LETTERS FROM PARIS. 



He built one, which in conftructing took up the in- 

 terval between 1190 and 121 1. confequently twenty- 

 one years ; and in fadl it included almoft a fourth part 

 of the prefent circuit of Paris. It then ftrtick out a 

 half-circle towards the north, from the prefent Louvre, 

 along the ftreets Montmartre, St. Denis, Beaubourg 

 and Rollers, and the other towards the foutli, from the' 

 prefent gate of St. Bernard, along the flreets des Fof-^ 

 fees, St. Victor, St. Michel, St. Germain, and Nefie. 

 The whole circle (for the wall feems to have defcribed 

 this figure) was in diameter about eight hundred toifes *, 

 and in circumference five or fix miles. However, 

 this circumference was far from being full-built, and 

 ftiil contained here and there large tracts of arable land 

 and orchards. Philip Auguftus firft caufed the flreets 

 of Paris to be paved, or rather he compelled his mi- 

 nifter of the finances, Gerard de Poiffy, in order to 

 make him difgorge a part of the treafure that had gone 

 befide the king's exchequer, to pave it. 



Under the fucceffors of Philip Auguftus, Paris was 

 not fo much enlarged as it was filled out and fortified. 

 Under John it was fur rounded with a ditch ; undef 

 Charles the fifth and the fixth, the wall on the north 

 fide was extended. This enlargement employed a' fpace 

 from the year 1367 to 1383. The circuit of the nor- 

 thern femicircle already comprehended a part of the 

 prefent palais royal and ran along the prefent old boule* 

 vards to the place where now the arfenal ftands. The" 

 gates St. Antoine, St. Martin, and St. Denis, had al- 

 ready arifen where they now ftand. 



* I reckon by toifes, of v/hich, accordin&io Picard's calculation, 

 3804 go to a geographical mile. 



vol. i. m * Thefe 



