for the preservation of this rustic building. Standing quite alone, it now presents itself without any obstacle to the gaze of the curious, who are always struck by the irregularity and smallness of its dimensions, affording a striking contrast to the celebrity it enjoys.

That which most particularly arrests attention, and is, indeed, worthy of observation as a most characteristic part of this building, is the gothic moulding over the door. The sculptures in bas relief which it presents, display three shields and three inscriptions. The centre shield has the armorial bearings of France; the second, to the right, the quartering given by Charles VII. to the family of Arc. The crowned sword occupying the centre of this shield, brings to mind the exploits of La Pucelle, and the fleurs-de-lis that accompany the same, the gratitude of her monarch. The third shield, to the left, has been variously interpreted: some persons have conceived that the implements represented were three spears or lances; others have regarded them as the barbs of arrows, constituting part of the armorial bearings attributed to the family of Arc; and a third opinion has been, that they were three iron spikes of the plough, construed as emblems of agriculture, that having been the profession of Jacques d'Arc, father of La Pucelle. In reality they only present a sign of the alliance of the possessor of this venerated dwelling with the family of the Thiesselins.*

These armorial bearings belonged to the family of Thiesselin ; and the reason why they appear connected with those of Jeanne d'Arc is as follows:-Claude Dulys, procurator fiscal of the lordships of Domremy and Greux, for the count de Salm, married

The inscriptions are of three kinds: the first, inserted under the shield bearing the arms of France, consists of the words, Vive le Roi Lois; the second, over the same shield, records the date 1461, indicating the prince in question, being Louis XI., first avenger of the memory of Jeanne d'Arc; and the third, carved over the date, contains the words, Vive labeur. This is surmounted by several ears of corn bound together with a tendril of the vine. These three shields are inscribed in a double curve in ogee, from whence issue other mouldings, which in uniting form three frames for the shields and inscriptions. The sculptures were defaced during the revolution; but the traces were left so perceptible, that it was easy to restore them, and this reparation has been successfully completed without altering their characteristic forms.

The interior of the dwelling comprises three chambers,

Nicolle Thiesselin, as appears by an act of partition, bearing date the 20th September, 1490, as stated by Charles Dulys, at page 20 of his collection. Living at that period, he was the only one of the family who married a Thiesselin; and being established at Domremy by his employ, and the property he there held from Jacques d'Arc, his grandfather, it is impossible not to perceive that he was the originator of this monument, evidently placed there by some member of the family of La Pucelle. Touched with gratitude towards the prince who so far honoured him, he was anxious to manifest his feelings, and transmit them to posterity by means of a simple memorial, calculated to stamp them on the minds of his fellow-citizens; and which furnish us at the present day, the most unequivocal characteristics of the dwelling wherein Jeanne d'Arc received her birth.

the largest of which served for the kitchen, and communicated with the other two. Previous to their undergoing repair no particular feature presented itself, except a small press, or cupboard, of carved stone, formed in the thickness of the wall, in front of the chimney, in which were to be observed, as well as upon the beams of the ceiling and the door-posts, numerous incisions made by curious visitants desirous of possessing a fragment of the dwelling which inspired them with such particular interest.* It is in this chamber that the marble tablet has been deposited, bearing an inscription destined to transmit to posterity the following detail of the works undertaken and the monuments erected in honour of La Pucelle.

"In the year 1411 was born on this spot Jeanne d'Arc, surnamed La Pucelle d'Orléans, daughter of Jacques d'Arc and Isabella Romée. In honour of her memory, the council general of the department of Vosges obtained possession of this dwelling, the king having commanded the repairs of the same, and founded a charity school for the female children of Domremy and Greux; and also erected a fountain, ornamented by a bust of the heroine, in order to perpetuate her image conformably to the wishes of public gratitude. These works were completed the 18th of August, 1820." This apartment is also

It is stated that prince Ferdinand of Prussia, on passing through Domremy, in 1815, visited the house of Jeanne d'Arc, when he prostrated himself to the earth, exclaiming, "I salute thee, thou dwelling of a heroine !"—and that when he arose he broke off a piece of the archway of the door, which he conveyed away with the most scrupulous care.

decorated with a picture presented by his majesty, wherein M. Laurent, native of Nancy, one of the most celebrated Parisian artists, has represented, with a rigorous. exactness, Jeanne d'Arc in an oratory dedicated to the Holy Virgin, before whose image she is placed in a kneeling posture, and resting upon the sword which she is supposed to have consecrated to the deliverance of her country. She is in the act of beseeching her august protectress to grant her the gifts of wisdom and courage, so essentially necessary to ensure the success of her heroic enterprise. The two remaining chambers, narrower and less regular in their formation, present nothing but the remains of an oven, which served the descendants of Jeanne d'Arc for household purposes. The mutilated statue which M. Gerardin senior had placed over the portal of his residence, will most probably adorn the before-mentioned chamber, when restored by a skilful artist to its primitive state, for the purpose of being shewn to the public. In addition to this, M. Cherrier, sub-prefect of Neufchâteau, very happily suggested the idea of placing an album in the same apartment, destined to register the names of the curious who may be prompted to visit this illustrious cottage.

The school, comprising in its enclosure the residence of Jeanne d'Arc, is simple in its construction, but in every respect calculated for the purposes intended. It fronts the new square, in which is the fountain consecrated by the department of Vosges to the honour of La Pucelle.

* M. de Haldat, in his account of the festival that took place at the inauguration of the fountain at Domremy on the 10th of September, 1820, opens his pamphlet with these prefatory lines:

This fountain is of all the existing monuments that which most forcibly arrests public attention; it is erected in the centre of the square, and presents the most pic

"No one is at present unacquainted with the circumstances that instigated the patriotic determination formed by the council general of the department of Vosges, for the re-establishment of the cottage wherein was born the heroine of Domremy, and the erection of the monuments dedicated to her memory. Although some variations have occurred in the accounts hitherto published, it is generally acknowledged that the proposal originated with a total stranger to M. Gerardin, the proprietor of the dwelling, who wished to obtain from him the sculptured effigy of La Pucelle which decorated the top of the doorway of his newly erected residence. Whatever might be the name of that individual, or his motives for such a proposition, it is certain that they instigated M. Manuel, an inhabitant of Sion, in the environs of Neufchâteau, to represent to the council of Vosges, of which he was a member, the necessity there was for preserving these precious remains. This proposal was too honourable to the country not to be eagerly seconded, and in consequence obtained universal applause; being supported by the duke de Choiseul, then president of that assembly. In 1818, a resolution was consequently agreed upon, that certain funds should be appropriated for the purpose of acquiring the former residence of the heroine of Domremy.

"The ministers of Louis XVIII. not only applauded this highly patriotic intention of the council general of the department of Vosges, but presented the same to his majesty, who cheerfully contributed to forward the views of his subjects, for the preservation of the interesting cottage, and for constructing a monument so long demanded from public gratitude; and in consequence the necessary sums were ordered to be disbursed for the erection of a public school," &c.