The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-11
.Foretgm correspondence
SKETCHES
BY PEDEs TRIAN ABROAD.

PARIS, July IL, ls4l.
To-day, have been more fortunate than was the
last Sabbath in finding agreeable places of wor
shp-and agreeable, especially, because better
attended At the St. Roch in the morning, and the
ST. German Lauxerrois in the evening, | found very
good congregations; indeed, the St. Roch was rather
crowded, and seemingly by devout worshpPers. The
majesty and grandeur Of this temple lost in its
rich and splendid decorations Under the organ is
cenoaph 10 the memory of Corneille erected in lS2i
by the Duke Of Orleans The ST. German is re-
maIkable only for its antiquity. Its foundation is at
tribued to Childerc, and Utrogothe, his wife, in the
year $50, II was destroyed by the Normans, and re-
built at the commencement Of the lth century. II
is adorned within, indeed all Catholic churches are
here with paintings and sculpture. That which adds
much TO the effect Of the paintings and indeed TO
every thing within these churches is the light Of vari
Gus brliancy, which comes in thousand directions
through windows of painted glass.
The manner of worship in Catholic churches here,
is certainly not only imposing but very solemn, and
have TO believe that il is devoid of sncer
ty. If the solemn chants, and more solemn prayers
proceed not forth of eigned lips they must be accepta
BILE to Him who, though he delights not in costly obla
tons and formal observances will visit the truly de-
and pious heart with his grace and favor. Oh that
his name might be known here, his saving health in
these temples and in the hearts Of the thousands Of this
great capital then should the light hereofgo forth the
morning and shine the ends Of the world Paris
is, in peculiar sense, the capital of France the
heart at the centre of the SYSTEM and Paris too by
Frenchmen esteemed the capital of the civilized world
is doubtless, in science and in arts unequalled The
n L
language is spoken almost the world over. Wha,
might be effected for Christianity then, if Paris was
peculiarly the capital of Christendom formost and
chief in labor, in ZEAL and holiness 1t may be So
the Lord hasten the time. c. N
PARIS, July IL, 1871.
Says friend to me this morning, as we were pass
ing the Notre Dame de Lorette,-" Whilst engage
this carriage just step in and look at this church it
is accounted the most beautiful in Paris and is re-
nowned throughout Europe" had several times
passed it before without special notice or interest on
account of its simple and plain exterior but
tered it that its interior surpassed in beauty
any thing had yet inside of church Less
magnificent certainly, than the Cathedral (Nore
Dame but scarce less richly adorned than the Royal
Chapel at Versailles it surpasses them both in SYM
metry and beauty. 1t is not large that one must
view through telescope inaccessible objects, and
be fatigued in walking around it, 1t is only about
$50 feet in length, and 80 or 80 in width, of small
dimensions for Catholic church in Paris. The alb
sence too, of heavy Gothic architecture and sombre
light, shed down stiniingy through old windows of
stained glass for once by way of change at least
agreeable Its lofty galleries supported by hume
rouHpars of beautiful stone, surmounted by highly
Wrought capitals Its walls are almost entirely lined
With the richest and most beautiful paintings repre-
sentlng various scripture history there prophets
apostles and priests the Virgin and her Son. and
Cherublm and Seraphim. Were to copy from any
of the churches have model for an Episco-
pal church in my own country it would be to the No
ire Dame de Lorette. From the church | went to
view the exterior of several palaces near the Seine
In passing the Pont Royal (Royal Bridge) my at
tenon was arrested by grand central view of Paris
on either side of the river. On the one hand was the
immense palace of the Tulleries and the Louvre one
continuous of least 1000 feet in length
the other the palace d'Ambassadeurs; in front
facing the east the Seine, arched with numerous
stone bridges either side as far as vision could
extend, were hotels, palaces and churches, spires,
domes, and towers In my boyhood had often seen
present the illusion of magnificent streets lined with
palaces, and thought it would be grand thing to
see city indeed. From the Point dc Vieu, the
Bridge Royal, my conceptions OF city were fully
realized. C. N
PARIS, July 10, 1871.
This morning, without guide special object,
wandered cut past the garden of the Tuerics far
as the Arcde Triomphe- de, l'Etoc, Champs Elysecs
where arrived just in time to meet tempest of wind
rain and dust My observation, therefore, of the re-
nowned Arch was but very partial. 1t is certainly an
imposing structure, and cannot fail to admire it
at first sight, but ! must say that of all the objects
of interest have in and about Paris it pleased
the least, principally, believe, because it stands
isolated and useless, excepting mere mon ument,
for which it seems to me to be neither of the right
construction in the right place. But in this |
will submit to my superiors, and give from my guide
some Of the most interesting particulars Of it. This
monument commenced in 1906, at the suggestion
Of Napoleon; in 1915 the works were suspended in
1923 again commenced and completed in 1886 under
nine different architects It's total height s' 1872 feet
width and thickness 1877 and Is feet respective
y. The groups of figures the various parts of it