Part 6 (2/2)

THE EXCHANGE.

Untill the year 1493, the merchants of Rouen had no place of meeting alloted to transact their commercial affairs. They met however, in the cathedral but, without authorisation. The munic.i.p.al authorities, wis.h.i.+ng to put a stop to this state of things, made an arrangement with the bailiff of Rouen, who issued a decree: That there should be erected at the lower end of the New-Market place, and at the expense of the town, a large stone building, and on the second floor of this edifice, a large hall was to be reserved for the use of the merchants of the town, those of other nations also having the same right, to meet and transact their affairs; which hall is to be named, for the future, the common town hall.

The stone building here spoken of, is that vast wing, which closes the court of the _Palais-de-Justice_ to the west; and the common town hall is that known under the name of _Salle des Procureurs_ or _des Pas-Perdus_.

About the year 1664, the merchants company obtained a portion of ground on the quay, where they met untill 1827. Since then, that portion of ground has been given up to enlarge the quay. The meridian which ornamented this ancient exchange, is now placed in the garden of the town hall. Since the straightening of the quay, the uncovered exchange has been placed before the _Consuls_--(or covered exchange) so that the one might communicate with the other: it occupies the portion of ground, which is situated between the rue Nationale and the rue des Iroquois, and is surrounded by an iron railing.

TRIBUNAL OF COMMERCE,

COMMONLY NAMED THE CONSULS.

It is in the gallery on the ground floor, that the merchants meet, when the rainy weather does not permit their meeting in the uncovered exchange: This was formerly the _Juridiction consulaire_; so its destination has not been changed since the tribunal of commerce is established here. In the middle of the gallery on the ground floor, and to the right on entering from the quay, we remark a handsome staircase, which is formed by a double flight of steps, from the first landing.

Before the revolution, the statue of Louis XVth was placed here.

This staircase leads up to the audience hall of the chamber of commerce, which is the most remarkable of the three rooms which compose the first floor of the building. It is ornamented, with a fine picture of Christ by Van Dyck. In one of the neighbouring rooms are two paintings of large dimensions, by Lemonnier, a native of Rouen. One of these paintings represents the audience given by Louis XVIth to the Chamber of commerce of Rouen, on the 28th june 1786, in the great hall of the archbishop's palace, called the _Salle des etats_. All the figures are of natural size, and are striking likenesses. The subject of the other painting is allegorical.

There are three different entrances to this edifice, one from the rue Nationale, another from the rue des Charrettes and a third from the Quay.

THE CUSTOM-HOUSE.

The edifice containing the ancient custom-house being a great deal too small and inconvenient for that purpose, it became indispensable to erect another building. For this object, the munic.i.p.al administration opened a public compet.i.tion on the 14th october 1833, for the erection of another edifice. In the month of may 1834, the preference was given to the plan of Mr Ed. Isabelle, a distinguished architect in Paris, who was charged with putting his plan into execution. The excavations were commenced on the 17th february 1835, in the presence of the mayor, the munic.i.p.al council, etc., and the building was terminated in 1838.

The architectural appearance of this edifice reminds us a little of the severe style of the florentine architecture; the large doorway is ornamented with the attributes of commerce, as likewise the coping of the edifice; two bas-reliefs, of eight and a half feet high, and sculptured on stone by David, representing the _symbols of navigation and commerce_, decorate the middle of the facade on the first floor.

This building is situated on the _Havre quay_, a little farther on than the old one. It has three entrances: the princ.i.p.al, on the quay, leads into a large rectangular court, which is covered with a cupola of cast-iron; opposite to the entrance of this court, is placed against the wall the fine bas-relief, which ornamented the front of the old custom-house, a very handsome piece of workmans.h.i.+p by Coustou, a statuary of the XVIIIth century; it represents Mercury with the different attributes of commerce. Two other entrances from the quay lead to the offices and dwellings of some higher persons attached to the customs. The lateral entrances serve as outlets to merchandise after having been searched or examined in the covered court.

The bonded and examining warehouses are on the ground floor, as likewise the offices of the comptroller, sub-comptroller and searchers; the entresole is destined for other offices; the first floor is occupied with the dwelling and offices of the director; and lastly, the second story contains the dwelling of the princ.i.p.al receiver and the residing comptroller.

_The entrepot reel_, is situated, behind the new custom-house; this warehouse is used for warehousing merchandise after the duties, have been paid. The front of this edifice which is situated in the _rue des Charrettes_, was erected in 1826.

PUBLIC SLAUGHTERHOUSE.

_Rue de Sotteville, suburb of Saint-Sever._

For a long time the munic.i.p.al council had occupied themselves with the idea of endowing the town with an establishment of this description, the want of which was imperiously felt; numerous plans were presented and discussed; at last, after a thorough examination, the town obtained, by royal ordinance of the 18th august 1833, the authorisation to establish a public and common slaughterhouse, with apparatus for melting the tallow, scalding house and tripe house, on the fine property, which is situated in the _rue de Sotteville_, at the corner of the _avenue de Grammont_, bought for that purpose from Mr Burel.

A public compet.i.tion was opened at the end of the year 1838 for the plans of this establishment, and the prize was decreed, on the 20th march 1834, to _Mr Etienne-Theodore Dommey_, an architect from Paris.

The first stone of this establishment was laid by Mr Hy Barbet, the mayor of Rouen, on the 28th july 1835, in the presence of the civil and military authorities and a large number of spectators.

This important establishment, which was built within the period of two years, and which is now completed, is one of the finest of this description. The expences, including the purchase of the ground, amounted to the sum of 970,000 francs, and the annual product is estimated about 80,000 francs.

The princ.i.p.al entrance is from the _rue de Sotteville_, a handsome gateway between two gate houses gives a view of the whole building. The total superficies of the buildings is of seven thousand three hundred and thirty seven metres, or about the same number of yards.

s.p.a.cious streets and avenues planted with trees permit of a free access to all parts of the establishment. It is well supplied with water, and has a ca.n.a.l to carry off the dirty water of the establishment, which allows its being kept very clean.

To visit the slaughterhouse, apply to the secretary general's office at the town hall.

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