Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Diary and Chronology,

DATE. DAYS.

DIARY.

DATE.

CORRESPONDING CHRONOLOGY.

Jan. 6 SUN. LES. for the DAY.Jan. 6 The Epiphany. This term imports an appearance

[ocr errors]

Isa. c. 44 morn.

46 even.

The Epiphany, or
Twelfth Day.

St. Peter.

Sun ris. 2m aft 8)

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

of light or manifestation. The rites of this day were held in honour of the Eastern Magi.

St. Peter was a disciple of the first Abbot of St. Augustine, Canterbury. He was drowned in 608, while proceeding on a voyage to France, and was buried at Boulogne.

The carnival at Rome commences on this day, and
lasts till Lent.

7 The first Monday after the Epiphany is styled Plough
Monday, on which day many curious ceremonies
are observed in various parts of the kingdom.
St. Lucian was a presbyter of the church at An-
tioch. During his life he founded a church at
Winchester. He died a martyr, A. D. 312.
On St. Distaff's Day, a festival is held in honour of
the distaff used in spinning wool.

1153-This day Henry II. invaded England, and
had homage done him as the successor of Stephen.
8 This saint is termed the patroness of Brussels; she
was the daughter of St. Amalberge. Her death
took place A. D. 660.
1780.-The gallant Admiral Rodney defeated the
Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent on this day,
taking 27 of the enemy's ships.

91766.-Killed by a fall from his horse, on this day, Dr. Thomas Birch, the author of the Lives of Eminent Persons, and editor of the enlarged edition of Bayle's Dictionary, &c.

1757.-Died on this day, Fontanelle, ET. 100, the author of the Plurality of Worlds, and Dialogues of the Dead.

1827.-Miss Elizabeth O. Benger, the talented au-
thoress, of the life of the Queen of Bohemia, ex-
pired on this day.

10 St. William was Archbishop of Bourges. He died
A. D. 1207. After his death he is said to have
worked miracles. The relics of this saint were
destroyed by the Hugonots in 1562.
1778.-Dr. Charles Von Linnæus, the celebrated
naturalist, died on this day, at Upsal, in Sweden,
æt. 71; Linnæus was the founder and first pre-
sident of the Academy at Stockholm.
1824.-Died, on this day, the celebrated African tra-
veller, T. E. Bowditch, æt. 31, of a fever occa-
sioned by fatigue endured whilst making a survey
of the River Gambia. Previous to his death Mr.
B. published his Mission to Ashantee, and several
other valuable works.

1827.-Expired on this day, Dr. John Jones, the
author of several learned and critical works, as
well as a Greek and English Lexicon.

11 St. Theodosius was a man of great piety; his sub-
xistence for thirty years was pulse and wild herbs;
according to Butler he died prophecying A.D.529.
1652.-Expired on this day, Sir Hans Sloane, the
eminent physician and naturalist, ÆT. 92.
12 This saint was in the service of St. Oswi, king of
the Northumbrians; bis death happened A. D 690.
During his life he made several pilgrimages to
Rome, and founded two monasteries, one at
Weremouth, and the other at Jarrow on the Tyne.
13 This saint is styled the virgin of Milan. She died
A. D. 1497.

1535.-This day Henry VIII. assumed the title of
the Head of the English Church, in the presence
of his whole court.

St. Hilary was a native of Poictiers, of which place he was chosen bishop, A. D. 353. He died in 368. 141236.-The Marriage of Henry III, with Eleanor, daughter of the Count of Provence, took place on this day.

1742.-Died on this day, Edmad Hax the ca brated Astronomer, ET. 8.

[graphic]

THE LATE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

In a portion of the last number, we gave some account of the late lamented Prime Minister; trusting that it was acceptable to most of our readers, we have, in this number, followed the same plan, our subject being the relation of a few circumstances which attended the singular career of the individual whose name is at the head of this article. Though abundant as the information given to the public has been, of the actions of this most extraordinary character, who was distinguished for his marvellous fortunes, as well as his civil and military abilities, we think there is still much to be told, and therefore venture to insert the following extracts from a highly interesting work recently published.

[blocks in formation]

Frederick-William ; he found the Duchess at the head of her little court, drawn out" with all due ceremony to receive him Napoleon, without exhibiting the least mark of complaisance, said to the Grandduchess, in a rough tone," Make me some tea." Her Serene Highness, at once surprised and indignant at this ungallant reception, turned to one of her chamberlains, and requested him to order tea to be served to his Majesty the Emperor.

Napoleon, recollecting afterwards that he had been wanting in courtesy to this lady, went to pay her a visit, and in the conversation which ensued, remarked both spirit and judgment in the Duchess.Asking her how it came that her husband was so imprudent as to serve in the army of his enemy, and thereby to expose thus his family, his country, and his subjects to the evils of war, the Duchess replied with great candour, " Sire, my husband has been in the service of the King of Prussia ever since his infancy. We owe every thing to that sovereign: what would you have thought of the Duke, Sire, if he had abandoned the Prussian cause at the moment when the King had most need of his services?" The Emperor was charmed with these representations. He gave 3-SATURDAY, JAN. 26, 1928.

orders that, as much as possible, the state of Weimar, and especially the residence of its Sovereign, should be respected and spared. After having taken leave of her Serene Highness, he said to Marshal Berthier, "If the Duke of Saxe-Weimar is animated by the same principles and sentiments as this amiable woman, I regret deeply having given him any cause to complain of me."

NAPOLEON'S ENTRY INTO berlin..

When Napoleon made his first entry into Berlin, by the Brandenburgh gate, at the head of a numerous staff, and amidst an immense crowd, which pressed forward on all sides to obtain a glance at the hero of the day; a cry arose of" Long live the Emperor!" but Napoleon, feeling annoyed, instead of complimented, by these unmeaning acclamations, which, in truth, proceeded chiefly from the agents of the police, said aloud to one of his aides-de-camps, "Silence that man!"

Arrived at his chateau, he found, amongst others, the Prussian ministers, Hatzfelt, Voss, and Beyme, who had remained in Berlin, and formed, previously to the entry of the French, a sort of provisional government. They began by

sedulously recommending to the favourable notice of the Emperor, the "good city" and citizens of Berlin. Napoleon, having heard them out, rejoined, in a tone of se verity, "It is you, gentlemen, who are the occasion of this war; you alone do I accuse; your King, I am persuaded, would never, have undertaken it but for your insinuations. You have caused prayers to be offered in the churches, and songs to be chanted in the theatres, recommending the war with Napoleon, and calling it a just and a proper war. Well! you have had it, and here I am, you fools! 40,000 French soldiers shall be quartered for three months at Berlin, and you will afterwards be able to tell me whether or not this war is proper.— Hence! begone!"

This harsh reception did not well agree with the promises made by the victorious Emperor to the Canon Tam, only a few days previously, when he gave instructions to visit the necessary evils of war upon the people of the capital as lightly as circumstances permitted; it is, however, not the less matter of fact, and can be vouched both by the canon himself, who is now in London, and by Marshal Victor, who at that moment was in the presence of Napoleon.

NAPOLEON AND THE QUEEN OF PRUSSIA.

DURING the period that the sovereigns were sojourning in the little town of Tilsit, where they were employed in arranging various matters of the highest importance, -more especially to the King of Prussia, -the French Emperor several times expressed a strong desire to see her Majesty the Queen, who was then with her children at Memel. This lady's repugnance to Napoleon was, however, so great, that they were obliged to put him off, from day to day, with feigned excuses for the delay of her arrival; until his natural impetuosity, no longer to be restrained, led him to say to the Emperor Alexander, “Eh bien Sire! it would seem that, in order to be ingulged with an introduction to this beautiful Queen, I should send Marshal Davoust with his corps d'armée to fetch her."

Alexander saw that there was no more room for trifling; and it was concerted between him and Frederick that a chamberlain should be forthwith despatched to Memel, to represent to her Majesty the absolute necessity for her appearance. Upon the receipt of this intelligence, she reluctantly fixed an hour upon which to commence the journey, and was met at a certain point of the road by the three Sovereigns.

Napoleon was captivated at sight of this lovely woman, and took an opportunity just after of observing to Marshal Duroc, You have told me true, Duroc; she is indeed a beautiful creature." Next day, he gave a dinner to her Majesty of the most sumptuous description. On bringing in the dessert, an open letter appeared on a salver, which was placed before the Queen of Prussia, addressed to her Majesty. "A letter for me?" exclaimed the Queen, on perceiving it, in great surprise."Yes, Madame," replied Buonaparte; "be pleased to look at it." Her Majesty took it up, and found enclosed another, addressed to Jerome Buonaparte, then commanding the French forces in Prussian Silesia. This epistle contained an autograph order from Napoleon, directing the King of Westphalia to deliver up immediately to the nearest Prussian chief, that part of Silesia which had been reserved by the French Emperor, in the secret treaty of Tilsit; which territory was to be placed under the sole controul of the Queen of Prussia.

[ocr errors]

Her Majesty, deeply affected by this delicate and noble behaviour, exclaimed, Certainly, never did monarch bestow a gift with so much dignity and grace. I pray your Majesty to accept my best thanks."- "Nay, Madam," rejoined

Napoleon, "is it not just that I should indemnify you for the expenses of a journey from Memel to Tilsit ?"

THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR AND

NAPOLEON.

Of the stern unbending character of the Russians, we have a forcible example in the behaviour of Count Markow to Napoleon Buonaparte, at whose court he was ambassador.

One

In the year 1803, the Marquis d'Entraigues, a French emigrant, but counsellor of state in the Russian service, was sent on a mission from St. Petersburgh to Rome, where he was arrested and thrown into prison by order of Napoleon. As soon as the Emperor Alexander was made aware of this circumstance, he sent an express to Count Markow, to demand the liberation of Entraigues. The Count made official representations accordingly; but these were wholly disregarded. Sunday, when there was public audience given to the diplomatic body at the Tuilleries, the First Consul, addressing himself to the Marquis de Lucchecini, ambassador from Prussia:-"What think you, Marquis?" said he; "Russia is striving even to protect the emigrants." Count Markow, immediately interposing, observed, "Sir, if his Majesty the Emperor of Russia, my august master, wills to extend protection to any one, I am sure he has both right and reason.' Upon this, Buonaparte, looking at Markow, with an air of extreme disdain, said, "It was not to you, Count, I spoke."-" Sir," answered the Russian, "if any one speaks in my presence of my Sovereign, I always reply." Having said this, he turned his back upon the First Consul, and left the audience.

زو

Buonaparte, extremely irritated, gave orders to his minister that Count Markow should be forthwith sent back to Russia: but the latter, on this command being signified to him, at once refused, saying that he would not stir from Paris until his master recalled him. Both he and the First Consul despatched respectively messengers to St. Petersburgh with details of this affair; Buonaparte requiring the recal of the ambassador: whereupon Alexander sent M. Oubriel to replace him; but, as a mark of his Majesty's satisfaction at the spirited conduct of Markow, he transmitted to the Count, by the hands of his successor, the insignia of a Russian order, (enriched with diamonds,) and an ukase, conferring on him a pension of fifty thousand rubles. Oubriel was instructed to demand anew the release of the Marquis d'Entraigues, which was ultimately conled by Buonaparte.

When, subsequently, Count Markow met the Grand-duke Constantine at a party at St. Petersburgh, that Prince said to him" Upon my hor.our, Count, you must possess great courage, to speak in such terms to Buonaparte. They say that man jokes not; what would you have done, had he by any chance laid hands upon you?"-"I would have chastised him on the spot," replied the courageous Markow.

MARRIAGE OF NAPOLEON WITH MARIA

LOUISA.

WHEN the Emperor visited Vienna, in 1809, as a conqueror, he took up his residence in the beautiful castle of Schoenbrunn, in the environs of the capital. One morning, accompanied by Meyer, one of the castle inspectors, he went over the apartments of this magnificent edifice, which had been hastily quitted, some weeks before, by the imperial family. In one apartment, hung the portraits of the Emperor Francis's daughters, Maria-Louisa, Leopoldina, and Clementina. Napoleon, after a short pause, pointing to that of Maria-Louisa, which he considered with the deepest attention, asked of the inspector, if her Imperial Highness was really so handsome as there represented. The old man replied, "Oh yes, your Majesty, she is indeed: and, what is more, as amiable as handsome." "Well," rejoined Napoleon, "let the picture be placed in my cabinet, immediately fronting the writing table.' He subsequently

took

with him to Paris, and it was found in the Emperor's closet by the Archduchess Maria-Louisa, on her marriage.

The Emperor Francis, at the time he concluded upon consenting to this match, was not ignorant of the animosity entertained by his daughter and wife towards his intended son-in-law. He consequently had not courage to open the matter to Maria-Louisa herself, and the first governess to the Archduchess, was commisioned to make it known to her.

The lady, however, had no success whatever in her attempts to reconcile Maria-Louisa to her destiny, for the Archduchess had no sooner been told that her father had affianced her to Napoleon Buonaparte, than she fell upon the sofa, screaming and crying out, that she would never consent to marry such a monster! Francis was now fain to make personal endeavours to prevail on his daughter to comply with the proposed arrangement, and for that purpose announced his wish to have an interview with Maria-Louisa at a given hour.

He repaired to the Princess's apartment, attended by his two youngest daughters, and with the candour and tenderness characteristic of him, represented the necessity of such an alliance, as the only means left to save the imperial Family, and the whole Austrian dominions from subjection. The windows of the room in which they. were, looked out upon the ruined walls and demolished forts of Vienna; MariaLouisa took the Emperor by the hand, led him to the view of this desolate scene, and said "Father, can you give the hand of your beloved child to the author of all this destruction?" "It is to prevent still greater horrors," answered Francis, deeply moved, " that I require this sacrifice from you;" and he urged his solicitations in so powerful and affecting a way, that his daughter at length exclaimed, "Tranquillize yourself, my dear father to procure you peace, I will do whatever you ask of me.'

Maria Louisa, however, subsequently found that her sacrifice turned out to be not quite so heroic; she seemed, on the contrary, to have been greatly pleased with her new situation. A letter addressed by her, in the month of June, 1810, to the old Count Edlin, her late Governor, gives an interesting statement of her feelings soon after her marriage. The following are extracts :

"I confess to you, my dear Count, that from the first moment I met and saw the Emperor Napoleon, my august and most beloved husband, he has shewn me on every occasion the highest attention. Indeed, I should be unjust and ungrateful, were I insensible to all his care, regard, and truly noble behaviour to me. In one word, my dear Count, I am happier than you can conceive.

"Believe not that this letter is written by any order or compulsion on the part of my august spouse, who, although at this very moment by my side, will not look at it. No! these sentiments are dictated by my own heart; and the letter goes from my hands into those of Count Joseph Metternich, by whom it will be handed to you."-Anecdotes of foreign Courts.

It is asserted by the Princess's governess, who was present at this interesting interview, that the young Princess, Leopoldina, then about twelve years old, saw her sister so much averse to the proposed match, that she said with extreme naivete, "Dear papa, since my good sister seems so greatly shocked at this union, I will go in her place, and be married to Na poleon, I have no dislike to the Emperor, and I dare say it will be the same thing to him."— "You are a little fool," replied Franois, teu. derly smiling, "and know not what you say.'

"

« ZurückWeiter »