BONAPARTE'S PARK. BONAPARTE'S PARK, THE MURATS. E. M. WOODWARD, AUTHOR OV BoRDENTOWN AND ENVIRONS; THE OLD FAMILIES OP BURLINGTON County, N. J.; Our Campaigns; The Citizen Soldiery, Etc., Etc., Etc. TRENTON, N. J. : MacCrellish Ellisdale, Monmouth Co., N. J., August 15th, 1879. INTRODUCTION. THE emigration to this country of Joseph Bonaparte, the brother of the great Napoleon, who possessed success- ively the crowns of Naples and Spain ; his long, contented and munificent residence among us, and the esteem enter- tained by all who formed his acquaintance, cannot fail to prove a subject of deep interest to all, and to awaken curi- osity for a long time to come. By reason of the renown of the Emperor, and the part played by Joseph in the great drama, in which millions were marshalled in arms, thrones and scepters hurled to the dust, and kings created at the will of one man, a deep interest is attached to his personal character and career. The opinion, so popular, that Napoleon was the only extraordinary member of the family, is erroneous. They were all gifted by nature, each could have achieved emi- nence on any road of life, and the whole family constituted the most brilliant and attractive group of contemporary kinsmen we have any knowledge of. Joseph's participa- tion in the events of Europe, are lost sight of beside the mighty deeds of his great brother. But if, in the present day, a man existed, who, as a diplomatist, soldier and king, had distinguished himself by his wisdom and brilliant qual- ities, had gained battles and worn two crowns, was distin- guished for his patriotism, had never broken faith with friend or foe — that man would hold a high place in public estimation, and would be called great. BONAPARTE'S PARK. CHAPTER I. Brief of Title — Stephen Sayre — Sketch of — Is High Sheriff of London — Espouses Independence — Is Imprisoned — Ruined Fi- nancially — Connected with European Legations — Returns to America — Purchases the Park — His Descendants — His Death. POINT BREEZE was the name by which a portion of the Park was formerly known. The " Point " was situated on Cross wicks creek, where the observator}- stood. It was part of one of the original tracts located by Thomas Farns- worth, in 1681, and, upon his death, by will descended to his son John. Joseph Borden, the founder of Bordentown, afterwards purchased it, and from him it passed to his son- in-law, Joseph Douglass, who married Elizabeth Borden. Joseph, by his will, dated September 5th, 1777, and proved August 15th, 1783, about which time he died, devised the plantation to his son, George Douglass.* George kept a store there during the revolutionary war, and offered for sale " French Brandy in hogsheads, Handkerchiefs, Bohea Tea, Grass Scythes, etc." Being unfortunate in business, lie made an assignment to Abraham Hunt, the rich merchant of Trenton (who entertained Colonel Rahl, the Hessian commander, at Christmas festivities, the eve before the battle of Trenton), and others of New York, for the ben- efit of his creditors, November 6th, 1792. Hunt, who was *We are indebted to Mr. John P. Hutchinson, of Bordentown, for the brief of title of the Point Breeze property. 24 BONAPARTE'S PARK. the active assignee, disposed of the real estate called Point Breeze, without metes, bounds or quantity, by his own act, and as attorney for the other assignees, to Samuel Court- auldt, a Cuban, trustee for Elizabeth Sayre, December 17th, 1793. Stephen Sayre was a man of considerable ability, and for a number of years resided there. There are several biographical sketches published of him, one by the late William B. Eeed, in his life of his grandfather, General Joseph Reed ; another in " Thompson's History of Long Island ;" another in "Princeton in the Eighteenth Century," and another, and probably the best, in " Drake's Dictionary of American Biography." From these, and notes furnished by "William John Potts, Esq., of Camden, and Stephen Wickes, M. D., of Orange, New Jersey, we have compiled the following : Stephen Sayre was born in South Hampton, Long Island, in 1745, to which place his ancestors came from Lynn, Mass., in 1640. He visited England when about thirty years of age, where he married an English lady of rank, by whom he acquired a handsome fortune. His acquaintance became extensive, and this, with his very popular manners, caused him to be chosen High Sheriff of the city of London, with William Lee, a brother of Richard Henry Lee, of Vir- ginia, under the celebrated John Wilkes, in 1774. Having become a banker, he was particularly in the confidence of the Earl of Chatham, at a critical period. His zeal for the independence of his native country was unmeasured. In October, 1775, he was arrested on a charge of high treason, made against him by a sergeant in the royal guards, named Richardson, also an American. He charged Sayre with having asserted that he and others intended to seize the King on his way to Parliament, to take possession of the town, and to overturn the present government. Mr. Sayre was known to be a friend to the patriots, and on this charge Lord Rockford, one of the secretaries of state, caused his BONAPABTE'S PABK. 25 papers to be seized and himself to be arrested. He was committed to the Tower, from which he was released by Lord Mansfield, who granted a writ of habeas corpus. Sub- sequently he was tried and acquitted. He prosecuted Lord Kockford for seizing his papers, and the court awarded him a verdict of $5,000 damages, conditioned upon his proving his loyalty to the King. The condition proved a bar to the recovery of the money, and he was obliged to suffer a heavy pecuniary loss in costs, besides the personal indignity. His confinement produced his ruin. His banking-house failed, he lost everything, and was obliged to leave England. He was employed by Dr. Franklin upon several important mis- sions, and was for some time his private secretary. In 1777 he accompanied Arthur Lee on his mission to the court of Frederick the Great, and was there at the time of the rob- bery of the American Legation.* Wraxall, who was in Berlin at tbe time, in his "Posthumous Memoirs," attributed it to the British minister. There is extant a MS. narra- tive on the subject, drawn up by Mr. Sayre himself, in the possession of William J. Duane, Esq., of Philadelphia. After leaving Berlin, at the time of the first suggestion of the project of armed neutrality, Mr. Sayre visited Copen- hagen, Stockholm and St. Petersburg, and in each of these capitals procured ample supplies for the support of Ameri- can independence. After the peace of 1783, Mr. Sayre and his wife, Elizabeth, returned to this country, with their only son, Samuel Wilson Sayre, and purchased Point Breeze, near Bordentown, after- wards part of the Bonaparte Park. In 1795 he was an active opponent of the administration of General Washington, and had a large share in the attacks on " Jay's Treaty."f On the 28th of L>ecember, 1801, the trustees, Stephen and Elizabeth Sayre, conveyed Point Breeze to their son,. Samuel Wilson Sayre, and on the 2d of May, 1803, Samuel Wilson * Diplomatic Correspondence H, 65-79. fGibbs Wolcott, vol. 1, page 247. 26 BONAPARTE'S PARK. reconveyed the property to William Burns, of Bordentown, in trust for his mother, Elizabeth Sayre. From that time until July 2d, 1816, Stephen Sayre and family occupied the Park. He had a race-course on part of what is now occu- pied by the shirt manufacturing company's buildings. Afterwards, his son, Samuel Wilson, went to Virginia, where he married a daughter of Philip Lightfoot Grymes, of Brandon, Middlesex county. She died early, leaving one daughter, Mary, who married Cartel' Braxton, and had many children, all daughters. He afterwards married Vir- ginia Bassett, by whom he had ten children. Four grew to manhood — two are now living, viz.: Burwell Bassett Sayre, of Frankford, Ky., and Win. Sayre, of Charleston, S. C. The former has two children, Virginia and Elizabeth; the latter has one child. " Stephen Sayre," says Mr. Read, "at one time lived in Richmond, V^i., where it was understood he was an agent of Miranda. He and his wife died within a few hours of each other, at an advanced age, at the house of their son, S. W. Sayre, at Brandon. They were buried together, on the estate, one funeral service being said for both," S. W. Sayre died at the same place, December, 1824. Mr. William Duane, of Philadelphia, found among his father's papers a pass permitting Stephen Sayre to leave Paris. It was signed by Robespierre and the chiefs of the French revolution, in red ink — very significant of the bloody hands of the signers. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 27 CHAPTER II. Joseph Bonaparte — His Marriage — Diplomatic Connections — Declines the Crown of Lombardy — Accepts that of Naples — His Reign — Proclaimed King of Spain — Fights for His Crown — Wins and Loses it — Counselor of the Empress — Yv t aterloo. THE refuge in exile found by Joseph Bonaparte in our country, where with benign philosophy he enjoyed the elegant seclusion of a private gentleman so much more than he had the cares and lienors of royalty, and all that pertains to his personal character and career, must for many years prove a subject of deep interest to many readers. Joseph Bonaparte, the elder brother of Napoleon, was born in the island of Corsica, in 1768. He was educated at a college in Burgundy, where he completed his course of studies with great distinction. His predilections were to follow a military life, but, in obedience to the last wish of his father, he returned to Corsica. When the mighty era of 1789 dawned, he embraced the cause of the revolution with ardor, the Bonaparte brothers being among its most eager partisans. In 1792 Joseph received an appointment in the civil service, under the celebrated Paoli. The fol- lowing year Corsica renounced France, the English took possession of the island, and the Bonaparte family fled to Marseilles, where Joseph received an appointment as com- missary of war. In 1794, when he was dependent on his salary for sup- port, lie married Julie, daughter of M. Clari, one of the richest capitalists of Marseilles. Her sister Eugenie mar- ried Marshal Bernadotte, afterwards King of Sweden, and became the mother of King Oscar. Joseph accompanied his brother, General Bonaparte, as a commissary of war, in his Italian campaign, and was sent by him to demonstrate to the Directory at Paris the necessity of concluding a 28 BONAPARTE'S PARK. treaty of peace with the King of Sardinia. The same year, 1796, and the next year, Joseph was a member of the Council of Five Hundred. Soon after, he was appointed by the Directory minister plenipotentiary, and subsequently envoy extraordinary, to the court of Rome, to open import- ant negotiations with his Holiness Pope Pius VI. The treaty was in progress, but the intrigues of the Austrian party, and the imprudence of the Republicans of Rome, who relied upon French countenance and support to enable them to effect a revolution in the city, defeated it. An attempt to inaugurate a revolution was made December 28th, 1707, a few of the populacy were shot by the Pope's troops, in the court-yard of the palace of the French ambas sador, and General Duphor, one of Joseph's suite, was killed at his 'side. The General was to have been married to Eugenie Clari, Joseph's sister-in-law, subsequently Queen of Sweden. The Directory at Paris, through Talleyrand, expressed to Joseph that they were well satisfied with " the courage, the judgment and the presence of mind which he had shown on the trying occasion, and the magnanimity with which he had supported the honor of the French name." The gov- ernment then offered him the embassy to Prussia, but, being a member of the Council of Five Hundred, he declined. In the Council he was distinguished for sound sense and moderation. On one occasion, when the Directory, through a joint committee, made an attack upon Napoleon, who was then in Egypt, Joseph defended him with so much energy and ability that his accusers were confounded, and a unan- imous vote was obtained in his favor. A few days after- wards he was appointed secretary of the Council of Five Hundred. One who was well acquainted with him at this time describes him as " polite and affable, of a cool and steady disposition, sagacious, intrepid, and peculiarly qual- ified for civil and diplomatic employments." His brother Lucien, president of the Council of Five Hundred, says that BONAPARTE'S PARK. 29 Joseph possessed the esteem and friendship of his colleagues, and it was supposed that, in concert with Lucien, he pre- pared the return of Napoleon from Egypt; and it is certain that by his influence and personal exertions, he contributed to the success of the revolution of the 18th Brumaire — 9th November, 1799. Under the Consulate, Joseph was a member of the Coun- cil of State, and in 1800 he was appointed to settle the differences between France and the United States, which terminated in a treaty in 1800. In 1801 he signed the treaty between France and Austria. He negotiated the treaty of Amiens in 1802, and put on foot the joint action of France, England, Spain and Holland, by which the dis- graceful system of rapine and piracy of the corsairs of Bar- bary was suppressed. In 1803 he was created a Senator and a member of the Grand Council of the Legion of Honor. He sifi-ned the concordat with the court of Rome, and the guarantee treaty with Austria, Russia, Prussia and Bavaria. At Boulogne, in 1804, he commanded the fourth regiment. Napoleon being proclaimed Emperor, the Senate declared Joseph and his children heirs of the throne, on failure of issue of Napoleon. In the same year he declined the crown of Lombardy, refusing to enter into engagements which appeared to press hard upon that nation. During the campaign of Austerlitz he remained in the direction of affairs at Paris. Soon after that battle he was placed in command of the army sent for the conquest of the kingdom of Naples. In February, 1806, he entered that kingdom at the head of 40,000 troops, and soon after his brother conferred upon him the crown, he still remaining Grand Elector and a Prince of France. Joseph, however, was forced to obtain his crown with his sword. Being suc- cessful, his administration of the affairs of the kingdom was at once wise," liberal and vigorous. Being an Italian, he understood the prejudices, sympathies and wants of the people, and, as for as the circumstances of his accession to 30 BONAPARTE'S PARK. the throne would admit, won the good will of his subjects. His reign over Naples lasted about two years and a half. In 1808, at the desire of his brother and the discontented nobles of Spain, he accepted with great reluctance the crown of that nation, but not until he had obtained from the Emperor a guarantee that the constitution of Naples, which was in a great measure a summary of his own most import- ant laws, should be preserved. The accession of Joseph to the throne of Spain was formally recognized by all the pow- ers of Europe except England. A desperate struggle for the possession and maintenance of his crown ensued, which lasted as long as he possessed it. Supported by a French army of 270,000 men, and an auxiliary Spanish force, com- manded by the great soldiers, Marshals Soult, Massena, Ney, Jourdan, Bessieres, Lannes, Mortier, Victor, Mar- mont, Augereau and Suchet, and, for a time, by the Emperor in person, for four years and a half he contended against England and her gold, Spain and Portugal. Enter- ing Madrid, he scattered his gold in the streets, which was picked up by the French soldiers. Upon his coronation he threw open the theatres to the public, which were thronged by the French. His saloons were crowded with his suite, and French officers. His courtiers were the discontented, ambitious or avaricious Spanish nobles. It is true, he in person commanded at the victory of Ocana, and planned and executed the brilliant campaign of Andalusia, yet Joseph, though a king, in point of power was the mere shadow of what a king ought to be. The French minister of war at Paris corresponded directly with chiefs of the various armies in Spain, and orders for their movements, whether to retrograde or advance, were frequently issued by him. The haughty military chiefs acknowledged no authority beside the Emperor, and listened to no commands that conflicted with those from Paris. At last the Emperor issued a decree, instituting military governments in the provinces of Spain. Joseph, actuated by a proper spirit, in BONAPARTE'S PARK. 31 a letter to his brother, announced his determination to leave the country if the system of military governments was not abandoned. He proceeded in person to Paris, where he had an interview with his brother, but was induced by him to return to Madrid. The situation of the Emperor was then so complicated and critical (the war with Russia being about to open) that he could not yield to the wishes of the King. The allies in the Peninsula prosecuted the war with renewed vigor, the fatal battle of Vittoria was fought, and-the reign or career of Joseph in Spain was ended, after four years and a half of struggle. Joseph returned to Paris, where, during the Emperor's absence at the head of the army in Russia, he remained in command of the capital and acted as counselor of the Empress. When the allied armies arrived under the walls of Paris, Joseph, who had done all in his power to rally the nation, by instructions from the Emperor, retired with the Empress, his young son the King of Rome, and some of the grand dignitaries of the empire, to Blois. Napoleon abdi- cated at Fontainbleau. Joseph retired to Switzerland, where he remained with his family until the return of the Emperor from Elba, in March, 1815, when he met him and accompanied him to Paris. At Waterloo, amid defeat and carnage, went down for- ever the sun of Napoleon. Joseph retired to America, where he originally expected to join his brother, whom he left at the Isle d'Aix, making arrangements for his departure to the New World. Eate disposed of him differ- ently, but Joseph remained in France until after he knew the Emperor had left it. 32 BONAPARTE'S PARK CHAPTER III. Mailliard's Account of His Escape to America — Courtesy of Henry Clay — His Residence in Philadelphia — Why He Located at Bordentown — Permission to Hold Real Estate Granted. THE following deeply interesting account, never before given to the public, of the escape of King Joseph from France, and his voyage to America, was communicated to the author by Adolph Mailliard, of San Rafael, California, the son of Louis Mailliard, the devoted secretary and most confidential friend of the ex-King: "A few hours before embarking on the French brig which was to take him to the United States, Joseph sent Mailliard to the Emperor, with a letter urging again his brother to exchange places and make his escape from France in Joseph's vessel. But Napoleon replied verbally to the messenger: 'Tell my brother that I have well con- sidered his offer, and that I cannot accept it. It would seem like flying away from danger: besides, I could not leave behind me so many brave officers, who have sacrificed everything for me. Tell my brother that I hope he will escape the cruisers <>i' England, and arrive safely.' "Joseph, on receiving this last answer, sailed immediately for America. Had Napoleon accepted, lie would probably have reached New York safely, as every precaution had been taken to avoid detection. The vessel selected was a small, common-looking brig, the ' Commerce,' of 200 tons, loaded with a cargo of Bordeaux wines for a market. She was a fast sailer, and was strongly built, and was com- manded by a skilful captain, Messervey, a Swede by birth. Although three times on the high seas the brig was stopped and searched by English frigates, which were on the look- out for Napoleon, the passports and papers of the passengers on board had been so carefully prepared under fictitious BONAPARTE'S PARK. 33 names, that they were not discovered. The captain of the brig did not even know who they were until a few days after Joseph had landed in New York. "The newspapers having published an account of his suc- cessful escape, and given the name of the vessel, the poor captain could hardly contain himself, and called at once on Louis Mailliard, who assured him that it was true, and pre- sented him, in all formality, to King Joseph. < But why did you not tell me?' said he, ' I never would have betrayed him.' Mailliard had to explain to him that it was thought best to conceal the real names and positions of his passen- gers, for fear that he might have shown some hesitation or less assurance when boarded by the English officers. 'I think you were right,' said the captain: 'I would have sunk my vessel rather than let them come on board ; you were right !' Joseph was much amused by his demonstration of Bonapartism, and sent him a very handsome present, to show that he had appreciated his treatment on board."' " The Napoleon Dynasty : or, the History of the Bona- parte Family," by « The Berkeley Men," on pages 385 and 386, thus says of Joseph's entry into this country: "On his arrival at New York he found all the hotels thronged with guests; Mr. Jennings, of the City Hotel, told him that he had given his last suite of rooms to Mr. Clay, who had just returned from the mission to negotiate the treaty of (ih, 'lit. When Mr. Clay heard of the circum- stance he immediately introduced Joseph to his apartments; and as they entered the room where dinner tor Mr. Clay's party had ben. provided, the American statesman said, 'And here is a dinner ready for yourself and your suite: The courteous offer was accepted, and an acquaintance so pleasantly begun ever after continued." Soon after Joseph's arrival in America he appears to have axed upon Philadelphia as his place of residence. We are under the impression the first house he occupied in that 3 34 BONAPARTE'S PARK. city, was on the west side of Ninth street, corner of a small private street or alley, above Spruce. This house, of brick and rough-cast, is of a peculiar construction, with an entrance on the side, in the alley-way. Mr. William John Potts's grandmother, now aged 81, says it was built for a Captain Meany, and that Joseph Bonaparte was the second occupant of it. Afterwards it was a club-house, and is still standing. Joseph also resided in the house now known as the " Bingham Hotel,'* at the southeast corner of Eleventh and Market streets. This building, however, has been sev- eral times altered and rebuilt. Prince Charles and his wife, ■ Zenaide, resided there with him, and his grandson, Joseph Lucien Charles Napoleon, was born then-, Febru- ary 13th, 1824. "Scribner's Monthly*' for January, 1871, contains an arti- cle entitled "Fairmount Park.'" On page 230, it says: "Far- ther on, above 'Egglesfield,' is c Sweetbrier,' and beyond it 'Landsdowne,* which, perhaps, of all the historical places in the park, possesses most interest to the general public. This was the magnificent residence of John Penn, the last colonial governor of Pennsylvania. * * At the close of the revolution they were purchased by Mr. Bingham, grand- father of the late Lord Ashburton, and subsequently were the residence of Joseph Bonaparte, ex-King of Spain and Count de Survilliers. Landsdowne is described by many of the older residents of Philadelphia as a regal place. The house was spacious and palatial, the grounds were laid out in winding walks and diversified with open spaces of clean, green sward, and magnificent groves of majestic trees. Here and there were large green-houses, filled with rare flowers and tropical fruits. In the rear of the house was a stable of grand proportions. * * In the adjacent glen was an elegant bath-house.* ' After Joseph settled at Bordentown, he rented of the city of Philadelphia one of the then elegant houses of the Girard Trust Fund, in Girard row, Chestnut street, below Twelfth. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 35 This he occupied for years, as a city residence. Before the houses were built, Joseph wished to purchase the ground, and the following anecdote in regard to it is copied from the " Sunday Dispatch" of that city, of January 28th, 1877: " One day at a dinner given to Girard by the Count de Sur- villiers — which was the ex-King's title in this country — the subject was broached and the Count offered to pay Girard any fair price he would ask. Girard said, 'Well, now what will you give? What do you consider a fair price?' 'I'll tell you,' said the Count, ' I will cover the block from Elev- enth to Twelfth, and from Chestnut to Market streets, with silver half dollars!' Girard, who was sipping his soup at the time, balanced his spoon for a second on the end of his finger, and, with a calculating look out of his one eye, said very slowly, 'Yes, Mons. Le Count — if you will stand them up edgeways.'* The bargain was not closed." The writer adds : " The above is strictly true. I have it from one of the King's household, still living in this city." For some time after the Count's arrival in this country he traveled extensively through its different sections, but we are under the impression, more with a view to obtain a correct idea of it than to select a spot to settle on. It is well known that some years prior to the final abdication of Napoleon, the contingency of his being forced to abandon France and seek refuge in America, sometimes presented itself to his mind. The late Esquire Edward Robbins stated to the author that Louis Mailliard related to him, that once when the Emperor was speaking upon this subject in pres- ence of Joseph and some of his officers, he unrolled a map of the United States, and placing his finger upon a spot in New Jersey, said, in substance: "If I am ever forced to fly to America, I shall settle somewhere between Philadelphia *This may indicate the value Mr. Girard then set upon this square of ground 1 . By his will, dated February 10th, 1830, he directed the college subsequently erected at "Peel Hall," in the northern section of the city, to be built in the centre of this square. — Arguments of the Deffs counsel, etc., Phila., 18-14, pages 291 and 307. 3(3 . BONAPARTE'S PARK. and New York, where I can receive the earliest intelligence from France by ships arriving at either port." This idea probably governed the Count in his location. Henry Bradshaw Fearon, an Englishman traveling in the United States, published a narrative of his travels. In the third edition of this book, printed in London in 1819, page 132, the author says, under date of October 2d, 1817: "In the evening I arrived at Trenton, which is the capital of New Jersey. General Moreau's stables are still standing in this neighborhood. His dwelling-house was consumed by fire. King Joseph was negotiating for a house here, in anticipation of his brother Lucien's arrival ; the price was to have been $30,000." In " Beecher's Magazine" for 1870, in a sketch of Admiral Stewart, it is stated the admi- ral induced Joseph Bonaparte to select Bordentown as his place of residence. In a letter to the author, Edward S. Ellis, Esq., the author of that sketch, says: " It was Stewart himself who told me that Bonaparte was inclined to settle somewhere else, and he (the commodore) urged him to come to Bordentown. I think he arranged to come to Trenton, or some other point (near by), when the parties with whom he was negotiating suddenly raised their price, and he, becoming disgusted, drew off." In 1816 the Count applied to the legislature of New Jer- sey for permission to hold real estate, without becoming naturalized. That body, duly appreciating his position in relation to France, and the honorable motives which actu- ated him, after due consideration complied with his request. A copy of the act was sent to him by Governor Mahlon Dickerson, accompanied by a courteous note, dated 28th January, 1817. In 1825 the state of New York granted him the same privilege. It is said a similar application to the legislature of Pennsylvania was refused. King Joseph of Spain, settling in our state, and building the magnificent dwellings, which he adorned with rare paintings, statuary, etc., and spending his money with great BONAPARTE'S PARK. 37 profusion, through jealousy, caused persons residing in neighboring slates to call New Jersey " Spain," and Jersey- men " Spaniards." The terras thus jokingly applied have come down long after their origin has been forgotten, except by a few men of the past generation. BONAPARTE'S PARK. CHAPTER IV. Joseph's First Visit to Bordentown — His Agent Purchases the Park — First House— Second House — Its Destruction — Letter of Thanks to the Citizens — Description of Third House — Of the Park — Of the Lake — Underground Passages. IN the spring of 1816, as Doctor William Burns, who had been a surgeon in the British army during our revolu- tionary war, and who subsequently settled at Bordentown, was returning from White Hill, lie was accosted in French by two gentlemen riding in a close carriage. They made inquiries as to what land was for sale in the neighborhood. As the Doctor held a deed of trust for Point Breeze, and knew Mr. Sayre wished to dispose of it, he entered the car- riage and drove with them to the Point, and presented them to Mr. Sayre. The stranger proved to be Joseph Bonaparte, accompanied by Mr. Garret, who had come from Philadel- phia in search of a place to locate Shortly afterwards James Carret, as agent of Joseph Bonaparte, commenced buying what was afterwards the extensive park near Bordentown. Taking the title in his own name, on the 27th day of August, 1816, he executed a declaration of trust, as follows: "That lie bought the prop- erty as the friend and agent of Joseph Buonaparte, Count de Survilliers, and that he would, at any time, on demand made for that purpose, convey any or all the tracts so purchased, to any person designated by the said Joseph Buonaparte." On the 10th of April, 1817, an indenture tripartite was executed by Joseph Bonaparte, James Garret and G. Rein- holdt, by which the title in the said lands was vested in George Reinholdt, The legislature of New Jersey having passed an act enabling Joseph Bonaparte to hold real *E. S. Allen, Bordentown. B OX A PA R TE'S PA UK. 39 estate, the said George Reiriholdt, by indenture, conveyed all the tracts of land to Joseph. The Count's real estate in America consisted of land, divided into ten farms, on the border of Crosswicks creek, extending up to opposite the village of Groveville, and a park of about one thousand acres.* This park, known as Bonaparte's Park, is situated on the elevated plateau of Bordentown, on the south side of the creek, and extends from its confluence with the Delaware to the White Horse bridge, more than a mile above. It is bounded on the south by the Trenton road, and is enclosed by a high picket fence. It was at once improved by the erection of numerous stately buildings, the laying out of several miles of carriage-drives, and the planting of many trees. A huge, substantial frame building stood in the park when purchased, which the Count for some time occupied. This he sold to Mr. M'Knight, who removed it to the eastern side of Farns- worth avenue, north of Park street, where it was rebuilt, and is now the handsome residence of Mahloii Hutchinson, Esq. The first mansion built by the Count was immediately back of the main entrance, near the vd^v of the bluff that overhangs the creek. From the cellar was a bricked under- ground passage-way, some ten feet wide and fifty feet long, leading to the side of the bluff. From its entrance to the creek was an inclined plane of easy ascent, and of about the same length. During the burning of this building, nearly all the pipes of wine and casks of liquor in the cellar were rolled down this passage-way into the creek, and saved. Mr. Fearon, the English traveler before quoted, in contin- uation ^ays : "At six o'clock in the morning we recom- menced our journey for Philadelphia. Joseph Bonaparte's house is situated on the Jersey banks of the river Delaware; in appearance it is equal to a moderate English country *The last will of Joseph Bonaparte, a true copy of which is now in the possession of Philip Bellemere, of Bordentown, one of the Count's household. 40 BONAPARTE'S PARK. seat. He is said to have bought it for $10,000, and to have laid out $20,000 more in having it completed in a splendid style. At present he is from home, having gone to view Niagara Falls. His associates are French gentlemen, but he is easy of access, and appears to participate in the inter- ests of the country." The Count's mansion was consumed by fire on the 3d of January, 1820. The following account, copied from the " Columbia Herald," a weekly newspaper published at Woodbury, K J., and taken from the "Trenton Federal" at the time, is interesting : " Wednesday, January 13, 1820. " On the 3d inst. the elegant mansion of Joseph Bona- parte, at Point Breeze, near Bordentown, in this state, acci- dentally took fire and was destroyed. The fire is said to have originated in one of the upper rooms, and broke out between one and two P. M. Many articles of furniture, and of the ornaments and paintings, we understand were saved through the exertions of the domestics and neighbors. The proprietor was in this town (Trenton) when the fire broke out, on his return from a visit to New York, and reached Point Breeze in the midst of the conflagration. The walls of the two wings, which were of brick, we are informed, are standing. The middle building, which was of frame, was of course destroyed." Miss Maria H. Nutt, of Bordentown, in speaking of the fire, states : " The house was burned down through the carelessness of a gentleman whom the Count entertained, who went oft* to Philadelphia and left a wood fire burning in his bed-chamber, and locked the door, taking the key with him. The ladies of Bordentown turned out with their leathern fire-buckets, passed water up and down long lines, as the manner of those days was, to assist in putting out the fire." BONAPARTE'S PARK. 41 The Count returned his thanks to the citizens, in the fol- lowing letter to one of the magistrates of the town : " Point Breeze, January 8th, 1820. "To "William Snowden, Esq., Bordentown, N. J.: " Sir — You have shown so much interest for me since I have been in this country, and especially since the event of the 3d inst., that I cannot doubt it will afford you pleasure to make known to your fellow-citizens how much I feel all they did for me on that occasion. Absent myself from my house, they collected, by a spontaneous movement, on the first appearance of the fire, which they combated with united courage and perseverance; and when they found it was impossible to extinguish it, exerted themselves to save all the flames had not devoured before their arrival and mine. "All the furniture, statues, pictures, money, plate, gold, jewels, linen, books, and in short, everything that was not consumed, has been most scrupulously delivered into the hands of the people of my house. In the night of the fire, and during the next day, there were brought to me, by laboring men, drawers, in which I have found the proper quantity of pieces of money, and medals of gold, and val- uable jewels, which might have been taken with impunity. This event has proved to me how much the inhabitants of Bordentown appreciate the interest I have always felt for them ; and shows that men in general are good, when they have not been perverted in their youth by a bad education; when they maintain their dignity as men, and feel that true greatness is in the soul, and depends upon ourselves. " I cannot omit, on this occasion, what I have said so often, that the Americans are, without contradiction, the most happy people I have known; still more happy if they understand well their own happiness. " I pray you not to doubt of my sincere regard. " Joseph, Count de Survilliers." 42 BONAPARTE'S PARK. In regard to this letter, an Englishman, in "Notions of the Americans ; picked up by a Traveling Bachelor," 1828, in a foot-note to vol. 1, page 300, says: * * "The writer understood that the thanks were well enough received, for they were usual, but a momentary offence was given to the inhabitants by any man presuming to thank them for common honesty. The people of the vicinity have, however, already forgotten their pique, for they speak of their neighbor with great kindness." Besides the great loss to the Count, there were many paintings and sculpture of rare merit destroyed. The ruins were pulled down and every trace of the building removed, except the observatory, which was surrounded by a stone enclosure and left standing. In constructing his new house, the Count used his stable, which was located in front of the first mansion, and was not injured by the fire. By alterations and extensions he soon converted it into a structure hardly inferior to his former dwelling. It was plain, long and rather low, and of brick covered with white plaster. It had its grand hall and staircase; its great dining-rooms, art gallery and library; its pillars and marble mantels, covered with sculpture of mar- velous workmanship; its statues, busts and paintings of rare merit; its heavy chandeliers, and its hangings and tapestry, fringed with gold and silver. With the large and finely carved folding-doors of the entrance, and the liveried ser- vants and attendants, it had the air of the residence of a distinguished foreigner, unused to the simplicity of our countrymen. A tine lawn stretched on the front, and a large garden of rare flowers and plants, interspersed with fountains and chiseled animals, in the rear. The park, which was laid out in the style of the Escurial grounds, was traversed by nearly twelve miles of drives and bridle- paths, winding through clustering pines and oaks, and planted on every knoll with statuary. Rustic cots or rain shelters, bowers and seats, sheltered springs and solitary BONAPARTE'S PARK. 43 retreats were interspersed. Over several of the small streams and gullies that wound through and diversified the grounds, were thrown rustic bridges. In digging for the foundation of one, the " Savage," near the creek, a number of Indian relics were found, from which the bridge derived its name. A narrow stream, which rises beyond the Thorntown road, winds down through part of the ground between the mansion and the city. The valley of this little stream grad- ually increases in width until it crosses the Trenton road or Park street, where it expands into a broad lagoon, in which the tide of the creek ebbed and flowed to this point. The Count, at great expense and labor, threw a brick arch over the stream and built a long causeway, some twenty feet high, grading the road to nearly a level. Across the lower end of the lagoon he built an embankment, separa- ting it from the creek. This formed a most picturesque lake, some two hundred yards broad and nearly half a mile long. The bluffs on either side were bold and rather abrupt, that towards the town being covered with a heavy growth of timber. On the other side, along the edge of the lake, a fine carriage-drive was constructed, leading oft* sharp to the right near its end, up a wild ravine and under a high stone bridge. In the lake were several islands with velvet grass, young trees and beautiful shrubbery. Swans sported on the surface of the water, stairways wound down the banks, and little fleets of pleasure-boats were moored in it and a cove of the creek. From the shore of the lake to his house was a subterraneous passage, walled up and ceiled with brick, with heavy doors. It was about forty feet long, and contained two passage-ways, one leading to the cellar and one into the house. The third door was the entrance to the ice-houses. Extending beyond the wall containing the doors, some ten feet, was a greater arch of substantial and massive structure. The entrance leading to the man- sion was connected by a covered way with the " Lake 44 BONAPARTE'S PARK. House," in which resided his daughter Zenaide. This pas- sage or long shed, built upon the side of the bluff, was faced with lattice-work, and afforded a shelter from the inclemency of the weather. The entrance also served as a shelter-way in case of sudden showers, for parties who had been pleasuring on the water, and with this idea the Count had carved, in Italian, over the doorway, " Not ignorant of evil, I learn to succor the unfortunate." The two short underground passage-ways above described are the only ones ever constructed by the Count, and, with the observa- tory, gave rise to the fanciful stories that the ex-King kept a sentinel posted upon the tower to watch for any hostile French or Spanish frigates that might sail up the Delaware to capture him. The story that he dug subterranean pas- sages all through his grounds, the doors of which were of iron, and could be closed and bolted on the inside, and which led, seemingly, into the bowels of the earth, and had no egress, was all the pure invention of an imaginative writer. The end of the first described passage, where it entered the cellar of the old house, is walled up. Some inquisitive person went to the trouble of breaking a hole through the bricks, and was rewarded for his pains by the sight of the earth on the other side. In a letter to the author, Mr. A. Mailliard says : " I will now refer to some nonsense I have read about some subter- ranean galleries, etc., built by Joseph to escape from his home. The truth is simply this : " When Joseph built the " lake house" for his daughter Zenaide and her household, he connected it by an underground gallery with the main house, for the facility of service, and for her own use in bad weather. She used to come by that passage to her father's house." Surrounding the mansion were the stables, servants' lodges, out-buildings, etc., and upon the ground the farm- er's and gardener's houses. BONAPABTE'S PABK. 45 CHAPTER V. The Lake House — His Wife, Tribute to — His Daughter Zenaide — Sketch of Prince Charles — His Grandchildren — His Daughter Charlotte — Sketch of Napoleon Lewis. ON THE borders of the lake, near the road, was the " Lake House," built by the Count for Prince Charles and Zena- ide. In it the Prince had his cabinet of birds, insects, etc. It is a large, three-story, brick structure, covered with plaster, and is yet standing in a good state of preservation. The ceilings are low, windows rather small, and entrance large. With its white walls and green lattice shutters, it presents a plain but neat appearance. The Count's wife, Marie Julie Clari, was prevented, by delicate health, from attempting a sea voyage to join him in exile. She and her sister, the Queen of Sweden, were remarkable for their personal beauty, and were much esteemed through life for their amiable character, exhibited in every vicissitude. Madame Junot said of her : "Madame Joseph Bonaparte is an angel of goodness. Pronounce her name, and all the indigent, all the unfortunate, in Paris and Naples will repeat it with blessings." She, too, was an exile from France, residing in Florence. The sincerity of the love of Joseph for her can never be doubted. If the whole course of his life and his correspondence with her did not prove it, the following touching tribute, expressed in his last will, should remove all doubt: " I would have wished to name and appoint as my sole heiress, my dear and well-beloved wife, Marie Julie. In the course of our long and happy union my confidence in her has been full and entire. Our property has been in com- mon as well as our hearts. In leaving her the mistress of all that I possess, except the several legacies, I know well I dear daughter Zenaide. I 46 BONAPARTE'S PARK. shall then have set my daughter the example of the kindest confidence and most sacred respect which she most continue to have for the character of the best of mothers, the most virtuous of women. I desire to. testify to her strongly my affection as well as my gratitude for her tender attachment, and to guarantee to her with all my power the position and tranquility which she so justly deserves." The Count had no sons, but his two daughters joined him in America. The eldest, the Princess Zenaide Char- lotte Julie, born July 8th, 1804, married her cousin, Charles Lucien, Prince de Canino, anil Musignano, son of Lucien Bonaparte, at Brussels, June 29th, 1822. At St. Helena, Napoleon informed Las Casas that, toAvards the close of the year 1813, when he concluded the treaty of Valencay, in which he recognized Ferdinand as Sovereign of Spain, he yielded to a former proposal of Ferdinand to choose a wife for him, and his marriage with Zenaide, his brother's eldest daughter, was decided upon; but circumstances changed, and Ferdinand desired the marriage deferred. " You can no longer," he wrote, "sup- port me with your arms, and I ought not to make my wife a title of exclusion in the eyes of my people." The Emperor assured Las Casas that had the affairs of 1814 turned out differently, Ferdinand would unquestionably have accomplished his marriage with Joseph's daughter." Prince Charles and Zenaide joined the Count's family in America, where he gained a high reputation as an ornithol- ogist, which was increased by his subsequent labors after his return to Italy in 1828. In 1840 he inherited his princely titles, but continued to devote himself exclusively to scientific pursuits till 1S47, when, touching upon politics at Venice, he was expelled. At Rome he supported Pius IX as long as he adhered to a progressive policy, but when the Pope changed front he became a prominent leader of the revolutionists, was chosen president of the Constituent Assembly, and upheld the cause until the arrival of the BONAPARTE'S PARK. 47 French troops, in 1849, crushed out the life of the young Republic. Upon entering France, he was arrested by order of Napo- leon III, and sent to England. He was the founder and president of many scientific congresses in Italy. He wrote extensively on American and European ornithology and other branches of natural history. One of his principal works was " American Ornithology, or the Natural History of Birds inhabiting the United States, not given by Wil- son." A new edition of this work has just been issued under the following title: "American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of the Birds of the United States, by Alexander Wilson and Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte." The illustrations, notes ami lite by Sir Wm. Jardine, Bart. F. R. S. E., F. L. S.j 3 vols., half mo., with hand-colored plates of the birds. Large paper copy ; London, 1876. Price $36.00. — Sabine's A", w York Advertiser. He was the author of many other scientific works, and died in Paris, in 1857, aged 54 years. His wife, Zenaide, was an accomplished woman. She translated Schiller's dramas, and assisted her husband in his scientific labors. She was also quite an artist She died in Italy, in 1854. She bore him eight children, as follows: Joseph Lucien Charles Napoleon, Prince do Musignano, born in Philadelphia, February 13th, 1824. He inherited the Park and all the real estate of his grandfather in America, except the Groveville farm. Died in Rome in 1865. Lucien Louis Joseph Napoleon, born in Rome, November 15th, 1828, was ordained a priest, and in 1868 became a cardinal. Julie Charlotte Zenaide Pauline Letitia Desiree Barth- omee, born June 6th, 1830; married August 30th, 1847, to Alexandre Del Gallo, Marquis de Roccagiovine. 48 BONAPARTE'S PARK. Charlotte Honorine Josephine, born March 4th, 1832; married October 4th, 1848, to Comte Pierre Primole. Marie Desiree Eugenia Josephine Philomene, born March 18th, 1835. Auguste Amilie Maximilliene Jacqueline, born Novem- ber 9th, 1836. Napoleon Gregoire Jacques Phillipe, born February 9th, 1839. He married an Italian princess, had the title of Highness conferred upon him in 1861, and served in Mexico under Marshal Bazine. Joseph's youngest (laughter, Charlotte, who had been living with him for several years, returned to Italy to rejoin her mother. In " Lippincott's Magazine" for December, 1870, page 673, is an article on "Impromptus, by Nicholas Biddle." Among those quoted, is a poem of thirty-four lines, to Countess Charlotte Survilliers, on her embarking for Europe, written in her album, on board the steamboat "Philadelphia," July 11th, 1824. While in that country, in 1827, she married her cousin, Napoleon Louis, Grand Duke of Cleves and Berg, eldest son of Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, by his Queen llortense Beauharnais, and brothei- of Napoleon III. He was recognized for a short time as King of Holland, his mother being regent. Upon the separation of his father and mother, the tribunal at Paris gave him to the former. He subsequently became an ardent liberal, and, during the revolutionary outbreak of 1831, he and his brother Louis Napoleon organized the defensive operations of the Italian patriots, and were about to seize a fort and set free the prisoners, when their parents dissuaded them from compromising the Italian cause by giving to the French a pretext for deserting it. Soon after, he died at Pesaro, Italy, March 17th, 1831, aged 27 years. His death, and that of his cousin, the Duke de Reichstadt, made his brother, Louis Napoleon, according to the prece- dence accorded in the Emperor's will, heir to the French throne. He was noted for his scientific attainments, and published several works. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 49 CHAPTER VI. Personal Appearance of Joseph — Interesting Visit — How He En- tertained His Guests. IN THE biographical sketch of Joseph Napoleon Bona- parte, Count de Survilliers, second edition, London, 1833, so far endorsed by the Count that he inscribed in the copy now in the possession of Miss Maria H. Nutt, " C. J. IngersoH. Presented by the Count de Survillier," on page 95, we tind : " In his person, Joseph so much resembled his brother Napoleon that, were he not taller, and considerably less stout, he might pass for him. In his habits, also, there is a marked similarity; Joseph, being extremely temperate nnd fond of early hours, generally retiring at ten o'clock and rising at four or five in the morning. * * * In consequence of his abstinence from excesses, although now past sixty, he has the constitution and strength of a man of forty." In the same book, on page 43, in a foot-note by the English editor, we find an extract from " The History of the War of Spain," by General Foy. In speaking of his assuming the crown of Spain, the General says " This Prince (Joseph) was for from coveting such a destiny. He was forty years old. His figure was graceful, and his manners elegant. He was fond of women, of the fine arts, and of literature. His conversation, methodical and abounding with observations, indicated a habitude of speaking, and a knowledge of mankind, only to be acquired in the midst of equality." In the same foot-note, on pages 44 and 45, the editor says : " The reader will not probably be displeased at seeing a quotation of the testimony borne by the illustrious Ber- 50 BONAPARTE'S PARK. nardin de St. Pierre, author of ' Paul and Virginia,' taken from the preface to the grand folio edition of his immortal romance. What renders this homage still more valuable is that Bernardin de St. Pierre openly professed republican doctrines. The passage only requires to be quoted : " 'About a year and a half ago (1804), I was invited by- one of the subscribers to the line edition of ' Paul and Vir- ginia,' to come and see him at his country house. He was a young father of a family, whose physiognomy announced the qualities of his mind. lie united in himself everything which distinguishes a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a friend to humanity. He took me in private, and said : 'My fortune, which I owe to the nation, affords me the means of being useful; add to my happiness by giving me an opportunity of contributing to your own." And the author finishes his recital of the interview with a few words which speak volumes: 'This philosopher, so worthy of a throne, if any throne was worthy of him, was Prince Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte.' " Garrit S. Cannon, Esq., a distinguished member of the legal profession, residing in Bordentown, in an article to "The Register" of that city, says: "I remember very distinctly the first time I ever saw Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, Count de Survilliers; he had been absent in England for several years; had suddenly returned here and had resumed his residence at his elegant domain then and still known as the 'Park.' He was stand- ing with his secretary, Louis Mailliard, Esq., and other members of his suite, on the porch of Ivestler's hotel, awaiting the arrival of the train by the Camden and Amboy route. One could hardly believe that the plainly-dressed, affable, unaffected old gentleman in that group was really the ex-King of Spain, the brother of the great Emperor Napoleon. In stature, he was short; in his body, inclined to corpulency; but he had the distinguishing characteristics BONAPARTE'S PARK. 51 of the Bonapartes, which was the beauty and fairness of his complexion. It was peculiar and striking, as smooth and transparent as a woman's." Abbott, in his '» History of Napoleon," mentions this feature as a peculiar distinction of the whole family. In "A Sketch of Joseph Bonaparte, by Helen Beikeley," which appeared in "Godey's Lady's Book" for April, 1845, in which the author, her husband and niece are represented as spending some days at the Park, Helen Berkeley thus describes the first evening of their visit : "The tea-service removed, our host gave some private directions to the servants, which they obeyed by producing two handsomely-bound volumes, large enough to look (at the first glance) like a good-sized portfolio of engravings, rather than a book. One was placed upon a table, imme- diately under a chandelier, which threw upon it a perfect flood of light, and the other given to Mr. T." (Wm. Thi- b'aud, a member of his household) "to dispose of as he chose. The Count then arranged seats for Clara and myself at the table, ami Mr. T. invited his daughter and Mr. Sindly to join him at another table. Our host opened the book, which was full of costly engravings, representa- tions of Napoleon's life and the different warlike acts he had performed. He paused at every picture, and grew enthusiastic as he recounted the different scenes which had been thus splendidly commemorated. His cheek flushed and his eyes grew brighter as he proudly and affectionately exclaimed, 'There never was but one Napoleon/ Fre- quently he would sigh, and place his hand over his heart, and say, in a tone which perhaps his broken English ren- dered more touching, 'I sigh for the death of "my poor brother;' and at other times he would say, 'Oh, they did him great wrong; my brother had great wrongs, Madame, and now he is dead.' The excitement was at times painful, and averted my mind so completely from the pictures that I could not do justice to their merit." 52 BONAPARTE'S PARK. Helen Berkeley's description of the library, etc., is so so interesting, we venture upon quoting further from her. Of the next morning, she says : " We found the Count as full of vivacity and amiability as ever. When we arose from the table, he asked us if we would like to see his private library, and take a general tour of the house. Our answer was, as you may imagine, a joyful affirmative. Mr. T. ordered the key of the private library to be brought, and a servant preceded us upstairs with the key in his hand. The door was opened, we entered, it closed again, and I beard the servant lock the door and walk away. I looked around. The apartment was filled, or rather lined, with elegant book-cases and handsomely-bound books, but there was no door visible, and I was sure we were locked in. " It seemed rudeness to feel any uneasiness, yet it was unavoidable — the proceeding seemed so strange a one. At all events, I thought it some consolation to know we were all together. After we had walked around the room and examined the books and a few paintings that hung on the wall, and many rich vases which had belonged to Napoleon, _ the Count touched a secret spring, and several rows of skil- fully painted book-cases flew back and displayed a set of drawers. These he opened, and drew out a number of caskets containing splendid jewels of all descriptions. Sev- eral clusters looked like jeweled handles of swords; others, portions of crowns rudely broken off'; others, like lids of small boxes; many of them were ornaments entire. He showed us the crown and rings he wore when King of Spain; also, the crown, robe and jewels in which Napoleon was crowned. When our eyes had been sufficiently dazzled by the glare of diamonds and emeralds, to satisfy him, he touched another concealed spring, which gave to view another set of drawers, and displayed to us many of Napo- leon's valuable papers. His treaties and letters were care- fully bound round by ribbons and fastened by jeweled BONAPARTE'S PARK. 53 clasps. Some of the papers he opened and read to us, then returned them to their places with a care which almost amounted to veneration. At length all the papers were returned, the robe and jewels safe in their hiding-ipl'dees, and the Count looked around the room as much as to say he had nothing further to show us at present. " While I was wondering how we were to make our exit, he approached a book-case at the end of the room, pressed his finger on a particular place, and the whole case flew back, which showed a door, which opened with a lock, and we entered into the Count's summer sleeping apartment. It consisted of a chamber, dressing and bathing-room, with a small studio, or rather boudoir. The curtains, canopy and furniture N were of light blue satin, trimmed with silver. Every room contained a mirror, reaching from the ceiling to the floor. Over the bed hung a splendid mirror, and also one over the table. The Avails were covered with oil paintings, principally of young females, with less clothing' about them than they or you would have found comfortable in our cold climate, and much less than we found agreeable when the Count, without ceremony, led us before them, and enumerated the beauties of paintings with the air of an accomplished amateur. In every room of the house there were statues of Napoleon in some different position and of various sizes. There were also statues of his father and mother and all the family. To the statue of Pauline, in particular, the Count called our attention, and asked us to admire it. He stood some time perfectly enraptured before it, pointing out to us what a beautiful head Pauline had, what hair, what eyes, nose, mouth, chin, what a throat, what a neck, what arms, what a magnificent bust, what a foot, enumerating all her charms, one after another, and demandi ur opinion of them. Necessity made us philoso- phers, and we were obliged to show as much sang-froid on the subject as himself, for it was impossible to get him away without our prudery exciting more attention than would 54 BONAPARTE'S PARK. have been pleasant. When the Count was satisfied with the eulogiums we bestowed upon his fair sister, he led us on, remarking, as he turned away from the statue, 'Ah, she was very beautiful, very beautiful was Pauline, but too ambitious. Nothing could satisfy her; she always felt as if my poor brother was robbing her of a kingdom, instead of bestowing one upon her; but she was so beautiful.' * * The Count next conducted us to his winter suite of apart- ments. They were decorated much in the style of his summer ones, excepting the furniture was of crimson and gold." BONAPARTE'S PARK. 55 CHAPTER VII. Description" of Some of His Paintings — Full List of — Sketch of Cardinal Fesch — Of Noted Artists — List of Marbles and Bronzes — Of Engravings — Description of Venus Victrix — Of His Furniture. 1 A HE COUNT was a judicious and munificent patron of the arts. He owned, during his life, some of the finest paintings in America. Among these was Raphael Moeng's "Nativity of Oar Saviour" A note to this picture, in the catalogue,* says: " This magnificent Chef-d'oeuvre was executed by the artist for a monarch of Spain, as an Altar-piece, and cost an immense price. It represents the Virgin, with our Saviour, * CATALOGUE Of Valuable Paintings and Statuary, The collection of the late Joseph Bonaparte, Count De Survilliers, To be sold at Public Sale, Ox Wednesday and Thursday, September I"th and ISth, 1845, At the Mansion, at Bordentown, New Jersey, By Thomas Bibch, Jr. •flEg-The Paintings will be open for examination from the loth of August until the time of sale. TERMS OF SALE. 1st. The sale will commence at eleven o'clock, on each day, and proceed in regular order, according to the Catalogue. ■J.d. The purchasers to give their names and places of abode; and, (if required by the auctioneer,) to deposit part of the purchase-money ; in default of which, the lot so purchased to be immediately put up again and resold. 3d. All bills to be settled in full within three days from the day of sale (before delivery of the Paintings); otherwise, they may be resold, at the expense of the purchaser. j8®^ Orders given for lots will be faithfully attended to by the auctioneer. On the lower margin was written: " Catalogues, 12% cents, to be had at Nolen's Picture store, No. 78 Chestnut street." On the outside of the back cover is: "Catalooue of Books. "It being deemed necessary to issue the Catalogue of Paintings immediately, as demands have been made for them, to forward by the steamer of the 1st August, to England, the original intention of issuing a general catalogue has been changed, and a separate catalogue of the books and other articles will be issued about the 1st September." 56 BONAPARTE'S PARK. and Shepherds in adoration — Angels descending, as Messen- gers from Heaven. It would be useless to attempt a descrip- tion of such a Painting; no pen could give an idea of its merits. The late owner, with a view to encourage the Fine Arts in this country, lent it, for some time, to the National Academies of New York and Philadelphia, where a great number of copies were made by young Artists, who profited by his Benevolence." " Canvass, length 4 feet 6 inches, height 9 feet 6 inches." Another, by Rubens and Sneyders, of which the catalogue says : "The centre of this Picture represents the Infant Saviour and St. John, and three Angels playing with a Lamb. At each side is a Pyramid of Fruits and Vegetables, formed round the trunks of two Trees. Over the group of Children is a largo wreath of Fruits and Flowers, with Birds on it. The figures, of exquisite beauty and coloring, are by Rubens, and the Fruits, Birds, &c., by Snyders. "These two famous Masters frequently worked together. Rubens, after having hVished the Figures, leaving the acces- sories to Snyders." Canvass. Length 8 feet 10 inches, height 5 feet 10 inches. Catalogue of 1845, No. 101. $2,000 were offered for the above Painting, but not accepted." By Rubens: "Two J .inns and a Fawn. Ejnsode of Paradise." "This Painting was the No. 14 of 1845 Sale. A well- known Gentleman and Amateur, Mr. F ***** * ; of New York, offered §2,200 for it, but the owner would not part with it at that price." Canvass. 7 ft. 8 in. L. by 4 ft. 7 H. By Rubens: "The Lion caught in a Net." Canvass. 6 ft. 3 in. L. by 4 ft. 8 H. By Rubens : " The Judgment of Paris." Copper. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 3 H. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 57 By Sneyders : "Hawk Among Chickens. A rare specimen of this Master." Canvass. 5 ft. 7 in. L. by 3 ft. 9 H. By Sneyders : "Portrait of a Hawk sitting on the branch of a Tree." Canvass. 3 ft. 5 in. L. by 2 ft. 7 H. By Sneyders : "Heron, Ducks and Fox." Canvass. 4 ft. 6 in. L. by 3 ft. 9 H. By Sneyders : "Peacocks, and other Birds." Canvass. 4 ft. 6 in. L. by 3 ft. 2 H. All the paintings in the "Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts," at Philadelphia, by Joseph Yernet, formerly belonged to the Count. Two of them are called in the Acad- emy's catalogue of 1878, " Marine ;" another, " Shipwreck "— the latter an exceedingly fine example of Vernet's style. Another is, - The Cardinal* and his Friends; View of his Palace in the Distance." The Count had also by Yernet : 1782— "A Calm, Morning Scene. Fishermen in the fore- ground, a Ship, with sails loose, in the centre." Canvass. 8 ft. 4 in. L. by 5 ft. H. "Storm clearing off, Ship on the Rocks, the inhabitants of the coast rescuing the passengers, and carrying them up the rocks." Canvass. 10 ft. L. by 5 ft. H. "These two pictures have been engraved, and are choice specimens of this Master." "View from Nature; Scene near Naples. Village and castle in the distance, figures in the foreground." Canvass. 10 ft. L. by 4 ft. 3 in. H. ♦ Cardinal Fesch, maternal uncle of Joseph, and son of a Swiss captain, in the ser- vice of France. Possessed of great wealth, his gallery of paintings i stories of his princely palace. The, collection embraced fourteen hundreo p and was considered one of the largest and best in Rome. Besides many of the hist Italian masters, it was singularly rich in the works of the Flemish and Hutch schools. Some years before his death, he sold a large part of his paintings, and, by his will, divided those remaining between the Vatican and his relatives, to the latter of whom he left most of his property. He died at R = me, in 1839, aged seventy-seven years. 58 BONAPARTE'S PARK. Two — "Falls of Tivoli, different views." Canvass. 2 ft. 1 in. L. by 3 ft. 2 in. II. (each). Appleton's "American Cyclopaedia," first edition, shows these pictures were all painted in or before 1789, in which year Josepli Vernet died. He was father of the still more eminent Horace Vernet, who has been well patronized by the successors of Napoleon. A number of Josepli Vernet's pictures are in the Gallery of the Louvre. They are princi- pally sea pieces. The paintings by Luca Giordano were Nos. 69 and 70. " These Paintings in the centre and foreground have a large display of the Fishes and Shells of the Mediterranean, the colouring of which is wonderfully beautiful, fresh and brilliant. In the background is represented a number of Marine Gods, Nymphs, Cupids, &c.' Canvass. 10 ft. L. by 8 ft. II." "Hercules and Omphale." Canvass. 3 ft. 9 in. L. by 7 ft. 3 in. H. "Rape of Dejanire." Canvass. 3 ft. 9 in. L. by 7 ft. 3 in. H. "Rinaldo in the Garden of Armida, from Tasso." Canvass. 3 ft. 2 in. L. by 7 ft. 3 in. II. "Burning of Olindo and Sophronia." Canvass. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 7 ft. 3 in. II. The paintings by Simon Denys were: "Storm at Night, Hani on Fin . ( 'atth rushing out." Canvass. 7 ft. 6 in. L. by 5 ft. \ in. 11. "Landscape, Italian Scenery, Bay of Naples, Cattle at Foun- tain hi foreground; rich effect of sunset." Canvass. 7 ft. 8 in. L. by .1 ft. 2 in. II. "Rich Landscape, Mountain Scenery, with waterfall; Cattle and figures in the foreground." Canvass. 7 ft. 6 in. L. by 5 ft. 4 in. H. Denys (Denis) " was a native of France, settled at Naples, and was a very able landscape painter and executed a num- ber of beautiful pictures for the Count of Naples. He is BONAPARTE'S PARK. 59 reproached with having an extraordinary predilection for painting cows, for there is not one of his pictures in which there is not one or more of these animals. His pictures have a fine effect, and his accuracy was so great that a bot- anist could determine the character of all the plants which he introduced.— Pilkington." The paintings by David Teniers, the elder, were : Two "Large Landscapes, figures in foreground." Canvass. 8 ft. L. by 5 ft. 10 in. H. "Landscape, with Gipseys in foreground." Canvass. 3 ft. 3 in. L. by 2 ft. 5 in. H. "Two Peasants, and Dog." Canvass. 1 ft, 6 in. L. by 2 ft. 3 in. H. By Rembrandt : Two— -"Head of a Tori;, with flowing Beard. These two pictures are painted with great boldness and force." Canvass. 1 ft. 6 in L. by 1 ft. 10 in. H. By Bassano : " The Entrance into the Ark. The Animals in pairs pass- ing the foregrounds ; a white Horse carrying a Sack, the centre of the group. The style of the composition is solemn and grand, and the finish minute." Canvass. 6 ft, 9 in. L. by 3 ft, 7 in. H. By Bidault, a renowned French landscape painter: « View of the Park of Mortfontaine, in France. Mortfon- taine was' the favorite residence of the ex-King, and is known to many Americans as the place where the Treaty with the United States was signed. Also, three other match-pictures by the same artist." Two other Views of the Park of Mortfontaine. "Napoleon in his Cabinet. Repetition of the Painting by Rob't Lefevre." By Antonio Tempesta: "Battle Pieces." Canvass. 4 ft. 10 in. L. by 4 ft. H. 60 BONAPARTE'S PARK. By Boguet : "Passage of the Po near Plaisance by the French Army under the command of General Ponaparte. The groups of Horses and Soldiers are admirable for the Details and Execution." Canvass. 8 ft. 4 in L. by 5 ft. 4 in. H. By Swebach : "French Hussar mi White Horse, with Dog."" Canvass. 1 ft. 9 in. L. by 1 ft. 5 in II. "Turk on Horseback." Canvass. 1 ft. 1 in. L. by 1 ft. 4 in. II. By Gaspar Van Eyck: "Coast Scene, Castle on a Hill, Boats and figures in the foreground." Canvass. 3 ft, 8 in. L. by 2 ft. 4 in. II. "Naval Engagement between Spaniards and Turks: numer- ous figures, painted with uncommon spirit, and well drawn." Canvass. 3 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 9 in. H. By Gio Botta Colomba : "Palace Garden; a Party taking Refreshments." Canvass. 3 ft. 2 in. L. by 4 ft. 4 in. H. "Landscape, \ r e/»us and Adonis; match picture to the above." "Scene in Woods; Woodcutters taking their meals." Canvass. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 4 ft. H. "Scene in Woods; a Gipsey Party. Match to the above." "Moonlight Wood Scene, with group of Gipseys round a fire." Canvass. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 3 ft.' 10 in. H. "Landscape Mountain Scenery, Cascade and Bridge, numer- ous figures in foreground." Canvass. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 4 ft. H. By Jacques Savery : "Royal Stag Hunt. This picture is quite a curiosity, from BONAPARTE'S PARK. 61 the large number of Figures and Animals contained in it, and the remarkable labour and care bestowed on the finish of each." Canvass. 5 ft. 8 in. L. by 3 ft, 9 in. H. By Gherardo Delle Notti : "Christ breaking Bread with his two Disciples at Mnaeus." By A. Carracchi : "Christ and his Disciples at Sea in a Storm, Christ sleeping." Canvass. 5 ft. L. by 2 ft, 3 in. H. By Laurent De La Hyre : "St Sebastian pierced by an Arrow." Canvass. 3 ft. L. by 4 ft, H. "Palemon in the guise of a Triton expressing his love for a Nymph seated on a rock above." Canvass. 4 ft. 2 in. L. by 4 ft. 10 in. H. By Gerard Terburgh : "Departure of the Prodigal Son." Canvass. 1 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 8 in. H. By Guercino : " Group of ten figures ; the centre figure is Herodias receiving the Head of John the Baptist on a charger." Canvass. 5 ft. L. by 4 ft. 4 in. II. By Abraham Bloemaert : "Small Landscape, with numerous figures." Wood. 1 ft. 5 in. L. by 1 ft. II. "Small Landscape, companion to the above." Wood. Same size. By Cornelius de Heem : "F)~uit and Flowers." Canvass. 1 ft. 9 in. L. by 2 ft. 1 in. H. By Benito Espinos (Spanish) : "Flowers ; beautifully painted." Wood. 2 ft. L. by 1 ft. 5 in. H. 62 BONAPARTE'S PARK. By De Marne : "French Landscape. Arrival of the Diligence at the Gates of a City." Cattle, figures. Canvass. 2 ft. L. by 1 ft. 8 in. H. By Vanderlinck : "Italian Landscape, with Ancient Monument." Canvass. 3 ft. 9 in. L. by 2 ft. 8 in. H. "Landscape, with Cascadi ." Canvass. 5 ft. 4 in. L. by 3 ft. 9 in. H. By Xatoire : '-Toilet of Venus." Canvass. 5 ft. 6 in. L. by 6 ft. 5 in. H. By Van Oss : "Flowers." Copper. 10 in. L. by 13 in. II. By Canaletti : " View of London Bridge." Canvass. 3 ft. 8 in. L. by 1 ft. 9 in. H. By Gerard Lairesse : " Y'< mptation of St. Anthony." I ft. 4 in. L. by 1 ft. 8 in. II. By Caspar Poussin : "Rich Landscape." Canvass. 2 ft. 8 in. L. by 2 ft. 1 in. H. II Roman Architectan ." Canvass. 6 ft. L. by 4 ft. II. By Francis Franck, called the young : "A Dutch Fair. Historical Painting." " The Names of the principal Personages represented in it, might be ascertained from the Banner and Coat of Arms of the reigning Duke or Prince, which are very distinct; numerous figures highly finished." Canvass. ^5 ft. 9 in. L. by 4 ft. H. "Landscape." BONAPARTE'S PARK. 63 By Alexander Adriansen : " Fish and Dead Game." Wood. 3 ft. L. by 2 ft. 3 in. II. "Still Life. Chaffing Dish, with fowl on it, Flagons, Gob- lets, Lemons, &c." Wood. 3 ft. L. by 1 ft. 10 in. H. By Ruysdael : "Rich Wooded Landscape.." Wood. 2 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. II. By M. A. Campidoglio : " Rich display of Fruit and Vegetables." Canvass. 5 ft. L. by 2 ft. 8 in. H. "A companion to the above." By Paret, 1786. "Landscape; walled City in the distance, Figures, Sheep, &c. in the foreground ; a charming picture." Canvass. 3 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 5 in. II. By Bercheni : "Landscape, Cattle and figures by fountain." Canvass. 4 ft. 4 in. L. by 3 ft. 2 in. II. By Peternerfs : "Delivery of St. Peter from Prison." Canvass. 2 ft. 6 in. L. by 1 ft. 8 in. II. By Sebastian Del Piombo: " Visitation of St. Anm/." Canvass. 3 ft, 10 in. L. by 5 ft. II. By Philip De Champagne : "Massanissa and Sophonisba." Canvass. 5 ft. 2 in L. by 6 ft. 2 in. H. By < Jharles Lebrun : "Daniel defending Susannah. A beautiful composition." Canvass. ' 3 ft. L. by 4 ft. II. By Filippo Hackerto, 1802. "Portrait of Pedro th favorite Dog of Charles the Fourth — King of Spain. 64 BONAPARTE'S PARK. The Dog is represented pointing at a large Hare, it is full of life and the foliage is beautifully finished.''' By Lawrence : " View of thr old Mansion, the Park, and the Delaware River, beautifully painted for the late Prince." School of Carracchi : "Man carrying Sheep, Old Woman, and other figures" Canvass. 3 ft. 3 in. L. by 2 ft. 9 in. H. School of Guido. " Magdalen and two Cupids." Canvass. 4 ft. 4 in. L. by 5 ft. 3 in. II. Copy from Titian. "Sleeping Venus." Canvass. 5 ft. 4 in. L. by 3 ft. 5 in. H. Copy. "St. Jerome, and Virgin and Child." Canvass. 4 ft. 6 in. L. by 6 ft. 5 in. H. Copy. il Virgin and Child, with the palm" Canvass. 4 ft. 6 in. L. by 6 ft. 8 in. H. Italian School : "Hob/ Family, with Landscape background." Canvass. 1 ft, 7 in. L. by 2 ft. II. "Moonlight Landscape, figures in foreground, with torch- light." Canvass. 3 ft. 10 in. L. by 2 ft. 8 in. H. "Sleeping Female." Canvass. 3 ft. L. by 2 ft, 2 in. II. "Landscape, Castle on the Hill." Wood. 1 ft. 5 in. L. by 1 ft. 9 in. H. "Christ Bound." Canvass. 10 in. L. by 1 ft. 3 in. II. "Portrait of a Boy laughing." Canvass. 1 ft. 7 in. L. by 2 ft, IT. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 65 "Architecture, Collonade near the Sea." Canvass. 5 ft. 1 in. L. by 2 ft. 9 in. H. "Martyrdom of St. Cecelia." Canvass. 4 ft. L. by 3 ft. High. "Bains of the Temple of Vesta, at Tivoli." Canvass. 1 ft. 6 in. L. by 1 ft, 9 in. H. "Entrance of the Queen of Austria into Mantua. Triumphal procession, numerous figures very carefully painted." Canvass. 5 ft. C in. L. by 3 ft. 9 in. H. "Landscape." Canvass. 3 ft. •") in L. by 4 ft, H. "Cupid and Fruit" Canvass. 5 ft. 6 in. L. by 4 ft. II. "Virgin ami Child, with Fish;" copy. (Modern.) Canvass. 5 ft. L. by G ft. 8 in. H. I Mitch School. il View of a Country Pal/ice" Wood. ' 1 ft. 2 in. L. by 1 It. II. "Small Marine View, Calm." Wood. 1 ft. 2 in. L. by 10 in. H. Flemish. "Landscape, Horseman and Dog." Wood. 1 ft. L. by 1 ft. 4 in. H. "Old Bridge and Fisherman." Wood. 1 ft. 1 in. L. by 1 ft. Gin. H. Barn Yard ( 'hickens c." Canvass. 5 ft. L. by 4 ft. II. "A very curious old Painting, representing a Triumphal Entry of an Eastern Emperor." Canvass. 5 ft. 6 in. L. by 3 ft. 9 in. H. French School. (Modern.) "Landscape, Sportsmen with Horsemen and Dogs." Canvass. 3 ft. 7 in. L. by 1 ft. 7 in. H. Besides the splendid collection of paintings, the Count 5 66 BONAPARTE'S PARK. also had a fine collection of marbles and bronzes. Among these were : " A splendid Medicii Vase of Porphyre, 3 feet 1 inch high." "A splendid Medicii Vase, of Porphyre, 3 feet 1 inch high (damaged). Presented to the late owner by the King of Sweden." "Antique Bronze Casting; Stork and Frog, from Pom- peii." "Antique Bronze Casting; Hawk and Animal, from Pompeii." "Young Diana and Hound; a splendid piece of Sculpture, by Bartolini; 3 feet 6 inches high." "Female Figure, Roman Dress, 3 feet 4 inches high, by Bosio." " Ceres, to match the above, 3 feet 4 inches high, by Bosio." "Marble Bust, Charles Bonaparte, father of Napoleon, by Bartolini." "Marble Bust, Jerome Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, by Bartolini." " Marble Bust, Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, by Bartolini." ".Marble Bust, Pauline, sister of Napoleon, by Canova." "Marble bust, Eliza, sister of Napoleon, by Canova." "Marble Bust of the Empress Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon, by Bozio." "Marble Bust of Catherine, Princess of Wirtemberg, wife of Jerome Bonaparte, by Bozio." "Marble Bust of Prince Borghese, husband of Princess Pauline, sister to Napoleon, by Bartolini." "Marble Bust of Prince Baeeioehi, husband of Princess Eliza, sister to Napoleon, by Bartolini." "Marble Bust (small) of the young Princess Camerata, daughter of Eliza, by Canova." " Marble Bust, Bacchus ; by Bosio." BONAPARTE'S PARK. 67 " Marble Bust, Ariadne; by Bosio." "A large Statue of Apollo. Italian marble, beautifully executed, by Bartolini." Of Canova — he was called from Italy by the Emperor Napoleon, and gave France some of her choicest sculptures, lie made at least four busts of the Emperor. One of these, in white marble, standing at least two feet in height, the Count presented to M. F. La Coste, a member of his house- hold, and afterwards the Consul-General of France at New York. This bust is now the property of Theodore H. Colliding, of that city. A duplicate of this was in the pos- session of the Duke of Wellington. A replica in eolossal size is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and another is in the possession of "The Penns}dvania Aead- emy of the Fine Arts," at Philadelphia. It is generally believed, but we have some doubts, that Canova's copy of the statue of the Princess Pauline was among the Count's Park collection. Of the original, Wil- liam John Potts, Esq., of Camden, New Jersey, in a recent letter to the author, writes: "It was one of the most exquisite works 1 saw at the Villa Borghese, near Rome, about ten years ago. It was in the palace, with many other works of art, and belonged to the family of the Prince Bor- ghese. It is that known as Venus Vietrix, a full length figure, life size, upon a couch. A fine photograph in my pos- session brings it very vividly before me. The face and the outlines of the figure are exceedingly graceful and elegant, and the features those of a woman of exquisite beauty and refinement, and the whole tone in an eminent degree marks the characteristics of Canova's style; but when you have said that, you have said everything, for the expression is that of a frivolous and shallow person, and lacks dignity and expression. The beholder is led to believe that this is not the fault of the sculptor, for any one familiar with Can- ova's works is aware that their merits have not been in the least exaggerated." 68 BONAPARTE'S PABK. Among the engravings were : " The Crowning of Napoleon." "Napoleon in Imperial Robes." "Joseph, King of Spain." " Lucien as Senator." " Serment du Jeu de Paume." "The Sepulchre, after Poussin." "Flight into Egypt, after Claude." " Acis and Galatea, after Claude." "Temple of Venus, after Claude." " Tempest, after Poussin." " Landscape, after Poussin." " Cascade of Tivoli " — two. Among the other articles offered for sale were two mag- nificent candelabras, of live lights each, with bronze figures, "Bacconalian" nymphs, on solid stands of porphyry, with embossed gilt ornaments — very rich and expensive works of art, from the palace of Luxembourg. A magnificent bronze Urania (the muse of astronomy), with sphere and time-piece, stand of two kinds of porphyry, the red and gray — very costly, from the same palace. A royal gobelin medallion-figured carpet, in one piece, twenty-two feet six inches, by twenty-nine feet four inches, from the same palace. A very handsome mahogany side-table, with gray marble top and gilt ornaments, from the palace of the ex-King in France. A mahogany, French bedstead, with gilt ornaments and canopy top, blue worsted damask curtains, fringe and drapery. This latter was the Count's bedstead, and is now the property of Miss Maria H. ISTutt. Some few of the paint- ings and engravings, and the smaller works of art, with some of the furniture, are now owned in Bordentown. The sale of this magnificent collection of pictures and other rare works of art, together with the furniture, BONAPARTE'S PARK. 69 attracted great attention, and connoisseurs and curiosity- seekers came daily by scores to examine, admire and criti- cise the superb collection. A throng; attended on the day of sale, the pictures brought their full value, and were distributed all over the country, some of them going back again to European galleries. The furniture brought fabu- lous prices, the strife among bidders being the desire to obtain some article that belonged to Joseph Bonaparte, to be cherished as an invaluable relic. 70 BONAPARTE'S PARK. CHAPTER VIII. The Count and the Citizens — Reminiscences of Bellemere, Carman, Thorn and Wood — His Household — Judge Elmer's Interesting Account — General Bernard — Dr. Sprague — The State Survey — Charlotte and Captain Mickle. THE COUNT was a great benefit to Bordentown, and gave the first great impulse to the place. Besides liber- ally patronizing the shops, he gave employment to all who asked for it. Each one was required to furnish his own tools. The road along the park was graded and kept in a perfect state of repair. The grounds were leveled or raised, bushes or stumps grubbed out, trees planted by the hun- dreds, roads and paths built and the ground thoroughly underdrained, and, with his constant and various improve- ments, he found work for all. Very much of the work he superintended in person. If he designated any particular job for a man to do, even if it occupied but one hour, he expected him to remain at the spot until meal-time, if not directed to report at some other point. While he was not exacting of the men, nothing did he dislike more than a lazy or slow man, he wishing all to be sprightly, ready and willing, lie always paid most liberal wages; cash each day, and in hard money. Upon Christmas he presented each employe with a sum of money varying from a quarter eagle to an eagle. He was always most charitable to the poor. He often said he never had an American to ask him for money; it was always work. The Count was very good to the citizens of the town, and allowed them all the privi- leges of his park, and, in winter, of the lake. When the skating was fine, he and his household would come down to the shore to see the sport, and it was one of his greatest pleasures to roll apples and oranges over the ice to see the skaters scamper after them. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 7 J Philip Bellemere, who now resides in Bordentowr , came over to Philadelphia in 1816, when he was ten years old, and, in 1827, was taken into the Count's household as bar- ber, and remained with him until a short time before he returned to Europe. He shaved and dressed the hair of the Count, his immediate family and guests, and probably attended on more distinguished foreigners than any one in the country. In a conversation with him he stated : " The Count was a splendid man, and looked like his brother, the grand Napoleon, only he was taller and stouter during the last years of his life. He wore his face smooth shaven and his hair cut close and brushed down over his forehead, like the Emperor. He was rather reserved, always kind to his servants, but never familiar. He entertained hand- somely, and all the distinguished Frenchmen who came to this country were his guests. La Fayette, Moreau and many of the foreign ministers were there. He drew around him many of the exiles from France, who, having followed the fortunes of the great Emperor, came to seek a refuge in America. Clauzel, Lallemand, Desmonettes and other dis- tinguished Frenchmen received constant proofs of the good- ness of his heart. All the great men of this country were there also. Among these were Clay, Webster, Adams, General Scott, Commodores Stewart and Stockton. Henry Clay, who spent several days with the Count, left his cane there. It is now in the possession of Mr. Thorn. " The Count never alluded to himself or his past history, but sometimes spoke of his great brother, the Emperor, and always with feeling. He maintained the same domestic habits as in former years. Like all the Bonapartes, he rose early, and did his work in the morning. In winter he arose between seven and eight o'clock, when coffee and toast were brought to his room. He remained in his library, engaged in reading and writing, until eleven, when he met bis friends at breakfast, which usually occupied half an hour. He then generally went over his grounds. He 72 BONAPARTE'S PARK. lunched at two, dined at seven or eight, and supped at ten. Dinner was the principal meal of the day, and his table was almost sure to be surrounded by distinguished guests. Prince Charles and Zenaide always dined with him. His manners were full of grace, elegance and blandness; his heart was full of human feelings; his mind was well bal- anced, and all bis views of life were moderate and cheerful. Wherever be was known, be was respected; and those who loved him once, loved him always." Mr. Bellcmere is a pleasant old Frenchman of about sev- enty-three years of age. He keeps a toy store in Borden- town, in which can be found almost everything in that line. He is a great favorite of the juveniles, and is noted for his fair and frank dealings. The Count was a great favorite with the people. A great many persons now living knew him by sight, and have spoken with him. Alexander D. Carman, when a boy of twelve years old, was employed by him as a messenger, and continued in his service for some years. In the fall the Count used to go out every morning before breakfast to hunt for rabbit-traps that town-boys set in the Park. Upon such occasions Carman went along to crawl under bushes and through the shrubbery, where the Count could not go. The traps, when brought to the Count, he broke to pieces with a hatchet. This he always carried in his hand in his rambles through the park, and used to lop off branches from the trees. Frequently he was accompanied by work- men, who carried a pole of a fixed length, and trimmed all the trees up to its height. The late Anthony Thorn, who rented one of the Count's farms, was made by him game-keeper. One day he ordered off one of the Count's employes, but he refused to go, stating he had permission from the Count to gun. Directly afterwards the Count came along, and hearing the report of a gun, chided Anthony for permitting trespassing. " But," said Anthony, " he is one of your folks, and says he BONAPARTE'S PARK. 73 has your permission." "I have no folks," said the Count, " I am everybody, and in the future allow no one to gun on these premises but Mr. Mailliarcl." A few days afterward Prince Murat and two or three companions were hunting, and Anthony warned them off. The Prince claimed the right to gun on his uncle's lands, but Anthony was firm, repeating the Count's orders in regard to Mr. Mailliarcl. The Prince complained to his uncle, who upheld Mr. Thorn, but gave the Prince permission to gun on him in the future. Each Christmas the Count sent Mr. Thorn a gold eagle as a present. The late John Wood, Sr., born on the bluffs bordering the Park, who, for over forty years, was in the employment of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company, stationed at the shops below Bordentown, honest, poor, respected and trusted by the citizens, to whom he was well known, stated to the author, that he remembered well the Count's first visit to the Park. It was in the year 1816, when he came to view his contemplated purchase. After going over the ground and examining the roads of the neighborhood, he engaged John, then a lad of fifteen, and his brother Thomas, to row him and Louis Mailliard up the Crosswicks creek, to view the water-front, with which he seemed much pleased. Upon another occasion, when rowing Joseph upon the creek, they met two sloops, laden with wood, bound to Philadelphia. He inquired of the masters if they would sell their loads, and, receiving an affirmative answer, he directed them to unload near his house. Coal was not then used, and he purchased all his fuel, as he would not allow any trees to be cut on his property. Soon after this, John came along one day to where Joseph was building a bulkhead along the creek. He asked him if he wanted work, and upon John's telling him he did, the Count set him to raking leaves, at which he continued until winter set in. During the winter John was employed in sorting chestnuts, nuts, apples, etc. All were placed on shelves so 74 BONAPARTE'S PARK. as not to touch one another. The cellars were nicely finished, and heated with stoves. The Count's family consisted of M. Louis Mailliard his confidential friend, and Adolph Mailliard his son ; M. France La Coste, who was subsequently appointed Consul- General of France, and who died in New York, November 14th, 1853;* his wife, Mme. La Coste, who was a great beauty, and their little boy, Leo; William Thibaud, after- wards manager of the Fesch Gallery, in Rome, and his daughter, a most fascinating young lady, now married to M. Hughes, of Paris. f In "Beecher's Magazine"' lor January, 187:2, Judge Lucius Q. C. Elmer published an article entitled, "General Bernard and Joseph Bonaparte." In December, 1823, an act was passed, by the legislature of New Jersey, appoint- ing Lucius Q. C. Elmer, Peter Kean and George Holcombe, "Commissioners for the purpose of ascertaining the practi- cability and expediency of a canal to unite the tide-waters of the Delaware and Raritan rivers." There was, at that time, a board of engineers, organized by virtue of a special act of Congress, as a Board of [nternal Improvements. This board came into New Jersey, and, in conjunction with the state board, made a hasty examination of the route previously surveyed, in 1816, by a state commission, under John Ran del, Jr. The final result of this examination was, that the plan of making the canal a state or national work was abandoned, and, in 1830, the Delaware and Raritan Canal Company was incorporated, who, mainly through the energy of Commodore Stockton, constructed the existing work. The board of United States Engineers consisted of Gen- eral Simon Bernard, specially appointed as its head, with the rank and pay of a Brigadier-General, Lieutenant-Col- * Theodore H. Conklin, N« t A. Mailliard, California. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 75 onel Joseph G. Totten, of the Engineer Corps, and John L. Sullivan, of Boston, a civil engineer, "General Barnard, "says Judge Elmer, "was a distin- guished military engineer in the army of Napoleon, having the brevet rank of Lieutenaut-General, as one of his aids, in which capacity he acted at the battle of Waterloo. Upon the downfall of Napoleon, he came over to the United States, about the year 1816, and about the same time that Joseph Bonaparte came. Napoleon, it will be remembered, also attempted to escape to this country, but was prevented and obliged to go on board the ' Bellerophon,' a British ship-of- the-line, on which" (the Northumberland) "he was carried to the island of St. Helena, where he died. Bernard came with the highest testimonials of merit, and, it was stated, had declined flattering overtures from some of the Euro- pean sovereigns. He was the first, and, until the late war, was the only foreign officer admitted to the military service of the United States after the Revolutionary war, although a Col. Foncine, an officer of engineers, who was among the emigrants from France, in 1793, was employed for a short time in the construction of one of the forts in the harbor of Boston. * * * * "During the twelve or fifteen years that the General remained as the head of our corps of engineers, the board surveyed and made a report of a military road from Wash- ington to New Orleans, and planned a system of fortifica- tions lor the general defence of the country. " Soon after Louis Phillippe became King, Bernard returned to France, and was soon taken into the military family of the King as one of the aids. In 1836 he was placed in the cabinet as secretary of war. " The Rev. Dr. Sprague, who visited Paris in 1836, remarks in his work entitled 'Visits to European Celebri- ties': 'I spent an hour with General Bernard. He had been so long in this country that he seemed to have somewhat of the American feeling — at least he made intelligent inquiries 76 BONAPARTE'S PARK. on various subjects concerning the United States, on all of which he seemed at home. A friend, who was on intimate terms with him, called with me, and he received us in his study, sans ceremonie, and apparently with much cordiality. As we rose to come away, after sitting with him a consider- able length of time, lie said that I must not go until I had seen his family, and immediately took me into the parlor and presented me to his wife and daughters, whom I found exceedingly agreeable ladies, and all speaking English as readily as I could speak it myself. They had quite the appearance of an American family, and were glad of an opportunity to inquire for their friends in this country, many of whom were personally known to me. General Bernard was a line specimen of a French gentleman, and everything about his family bespoke the highest degree of refinement.' "lie died in 1839, while still secretary of war. When the news of his death was received in this country, it was by a general order of the war department announced to the army and people, in terms of high commendation and respect." Among the attaches to the board was a Captain Poussin, also from France, then holding the rank of Captain in the United States Corps of Topographical Engineers. Poussin returned to France with General Bernard after Louis Phillippe became King, and upon his overthrow in 1848 was sent by the Provisional Government as minister to the United States. AVhile holding this appointment he had the misfortune to displease Mr. Clayton, our secretary of state, by some incautious language, and was dismissed or withdrawn. Judge Elmer being the head of the state commission, it fell to his lot to be specially associated with General Bernard, and they were together four or five days at Trenton and its vicinity, in the month of October, 1824, exploring the country on horseback. Speaking of their movements, BONAPARTE'S PARK. 77 Judge Elmer says : " Having explored the feeder, we rode down to Bordentown. Upon our route to that place, as we approached the residence of Joseph Bonaparte, who then occupied the houses on the road (originally designed for stables) his mansion on the point having been accidentally burned, I remarked to him that I supposed he would take the opportunity to have an interview with the Count (as Joseph was then spoken of, he having assumed the title of Count de Survilliers, from the name of a place he owned in France). He replied that his engagements would prevent his having that pleasure. But as we came in front of the house it happened that a carriage was drawn up in the yard, and the Count was in the act of entering it. Seeing this the General excused himself, left his horse, and we went on to the town, where the other gentlemen were awaiting us. After the delay of an hour or more, the General joined us, and brought with him an invitation to the whole corps to dine with the Count at five o'clock. About half of us, including, of course, the General, accepted the invitation, and after dining were kept all night, retiring to their apartments, as I understood, as early as nine o'clock, and were served in the morning with coffee, &c, in their rooms. I had been riding in the dust two or three days, without any chance of changing my dress, and although about in the same plight as the others, declined to present myself, as did Colonel Totten. "I regretted this the less because, during the previous year, I had, in company with another gentleman, paid my respects to the Count by calling on him, as I understood was agreeable to him. He received us in such a manner as showed that our visit was not displeasing to him. The reception-room into which we were ushered was orna- mented with many elegant paintings, comprising some of the master-pieces of old Spanish painters, and two full- length portraits of himself and his wife in their robes as King and Queen of Naples. The Queen never came to 78 BONAPARTE'S PARK. America, but both of his daughters were with him, at dif- ferent times, several years. He took us into several apart- ments, showed us many busts and other mementoes of Napoleon, and introduced us to his youngest daughter, Charlotte, who had recently come over in a ship com- manded by the late Captain Mickle, of Camden. He showed us a book containing several of her drawings, made on the passage, with pencil or crayon. Among them was a representation of the 'ship's cabin,' and a half-length of a gentleman sitting with a book in his hand, which he appeared to be reading. At the bottom was written, ' Capt. Mickle, reading Hervey's Meditations.' The Count spoke imperfect English, and was, like most of his family, a very handsome man. He left the country some thirty or more years ago, and died in Italy. The young lady we saw, married her cousin, a son of Louis and brother of Louis Napoleon III, but he died in 1831. His other daughter, whose name was Zenaide, a very handsome lady, married her cousin, Charles Bonaparte, son of Lucien. I saw her more than once, with her children, when she rode up to Trenton with her father. " Captain Mickle, when young, it will be remembered by those who knew him, was a fine specimen of an American gentleman, who never married. The young lady, it used to be said, was quite captivated by his good looks. Upon leaving the ship, she presented him with a handsome diamond breast-pin, besides leaving him all the unused fine wines that had been laid in araons; her stores." BONAPARTE'S PARK. 79 CHAPTER IX. The Two Visits of Lafayette — The Crown of Mexico Offered to Joseph — Visit of Louis Napoleon — Of a Family — Their Opin- ion of Pauline — Sketch of Pauline. IK 1824, when Lafayette was the nation's guest, he vis- ited the Count at the Park. This visit seems some- what remarkable, when we remember the Emperor Napo- leon spoke thus of the Marquis, in his will written at St. Helena: "6. The two unfortunate results of the inva- sions of France, when she had still so many resources, are to be attributed to the treason of Marmont, Angereau, Talleyrand and La Fayette." The treason, it must be remembered, was to the Emperor, not France. Joseph left the Park in a very large and handsome sixteen-oar barge presented to him by Stephen Girard. Proceeding down the Delaware, accompanied by some distinguished guests, "they met the Marquis just above Philadelphia, on his way up on a steamboat. The Count and his friends boarded the steamer to welcome Lafayette, and the barge was taken in tow. Arriving opposite Bor- dentown, they all entered the barge and proceeded up the Crosswicks to the Park landing. Speaking of this visit, "The Berkeley Men," in "The Napoleon Dynasty," page 391, say : " On that occasion (Joseph says) Lafayette ex- pressed to him his regret at the part he had taken in 1815, in effecting the restoration of the Bourbons, and observed, 'The Bourbon dynasty cannot last! It too openly wounds the national feeling. In France we are all persuaded that the son of the Emperor alone can represent all the interests of the Revolution. Place two million at the disposal of our committee (in Paris), and I promise you that, with this sum, in two years, Napoleon II will be on the throne of France.' Joseph thought the means inadequate to the 80 BONAPARTE'S PA UK. object to be attained, and did not accept the proposition of Lafayette." Lafayette before returning to France made a second visit to the Park. He had been staying with General Moreau at Trenton, and came down with his suite, by the White Horse bridge. He rode in an open barouche, with his son, the Governor of Pennsylvania, and another gentle- man. It was drawn by four cream-colored horses. Mr. Andrew Quintin, of Trenton, states he was a little boy at the time, but well remembered being brought out to look at the grand cavalcade, as his father, Major Quintin, was one of the military escorts of the Bucks County Light Horse, who accompanied the party down the Pennsylvania side. The volunteers were set down to a handsome dinner. The Marquis and Count rode around the town together in a barouche drawn by four horses, followed by a crowd of citizens, who cheered them. Lafayette spent one night at the Park. M. Sarrans, in his "History of the Revolution of 1830," published an interesting and very honorable correspondence between Joseph and Lafayette. It was at the Park that the Count received a proposition, which surprised as much as it must have affected him. A deputation from Mexico came to offer him the crown of that nation. They had landed in New York, and came in stage- coaches to Bordentown. Says "The Napoleon Dynasty," page 300: "He replied to the deputation: 'I have worn two crowns; I would not take a step to wear a third. Noth- ing can gratify me more than to see men who would not recognize my authority when I was at Madrid, now come to seek me in exile; but I do not think that the throne you wish to raise again can make you happy. Every day 1 pass in this hospitable land proves more clearly to me the excel- lence of republican institutions for America. Keep them a*, a precious gift from heaven; settle your internal commo- tions ; follow the example of the United States ; and seek BONAPARTE'S PARK. 81 among jour fellow-citizens a man more capable than I am of acting the great part of Washington.' " A grand ball was given to the delegation before their departure. Prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards Napoleon III, brother- in-law of Joseph's daughter Charlotte, spent several months in America, in the spring of 1837. This was after the "insurrection" at Strausbourgh, where the Prince was arrested and sent into exile, a French frigate conveying him to Rio Janeiro, and thence to New York. It was expected that the Prince would have remained in this country for several years, and he was about starting on an extended tour of the continent, when he received a letter from his mother, Hortense, ex-Queen of Holland, announcing she was about to undergo a dangerous operation, which caused him at once to return to Europe, and hasten to the bedside of his dying mother. During his exile, as is generally believed, he lived in pecuniary embarrassment. This was occasioned, however, not so much from his want of means, as from the fact that he was a Prince, with princely ideas. With all his poverty, he managed to dress elegantly, enjoy his champagne and Havana, and keep a servant. He could not branch out into the magnificent as in Europe, as one dollar there went as far as three here. The Prince spent a short time with his uncle at the Park, and his visit is well remembered by several of the citizens of Bordentown. He was at that time, by the will of his uncle, the great Napoleon, the heir apparent to the French throne, the Duke de Eeichstadt, Napoleon's only son, and Napoleon Louis, Grand Duke of Cleves and Berg, Louis Napoleon's eldest brother, and son-in-law of Joseph, having died. Joseph, who had disapproved of his propensity to hasty action in trying to accelerate events, had become satisfied as to his views of the future, and the Prince was fully restored to his confidence and affection. It is said 82 BONAPARTE'S PARK. that Joseph presented him with $20,000 while he was in this country. Napoleon, while in captivity at St. Helena, made an appeal to his family, that each member should contribute towards his required wants, and Joseph unhesitatingly offered him his whole fortune. Joseph participated in the deep grief felt by all the mem- bers of the family when the intelligence of the death of Napoleon was received. The son of the deceased Emperor, the Duke dc Reichstadt, was still in captivity, and Joseph asked permission of the Court of Austria to visit him, but Metternich refused the request. The grounds of the Park were open to visitors at all times, and any proper person, no matter how humble, that called at the mansion, was kindly shown through it by a servant, and allowed to inspect the many works of art and interest it contained. Besides the numerous distinguished guests, the Count entertained a number of the citizens <>t' Bordentown, and of the country, who, with less pretensions to elegance of dress, were received with a kind hospitality. The author in his boyhood often heard his mother relate a visit she made with his grandfather's family to the Park. It had been intimated to them that a visit would be agree- able to the Count. It was winter, and the sleigh drove up to the door. Servants soon appeared with a roll of carpet to protect their feet from the snow. Entering the massive doorway, they found a number of servants on either side of the hall. These being dressed in black broadcloth, with white gloves, vests and neck-ties, of a finer material than worn by themselves, and being adorned with mustaches and long beards, then worn only by foreigners, they in their rustic simplicity at first supposed they were French Counts, but the respectful bows soon dissipated this impression. Being shown into a dressing-room, a number of servants assisted in removing their great-coats, &c, and soon it was announced that the Count awaited them in the drawing- BONAPARTE'S PARK. 83 room. Upon entering he advanced and received them with great cordiality and pleasure, and soon, much to the sur- prise and satisfaction of the younger members of the party, they felt perfectly at ease. After a pleasant conversation, he invited them to accompany him over his house. The magnificent furniture, laces and tapestry, and rare works of art, appeared to their unaccustomed eye in great splendor. Among the wonderful things they saw were those rare gems of art, the full-length portrait of Pauline, Joseph's sister, a statue of the ''Infant Napoleon sleeping," and several others of a similar style. Upon the points and beauties of these the Count dilated with great enthusiasm. It could hardly be supposed in those primitive days that rustics would be educated up to that tine point of admiring art solely for art's sake, and although they appreciated the motto, "Evil to him who evil thinks," they were privately of the opinion that Miss Pauline was an outrageous jade. Returning to the drawing-room, refreshments were announced and they entered the large dining-room. Here was spread a luxurious table of cakes, confections, creams, jellies, fruits, wines, &c, while on a side-table was coffee, chocolate and tea. Upon their departure the Count pre- sented to one of the ladies a pair of drop cameo filigree earrings, upon which was cut a profile likeness of Pauline. Some time afterwards, upon due notice, to the wonder of the neighbors and consternation of the family, the Count, witli his whole household and retinue, in several carriages,, returned the visit at Rural Park. Isaac Field, who was a supercargo in the East India trade, had presented to his father-in-law a full-sized bust of Helena, which stood on a pedestal in the dining-room. One of the ladies of the family very carefully covered the breast up with a light shawl and invited the Count and his party into their "statue gallery" to view it, which caused much merriment, the Count enjoying the hit heartily. Pauline, the Princess Borghese, married first General 84 BONAPARTE'S PARK. LeClerc, a man of brilliant genius, who would doubtless have adorned the most splendid period of Napoleon's empire. Commanding the expedition to St. Domingo, he fell a victim to the climate. Pauline at once returned to France, depositing her treasures in the triple coffin which carried her dead husband to his native country. Emerg- ing from the gloom of the voyage into the voluptuous pleasures of the French Capital) the gayety she displayed gave rise to frequent remark. The "American Cyclopae- dia," vol. 3, pages 25 and 26, says of her: "She had no advantage of education, but was remarkably brilliant and beautiful." Her second husband, an Italian, Prince Camillo Borghcsc, almost immediately separated from her, he sus- pecting her virtue, and only became reconciled to her in her illness, towards the end of her life. "Napoleon doted upon Pauline, and made her duchess of Guastalla; but lie rebuked her excessive jealousy of Josephine, and resented her rudeness to Marie Louise, by banishing her from his court. She nevertheless led a gay life in the vicinity of Paris, and, subsequently at Nice, gathered round her many fashionable people of easy virtue." She was devoted to her brother Napoleon when fate's decree overshadowed him, and sent to him all her diamonds and valuables, which were captured by the British after Waterloo. She sought per- mission to join him at St. Helena, which request Lord Liv- erpool granted. But it came too late — Napoleon was dead. She died at Florence, Italy, June 9th, 1825. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 85 CHAPTER X. Joseph's Position in Regard to the Duke de Reichstadt — Decree of the French Senate — Revolution op 1830 — His Letter to the Chamber of Deputies — Visits England — Respect Paid to Him on His Departure — Revisits America — Returns to Europe — Death — Extracts from His Will — Prince Joseph — Sale of the Park — Beckett — The Hamiltons. IN CONNECTION" with Joseph Bonaparte, it is proper to understand his position in regard to the French nation, and the son of his hrother, the great Napoleon. In a decree of the French Senate, passed November 27th, 1804, and ratified by the vote of the French people, is the following section : "Art. 5. In defect of lawful heirs, or adopted heirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, the imperial dignity is devolved and deferred to Joseph Bonaparte and his lawful descendants, by order of primogeniture, from male to male, to the per- petual exclusions of females and their descendants." In a letter to the author of the " Biographical Sketch of Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte," pages XII to XV, Joseph writes : * * * "With respect to the letter to the Chamber of Deputies, the date must be referred to in order to show how opportune it was. I conscientiously fulfilled my duty by doing that in the name of my brother's orphan, which it was impossible for him to do for himself. " His ever to be deplored death now imposes upon me another duty, that of adhering with inviolable fidelity to the declaration made by the French people in the 13th year of the Republic (27th of November, 1804), until the moment that the nation shall please to decide otherwise. But, however patriotic my feelings and rigorous my sense of duty, far be from me the shade of a pretension which might occasion the least trouble. What signify individuals 86 BONAPARTE'S PARK. in comparison with a nation? Exile, even death in a foreign land, would be regarded by us as patriotic offerings, if an overwhelming necessity, stronger than the sympathy of the French nation for us, imposed them. It is always sufficiently glorious to suffer with and for a great nation, of which one Las done nothing unworthy. "Everything for the French 'people, was the device of Napo- leon. Everything for the French people and by the people, will be likewise the device of the heirs of his name; above all, of him from whom that great man concealed nothing, A general peace only could have completely manifested what claims Napoleon really had to the love and gratitude of the French. Those who form their opinion of him only from his dictatorship (to which he was compelled by the war which the enemies of France never ceased to make upon him) know nothing of him. What might not France be now after a peace of eighteen years, if Napoleon had continued to govern it!!!" The author of the biographical sketch, on pages 97 and 104, says : " In 1830, after the people of Paris had expelled the dynasty which had been forced upon France by foreign- ers, Joseph thought it was his duty to send to the Chamber of Deputies a letter, of which the following is a translation, a duplicate of which was deposited in the archives of M. P. S. Duponeeau, notary public, in Philadelphia: " To the Members of the Chamber of Deputies at Paris : " Gentlemen — * * * * " There are no governments upon the earth legitimate, except those acknowledged by the nations; nations alone create or destroy them, as they think necessary; nations alone have the right, individuals and particularly families only have duties to fulfill. "Napoleon's family was named by three million five hun- dred thousand votes; if the nation thinks it will be advan- tageous to it to make another choice, it and it only has the BONAPARTE'S PARK. 87 power and the right to do so; Napoleon II was proclaimed by the Chamber of Deputies, in 1815, which recognized in him a right, conferred by the nation. I accept in his name and for him, all the modifications decreed by the Chamber of 1815, which was dissolved by the enemy's bayonet. I have the most positive proofs of knowing that Napoleon the Second would be worthy of France. Above all, it is as a Frenchman that I desire the recognition of the incontest- able right which he has to the throne, as long as the nation shall not have adopted another form of government. He is the only person who is legitimate in the true meaning of the word, that is to say, legally and voluntarily elected by the people ; he has no need of a new election ; nevertheless, the nation is competent to confirm or to rescind titles which it has conferred, whenever such is its pleasure. Until then, gentlemen, you owe your duty to Napoleon the Second; and until Austria restores him to the wishes of the French, I offer to share your clanger, your efforts, your labors, and on his arrival to transmit to him the desire, the example, and the last disposition of his father, while dying a victim to the enemies of France on the rock of St. Helena. ******** " Gentlemen, I have fulfilled what appeared to me to be a sacred duty. May the voice of one proscribed, across the Atlantic, be heard, and bear to the hearts of his country- men the conviction which is impressed upon his own. ******** " The liberty of the press is the triumph of truth — by it the conscience of every one is enlightened — let it speak, and let the will of the great nation be accomplished. I subscribe to it with all my heart and soul. "Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte, "Count de Survilliers. "18th September, 1830." This letter was not read to the Chamber. In those slow days of transmission of intelligence, Louis Phillippe was 88 BONAPABTE'S PABK. proclaimed King before it was written. He accepted the crown on the 8th of August precedent. Soon after the ascension of Louis Phillippe to the throne of France, he granted a partial pardon to the exiles of the Napoleon dynasty. In 1832, Joseph visited England. Very many of the citizens of Bordentown and vicinity called upon him prior to his departure, and upon the day of his leaving they turned out en masse to bid him good-bye. At Philadelphia a number of the most prominent gentlemen of the city accompanied him to the vessel. Upon the very day of his departure, July 22d, his nephew, the Duke de Eeichstadt, the son and heir of Napoleon, died. His arri- val in England so soon after this occurrence, occasioned much speculation in the newspapers, particularly those of France. Political motives were assigned as the reason, and these were apparently affirmed by the arrival in England of his brothers Lucien and Jerome, and his nephew Louis Napoleon, who subsequently became Napoleon III. Each party in France accounted for it in its own way, and the strong prejudice against him and the Bonaparte family was revived. There is, however, no reason to suppose his return was governed by any political motives, further than, perhaps, the general good and interest of the family. The Bonapartes, since the death of the great Emperor, have been, and, for years to come, will be, candidates for the throne of France, upon every favorable opportunity; and it is not beyond the bounds of possibilities that another of the Bonapartes will bear the title of Napoleon IV. In the biographical sketch above quoted, the author, on page 95, says : "During the sixteen years which Joseph resided in the United States, he won universal esteem from the citizens. All the inhabitants of Bordentown repaired to his retreat, to bid farewell to one who, for so many years, had been an object of respect and attachment to an independent popula- tion, of many of whom he had been a benefactor, and of all BONAPARTE'S PARK. 89 the friend. Similar testimonies of respect were paid to him on his embarkation at Philadelphia, where the most distinguished citizens and the most respectable inhabitants of a city, which numbers so many, went to pay their tribute to one whom they had learned to know and appreciate." On page 6, the same author says : "That Joseph quitted the republic of the United States, where he had lived like a true philosopher, doing good, receiving, as a father, all the unfortunates who were ban- ished from France, and gaining the universal esteem of the America of Washington." The "American Cyclopaedia," vol. 3, page 31, says of Joseph : " He endeared himself to Americans by his benevolence, affability and accomplishments, and he was elected to many philanthropical and learned associations." Joseph, disgusted with the charges made against him in England, returned to America in 1837, where he remained for nearly two years. During this time he traveled to some extent through the country, and settled up his affairs. In 1839 he again went to England. He preserved his strength, energy and mental powers till 1840, when he suffered from a paralytic attack, from which he never afterwards recov- ered. Eventually he obtained permission to go to Florence to rejoin his family, and it was hoped the climate might re-establish his health. The misfortunes of his family engrossed much of his thoughts during his latter years, and he & constantly expressed his regrets at the injustice of France in permitting so many men who had served the nation faithfully to die in exile. Of his last sickness, Louis Napoleon says : "Attended by the Queen Julie, whose devotion failed not to the last, and who was ever a comforting angel, as well as by his brothers Louis and Jerome, whom he loved affectionately, he expired 90 BONAPARTE'S PARK. gently; and, as a righteous man, he would have seen the approach of death without regret, if the phantom of exile had not intruded, even on his last moments, to wring his heart and poison his last farewell." He died at Florence, July 28th, 1844, aged 76 years. Joseph was not made for camps or thrones. He found, the main sources of happiness in domestic and social life, and in the gratification of his literary and artistic tastes. Yet the correspondence between himself and the great Napoleon, which has been published since his death, reveals the confidential intercourse between them. The museum of Versailles contains a marble statue of Joseph, by Delaistre ; a bust, by Bartolini ; and a portrait of him, by Gerard. By his last will and testament, dated London, June 14th, 1840, and a codicil dated at the Palace Serrister, Florence, September 21st, 1841, he devised most of his estate, now very much reduced, to his widow, and all his real estate in America to his grandson and god-son Joseph, son of Charles Bonaparte and his daughter Zenaide. The following items of his will, interesting to the residents of Bordentown, are given in full : " Ardently devoted to me in my exile, were Mr. Louis Mailliard, whose son lives near me, and Mr. Thibaud, whose daughter lives with me. I declare here that no man has more right to my confidence, to my esteem, than Louis Mailliard. I would like to show my attachment to him by a great legacy ; but his modesty equals his fidelity. I know that what I am about to give him will satisfy him. I bequeath then, to Mr. Louis Mailliard, the farm of Grove- ville, near the village of the same name, of about 250 acres, more or less, such as it is, and as I bought it of Mr. Wm. McKnight. This farm, situated in America, forms part of the domain that I have designated for the above. I give and bequeath equally to Mr. Louis Mailliard, six thousand dollars in stock of the Union Canal, of Pennsylvania. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 91 " I give and bequeath to his son, Adolph Mailliard, six thousand dollars in stock of the Union Canal Company, Pennsylvania. I give and bequeath to Mr. Wra, Thibaud, six thousand dollars in old stocks of the Union Canal. I give and bequeath to his daughter, Josephine Thibaud, six thousand dollars in old stocks of the Union Canal. "As I have remitted to-day the titles of each of these legacies to each of the four legatees, my heir will not have to make the deliverance of the same to them. They are absolute masters of it from this day. "All my papers, writings and memorials, other than the papers forming the titles to the furniture and real estate of the succession, or referring to it, shall be remitted by my heir above designated to Mr. Louis Mailliard, or left in the hands of the said Mr. Mailliard, if he has them in his power. Mr. Mailliard shall take an inventory immediately, without control by any one. He shall have charge of them and remit them to my grandson Joseph, at his twenty-fifth year. In ease of the death of Joseph before this age, the charge shall be remitted to my grandson Lucien, at the age of twenty-five years, and successively to my grandson Napo- leon, upon his having reached his twenty-fifth year. If death comes to my three grandsons before the age indi- cated, Mr. Mailliard shall select from the family issue of the marriage of Charles Bonaparte and Zenaide the person that he wishes, either among my granddaughters, or even among the sons-in-law of my daughter or husbands of my granddaughters, and shall remit to him these papers. If Mr. Mailliard shall die before having been able to realize my wish in this regard, his son Adolph shall have charge of the same mission and of the same trust. " I charge Mr. Mailliard (Louis) with a special legacy of ten thousand dollars, the use of which I have indicated to him, and for the execution of which I wish that his honor may be trusted absolutely, without any question or demand ever being made to him in this regard. The ten thousand 92 BONAPARTE'S PARK. dollars shall be reckoned to Mr. Mailliard in the year of my death. He need never make any account of it. "I wish that after my death Mr. Louis Mailliard may dwell in my residence at Point Breeze; that he may be administrator of my possessions in America, until the majority of my grandson Joseph; that he may receive a title of indemnity, an annual income of four hundred dollars; an income which shall be continued to him during his life, even when his functions of administrator shall cease, or after he withdraws from them. I now bestow a title of legacy to each of the following named persons: " 17. To Mr. Joseph Hopkinson, a round basrelief of marble, representing General Bonaparte, first consul. It is now in my. house at Point Breeze. " 21. To Mr. Louis Mailliard, my portrait in miniature, in the uniform of my guard. I authorize him from this day to keep it: also one of my gold repetition watches. "22. To Mr. fin. Thiband my portrait in miniature, in uniform of light-horseman of the guard, and to Miss Jose- phine Thiband my portrait in cameo. " 23. To A. M. Adolph Mailliard my silver toilet articles. " 5. To Mr. Langhorn Thorn, my manager and door- keeper at Point Breeze, I bequeath also ten thousand francs. " I name for my testamentary executors M. M. Joseph Hopkinson and Louis Mailliard, who shall act either in common or separately in the right which confers upon them this title. "The injustice of those who have had power in France since 1815, has only caused my love for the absent country to increase. When my family shall be free to return there through the will of the French nation, my wish is that ray remains may be interred there in a free land. * * I trust them to the care of Mr. Louis Mailliard, desiring that they may be deposited in the place where I shall breathe my last." BONAPARTE'S PARK. 93 Joseph's grandson, Joseph Lucien Charles Napoleon, Count de Musignano, the eldest son of Prince Charles and Zenaide, was born at the southeast corner of Eleventh and Market streets, Philadelphia, February 13th, 1824. By will he was vested with the title of the Park, and all Joseph's real estate in America excepting the Groveville farm. He came to Bordentown and took possession of the estate shortly after his grandfather's death, and resided there at periods for a number of years. He was popularly known as Prince Joseph, was more secluded and a little grander than his uncle, but was well liked by the citizens. Soon after the revolution of 1848, he entered France, and barely escaped assassination in Rome in 1850, though he was not connected with politics, and died in that city in 1865. By this devise of Joseph of all his immense landed estate in America, it is fair to suppose he expected his grandson to reside upon it until the restoration of the Bonapartes to power, an event which he never doubted would occur. But the young Prince entertained different views and inten- tions. He soon commenced disposing of the farms, and all were sold at remunerative prices; and at last the Park was put up at auction to the highest bidder, Thomas Rich- ards, Esq., of Philadelphia, becoming the purchaser. This occurred in 1847, the title being conveyed to Mr. Richards on the 11th of August of that year. He, how- ever, held it for a few years only, conveying the same to Henry Beckett, Esq., on the 15th of October, 1850. Mr. Beckett was a son of Sir John Beckett, of Somerby Park, Lincolnshire, England, who was created a baronet in the year 1813, and a brother of Sir Thomas, and of his suc- cessor, Sir Edmund Denison Beckett. He came to this country many years ago, and settled in Philadelphia, at which port he was for a long time British Consul. He married a Miss Lyle of that city. Her mother was a Miss Hamilton, who was descended from Andrew Hamilton, a 94 BONAPARTE'S PARK. Scotchman and Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania in 1701. The Hamiltons lived in great state at their country seat at Bush Hill, near Fairmount, now a built-up portion of Phil- adelphia, containing some of the finest houses in that city. The original tract was very large, and descended to the family as valuable building lots. All Mr. Beckett's money came from the Hamilton estate. Many of the old Hamil- ton papers were stored in the Lake House. Prior to Mr. Beckett's purchase of the Park, he resided in the " Mailliard house." Not being satisfied with the old Bonaparte house, he had it pulled down, and near its site erected a modern residence, " with gas, and hot and cold water." The only things Mr. Beckett saved from the palace were two mantel-pieces, sent to this country as a present to the Count, by his uncle, Cardinal Fesch. They were carved in Italy, at a cost of $1,500 each, and are beau- tiful as works of art. The statuary on the grounds have been removed and sold, most of them under the auctioneer's hammer; the beautiful drives are half overgrown with wild grass, the lake is a weed-covered marsh. All that remains is the natural beauty of the ground, and the debris of departed grandeur. He was often spoken of as Sir Henry, or Lord Beckett, but he was never knighted.* His widow resides near New York city, and his only son and heir in England. In 1866, Mr. Beckett purchased and presented to Christ Church, Bordentown, the house and lot adjoining the edifice, for a rectory. * Cliarles E. Kartright, Esq., British Consul Philadelphia. BONAPARTE'S PARK. 95 CHAPTER XI. Interesting Sketch of Louis Mailliard — Recovery of the Buried Casket — Joseph's Remains Transferred to France — Adolth Mailliard. TN CONNECTION with Joseph Bonaparte, we take pleas- -L ure in devoting a few lines to the memory of a man who was so well known in our community by his attachment and fidelity to his King, and who, for thirty-six years, never left his post of trust and confidence. King Joseph, in his last will, begins with these words : " I here declare that no man has more right to my confi- dence and esteem than Mr. Louis Mailliard;" and, after giving him many instructions about his papers and mortal remains, appointed him, with Judge Joseph Hopkinson, his testamentary executor. The Judge died, full of years and full of honors, before the testator. This left Mr. Mailliard as sole surviving executor. The trust was performed by him with the greatest care and fidelity. Louis Mailliard, at the early age of fourteen, was taken, by King Joseph, to Spain, followed him in all his campaigns and visits to France, and finally accompanied him in his exile. We will now give the following deeply-interesting and perfectly reliable statement, never before given to the public : " In 1814, when the Emperor Napoleon abdicated, Joseph retired to Switzerland, where he purchased the estate of Prangins, with a fine chateau and park, lie resided there until the restoration of the empire, in 1815. Called back to France, by his imperial brother, to take a share in public affairs, and not so sanguine of success as Napoleon, he pre- pared himself to meet adversity again, and save part of his fortune in case of disaster. Like all sovereigns, he had in 96 BONAPARTE'S PARK. his possession diamonds and valuable jewels representing a large sum. Not willing to risk them with him on his jour- ney to France, where he might be killed or made prisoner, he confided his anxiety to Mailliard, who advised him to bury them in some remote spot in the park, and offered to show him a place of safety, where nobody but themselves could ever find them again — a place which he had discov- ered while hunting, as a resort for foxes and wild animals. Joseph, struck with the idea, went with him to the spot, and decided at once to follow the advice. An inventory in duplicate was made of all the jewels to be buried, an iron box provided to enclose the casket, and the next night it was buried several feet under ground by Mailliard, in pres- ence of Joseph. He rejoined his brother in Paris, took the direction of affairs during the absence of Napoleon, which ended in the battle of Waterloo, and never put his foot in Prangins again. "In 1817, seeing everything quiet in Europe, Joseph told Mailliard to prepare to sail for Europe; that it was time to go to Prangins to recover the buried treasure, and, on his way home, try to influence Queen Julie and his daughters to join him in America. He could, better than anybody, explain his position and the comforts they could expect. " Well provided with passports and letters of credit, Mail- liard sailed from New York, but was wrecked on the coast of Ireland. The sea being calm, all the passengers and crew were saved, but the ship was a total loss. Having saved his papers, he pursued his journey to England, and thence went to Brussels, where Queen Julie was residing with her daughters. On receiving the message from her husband, she decided at first to join him, but, her physicians having positively declared that she could not stand the sea voyage, it was determined to wait until her health could permit it. She never was able to do it. Receiving a nega- tive answer, Mailliard continued his journey to Switzerland, and finally" reached Prangins. Having disguised himself as BONAPARTE'S PARK. 97 an eccentric Englishman, lie called upon the administrator of the estate during Joseph's absence, Mr. Veret, who did not recognize him. Making himself known, he explained his errand to Veret, who promised to help him. It was agreed that Mailliard should pass for an English coal specu- lator, who was persuaded that a coal mine existed in the park of Prang-ins, and who wanted to prospect for it. The next day, Mr. Veret procured for him a few workmen, whom the supposed Englishman set to work near the local- ity where the iron box was buried. Slowly and by degrees he brought them exactly to the spot, and occupied them until dark to remove the earth within about two feet of the concealed box. Darkness compelled the men to go home. Later in the night, asking Mr. Veret to go with him as a witness, Mailliard drove rapidly to the spot, took a crowbar left by the workmen, and began sounding, No signs of the box yet. The foxes had, by digging new holes, increased the original amount of earth over it. The shovel was brought into requisition, and the hole made deeper. At last, after an hour's anxiety ami suspense, the crowbar struck a solid body, and the well-known sound of iron was heard. A little more shoveling, and the box was uncovered. With the help of Mr. Veret, it was placed in the carriage and taken to his house. The iron box was opened, and the casket appeared, just as it had been placed by King Joseph. Mr. Veret and Mailliard took out the jewels, compared them with the duplicate inventory, and not one was miss- ing. Everything was in the most perfect order. What a relief to the messenger. " Of course the next day the Englishman left the country, not having found indications of coal, and never was seen again at Prangins. " Returning to England by the shortest route, Mr. Mailliard sailed for New York, and arrived safely. He, lost no time in the city, hired a carriage and drove on until he reached Bordentown, in the middle of the night. King Joseph w T as 98 BONAPARTE'S PARK. asleep and did not expect him so soon. lie awoke and was very much gratified to see Mailliard enter the room and place in his hands the buried casket with its contents. The success of the mission increased Joseph's confidence in Mailliard'8 sincere attachment to him, and from that time he never did anything without first consulting with him. In a letter to Queen Julie, he writes: ' Mailliard has been very ill, but I am happy to say better. I cannot do with- out him; he is my secretary, my intendent; he is my right hand.' "Joseph kept no secrets from the young confidant whom he had brought up under his eyes, and with whom he could speak of his past glories, or talk of his plans for the future. He always found a willing ear and a consoling spirit in the man who was ready to sacrifice everything for the com- fort and welfare of the King in exile. Time only served to strengthen the attachment between them. For thirty-six years, from 1808 to 1844, Mailliard neve.r left his post, and the death of King Joseph, in Florence, in 1844, only released him from his duty to the living; his duty to the memory of the illustrious dead was not ended. He returned to America to act as executor, and remained until the set- tlement of the estate. As soon as Louis Napoleon had ascended the throne of France, hi' sailed for Europe and gave his attention to the execution of his patron's last injunctions: 'To have his correspondence with Napoleon published, and his mortal remains transferred to France as soon as that country should be re-opened to the Napoleon family.' "Both objects were successfully accomplished. The Emperor Napoleon III received him very warmly, gave him full liberty to do what he thought best to the memory of his uncle; asked him also to select some public office to his taste, &c. "After performing the last rites, that is, transferring the remains of Joseph to the Napoleon chapel, Mailliard BONAPARTE'S PARK. 99 retired to his country seat, at Mortefontaine, where he ended along and useful life, beloved and regretted by every one who had known him." Mr. Louis Mailliard's son and heir, Adolph, visited Cali- fornia, about 1851, and traveled extensively through the state. Returning to Bordentown he resided in the Mail- hard house for some years, when, with his family, he returned to California about 1867. Here he purchased a large tract of land, near San Rafael, where, in his mountain home, surrounded by his family, with his horses, dogs and gun, a choice library and music, they possess all that the heart could desire. The Murats The Murats. CHAPTER XII. Murat, King of the Sicilies — Prince Murat — Settles near Bor- dentown— Roebuck — Marries Miss Fraser — The Fraseks— The City in the Air — The Prince's Characteristics — Madame Mu- rat's School — How the Prince Spent His Time — The Prince in ilis Glory. JOACHIM MURAT, the dashing and brave, but superfi- J rial and unfortunate — the father of Prince Murat — was the son of an inn-keeper, was educated for the church and ordained sub-deacon. Dismissed for some youthful follies, he enlisted in the chasseurs. Promoted a lieutenant, he was cashiered, and became a waiter in a cafe at Paris. Entering the guard of Louis XYI, he was promoted a lieu- tenant of cavalry, and was again cashiered. Being restored he served as an aid to Napoleon in Italy. Napoleon con- ceived a strong attachment for him, promoted him, and sub- sequently gave him his sister Caroline in marriage. On the establishment of the empire he became a marshal and prince. He commanded the army that invaded Spain, and was made King of the Two Sicilies. Incurring the displea- sure of Napoleon, he listened to overtures from his enemies. Still, he joined Napoleon in the Russian campaign, and was given command of the grand army in its disastrous retreat. He returned to Italy and resumed his secret negotiations with the enemies of Napoleon, but joined him in the cam- paign of 1813. On his return to Italy he signed a treaty with Austria, by which his kingdom was guaranteed to 104 THE MURATS. him. At the head of thirty thousand men, he acted with the allies, who, after using him, abandoned him. The Congress of Vienna decided on his overthrow. He reconciled Napoleon, and upon the latter's return from Elba, marched against the Austrians. Failing in his cam- paign, his army dwindling away, he attempted negotiation with the allies, but, deserted oven by his own emissaries, his kingdom in insurrection, his Queen a refugee on board an English frigate, he was obliged to fly. After Waterloo, in which he was not allowed to share, he landed at Pizzo with a few followers, and attempted in vain to rouse the inhab- itants. Pursued to the mountains, he fought desperately, but fell into the hands of peasantry. Taken to the castle, he was condemned by a court-martial, and shot in one of the rooms. lie died as a soldier should die, setting an example of calm courage and fortitude. Marshal, Prince, King Murat's youngest son, Napoleon Francois Lucien Charles, our Prince Murat, was born in Milan, May 16th, 1803. At the execution of his father in 1815, he was twelve years of age. He lived with his mother until 1822, when he went to Spain, where he was arrested on suspicion. After his liberation he came to America and settled on a farm near Columbus, New Jersey. Some time afterwards he bought a farm of about one hun- dred acres near the Park. Some fifty or sixty years ago this place belonged to an English gentleman named Roe- buck. There is a popular belief or tradition around Bor- dentown that the well-known sand-burs, so common to some parts of New Jersey, did not appear until his coming, hence they are known here as " Roebuck burs." As it is said that he brought them here in the Saxon sheep he imported, they are sometimes called the "Saxon bur." This of course is an error, as they are indigenous to the sandy soil of our state. Mr. Roebuck apparently was a gentleman of high education, and there is said to have been something mysterious about him. Roebuck is a rare name THE MURATS. 105 in this country. It is the name of an eminent English family, one of whom was a noted member of Parliament during- our late war for the Union, and a violent opponent of the Free States. An English Avar vessel during the Revolution was called the "Roebuck." The house, still standing, is situated on the Trenton road near the White Horse bridge. It was constructed on the plan of an Italian villa. In the rear and connected with it were: the barns, stables and outbuildings of stone or brick, forming a hollow square, inside of which they all fronted, and in which his horses, cattle, stock and everything else was kept. Afterwards the Prince lived on the Recklesstown pike, near the old pottery. But the famous house of Murat was on Park street, near Third, close to the Park. It was a long, low, rambling building, with uneven roof and dormer windows. Built of brick, covered with plaster of a dark gray, with a row of trees in front of it, it had somewhat the appearance of elegance. While residing at Bordentown, Prince Murat met and married Miss Caroline Georgina Fraser. It was a pure love match between them. The lady was a daughter of Major Eraser, of the British army during the revolutionary war. After the war he married into an old aristocratic family of South Carolina, and resided there and in Phila- delphia, in which city he died and was buried. His pension from the British government was continued to his widow, Anna Longton Fraser, during her life. The match was not approved of by either family. The Count very much disapproved of it, he considering the Prince betrothed to one of his cousins in Europe. All objections, however, did not amount to much- with the Prince and Miss Fraser. One afternoon they went out for a drive, and going to Trenton, they were privately married by the Rev. Dr. Beasley, of St. Michael's Episcopal Church. The Prince was a tall, handsome, aristocratic-looking young 106 THE MURATS. man, possessed of much of the dash and bearing of his. father. Caroline was the youngest and the beauty of the family, tall, elegant and majestic in appearance. The romantic love she formed for him grew stronger with advancing years, although she did not approve of the dem- ocratic taste he socially displayed away from home. The Prince was sincerely attached to her, and fully appreciating the good wife she made him and services rendered, ever retained his love. Mrs. Murat had four sisters, Eliza S., Jane, Harriet and Maria, and one brother, William. Caroline and William were twins. Eliza was engaged to a gentleman of Charles- ton, South Carolina, named Cairns, who, dying, left her $40,000.* The Prince, who was visionary in all business matters, induced her and his wife to invest in a large tract of land on Black river, in the northern part of New York state, where he projected a city, in which to gather the wealthy and grand of the land. The site was elegant, the scenery romantic, the gunning and fishing splendid. Wild dells, giddy peaks, chasms and overhanging cliffs, through which the hunter's horn could echo until the last note died away among the clouds, were there; but, alas! no one would invest in town lots, and the ''castle in the air" faded away, leaving not a trace of the money invested. Prior to this, the Prince had spent $70,000 in farming, horses, dogs, guns and princely alas. While he had money he could never realize the possibility that he would ever be in want of it. To the hostler or rustic who tied or watered his horses, he gave the first piece of money he found in his pockets, be it silver or gold. If he fancied a pointer or setter, he would have it, at any price. He went to the pines with a party of gentlemen, after deer. In the evening his servant brought him a basket of champagne. Knocking the necks off with a knife, he emptied the contents into a *Miss Maria H. Nutt. THE MUX ATS. 107 bucket, and soon concocted a luscious punch. These were trifles for a prince, but heavy for a Jersey farmer of moder- ate means. The Prince, at last, for the first time in his life, began to realize the want of money, though he never did the value of it. Soon he was involved in debt in every direction and his credit completely gone. In the meantime, he had a family of interesting children growing up. At last, in spite of his protestations, his most estimable wife, Mine. Murat, and her sisters, opened a select boarding and day school. In this they were quite successful, the school soon filling up with young ladies, mostly from the south. At one time there was quite a number of Cuban misses, from Havana, among their pupils. It is the boast of a number of ladies of Bordentown that they were pupils of this school, which was remarkably well kept and very flourish- ing. One of these ladies, in a conversation, said : " The Prince presided at the table, and was very attentive to all the pupils, particularly the young and bashful. He had little to say to us, but was one of the most agreeable and polished gentlemen I ever met." This was at home. The Prince undoubtedly was a gentleman in manners, but his manners were like a pair of gloves, to be drawn on or thrown aside as occasion suited him. Away from home he was emphatically a "good fellow," and very democratic in his ideas. His boon com- panions in the town were bar-room loafers. Though not addicted to liquor, he would take a, drink as freely with a hostler as a gentleman. lie would sit down in the corner of a fence and play a game of cards with any good fellow he chanced to meet, borrow a quarter of a darkey and give a boy a half-eagle for holding his horse — if he happened to have one. On Chestnut street one day he was met by one of his Bordentown chums, who hailed him with, "How are you, Prince?" and extended his hand. "Who the devil are you ? I don't know you in Philadelphia," was his indignant reply. At the White Horse, near the draw-bridge, upon a 108 THE MURATS. summer's afternoon, he would play a game of ten-pins for drinks with any one who came along, and trouble the land- lord to chalk it down, if he lost. Onee during Joseph Bon- aparte's absence from home, the Prince secured the privilege of the purchase of a farm he knew Ins uncle desired to possess. Upon Joseph's return he offered him a thousand dollars advance on the price, which Murat felt in honor bound to decline. The Prince was very fond of gunning. Miller Howard, Esq., a keen sportsman, upon one occasion invited him to go to the pines after deer. He at onee declined, stating frankly he had not money to pay his way. Upon another occasion Mr. Howard owned a deer dog he would not part with under any circumstance. Murat took a fancy to it, and as Mr. Howard declined to sell, he advanced the offer until the sum got beyond all reason. At last, becoming indignant, he said: "You Americans are a, very queer people. I spend thousands of dollars among you, and you won't sell, give or lend me your dog.'"' The dog, in Howard's eyes, was above price or friendship. Once he was trying a pair of new horses out by Columbus. They balked, and he ordered his servant to go to a neigh- boring barn and bring a couple of sheaves of straw and place under them. These were set on tire, and the Prince went sailing down the pike in the height of his glory. THE MURATS. 109 CHAPTER XIII. Assault and Battery — The Prince's Amusing Defence — Generous Tradesmen — His Friends — Revolution of 1848 — Return to France — Elected to the Assembly — Envoy, Senator, Prince, Soldier and Prisoner— The Princess Caroline's Rewards-Mr. Brown's Visit — Murat's Children — Baron de Chasseron and Duke de Mouchy — Fall of the Empire — Separation of Estate — Fortunes Spent by the Prince— His Sisters — Sketch of Napo- leon Achille Murat — William Fraser's Children. THE PRINCE once had an action of assault and battery brought against him by a groom, whom lie had kicked out of the stable for insulting kirn. The trial took place in the court at Mount Holly, and we arc indebted to the Hon. Edwin Salter, of New Jersey, now residing in Washington, D. C, for the following humorous account of it, taken, many years ago, from a West Jersey newspaper: "Prince Murat, one of the Bonaparte family, lived near Bordentown, and, being in a false position among republi- cans, the lower class of his neighbors, when employed by him, took great pains to let him know that every one was equal in New Jersey, i. e., that every one could do just as they pleased with him. "Murat was a very gentlemanly, good-natured man, of enormous size — some six feet two, and stout in proportion, and accustomed to severe exercise, lie could shoot all day in a monstrous pair of boots, going through morasses that would appall any sportsman but himself and Dr. Dewees, our accomplished contributor, who used often to shoot with him. "The Prince had employed a worthless fellow to groom his horses. One day he very civilly requested him, as was his constant custom (for he was very polite), to do something. The man flatly refused, and was so very inso- lent that Murat, with his awful boot, suddenly helped him 110 THE MURATS. to the middle of the barn-yard pool. As a matter of course, the fellow sued him for assault and battery, confidently anticipating a handsome sum for damages. The court-room was filled with a very select audience, including many ladies; for Murat was highly esteemed for his elegant man- ners and commanding person. It was understood that lie was to plead his own case, and, as he was extremely acute and quite learned, greal sport was anticipated. The fellow, too. was provided with killing evidence, as was supposed; and Murat, it seemed, had little to hope lor. On examina- tion, he was confident of having received as many as six kicks from Murat, and, in short, of being grievously afflicted and misused. Murat demanded that he should show the precise spot where the bodily injury was inflicted. He endeavored to evade tin- demand, hut the Prince insisted; he accordingly indicated the very lowesl possible part of the spine, and again asserted that Murat had kicked him six times. There the defence rested, and the prosecut- ing attorney made a powerful appeal, filled with 'the sacred rights of the meanest citizen,' 'monarchical oppression,' 'star spangled banner,' etc., etc.: but not a word of the vul- gar insolence or dishonesty of the laborer, who always demanded his full pay, whether a thief or liar, or as indo- lent as a sloth. Murat addressed the jury in the following conclusive style, which we cordially recommend to our doc- tor.-, lawyers and jurymen, for its convicting use of anatom- ical knowledge and its humor. Bowing profoundly to the bench and jury-box, which happened both to he filled with excellent common sense : ".My lord, de judge and gentlemen of the jury, dere has been great efforts and much troubles to make everybody believe me a very bad man : but dat is of no consequence. De man tells you I kick him six times ! six times! so low as possible. I very sorry of the necessity to make him show how low it was, but I could not avoid it. Now, my lord and gentlemen of the jury, you see this part of the THE MTJRATS. Ill human skeleton (taking from the enormous pocket of his hunting-coat a human pelvis with the os coccygis complete and articulated with wires). Here are de hones. Dese little hours vat you see here (shaking them to the jury like the end of a rattlesnake's tail*, dese leetle hones are de very place vere de tail of de animal shall grow; dat is to say, if de man who sue me were to he a veritable jack — vot you you call it ? — ah ! jack-horse, and not only very much resemble dat animal, vy you see dese leetle hones, if dey were long enough, would he his tail!' The court was con- vulsed with laughter, and the Prince, being extremely acute and knowing he had the best of it, drew his speech to an end by stretching out his enormous leg, armed with his sporting-hoot up to his knee, ami clapping his hand on his massive thigh so that it resounded through the court-room, exclaimed: ' My lord and gentlemen, how absurd to say I could give him even von kick vid dat, and not to break all to pieces his leetle tail !' •• It was some time before the judge could gather enough dignity to sum up, when the fellow got six cents damages and the Prince three cheers." Murat's house was elegantly hut scantily furnished, and the relics of royalty adorned the walls and rooms. In all his poverty he retained these, refusing to part with them at any price. To the kindness and generosity of his creditors — and they were legion — they never seized them or troubled him with suits. This probably, though, was more through regard for his wife than for him. Although the Prince, as a general thing, was always •• hard up," he occasionally was rich. We say rich, for no matter how short the time his money lasted, he had apparently as much as he wanted. There were some who, to a small extent, were always will- ing: to credit him or loan him money. Among his most steadfast and generous friends was the late William Nor- cross, the father of Mrs. Col. Allen. He was one of his 112 THE MURA TS. heaviesl creditors, and, to the honor of the Prince, when his family was called to France, he forwarded money to Bor- dentown to pay off all his indebtedness. His uncle, Joseph Bonaparte, at limes assisted him, bul left him nothing in his will. Although Mural forgot he was a Prince, Joseph never did. He utterly condemned the course he was pur- suing, and considered him a disgrace t<> the family. Mural had made several shorl vi-its to France, accom- panied at least once by his wile, their eldesl son, Joseph Joachim Napoleon, being horn in Paris, July 21st, 1834. In 1848, when the French Revolution occurred,* he obtained the loan of a considerable sum of money and returned to France. He was soon after elected to the con- stituent and legislative assemblies. In December of the same year, his first cousin, Louis Napoleon, was elected President of France, and in L849 Murat was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Turin. In January, ls.">_, he became senator, ami the next year, after his cousin had assumed the imperial crown, he received the title of Prince of the family. In 1860, when the Bourbons were expelled from Naples, Mural put forth his claim to the throne of the Two Sicilies, but, at the instance of the Emperor, he immediately disclaimed his pretensions. In l s 7i*. when the war with Prussia broke out, he joined the army under Marshal Bazaine, ami was with him in Met/ when that city capitulated, becoming a prisoner of war. Upon the Prince's return to France, in 1848, as soon as he was satisfied the star of the Bonapartes had risen, he sent to Bordentown for his family to join him. Disp of the house and furniture. Madame Mural and her family set sail lor France. Never was a lady more entitled to princely estate ami honors than she. A constant and good wife she had made him, and to her exertion alone was due * February 2Uh. THE MURATS. 113 the rearing and education of their children. The oft dreanied-of grandeur of her young love was now realized, and she and her children were received into the imperial family. With plenty of money Murat was indeed a Prince, as far as the spending of it was concerned. Possibly he sometimes thought of his old Bordentown cronies, but he had ceased to appreciate them. However, when any gen- tleman from Bordentown went to Paris, he was received with marked attention by the Prince, who always cherished the pleasantest memories of the town of his exile. The lateWardell Brown, having discounted the Prince's note in former days, which was duly protested, took a trip over to France, in hopes of recovering the money. He called upon the Prince, who received him with the utmost cordiality. They rode and dined together, and had a splendid time. Mr. Brown was taken to the Tuilleries, presented to the Emperor and grand dignitaries, and in fact treated with such distinguished kindness that he hesitated to broach the subject of his visit. One day the Prince took him through his palace and showed him his country seats. " You have everything in the world that the heart can tie-ire," said Mr. Brown. "Yes," replied the Prince, " bul the Emperor requires the whole of my income to he -pent in France." The Prince and Caroline had three son-, Joseph Joachim Napoleon, Achille and Lucien. The eldest entered the army, served in Algeria, the Crimean, Italian and Prussian wars, and was in 1866 promoted to a colonelcy. In 1872, he obtained leave to serve four year- in the Swedish army.f They had two daughters. Caroline married the Baron de Chasseron, and Anna the Duke de Mouchy. An infant lies buried in the grounds of Christ Church, Bordentown, whose grave is marked with a head-tone, upon which is cut, ; ' Murat, December 20th, 1844." Near by is the grave of " Eliza Smith Fraser, April 6th, 1847." All the Frascr sis- t The "American Cyclopaedia," vol. XII, pages 40 and 50. b 114 THE MURATS. ters living at the time, accompanied Madame Murat to France, where they remained, Mis* Jane being the only one now living. Madame Murat never l'orgot the friends of her youth, or the bright gleams and shadows of Bordentown. She constantly corresponded with Mrs. Lathrop, of Boston, the widow of the late Rev. John P. Lathrop, rector of Christ Church, Bordentown. Upon the fall of the Empire the Prince's incomes were cut off, and he found himself reduced to the necessity of subsisting on the paltry sum of £200,000. It was prepos- terous for Murat to expect to live on the interest, so he proceeded diligently to spend the principal. In this laud- able undertaking for a gentleman o\' seventy-four, he was, alas! interrupted. His good wife, the guardian angel of his life, seeing that years had not brought discretion, was forced, to save them from want, to apply to the courts for a separation of estate. The following, taken from a late num- ber of the "Boston Advertiser," we know from good authority to be correct : " Princess Lucien Murat has brought suit for separation of estate from her husband, she styling herself Princess Murat (by birth Caroline Georgina Fraser), and her hus- band Prince Napoleon Francois Lucien Charles Murat. His spendthrift habits make this measure necessary, now that he can no longer repair to the Emperor's private purse. She wishes to save a portion of the estate given them by Napoleon III. Hei- husband has run through his father's estate, which was large, lie has run through her estate, which was considerable. The Emperor gave him $200,000 after the coup d'etat, and made him a senator, with S(>,000 a year, and three times paid his debts." The Princess succeeded in her suit, and once more they lived happily together. A very large fortune belonging to his father was confiscated after the fall of the first empire, but was restored upon the advent of Louis Napoleon. The THE MURATS. 115 Prince died in April, 1878, and his wife soon afterwards. The extraordinary vicissitudes that have marked the history of Murat, his marvelous restoration to fortune in France, and his reverses, seem " stranger than fiction " to people of Bordentown, who knew him so well. Prince Murat's sisters both married Italian noblemen. Lsetitia Josephine became Countess Pepoli, and Louise Julie Caroline, Countess Rasponi. His brother, Napoleon Achille, came to America in 1821, and found a home and a wife, with slaves and a plantation, near Tallahassee, Florida. liis wile was a daughter of Byrd Willis, Esq., Naval Agent, Pensacola, and grand-niece of Washington, lie seems to have enjoyed his adopted country with the zest of a sports- man and the adventurous spirit of his race, and to have easily reconciled himself to the incongruities of such a lot. He devoted much of his time to scientific pursuits, and wrote essays on the institutions of the country. When an honorary colonel in the Belgian army, he presented to a comrade the manuscript. After his death it was translated and published. The English edition was entitled " Murat's (Achille) Moral and Political Sketch of the United States of America," 8 vo., London, 1833. The American, -Amer- ica and the Americans," by the late Achille Murat, New York, 1849.* He received the appointment of aid-de- camp' with the rank of lieutenant-colonel to the Governor of Florida, and served with the volunteers of that state in the Seminole war, and died in 1847, on his estate, near Tal- lahassee. Madame Murat's twin brother, William Fraser, was well known to the citizens of Bordentown. lie married, m 1840 a Miss Frances Brown, of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, who bore him six children. Of these, Thomas was killed in the late war for the Union. Frank Lucien mar- ried Miss Christiana Bates. Caroline G. married Charles * Tuckerman's "America and Her Commentators," New York, 1804, page 123. 116 THE MURATS. M. Nye, yon of the late ex-Governor and ex-United States Senator Charles Nye, of Nevada Martha Jane married George Wilson. Guliann a married Joseph Daniels. They all reside, as docs their mother, in Washington, D. C, where their father, dying September 30th, 1870, was buried in Mount olive Cemetery. Mr. Nye (popularly known as "Charley Nye") is exceedingly popular in the Capital as an active temperance reformer and member of church. NEW BOOKS NEARLY READY FOR IKS PRESS, The Old Families of Burling- ton County, New Jersey. By E. M. WOODWARD. A series of interesting sketches of sixty-three families, giving their founders in America, whi re they came from in England, the vessel they arrived in, where they settled, what lands they located, who their descendants were for many gene- rations, who of them served in the Revolutionary Armies, et<\, etc., etc. Full index. 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