The _Fontaine de la Victoire_, built upon the _Place du Châtelet_, in
front of the _Pont au Change_, was one of the first established in the
French Capital.
It was also one of the first monuments raised to record the glory of the
French arms. The architect Brasle superintended its erection, as well as
that of others of the same nature, placed in different parts of Paris,
as much for utility as for ornament.
The conception of this is simple, and its execution leaves nothing to be
desired. The glorious deeds of the live years were there recorded as so
many talismans. How many times have we feared that the lever, or the
petard, would be applied to its destruction. But the charm of the French
eagle, and of victory distributing her crowns, were safeguards, and
served to awe the vandal conqueror. When the famous names of _Rivoli!_
_Lodi!_ _Arcole!_ _Mont-Thabor!_ _Pyramids!_ _Marengo!_ _Austerlitz!_
_Ulm!_ _Eylau!_ _Friedland!_ and _Dantzic!_ were inscribed upon the
column, who dare lay their sacrilegious hands upon it?
[Illustration: THE TRIUMPHAL COLUMN.]