Georges CUVIER (1769-1832) zoologist and... - Lot 562 - Rossini

Lot 562
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Georges CUVIER (1769-1832) zoologist and... - Lot 562 - Rossini
Georges CUVIER (1769-1832) zoologist and paleontologist. L.A., [11 December 1797], to Achille d'Héricy in Fiquainville; 2 pages in-4, address. Relation of the triumphal celebration at the Palais du Luxembourg for the handing over by Bonaparte to the Directory of the treaty of Campo-Formio (December 10, 1797). "The celebration of yesterday had hardly interesting that the presence of Buonaparte. The remainder was sad, without order, and there were accidents. One had given appointment to the deputies at Merlin and Reubell's, to the ambassadors at La Reveillière's, to the military at Barras's [...] but the instructions were so badly given that several of the guests could not arrive, and were forced to enter with the crowd. Ropes had been stretched over the courtyard of the Luxembourg to cover it with canvas, because of the rain, and they had been attached to the balusters of the roof; the rain caused the ropes to shorten with so much force, that they tore off and threw down eleven of these balusters. Fortunately, this happened before anyone got there. A man fell from the top of a pavilion during the ceremony; he killed himself [...] Everything else was magnificent. The new costume of the Directory and its suite, in velvet, almost all covered with gold &c. the number and the superb dress of the troops, the Ambassadors, the Music&c. the court was decorated with the flags taken on the enemies. The speeches were too long, especially because nobody could hear them. That of Buonaparte alone was short. There were many flights. In the evening the illumination was brilliant; especially at the directoire where there was a dinner of 104 place settings, where the public could attend. [...] The theaters are full only of Buonaparte's praises; he is spoken of everywhere, and this unfortunate man will perhaps be disgraced and forgotten in a few days, so much misfortune follows closely a too brilliant happiness"... He hopes on his friend will receive "my work this week" [the first volume of his elementary Table of the natural history of animals]. Finally he speaks about his father who "is a little better, but I realize that he is very low"...
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