Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-12-15
LETTER FROM EUROPE.
NO. VII.
vERsAIILrs;;.Aueust 7, 1859.

miles from Paris, is worthy of spe-
cial notice. II has been a royal res.
idence msre than two hundred years,
and contains the cele brated Palace Of
Versailles, built 10 the 18th century,
during the brilliant reign Of Louis
XIV. The original cost Of the palace,
parks and pleasure grounds was one
hundred million Of dollars, and it Is
SAID that on different occasions thirty
thousand soldiers have been employ
ed upon the works. During the reign
of terror, in 1892, it was stripped Of
much of its grandeur. and the entire
palace would have been disposed Of
as public property had not Napoleon
saved it from destruction. Louis
Philippe expended omit ,inrepairs and
additions, three millions of dollars,
and converted it into a National Mn.
scum, and it now contains the rich.
est collection of paintings and statu-
airy in Europe. The older buildings,
however, are used as barracks. The
Royal Gardens and Palace Grounds
embrace several thousand acres laid
out in great taste and kept 10 adj
mirnSle order beautiful flower gar
dens, grand terraces, extensive or.
ange groves, numerous fountains,
and an endless variety of stntuary
fadorn every department and avenue
of their extensive surroundings. On
grand State occasions these fountains
! play, throwing their waters to an in
credible height, giving to the whole
lao effect truly impressive and grand.
What a, place this for an active imag-
nation to gather material for either
prose or me,rical composition. This
grand aud imposing spectacle, exhib-
tied in the work of these fountains,
lis attended with very considerable
expense, as the cost Of each occa-
sion is ten thousand francs. At the
the extremity Of the Park is beauti.
iful villa of much interest, open to
the inspection of visitors. and Occur
pied only by domesiics in charge
1t was built by Louis XIV for Mad
anne de Maintenon, his favorite aud
Royal Mistress, TO whom he was Sc
cretly married after the death OF the
Queen in 1858. Here We we're
shown the Chapel constructed by
! Louis Philippe his spacious dining
lroom-the royal bedroom contain.
ing the very bed used by the EN-.
press Josephine. In one room is
shown very rich maI.a.chite vase
presented to Napoleon by the EN-.
'iperor Alexander after the treaty of
i.Tilsif. On showing my passport l
was permitted to visit the department
where the State carriages are kept.
They are seven in number, used
by the Emperor and bis household
only on great State occasions. One
was used on the occasion Of the mar.
fringe Of the present Empress and
the baptism Of the Prince Imperial,
on tie l4th Of June, 1856. Five Of
them belonged TO Napoleon the First;
but the most magnificent of all is the
one used by the present Emperor.
1t was built in 1925 for the corona
tiop OF Charles X, and was newly
decorated by Napoleon in 1858. 1t
is rich AMI gorgeous beyond con,
crp' con-; 1t is lined with crimson
velvet, aud embroidered with gold
! The exterior is profusely carved and
ltasefally ornameuted, aud surmount-
ed with group embracing the I'm
perial Eagles, the Royal Coat, Of
Arms.and two figures Of Fame, which
together with the entire carriage. Is
literally covered with gold. This
massive Coach of State cost two
hundred thousand dollars, and weighs
thirteen thousand and seven hundred
pounds; so says the wise looking
maid in attendance. We saw also
the Sedan Chair Of Marie Antoinette, !
aud the siedges or cutters OF curious
construction used by Louis XIV.
Paris. August l6th.-The great
national fete is over, and avn deci.j
dedly used up man, for have been
on my feet. and in the midst Of it, Cor !
two days past, and ! frankly ao.
knowledge | never was 10 a crowd
before. Besides the immense popu-
iation Of Paris, it is computed that
here we're no less than five hundred
thousand visitors and strangers pres
ent to witness the display, and it is
utterly astonishing that, during the
two days Of the fete. not single ac-
cident occurred, DO difficulty nor dis
tur5ance that | hear of and did not +
see a drunken man IN all ms psre-