The history of Hortense, daughter of Josephine, Queen of Holland, mother of Napoleon III . ining nohope of having children who may satisfy therequirements of his policy and the interests ofFrance, I have the pleasure of giving him thegreatest proof of attachment and devotednesswhich was ever given on earth. I owe all tohis bounty. It was his hand that crowned me,and on his throne I have received only mani-festations of love and affection from the Frenchpeople. I respond to all the sentiments of theEmperor, in consenting to the dissolution of amarriage which is now an obstacle to the hap-piness
The history of Hortense, daughter of Josephine, Queen of Holland, mother of Napoleon III . ining nohope of having children who may satisfy therequirements of his policy and the interests ofFrance, I have the pleasure of giving him thegreatest proof of attachment and devotednesswhich was ever given on earth. I owe all tohis bounty. It was his hand that crowned me,and on his throne I have received only mani-festations of love and affection from the Frenchpeople. I respond to all the sentiments of theEmperor, in consenting to the dissolution of amarriage which is now an obstacle to the hap-piness of France, by depriving it of the blessingof being one day governed by the descendantsof that great man who was evidently raised upby Providence to efface the evils of a terriblerevolution, and to restore the altar, the throne,and social order. But the dissolution of mymarriage will in no respect change the senti-ments of my heart. The Emperor will everfind in me his best friend. I know how muchthis act, commanded by policy and exalted in-terests, has rent his heart. But we both glory. THE DIVORCE ANNOUNCEI). 1809.] DivoKCE OF Josephine. 167 The legal consummation. in the sacrifices we make for the good of thecountry. /After these words, says Thiers, the no-blest ever uttered under such circumstances—for never, it must be confessed, did vulgar pas-sions less prevail in an act of this kind—Na-poleon, embracing Josephine, led her to herown apartment, where he left her, almost faint-ing, in the arms of her children. The next day the Senate was convened inthe grand saloon to sanction the legal consum-mation of the divorce. Eugene presided. Ashe announced the desire of the Emperor andEmpress for the dissolution of their marriage,he said : The tears of his Majesty at this sep-aration are sufficient for the glory of my moth-er. The description of the remaining scenesof this cruel tragedy we repeat from AbbottsLife of Napoleon. The Emperor, dressed in the robes of state,and pale a
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