The edifice containing the ancient custom-house being a great deal too
small and inconvenient for that purpose, it became indispensable to
erect another building. For this object, the municipal administration
opened a public competition on the 14th october 1833, for the erection
of another edifice. In the month of may 1834, the preference was given
to the plan of Mr Ed. Isabelle, a distinguished architect in Paris, who
was charged with putting his plan into execution. The excavations were
commenced on the 17th february 1835, in the presence of the mayor, the
municipal council, etc., and the building was terminated in 1838.
The architectural appearance of this edifice reminds us a little of the
severe style of the florentine architecture; the large doorway is
ornamented with the attributes of commerce, as likewise the coping of
the edifice; two bas-reliefs, of eight and a half feet high, and
sculptured on stone by David, representing the _symbols of navigation
and commerce_, decorate the middle of the facade on the first floor.
This building is situated on the _Havre quay_, a little farther on than
the old one. It has three entrances: the principal, on the quay, leads
into a large rectangular court, which is covered with a cupola of
cast-iron; opposite to the entrance of this court, is placed against the
wall the fine bas-relief, which ornamented the front of the old
custom-house, a very handsome piece of workmanship by Coustou, a
statuary of the XVIIIth century; it represents Mercury with the
different attributes of commerce. Two other entrances from the quay lead
to the offices and dwellings of some higher persons attached to the
customs. The lateral entrances serve as outlets to merchandise after
having been searched or examined in the covered court.
The bonded and examining warehouses are on the ground floor, as likewise
the offices of the comptroller, sub-comptroller and searchers; the
entresole is destined for other offices; the first floor is occupied
with the dwelling and offices of the director; and lastly, the second
story contains the dwelling of the principal receiver and the residing
comptroller.
_The entrepot reel_, is situated, behind the new custom-house; this
warehouse is used for warehousing merchandise after the duties, have
been paid. The front of this edifice which is situated in the _rue des
Charrettes_, was erected in 1826.