swarming alive with soldiers. In various directions I heard sharp words of command, followed by the sound of butts of muskets in masses heavily striking the pavement. On passing beneath the great entrance arch, from the summit of which a tricolor flag was flying, and on each side of which was a dragoon with a drawn sword, on horseback, I saw before me a large clock, and beneath it, in long large letters, the words "LIBERTÉ, EGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ." Lastly, in the square before the entrancegate, on a pedestal surrounded by iron railings, was seated a colossal statue, holding in her left hand a long staff surmounted by a human hand; her right arm was resting on a shield or tablet, on which was deeply engraved in large letters DROITS DE L'HOMME.1 1 The Rights of Man. LYONS RAILWAY. ALTHOUGH my rapid inspection of the terminus and workshops of the "Chemin de Fer du Nord" had made me slightly acquainted with the mode of working their line by the principal railway company in France, yet, as I afterwards learned that the Paris and Lyons railway was not only under the management of the French Government, but that every effort had been made by it (the Government) to construct the line on the most scientific principles that could be devised, I obtained from the "Ingénieur en Chef”1 an order, stamped and signed, authorising me, without limitation, to enter every portion of the works I might wish to inspect; and as he was further obliging enough to provide me with a very intelligent guide, I proceeded to the metropolitan terminus of this important railway, for the purpose not of tediously going over the whole of its details, but merely to make that sort of rapid inspection of them which 1 Chief engineer. would enable me to judge whether in the great system of the French there existed any striking new arrangements which might profitably be adopted by our railways in England. On arriving at the "embarcadère" or metropolitan terminus, situated between the barrières of Bercy and Charenton, close to the Boulevart Mazas, and opposite to the prison of that name, I was conducted by my guide into what appeared to me-who had only read of the Exhibition in London-to be a palace of glass, into which, from which, and under which, the various carriages employed in the working of the railway either enter, depart, or repose. This magnificent and beautifully-constructed receptacle, the two ends and roof of which are principally composed of plate-glass, not only extends 55 feet over six sets of rails, but over a promenade on each side of them, 20 feet broad. Adjoining to and communicating with each of these promenades are the parallel ranges of offices, waiting-rooms, &c., that respectively belong to them, and which I will very briefly enumerate in the order I entered them. On the north or departure side the range of buildings connected with the glass roof are composed of, 1. An uncovered wharf for the embarkation of public and private carriages and horses, allowing plenty of room to embark five at a time. 2. A small room for a "corps de garde," composed of the servants of the company off duty. 3. A refreshment-hall. 4. A magnificent building, 165 feet long by 33 broad, the interior of which, as lofty as a church, is divided into five partitions, namely, one waiting-room for first-class passengers; two for second class, and two for third class. On the end of the wall of the compartment for the latter class of travellers hangs a very clearlydefined railway map of Europe. The partitions dividing the five waitingrooms above enumerated are of oak. In the third-class room I observed oak forms; in the second class, benches covered with clean, black, bright, shining horse-hair, well stuffed. In the first class, on a very slippery floor, chairs, sofas, and ottomans, lined with beautiful green plush, and a table covered with green cloth. The walls are adorned with looking-glasses; and on the chimney-piece stands, steadily ticking, an exceedingly handsome clock. (On the outside of the above four compartments, communicating with them all, is a magnificent hall or promenade; in a portion of it passengers for departure apply for their tickets through five windows, around each of which there is plenty of elbow-room.) 5. A hall for baggage, containing a table 240 feet long, for the reception and weighing of passengers' luggage. 6, and lastly. A magazine and office for merchandise and parcels not belonging to passengers, to be despatched by trains "à grande vitesse."1 Beneath the whole length of the "gare" or establishment I have described are a range of subterranean stores, very valuable and dry, containing a stove or caloriform, for warming the establishment. Beyond, but in line with them, there exists, in the air, a small office, supported by upright timbers, between which diligences are lifted from their own wheels, and deposited upon trucks on rails. The length of the office and waiting-room attached to the glass roof is 726 feet; but the whole of what is called the "Cour de Départ," is 1419 feet, or 33 yards more than a quarter of a mile! On the south, or arrival side, of the six sets of rails, there are, opposite to the series of offices just enumerated, a corresponding range of buildings, containing 1. Under arches, two small shops. 2. An office for baggage from Lyons. |