THE EMPRESS CHARLOTTE.

Southland Times, Issue 930, 8 April 1868, Page 2

THE EMPRESS CHARLOTTE.

" A correspondent of the " SempahOre Ide Marseilles" gives a touching description of the departure of Maximilian for Mexico, and the "return of his lifeless body to its native soil. On the 14th April, 1864, Maximilian arid his Empress left the Chateau of Miramar, the Eruperor to embark on board the frigate! Novara, at Triests, the air re-echoing with noisy and cordial acclamations, accompanied by waving of handkerchiefs and bats, and sincere and ardent expres- , sions of kindly wishes. Maximilian manifested much grief in separating himself from the pleasant shores where he had spent some of the most joyous hours of his life. * * *■ . After ian interval of three years and nine months,! the Novara re-entered the port of Trieste. ' .It was the same blue sky, brightened by: the same radiant sun of Italy, as when! she left ; but instead of a city in high festival, she returned only to find a mourning population, for the Imperial flag floating at half-mast told that she' bore : the fifelees. body of the august victim of Queretaro. It would appear that the Empress Charlotte has recovered her intellect, but had not till the arrival of the Novara, bearing the remains of her husband, been apprised of his, sad and tragic fate. 1 Her mental disorder had arisen from, apprehension On hearing of his downfall and: imprisonment, and M. Boutet describes the sad scene when the King of the Belgians, accompanied by the Archbishop of Malines and the Queen of the Belgians, broke the afflicting, intelligence to her. She had evidently a strong preseritimerit of the death of her noble husband, and the confirmation of her irreparable loss occasioned her profound grief.. Little by .little, , however, , she resumed her habitual calmness, and accepted with truly Christian resignation the sad blow with which it had pleased the Almighty to afflict her. She then with the royal couple arid the Archbishop retired to the chapel of the Chateau to pray for the repose of her august husband. Subsequently the Empress, who had, since her return to Laecken till now, carefully avoided even using the name of Maxiniiliari, talked incessantly about him, and appeared desirous of learning even the most minor details of his tragic end. She experienced great solace in learning that the memory of the unfortunate prince was. throughout Europe the object of most profound sympathy, and received with avidity the recital of the touching manifestations of respect which were exhibited to the Emperor's remains from Trieste to Vienna. i