The birth of the Princess Clothilda's son.
From the
Paris Constitutionnel we have the following in relation to the birth of the Princess Clothilda's son:
‘
The great event in
Paris during the week previous to the sailing of the steamer was the birth of the Princess Clothilda's son — Victor Jerome Frederica.
He was christened the same day he was born, at eleven, and the
Empress and Prince Imperial called over at two and signed the act of birth, and at night the front of the
Palais Royale was lighted up, as were also the palaces of
St. Cloud and
Mendon.
Since then each morning the
Moniteur has published a bulletin in relation to the health of the
Princess.
At first we were told that she had ‘"slept well, and that both she and the young
Prince were as well as could be expected;"’ then that she had commenced having a little ‘"milk fever;"’ then that she had decided, like a true mother and really royal maternal heart, to suckle the young
Prince herself, and that he ‘"had already taken the breast without difficulty; "’ then that a slight inflammation had induced the attending physician to make an application of leeches; and now finally that both ‘"mother and child are doing well. "’ The Empress has been in from
St. Cloud three times during the week, and spent a couple of hours each time with the new mother.
The Emperor certainly meant that the newly-born heir to the younger branch of his dynasty should not have his importance detracted from by the lack of ceremony attendant upon his birth.
The following detailed arrangement of what should be done on the occasion will be read with interest by those who have been in the habit of looking upon the birth of a child as a common every day affair.
It is a translation of the ceremonial prescribed by the
Emperor:
’
As soon as her Imperial Highness,
the Princess Marie Clothilda Napoleon, shall feel the pains which announce a speedy
accouchement, her lady of honor will go to her.
From the arrival of the lady of honor she will take the orders of his Imperial Highness, the Prince Napoleon, and will send to inform.
The Emperor and Empress;
Her Imperial Highness, the Princess Mathilde, and their Highnesses, the Princes and Princesses of the
Imperial family having rank at court;
The Minister of State, the keeper of the Seals;
Minister of Justice, the
President of the Council of State, the
Grand Master of Ceremonies, the ten witnesses appointed by the
Emperor, viz: Mareschal
Count Valliant,
Minister of the
Empress's house hold, and
Mareschal Count d'ornano,
Governor of the Invalides, the
Minister of the
King of
Italy, and the officers and ladies of the household of their Imperial Highnesses,
the Prince and Princess Napoleon--all these persons must go to the palais Royal, the gentlemen in costume and ladies in
toilet de ville.
At the moment of feeling the last pains, the minister of state, the keeper of the seals, and the prescribed witnesses will be informed, and will enter the chamber of her imperial highness.
Immediately upon the birth of the infant, and after it shall have been presented to their majesties and to their imperial highnesses,
the Prince and Princess Napoleon, by its nurse, it will be presented to the minister of state and the keeper of the seals, who will pass immediately into the adjoining saloon, where they will find the
President of the Council of State.
Here will be drawn up the
process verbal of the birth of the infant in the presence of the witnesses prescribed by the
Emperor.
The names of the infant will be given, and the act of birth will be signed by their majesties, their imperial highnesses the Prince Napoleon and
the Princess Marie Clothilda Napoleon, her imperial highness the Princess Mathilde, their imperial highnesses the Princes and Princesses of the imperial family having rank at
Court, the
Minister of State, the Keeper of the Seals, and the
President of the Council of State, the witnesses, the
Grand Master of Ceremonies, and the officers and ladies of the
Prince and Princess Napoleon.
The infant will then be taken into its apartment by the governess, accompanied by the first
Chamberlain of their imperial highnesses, and the first
Aide-de-camp of the Prince Napoleon.
In this apartment will be placed the persons named by the
Emperor for the service of the infant.
His imperial highness the Prince Napoleon, being returned into his grand apartment, will there receive the felicitations of the persons present.
