The National Register.
London, England, 1818-10-05 00:00:00

rib ip

No. 556.—V0L. XL

AIX- LA-CHAPELLE.

This place, so soon to become the scene of a Itilliant
rc-uno;s, if not of important conferences, lies about
ZO miles east of Meese from Maesiricht, and was be-
fore the French Revolution a free imperial city, in-
cluded in the circle of Westphalia, and subject to the
bishoprick of Liege. It is celebrated in history for
having been the birth-plate, the northern capital, and
favourite residence of Charlemagne; for having
been the place where be died, and where his
ashes are deposited ; Per having been solected

as the seat of many councils and synods; fur
haring witnessed the coronation of 36 Emperors of
Germany, and for being fixed upon by the Golden Bull
as the spot where the Emperors were always to be crown-
ed. This privilege, however, it has lost for nearly
three centuries, Ferdinand the First, the brother of
Charles V. being the last Emperor who received his
mown in the capital of Charlemagne. Though for-
used), more populous than at present, its importance for
centuries has depended on its antiquity, the privileges
which it claimed rather titan exercised, the sacred relies
which it contained, and the attractions it held out to
the visits of strangers by its beautiful 'situation and the
salubrious qualities of its mineral springs..
The city is situated in a delightful basin, surround-
ed on all sides at less or greater distances with moun-
tains or rising grounds, of the most picturerve variety,
and covered with the mast luxuriant vegetation. A
great part of its ancient wall, flanked by Raman turrets,
still remains. The fosses are now filling up, and the
ground which they occupied will sup Its converted in:o
a beautiful promenade, extending all round the city.
The interior of the town has nothi.ig striking or inter-
esting either for ancient fame or inodern magnificence:,
but the cathedral church, the Hotel tie Ville, and son:::
of the houses in the new street of Compeshad. The
cathedral, or church of Notre Dame, was founded by
Charlemagne in 785, and consecrated by Leo. 111. in
804. It was endowed with a chapter of 32 canons, of
which the imperial thunder became one. The consecra-
tion is said to have taken place in the pretence of Jti.s"
bishops and arch:ishops, and cardinals, two of whom,
Saints !iintilphits and Golulphus, are said. to have
walked front their graves expressly fir the purpose of
b;:ing proscnt at the ceremony, which it was resolved
should be attended by as many of these dignified
pertains as there were days in the year.
If, according to Shakspcare, " All the world's a
stage," Aix-ht•Chapelle seems now a stage for all the
world. The principal actors are to make their entrances
with great pomp The subordinate perfiirmers have
already done so with less ceremony, and the spectators
are assembling from all parts to. witness the scene.—
There will be Emperors Kings, Princes, Ant',us,:adors,
Diplomatists of ts 3 kinds, ,Marshals, Governors. Gene-
ral', Grand Crosses, Chevaliers of all orders down to
Oust 4 industry, parasites, buffoons, and boxers. They ,
lave already restaurateurs from Paris, and haberdash-
ers from Constantinople, aeronauts (coin Paris and
Dresden, bankers from 'London and Vienna, and gam-
Iders from all the world. 1

Dispatches from Clcneral Murillo, similar to those
Pent to Lord Comberwerc, had beta forwarded to the
Governor of Dcmerara, but there is a remarkable varia-
tion in thcm. In the (lisp:itch signed Ores, ill the
Barbadoes papers, it is that the " ticws of the
4testla of Bolivar may Le relied upon." The saute
disputeli, as published hi the Rosa! Dentryttra (wattle,
says, that the death of lhaivar was " again ri.ported "
A paragraph in a Demerara paper states, that Joseph
Buornurte had sent not less than livcen thonsand
invitations individually to Fretiehnw n residing in France
to join hint in America. Admitting this to he true,
the reply of Pottpur to Vendower may very luirly be
applied to his invitatious--" Will they come, when you
do send fot them ?",