Abstract
FOR some time past the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres has held no regular sitting, almost all the members being refugees in Versailles or elsewhere. A special commission has been given to M. Rénan, one of its most distinguished members, to inspect the ruins of the Parisian monuments which have been destroyed by the Communists. M. Rénan, before publishing his last books on religious matters, had been sent to Mesopotamia to do the same work as Mr. Layard. Private letters received from the distinguished commissioner have been read before a group of members of different academical bodies at Versailles, sitting almost in an official capacity as the Academy for Inscriptions and Belles Lettres. It was stated that the Louvre buildings had escaped, and the bulk of artistic works will be saved from the conflagration. But the private Imperial Library in the old building of the Ministry of State has been destroyed. The value of this collection was chiefly historical, a number of the volumes being of special value from the fact of their having been presented to the several Kings and Emperors of France during the last three centuries. There were also some manuscripts of value, and collections of drawings for the study of art in the Museum. It was intended to open it shortly as a special art library for the use of students at the Louvre. The National Library, formed by Richelieu, was not burned down as has been rumoured; the building has entirely escaped. But it appears that steps had been taken by the insurgents to destroy it like the Serapion was at Alexandria when Omar took possession of the city. The Luxembourg buildings and Museum were saved only by the prompt exertions of the troops, when the insurgents were actually setting fire to them. The Luxembourg holds within its precincts a valuable library, where have been collected parliamentary documents from every nation and of every period. It was said to be the most valuable in the world in this respect. The collection of pictures is the richest in the world for works of living painters belonging to the French school. Courbet, the member of the Commune, had not been admitted to this, esteemed the highest honour by French artists. The Sorbonne is almost entirely saved, the walls only having been pierced by gun-shot or shells. The collections are most valuable, and very serviceable for students. We have no special news from Sainte Geneviève, a library largely used for law purposes on the Place du Panthéon; but it is supposed that the library is safe, as the insurgents were prevented from exploding it, though an immense quantity of powder had been deposited in the cellars, and it was used as an arsenal during the whole of both sieges. The Institute is safe, although it appears steps had been taken for its destruction. The Mazarine Library close to it is most valuable for works of the 17th and 18th century, as well as the library of the Arsenal. But according to every probability this last establishment will be entirely lost, owing to the vicinity of the Grénier d'abondance, a place where an immense number of goods were collected, and which was ignited. A commission of the Academy of Sciences will be issued to study the different processes used by the insurgents for burning the Tuileries, Palais Royal, &c. Hay, soaked with petroleum, appears to have been very often resorted to, as well as canisters full of the same substance. In some instances petroleum had been poured from outside into the cellars, and an ignited match thrown into the impregnated air. The stories of firemen throwing petroleum from fire-engines are, we are happy to say, unfounded.
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Paris News . Nature 4, 87 (1871). https://doi.org/10.1038/004087a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/004087a0