has been devoted to their
distribution with regard to convenience and comfort. As Louis-Philippe
justly observed when he recently inspected the exterior of the whole
building, that it should no longer be called the Hotel-de-Ville, but for
the future the City Palace, as the splendour within it is not exceeded
in any of the other palaces in Paris. The library belonging to this
establishment consists of 55,000 volumes, and is very rich in
manuscripts.

The Place de Greve has been the scene of more sanguinary tragedies than
perhaps any spot of the same extent in Europe, and could the stones but
speak, each could tell a tale of blood. In the north-west corner is
still to be seen a relic of the middle ages, in a curious turret
attached to one of the houses. Taking the Rue Poterie, we shall get into
the Rue de la Verrerie, and proceeding westward will bring us to the
church St. Merri, but to view it properly must enter the Rue St. Martin,
and stand facing it, and well examine its curious and beautiful
sculpture (vide page 88), presenting all the minute and singular
characteristics of the period of its construction (1520); the carve-work
is quite like lace, so minutely elaborate. The interior possesses
several interesting objects in architecture, and some inconsistencies,
the pulpit is extremely curious, and its effect is very striking. There
are also some pictures above mediocrity, principally by French artists
of the past school. The tower of this church is famed from the desperate
resistance which was made from it by a few young men in 1832 against the
king's troops.

We must follow the course of the Rue St. Martin, and observe No. 151, a
fine hotel of the time of Louis XIV, with a front adorned by ionic
pilasters, and handsome entrance: a few paces farther on the opposite
side, is the church of St. Nicolas-des-Champs, the west front was
erected in 1420, as it now stands, and in 1576, the choir and chapels
behind were constructed, and the tower probably at that period or
since. A church has existed on the same spot ever since 1119, then
standing as the name indicates in the fields, but it is doubtful whether
any part of the old fabric remains. There is something fine and imposing
in the interior, with regard to its general effect, although there is
not any thing particularly remarkable in its architecture; the pictures
it contains form its most striking feature, some of which are very good;
many celebrated persons lie bur