ollect in a land
abounding in monuments of every kind, and in the rarest curiosities, is
described and illustrated in this work by a committee of savans
appointed for the purpose. It contains more than 900 engravings, and
3000 illustrative sketches. The Musee Francais, and the Musee Royal,
containing 522 plates, after the gems of the world, are not less grand
and magnificent, and far more valuable contributions to art. These will
be described in a subsequent page. Such was Napoleon; deprive him of
every other glory, his love of art, and what he did for its promotion,
and the adornment of his country, would immortalize his name.

Napoleon delighted to spend some of his leisure moments in contemplating
the master pieces of art which he had gathered in the Louvre, and that
he might go there when he pleased, without parade, he had a private
gallery constructed leading to that edifice from the Tuilleries. (See
Spooner's Dictionary of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors, and Architects,
articles West, David, Denon, Canova, etc., and vol i., page
8, of this work.)

NAPOLEON'S WORKS AT PARIS.

"The emperor was, most indisputably, the monarch who contributed in the
greatest degree to the embellishment of Paris. How many establishments
originated under his reign! nevertheless, on beholding them, the
observer has but a faint idea of all he achieved; since every principal
city of the empire witnessed alike the effects of his munificence and
grandeur of mind; the streets were widened, roads constructed and canals
cut; even the smallest towns experienced improvements, the result of
that expanded genius which was daily manifested. I shall, therefore,
content myself by placing before the reader a mere sketch of the works
achieved at Paris; for were it requisite to give a catalogue of all the
monuments erected during his reign, throughout the French empire, a
series of volumes would be required to commemorate those multifarious
labors."--_Ireland_.

_Palaces._

The Louvre was completely restored, which a succession of French
monarchs had not been able to accomplish. The Palace of the Luxembourg
equally embellished throughout, as well in the interior as the exterior,
and its gardens replanted. The Exchange founded. The Palace of the
University reconstructed, as well as the Gallery uniting the Palace of
the Tuilleries to that of the Louvre.

_Fountains._

The situation of the Fountain of the Innocents changed, and the whol