This page has been validated.
CHAPTER XXIV.
experience at courts.
The Author invited to a Meeting at Turin of the Philosophers of Italy, 1840—The King, Charles Albert—Reflections on Shyness—Question of Dress—Electric Telegraph—Theory of Storms—Remark of an Italian Friend in the evening at the Opera—Various Instruments taken to the Palace, and shown to the young Princes—The Queen being absent—The reason why—The young Princes did great credit to their Governor—The General highly gratified—The Philosopher proposes another difficult question—It is referred to the King himself—An audience is granted to ask the King's permission to present the woven Silk Engraving of Jacquard to Her Majesty—Singular but Comic Scene—The final Capture of the Butterflies—Visit to Raconigi—The Vintage.
About a quarter of a century ago the Court of Turin had the reputation of being the most formal and punctilious of any in Europe. It was dull to the diplomatic officials, who were doomed like planets to circulate around it, though not without interest to the inquiring traveller, whose orbit, like that of a comet, passed through its atmosphere only at distant intervals.
In 1840 I received a gratifying invitation to meet the élite of the science of Italy at Turin. On my arrival I immediately took measures to pay my respects in the usual manner to the sovereign of the country. Having inquired of a nobleman [1] high in the confidence of the King, when there
- ↑ Conte D. Alessandro Saluzzo di Monesiglio, Grande di Corona, Presid. della sexiare dell' interne nel cosiglio di stato, &c.
