DEATH OF MARSHAL MacMAHON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 December 1893, Page 18

DEATH OF MARSHAL MacMAHON.

(Weekly Freeman^ October 21. ) Marshal MacMahon died at the Chateau de la Foret, Paris, on Tuesday morning. His deals, was perfectly peaceful. He was con scious to the last, and calmly took leave of the sorrowing members of his family assembled round his death-bed. His features in death bear no trace of suffering. Numerous notabilities and visitors of rank have called at the chateau to condole with the family. Tbe tall, white-haired soldier of Irish blood and with an Irish name, who ruled the destinies of France from the palace of the Elysee as President of the Bepublic during the years 73, '74, '75 '76, and '77, died yesterday. Not even in France, to whose glories his sword had added new brilliancy, will tbe death of Marshal MacMahon occasion deeper and more widespread aonrning than in Ireland, the land of his patronymic, the nursery of his race. From the day of tbe Bth of September, 1855, when planting the Imperial eagle on the innermost and loftiest works of the Malakoff, MocMabeo sent, in the midst of the tempest of Bussian fire, the characteristic message that he would remain there, living or dead, Ireland has watched his career with sympathetic pride, and it is questionable if France herself thrilled with a warmer or more cordial throb over her Marshal's achievements and vicissitudes than the country which his forefather left on the d»y of the signing of tbs " Violated Treaty."

Tip archives of France and tbe records* of the Birmingham Tower in Dublin C»stle reveal to tbe curious tbe genealogy of Marshal MacMahon away down from the middle of the fifteenth century. It was published in the Irish Press at the time when, the Italian campaign having been victoriously concluded by Napoleon 111. and tbe Marshal, Ireland presented a sword of honour to the soldier whom she delighted to call her son. Terence MacMahon of Clonderala, in the Connty Clare, married Helens, daughter of Maurice Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, and died in 1472. His son, Donatus, married Honoria O'Brien of Thomond ; and their son, Terence, married tbe daughter of " The MacNamara Reagb," by whom he had a son, Bernard, who marriad Margare', daughter of Donatus O'Brien of Daugh. Murtagh, son of Bernard, married the daughter of a colonel of horse in tbe army of tbe ill-starred Charles I, and became father of Maurice M&cMahoo, who married tbe daughter of the Knight of Olinn. Thtir son, Murtagh, married Miss MacSheehy of Balljlinan, and they bad a son, Patrick of Torrodile, in the County Limerick, who married Margarita, daughter of Major John O'Sullivan of Bintry, in the County of Cork, of the Houße of O'Sullivan Boare. Licking bis fortunes to those of James 11, Pa rick MacMahon sheathed his sword, and retired with bis wife — " a lady," says the records, " of the rarest beauty and virtue "—to the hospitable shelter of La Bells France. Their son, John MacMahon of Autnn married a Franco, heiress, and was raised to the rank of noble under the title of Oomte d'Eqailly ; and we read tbat on the 28th of September, 1749, this Connt applied to the Irish Government and the Sir Bernard Bnrke of the day to have his family record duly authenticated, lest bis posterity should ever fail to remember the cradle of their ancestors and tbe Irish origin of which they were justly proud. Tbis Count d'Equilly was tht grandfather of Marshal MacMabon, Due de Magenta, in whose Christian name of Patrick as well as in whose surname MacMahon is evidence of his Irish descent and connection. Marie Edmund Patrick Maurice de MacMabon was born at Sully, in tbe department of Saone et Loire, on tbe 13th July, 1808, the birth-year also of bis Imperial master, Napoleon 111. He was therefore at the time of his death in his eighty-fifth year— seven years older than Prince Bismarck. MacMahon's father was a peer of France, and one of the most intimate personal friends of Charles X. It is curioua to note tbat MacMahon himself served under two Bourbon kings, two Republics, and an Emperor, t in France. Tbe swords of tbe Irish exiles were devoted to France rather than to her Governments, and to ber tbeir allegiance never swerved or failed. When be was only seventeen years of age, a slim, upright, goldec-haired youtb, MacMahon entered the famons military school of St Cyr, where he studied the profession of arms for five years. In 1830 he first saw active service, and received his baptism of fire in Algeria, the training ground of French epp tains. He was attached to tbe headquarters stbff. In 1832 he took part in the expedition to and siege of Antwerp, where he acted aide-de-camp to General Acbard. In the last month of the next year he was gezetted captain and he returned to Africa, where he displayed the most signal valour in several brilliant brushes with the Arabs. He was attached as aide-de-camp to many French generals daring tbe Algerian ware, and at the storming of Conttantine in th« year 1837 he especially distinguished himself. Three years afterwardp, having passsd into the infantry, he commanded tbe 10 h battalion of Foot Chasseurs, and next became Lieutenant-colonel of tbe Foreign Legion He was made colonel of tbe 41st Regiment of the Line on the 24 h of April, 1845, when only thirty-seven years of age, and was a general of brigade at 40 It was here to be recorded that just as be afterwards won the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, storming tbe Malakoff in the Crimea, and as be was presented with bis Marihal's baton and hU Dukedom on the field of Magenta, so for bis courage at the siege of Constantino, already mentioned, he was decore as officer of the Legion ; he won tbe proud riband of commander in July, 1849, and tbe glittt ring star of Grand Officer on the lOtb of August, 1853. In 1852 MacMabon bad become General of Division, and commanded in that capacity at Constant ine until Apri , 1855, when, the Crimean War having broken out, he was recalled from Africa to Paris for service against tougher foes than Arabs, Bedouins of the desert, or Algerians. In the month of August, 1855, he was appointed to tbe command of a division of infantry in the corps of Marshal Bosquet. The bungling or bravery of tbe Crimean campaign this is not the place or time to tell. Suffice to say that when it was decided to attempt the fortalioes of Malakoff and the Bedan as the keys of Bebastopol by a toup de main tbe Franco-Irish general it was that was chosen to head the stormera of tbe former, while by the English was undertaken the perilous feat of attacking the latter. Everyone knows bow tbe assault upon tbe Redan was bloodily repulsed, while the heroic MacMahon, inspiring bis men with his own spirit, succeeded in a few moments in carrying the frowning and formidable works of the fMalakoff. Summoned to retire from a position judged unten- ' abls, be returned tbe famous answer that alive or dead he would remain there. Sustained by tbe almost superhuman elan of bis soldiers, MacMabon endured tbe desperate onslaught of the Russians for hours, until at length, wearied, baffled, and despairing, the

black-painted bayonets of tbe grey-coated uuiei of the foe wen seen from the crumbling parapets and towen of tbe fort in fall retreat. As we have laid, this feat of arms, winning as it did Sebaatopil for the Allies, bore to MacMahon's breast the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, to which diatinc ion was soon added the dignity of Senator of France. The Queen of England recognised MacMahon's services to the allies by making him Knight Grand Cross of tbe Order of tbe Bath. The close of the Crimean War brought little term of rest to the Boldier. In 1857 we find him again in Africa command* ing a division of infantry and chasing the Kabyles to their remotest fastnesses and strongholds over the desert. He was shortly after appointed by tbe Emperor Commander-in-chief of all tbe Algerian forces by land and tea. la 1859 General MacMahon was hastily summoned from North Africa to the command of the Second Corps d'Armee of tbe Alpc, when tbe French with Napoleon in person at their head swept down upon the Anstrians and the Quadrilateral. On tbe 4th of June, 1859, the sun of M'Mahon'a military glory reached its zenith. On the battlefield of Magenta he, by bis timely arrival, saved the Emperor and defeated the Anstrians. He was rewarded with the coveted baton of a marshal of France, and was created duke, with the title of the little town on tbe road to Milan which gave its name to the engagement. Solferino (tbe 24th June) soon followed Magenta, and the white uniform of the Austrian disappeared of! tbe plains of Lombardy. Tbe reception of Napoleon and bis generals on their triumphant return is a Parisian memory ; and the Due de Magenta, with his laurels tbick upon him, the man whom tbe Emperor delighted to honour, the idol of the soldiers, tbe darling of tbe martial-minded people, was the oynosnre of all eyes the hero of tbe hour, the lion of tbe gay capital. It was there in tbe fu>l bleze of this welcome to the brave soldier that tht proposal was made to present tbe Franco-Irish marshal with a sword of honour from Ireland. A sum of £500 was called for. £700 was subscribed in a short time. An Irißh artist, Mr E. Fitzpatrick, furnished a graceful design, and a magnificent sword and scabbard were manufactured. The Marshal intimated that be would feel highly honoured and truly happy to receive so great a mark of regard from hit "ancient compatriot s." Tbe Emperor graciously assented to the prißsnution ; and Mr T. D. Sullivan and Dr George Sigerson were deputed to convey the sword and its accompanying address to the Marshal, who was at tbe time in command at the great camp at Ohalon. Tbe camp was en fete in bononr of the occasion. On Sunday tbe Irish depu'ation arrived. Marshal MacMahon was attended by a crowd of generals and officers invited for tbe occasion. The troops were paraded. Tbe display was magnificent in the extreme. Tbe deputation presented the sword to tbe Marshal, and the following address, engrossed in Irish and French, and signed on behalf of the Irish committee by Tbe O'Donogbue, M.P , chairman ; and Mr P. J. Smyth and Mr T. D. Sullivan, hon sees :— '■ Excellency, — It ia from tbat isle, tbe native land of your ancestors — it is in tbe name of a nation which through all the vicissitudes of its history, through good as through ill fortune, has ever kuown how (even 'mid blood and tears) to recognise worth and to Bbow its sympathy for true valour— tbat we come to offer thii tribute of affection to tbe genius and bravery of tbe gallant warrior who has once mose identified the hereditary chivalry of Erin with the glory cf Imperial France. Excellency, that land once ruled by thoße whose royal blood flows in your veins has felt the burthen of most unhappy days ; but the glory her exiled sons have bestowed on her, by their soldierly virtues on fields of battle, and by their wisdom in tbe councils of Europe, ia for her brow still encircled with the crepe of her widuwoood, as it were a laurel which interlaces the funeral wreath of her immense sorrows. In more than one bloody battle at Cremona, as at Fontenoy, this renown has shone with the splendour of victory. To-day Ireland proclaims with tbe just pride of a mother tbat you, tbe heroic descendant of one of her greatest monarcbe, have added new brilliancy to tbe glory of onr nation on the smokmg towers of the Malakoff and on the ever-memorable plains '( Magenta. Illustrious hero of « he chivalry of Celtic France, Ireland loves with the most tender love her children who, in a foreign land, yet remember with filial Affection tbe land which gave birth to their ancestors. Excellency, you have given incontestible proofs of tbat affection, so warm and so deepl? felt in yonr soldier's heart. Ireland is, then, proud to recognise in yon tbe valiant chief, of Irish blood, whose military genius baa maintained unstained tbe flag of victorious France — trwt noble nation, the sister of our own. She is happy, too, to recognise in you the Cnriatiaa hero who has preserved for the crocs that hereditary fidelity of his royal ancestors ; she sees also in you tbe worthy descendant of tbat heroic king who crushed the fierce foes of Ireland on the b'oody plain of Clontarf. It is, theD, Ireland wbicb presents to you tbis sword, whose chased sheath and shining blade are the types of ber ancient glory and civilisation. Uoder the emblems of gold, of steel, and of jewels, Ireland desires also to offer to you, tbe valiant Bcion of chivalrous ancestors, the symbols of those virtues which should adorn tbe tscotcbeon of a Christian hero. In you she is well assured these virtues will ever be as brilliant as the jewelß whicn decorate the hilt of this sword, as pare as tbe gold which covers the sheath. By this tribute which

Ireland lays at your feet, illustrious warrior, she transmits to you, by ns, the expression of her love and admiration." The Marshal evinced the drepest emotion, and, amidst a burst of acclamation, drew the blade from the gold and jewel-hilted scabbard, and rtpl>ing at some length, said in conclusion :— " I will leave one day to my eldest son, Patrick, this magnificent sword. It will be for him, as it is for myself, a new pledge of those close tics which ehould noite him for ever to tbe noble country of his ancestors." ( To be concluded.)