A BONAPARTE IN THE STATES.

Star (Christchurch), 30 September 1893, Page 2

A BONAPARTE IN THE STATES.

The Century contains a gossipy artiole , concerning the lifo of Prince Aohille Murart, the son of Napoleon's sister Caroline, -who spent a great portion of hie life in Florida, and married there Catherine Gray, a; grand-niece of General Waßhing- '. ton. A POPULAR PBINCE. Soon alf ter the marriage the pair pro-' ceeded to| Europe, and the Prinoe was assigned tlie command oi a regiment in the ' Belgian service :— ' "The stalking resemblance whioh Prince; Murat bors» to his uncle Napoleon Bonaparte seemiad to awaken the love and esteem of many whom he met in Belgium, and frequently he was stopped in publio by the soldiers and subjects of his uncle and father, who; knelt to him, covering his hands -with kiase.3. There were those in power at thalfc time who began to fear that the enthusiasm thus elicited might prove a nucleus aironnct\ which sufficient troops could be rajUed to restore to his family their respective crowns. Consequently, by the order of the .King of Belgium, the regiment wae diebaA ded. On t -king leave of his soldiers, Achille addressed them in seven different languages, such were his proficiency and the- variety of nationalities represented. AN AMftRICAN PE_NCESS. Leaving Belgium* the Prince and his wife took up their residence in Loadon, where they met matty persons of distinction. Louis Napoleon was their constant guest ; and at that time he predicted that at a future day he would be on the throne of France, otten 'say _ag, "When I am Emperor, Coiiein Katrt, you shall have a chateau and everything you want, in return for your kindnesV to me now." On the restoration of the Bonapartes a few years later the promise vjag fulfilled :-— " Louis Napoleon did nst then forget his kind 'cousin Kate/ and when the Bonaparte family assembled in .Paris she was ' there also, and was received by the : Emperor with appropriate honour as a princess of France. At the aame time he : bestowed upon her "iO.OOOdola and the i privilege of nsing the royal livery, which she did dcring the remainder of her lif 3. She was invited to dine with the* Emperor, \ and was- conducted by the Graud Chamr berlain to an elevated seat in the'.drawingroom of tbe palace, where a large party Of '. «ue_t3 was assembled. She did not know that she occupied the seat of. honour until > her ears caught the words, 'La Princesse i Achille— -La Princesße Achilie Murat,' ; whispered arouud the room. This in a i measure embarrassed her. When the cry > of • L'Empereur !' announced the approach , of Louis, who walked directly to her, and,, after a most cordial welcome, offered hel' [ his arm to escort her to the dinner table* _ her excitement waa such that, ss she. " laughingly eaid, she hardly knew how > she came down the steps. Notwithstanding her usual ease of manner ' and familiarity with Court otiquette, to * feel that she was the observed of all observers mantled her cheeks wifth blushes. > At the Btate dinner she occupied the se__t t at tbe Emperor's side which was alwaye reserved for the Empress, whoße non- _ appearance, it was then presumed, was caused by indisposition. The ceremonies of the dinner being over, the I. mperor invited the Princesß to accompany him ' into the reception-room of the Empress. ! .To her surprise, Bhe found the Empress perfectly well, and warm in her reception of her 'dear coußin Kate.' In her eagerness to meet her she tripped aiid , i nearly fell, when the Emperor playfully remarked, ' Ah, Eugenic, will yon ne TOr remember tbat you are an Empresa ?' She . then said that she had absented herself from the table only to enable the Emperor to Bhow hia cousin every possible respect and attention. All restraint was now put aside, and they laughed and talked about old times."