The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

LATEST NEWs.

INAUGURATION OF THE LOUVRE.

PARIS, FRIDAY.

The Emperor naturally desired that the cere-
mony of the inauguration of the Louvre should
coincide with the anniversary of the birth of his
uncle, which he has adopzed as the anniversary of
his own fete. The inscriptions intended to com_
memorate the date of the foundation of the Palace
of the Louvre were, by a curious coincidence, only
discovered yesterday. To them is annexed the
date of its completion. Both are now affixed to
the front of the Pavillon Fully, which is right op-
posite the central Pavillaa—the Pavillon d'Hor-
loge—of the Palace of tie Tuileries. They are
engraved in golden letter: on slabs of black marble,
and are to this effect :--" 1541, Francis I. com-
mences the Louvre ; 15C4, Catherine de Medicis
commences the Tuileries ;1852-1857,
Napoleon 111
connects the Tuileries with the Louvre."

The ceremony of inalguration took place this
day at two o'clock. Lorgsbefore that hour crowds
of people thronged the Lue de Rivoli, the quays,
and the other approaches to the Palace. The Place
du Carrousel, from the triumphal arch of the Tui-
leries down to the Pavillon Sully, was occupied
by troops—the Nationd Guard on the left, and
the Zouaves and a battalion or two of the lice to
the right. The entrance was by the Pavillon
Denon (the pavilions are named after men dis-
tinguished in the arts and sciences), which is to
the right of the Pavillon Sully. The entrance
was beautifully decorated for the occasion. The
first object that met the visitor on passing the
doorway was a bust in white, marble of Napo-
leon 1., b Lauding on a pedestal of the same
ma'erial. On each side was a medallion supported
by halberds—one with the name of Francis 1., sur-
mounted by a salamander, and the other that of
Napoleon 111., surmounted by an eagle, both rest-
ing on banks of flowers. The gallery in which the
ceremony was held is on the first landing over
the ground floor. You ascend to it by a flight of
steps. On each side were groups of ancient sta-
tuary, borrowed from the museum ; and from the
rez-de-chaussee to the landing-place the staircase
was flanked by the Cent Gardes, dressed in their
beautiful uniform, and who stood so still and mo•
tionless that they also might have been mistaken
for statues. Both sides all the way up were lined
with shrubs and flowers.
About one o'clock the Ministers, the Marshals
of France, Generals of Divisions, andgreaatrfsthilsnac-
tionaries of State began to arrive. Marshal Pe-
limier was early in attendance. He was at once
recognised. Uis hair, white as snow, cut close,
and contrasting with his black eyebrows and
moustache, dark eyes, face bronzed by the sun of
Africa, and determined expression of countenance,
have long made him familiar to the public. He
was dressed in his Marshal's uniform, with the
Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour, the Star
of the Bath, the Crimean medal, and other nume-
rous orders. Marshal Bosquet, who, by the way,
is growing rather bulky, followed soon after, and
Marshal Canrob3rt, short, bulky, and good-natured
looking, his face, as usual, uplifted, and his eyes
continually in motion, as if the gallant Gascon was
anxious to have a chat with every one they lighted
upon. At half-past 1 all the great personages of
the day had arrived. Exactly at 2 o'clock the
drums beat to arms as a signal that the Emperor,
punctual to a moment, as ever, was approaching,
and a cry of c 4 viva l'Empereur !" from the
crowd below announced that he was already
at the entrance. The buzzing of conversation
was at once hashed, and all turned in silence
towards the entrance. M. Fould, Minister of
State and of the Imperial Household, was at the
gates to receive him. In a few minutes the Grand
Chamberlain called out " L' Empereur 1" and the next
moment his Majesty, dressed in military uniform,
made his appearance. All stood up, and the cry of
"Viva l'Empereue ran through the hall. The Em-
peror was accompanied by the Empress, and followed

by Prince Napoleon, the Princess Matbilde, the

Prince and Princess Murat, and a long array of
chamberlains and cfficers of the household. The Em-
peror advanced to the extremity of the hall, where
a throne was a placed on a platform covered with
crimson velvet, with another by its side for the
Empress, and on both sides fauteuils for the Princes
of the Imperial family. The Emperor invited the
assembly to be seated, and took his seat on the
throne. Business was opened without a minute's
delay. M. Fould stood up and read a paper, in
which a rapid sketch was given of the beginnins,
and completion of the buildings, from 1852 to the
present
it
sentiwmaes then read of the persons engaged in e
.
important works, whom the minister recommended as
worthy of special marks of the Emperor's approval.
The names were numerous, and comprised every
class, from the principal architect, sculptor, and
painter, to the working mechanic—all, in fact, who
excelled in their respective branches. These per-
sons advanced as their names were called, and each
received from the bands of the Emperor the Cross
of Commander, Officer, or Knight of the Legion of
Honour. Loud applause followed the recital of
several of the names. Each recipient, as the deco-
ration was delivered to him, bowed to the Emperor
and Empress, who returned the salute most grace-
fully. The Emperor and Empress then stood up,
and his Majesty read, in a firm and distinct voice,
the following address :
" Gentlemen,—I congratulate myself with you
on the completion of the Louvre. I congratulate
myself especially upon the causes which have ren-
dered it possible. In fact it is order, restored
stability, and ever increasing prosperity of the
country which have enabled me to complete this
nations]. work. I call it so because the Govern-
ments which have succeeded each other, have
made it a point to do something towards the com-
pletion of the Royal dwelling commenced by
Francis 1., embellished by Henry 11.
"Whence this perseverance, and even this popu-
larity in the building of a palace ? It is because
the character of a people is reflected in its institu-
tions as in its customs, in the events that excite its
enthusiasm as well as in the monuments which
bscome the object of its chief interest. Now France,
monarchical for so many centuries, which always
beheld in the Central Power the representative of
her grandeur and of her nationality, wished that
the dwelling of the Sovereign should be worthy of
the country, and the best means of responding to
that sentiment was to adorn that dwelling with the
different masterpieces of the human intelligence.
" In the middle ages the King dwelt in a fortress
bristling with defensive works ; but soon the pro-
gress of civilisation superseded battlements, and the
produce of letters of the the arts and science took
the place of weapons of war.
" Thus the history of monuments has also its
philosophy as well as the history of events.
"In like manner that it is remarkable that at
the time of the first revolution the Committee of
Public Welfare should have continued, without
being aware of it, the work of Louis XI., of
Richelieu, of Louis XIV., g:ving the last blow to
the feudal system, and carrying out the system of
unity and centralisation, the constant aim of Mo-
narchy—in like manner is there not a great lesson
to learn in beholding the idea of Henry IV., of Louis
XIII., of Louis XIV., of Louis XV., of Louis
XVI., of Napoleon, as ,egards the Louvre, adopted
by the ephemeral power of 1848 ? One of the first
acts, in fact, of the Provisional Government
was to decree the completion of the palace of
our Kings. So true is it that a nation draws
from its antecedents as an individual derives
from his education, ideas which the passions of
a moment do not succeed in destroying. When
a moral impulse is the consequence of the social
condition of a country it is banded down through
centuries, and through different forms of Govern-
ment, until the object in view is attained.
" Thus the completion of the Louvre, towards
which I thank for your co-operation, given with so
much zeal and skill, is not the caprice of a moment-
but is the realisation of a plan .conceived for the
glory, and kept alive by the instinct, of the country
for more than 300 yen's."
The whole ceremony lasted about three-quarters
came, their
passed down
of an hour. The Emperor and Empress descended
from the platform and returned as they
Majesties bowing on both sides as they
the gallery ; and, amid cries of " Vive l'Empereur,
Vive l'inaperatrice," and a few of "'Viva to I)),:ip,ce