The Queen's Cross, Northampton*

completed , but until something more definite can be discovered as to how it was orig inally terminated , I quite agree with Mr . Hartshorne , and many others , that it vrill be Avell to leave it as it is . In conclusion , allow me to remind you that the steps which form tbe foundation of this architectural gem are fast falling into decay ; I therefore venture to express

a hope that immediate efforts will be made to restore the dilapidations , lest , by further delay , tbe cost of restoration be greatly increased , or the structure sacrificed for Avant of attention .

Paris Of To-Day.

PARIS OF TO-DAY .

A correspondent of the Morning Post has contributed an account of his impressions on revisiting Paris after an absence of six or seven years . We must g ive our readers the advantage of some of his observations . "I remember , well Paris some twelve or fifteen years ago , when the Rue di Rivoli was a wonder , and when the Boulevards were regarded as a sort of elegant garden fringing the city , and valued as appendages tp the bright cafes , where the gay folks

could sit in the open air and take their demi-tasses and petits-¦ oerres under the shades of the numerous trees , rather than as the means of husiness traffic in a great city . The inner streets were narrow , crooked , crowded , ill built , and very unsavoury ; huge , tall houses overshadowing the way , from whose gonttieres the foot-passenger shrank in awe , and down whose streets the water flowed unheeded , or stagnated undisturbed . The Rues RichelieuVivienneSt . Denisand a few others were almost the

, , , only ones which afforded easy traffic for vehicles passing each other . The other streets were as I have described them , and they ran across each other in such a manner as would have led one to suppose they were purposely laid out to perplex and bewilder the traveller . The most sordid , ancl , had it not been for their multiplied system of story over story , the most paltry houses inserted themselves between the unfinished palaces of the of the Louvre and Tuileries . Had it not been for the Quays ,

the Place de la Concorde , and the Boulevards , Paris , in spite of many glorious public buildings , would have taken very low rank among the cities of the continent . How greatly and nobly it has been changed , and the methods hy which this has heen effected , I will now endeavour to sketch . Forgetting half my character as architect—that of the artist—I will now speak in the other half of my professional avocations , the man of husiness and of figures .

If you have a map of Paris corrected to the present time , and one of London , spread them out before you . They will assist my description ; though , of course , the improvements must be seen to be appreciated . The first features which strike the eye of the stranger are the new Boulevards . ' . There are streets varying from 60 feet to SO feet , and even 100 feet in Avith , crossing the city in various directions . They have not the painful angular regularities of American cities , where , it '

you want to see a friend at one corner of thetown , you must traverse two sides of a square to get at him . You must go due north and then due east , instead of following a direct route . So ; each of these new streets is planned on the common-sense idea of passing in the shortest way from one important part of the town to another , or joining one active quarter in the most direct \^ ay with another . It is the principle on which Sir Christopher Wren proposed to rebuild the city of London after

it was burnt in 1666 ; aud it has heen deep matter of regret that the obstinacy of the citizens of that day caused his plan to he thrown aside . Having spoken of the general principle on which these streets have been laid out , let us now consider them more particularly . The principal of them is the Boulevard de Sehastopol . This extends from the extreme north of the city , beginning at the noble station of the Strasbourg -Railway . It crosses the

Boulevard St . Denis , between the arch so called and that of the Porte St . Martin . It cuts ruthlessly . through the huge mass of houses which formerly lay between the Hues St . Denis and St . Martin , never deviating from a straight line ; crosses tbe river hy the Pont r . u Change which has recently heen rebuilt for the purpose ; passes by the front of the Palais de Justice , which is now for the first time laid open to the eye of the passenger . It passes over the lower branch of the Seine hy the Pont St . Michel , near which is a noble new fountain ; but we must not pause to describe the recently-constructed bridges

and fountains now ; they must he left for another opportunit y . This fine new boulevard then penetrates the old Quarter Latin , that part where it may he remembered the gutter formerl y ran down the middle of the streets , and where there were no pavements , and huge lumps of stone were the only protection from the careless drivers of the voitures ; that network of rues where we used to hunt for old books , ond where we did not feel ourselves particularlsafe from the cavaliers of the franc tapis

y after sunset . It pursues its course to the Boulevard de Mont Parnasse , and finishes opposite the Observatory . But now it will probably he asked how the fine buildings near its course are treated . The line is straight , and most of them stand hack at some little distance from its course . This has been accomplished with great skill . Prom the Boulevard to the Hue de Rivoli there is little to remark , hut we are writing ,

crosses this street , the first building effected is the Oratoire . The rear of this building has heen restored and laid open to the view , a fine arcade connecting it with the line of the Hue de Bivoli . A little farther on was the old Place du ¦ Chatelet , with the Column of July . As this last was not exactly in the line , ancl as it is a heautiful and interesting feature , a very bold course was taken . The colm-an was removed iu one ieceand refixed on a new pedestal surrounded by fine

founp , tains . A place was formed round this with a beautiful garden in the centre , on each side of which is a splendid theatre : one in place of the Cirque , the other of the Lyrique ; both which are doomed to demolition , as will hereafter be stated . This princip le of forming an open space planted with trees and flowers , at one side of winch is the building proposed to be laid open , is pursued throughout this , and in fact , the other hues . The H 6 tel Dieu and other buildings which hide Notre Dame

will he pulled down , and similar gardens will take their place , and so exhibit that noble building . Opposite the Sorbonne will be a similar place , to exhibit the fine church built hy Lemereier . In the like way , care will be taken that the Luxembourg and the Pantheon shall be laid open to public view in the best possible way . The character of the construction of the Boulevard de Sehastopol is much like that of the older ones . It has a spacious macadamised roadway , with a hroad footway ,

bordered with trees , and with frequent seats for passengers . The houses are , however , very imposing . They are entirely built of the fine white stone with which the neighbourhood of Paris abounds , ancl which is easily carved . The architecture has grown up from the species of Renaissance which originated with the works of the Louvre , till it has become a distinctive style , combining the correctness of detail and purity of ornament of tbe Greek with greater freedom , and more fancy than tho

purists would formerly allow us . It is indeed an imperial style , ancl and one on which we hope to treat at greater length at a future time . The shops are as fine as any in Paris ; hut there is this peculiarity of the fine cle Sehastopol ; the upper floors are almost exclusively devoted to business . It is here the merchants who trade with Manchester and our great towns have their counting-houses . Here is the centre of that commerce so important to France , the silk trade .

The other boulevards partake of the same features , hut they are more or less private residences as they are nearer or farther from the centre of business . " " Let our English friends who think so much of a little cut from the Strand to New-street , Covent-gavden , and who suffer such thoroughfares as Chancery-lane and Cuvsitor-street to remain with openings wide enough for one carriage only ; let themI repeatcontemplate these worksof which about fourteen

, , , miles are complete , ancl about half as much more are in progress ; let them suppose the line of the Strand , Fleet-street , Cheapside , ancl Comhill pulled down and rebuilt in the most stately manner—the like with Holborn and Oxford-street ; let them imagine wide streets from the Great Eastern , Great Northern * and Euston-sqnare stations to the Bank , and thence to London Bridge ; similar great arteries running directly and traversing Loudon from north to south , and crossing each of our bridges—•

onr friends may then form some little idea of what has heen clone , and shortly will he completed , at Paris . " In a second communication the writer says : " In my last letter I gave rather a hurried sketch of the principal leading feature of the improvements , of Paris—the creation of wide thoroughfares , or boulevards ; leading from those parts of the city of greatest importance to others of a similar nature . The architecture is generally of ; rich character , hut not over-decorated . It is original in idea , without any trace of the absurd