adapted to the internal form of the mould. The hollow handles of pewter mugs are made on the same principle. The cold metallic moulds chill instantly the melted metal in actual contact with the interior surfaces of them, when the moulds are dexterously inverted, and the fluid portions of the melted metal in the centre of the handle run out, leaving the handle hollow.

GARDENS AND PALACE OF VERSAILLES.

We alighted in front of a very ordinary brick structure, forming one extreme of the Palace of Versailles. From a first glimpse of its walls, we were doubtful of the veracity of our guide, whom we had engaged at the gate. But this humble entrance proved a mask to the splendid front facing the gardens.

The guide first directed our course to the Orangery, or Grove of two or three hundred Orange trees. These are arranged in great tubs in a sort of vast cellar excavated on the sunny declivity of a hill. One of the trees, according to the statement of the guide, is above one hundred years old. It is rather small and dwarfish for its age, its roots having been limited in range to the narrow circle of a portable tub. These trees are protected from the frosts of winter by being moved under the arched subterranean vaults, which are formed beneath the hill on a level with the area or platform where the trees display their golden fruits in summer.

On turning to view the front of the palace facing the gardens, its magnificent dimensions seemed to strike us dumb with wonder, the extent of this front being 800 feet in length.

Strolling leisurely after our guide, and listening as we went to his explanations, in which every phrase contained

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the term magnifique, we gazed at the numerous remarkable objects which the uncontrolled wealth and pleasure of a powerful monarch once made it his study, aided by the most able architects of the nation, to collect on this favored spot. The works of ornament are all presented to view with the most studied effect. The general plan of the pleasure grounds of Versailles appears to be designed to produce shady walks beneath lofty elms, limes and horsechesnuts, planted in close rows, with the lower branches carefully trimmed to form arches of leaves, each alley, or arch of foliage, having some temple, group of statues or jets of water works, to terminate the view or vista. The gravel walks are bordered by hedges trimmed as smooth as a fence of boards, and with their dark green foliage almost as impenetrable by the eye.

In one spot you observe the walks to open upon smooth lawns, and suddenly winding to disclose the figures of water-nymphs and tritons, or perhaps of frogs and turtles, forming portions of the celebrated water-works. At another turn of the walk, a secluded bower invites you to repose; and whilst seated here, if you look up, you behold before you an artificial lake half a mile in length, with its ruffled waters glittering through the leaves, and flashing the reflected sunbeams from every wave. At each step as you advance, some new object is seen to give variety to the studied scenery.

The spouting fountains and water-works of Versailles are celebrated as being the most costly and extensive in the world. There are no abundant springs on elevated hills, from whence to conduct descending streams to these grounds; but most of the water is pumped up from the river Seine into a basin on the summit of a hill 300 feet above the level of the river, and at a distance of three or four miles from Versailles. The forcing-pumps are operated by several water wheels, moved by the current

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of the river, which is there obstructed by a small dam. The water wheels not having proved adequate, a steam engine has been added as an assistant laborer in this costly work of folly. About 1000 tons of water per hour have been raised by the machinery, according to the published statement; but so much water is required to supply the jets d'eau, and so great is the expense of raising it from the river, that all the water-works are allowed to play only on two or three grand occasions during the year. On one Sunday in each month, a partial exhibition takes place, when they are suffered to flow only a certain period of time, regulated almost to the nicety of a stopwatch calculation. During nearly all the rest of the year, the water gods and goddesses, and even old Neptune with his trident, are exposed to a blistering sunshine, with the white paint scaling from the surface of the moulded metal, of which they are composed, as if their skins were disordered by the scurvy in their forlorn estate. The marble frogs have their bare backs also dry and exposed to the sun, and are here reduced to the same extremities, for want of water, as their living prototypes were, in the famous Windham pond in Connecticut, during the French war of 1756.*

*Impatient of their thirsty condition, the Windham frogs remained not stationary, on the bare sands of a dried up pond; but with one voice they took up their line of march in the night for the nearest brook. The unintelligible, guttural, unnatural sounds they croaked during their progress along the road awakened the villagers, and threw them into consternation and dismay. They seized their arms under a mistaken apprehension of an irruption of an army of Frenchmen from Canuda, all crying out in an unknown dialect. They fancied they heard their invaders calling to them by their names to surrender, and it was only after a bold reconnoisance by candle light that the cause of alarm was discovered.

These gardens were planned by an artist celebrated in his day, named Le Notre. An anecdote has been related of the effect produced on Louis XIV. on presenting the plans to him. He was surprized by the taste displayed by the artist, and the genius he evinced in overcoming the diffiVOL. II 12

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Within the range of the gardens or pleasure grounds of Versailles, are two small palaces erected by the former kings of France. Elsewhere, these would be considered worthy of the notice of a stranger; but here, in comparison with the great palace of Versailles, they are viewed with diminished interest. Indeed, the stranger after passing a few hours among these marble temples, grottos, groups of statues, vases, bowers, flowers, pavilions, and palaces, may almost imagine himself transported to fairy land. After walking over the extensive grounds for several hours, the excited mind exacts too severe a task of the muscular system. Stimulated by the successive views of all these grand artificial works, the visitant feels surprised at being so soon tired in roving over such a paradise. Our party at last seemed to derive more delight from reclining upon the green herbage, and indulging in the luxury of rest, than in admiring the hollow splendors of royalty.

Recovering from the fatigue of admiring the external decorations around the palace, we addressed ourselves to the porter at the palace door, who sent to us a servant to act as a guide. We now commenced viewing one splendid apartment after another, some walled with richly sculptured marble of variegated colors, and others adorned with great mirrors, paintings &c. The servant acts at times as an orator in describing the curiosities in each hall, and the events of history connected with them. These long ranges of halls, however, appear cold and cheerless, divested

culties of introducing such great quantities of water as were required for the fountains, and in overcoming the many natural obstacles arising from the nature of the ground." In the progress of the explanations, the monarch three times interrupted his discourse, each time exclaiming, "Le Notre, I give you for that twenty thousand francs."-When this munificent grant was repeated for the fourth time, Le Notre stopped the king, saying, Sire, you shall hear no more; I should ruin you were I to go

en."

of furniture to the bare walls and empannelled mirrors. Our guide stated that during the Revolution all the moveables were sold by public auction, and the halls of the palace were occupied as wards of an hospital for troops.

In one wing of the palace is a chapel, also decorated with a profusion of costly sculptured marble. Under the same roof there is a theatre, which was once very splendid, judging from the quantity of gilding and highly decorated scenery that remains in a neglected condition. It was for exhibition on this now deserted stage, that Moliere wrote some of his most amusing plays; and here the most splendid Royal Court of Europe once assembled to witness them. The Royal Banquetting Room, another most splendid hall, used for the dress-balls of the court, is nearly an hundred feet in length, seventy feet in width and about fifty feet high! On these useless structures, water works, and gardens, more than 30,000,000 dollars, it has been stated, were lavishly squandered. The wasteful expenditures of the national treasures upon these follies, and the prodigality and debaucheries exhibited here, have been considered among the first exciting causes of the Revolution, that for a time levelled all orders of society, and swept away the learned and the good, as well as the vicious fol lowers of a corrupt court.

PALACE OF ST. CLOUD.

Dismissing our guide with his fees, we took the road to the palace of St. Cloud, in the examination of which we passed the remainder of the day. This beautiful palace is situated on the brow of a lofty hill, commanding an extensive view of the domes and cathedrals of Paris, and of the wide adjacent country. Although less magnificent than the palace of Versailles, it has an appearance of convenience and comfort, combined with all the splendor which a