In this brief record of the life of one who experienced far more than the usual vicissitudes of humanity, whose career was one of the saddest upon record, and who ever exhibited virtues which won the enthusiastic love of all who knew her, the writer has admitted nothing which can not be sustained by incontrovertible evidence, and has suppressed nothing sustained by any testimony worthy of a moment's respect. This history will show that Hortense had her faults. Who is without them? There are not many, however, who will read these pages without profound admiration for the character of one of the noblest of women, and without finding the eye often dimmed, in view of her heart-rending griefs.
This volume will soon be followed by the History of Louis Philippe.
II. MARRIAGE OF JOSEPHINE AND GENERAL BONAPARTE 49
V. THE BIRTH OF LOUIS NAPOLEON AND THE DIVORCE OF JOSEPHINE 148
X. LETTER FROM LOUIS NAPOLEON TO HIS MOTHER 322
XI. DEATH OF HORTENSE, AND THE ENTHRONEMENT OF HER SON 358
JOSEPHINE TAKING LEAVE OF HER CHILDREN 38
Josephine's voyage to France.--Viscount de Beauharnais.--Josephine's reluctance.--Marriage.--Birth of Eugene.--Birth of Hortense.--Separation from Beauharnais.--Return to Martinique.--Revisits France.--The jewel caskets.--The old pair of shoes.--Commencement of the Reign of Terror.--Arrest of Beauharnais.--Domiciliary visit.--Beauharnais in prison.--Affecting interview.--Scene in prison.--Trial of Beauharnais.--Anguish of Josephine.--Arrest of Josephine.--Impulsiveness of Hortense.--Letter from Josephine.--Letter from Beauharnais.--Execution of Beauharnais.--Josephine to her children.
In the year 1776 a very beautiful young lady, by the name of Josephine Rose Tascher, was crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the island of Martinique to France. She was but fifteen years of age; and, having been left an orphan in infancy, had been tenderly reared by an uncle and aunt, who were wealthy, being proprietors of one of the finest plantations upon the island. Josephine was accompanied upon the voyage by her uncle. She was the betrothed of a young French nobleman by the name of Viscount Alexander de Beauharnais, who had recently visited Martinique, and who owned several large estates adjoining the property which Josephine would probably inherit.