The Tomb of Napoleon I.

The tomb and last burial place of the great Napoleon, which is in Eglise des Invalids, is perhaps the most imposing monument of the kind in the world.  I have not found its equal anywhere; nor anything to rival it even, in costliness and splendor, except those of several of the Popes at Rome.  The tomb which covers the sarcophagus into which the mortal remains of Napoleon I. brought from St. Helena, were placed April 2nd, 1861, consists of a immense monolith of porphyry weighing 67 tons, brought from Lake Onega in Russia at an expense of $28,000.  This tomb, 131/2 feet in height, stands in the center of a circular crypt, and is surrounded by twelve colossal statues representing so many victories.  The pavement of the crypt contains a crown of laurels in mosaic, and a black circle upon which are inscribed the names of the following victories:  Rivoli, Pyramids, Marengo, Austerlitz, Iena, Friedland, Wagram and Moskowa.  A large bouquet of immortelles (everlasting flowers) lying upon the tomb is emblamatic of the immortality of the great soldier’s fame.  Over the bronze door which leads to the crypt, are inscribed the following words, quoted from the Emperor’s will: 

  “Je desire que mes cendres reposent sur les bordes de la Seine, au
  milieu de ce peuple Francais que j’ai tant aime.”

  “I wish my remains to be laid on the banks of the Seine, amongst that
  French people whom I have loved so much.”—­P.  Simond.

In the center of an adjoining chapel, stands the tomb of Joseph, King of Spain, the eldest brother of Napoleon I. His mortal remains were brought hither in 1864.

The dome which rises over the tomb of Napoleon I. is one of the proudest monuments in Paris, and its gilt and glittering cupola may be seen many miles around.  The cross on top of the globe and spire surmounting this dome is 323 feet above the pavement.  Leaving Eglise des Invalids from the southern entrance, which leads to the tomb of Napoleon I., a spectacle presents itself to the beholder in the form of a grand fountain throwing its water high into the air.  It is at

The Artesian Well of Grenelle.

M. Mulot commenced to bore at this well in 1834, but did not succeed in reaching water until February 26th, 1841, by which time his boring instrument had reached the depth of 1,800 feet, and the water suddenly gushed forth with tremendous force.  The whole depth is lined by a galvanized iron tube that is 21 inches in diameter at the top and 7 inches at the bottom.  The, amount of water yielded every 24 hours is 170,940 gallons.  Its temperature is about 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Twenty years after the sinking of this well, that is in 1861,

The Artesian Well of Passy,

near the Arch of Triumph, was completed.  This yielded at first 5,000,000 gallons in 24 hours; it yields now over 3,000,000 gallons per day.  A third artesian well is in Boulevard de la Gare.