Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Invention, Technology, Steamships, Steam-power, Patronage, Cultural Geography

People mentioned:

Mr Prideaux

    Wryly complains that Emperor Napoleon III of France insulted English 'authorities' by 'offering some violent contrast to their proceedings' of dealing with inventors. Claims that the emperor, whilst in Chalons, did not adhere to the customs of the local English officers and failed to prevent a French officer developing a 'Flute-screw'—'a great improvement in the screw for propelling steamers'. Instead, the emperor 'acts in a diametrically opposite fashion' and immediately requests that the invention be applied to ships in the French navy and for the inventor to be rewarded 'if successful'.