wrote to the archduke by the Prince of Neuchatel the following letter； a
copy of which accidentally fell into my hands：
〃The Prince de Neuchatel to his Highness the Archduke Maximilian；
commanding the town of Vienna；
〃His Majesty the Emperor and King desires to spare this large and
worthy population the calamities with which it is threatened； and
charges me to represent to your Highness； that if he continues the
attempt to defend this place； it will cause the destruction of one
of the finest cities of Europe。 In every country where he has waged
war； my sovereign has manifested his anxiety to avoid the disasters
which armies bring on the population。 Your Highness must be
persuaded that his Majesty is much grieved to see this town； which
he has the glory of having already saved； on the point of being
destroyed。 Nevertheless； contrary to the established usage of
fortresses； your Highness has fired your cannon from the city walls；
and these cannon may kill； not an enemy of your sovereign； but the
wives or children of his most devoted servants。 If your Highness
prolongs the attempt to defend the place； his Majesty will be
compelled to begin his preparations for attack； and the ruin of this
immense capital will be consummated in thirty…six hours； by the
shells and bombs from our batteries； as the outskirts of the town
will be destroyed by the effect of yours。 His Majesty does not
doubt that these considerations will influence your Highness to
renounce a determination which will only delay for a short while the
capture of the place。 If； however； your Highness has decided not to
pursue a course which will save the town from destruction； its
population plunged by your fault into such terrible misfortunes will
become； instead of faithful subjects； the enemies of your house。〃
This letter did not deter the grand duke from persisting in his defense；
and this obstinacy exasperated the Emperor to such a degree that he at
last gave orders to place two batteries in position； and within an hour
cannonballs and shells rained upon the town。 The inhabitants； with true
German indifference； assembled on the hillsides to watch the effect of
the fires of attack and defense； and appeared much interested in the
sight。 A few cannonballs had already fallen in the court of the Imperial
palace when a flag of truce came out of the town to announce that the
Archduchess Marie Louise had been unable to accompany her father； and was
ill in the palace； and consequently exposed to danger from the artillery；
and the Emperor immediately gave orders to change the direction of the
firing so that the bombs and balls would pass over the palace。 The
archduke did not long hold out against such a sharp and energetic attack；
but fled； abandoning Vienna to the conquerors。
On the 12th of May the Emperor made his entrance into Vienna； one month
after the occupation of Munich by the Austrians。 This circumstance made
a deep impression； and did much to foster the superstitious ideas which
many of the troops held in regard to the person of their chief。 〃See；〃
said one； 〃he needed only the time necessary for the journey。 That man
must be a god。〃〃He is a devil rather；〃 said the Austrians； whose
stupefaction was indescribable。 They had reached a point when many
allowed the arms to be taken out of their hands without making the least
resistance； or without even attempting to fly； so deep was their
conviction that the Emperor and his guard were not men； and that sooner
or later they must fall into the power of these supernatural enemies。
CHAPTER XV。
The Emperor did not remain in Vienna； but established his headquarters at
the chateau of Schoenbrunn； an imperial residence situated about half a
league from the town； and the ground in front of the chateau was arranged
for the encampment of the guard。 The chateau of Schoenbrunn； erected by
the Empress Maria Theresa in 1754； and situated in a commanding position；
is built in a very irregular； and defective； but at the same time
majestic； style of architecture。 In order to reach it； there has been
thrown over the little river； la Vienne； a broad and well…constructed
bridge； ornamented with four stone sphinxes； and in front of the bridge
is a large iron gate； opening on an immense court； in which seven or
eight thousand men could be drilled。 This court is square； surrounded by
covered galleries； and ornamented with two large basins with marble
statues； and on each side of the gateway are two large obelisks in rose…
colored stone； surmounted by eagles of gilded lead。
'Schoenbrunn'； in German； signifies beautiful fountain； and this name
comes from a clear and limpid spring； which rises in a grove in the park；
on a slight elevation； around which has been built a little pavilion；
carved on the inside to imitate stalactites。 In this pavilion lies a
sleeping Naiad； holding in her hand a shell； from which the water gushes
and falls into a marble basin。 This is a delicious retreat in summer。
We can speak only in terms of admiration regarding the interior of the
palace； the furniture of which was handsome and of an original and
elegant style。 The Emperor's sleeping…room； the only part of the
building in which there was a fireplace； was ornamented with wainscoting
in Chinese lacquer work； then very old； though the painting and gilding
were still fresh； and the cabinet was decorated like the bedroom； and all
the apartments； except this； were warmed in winter by immense stoves；
which greatly injured the effect of the interior architecture。 Between
the study and the Emperor's room was a very curious machine； called the
flying chariot； a kind of mechanical contrivance； which had been made for
the Empress Maria Theresa； and was used in conveying her from one story
to the other； so that she might not be obliged to ascend and descend
staircases like the rest of the world。 This machine was operated by
means of cords； pulleys； and weights； like those at the theater。
The beautiful grove which serves as park and garden to the palace of
Schoenbrunn is much too small to belong to an imperial residence； but；
on the other hand； it would be hard to find one more beautiful or better
arranged。 The park of Versailles is grander and more imposing； but it
has not the picturesque irregularity； the fantastic and unexpected
beauties； of the park of Schoenbrunn； and more closely resembles the park
at Malmaison。 In front of the interior facade of the palace was a
magnificent lawn； sloping down to a broad lake； decorated with a group of
statuary representing the triumph of Neptune。 This group is very fine；
but French amateurs （every Frenchman； as you are aware； desires to be
considered a connoisseur） insisted that the women were more Austrian than
Grecian； and that they did not possess the slender grace belonging to
antique forms； and； for my part； I must confess that these statues did
not appear to me very remarkable。
At the end of the grand avenue； and bounding the horizon； rose a hill；
which overlooked the park； and was crowned by a handsome building； which
bore the name of la Gloriette。 This building was a circular gallery；
inclosed with glass； supported by a charming colonnade； between the
arches of which hung various trophies。 On entering the avenue from the
direction of Vienna； la Gloriette rose at the farther end； seeming almost
to form a part of the palace； and the effect was very fine。
What the Austrians especially admired in the palace of Schoenbrunn was a
grove； containing what they called the Ruins； and a lake with a fountain
springing from the midst； and several small cascades flowing from it； by
this lake were the ruins of an aqueduct and a temple； fallen vases；
tombs； broken bas…reliefs； statues without heads； arms； or limbs； while
limbs； arms； and heads lay thickly scattered around； columns mutilated
and half…buried； others standing and supporting the remains of pediments
and entablatures； all combining to form a scene of beautiful disorder；
and representing a genuine ancient ruin when viewed from a short
distance。 Viewed more closely； it is quite another thing： the hand of
the modern sculptor is seen； it is evident that all these fragments are
made from the same kind of stone； and the weeds which grow in the hollows
of these columns appear what they really are； that is to say； made of
stone； and painted to imitate verdure。
But if the productions of art scattered through the park of Schoenbrunn
were not all irreproachable； those of nature fully made up the
deficiency。 What magnificent trees！ What thick hedges！ What dense and
refreshing shade！ The avenues were remarkably high and broad； and
bordered with trees； which formed a vault impenetrable to the sun； while
the eye lost itself in their many windings； from these other smaller
walks diverged； where fresh surprises were in store at every step。 At
the end of the broadest of these was placed the menagerie； which was one
of the most extensive and varied in Europe； and its construction； which
was very ingenious； might well serve as a model； it was shaped like a
star； and in the round center of this star had been erected a small but
very elegant kiosk； placed there by the Empress Maria Theresa as a
resting…place for herself； and from which the whole menagerie could be
viewed at leisure。
Each point of this star formed a separate garden； where there could be
seen elephants； buffaloes； camels； dromedaries； stags； and kangaroos
grazing； handsome and substantial cages held tigers； bears； leopards；
lions； hyenas； etc； and swans and rare aquatic birds and amphibious
animals sported in basins surrounded by iron gratings。 In this menagerie
I specially remarked a very extraordinary animal； which his Majesty had
ordered brought to France； but which had died the day before it was to
have started。 This animal was from Poland； and was called a 'curus'； it
was a kind of ox； though much larger than an ordinary ox； with a mane
like a lion； horns rather short and somewhat curved； and enormously large
at the base