The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-18 00:00:00

" PARIS, FEB., 1641.—My dear Ediat, whil -au
are forgetting me at Narbonne, and giving a ourself tip :a
the pleasures of the Court, and the delight of thw arta g
M. le Cardinal de Richelieu, I, according to your e, (press
desire, am doing the hcnours of Paris to your E trgliA
Lord, the Marquis of Werccs!er ; ard I cerra i• hi a
about, or rather he carries M 7, from curios' if y
curiosity, choosing always the most grave at a I 7 -
rious, speaking very little, listening with extren la •
tention, and fixing on those whom he interril at, a
two large blue eyes, which seem to pierce to chic- vi • ;
centre of their thoughts. He is remarkable for la c%
being satisfied with any explanations wlieiit are g t
him, and he never sees things in the light to :it
they are shown him ; you may judge of this b it
isit we made together to Biectre, where he IM:4,
he had discovered a genius in a madman. It 1 i-• I
madman had not been actually raving, I verily be it
your Marquis would have entreated his lila :
and have carried hint off to London, in order •
hear his extravagances, from morning till night, at s
ease. We were crossing the court of the wadho sate
and I, more dead than alive with fright, kept clos tit
my companion's side, when a frighrtul face appea r. •I
behind some immense bars and a hoarse voice e:
claimed. I am not mad! I eta not mad !
made a discovery which would enrich the coun
that adopted it." What has he discovered;
I asked of our guide. !' he answered, shrugg; ;•
his shoulders, 'something trifling enough ; you wocj A
never guess it ; it is the use of the steam of bei
ing water.' 1 began to laugh. This man,' tort
nued the keeper, 'is named Salomon de Caus ; is I
came from Normanby, four years ago, to presei
to the King a statement of the wonderful affeu
that might be produced from his invention. '1
listen to him you would imagine that with steam yiat
could navigate ships, :140Ve carriages, in fact, the
is no end to the miracles, which, he insists upe, It
it, could be performed. The Cardinal sent 11. ft
madman away without listening to him. Sale -
mon de Caus, far from being discouraged,
lowed the Cardinal wherever he went, with the masts
determined perseverence, who, tired of finding him fo--
ever in his path, and annoyed to death with his folly, or-
dered him to be shut up in Bicetre, where he has r or. •
been for three years and a half, and where, as
hear, he calls out to every visitor that he is t at.
mad, but that he has made a valuable dis.e, -
very. He has even written a book on the stol-..
ject, which I have here.' Lord Worcester,
had listened to this account with much interest, aft , •
reflecting a time, asked for the book, of which, aftcr•
having read several pages, he said, This man .
not mad. In my country, instead of shuttli..e
him up, he would have been rewarded. Take Le-
to him, for I should like to ask him soeit•
questions.' He was accordingly conducted to hi-.
cell, but after a time he came back sad and thoughtful-
'He is indeed mad now,' said he ; " misfortune anti
captivity have alienated his reason, but it is you who have
to answer for his madness ; when you cast him into that
cell, you confined the greatest genius of the age.' After
this we went away, and since that time he has don
nothing but talk of Salomon de Caus. Adieu my dear-
friend and faithful Henry. Make haste and come
back, and pray do not be so happy where you are as
not to keep a little love for me,—MARION DELORME.