New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-15

often lost their limbs The arrangements for their
subsistence and comfort are very systematic and
thorough; their food and lodging are Of better
quality and better ordered than those Of the peas
antry in their humble homes; they have fine church
in oEe end of the great Quadrangular building
which forms their hotel" with no lack Of priest
ly ministrations. Their church is decorated rather
than enriched with many pictures yet there is
one painting on glass representing the Dead
Christ which may not be approved By critics, but
which fixed my attention more than any other
work Of art have seen in Paris. Though you
know what it Is You cannot dspel the impression
that you are looking through glass case or coffin
and gazing on an actual corpse or waxen model oft
lying Geld and stark therein. The illusion is so
perfect as TO be painful, and therein, ii anywhere,
is its fault
Opposite the entrance of this church-(which is
still hung with foreign sgs the trophies Of French
victories, though the twenty-five hundred such
which formerly decorated it were burnt by Joseph
Bonsparte's order the night before the capture Of
Paris by the Allies in 1cl4)-rises the grand altar,
refplendent in gold and lighted by side windows
with such art that, even in dark, rainy day, the
whole seems to bask and blaze in the richest sun
light; and behind this, in what would seem to be
an extension of the church, is the TOMB OF Ma
PoLEON J. Though you are within few feet
Of this structure when near the grand altar in the
church. you are compelled to 20 half mile around
to enter it and am not quite sure that the jour
ney is repaid to those whose admiration of militia
ny or other despots is not stronger than mine
Here marble and porphyry, painting and scnp-
ture gliding and mosaic, have been lavlshed with
out stint and some Two Millions of Dollars wrested
from the scanty earnings of an overtaxed peas
antry to honor the bones Of him who while living
was 80 prOdigal alike of their treasure and their
blood. The author Of this squandering idol
airy was Louis Philippe, who thought he
was ingratiating himself with the French
people by pandering to the worship If the military
Juggernaut, and whose family now live, as he HIM
self died, in exile and humiliation, while the vast
estates he left them have been seized and confis-
Gated by the nephew and heir of the Corsican he
thus helped to defy. Who can pity the schemer
thus caught in his own fnarei Who can marvel
that France, not yet fully cured of that passion
for Glory which exults over victory because our
side has won, and not because the universal sway
of Justice and Equity has been brought nearer
thereby, should find herself ground under the heel
of fresh despOt who tears her youth from their
beloved homes and useful labors to swell the un-
ripe harvest of death on the battlefield forget
the name Of the French Democrat who observed
that bis country could never enjoy true liberty
until the ashes of Napoleon shall be torn from this
this costly mausoleu and thrown into the Seine,
but fully concur in his opinion.
THE GARDEN OF PLANTS, in the southeast
-
fifty to a hundred acres, and includes not only an
INN sc collection Of the trees and shrubs Of the
entire globe, with almost every known species of
land animal, insects excepted, but immense cOllec-
tons or galleries illustrating the comparative
anatomy of man and animals, as also the earth's
Geology, Mineralogy and Botany. The Library of
Natural History contains 80, 900 volumes, 1900
pamphlets, and vast collection of manuscripts
and drawings, the whole having cost some
100000. i do not suppose the value OF this
Garden can be fairly estimated in money but it
would probably be appraised at Ten Millions OF
Dollars. And this, be it observed, is not dead
property-nO mere pile OF stone and mortar, de-
signed to crafty the few or gorify some conqueror
or despOt ut the expense of the trampled millions
This great museum of natural history is open to
the public nearly every day in the year free OF
charge, and lectures in the several departments
are also given without price by the most eminent
naturalists in the world-the living successors Of
Button, Cuvier, Daubenton and st. Hilaire Here
the poorest who can spare al hour may listen to
the ablest instructors in natural science, may
study the characteristic vegetation OF Europe,
Asia, Africa, America and Australia respectively
may enjoy at all events the beauty and perfume Of
innumerable flowers, and an atmosphere purer
and more healthful than is often breathed within
the walls Of populous and crowded city.
i have hitherto spoken of The LOUVRE, an
ancient abode of royalty, now entirely devoted to
works of art by masters to whose excellence Death
has get his seal So far as l am qualified to judge
there is no single collection of paintings in Italy
that can stand comparison with that of the Lou
vre. Here are masterpieces by Muro, Raphael
Titan, Rubens Rembrandt Teniers, Paussin, and
nearly or quite all the ilustrious dead who achieved
renown by the pencil, with rare and costly vases,
marvellous effects on porcelain, Egyptian. Etrus-
can and other antiquities, and mementos of emf
nent monarchs, maIshals and ministers. Any ono
at all cognizant Of the current value of the master
pieces of Art must estimate the treasures OF the
Louvre by tens of millions of dollars; and these,
too are thrown open without charge TO the daily
inspection of strangers and on Sundays to all
without distinction.
Il have thus named few of the most con-
spicuous attractions which Paris profiers to the
citizen of the world. Living is never cheap, and is
now very dear here. The Government is ultra
despOtc, and has never, even when designated
Republican, been a model one; but instruction
of the best kind is abundant and inexpensive,
while in Gardens, Galleries, Museums, Shows, and
Spectacles of all sorts, Paris is unsurpassed in
the world, and hence scores of thousands Of the
sfluent the knowledge seeking, the pleasure loving
flock hiher from all quarters and stimulate French
art and industry by their purchases, while they
nsensiby swell the wealth and consequence Of this
metropolis Is there nothing in these facts which
the property holders and merchantprinces of New
York should heed and profit by H.G.
a-nnrc or WrcTrpN TD1VCT