VI. am about to contract is not in harmony with old political CHAP. traditions; and in this lies the advantage of it. France, by her successive revolutions, has been widely sundered from the rest of Europe. A wise government should so rule as to bring her back within the circle of the ancient monarchies. But this result will be more readily attained by a frank and straightforward policy, by a loyal intercourse, than by royal alliances, which often create a false security and substitute family for national interests. Moreover, past examples have left superstitious beliefs in the popular mind. The people have not forgotten that for sixty years foreign princesses have only ascended the steps of the throne to see their race scattered or proscribed by war or revolution. One woman alone appears to have brought good fortune, and to have lived, more than the rest, in the memory of the people; and this woman, the good and homely wife of General Bonaparte, was not of royal blood. It 'We must admit this, however: in 1810 the marriage of Napoleon I. with Marie Louise was a great event. was a bond for the future, and a real satisfaction to the national pride, since the ancient and illustrious House of Austria, which had waged war with us so long, was seen courting an alliance with the elected chief of the new Empire. During the last reign, on the contrary, did not the national pride suffer when the heir to the throne solicited in vain, during several years, an alliance with a reigning family; and when he obtained in the end a princess, accomplished no doubt, but only of the second rank, and of another religion? 'When, in the face of ancient Europe, one is carried, by the force of a new principle, to the level of the old dynasties, it is not by affecting an ancient descent, and endeavouring at any price to enter the family of kings, that one compels recognition. It is rather by remembering 414 BOOK IX. one's origin, by preserving one's own character, and as- 6 Thus, compelled as I was to part from the precedents which have been hitherto followed, my marriage became only a private matter. It remained for me to choose my wife. She who has become the object of my choice is of lofty birth. French in heart, by education, by the memory of the blood shed by her father in the cause of the Empire, she has, as a Spaniard, the advantage of not having a family in France to whom it would be necessary to give honours and dignities. Gifted with every quality of the heart, she will be the ornament of the throne, as in the hour of danger she would be one of its most courageous defenders. A pious Catholic, she will address one prayer with me to Heaven for the happiness of France. Kindly and good, she will show, in the same position, I firmly believe, the virtues of the Empress Josephine. 'I come to-day, gentlemen, to say to France: "I have preferred a woman, whom I love and respect, to an unknown woman, an alliance with whom would have brought advantages mixed with sacrifices. Without showing disdain towards anybody, I yield to my inclination, after having consulted my reason and my convictions. In fine, in putting independence, the qualities of the heart, and domestic happiness above dynastic prejudices and the dreams of ambition, I shall not be less strong, since I shall be freer. Soon, on my way to Notre Dame, I shall present the Empress to the people and the army. The confidence which they repose in me secures their sympathies towards her whom I have chosen; and you, gentlemen, when you have learned to know her, will be convinced that, once again, I have been inspired by Providence." VI. On the morrow the 'Moniteur' announced that the lady CHAP. on whom the Emperor's choice had fallen was Mademoiselle de Montijo, Countess de Teba. The news was received with satisfaction, and the Emperor's brave speech was applauded in every part of Europe. The English press was unanimous in commending it. Nothing,' said the Times,' could be in better taste or more modest than the phrase in which the Emperor adopts the title and position of parvenu, keeping his origin clearly before him, preserving his independence, and emancipating himself from the traditions of States where the bases of society have not been destroyed nor monarchical institutions suffered ruin.' The Morning Post' discerned in the Emperor's choice a new link between him and the French people, that would give additional stability to his throne. BOOK IX. CHAPTER VII. MADEMOISELLE EUGÉNIE DE MONTIJO. IN 1818 Mr. George Ticknor, who was travelling in 'I knew Madame de Teba in Madrid, when she was there on a visit last summer; and from what I saw of her then and here [Malaga], where I saw her every day, I do not doubt she is the most cultivated and the most interesting woman in Spain. Young and beautiful, educated strictly and faithfully by her mother, a Scotchwoman-who, for this purpose, carried her to London and Paris, and kept her there between six and seven years-possessing extraordinary talents, and giving an air of originality to all she says and does, she unites, in a most bewitching manner, the Andalusian grace and frankness to a French facility in her manners and a genuine English thoroughness in her knowledge and accomplishments. She knows the five chief modern languages well, and feels their different characters, and estimates their literatures aright. She has the foreign accomplishments of singing, playing, painting, &c., and the national one of dancing, in a high degree. In conversation she is brilliant and original; and yet with all this she is a true Spaniard, and as full of Spanish feelings as she is of talent and culture. One night I saw her play, in the house of one of her friends, before about fifty people, the chief part in Quintana's tragedy of " Pelayo." The whole exhibition of the evening was interesting, and especially so to VII. me, for it was got up in the true old Spanish style-first style-first CHAP. with a Loa to the governor, then the tragedy, then an Entremes; afterwards a Tonadilla, in national costume, followed by the Bolero; and, finally, a Saynete. But it was the Countess de Teba-who played her part like a Corinne, and, who, in fact, has more reminded me of Corinne than any woman I have seen-that carried off every movement of approbation.' Thirty years later M. de Puibusque, the author of a comparative history of French literature, and that of Spain, being in Boston, and much with Mr. Ticknor, spoke with great admiration of the Countess de Montijo, dwelling on the brilliancy of her talents and the variety of her culture and accomplishments. Mr. Ticknor said he had known but one lady in Spain to whom such a description could apply, and had believed her to be the only one; but she was Countess de Teba. M. de Puibusque explained that it was the same person, under a title later inherited. Mr. Ticknor mentioned this in a letter to Don Pascual de Gayangos (August 20, 1849), and sent a message to Madame de Montijo, who recollected him and returned his greeting. 6 Count Cesare Balbo, writing from Madrid to Mr. Ticknor in the autumn of 1818, remarked: You may judge if I was pleased by the news you gave me of the arrival of the Countess de Teba. I do not say, have not said, and will not say, that she is a mere pretty Andalusian woman; willingly, and exactly as you yourself regarded her, the most interesting Spanish lady.' 1 This lady was the mother of Mademoiselle Eugénie de Montijo. Curiously enough, it is from another American author that we get an early glimpse of the Montijo 1 The Life, Letters, and Journals of George Ticknor. James R. Osgood and Co., Boston, 1876. |