem in Europe. The bistory of the family •to which she is allied recalls the line of Shakespeare,— ' Uneasy lies Che head that wears a crown/ and in the times in which ye live this is especially tbe case. Independently of the pleasure of affection •which she enjoys as mother and grandmother, Madsme Bonaparte is on the best terms with her two brothers, Joseph and Edward Patterson, 'both of wbom possess large fortunes and charming families. Her son, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, at present aged 37, made a very rich marriage, which renders bim one of the most important personages in Maryland. He has a passion for books, for travelling, and for agriculture. He has cleared vast forests, he has applied with intelligence, in bis agricultural experiments, all the discoveties of modern science, and he con:fioes his ambition to producing the finest crops in tbe country. He resided for a long time in france under tbe Restoration. He worships -and almost adores the memory of tbe Emperor, and in his splendid residence at Baltimore, statues, portraits, and busts reproduce Napoleon at all ages and in every form. But be all ies to this sentiment a certain republican independence, a •legitimate pride, and, since tbe 2nd December, he has opposed with all bit force the desire of (his son to visit France. 4 '