napoleon bonaparte, v3-第24章
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needs of each department； and thanked them for their zeal in assisting
him。 Then he recommended to them especially the execution of the
conscript law。 〃Without conscription；〃 said his Majesty； 〃we should have
neither power nor national independence。 All Europe is subject to
conscription。 Our success and the strength of our position depend on our
having a national army； and it is necessary to maintain this advantage
with the greatest care。〃
These presentations occupied several days； during which his Majesty
received in turn； and always with the same ceremonial； the presidents of
the high courts of justice； the presidents of the councils…general of
departments； the subprefects； the deputies of the colonies； the mayors of
the thirty…six principal cities； the presidents of the cantons； the vice…
presidents of the chambers of commerce； and the presidents of the
consistories。
Some days later the city of Paris gave； in honor of their Majesties； a
fete whose brilliance and magnificence surpassed any description that
could possibly be given。 On this occasion the Emperor； the Empress； and
the princes Joseph and Louis； rode together in the coronation carriage；
and batteries placed upon the Pont…Neuf announced the moment at which
their Majesties began to ascend the steps of the Hotel de Ville。 At the
same time； buffets with pieces of fowl and fountains of wine attracted an
immense crowd to the chief squares of each of the twelve municipalities
of Paris； almost every individual of which had his share in the
distribution of eatables； thanks to the precaution which the authorities
took of distributing to none except those who presented tickets。 The
front of the Hotel de Ville was brilliant with colored lamps； but what
seemed to me the finest part of the whole display was a vessel pierced
for eighty cannon； whose decks； masts； sails； and cordage were distinctly
outlined in colored lights。 The crowning piece of all； which the Emperor
himself set off； represented the Saint…Bernard as a volcano in eruption；
in the midst of glaciers covered with snow。 In it appeared the Emperor；
glorious in the light； seated on his horse at the head of his army；
climbing the steep summit of the mountain。 More than seven hundred
persons attended the ball； and yet there was no confusion。 Their
Majesties withdrew early。 The Empress； on entering the apartment
prepared for her at the Hotel de Ville； had found there a most
magnificent toilets…service； all in gold。 After it was brought to the
Tuileries it was for many days her Majesty's chief source of
entertainment and subject of conversation。 She wished every one to see
and admire it； and； in truth； no one who saw it could fail to do so。
Their Majesties gave permission that this； with a service which the city
had presented to the Emperor； should be placed on exhibition for several
days； for the gratification of the public。
After the fireworks a superb balloon was sent up； the whole circumference
of which； with the basket； and the ropes which attached it to the
balloon； were decorated with countless festoons of colored lights。 This
enormous body of colored fire rising slowly and majestically into the air
was a magnificent spectacle。 It remained suspended for a while exactly
over the city of Paris； as if to wait till public curiosity was fully
satisfied； then； having reached a height at which it encountered a more
rapid current of air； it suddenly disappeared； driven by the wind towards
the south。 After its disappearance it was thought of no more； but
fifteen days later a very singular incident recalled it to public
attention。
While I was dressing the Emperor the first day of the year； or the day
before； one of his ministers was introduced； and the Emperor having
inquired the news in Paris； as he always did of those whom he saw early
in the morning； the minister replied； 〃I saw Cardinal Caprara late
yesterday evening； and I learned from him a very singular circumstance。〃
〃What was it？ about what？〃 and his Majesty； imagining doubtless that it
was some political incident； was preparing to carry off his minister into
his cabinet； before having completed his toilet； when his Excellency
hastened to add； 〃Oh； it is nothing very serious； Sire！ Your Majesty
doubtless remembers that they have been discussing lately in the circle
of her Majesty the Empress the chagrin of poor Garnerin； who has not
succeeded up to this time in finding the balloon which he sent up on the
day of the fete given to your Majesty by the city of Paris。 He has at
last received news of his balloon。〃〃Where did it fall？〃 asked the
Emperor。 〃At Rome； Sire！〃〃Ah； that is really very singular。〃 〃Yes；
Sire； Garnerin's balloon has thus； in twenty…four hours； shown your
imperial crown in the two capitals of the world。〃 Then the minister
related to his Majesty the following details； which were published at the
time； but which I think sufficiently interesting to be repeated here。
Garnerin had attached to his balloon the following notice：
〃The balloon carrying this letter was sent up at Paris on the evening of
the 25th Frimaire （Dec。 16） by Monsieur Garnerin； special aeronaut of his
Majesty the Emperor of Russia； and ordinary aeronaut of the French
government； on the occasion of a fete given by the city of Paris to the
Emperor Napoleon； celebrating his coronation。 Whoever finds this balloon
will please inform M。 Garnerin； who will go to the spot。〃
The aeronaut expected； doubtless； to receive notice next day that his
balloon had fallen in the plain of Saint…Denis； or in that of Grenelle；
for it is to be presumed that he hardly dreamed of going to Rome when he
engaged to go to the spot。 More than fifteen days passed before he
received the expected notice； and he had probably given up his balloon as
lost； when there came the following letter from the nuncio of his
Holiness：
〃Cardinal Caprara is charged by his Excellency Cardinal Gonsalvi；
Secretary of State of His Holiness； to remit to M。 Garnerin a copy
of a letter dated Dec。 18。 He hastens to send it； and also to add a
copy of the note which accompanied it。 The cardinal also takes this
occasion to assure Monsieur Garnerin of his highest esteem。〃
To this letter was added a translation of the report made to the
cardinal； secretary of state at Rome； by the Duke of Mondragone； and
dated from Anguillora； near Rome； Dec。 18：
〃Yesterday evening about twenty…four o'clock there passed through
the air a globe of astonishing size； which fell upon Lake Bracciano；
and had the appearance of a house。 Boatmen were sent to bring it to
land； but they were not able to do so； as a high wind prevailed；
accompanied by snow。 This morning early they succeeded in bringing
it ashore。 This globe is of oiled silk； covered with netting； and
the wire gallery is a little broken。 It seems to have been lighted
by lamps and colored lanterns； of which much debris remains。
Attached to the globe was found the following notice 〃 （which is
given above）。
Thus we see that this balloon； which left Paris at seven o'clock on the
evening of Dec。 16； had fallen next day； the 17th； near Rome； at twenty…
four o'clock； that is to say； at sunset。 It had crossed France； the
Alps； etc。； and passed over a space of more than three hundred leagues in
twenty…two hours； its rate of speed being then fifteen leagues （45 miles）
per hour； and； what renders this still more remarkable； is the fact that
its weight was increased by decorations weighing five hundred pounds。
An account of the former trips of this balloon will not be without
interest。 Its first ascension was made in the presence of their Prussian
Majesties and the whole court； upon which occasion it carried M。
Garnerin； his wife； and M。 Gaertner； and descended upon the frontiers of
Saxony。
The second ascension was at St。 Petersburg； in the presence of the
Emperor； the two Empresses； and the court； carrying Monsieur and Madame
Garnerin； and it fell a short distance off in a marsh。 This was the
first balloon ascension ever seen in Russia。
The third trial was also at St。 Petersbu
