Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-13
M l g E l. l. A N EOU s.
From late London Papers.
THE MUSEUM AT PARIS.
T from Hiss IY;yy;,,..,.. H.t:

iHE MUSEUM AT PARIS.
From .Hiss Williams .Sarrat;ye.1
When the dircful truth was promuigat-
ell, what language can paint the variety
ana violence of passion which RACED IN e.
very Frenchman's breast! Curses, louder
ana longer than those heapcI upon the
mead OF Obadiah, were poured out on the
aiiies by the enraged Parisians. They
forgot all other miserics the project OF
blowing up bridges, pilage, spoiiation,
inassacres, war-taAes, tie dismemberment
o' empires ;-ali these they wiped 3 away
from TIER tablets NOlonger were treir
heads plotting on tyranny, on liberty I;
they thought no more OF the ccssion of for
tresses, and the fate of the Consti-
tutional Chart; all PRINCIPLES, feelings.
hopes, and Tears, were absorbed i'm this one
great aud horrible humiliation.
Nh!e the allied troous we're emnl,yeti
IN the e.nosal of III. ca, milan horses. all
passes to the Place of the Carousel were
guarded by austrian cavalry, posted at
u, 1ls avenues OF the streets that led to it,
me fiace OF the Carousel was forbidden
ground on ; "a the French. foreigners
aau liberty 10 cross it as often as they
pleased. heard an officer call out TO an
austrian guard who hesitated, ss am an
En9iishman, and have a right to pass. -
Inc claim was admitted.
The gates the most vigiIantlY cuarded
during some days, against the infusion Of
tne French, were those Of the gallery of
sne houyle. II was said that this measure
was taken from motives of tenderness to
these feelings which the scene within must
naturally have excited in the French hut
't was rumoured also, that evaporation
might produce violence, aad the pictures
might be defaceJ, AID the statutes mutt
a'ca.--ine troops of each nation took this
post ny turns. II was that of the Austrl-
Ems at my last visit. There they stood.
aenance IN their eye against all French
men, and fresh green branches stuck in
ti!elr caps this ~ the usual ornament of
ahe Austrian soldiers hat or cap. when in
campaign: but these branches appear so
much Like symbols Ofyictory, that they are
ni5hiy offensive to the French. When
10 eigneis required admittance, the doors
were thrown open.-lhe Frenchnen WIN
were refused, glanced at the laurelled-
cap, ont their l'ps, muttered imprecations,
and withdrew.
Some few had, however, the address to
procure entrance; they were but Cew.I
toand some artists pacing the gallery of
paintings; they had an air of distraction.
ana were muttering curses, 8: not loud but
deep. Que lie tonnerre du Cjel J.
oi cen est trop Cen est trop ~ and
otncr explanations in the sane style.-A
chill sensa.io2 came across nv heart when
descended to the Halls of the Sculpture.
ana saw the vacant pedestal on which had
stood "thestatGe that eDcbants the world. >,
gazed on the pedestal one OF the old
lNeried attendants OF the Hall. internret-
ing my looks, SAIL to me in a sorrowfnl
tone, = All Madam, she is gone. | shall
never see her again - Z" Gone 20 said /.
. es, Madam, she set out this very morn.
ins at three O'Clock ,et sous bouae escorte.,,
ihe cid man seemed to mourn over yenus
as It she had been his daughter.
HE adjoining hall presented few DAVIS
!, a''er a most melancholy spectacle. There
lay the Apollo on the ll0or in his coffin
Inc workrnen Were busted in preparing
him for his journey, by wedging him in ms
sneii and an artists was tracing his celes.
iial features, when the trowei with il.
White paste passed across his divine vis-
age Ills arm was maiesticaliy stretched
out. The F,ench az fists who were preseut
wept over It they pressed his hands H.
their lips, and ba &c him a last adieu The
scene WAS now closed on that prefect i'm.
age, verify Of almost divine boiours.--BS
was going to add new glory to Rome
and draw new pilgrims to his shri e.
Out to Pans he was lest forever, and She
might well deplore her calamity she had
indeed seized him as her cantiye, Eut sl,e
had gaZed OH MIN with unweared adn,irs
ton She had hailed him a, the most soen.
dld trophy oivictDry and size would have
purchased his stay with her treasures. Q.
ven with her blood, had not resistaurs
Dcea unavajling.
In the package Ofthese diyinities much
was felt OF their snsf,i.nnp
some injury. The necessary ids audi
ionis were wanting. No rewards. mol
N ices, Iever. sou pfevai tie
french crOchCtcurs, porters, and lebou.
refs, plying IN the streets for emuloyncn,
10 lend their aid. The French. or fbe
iwest class, were too indignant and mutt !
Us to be the abettOfs OF such srol;af,ou
L ladders of the master OF afFfxhibtinu |
81 singes Swans, learned monkeys. in the
leIgl ,borhood OF the Louvre, were, at
e.nSth, put IN requisition to unhang the
pictures. The Pythian, divinity of Own
)us lay IN the streets all night, aud might
ave suffered from any accidental tttnnit Il
md the Venus de Medicis was Catcd. Ike
~ abandoned female, TO take On her abode |