A new description of Paris containing a particular account of all the churches, palaces, monasteries ... with all other remarkable matters in that great and famous city / translated out of French.

The Noviciat of the Jesuites.

THE Church of these Fathers is but small, but in recompence of that, it is one of the handsomest and best designed for Architecture in Paris. It is said that one of the Fathers of this Society named Father Marlange, drew the design, and having well observed the faults of that in the Ruë St. Ant••onie, of Father de Rant's designing, he alter'd many things. This Fa∣ther being consulted with about the work of this Church, would not meddle till the General had given him permission to do what he thought proper, without being obliged to observe the orders of any one whatsoever of the Society. After this he undertook the building, which is not so big as the other, but it infinitely sur∣passes it in Regularity. The Portal is of Pila∣sters of the Dorick Order, and over them the Ionick Order. The inside is also of Dorick Pi∣lasters supporting a Cornish, between the Trig∣lifes, of which are several Ornaments repre∣senting the Instruments of our Lord's Passion. The great Altar is but very plain of Jovners Work, adorn'd with two Corinthian Pillars. But that which sets off this Altar infinitely be∣yond the fairest of the Kingdom, is the great Picture which you see there of the famous Poussin, one of the best which that able Master ever did. All the Curious esteem this piece extreamly, and look upon it as the best in France for ex∣actness of design: Notwithstanding the objection

of some Criticks, who say the Ear of St. Francis Xavier, who is here represented on his Knees, working a Miracle, is bigger than it ought to be.

After you have seen the Church, you ought to ask to see the Chapel of the Congregation, which lies on the left Hand of the Door, as you come in. It is adorn'd with a gilt Wainscot, and Pictures from space to space; and in the Ceeling a Plafon well Painted. On the Festivals the Altar is adorned with a rich Furniture of Silver, which the Members of this Society have given.

The whole House is very Commodious, tho' it be of no great extent, by reason it is all enclosed by four Streets on every side. The following Inscription is cut on the first Stone of the Church, which was laid by the late Duke of Verneüil.

D. O. M.
S. FRANCISCO XAVERIO
INDIARUM APOSTOLO.
ANNO CHRISTI M. DC. XXX.
PONTIFICATUS URBANI OCTAVI AN∣NO SEPTIMO.
REGNI LUDOVICI DECIMI TERTII AN∣NO VIG••SIMO.
GENERALATUS R. P MUTII VITELES∣CHI ANNO DECIMO QUARTO.
AEDIS FACIENDAE PRIMUM LAPIDEM POSUIT S. P. HENRICUS DE BOURBON, EPISCOPUS METENSIS, S. R. I.

PRINCEPS, ABBAS S. GERMANI, DECI∣MO APRILIS.

To Almighty God.
To St. Francis Xavier Apostle of the Indies, In the Year of our Lord M. DC. XXX.
In the Seventh Year of the Pontificate of Urban the Eighth.
In the Twentieth Year of the Reign of Lewis the Thirteenth.
In the Fourteenth Year of the Generalate of the Reverend Father Mutius Vitelesco.
Henry of Bourbon, Bishop of Mets, Prince of the Empire, and Abbot of St. Germains, laid the first Stone of this Church, on the Tenth of April.

Posterity ought to know that Monsieur Des∣noïers, Secretary of State built this Church at his own Expence.

The next thing of Note is The Church of S. Sulpice, the only Parish Church in all the Quarter of ••t. Germains, and upon this account it is the greatest of Paris. This was former∣ly but a small piece of building as is easily to be observed▪ by the remaining part of the Nave, which as yet is not quite pull'd down, which was so small that it could not contain the tenth part of the Parishioners. On this account

about 25. or 30. Years ago, they begun the new Edifice which we see at present, an under∣taking so large, and the expence so great, that the Quire is hardly yet finished, with all the Liberalities the Parishioners can raise. So much as is done is the whole Quire, which is of a no∣ble design. The inside is supported with high Arches, and between Arch and Arch Corinthian Pilasters, over which a Cornish that supports the Vault, which is perfectly well made and very solid, tho' very high. Round about between the Quire and the Chapels is a long Corridor, which is capable of holding a great number of People, who may from thence behold all that is done at the great Altar, where divine Offices are performed with great edification, especially on the Festival days.

At one of the Pilasters standing between two Chapels, you may read the Epitaph of the famous Monsieur de Marolles, Abbot of Ville∣loin, the greatest Translater into our Language we ever had, and who enriched it with abun∣dance of Authors which were never before in French. Mons••eur the Abbot de la Chambre, his intimate Friend and Executor of his Will, caused it to be set up in this place to his Memo∣ry. It is a Medaille of white Marble, and in it his Picture, on which a weeping Cupid leans, holding in his Hand a Torch reversed. This is the Inscription.

MICHAELI DE MAROLLES,
ABBATI DE VILLELOIN,
GEN••RIS NOBILITATE,
MORUM CANDORE,
RELIGIONE SINCERA,

VARIA ERUDITIONE CLARISSIMO,
QUI OBIT OCTOGENARIO MAJOR,
PRID. NON. MAR. AN. 1681.
PETRUS DE LA CHAMBRE MARINI ••ILIUS TESTAMENTI CURATOR,
AMICO OPTIMO MONUMENTUM POSUIT.

To Michael De Marolles, Abbot of Villeloin, Fa∣mous for his noble Birth, the sweetness of his Disposition, the sincerity of ••is Religion, and the Variety of his Learning, who dyed being above Fourscore Years old, the day before the Nones of March, 1681.

Peter de la Chambre the Son of Marinus, his Executor, erected this Monument to his best Friend.

He was, perhaps, the ablest person of his Age in the knowledge of Prints. He had Collected a very great number which are now to be seen in the King's Cabinet. Amian Marcellin was the last Author which he Translated, at the end of which Book you may see a Catalogue of all the pieces that have been published in his name.

In the rest of this Church there is nothing ex∣traordinary, unless it be a little Stair-case of one direct Line, winding like a Snail shell from the bottom to the top. It is all of Free stone and

very high, it reaching to the Roof of the Church.

The Seminary House of St. Sulpitius is near the Church; the building i•• ••reat and spacious, and was raised at the expences of Mousieur de Bretonvilliers, who also hath furnished it at his own Costs. Observe here, especially the Chapel, the Plafon of which was Painted by M. le Brun, in which he hath represented the Assumption: This is one of the finest things that he ever did.

St. Germain's Fair is kept near St. Sulpice at the end of the Ruë de Tournon; it begins at the Feast of the Purification. 2 Feb. and lasts to the first Day of Lent, nay it continues often to Easter. The place is not extraordinary; it is composed of several cover'd Walks, disposed in a square form, and crossing one another. Here the Shop-keepers and Merchants keep their Sta∣tions, and sell here generally all kind of Mer∣chandize whatsoever. Tradesmen are privi∣ledged to come to this Fair from all parts. There are some Shops here full of very rich Commo∣dities and very curious things. And in that of M. Herot, you may meet with some Pictures of very great price.

Monsleur the Abbot Bourdelot dwells in the Ruë de Tournon, whose profound Learning has gain'd him mighty reputation. Every Wed∣nesday he holds Conferences in his House, and the principal Discourses are in the Phy∣sicks.

In the Ru•• Gerance behind St. Sulpice, is the Hôtel da Leon, belonging to the Marquess of Sourdiac, who built it after the Designs of the Sieur Robellini: but it being unfinished, we see but a small part of those Beauties, which would

have appear'd in case the Work had been con∣tinued.

From hence we go to the Premontrez, whose House stands in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 place as you enter into the Ruë de Seve, at the meeting of Six Streets. Their Church is small, the Portal is of the Sieur Dorbay's Work. The Queen-Mother gave where∣withal to raise it. And these Fathers owe the••r Establishment to that pious Princess.

Further on is the Abbaïe aux Bois, of the Ci∣stercian Order. They were removed hither from Picardy about Sixty years since. Near this is

The Hospital for Distracted people, call'd Les Petites-Maisons, here you may see a Crucifix of great esteem, and done by an excellent Ma∣ster.

In the same Street also is the Hospital call'd Les Incurables, the lower Rooms of which Hospi∣tal are curiously vaulted, and the Diseased peo∣ple lookt after very carefully. The Church hath nothing in it extraordinary. It is con∣trived in the middle of the Apartments, equal∣ly distant from the Men and Women. They re∣ceive none into this House, but such as are af∣flicted with incurable Diseases.

From the Ruë de Seve you pass into the Ruë de Grenelle, which begins at the Carrefour or open place of the Red Cross, near the Premontrez. The first thing you take notice of in this Street is the Hôtel d'Auvergne, in which dwells Monsi∣eur the Count d'Auvergne▪ Colonel General of the Light Horse of France, Brother of the Duke of Boüillon, and Nephew of the famous Monsieur de Turenne. This Hôtel is not extraordinary well built, but the Garden is large and very pleasant. Further on at the Corner of the Ruë

du Bacq. stands a large House, and very conve∣nient habitation, in which the Spanish Embassador used to live.

Near this place dwells a Sculptor, at whose House you may see several Bas-reliefs, not ill designed, they are of the manner of one named Vanobstal, originally of Bruxelles, who was the first that brought the gust of Bas-reliefs into France, out of Italy. There are some things of his at Versailles, which are very much esteem'd, more especially those over the Doors of the Grotto.

Beyond this is the Hôtel de Navailles, a well built House; it consists of one great square Pa∣villion, high raised, and overlooking all the ad∣jacent Gardens, which renders the aboad very pleasant. Here formerly dwelt Monsieur de Cogneux, who built it. From hence you come to

The House of the Sieur Roland, one of the most knowing and Curious Men of all Paris in Buildings. This House, as also the Gardens, which have all the delights one can desire, are worth seeing. Here are Fountains, Arbours, Perspectives, and Parterres of the best sort. The Apartments are neatly furnish'd, and all things handsom, especially the Stair-case, which is of a singular design, and well approved by the Curious. At the end of this Street, in the ad∣joyning Fields, you discover