Extra Supplements to
George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key
Updated 24 December 2022
Replicas of "#2" bit key donated to the Carnavalet Museum by General Santerre's descendants.
Crystal brother key (courtesy of Michael Krug, see below)
"George Washington's Liberty Key": The Shops at Mount Vernon Item Number: 25739
Updated 5 August 2022
Updated 14 July 2022
Outstanding French Revolution movie starts off with a young Robespierre reading to the King:
Part 1 https://youtu.be/0ofCqCc3S1s?t=1
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgtK2BnMmUM
Extract: “Storming the Capitol (?)” with “La Marseillaise”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heJ4TcmEUS8
L'hymne à la liberté: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx9I-FMjuqc
Movie Theme Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LbrPTD78ek
More French Revolution Music with description of how I found the correct dimensions of the Bastille (please “like” if you like):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxCsXgF2GSk
www.LibertyKey.US and http://www.bahrnoproducts.com/Extra_Supplements.htm Note Bastille’s fascinating similarity to Lincoln Memorial!
A la Bastille!
American President Bush presents Bastille Key to French
President for a week's loan on 13 July 1989 (through 22 July)
to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.
"Maryland Highway 355 runs through
Suburban DC, and a plaque in Gaithersburg, MD, proclaims it to be the road that
GEN Braddock took to get to a meeting with George Washington and Benjamin
Franklin
in Frederick, MD to plan the taking of Ft Duquesne, which resulted in the deadly
battle of Monongahela. So, is the highway designator a secret Masonic
honorific?" —MD
Magic numbers (from GWLK book): 3 and 5
From Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge's (aka
John Bolton, 721) Culper code book, Washington's first female spy (agent) was
code number 355. Washington's was 711.
Code
book
=====
George Washington's Family (parents,
siblings, brothers, sisters, step-children, step-granchildren) and
Relationships
Adapted from information from
Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Yes, George's nephew (George Augustine Washington) married Martha's niece (Fanny
Bassett)!
George Washington's Tent Video
Guillotine Video from Mozaik3D
On 7 October 2020, I found this in Thierry Van de Leur & Fernand
Pigeat's excellent book L'Ephemere Resurrection de la Bastille (The
Ephemeral Resurrection of the Bastille), about the reconstruction of the
Bastille
for the 1899 Paris Universal Exposition.
Note this page, which has a faithful miniature of the Bastille measuring 38 cm
high, 99 cm long, and 57 cm wide. 99/38 = 2.6. 57/38 = 1.5.
Assuming 100 ft (30 meters) height of Bastille (per Encyclopedia Britannica et
al), as per measurements further below, then length is
2.6 x or 260 feet (79 meters), with width 1.5 x or 150 feet (46 meters).
This again confirms previous estimates of correct Bastille measurements!
Here is the link to the book:
https://amazon.com/gp/product/2954073101/
"This Bastille chalonnaise which measures 38 cm high, 99 long
and 57 wide, is an authentic model but ... in plaster, a material all in all
much easier to work than stone and admirably lends itself to mass casts!"
The author explained to me in an email:
"The
Bastille Chalonnaise means that it was made by a man from the Chalons / Saône
region. He lived in Ecuisses, in Saöne et Loire, 20 km from Chalons / Saône. "
View of west side of the Bastille.
Scylla and [or] Charybdis of Homer's The Odyssey
The story was often applied to political situations at a later date. In James Gillray's cartoon, Britannia between Scylla and Charybdis (3 June 1793),[9] 'William Pitt helms the ship Constitution, containing an alarmed Britannia, between the rock of democracy (with the liberty cap on its summit) and the whirlpool of arbitrary power (in the shape of an inverted crown), to the distant haven of liberty'.[10] This was in the context of the effect of the French Revolution on politics in Britain. That the dilemma had still to be resolved in the aftermath of the revolution is suggested by Percy Bysshe Shelley's returning to the idiom in his 1820 essay A Defence of Poetry: "The rich have become richer, and the poor have become poorer; and the vessel of the state is driven between the Scylla and Charybdis of anarchy and despotism."[11]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Between_Scylla_and_Charybdis
Note: Scylla (a 6-headed monster represented by a rocky
shoal off the coast of Italy's boot) and Charybdis (a whirlpool) were located in
the northern part of the narrow Strait of Messina, which separates Sicily from Calabria (southern Italy).
Metaphor for picking the lesser of two evils. The red devil or the deep
blue sea: the one takes your soul, the other your life. Your choice?
Thanks to friend Margo Lestz (subscribe at https://curiousrambler.com/ ), I found the music for the French Revolution film:
Newly found video (with scene pictures): LA RÉVOLUTION FRANÇAISE ● GEORGES DELERUE ● JESSYE NORMAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LbrPTD78ek
“L’Hymne à la Liberté” was written especially for the film. The music is by Georges Delerue, with lyrics by Jessye Norman.
Here are the French lyrics: https://www.paroles-musique.com/eng/Jessye_Norman-Hymne_a_la_liberte_reprise-lyrics,p014408497
Google Translation:
You, Freedom,
Freedom that we love
You, Freedom, Freedom that we
want
Be our hope and our strength
Be our joy, our happiness
We can sing higher every day
Sing every day further
Joyfully sing this hymn of
faith
Freedom, Freedom, I believe in
You
Liberty, Liberty, be our law
O you who can give hope
O you who can ring the joy
O Freedom, Freedom that we love
Always be closer to us
Always be closer to our hearts
Away from us slavery
Far from us take them
No more privileges
Far from us famines and
massacres
Far from us the time of
tyrannies
We will always sing your name,
"Liberty"
We believe in You.
You, Freedom, Freedom that we
love
You, Freedom, Freedom that we
want
Be our hope and our strength
Be our joy, our happiness
We can sing higher every day
Sing every day further
Joyfully sing this hymn of
faith
Freedom, Freedom, I believe in
You
Liberty, Liberty, be our law
O you who can give hope
O you who can ring the joy
O Freedom, Freedom that we love
Always be closer to us
Always be closer to our hearts
A fantastic song! Magnifique!! : )
Stay 4ee, if you can!
Video:
Copies signed by the author: https://shops.mountvernon.org/products/george-washingtons-liberty-key
Key Measurements:
https://www.mountvernon.org/preservation/collections-holdings/browse-the-museum-collections/object/w-14a/
Note: These supplements are likely best understood after reading the book!
To receive immediate updates, please "like" us on Facebook and rate or review us at Amazon and everywhere else! Thanks!!
If personality is key, this key has personality! And hopefully, this
character helps teach the power of character!
The next "Moby Dick"? You be the judge. But definitely read it now...before the movie and the musical!
If you like it, please tell others. If you didn't, please tell us quickly...and how the next version might be improved.
Living key, living book. We can adapt! See our email address below.
Now available at the Shops at Mount Vernon
PDF of George Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation"
"Greetings Bill! The American Revolution was all about character." – David McCullough
"While in the Mansion, the group inspected the key to the Bastille, a gift to
Washington from the Marquis de Lafayette as a symbol of freedom following the
storming of the notorious prison. The two presidents [Trump and Macron] each received
[on 23 April 2018] a replica
Bastille key, housed in a wooden box made from walnut wood used in the Mansion
with an inlay of pecan from a tree planted near the Mansion circa 1848. Steel
from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington was used in the production of
this treasured replica. (Photo credit: George Washington’s Mount Vernon)"
Click on photo for reference to Mary Wadland's article. Key reproduction
is an artistic rendering of cast of original.
Key Maintenance at Mount Vernon
Starts at 1:55
Filthy Cities Paris (Revolutionary Paris; video)
"Deep Sea/See" Research regarding 31 May 1790 letter from Paine to Washington about transmittal of Bastille Key across the Atlantic Ocean.
8 April 2018
Commentary by Bill Bahr on Thomas Paine's 31 May 1790 letter to George Washington about the transmittal of the Bastille Key from Lafayette, after a 30 May 2018 visit to view the letter at the Library of Congress:
The comma insertions by the University of Virginia were, IMHO, correct, vis a vis those by the Thomas Paine Association. I was very concerned about the ink bleed-throughs causing possible misinterpretation of Paine's message about the Bastille Key transmittal. Given that the paper was thicker than I had guessed, the bleed-throughs were not as bad as I had thought from the digital representation. I did notice a few other interesting things, however. Paine's superscripts were lowered (as per Jeff's kind referral to the transcription methodology documentation). And UVA took the "liberty" of inserting periods where they should have unquestionably been, but were not visible. Paine either did not like to use periods (or they were very, very small and washed-out over time), preferring, it seems, to either use dashes, line ends, or nothing at all, leaving it up to the reasonable reader to figure where one thought ends and another begins. Finally there were some questionable capitalizations/decapitalizations by UVA. Nevertheless, all in all, despite what a comma may or may not do to the meaning of a sentence, the transcription of the document came through just as UVA described.
Original info below. Click for digital reproduction of Paine's letter at Library of Congress.
============================
Interpretation from Founders Online:
To George Washington from Thomas Paine, 31 May 1790
London May 31. 1790
Sir
By Mr James Morris who sailed in the May Packet I transmitted you a letter from the Marquis de la Fayette, at the same time informing you that the Marquis had entrusted to my charge the Key of the Bastile and a drawing of that Prison as a present to your Excellency.1 Mr J. Rutlege Junr had entended coming in the Ship.2 Marquis de la Fayette and I had chosen that opportunity for the purpose of transmitting the present but the Ship not sailing at the time appointed Mr Rutledge takes his passage, in the Packet, and I have committed to his Care those trophies of Liberty which I know it will give you pleasure to receive—The french Revolution is not only compleat but triumphant & the envious disposition of this nation is compelled to own the magnanimity with which it has been conducted.
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-05-02-0275
=====================
Intepretation from Thomas Paine Association:
To His Excellency George Washington May 31, 1790
To His Excellency George Washington May 31, 1790
LONDON,
SIR:
By Mr. James Morris, who sailed in the May Packet, I transmitted you a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette, at the same time informing you that the Marquis had entrusted to my charge the key of the Bastille, and a drawing of that prison, as a present to your Excellency. Mr. J. Rutledge, jun'r, had intended coming in the ship Marquis de Lafayette, and I had chosen that opportunity for the purpose of transmitting the present; but, the ship not sailing at the time appointed, Mr. Rutledge takes his passageon the packet, and I have committed to his care that trophy of liberty which I know it will give you pleasure to receive. The French Revolution is not only complete but triumphant, and the envious despotism of this nation is compelled to own the magnanimity with which it has been conducted.
Excellent video by Adam Erby of Mount Vernon about Mount
Vernon's Bastille Key. Note, however, the photo of "John Rutledge,
Jr." at 3:14. This photo cannot be verified.
To the best of the knowledge of the Library of Congress and Mount Vernon's photo
collection, a picture of John Rutledge, Jr. does not exist.
A portrait of his father, however, does exist. Otherwise, a great video.
http://www.mountvernon.org/video/view/1448019/
Link to another interesting, earlier story on that blog.
A reader truly going first class on a British train (note the sign on the
chair to the right)!
The reader is on his way to
Edinburgh, Scotland,
birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment and one-time "hotbed of genius" with,
among others, liberty-lovers David Hume and Adam Smith.
Hopefully, in true George Washington practice, the reader will dutifully note any
"uh oh" typos
(and pass them on to me for correction in the book's next version).
Typos
Edinburgh, Scotland's Bastille?
Memoirs of General Lafayette
Vol 3: "Such a glorious cause had never before attracted the attention of
mankind: it was the last struggle of Liberty;
and had she then been vanquished, neither hope nor asylum would have remained
for her."
Interesting site:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/patriots/lafayette-american-revolution.htm
Research on "The Keys of the Bastille of Paris" by Henry Spencer Howell of Galt, Ontario, Canada, 1887.
This interesting pamphlet is one of the first works on the Bastille and its keys that I consulted for my own book, “George Washington’s Liberty Key: Mount Vernon’s Bastille Key.” Howell’s small book or pamphlet was first published in 1887 and covers in brief the Bastille, the Storming of the Bastille and subsequent aspects of the French Revolution, the Bastille keys, and the provenance of Howell’s own five Bastille keys. All in all, the pamphlet is interesting in that it shows what information was available in that era to an individual key collector who spent a great deal of time trying to document the history of the Bastille keys he obtained. Unfortunately, there are a number of errors Howell commits while making assertions based upon assumptions in the information-sparse world before the internet. Even with the internet, however, I have not yet been able to find the current location of Howell’s Bastille keys. The library (idea exchange) in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, claims to have no information.
Harvard Yard Snowball Fight: Real-life "Join, or Die!"
Photo from Museum of the American Revolution. Description.
6/24/2017: Just had my local public library use the 3D printer donated by my colleague Friends of the Library to print up a copy of the Mount Vernon Bastille Key: Took them 6 hours (3 hours per side) and cost me $6.
Note: designer made key totally symmetric. It’s not; the alignment ridge is supposed to be only on the left side. Also, the printed key is 8 ¾ inches long, versus the real key’s 7 ½ inches. Some of the ridges are also slightly rounded versus square. Nevertheless, pretty cool! 3D Print Tutorial REF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIASyrInaxA and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIPYMdxw4qU
Independence Hall key; same length as Mount Vernon Bastille Key
Replica key ("Philomena") made of wrought iron.
Looking outside through keyhole; notice stop, which aligned key but prevented key opening from outside.
Bit in shape of #2. By definition, a key "2" the Bastille?!
Hmmm, metal replica is probably cast steel or highly refined cast iron....
Crystal version is Baccarat Crystal Bastille Key (figurine paperweight, courtesy
Michael Krug).
Key was given to General Santerre , Battalion Commander of the National Guard as
a
reward for his conduct during the attack on July 14, 1789. Preserved in
his family during the
whole XIXth century, it was given to the Museum Carnavalet by his descendants in
1905. Identical reproduction.
Madame Tussauds' Bastille Keys
Note: I found the above "'exact representation' of the key," published in the "Massachusetts Magazine," after the key was presented to George Washington. So far I have found other newspaper articles but none other with accompanying drawings.
Click here for a link to a new webpage showing original drawing.
Research on 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior
Link to Original Handwritten Notes (printed cover says GW 14 or 15 years old)
Link to WikiSource saying GW wrote Rules around 1744 (making him 12 years old)
Link to GW's Copybook around 1745 (13 years old; note slightly improved handwriting over Rules?; Rules earlier?)
Note: Is the author of this Rules Preface wrong (he says Rules were written when GW was 13, based upon 1745 date on one of the pages)? But he also says GW wrote Journal when he was 16 years old and 1 month; In March 1747, IMHO, GW would have been 15 years old and 1 month!
Link to GW's" A Journal of my Journey over the Mountains,"
begun 11 March 1748 (GW 16 years old), but Diary begins 11 February 1777.
School copybooks extend to age 15.
Link to Transcript:
Preface: "Washington s Journal here given to the public, if we except his
version of the " Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and
Conversation," is the earliest literary effort of this, the most admirable
character in all history."
Comments welcome to wbahr at mail dot com
I have been challenged to find evidence of a relatively recent assertion that, following Washington’s display of the Bastille Key, newspapers across the country ran an "'exact representation' of the key, splayed out in grim silhouette." While I have copies of several newspaper articles at the time about the key, none has a drawing. The Library of Congress tells me that any such drawing would be rare. No response yet from the person asserting this claim, despite several requests. As I laboriously begin to search through microfilms, any help finding a copy of such a newspaper article would be appreciated. Thanks!
Bastille Day 2002 – West Point (United States Military Academy) cadets lead parade; "Duty, Honor, Country," one version of Washington's three key requirements for Liberty.
Two slave shackles with keys courtesy of Andy Maglio of Action Lock & Key
Used to connect chain links. Small shackle to the left has key inserted.
21 Jan 2017
55 is also the number of delegates to the Constitutional Convention, of which 39
signed.
1 Jan 2017
Mention is made in the book that Europe (specifically Paris) is 4,000 miles away
from NYC. Other history books like to say that the distance is 3,000
miles. Actually, as Dave the Dove of Peace flies, Paris is 3,627 miles
away (round up to 4,000) from NYC, London being a little closer at 3,470 miles
(round down?). However, also consider the actual sailing routes, as
pictured on page 95. Note that the southern sailing route could almost be
described as a right-angle triangle of the 3, 4, 5 variety, with the Dove of
Peace measurement being the hypotenuse (5). In this case, then the alternative
distance is 3 + 4 or 7, which is 7/5 or 40% longer than the 5 hypotenuse.
140% of 3,627 miles is 5,078 miles. Let's pretend we rounded the 5 route
down to 3,000 miles. The average then between 3,000 miles and 5,000 miles
is 4,000 miles!
XMAS 2016 Present (as received from a reader in Italy)
If you bought a copy of the book and would like a bookmark and/or self-adhesive bookplate (author's signature + your preferred inscription), just send a self-addressed stamped #10 (business - 9.5 x 4 inch) envelop to the publisher of the book (address on book's page ii) along with your request.
Bookmark
Bookplate
"New" quote:
“Washington is the mightiest name of earth – long since mightiest in the cause of civil liberty, still mightiest in moral reformation. . . . To add brightness to the sun or glory to the name of Washington is alike impossible. Let none attempt it. In solemn awe pronounce the name, and in its naked deathless splendor leave it shining on.” ̶ Abraham Lincoln
Philadelphia June 10th 1792
My dear Sir,
In the revolution of a
great Nation we must not be surprized at the Vicissitudes to which We are
however anxious that the horrors of war may be avoided, if possible, and the
rights of man, so well understood & so permanently fixed, as while despotic
oppression is avoided on the one hand, licentiousness may not be substituted for
liberty or confusion take place of order, on the other. The just medium cannot
be expected to be found in a moment, the first vibrations always go to the
extremes, and cool reason, which can alone establish a permanent & equal
government, is as little to be expected in the tumults of popular commotions, as
an attention to the liberties of the people is to be found in the dark Divan of
a despotic tyrant.
Comment from Scott Klemm (antique key expert): 11/17/16
Scott Klemm: Thanks, Bill !!! I was glad to be of help. Your book will be a genuine contribution to both American and lock & key histories. (Bill's comment: check out Scott's own great books on antique keys: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4688070.Scott_J_Klemm )
Comment from Brian Sandman: 11/17/16
Brian Sandman: It doesn't appear this Keyway Escutcheon was used for the Key Profile shown in the Cover Picture ?
Bill Bahr: Good eyes -- you are correct! I plead "artistic license"! A matter of combining a replica brass key without the real key's side "ridge" with a likely keyhole for the real key with a door and its escutcheon partially hidden by the keyhole. Thanks for your comment!
Brian Sandman: ...worked for the Federal Government and Inspected Federal Facilities for Locks, Keys, Doors, Vaults and Sight reading. Good Graphic though for your Book.
Comment from Brian Sandman: 11/21/16
The Bastille Key is a Bridge Ward cut. It is for use from both sides of the Door. This Keyhead T shape is used for help in the constant turning motion of the key. It helps to add torque and lessen the strain on the Jailors wrist.
"Madam Secretary" on CBS talks about the
importance of Washington's Bastille Key
on Season 3, Episode 5: "The French Revolution" @ 15:45 of 42.24.
Click photo for link.
Madame Tussaud's 5-7 October 2012 Best Western Exhibition
Louis 16th's Private Forge at Versailles
Louis 16th and the Locksmith by Joseph Caraud The Forge of King Louis 16th by Joseph Caraud
Louis 16th and Gamain at Versailles forge.
Link to photos of Iron Mask and Bastille Door
Probably incorrect portrayal of Jefferson
leaving Paris on 26 September 1789
in "Sally Hemings: An American Scandal" 37:57
"A Tribute to Paine," a montage tribute to Thomas Paine, the
printer, by the American artist John Wesley Jarvis. Woodcut.
Courtesy of the Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D. C.
GW pictures and comment from Scott Klemm 11/21/2016
Here's a picture of George Washington's keys from an oil on canvas painting. It is at the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA. Huntington's label states that it's probably a copy of the original Charles Peale portrait done by a French artist. The keys can be seen hanging just below his waistcoat (vest) on the left hand side of the picture. Keys are likely barrel (hollow shaft) keys, probably for his most valuable, personal chest or camp storage trunk.
Background for pages 29-30 of "George Washington's Liberty Key," which discuss Bastille dimensions and size.
Note: I discovered Wikipedia/ Wikiwand has a newly made entry on its Bastille page which mentions Bastille measurements. Unfortunately, I have not been able to publicly comment there that one reference, Schama, does not mention measurements on the cited page (or anywhere else that I can see). I am trying to obtain copies of the other two references (in French) cited. I have mentioned to the page editor that I have the engineering drawings (see below), which cite the measurements, but to no avail. IMHO, the dimensions currently given on the Wikipedia page are ambiguous (they don't say at what points the measurements were made; the building was irregular) and thus misleading. You can make your own measurements from the drawings below. 11/24/16
Note: I am re-measuring. More tomorrow. 11/29/16
Earlier measurements I took for the first book printing were with a ruler in inches/millimeters, which I converted to toises. I decided to construct a scale(s) with just toises, then do the conversions to feet, which should give me more direct and thus more accurate estimates. These new estimates will be in the next printing of the book, along with the refined description of the Lincoln Memorial dimensions.
Here's what I measured on 12/1/16
Here's what I measured on 12/20/2016
Comment: Given the diagram details, the A.J. Mathieu
(engineer; with Edme Verniquet, architect) measurements appear to be the most accurate of the
three taken before the destruction of the Bastille. As well, the added
dimension of height allows one to see the
varying measurements of width/depth/length at various heights. Expanded scales
(scales "photoshopped"
together to give longer
length like a "tape meausre") were overlaid on Bastille to allow the finely graduated portion to
determine
exact length. Bottom line, one notes the interpretations of the measurements of
the three engineers/architects agreed
with each other on various measurements between 93% and 100%. As one
is not sure what Cathala and Palloy were
measuring at various heights compared to Mathieu, one could, therefore,
take a tolerant view and say that they
generally all agreed with one another.
Note transposition between width to length and depth to width on Mathieu map.
Original scale at bottom of maps. 1 toise = 6 pieds du roi = 6.39 feet. 1 meter = 3.28 feet
Scales were duplicated, added, and expanded for measurement.
All this is summarized on pages 29-30 of "George Washington's Liberty Key" by William J. Bahr
General comment: It is not always easy to judge building dimensions, as evidenced by modern-day disputes over what is the floor-space in a home or which is the tallest building in the world. Does the building have an antenna? Is the antenna part of the structure or just an add-on? See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures
Now we know that the Bastille was an "irregular" structure, not rectangular but with at least six distinct sides. We also know that the foundation (approximately 20 feet high/deep) was exposed when the moat was not filled with water. So, is it or is it not a part of the height measurement which would include the remaining 80 feet, thus making the height 100 feet? You can also see from below that the battlements jutted out, just as did the base (maybe a better term than foundation). My rough or rounded numbers try to take this into account, leaving one with a physical impression one can use when comparing the Bastille to current buildings. Hope this helps!
40 meter front face (about 130 feet) if measuring at angle (the hypotenuse; tilt vertical scale to left as shown).
Palloy map with annotation courtesy of Jim Chevallier (Toises scale at bottom left)
Chateau de Tarascon (Brother to the Bastille?) diagram
Map Castle
Legend :
1. Input Court 2- 3- 4- Pont Courtyard of Honor Staircase Dungeon 5- 6- 7- Clock
Tower Tour Chapels 8- 9- Great Chapel Chapel Singers 10- southwest Tour
Paneterie 11- 12- 13- feasts Hall Tower Artillery Home 14- 15- 16- pantry
Echansonnerie Paneterie 17- 18- 19- Saucerie Fruiterie 20- 21- Barnyard Tour
Marie 22- 23- Tour Tour of stair walkway.
Here's what is on Wikipedia (French version) 12/11/16 Says of Bastille: 66 long x 34 wide x 24 meters high (217 x 112 x 79 feet).
Despite my several attempts to update, here is what's on Wikipedia 12/11/16 223 feet wide, 121 feet deep, and 78 feet high, and walls10 feet thick at base.
Here is Wikipedia's reference 9:
Muzerelle does have the cited dimensions on page 14, but no description as to how they were derived. There is a drawing on page 21 in toises, which does not seem to correlate. I am still trying to understand its graphic dimensions in terms of what Muzerelle claims on page 14. Below are the cited references to Viollet and Schama, which clearly have absolutely no dimensions!!! The only cited Muzerelle page (page 14) with dimensions called out is reproduced below with a translation. Anybody know how to inform the Wikipedia Bastille Page Editor????
No dimensions? Eugene Viollet, "Dictionnaire....", page 172
.jpg)
No dimensions? Simon Schama: "Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution"
Muzerelle
Boxed text: "Cette bastille Saint-Antoine, desormais composee de huit tours, hautes de 24 m, reunies par des courtines de meme hauteur, formait un rectangle de 68 m sur 37 m, entoure d'un fosse, offrant un modele architectural nouveau qui devait rencontrer un certain succes au cours du siecle suivant."
Page 14
Translation of boxed text: "This Bastille Saint-Antoine, now composed of eight towers, 24 m [78.7 feet] high, joined by curtains of the same height, formed a rectangle of 68 m [223 feet] by 37 m [121.4 feet], surrounded by a pit, offering a new architectural model which was to meet some success in the next century."
No explanation is given as to how these measurements were made, especially the 68 meter (223 feet) dimension.
Bottom line: What was the size of the Bastille? What were the
dimensions of the Bastille?
"The Bastille's maximum outside dimensions, measured at the building's base:
approximately 260 feet long, 130-150 wide (ends, middle), and 100 feet high. The
base (the exposed foundation), which was sometimes covered with moat water, was
20 feet high, with walls being 80 feet, making the total height 100 feet. This
maximum dimension takes into account the protrusions of the towers and their
battlements, as well as the widened footings at the base. The building was
irregular, more of a hexagon than a rectangle, hence the difference between
middle and ends. It's possible that some would want to look for dimensions just
at the interior; however, that itself was also irregular, with the addition of
various additions and apartments. The above dimensions were arrived at by
extending (duplicating and adding them together to form a "tape measure" by
photo-shopping) the original engineering/architect/contractor (Mathieu/Cathala/Palloy)
drawing/diagram scales and overlaying them on the diagrams."
–– William J. Bahr
Reference: pp 29-30, "George Washington's Liberty Key"
Our dimensions of the Bastille
Bastille Size
Video: How big
was the Bastille?
Find out why the Lincoln Memorial is so
amazingly and remarkably "magical" on page 193 of the book!
12 Miles SW and over river from Bastille to
Versailles and from Lincoln Memorial to Mount Vernon.
But what is even more amazing?! Check out page 193....
BTW, here are the NPS Lincoln Memorial
Statistics:
https://www.nps.gov/linc/learn/historyculture/lincoln-memorial-building-statistics.htm
I have asked the NPS to clarify their acreage for the Memorial to within that of the Lincoln Memorial Parkway Circle. I have recalculated, and believe my numbers are correct, with your opportunity to verify yourself below for this and other Bastille-related measurements. As regards, Lincoln Memorial measurements, note roof overhang beyond the pillars, which likely accounts for different dimensions cited.
Bastille and Lincoln Memorial relationship to be further developed in upcoming book "Lincoln's Bastille."
Click on image above for link to article: Bastille Measurement: Resurrecting the Dimensions of Despotism
Another "Washington Monument," this one a cellphone tower off I-55 in Ridgeland, TX:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/11245
Washington's Birthplace Monument
55 feet tall.
Pope's Creek, VA.
George Washington, the surveyor, a measurement master!
End of dimension discussion.
11 August 1790 thank you letter from Washington to Lafayette
Treaty of Paris ending American Revolutionary War
A= Azores; M = Madeira; C = Canary
Islands; S = Barbados (where Washington went to help his brother Lawrence);
E = St. Eustatius (Dutch Island which gave Revolutionary War's American Navy its
"first salute," located just 20 miles NW of St. Kitts/Nevis, where Alexander
Hamilton was born and grew up); B = Bermuda.
Shown is alternative return to America taking more southern route than shorter
Canary Islands to Bermuda route.
Hurricane development (high
pressure rushes towards low pressure and is right-shifted by earth's rotation)
See book Sources section for explanatory video!
Executioner showing head of guillotined Louis 16th to the crowd
"Dear Clock." Saturday, 14 December 1799.
Elisha C. Dick, Master of the Lodge.
Dr. Dick was in attendance at George
Washington's death.
Scales at George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
Psychological categorization: Washington (analytical driver?); Lafayette (expressive driver?)
Clock (circle) at top of modern building in Bastille
Outline of Bastille in pavers on Rue Saint Antoine Paris street
Pavers were replaced by metal markers starting ~ 2019.
Arrows point to Bastille tower outlines in old cobblestone pavers (since replaced by new metal markers).
Courtesy of Nicolas Melnyk www.BastilleFortress.com
Houel Bastille Cell Release of Prisoners
Portion of Liberty Tower reconstructed at Henri Galli Square
Bastille stop at Paris Metro with themes of the French Revolution
Bastille Storming Videos (beware artistic license):
1. 2. (French language) 3. 4. 5. (3 parts)
At 0:12 in Part 3, the Bastille Key appears as de Launay reaches for it.
Note the inaccuracy of the "facsimile"!
"The Last of the Montagnards" (aka "The Martyrs of Prairial"
- Revolt of 1 Prairial Year III - 20 May 1795) by Charles Ronot in 1782.
Scene depicts 17 June 1795 Jacobin group suicide. Active participant is likely
Gilbert Romme, with last words, "I die for the Republic."
King Louis XVI Flight to Varennes The letter of grievances he laid on his bed before his departure.
Louis XVI
Déclaration de Louis XVI à tous les Français, à sa sortie de Paris
20 juin 1791
aka Déclaration du roi, adressée à tous les François, à sa sortie de Paris, traditionally known as the Testament politique de Louis XVI ("Political Testament of Louis XVI"),
English Translation by William J. Bahr
Declaration to the French People prepared by Louis XVI
Flight to Varennes
The
King's letter was lost shortly after his death in 1793, but in 2009 it was
rediscovered by
Gérard Lhéritier as
being
held by a private American collector.
It was purchased for several million euros by Messr
Lhéritier's
company,
Aristophil.
Subsequently it
was
displayed at Paris' Museum of Letters and Manuscripts. (Telegraph)
However, the Museum "closed in 2014 after its owner
Gérard Lhéritier and his company Aritophil were investigated for allegedly
running the museum as an illegal Ponzi scheme." (Wikipedia).
An excellent video summary: Maximilien Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
Key recently found in Mount Vernon's old kitchen refuse pile
Modern attempts at making "antique" keys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyo3My6h7Ew&t=54s
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfN5SBVEAk4
Frederick the Great's "quotes" (no pun intended) about George Washington; fact over fab! : )
I purchased the book Ron Chernow references in his book on Washington, the Callahan book on Knox. Page 98 of the Callahan book has the quote and the source, listed as “[Pictorial] Field Book of the Revolution” by B. J. Lossing, (NY, 1852), p. 240. This is what I actually find about this Callahan quote on google in Lossing’s book: “It is said that Frederic the Great of Prussia declared that the achievements of Washington and his little band of compatriots, between the 25th of December and the 4th of January, were the most brilliant of any recorded in the annals of military achievements.”
Looks like the FTG quote is “hearsay” information. Probably same as the “verbal message” accompanying the sword Frederick the Great is said to have sent to Washington:
"What had to have been the most elegant sword used by the General is now exhibited at the New York State Library in Albany. This sword is reputed to be the sword sent to Washington in 1780 by Frederick the Great with a verbal message: “From the oldest General in the World to the Greatest”. This was one of the five swords left to his nephews. It was chosen by William Augustine Washington, The sword was passed down through his son Colonel George Corbin Washington, then to his son Colonel Lewis William Washington, His widow, Ella, donated it to the library. Unfortunately, the sword was very badly damaged in the New York Capitol building fire in 1911. This fire also destroyed the original records of New York during the American Revolution."
http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/washsword.html
Here's interesting sword information from another source: https://www.annmarieackermann.com/how-frederick-the-greats-sword-helped-spark-the-civil-war/
Lady Gaga's "French Revolution" to Music (video)
"Character, Culture, Constitution"
Two original editions (Parson Weems and
William Bahr) at the Fred Smith Mount Vernon Library!
Link to book "Greatest of Men Washington" by Alfred W.
McCann
Revolutionary War Blacksmith 5 Minute Video
La
Marseillaise, French National Anthem (French and English Lyrics)
Found GWLK at Bloomingdale, FL (Tampa area) Public Library.
Unfortunately, a Bloomingdale, IL library card wouldn't work. But autograph was
welcomed!
1790, a good year, a good price!
Do I need better credit attribution for above
materials? Please let me know immediately, and I will correct.
Thanks!
Contact:
bill at libertykey dot us
Our dimensions of the Bastille
Now available at the Shops at Mount Vernon Copyright, W. Bahr,
2015-2023
~ explanation: Quote from which Teddy Roosevelt attribution
was adapted:
"'A man who will steal for me will steal from me.' Theodore Roosevelt,
dismissing on the spot one of his best cowhands who was about to claim for his
boss an unmarked animal." David G. McCullough, "Mornings on Horseback:
The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique
child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt."
"Lying (but not untruthful) Laptop Stand Desk" for writing future books.
In this letter, General George Washington
offers Nathaniel Sackett $50 a month (more than $1,000 today) to spy for the
Continental Army, plus another $500 to set up a spy network. To Mr. Nathaniel Sackett Letter Transcript:
Sir,
The advantage of obtaining the earliest and best
Intelligence of the designs of the enemy, the good character
given of you by Colonel Duer added to your capacity for an undertaking of this
kind have induced me to entrust the management of this business to your care
till further orders on this head.
For your care and trouble in this business I agree on behalf
of the public to allow you Fifty Dollars pr. Kalendar Month and herewith give
you a warrant on the Paymaster Genl. For the sum of Five hundd. Dollars to
pay those whom you may find necessary to imploy in the transaction of this
business, an acct. of the disbursements of which you are to render to me.
Given under my hand at Morris town this 4th day of Feb.,
1777
George Washington
Reference
"Exitus acta probat"
– the meaning of George
Washington's family motto
William J. Bahr
NB: Both Bloomingdales have 2010 Census populations of 22K. Amazing!
L-R: Bill Bahr, Danila Florianovich, Melissa Brown (Librarian).
1/27/2020.
Also on page 146 of William Hazelgrove's "Forging a President: How the Wild West Created Teddy
Roosevelt." Hopefully the attribution can be viewed as
keeping with Roosevelt's character. 
Author: Amazon and
Mount Vernon
"No punishment, in my opinion, is too great for the man who
can 'build his greatness upon his country's ruin.'" — George Washington
"Arbitrary power [tyranny, dictatorship] is most easily established on the
ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness [lawlessness,
irresponsibility, anarchy]." — George Washington