Rouen, Its History and Monuments Part 11

The increase of this museum has been rapid; already, within its few years of existence, it may be advantageously compared with most provincial collections; and through the maritime situation of the town, may one day be placed immediately after that at Paris. It is remarkable, for the numerous sh.e.l.ls which it possesses, as also for some mammiferi, which are exceedingly rare. This gallery is open to the public, on sundays and holy days; foreigners and students may enter on any day.

Mr Pouchet is the director of this establishment.

LEARNED SOCIETIES.

ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ARTS AND BELLES-LETTRES.

FREE SOCIETY OF EMULATION.

CENTRAL SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURE.

SOCIETY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

SOCIETY OF MEDICINE.

APOTHECARIES SOCIETY.

SOCIETY OF THE FRIENDS OF ARTS.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

COMMISSION OF ANTIQUITIES.

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

BOTANICAL GARDEN.

This garden was formerly situated on the _Cours-Dauphin_, but, the munic.i.p.al administration wis.h.i.+ng to render that portion of the town named Martainville, more healthy, entertained the project of opening a street at the entrance of the town, on the ground occupied by this garden; in consequence they sought another place, more suitable for a botanical garden. The place fixed upon, is the _park of Trianon_, where people formerly went, to visit the fine hot houses, and rare collection of dahlias and other plants, which belonged to a distinguished english florist, Mr Calvert.

This new botanical garden, is situated at the extremity of the rue d'Elbeuf, and forms a square of about 45,500 metres (or yards) surface.

Mr Lejeune, an architect, gave the plan of this garden.

LECTURES ON CHEMISTRY.

These lectures take place every year, (beginning the 15th november), on tuesdays and sat.u.r.days at one o'clock, in one of the halls of the ancient convent of Saint-Marie. The lectures are princ.i.p.ally on the application of chemistry to arts and industry.

LECTURES ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

These lectures were inst.i.tuted in 1835; they take place twice a week in the amphitheatre at Saint-Marie.

PUBLIC LESSONS IN DRAWING.

This school, founded by Mr Descamps, the author of the _lives of flemish painters_, is now established at Saint-Marie. The lessons commence in the month of november and finish in the month of august, from one o'clock till three.

LECTURES ON NATURAL HISTORY.

They take place in the amphitheatre, which is given for this science, and is situated at Saint-Marie, Poussin street. The lectures take place on tuesdays and sat.u.r.days, during the winter, at eight o'clock in the evening.

There are besides, at Saint-Marie, every sunday, lectures on geometry and mechanics applied to arts and manufactures, and lectures also on commercial law and book keeping.

SECONDARY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

The different branches are taught in the hospitals, by the physicians who are attached to these establishments.

THEATRES.

The _Theatre-des-Arts_ at the corner of the rues _Grand-Pont_ and des _Charrettes_, was erected by Francis Gueroult, an architect of Rouen.

The first stone was laid on the 18th june 1774, and the opening took place the 29th june 1776, on Saint-Peter's day and the fete of Corneille. This theatre was altered and lighted with gas, in 1835, and will contain about seventeen or eighteen hundred persons. The ceiling was painted by Lemoine, a native of this city, and represents the _apotheosis of Corneille_.

The peristyle fronting the rue des Charrettes is in the form of a quarter of a circle and is composed of columns of the ionic order. The medallion of Pierre Corneille is sculptured on the entablature which is supported by these columns, and on each side of the medallion, we perceive Melpomene with a dagger, and Thalia with a mask.

The performers for operas and comedies are generally good.

The second theatre is situated on the old market place and is called the _Theatre-Francais_; this building formerly used as a tennis court, was opened for theatrical purposes on the 2nd of february 1793. This theatre will contain about twelve hundred persons. Besides these two theatres, there is a third at the entrance of Saint-Sever, which is the circus or _Ambigu-Dramatique_.

PUBLIC WALKS IN ROUEN.

COURS BOIELDIEU AND THE EXCHANGE.

These are the fas.h.i.+onable walks. The bronze statue between the two is that of Boieldieu, the celebrated french composer a native of Rouen. It is the work of the sculptor Dantan the younger.