Litchfield enquirer., 1835-03-05
THE TUILLERIES.


 From " Letters from Europe" by Wm. H. SeDard.
 The Tuilleries is magnificent structure, worthy the greatness and glory of the coun- try. It is three stories in height, and about 700 feet in length. It consists of five diff ferent pavilons, with intervening buildings connecting them together. The front pre- sents, what at first view seems an incon- gruous association of five different orders of architecture. although, on more careful attention to the different parts of the build- ing, you discover that they are not blend- ed, and that she decorations of each are in the best taste, and of the most exquisite ex- ecution. fine centre pavilion is surmount- ed by lofty dome, on which is seen the tri-colored flag of France. The palace was founded by Ca,harine de Mcdicis, who prosecuted the work with great industry. until recollecting that it was situate in tlIe parish of St. Germain r Auxenois, and be- ing under the influence of a superstiIious apprehension, that the name of St. Ger main was on.in ous to her, she suddenly re- linquished it. It was enlarged by Henry 4 44th aud Louis 18th, and cotnpieted by Lou is l4;h. It was not the magniicence of the palace which interested me so much, while traversed the pavements around it, as the ,aIl-engrossing reflections arising from the tenancy oft by the unhappy Lou is 10th, and the bold yet cautious possess sion of it by Bonaparte as Consul. The gradual establishment of Bonaparte's Court; the grief with which Josephine viewed the overwhelming increase of his wealth and power and glory the decay finer domes- tic happiness the relentless workings of that ambition which urged Napoleon to de- mand divorce from woman whom he dearly loved :; the pititul subserviency ot the church which pronounced it at his bid- ding the noble magnanimity and resigna- ton with which the wife, after a fierce struggle, yielded to the demands made, as she thought, by the memorable destiny of Napoleon; the arrival the new Empress the acclamations of the idolatrous Pari- sians, on the birth of the young King o Rome, sent by Providence, as they tho't to confirm forever the dynasty of Napolc. on; the acclamalions of the same crowC when the founder ofthis destiny fled before his pursuers, and an expelled and long per. secuted race were restored to these Courts by the strong arm of foreign powers l; the enthusiasm, with which successivcly the restored was expelled, and the expelled Napoleon restored to the proud residence of Kings {; the stirring history of the hund- red days; the sinking of the star of Napo- Icons power forever; and the successive revolutions which have caused the TUil- leries again to receive tenants chosen in a moment of popular excitement, and hold ing their possession by tenure so preca- rious as the fickte will of this versatile peo- pie Who could look at the Tuilleries, when such thrOng of reflections crowd upon his thoughts, without interest? Oh who, thus looking at them, could covet the glory, or, the wealth, or power of Royalty The principal entrance of the Court of the Tuilleres, is the grand triumphaI arch C. rected by Napoleon, in 1906. It-is bull, of beautiful marble, of the most correct proportions, and decorated with the most exquisite taste. l think I have no where seen more beautiful monument. Its model was that of Septimus Severus, at Rome. It is sixty feet wide and forty-6ve feet high. It has one grand arch in the centre, fourteen feet wide, and one on each side eight and a half feet wide. Each front has four Corinthian columns of Langue- doc marble, supporting figures of Graces. The roofs of the side arches are decorated with thunderbolts and branches of laurel and palm. Figures emblemaiic of Fame. adorn the roof of the grand arch. Beside these decorations, are groups representing he entry of Munich, the battle of Auster- lilz, and the equalization of Ulm. But the most splendid ornament of this arch was,