434 PALAIS ROYAL, 



the duke had not thought proper to advertife them 

 of it, or to tell them what his intention was to do 

 with the whole. They vented their rage in abfurd 

 conjectures, witty conceits and fatirical couplets, but 

 regularly came every day to fee what was to arife from 

 this devaluation. In the mean time they bellowed upon 

 the duke the name of the Egorgeur des Ombres. 



The rapidity with which it was deftroyed and built 

 up again is incredible. In the year 1782 the work was 

 begun, and in lefs than three years afterwards two of 

 the great wings were completed, in which, while as yet 

 the walls were fcarcely dry, fhopkeepers of every deno- 

 mination took up their abode. On each fide a long 

 walk of chefnut trees was planted afrefh, and the 

 walkers, who till now had frequented the Tuilleries, 

 came back in numerous multitudes. In the fpace of 

 four years the palais royal was brought to the ftate in 

 which it is at prefent, and the public began to forget 

 the old garden in admiring the pleafantnefs of the new. 

 Upon the whole they were gainers ; but particular per- 

 fons, efpecially the proprietors of the hotels circum- 

 jacent to the garden, fuffered conliderable damage : 

 for the buildings of the palais quite hid their houfes. 

 They made heavy complaints again ft the duke ; but 

 got nothing by them, except a flight compenfation, 

 which has not been fully paid them to this day. The* 

 profpect from their windows, which overlooked a 

 cheerful and pleafant garden, was now loft in the narrow 

 avenues that were formed by the new erections. 



The principal entrance to the palais royal is from the | 

 ftreet St. Honore. The fquare before it is inceffantly 

 thronged with carriages, chiefly fiacres, and crouds of 



people. 



