54 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. n. 
Tuileries, brilliantly illuminated and traversed by 
thousands of Parisians in their gayest attire. 
Here I wandered slowly about, now gazing at the 
sculptured deities, now stopping to smell at rare 
plants in full flower, till at length I found myself 
on a terrace and looked down upon an immense 
place bounded by illuminated houses. I then 
approached a large building, the windows of which 
were filled with officers and ladies, and at one end, 
where the rooms appeared to be most brilliantly 
lighted, and towards which I had strolled, I heard 
a window suddenly thrown open and a fine form 
in the national uniform leant forwards gracefully, 
waving welcome with his hand to the crowds 
below, whose responsive shouts left me in no 
doubt that it was the King. A gun fired and a 
rocket shot up from the front of the palace, which , 
was answered by an immense flight of rockets, 
red, blue, and green balls from the Pont de la 
Revolution, which were followed by others in 
rapid succession, crossing each other and blending 
their different coloured balls in a beautiful manner. 
I should think altogether double the number of 
those expended during a whole season at Vauxhall. j 
Then came a shower of lights which made it I 
brilliant daylight in that quarter. | 
‘ The King then again came forward with his 
sons and his wife leaning over his shoulder, ' 
and a crowd of ladies and officers behind him. 
‘ C’est magnifique, c’est superbe ! ’ how often I 
