(17)
It was a pyramid, compoſed of different kinds of fireworks, to be played off; unfortunately, he had forgotten to remove a little box, containing ſeveral pounds of powder; and the ſpectators little imagined how dear they were about to pay for their innocent curioſity. We were preſſing round the little building, to which he had ſet fire; and, while we were admiring the effect, ſome unlucky ſparks entered the fatal magazine: the exploſion was dreadful! ſome legs and arms broben, two or three faces miſerably burned, and ſome paces of wall thrown down, were the diſagreeable conſiquences of it, but while, to ſave themſelves, all thoſe whom the ſplinters had not reached, were broking down the palliſades of the neighbouring gardens, Bonaparte was ſeen, armed with a pick-ax, puſhing back into the fire all thoſe who had burſt through his fence; he became enraged in ſeeing the deſtruction of his arbour, and the blows which he beſtowed on the unhappy fugives, increaſed the number of the wounded. It is needleſs to ſay how our comrades were revenged; Bonaparte himſef, without doubt, would own now that he juſtly deſerved our reſentment, but at the time he thought of nothing but his rained garden: he had no concern in the imprudence of his companions, and he thought it hard to be the victim of it. Exaſperated, perhaps, by the noiſy demonſtrations of a joy of which his heart did not partake, it is alſo very reaſonable to ſuppoſe that rojoicings in honour of a King,
