The Fontaine de la Victoire, built upon the Place du ChÂtelet, in front of the Pont au Change, was one of the first established in the French Capital.

It was also one of the first monuments raised to record the glory of the French arms. The architect Brasle superintended its erection, as well as that of others of the same nature, placed in different parts of Paris, as much for utility as for ornament.

The conception of this is simple, and its execution leaves nothing to be desired. The glorious deeds of the live years were there recorded as so many talismans. How many times have we feared that the lever, or the petard, would be applied to its destruction. But the charm of the French eagle, and of victory distributing her crowns, were safeguards, and served to awe the vandal conqueror. When the famous names of Rivoli! Lodi! Arcole! Mont-Thabor! Pyramids! Marengo! Austerlitz! Ulm! Eylau! Friedland! and Dantzic! were inscribed upon the column, who dare lay their sacrilegious hands upon it?