The college, founded by Henry IV., is said to be good, and the prison very admirable in its way.

The rest of the public buildings are no more to be admired than the private ones.
We remarked a very handsome house, forming one side of a neglected square, whose grand terraces and fine wings spoke it something of consequence.

We found it was once the bishop's palace, but had been long left to go to ruin; and a part of it was now used by some Sisters of Charity for a school.

It was but of a piece with the rest of Saintes, desolate and degraded, and "fallen from its high estate." St.Eutrope lay in our way to the ruins of the great amphitheatre, and we paused as we passed it at an open door, which was too tempting a circumstance to be neglected on a rainy morning, when there might be some trouble in finding the sacristan, and we rightly judged this would lead to the famous crypt, the object of admiration and surprise to antiquarians.

Down a steep inclination we pursued our way towards a dark nook, and there, through an iron grating, we discovered before us the subterranean church, of immense size, and in perfect preservation; its massive pillars and sharpcut capitals, its high-curved roof and circular arches, all perfect, and its floor and walls undergoing restoration.