Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-03-02

extracts by the Sovereign, we mehuo.S" o."' !"
the Chamber of Deputies, NJ. Mohtaii'e,' intro
duced the project Of a law. TO restore the ran
theon to lis ancient revolutionary u,'unc'ioho VI
being a repository Of the ashes oil i'ius'rl""s CT
tizens. This is a laudsble project, and one which
- . do,bt NOT will become a law. The French
are os a noble race-fond Of glory-desirous OF
encouraging their people to deeds Oh greatness
in science, arts and arms.
Monuments raised in honor of the illustriOus
dead, inspire a feeling in the ambitious living.
that oftentimes leads to national benefits. Cold
and ambitionle.s must that man be, who. when
he eazes on the trophy built over the grave OF
departed greatness, does not feel a thrill pervade
his whole frame-yea, cold as the sod that CO.
vcrs the dead.
What is it, that makes Us admire and respect
a nation: her soil may be fruitful in mountains
valleys and streams, and yield all that Is good tor
man-but 'tis not that-it is the deeds OF her
sons, in science, song and war. NO people
know this better than the French, and we applaud
them for 1.-THE honors paid to living or depart
ed greatness. have been the beacons which have
lit their nation to glory and to fame-and at this
hour, in all that mind or valnr can achieve, france
Is not excelled by any Nation in Christendom.
France has her pantheon, England her w est
| minister Abbey. Both France and England have
| Masoleums and public or private funds. what
has America: Where is her Pantheon or Ao-
bevs There is no such place: with a lew. a We
nv few exceptions, there is not a monument III the
| vast extent Of her desmesHes. The time Will
| vet arrive when 4 different feeling will be che
rished.
The Pantheon or Church of st. Genevcve, is
at the end Of the Rue st. Jaqnes. This building
was begun in 1854. 1t is i'll the form OF a cross.
.1N q - - N-N -. l-ool 'I.,o pn,fal IA
in imitation of the Pantheon at Rome, and con-
slsts of a noble perisiyle of twenty two CorinthI-
an co!umns-each of ) feet and a half IN diamater
and fifty eight in height-these columns form a
SPACIOUS poIch one hundred and twelve feet long
and thirty-six deep, crowned with a grand bas-
relief; it is ornameuted by four Colossal statues
and the tout ensemble produces an imposing eff
feet. The front ofthe building within the porch.
unites the masculipc air of the Gothic, with the
beauty OF the Grecian architecture.
The inter Tor Of the temple consists OF tour
naves, decorated with one hundred and thirty
Corinthian columns, supporting an entablature,
which serves as a basement to the galleries which
are skirted with stone balustrades.-Above rises
a lofty dome resembling a circular temple, form
ed OF ~ifty-two pillars. each htty-four feet high.
supported by a circular basement, which raises
above an octangu!ar sub-bascment. This dome Is
surrounded by one of similar dimensions. which
is not decorated by any figure OF ornament
The total height of the building is iro hm1dred
and eighty hro feet.
some of the pristine beauty of this magnificent
structure has been impaired, in consequence Of
the grea. weight of the dome: the pillars which
supported began to bend, and it was only by sac
r%iiicing part of ITS beauty that the building was
preserved from ruin -.
The purpose to which the Pantheon was. and
we hope soon to say il devoted, was worthy of
the magificence of the building. 1t was design
| ed to contain the ashes of those who have deserv-
ed well Of their country. The original inscription
placed in front of the temple. but which is now re-
moved, was simple and subiime:-
AUX GRAxDs HOMES.
LA PATRIE REcoNNAIsANTE
"Dedicated by a grateful coumtryto its iNusfrio"s
men"
This is indeed a spirit-stirrirg inscription
| Amongst the eminent men whose ashes were de-
posted in the vaults OF the temple. we're Voltalre,
Rssseau, Marshal Lannes. De Winter lthe
Dutch Admiral. Lagrange 1.-THE mathematlcIan),
and Bougainville (the circumnavigator). Many
of the illustrious dead, perhaps all, have been
| removed from these vaults by the course ofevents.
which have of late years so agitatcd the French
nation.
The project Of NJ. Montalivet, is to restore to
its original purpose, this beautiful b1ilding-it
is a project worthy of "a Frenchman NJ. Mon
t~alivet, proposes, that none. VINO do not truly de-
serve that distinction, shall be Untitled to a place
in the Pantheon till ten years after their death;
or till the judgment of their contemporaries is
confirmed bv a proximatc posterity. From this
rule. the ashes of General Foy, NJ. Manuel,
Duke dc Rochefaucault, Liancourt, aud b. Con
slant are to be cxempted-whose remains it is
contemplated will be removed thither on the 29th
July, 1851. On the walls of the Pantheon are
to be engraved The names gfthe humble heroes Of
the French ReOoiuion. The last proposition
must be acceptable to the French people, and
dnubly inspire them to a defence of that liberty
for which their fathers died; and prove to them,
that high or low, who serve their country well,
NAV receive a niche in the temple of fame.
Shall we ever see aroused in this country, a
spirit similar to that which inspires the French?
1t is not anti-rcpubIican.-N. Y. Mercantile.
-sA3eaa-
From the Newark n. Jersey Eagle, of Fri