310 AUDUBON 



Palace of the Kings, the Emperors, and the people. I say 

 the people, because they are allowed to see the interior 

 every day. With Parker, I took a cab directly after break- 

 fast to the barriere dcs bons Jiommcs, and walked the re- 

 maining distance, say three miles. We had the Seine in 

 view most of the way, and crossed it on a fine iron bridge, 

 one end of which forms the entrance to St. Cloud, in front 

 of which the river winds. We reached the gates of the 

 palace, and found they were not opened till twelve o'clock; 

 but a sergeant offered to show us the King's garden, an 

 offer we accepted with pleasure. The entrance is by an 

 avenue of fine trees, their tops meeting over our heads, 

 and presenting, through the vista they made, a frame for a 

 beautiful landscape. We passed several pieces of water, 

 the peaceful abode of numerous fish, basking on the sur- 

 face ; swans also held their concave wings unfurled to the 

 light breeze orange trees of fair size held their golden 

 fruit pendent flowers of every hue covered the borders, 

 and a hundred statues embellished all with their well- 

 modelled forms. So unmolested are the birds that a Green 

 Woodpecker suffered my inspection as if in the woods of 

 our dear, dear America. At the right time we found our- 

 selves in the King's antechamber, and then passed through 

 half a dozen rooms glittering with richest ornaments, 

 painted ceilings, large pictures, and lighted by immense 

 windows ; all, however, too fine for my taste, and we were 

 annoyed by the gens d'armes watching us as if we were 

 thieves. It was near two o'clock when we left, the weather 

 beautiful, and heat such as is usually felt in Baltimore 

 about this season. The population of Paris appeared now 

 to flock to St. Cloud ; the road was filled with convey- 

 ances of all sorts, and in the principal walk before the 

 Palace were hundreds of pctits marcliands, opening and 

 arranging their wares. Music began in different quarters, 

 groups lay on the grass, enjoying their repasts ; every one 

 seemed joyous and happy. One thing surprised me : we 



