o the
celebrated painter Philippe de Champagne, and one of his performances is
amongst the pictures which decorate the church, being that of Jesus with
Martha and Mary in the chapel of Ste. Genevieve; there are several other
objects in this noble edifice so interesting, that no person who visits
Paris should omit seeing it. We may now take the Rue de la Tixeranderie
where at the corner of the Rue du Coq is a house and turret of the 15th
and 16th century, most probably the former, according to the statements
of M. Dulaure.

[Illustration: The Hotel de Ville.
Published by F. Sinnett, 15. Grande rue Verte.]

We now arrive at the Hotel-de-Ville, Place de Greve; the first stone of
this interesting and venerable pile was laid in 1533, but was not
completely finished until 1606, in the reign of Henry IV. The style of
architecture is that which the French call La Renaissance des Arts, it
is rich, rather heavy, and has an antique appearance; it is exactly
according to the taste which prevailed in the 16th century, and was
brought into vogue by Italian architects. There is a great deal of
ornament about the building, and a profusion of statues, still they
appear consistent with the style of the building, and have not the
effect of redundancy. Over the doorway is a bronze equestrian statue of
Henry IV. Along the principal front is a flight of steps, and an arcade
and portico with ionic columns, between the arches facing the entrance
is a fine bronze statue of Louis XIV. The Grande Salle or Salle du Trone
is a most splendid apartment, and has been the scene of many most
important events, being the room where Robespierre held his council and
in which he attempted to destroy himself, and from which Louis XVI
addressed the people with the cap of liberty upon his head. Most
extensive additions and alterations have recently been effected, the
original facade having been doubled in length and the whole body of the
building nearly quadrupled, forming an immense quadrangle, preserving
the same style of architecture as the original. The expense of these
additions and improvements is estimated at four millions of francs, and
they have been effected with a rapidity that is quite surprising,
notwithstanding the number of public buildings in progress at the same
time in Paris. The multitude of apartments, the richness of their
decorations, and tasteful manner with which they are arranged, are only
to be equalled by the careful attention which