compositions, of which those in the central gallery are "The Apotheosis of Napoleon I.," and "Peace and War," while the paintings on the piers represent various scenes from the history of the first and second empires. The hemi-cycles at the two extremities are painted with representations of the history of French civilization. The throne stands at the central point of the wall on the right. We next visit the Galerie des bustes, containing busts of generals, statesmen, &c. of the first empire. The Salle des Séances (Hall of the Senate) is a semi-circular chamber, 92 ft. in diameter; around it are statues of Charlemagne, Saint Louis, and other distinguished characters. The Private Saloon of the Emperor contains some fine paintings, among which are the Treaty of Campo Formio, the Constitution of the year Eight, the Entry of Napoleon III. into Paris, and his marriage. The Chambers of Marie de Medicis, which are shown, consist of the Salle d'Attente, and a bed-chamber elaborately decorated. The chapel of the palace is 69 ft. long by 20 wide, and is lighted by four windows, opposite which are paintings of St. Philip the Apostle curing the sick, St. Louis pardoning traitors, St. Louis burying the dead in Palestine, and the Marriage of the Virgin. Behind the high altar is a large fresco representing the Throne of God (from the Apocalypse). Behind the altar fronting the back entrance is a painting by Simon White, an American artist, "The Adoration of the Shepherds."

The PALACE OF THE QUAI D'ORSAY was commenced in 1810 and finished in 1833. The entrance is in the Rue de Lille, the principal façade on the Quai d'Orsay. The façade represents two orders (Tuscan and Ionic) superposed, and

surmounted by an attic with Corinthian pilasters, and having ar caded windows, nine on each floor. The principal court is surrounded by a double row of arcades, the ground floor is occupied by the Council of State, and the first story and attic are devoted to the COUR DES COMPTES.

LE PALAIS DE JUSTICE.-This enormous range of buildings, which includes those occupied by the Courts of Justice, the Prefecture of Police, and the Conciergerie, stands on the site of a fortress erected by the Romans. The present buildings, some of which are still unfinished, occupy the places of those destroyed to make room for the new.

The

oldest part of the present buildings, dating from the thirteenth century, is in the Cour Harlay, where may be seen remains of the façade erected at that period. Since 1776 the palace has been almost entirely reconstructed. It contains the usual apartments adapted to the use of tribunals, offices, &c. The great hall, called Salle des Pas-Perdus, is the only part especially worthy of a visit. The front, on the Boulevard du Palais, is fine, and the iron railings and gates are considered very elegant. The Conciergerie is upon the Quai de l'Horloge, the entrance, however, is from the chief court of the palais. This prison is especially interesting from its association with the events of the French Revolution. Here Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before her execution. The cell occupied by her is now the sacristy of the prison. During the Revolution, Camille Desmoulins, Hérbert, Bailly, and Robespierre were prisoners here. It was also the prison of Madame Roland. The present Emperor, after the failure at Boulogne, was imprisoned here

in an apartment which is now occupied by one of the officers of the prison, and is not shown. The two pointed towers, which are conspicuous objects upon the quay, form part of the Conciergerie, and are called Tour de Caesar and Tour de Montgomery.

This prison is now used for the detention of prisoners awaiting trial. Its last inmate of note was Prince Pierre Bonaparte, who was lodged here previous to his trial for the alleged murder of Victor Noir.

HOTEL-DE-VILLE. Part of the façade of the present Hôtel-deVille belongs to the building erected by Henry IV. in 1605. The old building was repaired in 1801 for the Préfet of the Seine. The present edifice is four times as large as that of 1837. The style is of the Renaissance, which prevailed in Italy during the sixteenth century. The façade upon the Place has four pavilions, and above the old door is an equestrian statue of Henry IV. in bas-relief. The edifice is crowned by a campanile, in which is the clock. The wing upon the Quai contains the apartments of the Préfet. The wing upon the Rue de Rivoli is reserved for the offices of the City. The suites of apartments, which are shown to visitors on Thursdays, are among the finest in Europe. They consist of the Salon des Arcades, Salon de Napoleon, with a portrait of Napoleon I.,the ceiling representing the Apotheosis of Napoleon; the Galerie des Fétes (which is separated, at each extremity, by arcades, from the Salons des Arts). This superb apartment is 150 ft. in length, by 39 in width; it is surrounded by a gallery, and there is a tribune for the orchestra at each end. This gallery is lighted by 26 chandeliers, each holding 100

candles. At the left of the gallery, is the Salle des Caryatides; beyond, is the Salon de la Paix, handsomely decorated. The ornamentation of these apartments is partly in the style of the Renaissance, partly in that of Louis XIV.

MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS.

MUSEUM OF THE LOUVRE. There are fifteen distinct museums which go to make up what is generally known as the Museum of the Louvre. They are: 1, The Museum of Painting; 2. Ancient Sculpture; 3. Sculpture of the Middle ages and Renaissance; 4. Modern Sculpture ; 5. Drawings; 6. Engravings; 7. Naval Science; 8. Of the Sovereigns of France; 9. Assyrian antiquities; 10. Egyptian antiquities; 11. Greek and Etruscan antiquities; 12. Ethnographical; 13. Algerian; 14. Museum of Napoleon III.; 15. The Sauvageot Collection.

The Museums best known, and to which tourists generally devote their first attention, are those of Painting and Sculpture.

The Gallery of Paintings is one of the most extensive in existence, the number of paintings falling little short of 1850. The limits of this work do not permit a description of the interesting objects which form this immense collection. Every visitor who proposes to give more than a casual glance at the galleries, will purchase the well arranged catalogue sold at the entrances.

The Salon Carré contains some of the choicest specimens of all schools, the chief of which are the Conception, by Murillo (No. 546); the Belle Jardinière, by Raphael (No. 376); the Holy Family, (No. 377), and The Virgin and

St. Elizabeth (No. 378), also by Raphael; The Marriage of Cana, by Paul Veronese (No. 103); The Joiner's Household, by Rembrandt (No. 410); Rubens' wife and his two children, by himself (No. 460); The Crowning with Thorns, by Titian (No. 464); The Virgin, Infant Jesus, and Saint Anne, by Leonardo da Vinci, (No. 481).

In the Long Gallery adjoining the Salon Carré, at the farther end, is the collection of the most admired works of Rubens, more than twenty in number. These paintings have recently been restored and re-canvassed.

In the fifth room of the Musée des Souverains, called Salle de l'Empereur, are the relics of Napoleon I. Among other things are the clothes worn by him on occasions of ceremony, the uniform worn at Marengo, the hat worn in the campaign of 1814, the hat worn at St. Helena, and the handkerchief which he used when on his deathbed.

Among the statuary in the collection, is the celebrated Venus of

Milo.

THE MUSEUM OF THE LUXEMBOURG is in the eastern wing of the palace. It is reserved for masterpieces of contemporaneous art. The whole number of paintings is 165, and there are about 30 pieces of sculpture. Among the most valued of the paintings are, The Children of Edward IV., by Delaroche; The Suliote Woman, and Eberhard, Count of Würtemberg, by Ary Scheffer; Judith and Holofernes, and Raphael at the Vatican, by Horace Vernet; The Decay of the Roman Empire, by Couture; Calling of the last victims of the Reign of Terror, by Müller; Nivernais Husbandry and Haymaking in Auvergne, by Rosa Bonheur.

HOTEL CLUNY AND PALAIS DES

THERMES. The museum of the Hôtel Cluny, in the Rue des Mathurins, near the corner of the Boulevard St. Michel, contains a valuable collection of relics of the middle ages, and of the period of the Renaissance, consisting of glass, porcelain, tapestry, wood carvings, arms, &c. &c. The building in which this singular collection is exhibited dates from 1480. Its Gothic turrets and elaborately ornamented windows, are very striking. The Palais des Thermes is the name given to the remains of what was once the palace of the Roman governor of Gaul. It is now partially restored. The most perfect part is the large hall with a vaulted ceiling, which was the cold bath, or frigidarium. It is 65 ft. long by 45 wide, and 54 high. The niches in which the bathing tubs were placed are still visible, near to the chamber which contained the apparatus for heating water. The hall containsmany pieces of Roman sculpture found in Paris. In the garden is a curious metallic cross, taken in the late Crimean war from the Church of St. Vladimir at Sebastopol.

Previous to the recent discovery of the Gallo - Roman Amphitheatre, the Palais des Thermes was the only visible structure of the Roman period which Paris possessed.

The remains of an ancient GALLO ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE have recently been discovered in the Rue Monge, while excavating the foundations of the proposed new office of the Compagnie des Omnibus. The area is entered by a large gateway on the north, on the left of which is the gladiator's room, from which the arena was separated by folding doors. Traces of the fastenings still remain. The inner arena is surrounded by a wall of about 10 ft. high.

Numerous coins have been discovered: amongst them, some of the time of Adrian, and others of Gordian III., Numerian, Tetricus the younger, Constantine the Great, and Constantine II. In addition to these coins, several medals, earthenware vessels, a valuable collar, and two skeletons have been found. The process of clearing the amphitheatre is still going on. Its diameter is about 140 yards, and it probably accommodated 15,000 spectators. This amphitheatre is mentioned in a mediaval poem, composed by a monk of the Abbaye de St. Victor, and also in documents of the same period, in which it is called Clos des Arénes.

THE MUSEE D'ARTILLERIE, in the Place St. Thomas d'Aquin, contains a fine collection of arms of all ages and countries. It is classed in chronological order, from the fourteenth century to the present time. In the armour gallery are effigies of knights in armour of various periods,attended by warriors on foot. Among the historical relics is the suit of armour worn by Henry, Duke of Guise, who was killed at Blois in 1588. The flag of the old Imperial Guard is preserved here, in a gilt frame.

THE MUSEUM OF THE CONSERVATOIRE DES ARTS ET METIERS, 292, Rue St. Martin, contains a valuable collection of machines, drawings, models, and scientific and mechanical apparatus, including hydraulic machines, apparatus for lighting and warming, agricultural machines, &c. &c.

THE PALACE OR SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS, the name of which sufficiently indicates the object of its foundation, is in the Rue Bonaparte. The entrance to the first court is by a superb gate, decorated with two colossal busts of

At

Puget and Poussin. In the first court is a marble Corinthian column surmounted by a bronze statue of Abundance. Behind this column is the beautiful front of a château, built in 1500 at Gaillon, by Cardinal d'Amboise. On the left are sculptures from the façades of the Hotel Tremouille, formerly situated in the Rue Bourdonnais. On the right is the ancient conventual chapel, the front of which is formed of the portal of the Cháteau d'Anet, built in 1548, by Henry II., for Diana of Poitiers. This chapel consists of a single nave with an arched roof. the end is a copy of Michael Angelo's Last Judgment, and, in the little Chapel of Marguerite de Valois, are casts of the Moses of Michael Angelo, and the tombs of Julien and Laurent de Medicis, by the same artist, and also casts of the bronze doors of the baptistery of Florence, of which Michael Angelo said that they were "worthy to stand at the entrance of Paradise." The interior of the Palace is not remarkable. The Salle Louis XIV. and the Sulle du Conseil contain a collection of portraits of the most eminent members of the Academy. In the Galerie de Prix, which is divided into three parts by Corinthian pilasters, is a collection composed of pictures which have obtained the great prize of Rome. On the Quai Malaquais, near by, was erected, in 1860-61, a new building, where are held the annual exhibitions of pictures painted by the pupils of the school at Rome, and the pictures which have taken the prizes at the School of Fine Arts at Paris.

THE MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ANATOMY, in the Ecole de Medicine, is chiefly interesting to the professional visitor. It contains a remarkable collection of ana

tomical preparations. The collection of anatomical and surgical instruments is very extensive and interesting. In one of the cases are the instruments used for the autopsy of Napoleon.

The COLLEGE DE LA SORBONNE is situated in the Place of that name, where Robert Sorbon founded, in 1253, a school for the gratuitous education of all who might choose to avail themselves of it. The buildings have gradually increased, and now extend over about 13,000 square yards. It is considered the principal College in the University of Paris. The course of instruction includes the faculties of theology, law, medicine, &c. The Library contains 80,000 volumes, and is open every day, except holidays, from 10 to 3, and from 7 to 10 in the evening. A room has been set apart for the collection of books bequeathed to the University by Victor Cousin; strangers are admitted from 12 to 2, on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Church, completed in 1659, contains some good sculptures, including the tomb of Cardinal Richelieu.

PARKS AND GARDENS.

The BOIS DE BOULOGNE, now the fashionable promenade of the Parisians, was formerly part of a large forest called Rouveret. It afterwards became the Bois de St. Cloud, and later, the Bois de Boulogne, after the little village of that name, at its western extremity. It was preserved by Louis IX., and succeeding monarchs, for shooting. In the 14th century it was infested by robbers. Even after the Revolution it was neglected by the State, and became again the haunt of vagabonds and robbers. Napoleon I. undertook extensive works for

beautifying it. He restored the game, and established guards to keep away outlaws. It suffered greatly during the occupation of Paris by the allies. Louis XVIII. and Louis Philippe began the works necessary to render it a place of resort for the Parisians, but it was left for Napoleon III. to complete them. The carefullyprepared plan annexed renders any description of the park itself unnecessary. It contains about 2,150 acres. The principal avenue leading to it is the Avenue de l'Imperatrice, opened in 1855, which is 1,400 yards long, and 100 yards wide. On the side of the Bois, near the Boulevard Maillot, is the Jardin Zoologique d'Acclimatation. This collection is considered to be the finest in Europe. It consists of:-The great aviary, 68 yards long by 5 yards wide, composed of 21 divisions, and pavilions glazed and warmed; the aquarium, a large rectangular building, 50 yards long; the magnanerie for the various kinds of silk-worms introduced into Europe; special grounds for the ostriches and cassowaries; buildings for mammalia; basins for the seals and beavers; the serre d'hiver for the parrots, paroquets, &c., hot-houses, and the grande serre, or winter garden, containing reading and refresh

ment rooms.

The CHAMPS ELYSEES. A beautiful promenade, leading from the Place de la Concorde to the Place de l'Etoile by a fine avenue, divided into three alleys planted with trees, the entrance of which is marked by the celebrated sculptures known as "The Horses of Marly," standing one on each side. The Champs Elysées formerly consisted of a plain covered with gardens, meadows and fields, in which stood isolated buildings.