Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-27

'"is Hlonth, Is from an original picture oy Jsc-
ques Lecurieux. This painting appeared in
the Louvre in 1745. and was the subject OF
general admir- ation as work Of art During
the exhibition it became an object of universal
attention, ior the interesting history it perpetu
ates of that invention or discovery which has
since made steam so useful an ngen, in the
economy Of the ci, iizcd world.
From pri. .ate memoirs ol the French Court
we fad that in I6ll an English noileinan Ed
ward Somerset, Marquis Of Worcester. being
In Paris. was accompanied by the celebrated
Marion Delorme, while visiting the various
places OF curiosity and interest in that great
metropolis. To the correspondence of thar
lady history is Indebted for the only authentic
account of the interview with De Caus. from
whom the Marqnic Of Worcester learned the
theory ofs'eam- power, and afterwards publish
cd It. in 1868. as his own discovery. in a work
entitled "A Century Of Inventions"
The following translation of letter from
Marion DeIorme to the Marquis De Ciuq Mars
contains very explicit account of the inter-
view between De Caus and Worcester. ami
furnishes the text from which Lecuricux de-
signed his pictures:
'FEBRuARY 3, 164l.
"MY DEAR DEFFIAr: While you forget me
at Narbonne, and are giving yourself up To the
pleasures Of the Court and the joy Of meeting
Monsieur the Cardinal. i, following your wish,
do the honors Of Psris to your Eng lish lord. the
Marquis OF Worcester. and lead him, or rather
he leads me, from one object of curiosity TO
another, choosing always the saddest and most
serious. and fixing his large blue eyes on those
he questions as il to penetrate their inmost
thoughts. To speak further of him, he is
never con,euted with the explanations given
and never regards objects in the same light with
those who show them to him; for instance, IA
visit thai we made together to the Bicetre.
where he pretends 70 have discovered man
Of genius in Iunatic! IL this maniac h I'd not
been raging mad. verify believe the Marquis
would have demanded his liberty and taken
him 10 London. there to hear his foles from
morning till night. As We crossed the luna,ic
quarters, and |. more dead than alive with fear,
leaned on my companion, an ugly face showed
itself behind great bars, and commenced cry
ing in broken voice, Il am not mad! Ihare
made a discovery mhich ,rW enrich any com
try that mWP it in opevation'
"'Ah!' said he, Struggling his shoulders.
something very simple, and what you could
never guess-il is the employment ofthe vapor
of boiling water
al commenced laughing.
"'This man, continued he, lis named Salo-
mon de Caus. He rame from Normandy four
years since to present to the notice of the King
treatise on the marvellous effects that can he
obtained by his inventions; that is, by steam to
propel machines, drive carriages, and do. for
aught know, a thousand other miracles. The
Cardinal dismissed the madman without an
audience; but Salomom de Caus. instead Of
being discouraged, commenced following Mon
seigneur the Cardinal every where, until he,
tared Of finding him at his heels, and Emporium
ed by his follies. ordered him to be shut up in
the Bicetre. where lie has now been three
years and half, and where. as you have heard
he cries TO every stranger that he is not mad,
and that he has made wonderful discovery-
He has even written to prove this book
" hch have here
"My Lord Worcester. who had been all at
tei,fion, drma nded the book, and, after having
re ad som. pages in it, said. This man is not
m al; and in my country, instead of imprison.
ing him. they would have heaped riches and
honor on him: lead me to him.
They did SO; but he returned sad and pen.
sive.
HE is now, in truth. crazy said he; mis-
fortune and captivity have deprived him Of rea-
son; you have made him mad; and when you
threw him into that cell you shut up the great
est genius Of the nge!'
"Afier this We left; and since that time the
Marquis has continually spoken of Salomon dc
Caus.
Farewell, my beloved and faithful Henry;
return soon, and in the happiness YOU now en-
Joy let there be still some love left for your
own MARION DELoRME."
The authenticity Of this letter is beyond
doubt and it was found among the effects of
Henri Coi6aer de Rnge d'Is1iat, Marquis de
CInq Mars. who. for suspected court intrigues.
was beheaded at Lyons in 1642. only one year
after the date Of this Interesting letter from the
celebrated woman to whom it was said he had
been secretly married.
The artist has treated this subject in very
mastery style. The scene is well chosen, the
grouping admirable. and the tabeaux beauti-
fully designed. The composition is original.
and could not be improved. The head of De
Caus is finely conceived. contrasting nobly
with the various expressions of the lunatics
around. The figures of the Marquis and his
lovely companion are highly characteristic Of
the c"urtly elegance Of that luxurious age
We feel indebted to MIR. Lecurieux for the
conception of such work fart, the embodi-
ment and execution of which have served to
awaken most absorbing interest in the mourn
ful story Of poor De Cans.
We may easily believe that Richelieu de.
MED De Caus an audience with the King
The willy Cardinal had diplomatic schemes
enough to employ ali the money in his treas
nry, without assisting a man whose theory.
even if correct, would call for additional ex-
pendtures. But we can find no excuse for
the incarceration of poor Salomon do Caus.
1t Is difficult to conceive more melancholy
fate than his. We can imagine the feelings,
the aspirations of a man of genius, of an su.
thor-for he had already published. as early
as the year 1885, work entitled "Les Raj
sons des forces ,n01ranfes; arec direrses ma
chimes. tout Ntile qxe plaisants" his
provincial home for the great city Of Paris,
filed with the enthusiasm that had sustained
him
Through long days Of labor,
And nights devoid ofeas-."
while he had pursued those researches and
experiments which finally produced the most
successful result that ever crowned the efforts
of a student. What disappointment he must
have endured when the haughry Cardinal re-
fused him access to the king. and laughed at
that treaties in which were embodied the i'm.
perishable ideas that had been carefully sifted
from the harvest Of thought. in which he had
spent the strength and vigor Of his entire man.