The Happy Days of the Empress Marie Louise by Imbert de Saint-Amand, Arthur Léon, baron, 1834-1900

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I. Early Years.

Ii. 1809.

Iii. The Preliminaries Of The Wedding.

The Betrothal.

V. The Religious Difficulty.

Vi The Ambassador Extraordinary.

Vii. The Wedding At Vienna.

Xii. The Civil Wedding.

Xiii. The Entrance Into Paris.

Xiv. The Religious Ceremony.

Women. Men. Men And Women.

Xv. The Honeymoon.

Xvi. The Trip In The North.

Xvii. The Month Of June, 1810.

Xviii. The Ball At The Austrian Embassy.

Xix. The Birth Of The King Of Rome.

Xx. The Recovery.

Xxi. The Baptism.

Xxii. Saint Cloud And Trianon.

Xxiii. The Trip To Holland.

Napoleon At The Height Of His Power.

Xxv. Marie Louise In 1812.

Xxvi. The Empress's Household.

Xxvii. Dresden.

Xxviii. Prague.

The last difficulties had vanished, and the festivities were free to begin.

VI

THE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY.

In Vienna the animation was very great. The great event which was now in preparation was the sole subject of conversation in all classes of society. "The ceremonies and the festivities," the French Ambassador wrote, March 2, 1810, "will be in every respect the same as those that took place at the marriage of the Emperor with the present Empress. Every inhabitant of Vienna is doing his utmost to testify his joy on this occasion. Painters are at work night and day on transparencies and designs. The festivities will be thoroughly national. Every morning thousands of people station themselves before the palace to see the Archduchess pass by on her way to mass. Her portraits are in constant demand. The Emperor and the archdukes never miss a ball; they are surrounded by a crowd of maskers who say a number of pleasant things to them, and it really appears as if this alliance had added to the Emperor's already great popularity." The next day, March 3, Count Otto wrote: "I to-day presented the Count of Narbonne to the Emperor, the Empress, and the Archduchess, and I profited by the occasion to strengthen my conviction of the joy which the Count feels at this happy alliance. The Empress spoke with the greatest warmth of her step-daughters, conversed with a keen interest about France, Paris, and what she hopes to cultivate in that interesting city."

It was with impatience that was awaited the arrival of the Ambassador Extraordinary, who had been chosen by the Emperor of the French to make the formal demand for the hand of the Archduchess, to attend to the celebration of the marriage which was to be celebrated by proxy at the Church of the Augustins in Vienna, and to escort the bride to France. This Ambassador Extraordinary was Marshal Berthier, sovereign Prince of Neufchatel, the husband of the Princess Marie Elizabeth Amelia Frances of Bavaria, Vice-Constable of France, Master of the Hounds, commander of the first cohort of the Legion of Honor, etc., etc. The most brilliant reception was prepared for him. Count Otto wrote to the Duke of Cadore, February 21, 1810: "As to the honors which I have considered due to His Most Serene Highness, the Prince of Neufchatel, Count Metternich assures me that he regarded him not merely as Ambassador Extraordinary, but as a Sovereign Prince, a great dignitary of the Empire, as a friend and fellow-soldier of the Emperor; that there would be no more comparison between him and the Marquis of Durfort than between the future Empress and the Dauphiness; and that consequently Prince Paul Esterhazy had been designated to proceed to the frontier to congratulate His Highness; and that, moreover, an Imperial Commissary would be sent to look after his journey, and to see that proper honor was paid to him on the way; that he would be lodged and entertained by the court, and that pains would be taken to furnish him with everything he might require; for in such a severe season, at so brief a notice, he could not possibly have supplied himself with all the articles ha needed."