afterwards adjusted between plenipotentiaries on either side, in the
space of twenty-four hours. The espousals of Napoleon and Maria Louisa
were celebrated at Vienna, 11th March, 1810. The person of Bonaparte was
represented by his favourite Berthier, while the archduke Charles
assisted at the ceremony, in the name of the emperor Francis. A few days
afterwards, the youthful bride, accompanied by the queen of Naples,
proceeded towards France.

With good taste, Napoleon dispensed with the ceremonies used in the
reception of Marie Antoinette, whose marriage with Louis XVI., though
never named or alluded to, was in other respects the model of the
present solemnity. Near Soissons, a single horseman, no way
distinguished by dress, rode past the carriage in which the young
empress was seated, and had the boldness to return, as if to reconnoitre
more closely. The carriage stopped, the door was opened, and Napoleon,
breaking through all the tediousness of ceremony, introduced himself to
his bride, and came with her to Soissons. The marriage ceremony was
performed at Paris by Bonaparte's uncle, the Cardinal Fesch. The most
splendid rejoicings, illuminations, concerts, festivals, took place upon
this important occasion. But a great calamity occurred, which threw a
shade over these demonstrations of joy. Prince Schwarzenberg had given a
distinguished ball on the occasion, when unhappily the dancing-room,
which was temporary, and erected in the garden, caught fire. No efforts
could stop the progress of the flames, in which several persons
perished, and particularly the sister of Prince Schwarzenberg himself.
This tragic circumstance struck a damp on the public mind, and was
considered as a bad omen, especially when it was remembered that the
marriage of Louis XVI. with a former princess of Austria had been
signalized by a similar disaster.