NOTRE-DAME.—In the interior of Notre-Dame the insurgents set fire to
three huge piles of chairs and wood-work. Fortunately the fact was
discovered before much mischief had happened.
THE SAINTE-CHAPELLE.—This incomparable gem of Gothic art, by some
marvellous good fortune was neither touched by fire nor shells. It will
still be an object for the pilgrimages of the erudite and the curious.
THE MADELEINE.—The balls have somewhat damaged the double colonnade of
the peristyle, but the sculptured pediment by Lemaire is all but
untouched.
THE TRINITÉ.—The façade has been seriously injured. The Federals, from
their barricades at the entrance of the Chaussée-d’Antin, bombarded it
for several hours. The painted windows by Ondinot had been removed
before the siege—like those of the ancient Cathedral of St. Denis, and
the Chapel of St. Ferdinand, by Ingres, they repose in safety.
Of all the churches of Paris ST. EUSTACHE has suffered the most. At one
time the fire had reached the roof, but it was fortunately discovered
in time.
The paintings at NOTRE-DAME-DE-LORETTE, at SAINT-GERMAIN-L’AUXERROIS,
and at SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS have been spared.
It is curious that the churches suffered so little, whilst several
theatres were burned, including the Porte St. Martin, Théâtre du
Châtelet, Lyrique, Délassements Comiques, etc.
The windows of the church of SAINT-JACQUES-DU-HAUT-PAS are destroyed.
It has been estimated that the value of the houses and other property
destroyed in Paris amounts to twenty millions sterling. In addition to
this, it is said that twelve millions’ worth of works of art,
furniture, &c., have disappeared, and that more than two and a half
millions’ worth of merchandise was burnt, making a total of nearly
thirty-five millions. It has been said that the value of the
window-glass alone destroyed during the reign of the Commune approaches
a million sterling. The demand for glass was at one time so great that
the supply was quite insufficient, and at the present moment the price
is 20 per cent. higher than usual.