The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-04-24
VOL. VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Aapolron AND 33arfs in 1906.
From Tom Burke Of " Ours"
By DR.. LEVER.

make their life one of daily magnifcence and
pleasure. Daru himself, the especial favor
lite of the Emperor, took the head of the ia
bic each day, to which generally some of
the ministers were invited, while the Monl-
teur Of every morning chronicled the festivi-
ties giving eclat to the most minute crcum-
stances, and making Paris re-echo to the glo-
ries of him, of whose fame they were but the
messengers.
The most costly equipages-saddle horses
of great price-grooms in gorgeous liveries-
all that could attract notice and admiration,
were put in requsition; while ceremonies of
pomp went forward day by day, and the dep
utation received in state the congratulatory
visits of different departments of the govern
ment.
While thus this homage was paid tqvthe
semblance of Napoleon's glory, his progress
! through Germany was one grand triumphal
procession. One day we read of his arrival
at Munich, whittier the Empress had gone to
meet him there he was welcomed with the
most frantic enthusiasm. He had restored to
tdem their army almost without loss, and COW
| cred with laurels; he had elevated their cleo
tor TO a throne, while he cemented the friend
ship between the two nations by the marriage
of Eugene Beauharnois with the princess of
Bavaria, Another account would tell us of
sixteen thousand Russian prisoners on their
way to France, accompanied by two thou
sand cannon taken from the Austrians. All
that could excite national enthusiasm, and
crafty national vanity, was detailed by the
government press, and poular excitement
raised TO higher pitch than in the widest
periods of the revolution.
Hourly was his arrival looked forward 10
with anxiety and impotence. Fctes on the
most splendid scale Of magnifcence were in
preparation, and the public bodies of Paris
! held meetings to concert measures for his tri-
umphal reception. At last, a telegraphic
despatch announced his arrival at Strasbourg
He crossed the Rhine at the very place where
one hundred days before, he passed over on
his march against the Austrans-one hun
dred days of such glory as not even his ca
reer had equalled. Ulm and Austerlitz, van
quished Russia, and ruined Austria, the tro-
phies of this brief space. Never had his gen.
Jus shone with greater splendor-never had
fortune shown herself more the companion of
his destiny.
Each hour was now counted. and every
thought turned to the day when he might be
expected to arrive, and on the evening of the
25th came the intelligence that the Emperor
was approaching Paris. He had halted part
of day at Nancy to review some regiments
of cavalry, and now might be expected in less
than twenty -four hours. The next morning
all Paris awoke at an early hour, when, what
was the surprise and disappointment to see
the great flag floating from the pavilion of
the Tuileries. His majesty had arrived du-
ring the night, when, at once sending for the
minister of finance, he proceeded, without
taking a moments repose, 10 examine into
the dreadful crisis which threatened the bank
of France and the verv existence of the gov
eminent.
i At eleven, the counsel OF state were assem-
bed at the Tuilleries and at twelve, proc
lamation, dispersed through Paris, announced
that NJ. Molten was appointed minister, and
NJ. Marbois was dismissed from his Office
The rapidly OF these changes and the avoid
ance Of all public homage by the Emperor,
threw, for several days, a cast of gloom over
the whole city, which was soon dissipated by
the temperance of Napoleon, and the pub
LEGATION of the celebrated report by NJ. Cham
pagny, in which the glories of France-hei
victOrieS-hcr acquisitions in wealth, terrific
~, and iniluence-were recited in terms
whose adulation it would be now difficult 10
: digest.
From that moment the festivities of Paris
commenced, and with a splendor unsurpass-
ed by any period of the empire. 1t was the
, Augustan era of Napoleons life, and all that
concerned the fine arts-for literature, unhap-
PLY, did not flourish at any time beneath his
reign-Gerard and Gros, David, Ingres, and
Isabey, committed to canvass the glories OF
the German campaigns; and the capitulation
} of UIm-the taking of Vienna-the passage
of the Danube, and the field of Austerliz
still live in genius of these great painters.
The opera, too, under the direction Of
Cimarosa, had attained to an unwonted ex-
cellence; while Spontini and Boildieu, il
their separate walks, gave origin 10 the
school so distinctly that of the comic opera
Still the voluptuous tastes of the day prevail
! ed above all; and the ballet, and the strange
I conceptions of Nicolo, Maltese composer
in which music, dancing romance, and scene
ry, all figured, were the passion of the time
Dancing was, indeed, the great art of the
era. Vestris and Trenis were the great name:
in every saloon; and all the extravagan
graces and voluptuous groupings of the bal
: let were introduced into the amusements o
society; even the taste in dress was made
subordinate to this passion-the light anC
r floating materials, which mark the figure anC
E display symmetry, replacing the heavier anC
more costly robes of former times. The re
action TO the stern puritanism of the republi
can age had set in, and secretly was favored
, by Napoleon himself, who saw in all this ex
/ travagance and abandonment to pleasure, tn,
basis of that new social state, on which b,
purposed to found his dynasty.
: Never were the entertainments at the Tuil
4 leries more costly-never was greater mag
/: nificence displayed in all the ceremonial o
: state. The marshals of the empire were en-
: Joined to maintain a style corresponding t
i their exalted position and the reports of tn
police were actually studied, respecting sue
= persons as lived in what was deemed man
:! = ner unbefitting their means of expense.
IL Csmbarces and Fouche, Talleyrand an
+ Murat, all maintained splendid establish
" ments. Their dinners were given twice eac
n week, and their receptions were almost ever
n evening. If the Emperor conferred wealt
: with liberal hand, so did he expect too see
> freely expended. He knew well the importanc
III of facilitating the affections of the bourgeois
Re of Paris, and that by no means could such a
Il