434 LETTERS FROM PARIS. 



Thefe walls were lineally interrupted by towers, un- 

 der or belide which the gates formed a paffage through, 

 exactly like thofe of fome of the old ftrong places in 

 Saxony, Touraine, and Bohemia. In the year 1370, 

 under Charles the fifth, the groundwork was laid of 

 two infulated towers at the gate of St. Antoine. They 

 were intended, like all the reft, to protect the entrance 

 of the city againft any hoftile attack ; and they were 

 called, as Were all that were deftined to the fame pur- 

 pofe, baftilles. Charles the lixth, about the year 1383. 

 caufed the other fix towers to be erected; which are 

 connected together with very ftrong walls, the whole 

 to be furrounded with a ditch, and the way to it car- 

 ried along on the left hand. Thus ftood this formida- 

 ble city, which was at firft intended by the king for 

 the protection of his fubjects againft their enemies ; 

 but in procefs of time became the receptacle of the 

 flaves of defpotifm leagued together partly to protect 

 the king againft his friends, his fubjects, and partly— 

 to keep them in awe. 



Paris, both within and without, had ftill a complete 

 gothic appearance till the ftxteenth century- A polite 

 and amiable king brought it one degree nearer to civi- 

 lization. Francis the firft was the reftorer of fciences 

 in France, and with him again flourimed the other 

 arts of peace. A better tafte in architecture began to 

 fpread itfelf from Italy, and under its conduct this 

 king caufed fome of the antient gothic ftructures to be 

 demolifhed, new ones to be erected, fome ftreets to be 

 llruck out, and others to be widened and improved. 



Under his fucceffors, Paris, from year to year, con- 

 tinued to advance in architecture, in tafte, and fplen- 



dour. 



