Identifier: bibliographicala02dibd (find matches)
Title: A bibliographical, antiquarian and picturesque tour in France and Germany
Year: 1821 (1820s)
Authors: Dibdin, Thomas Frognall, 1776-1847
Subjects: Libraries Libraries Bibliography Literary journeys Literary journeys
Publisher: London : Shakespeare Press
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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and sacks in a day. Itscontiguity to Paris may account for the quantity ofbusiness done. In the outskirts of the town,—andflanked, rather than surrounded, by two or threerows of trees, of scarcely three years growth—thelocale being dignified by the name of the Boule-vards—stands the stiff* and stower remains of theCastle of Houdan. It is a very interesting rehc,and to our eyes appeared of an unusual constructiim.The corner towers are small and circular ; and the in-termediate portion of the outer wall is constructed 70 FALAISE TO PARIS. with a swell, or a small curvature outwards. I pacedthe outside, but have forgotten the measurement.Certainly, it is not more than forty feet square. Wetried to gain admittance into the interior, but withoutsuccess, as the person possessing the key was not tobe found. We saw enough, however, to convince usthat the walls could not be less than twelve feet inthickness. But let Mr. Lewiss pencil supply thesedeficiencies of the foregoing description.
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\ Ji JfTiebaxrn ^ctti^. ^ w \ A \ ^_ , --- ^ A wk iflM im ;S *^ ^.^^H ^ _. M H VERSAILLES. 71 The horses had been some time in readiness, andthe fresh postillion seemed to be lost in amazement atthe cause of our loitering- so long at so insignificant aplace. He seemed half disposed to ask permission tosee the drawing; and my companion was too good-natured to thwart his wishes. On examining it, hepronounced the original to be a vilain ancien bati-ment. A tasteless Goth ! The day warmed as wepushed on for the far-famed proud Versailles. Theapproach, from Houdan, is perhaps not the mostfavourable; although we got peeps of the chateau,which gave us rather elevated notions of its enor-mous extent. We drove to the H6tel de Bourbon;an excellent, clean mansion, close to the very facadeof the palace, after passing the Hotel de Ville ; andfrom whence you have an undisturbed view of thebroad, wide, direct road to Paris. We bespokedinner, and prepared for a lounge. The palace—ofwhich we purpose

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