Considerable embellishments have taken place in the court of the Palais.
The massive flight of stone steps, which led to the _salle des
Procureurs_, and which especially hid from view the beautiful angular
turret, has been removed. A new staircase has been erected at the middle
of the facade, before the door of the prisons, the entrance to which, is
at the side. This staircase is composed of a single straight flight, of
five metres (fifteen feet) in breadth, and is crowned by a porch in the
style of the building. The ancient wall, which closed the court on the
side of the rue aux Juifs, has been replaced by a cast iron railing, in
the gothic style. The front of the Palais being thus exposed to view,
the aspect of the edifice becomes as imposing as picturesque. Behind the
Palais-de-Justice, in the rue Saint-Lô, is a large building, which
answers the purpose of a court of appeals, for the _cour royale_. The
offices of the town-hall were established here during the revolution. It
was formerly the residence of the first presidents of the parliament of
Normandy.


TOWER DE LA GROSSE-HORLOGE.

The following inscription, which is engraved on a brass plate, and is
perfectly well preserved, is placed above the door at the foot of the
staircase.

En lan de lincarnarian nee segour. mil ccc.xx.iiii. et neuf. fu
comencé rest berfrop: et Es ans ensuiuas iusques en lan mil.
ccc.xx.iiii. et xviii. fu fait et parfait. ou quel temps noble home
mess. Guille de Bellengues rheunllier chambellen di Roy nostre
Sire estoit cappitaine de reste ville. honorable home pourneu et