The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-14
Foreign Correspondence.
SKETCHES
BY PEDEs TRAN ABROAD.
PARIs, July IS, ls4l.

have been now above two weeks in Paris and
have seen third part Of the interesting OBJ
jects contains and but little in the envrons This
morning being very pleasant "a occurrence here
this season, for ii has raned believe, every day for
the last two weeks-I resolved TO visit several unex-
plored parts Of the city in search Of curosities. And
first made my way TO the Bourse Of Exchange said
to be one of the most magnificent buildings in Eu-
rope lite form is paralelogram of2i2 feet by l26--
Ii is supported by 26 Corinthian columns The inte
rcr is suitably arranged for business and on grand
scale. Sixteen superb paintings, en- grisae, add
greatly to the beauty and striking effect of the lofty
arched ceiling or roof From the Exchange went
TO the Royal Library, which, not being open strang
to-day and the wealth er being very promising, l
set of for ST. Cloud the favorte residence of Napole
on and Josephine about six miles from Paris which
of the envrons Of the capital next to Versailles
mos, DESTROYS 10 To put to the proof my pedes-
trian ability, started foot and passing through the
garden OF the Tuileries in the direction OF the Arch
of Triumph, TO the Egyptian Obelisk, trans
ported from Thebes ia 1881, and lately erected on a
superb granite base by Louis PHILIPPE, just without
the garden Of the Tuilleres 1t in part scuptur-
ed under the reign Of Rameses 3D. and continued
der Rameses Sd, (Sesoslris) who ITO the deeds and
actions Of his brother, added his own, about l64O
years before Christ, by inscribing them on three Of
the facades Of this quad angular monoilh." Having
surveyed this obeisk and looking in the direction Of
St Cloud, before me, through an avenue Of
trees, IN an intervening grand esplanade the Arcde
Tromphe, and looking behind me, through central
avenue of trees in the garden the lofty centre
of the palace of the Tuieries. Here, then, in the
centre Of what may be termed altogether great
planade OF near miles in length by about l-3 of
mile in BREADTH rises the Egyptian Obelisk Truly
the scene is of surprising beauty and grandeur, and
worthy of the various monarchs who have in different
ages contributed to It's completion should MENTION
also, that looked either way from the Obelisk on
the one hand and opposite the building appropri-
ated to the Chamber of Deputies, and on the other,
two large hotels Of the same style of architecture as
the Tuleries. Passing the Arch of Triumph,
to the line of the Notifications now in
progress around Paris Looking down from the road
side, l saw broad deep fosse or ditch, and at the
bottom, and occupying about half the width Of the
DITCH was to be seen, in places, the foundation of
wall at least II 10 feet below the surface Of the
EARTH and which, if raised 20 feet above will be 81
feet in height. know not the plan of the fortifca-
tons, but Judging from what saw, would say there
is to behe ditch, say Is feet Deep the outside Of
wall Of between 80 and 40 feet in height, and that
this wall again is to be surmeunted by great number
Of towers. This work, extending all round the city,
will be Immense. Pursuing my devious way through
country interseoaed by many roads almost as the
capital is with streets, soon reached the and ee-
CANT bridge the Seine leading to the town Of ST
Cloud and nearly opposite to the ancient Chateau
palace BY gentle ascent of about half mile from the
Seine came to the vesbule Of the principal entrance
where the old keeper desired be seated for mo-
ment, whilst he should go for his keys to show the
interior of the palace. The unexpected view had
before from this position Of the finest of
the kind should suppose in the world. Paris with
its environs was in full view before me, and at Just
the right distance TO appear to the greatest advantage
No wonder that the palace at St Cloud hac been the
tavorte residence of many monarchs. But its pecu-
liar beauties yet to be described. With my cice-
rome, fortunately came up two English gentlemen,
who spoke French fuently, and thus provided with
guide and two Interpreters, commenced the survey of
the apartments. These, though not so extensive and
may be rich those at Versailles are the most
beautiful have yet seen. Here is displayed the taste
Of Josephine and here lavished the wealth Of the
Emperor here too is to be the furniture Of Louis
the fourteenth, with the additions of many of the later
Kings of France. The neatness, elegance and or
der the exquisite fnsh beauty, and richness of all
within this palace is truly admirable; and then the
multiplicity OF rooms, too, is surprisng-stting rooms,
reception rooms bed rooms boudors, cabinets state
Rooms, council rooms dining room library and chapel
galleries, &c, &c. till the whole appropriate vocabua
ry Of names is exhausted; and then there are the
rooms of Mars Mercury, Venus &C., named from
certain paintings other decorations Really,
passes from to room, they to be endless J;
and all variously adorned, each with some peculiar
beauy-with magnificent mirrors of plated glass, chairs
adorned with gliding and richest velvet, tables and
toilets with tops of the most elegant marble, of ebo
ny and ivory gorgeous chandeliers and urns of the
finest material and most exquisite workmanship, some
six, eight, ten feet in height musical instruments
and paintings, the masterpieces of the artall this
and much strikes the eye of the spectator and he
leaves it with mingled emotions of wonder and admi-
ration. Of The garden said to be the most beauri-
ful in the envrons OF Paris, had view only from
the windows of the chateau time wanting, to
visit ii.
en-.
PARIS, July l6, 1871.
To-day have visited The Royal Library, which ha.
not so much excited my admiration, but has afforded
Inc more real satisfaction than any thing beside have
seen at Paris. In point of design and finish, no
Of the many apartments of this Library equals that of
our Congressional Library at Washington, but then
il is on vastly larger scale and exceedingly in
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