The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-02-16
MISCEEL A N ECU S


Not all the luxury and brilancy OF this fascina
ting capital, of whose intoxicating pleasures
had drank deeply enough, could reconcile me tc
the thought of being compelled to abandon WISH
to the great catacombs, which undermine the
southeastern quarter of the city. had, when a
child, got possession of an old Galgnani, which
connexion had brought from Europe, in those
days when to have travelled beyond the Atlantic
was distraction for life, and my boyish fancy was
deeply worked upon by the mysterious terrors OF
that subterranean city of the dead. Those long
walls of leg and arm bones, piled with such
curious regularity, with their layers of SOULS at
regular distances-ghasty ornaments in this arch
ltecture Of death, still to be seen in the clumsy
engravmgs that adom the twentieth edition OF
the Guide filled my Imagination with inexpres-
sib!e terror. And though at the period of my re-
sidence in Paris, these vaults had long ceased to
be opened to the public, and consequently to fig
ure among the great curosities of the capital,
the desire had always felt to explore them N.Y.
SELF retained as strong hold upon me as ever.
| communicated my wishes to gentleman, then
the Vice Consul of the United States, and was
not little discouraged on hearing that he had
been, for several years, in vain soliciting permits
sion to visit them himself This favor, though so
long denied, nave reason to believe, was at last
accorded to him. An acquaintance had fortu-
high Office under the government, in the engineer
service, was the means of procuring me the leave
| was so anxious to obtain. As precauion
against the danger of being lost among the in
trlcate and interesting passages of which this
vast labyrinth Is composed, and to guard against
the possibility of whole party being destroyed,
for the want of the means of sending for relief, in
the event of the sudden sinking Of any part of
The irregular arch works which supports the ground
above the excavations, ! was informed that it!
would be necessary to procure several persons
to accompany me- in addition to the guide. Tol
prevent confusion, the number was limited, the
person deputed to accompany us having received
instructions to admit party of eight. | was
told it would be necessary to descend by night,
to avoid attracting attention, or giving any I'M
necessary publicity to our visit 1t was gen.
orally understood that the dangerous condition
of the catacombs, which had been excavated with
too little skill or attention to render them secure
was the reason which led the government, several
years before, to prohibit the admission of visitors
and that's large number of workmen were con-
stantly engaged, under the direction of the engin-
eer department, IN repairing and Strengthening
the walls and pillars which sustain the portion of
the city built above. Much uneasiness had been
felt among the inhabitants of that quarter of the
capital, in consequence of one or two alarming ac-
cidents and it was hoped, that by entirely clos
ing them to the public, the alarm would sooner
subsde. The apprehensions of the people were
not entirely unfounded. The sudden sinking of
house, some seventy feet under ground, an oc-
currence which left a fearful impression on the
public mind, was more real cause for alarm, than
is generally to be found at the bottom of popular
panic.
Saturday, the - of January was fixed for
the evening of our descent. 1t was cold, clear
night OF unusual briancy for the latitude of
Paris. couple of facres were ordered to be
IN attendance at seven, and we rose from the
dinner table to prepare for our visit. 1t was the
night OF the first great ball of the season at the
iuillerles and as we drove through the Place
du Carousel, the brilliant illumination of the
vast SUIT OF apartments, which extend the whole
length of the palace, made me almost roorot
mat had given up so splendid spectacle. for
the gloomy visit on which we were bound Cros.
sing the Seine, we directed our course tbronpb
the Quarter Latin and the Faubourg 81. JACQUES,
toward the Barrere beyond which, at house the
NUMBER l. Oh which had been given to us, we were
directed to inquire for the person appointed to
accompany us to the regions of the dead ~
wnlch we we were hurrying with an Impotence sell
dom exhibited, even by those whom an memorable
Necessity compels to such journey Descending
the principal street Of one Of those VILLAGES Of Ia
borers to be found at almos. every cato Ieod;no
from the city, we drew up in front of ', ,,aa,
three story building, which bore the number we we