This important state measure was no sooner completed, than the great
council was summoned, on the 1st of February, to assist the emperor in
the selection of a new spouse. They were given to understand, that a
match with a grand duchess of Russia had been proposed, but was likely
to be embarrassed by disputes concerning religion. A daughter of the
king of Saxony was also mentioned, but it was easily indicated to the
council that their choice ought to fall upon a princess of the house of
Austria. At the conclusion of the meeting, Eugene, son of the repudiated
Josephine, was commissioned by the council to propose to the Austrian
embassador a match between Napoleon and the archduchess Maria Louisa.
Prince Schwarzenberg had his instructions on the subject; so that the
match was proposed, discussed, and decided in the council, and
afterwards adjusted between plenipotentiaries on either side, in the
space of twenty-four hours. The espousals of Napoleon and Maria Louisa
were celebrated at Vienna, 11th March, 1810. The person of Bonaparte was
represented by his favourite Berthier, while the archduke Charles
assisted at the ceremony, in the name of the emperor Francis. A few days
afterwards, the youthful bride, accompanied by the queen of Naples,
proceeded towards France.
With good taste, Napoleon dispensed with the ceremonies used in the
reception of Marie Antoinette, whose marriage with Louis XVI., though
never named or alluded to, was in other respects the model of the
present solemnity. Near Soissons, a single horseman, no way
distinguished by dress, rode past the carriage in which the young
empress was seated, and had the boldness to return, as if to reconnoitre
more closely. The carriage stopped, the door was opened, and Napoleon,
breaking through all the tediousness of ceremony, introduced himself to
his bride, and came with her to Soissons. The marriage ceremony was
performed at Paris by Bonaparte's uncle, the Cardinal Fesch. The most
splendid rejoicings, illuminations, concerts, festivals, took place upon
this important occasion. But a great calamity occurred, which threw a
shade over these demonstrations of joy. Prince Schwarzenberg had given a
distinguished ball on the occasion, when unhappily the dancing-room,
which was temporary, and erected in the garden, caught fire. No efforts
could stop the progress of the flames, in which several persons
perished, and particularly the sister of Prince Schwarzenberg himself.
This tragic circumstance struck a damp on the public mind, and was
considered as a bad omen, especially when it was remembered that the
marriage of Louis XVI. with a former princess of Austria had been
signalized by a similar disaster.
As a domestic occurrence, nothing could more contribute to Bonaparte's
happiness than his union with Maria Louisa. He was wont to compare her
with Josephine, by giving the latter all the advantages of art and
grace; the former the charms of simple modesty and innocence. His former
empress used every art to support or enhance her personal charms; but
with so much prudence and mystery, that the secret cares of her toilette
could never be traced--her successor trusted for the power of pleasing
to youth and nature. Josephine mismanaged her revenue, and incurred debt
without scruple. Maria Louisa lived within her income, or if she desired
any indulgence beyond it, which was rarely the case, she asked it as a
favour of Napoleon. Josephine, accustomed to political intrigue, loved
to manage, to influence, and to guide her husband; Maria Louisa desired
only to please and to obey him. Both were excellent women, of great
sweetness of temper, and fondly attached to Napoleon. In the difference
between these distinguished persons, we can easily discriminate the
leading features of the Parisian, and of the simple German beauty; but
it is certainly singular that the artificial character should have
belonged to the daughter of the West Indian planter; that marked by
nature and simplicity, to a princess of the proudest court in Europe.
Bonaparte, whose domestic conduct was generally praiseworthy, behaved
with the utmost kindness to his princely bride. He observed, however,
the strictest etiquette, and required it from the empress. If it
happened, for example, as was often the case, that he was prevented from
attending at the hour when dinner was placed on the table, he was
displeased if, in the interim of his absence, which was often prolonged,
she either took a book, or had recourse to any female occupation,--if,
in short, he did not find her in the attitude of waiting for the signal
to take her place at table. Perhaps a sense of his inferior birth made
Napoleon more tenacious of this species of form, as what he could not
afford to relinquish. On the other hand, Maria Louisa is said to have
expressed her surprise at her husband's dispensing with the use of arms
and attendance of guards, and at his moving about with the freedom of
an individual; although this could be no great novelty to a member of
the imperial family of Austria, most of whom, and especially the Emperor
Francis, are in the habit of mixing familiarly with the people of
Vienna, at public places, and in the public walks.
From this date may be traced the declination of Napoleon's greatness. In
the field he was generally unsuccessful, and occasionally murmurs of
discontent were whispered by citizen and soldier. The plot thickens in
the eight volume, and his abdication of the throne of France, and
subsequent journey to Elba, are feelingly narrated by our author.