The intermediate part of Montmartre, though not precipitous, descends by a very rapid slope towards the plain. About midway of the descent is the pretty village of Clignancour, the houses of which, having their first floor on a level with the ground behind, command from their windows and balconies a most extensive and pleasing view over the country below, and are delightfully intermingled with shrubberies and gardens. The descent towards Paris is less steep, and is covered all the way with the suburb of Montmartre. The whole summit is enclosed by Buonaparte’s celebrated, but, as it has turned out, useless lines, erected last year for the defence of the metropolis. Of these I need say little, as I know they are surveying by our engineers, who will no doubt give us a detailed account of them--a piece of slavery which I am not at all disposed to engage in. All I can say of them is that, considering the hurried manner in which the work has been done, they are very creditable--that they cover all the ground in front with their fire--and that a tremendous concentration of fire, direct and flanking, commands every important point. They are continued partially across the gorge, the bank of the Canal de l’Ourcq, and fully up the opposite heights of Belleville. They may, however, be easily turned on either flank. The gorge is occupied by the humble and uninteresting suburb of La Chapelle. The heights of Belleville are extremely pretty, being almost covered with a succession of cheerful and sometimes elegant villas, gardens, shrubberies, vineyards, and the village. I envied the Russians such pretty quarters; yet they would be just as well pleased here as there, perhaps. From these heights I got a peep at Vincennes, with its park, chateau, and tower, on which the Lilies of France have at last replaced the Tricolor. The governor (_un vieux moustache_, with one leg) refused for a long time to surrender; and the sovereigns, out of respect for the old man, did not insist; but after a time he grew insolent, and I understand either did or threatened to fire at some officers who went too near his stronghold. This was too much, and preparations were making to reduce him when he was fortunately persuaded to surrender. Having rambled about until I had seen all worth seeing, and got an omelet in one of the _ginguettes_, or whatever they call them, I descended from the heights of Belleville, and crossing the fields (all without hedges here), and the great road to Soissons, made straight for Vertus. As far as the road to Soissons, the number of gardens, with summer-houses perched on one angle of the enclosing wall, thick shrubberies, and the fine umbrageous avenue which the road itself with its quadruple rows of elms presents, made the country interesting in spite of its flatness; but beyond, when one comes on what may more strictly be termed the plain of St Denis, there is no redeeming point--it is a vast extent of monotonous corn-field, unrelieved by tree or shrub,