SAINT GERMAIN, COLTNT DE, b. 18th c.; in what country, is unknown. He came to Paris in 1840 with the marquis de Belle Isle. He soon became famous for his acquaintance with the natural sciences, his powers of conversation, and his apparent great wealth. He is said to have given anecdotes implying acquaintance with persons who were dead generations before his time. His character and career were mysterious throughout. It is supposed that be was a spy in some governmental employ.
a t. of France, in the dep. of Seine-et-Oise; on an eleva tion on the left bank of the Seine, 14 m. by railway w.n.w. of Paris. It contains three handsome squares, a parish church, with a monument erected by George IV. over the remains of James II., several learned and other societies, and some factories. Pop. '76, 16,978.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye had its origin in a monastery built by king Robert in the beginning of the 11th c., on the summit of the hill which was surrounded by the forest of Lyda (Lao), and dedicated to St. Germain. The town, as well as the royal chateau,
which was built either during the reign of king Robert, or soon after, was sacked by the English in 1346, in 1419, and in 1438. At Saint-Germain-en-Laye the marriage of Frau- cis 1. was celebrated, and this rebuilt the chateau in 1547. From before the time of Philippe-Auguste, Saiut-Germain-en-Laye had been the residence of the French court during a portion of the year, but Louis XIV. transferred the court to Versailles, and from this time the fortunes. of Saint-Germain-en-Laye declined. Later the château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye Was assigned by Louis XIV. as the residence of the dethroned James IL of England, and here in exile that monarch held his morose court, devoting almost the whole day to religious observances. The chateau is now used as barracks and for other purposes. The forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye comprises 10,873 English acres.