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Lady Dufferin: Austrian

It is satisfactory to know that the Major ultimately reached France, and founded a family there. heavy splash, caused by the falling of the spar and Napoleon at the Austrian Ambassador's I Ball. the rope-ladder, which Marion had thrown down the opening; and this was followed by the noise of the flagstone fitting into its place overhead. Thus all traces of my escape were destroyed, so far as the interior of the chapel was concerned; and who could now suspect Marion? As for myself, there I was in the very bowels of the Bass Rock, and exposed to perils which I little dreamed of at the moment when I first set foot in that boat. The creek, as I may so term it, which flowed underneath the chapel, and down to which a well had been dug to a considerable mansion was hired for the occasion. Communicating N honor alike of the new matrimonial and political alliance, a grand ball was was given on the first July, 1810, by the Austrian Ambassador. For this ball the most extensive and expensive preparations were made. The Ambassador occupied a large mansion, the so-called Hôtel de Montesson, which, for a festival on the vastest imaginable scale, was deemed considerably too small. To furnish additional space, the adjoining with the two mansions, an enormous wooden building | tended with a terror which the cheek confessed, but was erected in the garden. This massive structure which the lip disavowed. was to form the dancing hall. Hosts of carpenters Having been a witness of the disaster, from the outand decorators toiled night and day; the darkness set, Napoleon could watch its progress with a certain brought no pause, and the furious heat of noon logical frigidity, even if he had not been trained to be brought no rest. As an external covering, the roof calm in the presence of destruction. He had taken and the side walls had wax-cloth. Inside, magnificent hangings, huge mirrors, countless colored lamps, vied in adding to the picturesque diversity. The columns which supported a species of gallery, and severed it from the principal space, were prodigally robed in the costliest stuffs. Between column and column, muslin, gauze and garlands of flowers fluttered and enter- Austrian Ambassador would burn a ball-room in order his post beside the Empress, as well to protect her as to observe the progress of the conflagration. But many of his faithful ones, suspecting treachery, formed impetuously and indignantly a guard round him, and drew their swords to shield them from all harm; though it was improbable enough that the twined. In the air floated crystal chandeliers, not that the dagger of the assassin might have the free flashing in solitary grandeur, but wedded to all the play. As if in scorn of such unworthy suspicions, the surrounding ornaments by silver-wrought and goldwrought ribands and draperies. At the end of the hall-remotest from the main entrance, and most immediately communicating with the mansion-on a slightly-raised platform, which was covered with goldwrought cloth, were two thrones. During one of the tunes the Emperor and the Empress arose, and, he going in one direction and she in another, they sauntered along the ranks of the guests, chatting with some persons and receiving the salutations of others who had just arrived. The Empress soon returned to her seat, but the Emperor lingered at the other end of the hall. He was talking to the Princess Pauline Schwarzenberg, who had presented her daughter to him, when, behind the columns of the gallery, the flame of one of the lamps was driven by a current of air toward a gauze hanging, which it set on fire.

There was a bright blaze, but it immediately vanished, and along with it the alarm which it had excited. One flickering gleam, which menaced further mischief, the Count Von Bentheim crushed out with his hat; and Count Dumanoir, chamberlain of the Emperor, tore down some of the gauze hangings in which the enemy still lurked. As spark after spark Austrian Ambassador kept close to the side of the Emperor; and when it rapidly became manifest that the fire was beyond control, he fervently besought. Napoleon to withdraw without a moment's delay. Making no reply, Napoleon took the arm of the Empress, and with measured steps, as if hurry would have been a sign of cowardice, he followed the Ambassador to the garden portal, entreating the guests, as on the right and the left they made way for him, to be composed and orderly. Vain words! No longer restrained by the Emperor's glance, the well-bred assembly was converted into a tumultuous rabble, and struggling, scrambling, pushing, and with wild cries of terror or of anger, the chaos of human beings dashed at the portal, almost before the shadow of earth's foremost man had ceased to darken it.

With the best intentions, but perhaps with defective wisdom, considering the character of the man for whom the service was meant, the Ambassador ordered the imperial carriages to leave the court of the mansion, thus escaping the peril and the perplexity reigning there, and to go round to a quiet street which communicated with the garden. By this plan the Emperor was to pass through a small gate, get unobserved into his carriage, and drive off undisturbed. All risk died under his feet the peril seemed over. Meanwhile, to him from secret enemies, from assassins, would almost unperceived, the flames were travelling upwards, hereby be avoided, and the perfect good faith of the seizing the lighter draperies and streamers and gar- Ambassador be vindicated. As soon, however, as lands. As the flames crossed each other, and blended Napoleon perceived that he was not going in the dion the roof, the guests felt as if some invisible demon ❘rection of the court of the mansion, he stood still, and were weaving a web of fire. Soon the crackling of asked the attendants whither they were leading him. the doomed roof was almost the only sound heard, When the arrangement made by the Ambassador was for the music was hushed, and the musicians had fled explained to him he strongly disapproved of it, and in terror and disorder. The wind had risen to a gale, cried, "No, no; I must leave by the main entrance." and, rushing in through the same passage by which He turned at once round, and the carriages, which the musicians rushed out, it stirred to tenfold fury the had already been brought near to the small garden destroyer. Like the music, the dancing had ceased. gate in the retired street, were sent back to the main Anxious and bewildered, the guests appeared not to entrance, there to wait for him. There was a serious know whether they should yield to fear and run loss of time from this trifling affair, in which, if the away, or obey etiquette and remain. Interest in the Ambassador was not altogether discreet, the Emperor grand spectacle, and curiosity about the result con- was decidedly perverse, unless he really believed, even without questioning the Ambassador's honor, that the small garden gate was simply a trap. The statement in the Moniteur, that it was through the small garden gate that Napoleon passed to his carriage, was, it is unnecessary to say, erroneous. That some French officers cried, before Napoleon left the dancing-hall, "O my God! The Emperor! the Emperor is not saved!" proved the excess of their zeal, and the zeal may have been most commendable. But the Emperor and the Empress were not in any danger.