In the North of France there are few remains of Roman buildings. This probably arises from two causes:--_1st_, Because before the fifth century Roman civilisation had not advanced so far in Northern as in Southern Gaul, and consequently the towns were not adorned with the same profusion of magnificent edifices;--and, _2nd_, Because the Northern division suffered far more destruction than the Southern, from the invasions of the Barbarians. At Paris some Roman vaults, parts of a Palace or Baths, are still preserved in the grounds of the Musée Cluny. AUTUN is celebrated for its two fine Roman gateways, one of which (the Porte d’Arroux) is decorated with Corinthian, and the other (the Porte St André) with Ionic pilasters, features which afterwards produced a strong influence on the Mediæval Architecture of the province of Burgundy. Autun also possesses remains of two buildings called Roman Temples, a splendid pavement of mosaic, a fine collection of statuettes, bronzes and inscriptions,--all bearing testimony to the importance of the town in Roman times. But we must pass these by without further notice, as our district lies south of Lyons. In exploring the remains of Roman Architecture in Southern Gaul, one cannot help being struck with the extraordinary and capricious manner in which they have been preserved,--small towns like Orange and Nimes being full of Roman work, and important Roman cities like Marseilles and Narbonne having nothing left but the fragments collected in their Museums. Avignon, the ancient Avenio, was, before the Roman occupation, one of the most important cities of the tribe of the Cavares; and under Imperial rule was no doubt adorned with splendid Temples, Amphitheatre, Theatres, and other public buildings like those of which the remains are still to be seen at Arles and Nimes. But of all such structures there is practically not a fragment now left at Avignon. A large number of Roman antiquities from that town and vicinity have, however, been collected in the Musée Calvet, so called after the physician who founded it by bequeathing in 1810 his fine private collection to the city. The museum contains some good Greek sculpture, and a large number of coins, medals, and bronzes. At LYONS there are a few subterranean remains of aqueducts, but no Roman Architecture. Some time after leaving Lyons, the railway, which follows the course of the Rhone, enters a narrow pass amongst the mountains, where there is little room for more than the river and the road between the precipitous and rocky banks. The scenery is very grand, and the prospect is especially fine at a bend of the river where the ancient town of VIENNE, rising high upon a bold promontory surmounted by its ruined castle, bursts upon the view.