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Story
July 1, 1785
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
During Louis XV's reign, chemist Dupre invents an unquenchable fire. Demonstrated before the king, Louis orders the secret kept to spare humanity further destruction amid war with England, rewarding Dupre for his silence.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A curious Anecdote of Louis the Fifteenth of France.
A NATIVE of Dauphiny, by name Dupre, who had spent his life in cultivating the science of chemistry, invented a kind of fire so rapid and so devouring, that it could neither be avoided nor extinguished: Water, instead of destroying it, only gave it additional violence and power. Various experiments were tried with it on the Canal of Versailles in presence of the King; which were repeated in the arsenal at Paris, and in several of the sea ports. The most intrepid soldiers trembled at the effects or execution of so diabolical an invention, and considered it with the same horror that the ancient Knights felt on the discovery of gun-powder. Being convinced that one man, assisted by such an art, could destroy a fleet or burn a city, his Christian Majesty, to his immortal honour, commanded the philosopher never to communicate his secret, and amply rewarded him for his silence. This instance of magnanimity was the more illustrious and meritorious, as Louis was at that time engaged in his ruinous war, the English braved him in his harbours, every day he suffered new losses and disgrace. He could easily have destroyed his enemies; but he preferred to suffer rather than to augment the evils of humanity. Dupre is since dead, and his dangerous secret lies buried with him.
A NATIVE of Dauphiny, by name Dupre, who had spent his life in cultivating the science of chemistry, invented a kind of fire so rapid and so devouring, that it could neither be avoided nor extinguished: Water, instead of destroying it, only gave it additional violence and power. Various experiments were tried with it on the Canal of Versailles in presence of the King; which were repeated in the arsenal at Paris, and in several of the sea ports. The most intrepid soldiers trembled at the effects or execution of so diabolical an invention, and considered it with the same horror that the ancient Knights felt on the discovery of gun-powder. Being convinced that one man, assisted by such an art, could destroy a fleet or burn a city, his Christian Majesty, to his immortal honour, commanded the philosopher never to communicate his secret, and amply rewarded him for his silence. This instance of magnanimity was the more illustrious and meritorious, as Louis was at that time engaged in his ruinous war, the English braved him in his harbours, every day he suffered new losses and disgrace. He could easily have destroyed his enemies; but he preferred to suffer rather than to augment the evils of humanity. Dupre is since dead, and his dangerous secret lies buried with him.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Bravery Heroism
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Unquenchable Fire
Louis Xv
Dupre Invention
Magnanimity
War With England
Secret Suppressed
What entities or persons were involved?
Louis The Fifteenth
Dupre
Where did it happen?
Versailles, Paris, Sea Ports Of France
Story Details
Key Persons
Louis The Fifteenth
Dupre
Location
Versailles, Paris, Sea Ports Of France
Event Date
During The Reign Of Louis Xv
Story Details
Chemist Dupre invents a rapid, unquenchable fire that water intensifies. Tested before King Louis XV at Versailles and other sites, the king, amid war with England, orders the secret suppressed to avoid greater human suffering and rewards Dupre, who later dies without revealing it.