VERSAILLES. 409 



rally terminate the little vistas. These seem to have escaped 

 nearly uninjured during all the convulsions that have agi- 

 tated the country. But the whole of Versailles at one time 

 had a very narrow escape. It was proposed that the cha- 

 teau, the park, and the gardens, should be sold as national 

 property ; when Mr Le Roy, the architect, to his great 

 credit, stepped forward, and represented, that the palace 

 might be usefully employed for public purposes, and that 

 the garden might be rendered productive of food for the 

 people. This satisfied the citizens : a military school was 

 established in the chateau ; and by planting some of the 

 parterres with apple-trees and others with potatoes, the 

 garden was saved. 



There are now but few remains of the original works 

 of Le Notre, in any thing like their pristine state : almost 

 all have been renewed, or have undergone transformation : 

 the clipped pyramidal yews form almost the only exception. 

 His Labyrinth has wholly disappeared, and its site is now 

 occupied by &jardin Anglais. His old forest-trees were cut 

 down, and young ones planted, about the year 1775; so 

 that very few large trees are visible from the esplanade. 

 Groves or thickets (bosquets) of oaks, are common ; but 

 the trees are of small size. The general style of the place 

 is, no doubt, retained, and does credit to the favourite gar- 

 dener of Louis XIV. ; for the lengthened vistas, — the 

 straight canal, and the equally straight walks leading to it, 

 — the clipped hedges, — the statuary ornaments, — the ba- 

 sins, with their superb fountains, — are all in unison, and 

 all accord with the splendid palace which overlooks them. 



The quarter containing the Bassin de Neptune is truly 

 grand, at least in its hydraulic ornaments. Neptune in 

 his car, drawn by sea-horses, is an admirable production : 

 it is evident that the figures have been designed and exe- 



