THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1879.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 95, 26 July 1879, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1879.

In our telegraphic news published in another column it will be found that the Imperial Prince of Franco has been shut dead, while leading ;i mixed company of horse and foot. While this news is sad, it is of the greatest importance- to tins whole of Europe and France in particular. There can be very little doubt but that Prince Louis Napoleon aspired to the throne of France, this is shown in his letter to M. Uouhcr. That he had a strong party in France, that were ready to strike the blow for him, and that tho Republicans would not give in without n bloddy struggle is equally true. Under these circumstances, though we may feel sorry that so noble and promising a young man should have come to so untimely though honoured death ; though we may sympathise very much with the Empress lvugcno in her sad bereavement, we cannot help thinking that tie- death of the Prince Imperial is the best thing that could happen for the peace of France and tiie tranquility of the whole of Europe.

Wc will not make any further comment upon iliis subject, hut will here repr ut tlie following lettei »'!;;»■: I ■ L'riucu wrote to M. Rouher, a few days Zululrunl, as showing his ambition to he thought worthy of tlio throne of France, if. Uouher was forn;erly President of the, French Senate, and a faithful adherent of the late Napoleon and the i'liiu- Imperial; the letter was published in tip' French Bonnpnrlist papeis:—

" \!v .lent- \1 ]!■■■■•■■■ I ', ■•■ to <[iiit Europe i"" 1 I: '. v absence »'»y '«*' some months. I liavo 100 many failhful friends in franco tu think it possible for mo to keep silence on tile reasons of my departure. For eight yours 1 liavo been the guest of England. 1 liavo completed my education in one of her military schools, and on several occasions I have strengthened the bonds which connect me with the English army by sliar ing in the great niaiioouvros it has executed. The war which England has for more than u year been carrying on :it tinClip.' of Good Hope has just assumed a character of gravity which it hud Jnot till now possessed. 1 desire to follow the operations, and i embark in two days. In Franco, when-, thank God, party spirit hue not destroyed the military spirit, it will be felt that 1 did not wish to remain a stranger to the fatigues and dangers of those troops among whom 1 count so ninny comrades. The time L shall devote to witnessing this conflict of civilisation against barbarism will not be lost for me. Alar, ns near, my thoughts will constantly he directed towards Franco. 1 shall watch with interest and without disquietude the gradual phases she will puss through, for I am certain (iod protects her. lam certain that during my absence tint partisans of the' Imperial cause will remain united and confident, and will continue to give the country the spectacle of a party which, faithful to its doctrines, remains ever animated by sentiments of tho most ardent patriotism. Accept, my dear M. Itouher, the assurance of my sincere friendship. NaPolkox, Oamdpnpltico, Chisleluii-st. February :!-'>, In7H." The following short biography of the Prince we extinct from "Men of tho Time " :

Bugcno Louis Jenn Joseph Napoleon (I'rineo Itupeiinl <>f Franco), son of the late Euipurot' Napoleon 111. and tho Express Eugenie, was 110111 March 10, l.S.">(i. for some tiino great fears were ciiitcrtaiucd, on account of tliu di'Ucacy tjt' his health, which improved considerably in tho summer of l»(i~. In 1870 lie accompanied hi* father to the seat of wan ami wax prevent, i>n August :.', at the cop; inn' of Snarl milk, when tho Emperor telegraphed to lite Empress at I'niis this ini'inonilili' despatch:—" Louis luw just received his baptism of Bre. Ha showed admirable coolness, ami was not ut all affsoted, A division of Qeneral EroisHiinl has oapturod the heights which overlook the left hunk at tfoarbruak. Ths

i \V» wen in the fr.i:.t rank, but the ballets ami cannon balls fell at our feet. lajiil-. has kept a I'll'.-! which fell elose to hie S. me liui w. pt at :. w, : ~-.v ou v lost ■d.•■• ml :>-:i men kilicd." Alter the disastrous defeat at Sedan, tl»e'young prince na tu his escape to U. Igium, ami from Osteud to Dover ou September (5, proceeded to Baitings, wherelie was joined by the Empress threo days later. He subsequently resided with Ids illustrious parents at Ckisiehunt His Imperial H.i r i!-ic?-.■■.;a-ue:i tl-e Iv v il Miniary Academy, Woolwich, as a gentleman cadet, and pursued his .studies there, without interuiiUion, except for a short period, when, in consequence of the death of ids father, he was unable to be present lit the periodical examination in February, 1873. lie then joined the tirst class of studci.ts pivnaiing for the examination for commission in the ltuyal Engineers and Royal Artillery, with which class he was associated during Ilia subsequent career at the Academy. At the? final examination in Feb. 1873, he stood seventh, in a class of thirty-four a position which, if he had wished to enter the British army, would have entitled him to elect service in the Artillery Engineers.