Pauline after her return from St. Domingo—She purchases the Hôtel Charost, in the Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré—Her despair at the retired life which the First Consul insists upon her leading—Her flirtation with Admiral Decrès—Napoleon offers his sister’s hand to Francesco di Melzi, Vice-President of the Italian Republic, who, however, declines the proposal—Prince Camillo Borghese in Paris—Diplomatists as matchmakers—A marriage between him and Pauline negotiated—Refusal of the First Consul to permit the ceremony to take place until his sister has completed a year of widowhood—Mariage de conscience celebrated, at Mortefontaine, without his knowledge—Indignation of Napoleon at the deception practised upon him—The legal marriage—Visit of the Princess Borghese to Joséphine—Her departure for Rome—Lucien Bonaparte and Madame Jouberthou—Fury of the First Consul on learning that his brother has married the lady—Madame Bonaparte espouses Lucien’s cause, but without success, and resolves to withdraw for a time to Italy, as a protest against Napoleon’s severity—Letizia and Joséphine—Singular scene at a family dinner-party at Mortefontaine—Lucien’s imaginative powers—Madame Bonaparte sets out for Rome—Extraordinary consideration shown her by Pius VII and the Papal Court—Napoleon disapproves of his mother being received en souveraine—His letter to the Pope.

DOI link for Pauline after her return from St. Domingo—She purchases the Hôtel Charost, in the Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré—Her despair at the retired life which the First Consul insists upon her leading—Her flirtation with Admiral Decrès—Napoleon offers his sister’s hand to Francesco di Melzi, Vice-President of the Italian Republic, who, however, declines the proposal—Prince Camillo Borghese in Paris—Diplomatists as matchmakers—A marriage between him and Pauline negotiated—Refusal of the First Consul to permit the ceremony to take place until his sister has completed a year of widowhood—Mariage de conscience celebrated, at Mortefontaine, without his knowledge—Indignation of Napoleon at the deception practised upon him—The legal marriage—Visit of the Princess Borghese to Joséphine—Her departure for Rome—Lucien Bonaparte and Madame Jouberthou—Fury of the First Consul on learning that his brother has married the lady—Madame Bonaparte espouses Lucien’s cause, but without success, and resolves to withdraw for a time to Italy, as a protest against Napoleon’s severity—Letizia and Joséphine—Singular scene at a family dinner-party at Mortefontaine—Lucien’s imaginative powers—Madame Bonaparte sets out for Rome—Extraordinary consideration shown her by Pius VII and the Papal Court—Napoleon disapproves of his mother being received en souveraine—His letter to the Pope.

Pauline after her return from St. Domingo—She purchases the Hôtel Charost, in the Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré—Her despair at the retired life which the First Consul insists upon her leading—Her flirtation with Admiral Decrès—Napoleon offers his sister’s hand to Francesco di Melzi, Vice-President of the Italian Republic, who, however, declines the proposal—Prince Camillo Borghese in Paris—Diplomatists as matchmakers—A marriage between him and Pauline negotiated—Refusal of the First Consul to permit the ceremony to take place until his sister has completed a year of widowhood—Mariage de conscience celebrated, at Mortefontaine, without his knowledge—Indignation of Napoleon at the deception practised upon him—The legal marriage—Visit of the Princess Borghese to Joséphine—Her departure for Rome—Lucien Bonaparte and Madame Jouberthou—Fury of the First Consul on learning that his brother has married the lady—Madame Bonaparte espouses Lucien’s cause, but without success, and resolves to withdraw for a time to Italy, as a protest against Napoleon’s severity—Letizia and Joséphine—Singular scene at a family dinner-party at Mortefontaine—Lucien’s imaginative powers—Madame Bonaparte sets out for Rome—Extraordinary consideration shown her by Pius VII and the Papal Court—Napoleon disapproves of his mother being received en souveraine—His letter to the Pope.