intermediate portion of the outer wall is constructed with a swell, or a small curvature outwards.  I paced the outside, but have forgotten the measurement.  Certainly, it is not more than forty feet square.  I tried to gain admittance into the interior, but without success, as the person possessing the key was not to be found.  I saw enough, however, to convince me that the walls could not be less than twelve feet in thickness.

The horses had been some time in readiness, and the fresh postilion seemed to be lost in amazement at the cause of our loitering so long at so insignificant a place.  The day warmed as we pushed on for the far-famed “proud Versailles.”  The approach, from Houdan, is perhaps not the most favourable; although we got peeps of the palace, which gave us rather elevated notions of its enormous extent.  We drove to the Hotel de Bourbon, an excellent, clean mansion, close to the very facade of the palace, after passing the Hotel de Ville; and from whence you have an undisturbed view of the broad, wide, direct road to Paris.  I bespoke dinner, and prepared to lounge.  The palace—­of which I purposely declined visiting the interior—­reserving Versailles for a future and entire day’s gratification—­is doubtless an immense fabric—­of which the facade just mentioned is composed of brick, and assumes any thing but a grand and imposing air:  merely because it wants simplicity and uniformity of design.  I observed some charming white stone houses, scattered on each side of this widely extended chaussee—­or route royale—­and, upon the whole, Versailles appeared to us to be a magnificent and rather interesting spot.  Two or three rows of trees, some forty or fifty generations more ancient than those constituting the boulevards at Houdan, formed avenues on each side of this noble road; and all appeared life and animation—­savouring of the proximity of the metropolis.  Carriages without number—­chiefly upon hire, were going and returning; and the gaits and dresses of individuals were of a more studied and of a gayer aspect.  At length, we became a little impatient for our dinner, and for the moment of our departure.  We hired one of these carriages; which for nine francs, would convey us to the place of our destination.  This appeared to me very reasonable; and after being extravagant enough to drink Champagne at dinner, to commemorate our near approach to the metropolis, we set forward between five and six o’clock, resolving to strain our eyes to the utmost, and to be astonished at every thing we saw!—­especially as this is considered the most favourable approach to the capital.