12 CARNOT. 



had almost said of the new organs which man had just 

 received from the hands of Montgolfier. The physical 

 philosopher, transported into the region of meteors, and 

 catching Nature in the act, penetrated at a glance the 

 mystery of the formation of lightning, of snow, and of 

 hail. The geographer, profiting by a favourable wind, was 

 to explore, without danger or fatigue, as well those polar 

 zones which the accumulated ice of centuries seems to 

 wish to conceal for ever from our curiosity, as those 

 central parts of Africa, New Holland, Java, Sumatra, 

 and Borneo, forbidden to our enterprises not less by a 

 deadly climate than by the fierce animals and tribes 

 which live there. Certain generals thought it an urgent 

 duty to study the systems of fortification and artillery 

 which it would be necessary to oppose to enemies moving 

 in balloons ; others elaborated new principles of tactics 

 applicable to aerial battles. One would say that projects 

 such as these, which might have been fathered on Ariosto, 

 should certainly have satisfied the most adventurous and 

 enthusiastic spirits : such was not the case, however. 

 The discovery of balloons, notwithstanding the brilliant 

 accessories with which each one enthusiastically sur- 

 rounded it, appeared to be only the forerunner of still 

 greater discoveries ; henceforward nothing was to be im- 

 possible to one who had conquered the atmosphere. This 

 idea was continually reproducing itself; it put on every 

 shape ; youth seized it with joy ; old age made it the 

 text of a thousand bitter regrets. See the Marechale de 

 Villeroi, an octogenarian and an invalid : she is led to 

 one of the windows of the Tuileries almost by force, for 

 she does not believe in balloons ; the balloon neverthe- 

 less detaches itself from its moorings ; our colleague, 

 Charles, seated in the cradle, gaily salutes the spectators, 



