Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-25

4MrricS.-thesc correspond exactly with The \
different streets of that part of Paris, near " lie
Rue ct Barrier D'Enfyr." so that at any time our
conductor could tellus under what particular
part OF the city We were. We proceeded in this
manner, according TO his account, about half
mile, when We came to n black closed door, over
which we could read by the light of our tapers,
written in large capitals, these awful words
".9rrete! e'est lei l'embire de Ia mer."--Pause!
sisthe empire of DEATH
Our gloomy walk ofitself, was enough 70 i'm.
press rs with serious and solemn thcughts with
out the above charge. Youw agree with me,
however, that the Inscription is most appropriate.
On opening this door, which leads into Z" lie grand
Ossuare de Ia 'rombc Issore," we found our
selves between walls and columns composed en-
tirely of human bones and skulls arranged with
the most minute precision and Regularity, in the
following manner at the bottom, n layer of enc
particular description of bones, thigh-bones for
instance, above these layer of another descrip-
ton ot bones, &c. TO theheght ofabout four feett
then layer ofskulls, Afterwards, LAYER of bones
alternately, for 4 feet more then, another layer
of skulls. &c. &c. to the top of these singular
walls The different bones of the human frame
being alternately arranged, so as to keep up an
exact uniformity of appearance the rows OF
skulls throughout the whole, being at equal dis
tances apart. This uniformity is only kept UP as
TO the exterior of these walls, making in some
eases masses of four sides in others oval oblong
with the corners rounded off Within these walls,
the bones are thrown loosely in tiers, the hollow
space is entirely filled up.
These bones perfectly dry, & free from
smell of every kind, and are, on the exterior of
the different ynasses, cenented together by some
glutinous substance, which keeps them in their
proper places and gives them shining glossy
appearance, as if vanished. Through these gloo-
my walls, urroute now lay for about q hundred
yards, aud fine opportunity presenting itself for
renertnqr n the vanity and of that
creature called maui--What lesson for human
pride was now before u.s. We saw no distnc-
fion here. The wise man and the deot the
christian and the nfidel the most delicate and
amiable o. the female sex, with the most aban-
doned all lie here in one promisc,ous heap
Part, perhaps only single bone of ore frame
mixed with the bones of Others, and perhaps two
Of the most deadly enemies during life, are thus
mixed together. Here there is no distinction no
difference paid 10 rank or fortune. All are equal
To an observer, how little and contemplate APP
pear the anxieties and disputes about precedeucel
but. you will say, these reflections are common
place, and they will naturally occur To you, with
out my making them. Twill, therefore, continue
my description of our journey.
The bones taken from the different burying
places are kept distinct from all Others, and the
friends and defendants of the deceased if not n
bic 10 designate the particular frames, have the
poor satisfaction of knowing, that, in such par
tlSuir IlasS OF bones, arc lnOSe CT their friends
IN whom they feel Interested Those, for exam.
pie, taken out of the buryng ground of the in
nocents are in one mass--those from PEglise du
st. Esprit in another-and those from {" lie Con-
vent de Blanes Mantenux" in another, sSc--and
over each collection al inscription describing
from whence, and at what time they were taken
were takenup--Wise and absolute necessary as
was ulis plan, vet there is something very reyolv-
ing to person offeeling in this arrangement
For instance, the skull Of any particular individ-
ual separated at great distance from any of the
ether bones belonging to him +; and perhaps no
two bones formerly belonged TO one frame are
now near each other, but all ranks, sexes and
characters are mixed together in one promiscu-
Gus mass. Throughout the whole range of these
remains of morality are inscriptions some of
which are very appropriate, tliereading of which
prolonged our stay more than otherwise would
have been the case. Amongst them the follow
ing appeared to claim particular notice give
them to you in the original, as q greater part of
their beauty is lost by translation, viz
g lei dams lie silence de Ia pals, reposentnos
cestres,'
+" An de la de ces bornes, lis reposent en- atten-
dant une autre 'vIe,"
6 lie tombeAu est Pare de triomphe par on Pom
entire dams Peternite"
Other inscriptions represent the dead rs ad-
dressing those who are viewing their bones.
Ia mort nous afrsppe,
Ct%aiS pNS ''hiSl oCs Suul1Sg
File est vos cotes,
Mo tels, pFeparez vous"
" Ia mortte suit chaque pas, Commune rombrs
de ton corps"
o. Cros-tu que Ia mort soft loin de tot peut-etre
en- &c moment,
''vole-t-elle sur la tete ct tie menacelle du coup
fatal''
The different inscriptions are very numerous,
but IwiIl nor tespass on your time by inserting
any more.
In addition to the seventeen different collect.
ons of bones, our conductor pointed out TO us
several heaps ofearth, in which bcdies not decay.
ed were buried en- rsasSe.
One ofthese contained the bodies of those ,fn
Tortunat c people who were murdered on the 28th
aud 29th August, 1888, by the mob, at the Place
de Greye, PHosl de Brienne, &C.
Another contains the bodies ofthose who were
killed by the mob, in their attack on the Chateau
de Thulieries, 18th August, 1892.
Another, those massacred by the bIoot..hirs-
by jacobins in the different prisons, on the ID and
Sd September, 1892, including some of the most
amiable and respectable ofthe royaists, and some
nearly connected with the Bourbon family.
OTHERS contained those bodies which were Ia.
ken out ofthe different grave yards before they
bad undergone complete decay.
In one Of those subterraneous apartments ara
preserved such bones as bad any thing particular
IN their appearance. We here saw many which.
during the lives OF Their owners, appeared 20 have
been fractured and could see in what rnanrer
the bones we're knitted together also those
which appeared TO have belonged To deformed
persons, 70 persons Of gigantic stature. &c aI.o
msny which our guide Informed us had been
selected by the Physicians and surgeons of Pa
ris, VINO, from their appearance, could tell Of
what disease or by what means the oUrners came