i6o Literary and Philosophical Society. 



account I know published, is contained in the " Tableaux 

 de Paris," nouvelle edition, tome premier, chapitre 5 me, 

 page I2me: — 



"' For the first building of Paris, it was necessary to get 

 the stone in the environs, and the consumption of it was 

 very considerable. As Paris was enlarged, the suburbs 

 were insensibly built on the ancient quarries, so that all 

 that you see without is essentially wanting in the earth for 

 the foundation of the city : hence proceed the frightful 

 cavities, which are at this time found under the houses in 

 several quarters. They stand upon abysses. It would 

 not require a very violent shock to throw back the stones 

 to the place from whence they have been raised with so 

 much difficulty. Eight men being swallowed up in a gulf 

 one hundred and fifty feet deep, and some other less known 

 accidents, excited at length the vigilance of the police and 

 the Government, and, in fact, the buildings of several 

 quarters have been privately propped up ; and by this 

 means a support given to these obscure subterraneous 

 places which they before wanted. 



* •' All the Faubourg St. Jacques, Rue de la Harpe, and 

 Rue de Tournon, stand upon the ancient quarries ; and 

 pillars have been erected to support the weight of the 

 houses. What a subject for reflection, in considering this 

 great city, formed and supported by means absolutely at 

 contradiction ! These towers, these steeples, the arched 

 roofs of these temples, are so many signs to tell the eye 

 that what we now see in the air is wanting under our 

 feet." ' 



The grandson of Charles White was lately well known 

 in Lancashire as Captain White, many years master of the 

 Cheshire hounds. ' 



