"Jules Verne - Five Weeks In A Baloon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Verne Jules)

There was a large audience assembled on the 14th of January, 1862, at the session of the Royal Geographical
Society, No. 3 Waterloo Place, London. The president, Sir Francis M−−−−, made an important
communication to his colleagues, in an address that was frequently interrupted by applause.

This rare specimen of eloquence terminated with the following sonorous phrases bubbling over with
patriotism:

"England has always marched at the head of nations" (for, the reader will observe, the nations always march
at the head of each other), "by the intrepidity of her explorers in the line of geographical discovery." (General
assent). "Dr. Samuel Ferguson, one of her most glorious sons, will not reflect discredit on his origin." ("No,
indeed!" from all parts of the hall.)



PUBLISHERS' NOTE. 2
 Five Weeks in a Balloon


"This attempt, should it succeed" ("It will succeed!"), "will complete and link together the notions, as yet
disjointed, which the world entertains of African cartology" (vehement applause); "and, should it fail, it will,
at least, remain on record as one of the most daring conceptions of human genius!" (Tremendous cheering.)

"Huzza! huzza!" shouted the immense audience, completely electrified by these inspiring words.

"Huzza for the intrepid Ferguson!" cried one of the most excitable of the enthusiastic crowd.

The wildest cheering resounded on all sides; the name of Ferguson was in every mouth, and we may safely
believe that it lost nothing in passing through English throats. Indeed, the hall fairly shook with it.

And there were present, also, those fearless travellers and explorers whose energetic temperaments had borne
them through every quarter of the globe, many of them grown old and worn out in the service of science. All
had, in some degree, physically or morally, undergone the sorest trials. They had escaped shipwreck;
conflagration; Indian tomahawks and war−clubs; the fagot and the stake; nay, even the cannibal maws of the
South Sea Islanders. But still their hearts beat high during Sir Francis M−−−−'s address, which certainly was
the finest oratorical success that the Royal Geographical Society of London had yet achieved.

But, in England, enthusiasm does not stop short with mere words. It strikes off money faster than the dies of
the Royal Mint itself. So a subscription to encourage Dr. Ferguson was voted there and then, and it at once
attained the handsome amount of two thousand five hundred pounds. The sum was made commensurate with
the importance of the enterprise.

A member of the Society then inquired of the president whether Dr. Ferguson was not to be officially
introduced.

"The doctor is at the disposition of the meeting," replied Sir Francis.

"Let him come in, then! Bring him in!" shouted the audience. "We'd like to see a man of such extraordinary
daring, face to face!"