The Percy Anecdotes

when Napoleon requested the aëronaut to permit him to mount the car in company with him. This however was refused, from an apprehension that the feelings of the boy might embarrass the experiments; in which Buonaparte is stated to have exclaimed, “I am young, it is true, but fear neither the powers of earth nor of air!" sternly adding, "Will you let me ascend?" The erratic philosopher sharply replied, "No, sir, I will not; I beg that you will retire." The little cadet, enraged at the refusal, instantly drew a small sabre, which he wore with his uniform, cut the balloon in several places, and destroyed the curious apparatus which the aëronaut had constructed with infinite labour and ingenuity for the purpose of his experiment.

Such was the last notable act of the boyhood of Napoleon Buonaparte; it would seem as if on the verge of manhood, he had in this one adventure prefigured the whole of that extraordinary career which he afterwards run; as the clouds aspiring, as the air trackless, its only object to ascend; its only rudder the whirlwind; a vapour its impulse; downfall its destiny.

CAPTURE OF PARIS.

When Paris was attacked in 1814 by the allied armies, the Parisian artillery placed on the heights of Montmartre was served by the pupils of the Poly technic school, who were principally from twelve to fifteen years old. They of course were inexperienced in war; yet they rivalled in ardour the veterans with whom they associated; and their well-directed fire

filled the approaches to the positions with the dead bodies of the enemy. Thus transformed into disciples of war, they served the batteries with all the enthusiasm of valour, and never shrunk from their post whilst it could be retained. Several hundred of these youths fell in the dreadful conflict.

YOUTHFUL COURTIER.

On Napoleon Buonaparte's return from the island of Elba, the parents of a boy who had been remarkably attached to the emperor in his exile, presented a petition for their son, and enclosed in it the following verses, which he then, in his eighth year, had composed upon the occasion. The writer was favoured with a copy of them from the boy himself.

"CHANNON ET L'AIR CHARLES VII. "Il faut combattre l'empereur bordonne Nous obeirons à ses lois

Pour conserver sa couronne

Nous chasserons tous le rois.

Allons enfans de la patrie

Jurons tous à notre empereur
De lui bien conserver la vie (bis.)

Avec lui n'ayons jamais peur." (bis.)

Napoleon received the petition with complaisance, and observed to a by-stander, "Que sera donc est enfant à trente ans sì a huit il a fait ceci.

YOUNG NAPOLEON.

The Emperor of Austria, with his two daughters and his grandson, the King of Rome, being on a visit at Schoenbrun, in July, 1816, wished to see a young lion which the Princess of Wales had presented to his imperial majesty. The lion being very young, was nursed by two goats; on the approach of the archduchesses, one of the goats came forward in a menacing attitude. Young Napoleon seeing this, ran to the goat, took hold of her horns, and said very deliberately to his aunt, "Vous pouvez passer maintenant ma taute, n'ayez pas peur, je la retiens." The emperor was extremely pleased with the infantile spirit of his grandson, and said to him, "That is well my boy, I like you for that, for I see you choose the right way where there is danger."