1784 Prince Charles sent off from the public square in front of the hôtel des États, at Mons, a magnificent balloon, constructed at his own expense. He had invited the Duke and Duchess of Aremberg and a great many distinguished personages of the Courts of Brussels and Versailles, who, after the ascent of the balloon, all returned to Bel Œil.[42] FOOTNOTES: [32] The volumes printed at Bel Œil are extremely rare and much in demand. M. Adolphe Gaiffe is in possession of one of the two known copies of the Chevalier de l’Isle’s poems. From a memorandum left by the Princess, we believe that part of her childhood’s _Memoirs_ was printed by her husband at Bel Œil. [33] A catalogue of them was made by Adam Bartsch in 1794; it contained six thousand numbers. [34] Son of Augustus III., King of Poland; and Field-Marshal in the Austrian army. He was born on 11th July 1738, and married, on 8th April 1766, Marie-Christine-Josepha-Jeanne-Antoinette, sister of the Emperor Joseph, born on 13th May 1742. She died in 1798, and the Archduke Albert in 1822. [35] TO HÉLÈNE. A dark mist Concealed our road; We wandered in the open air, But at last we reach our goal, Thanks to the star. Was it the star That formerly led us heavenwards? Or was it of Venus the guiding star? I am disposed to believe That it was this latter star. ’Tis to Hélène That this star led us, Too happy he that by it brought, Comes just at the happy moment Near to Hélène. [36] It was to this witty Marquise de Coigny that the Prince de Ligne addressed the charming letters written from Tauris. [37] Familiar nickname of the Princesse Charles. [38] Madame d’Andlau was daughter of the famous Helvétius and Mademoiselle de Ligneville. She had educated her daughter, Madame de Sabran, very well: Madame d’Andlau in no way shared her father’s opinions. [39] We read in the _Gazette des Pays Bas_, dated Thursday, 17th July 1783: “On Monday, H.R.H. the Comte d’Artois, accompanied by their Excellencies the Governors-General, saw all that was remarkable in the vicinity. The next day the Prince, with their Royal Highnesses, left for the Chateau de Marimont, from whence he was going to Bel Œil.” [40] The Prince de Ligne had a particular affection for Boufflers. It would appear, however, that the Chevalier had a very uneven temper, for Madame de Sabran, in one of the charming letters she wrote him, gives us the following sketch: “It is not your manners, which are those of a savage, your absent and moody appearance, your sharp and genuine wit, your large appetite, and your deep sleep whenever one wishes to converse with you, which made me love you to distraction. It is I know not what: a certain sympathy that makes me think and feel like you, for under that rough exterior you conceal the spirit of an angel and the heart of a woman.” [41] See his _Letters to Eugénie on Theatricals_. Paris, 1771.