How Joseph Bonaparte Fled And His Brother Stayed

Woodward’s “Bonaparte’s Park.”

The following deeply interesting account, never before given to the public, of the escape of King Joseph from France, and his voyage to America, was communicated to the author by Adolph Mailliard, of San Rafael, Cal., the son of Louis Mailliard, the devoted Secretary and most confidential friend of the ex-King.

“A few hours before embarking on the French brig which was to take him to the United States, Joseph sent Mailliard to the Emperor with a letter urging again his brother to exchange places, and make his escape from France in Joseph’s vessel. But Napoleon replied verbally to the messenger: ‘Tell my brother that I have well considered his offer, and that I cannot accept it. It would seem like flying away from danger; besides, I could not leave behind me so many brave officers, who have sacrificed everything for me. Tell my brother I hope he will escape the cruisers of England, and arrive safely.’

“Joseph on receiving this last answer sailed immediately for America. Had Napoleon accepted, he would probably have reached New York safely, as every precaution had been taken to avoid detection. The vessel selected was a small, common-looking brig, the Commerce, of two hundred tons, loaded with a cargo of Bordeaux wines for a market. She was a fast sailer and was strongly built and was commanded by a skillful captain, Messervey, a Frenchman by birth. Although three times on the high seas the brig was stopped and searched by English frigates which were on the lookout for Napoleon, the passports and papers of the passengers on board had been so carefully prepared that they were not discovered. The captain of the brig did not even know who they were until a few days after they landed in New York.

“The newspapers having published an account of his successful escape, and given the name of the vessel, the poor captain could hardly contain himself, and called at once upon Louis Mailliard who assured him that it was true, and presented him in all formality to King Joseph. ‘But why did you not tell me?’ said he, ‘I never would have betrayed him.’ Mailliard had to explain to him that it was thought best to conceal the real names and positions of his passengers, for fear that he might have shown some hesitation or less assurance when boarded by the English officers. ‘I think you were right,’ said the captain; ‘I would have sunk my vessel rather than let them come on board; you were right.’ Joseph was much amused by his demonstration of Bonapartism, and sent him a very handsome present to mark that he had appreciated his treatment on board.”

It is well known that some years prior to the final abdication of Napoleon the contingency of his being forced to abandon France and seek refuge in America sometimes presented itself to his mind. The late Esquire Edward Robbins stated to the author that Louis Mailliard related to him that once, when the Emperor was speaking on this subject in presence of Joseph and some of his officers, he unrolled a map of the United States, and placing his finger on a spot in New Jersey, said, in substance: “If I am ever forced to fly to America, I shall settle somewhere between Philadelphia and New York, where I can receive the earliest intelligence from France by ships arriving at either port.” This idea probably governed the Count in his location.