which hung down in torn masses, like old tapestry. The town of Amboise consists of a heap of narrow and confused streets, built at the base of a hill, which sweeps down towards the river, terminating abruptly in perpendicular cliffs, both in front and at the sides. On the brow of this hill, next the Loire, stands

THE CHATEAU OF AMBOISE

flanked by two enormous towers, carried up from the base of the cliffs. The origin of the château is supposed to have been a fort built by Cæsar on the hill; and in collateral proof of this fact are shown some subterranean vaults by the side of the hill, near the ancient convent of Minimes, which appear to have been the granaries of the Roman troops.

The present château is a very elegant building, and the towers, constructed by Anne of Brittany, are exceedingly curious. By one of them you can mount on horseback to the summit of the rock; and in the other there is a convenient carriage-way, by means of which you are set down, without any very fatiguing ascent, in the castle-yard. The latter we perambulated ourselves; and as it is newly plastered in stucco, and well lighted, the walk was far from being disagreeable. Midway there are some doorways in the sides of the passage, which lead, as you are told, into the subterranean dungeons of Louis XI; but which, without a torch, it would neither be pleasant nor safe to explore.

On reaching the summit of the rock, you find it laid out in walks and gardens to some distance round the château. One of the most pleasing objects in these is a small chapel, covered with sculpture, which has been deprived of all the insignia of worship, except the colossal antlers of a stag— once the objects of every traveller's devotion, as the iden