Rudolph II. to the Elector of Saxony, and a portion of a mass of solid silver from Hirnmedsfurst mine at Freiburg. The Saxon regalia include the Electoral sword borne by the Saxon princes at the imperial coronations; the decorations belonging to a miner's uniform, made for the Elector John George, 1676; a large collection of chains, collars, and orders, among which are the garter, golden fleece, and Polish Eagle, worn by Saxon princes. Last of all comes the glass case filled with the most precious suits of the most costly jewels. The first division contains sapphires-the largest of them, an ancient specimen, was a gift of Peter the Great; the second, emeralds; the third, rubies; the fourth, pearls-one set of native Saxon pearls, from the Elster in Voigtland, which are of course inferior to the Oriental. Among sixty-three rings, there are two which belonged to Martin Luther, one a cornelian bearing a rose, and in its centre a cross; the other his enamel seal ring, bearing a death's head, and the motto, "Mori sæpe cogita." The fifth division is devoted to diamonds. The diamond decorations of the gala dress of the Elector consist of buttons, collar, sword-hilt and scabbard, all of diamonds; the three brilliants in the epaulette weigh nearly fifty carats. But the most remarkable stone of all, which is considered unique, is a green brilliant, weighing one hundred and sixty grains, forty carats each. The sixth division is also filled with diamonds, including the Saxon order of the Rue Garland, and seven orders of the Golden Fleece, etc. This wonderful collection of costly articles surpasses any thing of the kind in the world. The valuables in the Tower of London, about which the English boast so much, are nothing in comparison. Satisfied with our day's work, we returned to the British Hotel, and occupied the evening in discussing the wonders of the Green Vault.

The following day we visited the Armory, which contains one of the finest collections in Europe, and is more extensive than the Ambras collection at Vienna, or that in the Tower of London. "It contains all the weapons, offensive and defensive, of chivalrous warfare; all the trappings and accoutrements of the tournament and other wild sports of feudal ages. Wealth and skill appear to have been exhausted in the materials and decorations of the armor. The elaborate workmanship of gold and silver and ivory expended on the smaller arms, as the hilts of swords, stocks of guns, bits and

stirrups; the rich damasking of the plate armor and gun barrels, and the carving and inlaid work so profusely bestowed, are sufficient to excite wonder and admiration." The first room contains specimens of painted glass of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, many articles of old furniture, cabinets, etc., among which I noticed two beautifully carved tables, made of a cypress tree of immense diameter. The work table of the Electress Anne, (1585;) a cabinet given to Martin Luther, by his friend the Elector John Frederic, containing relics of the great reformer; a great number of ancient drinking horns, vessels, goblets, cups for all varieties of potations. Some of these articles are upwards of seven hundred years old. The hunting horn of Henry IV., King of France, is in this collection; also, the travelling table of Augustus I., inlaid with silver, and containing a complete medicine chest, and other conveniences for travelling.

The second room contains the tilting armor of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, used by the Electors of Saxony. Two suits of armor are made of solid silver, and some intended for small boys are very interesting. In the times when these things were used, they commenced wearing them very early in life until they became grown-up men. The armor of Christian II. is said to have cost fourteen thousand dollars.

The third room is occupied almost entirely with parade arms, and armor employed in the tilts and tournaments in the times of chivalry.

The fourth room is filled with arms for use in the field, and not for show, being less ponderous and unwieldy than those in the preceding apartment. A large part of them have been worn in battle by the Saxon princes and other historical characters, and are chronologically arranged.

The fifth room contains firearms, from their earliest invention down to the present time, showing the gradual improvements that have been made. One of the oldest weapons in this collection is a rude sort of pistol, supposed to date from the end of the fifteenth century, a mere iron barrel eleven and a quarter inches long, with a touch-hole in the side. It was fired, not by the flint falling on the steel, but by the friction of a file upon a piece of fire stone. The file was inserted in a groove by the side of the touch-hole, and was then covered with powder, and the fire-stone screwed down tight

in contact with it. When the file was slightly drawn out, the friction served to ignite the powder. The first step after this was the pistol fired by means of a piece of lighted tow; then came the wheel-lock, with flint and steel. Specimens of the different varieties are here preserved in perfect order.

The sixth room is filled with costly stuffs used at the coronations and other festivities of Augustus II. and III., Kings of Poland; trappings and harness for horses, of the richest materials; splendidly worked bits and stirrups and housings for sledge-horses, on which the most elaborate ornaments have been expended. One set of harness is of gold, splendidly enamelled and set with rubies, another of silver set with pearls.

The seventh room is fitted up with a Turkish tent, taken at the siege of Vienna; and its contents are chiefly Turkish and Eastern

arms.

The eighth room contains an ethnographical collection, the garments and weapons of various barbarous tribes.

The ninth and last room contains riding equipments and parade trappings. In this apartment we were shown a saddle of red velvet, and the boots used by Napoleon at the battle of Dresden, also a wax cast of Napoleon's face taken after death.

From this interesting collection we visited the Elbe bridge, one of the finest structures of the kind in Germany. It is built entirely of stone, and commands a beautiful view of Dresden and the valley of the Elbe. "It was built with funds raised by the sale of dispensations from the Pope for eating butter and eggs during Lent."

Like most of the cities of Germany, Dresden abounds in pleasant promenades, and its environs are really superb. The Saxon Switzerland embraces the most romantic scenery in Germany, and is considered inferior to none in Europe, save the bold and magnificent scenery of the little Republic.

LETTER SIXTY-TWO.

BERLIN.

Appearance of Berlin-Unter den Linden-Monuments-Royal Palace-Palace of the Prince of Prussia-Museum-Picture Gallery-Egyptian Museum-Theatre-Brandenburg Gate-Count Raczynski Gallery-Thiergarten-Bellevue-Consultation with an eminent Surgeon-Pecuniary Difficulties, etc.

Six hours' ride on the railroad from Dresden, through a level and barren country, brought us to the capital of Prussia, which is situated in the midst of a dreary plain of sand, destitute of either beauty or fertility. It is surprising that Frederic the Great selected such a site, but still more surprising that it should have grown up, notwithstanding, into the flourishing metropolis of a great empire. Its walls measure twelve miles in circumference, and its population exceeds four hundred thousand. Most of the objects calculated to interest the stranger are situated in the street named Unter den Linden, from a double avenue of lime trees, which form a delightful promenade in the centre, while on each side of it runs a carriage road. It is the Broadway of the city, and the view along it is terminated by the magnificent Brandenburg gate. Just in front of our hotel (Hôtel du Nord) is one of the finest bronze equestrian statues in Europe, recently erected by the present King in honor of Frederic the Great. It stands on a bronze pedestal, ornamented with basreliefs, and presents a pleasing effect to the eye. Just beyond this statue, in the Lustgarten, is a large and beautiful fountain, and in front of the Picture Gallery is an enormous basin twenty-two and a half feet in diameter, and cut out of a bowlder found near the city. At this point one may stand, and simply by turning on the heel view all that is interesting within the walls of Berlin. The Royal Palace first claims our attention, not on account of any architectural beauty, (for it is nothing but a mass of brick rendered dingy and gloomy by the action of time,) but the many historical associations connected with it. In the second story of this building, Napoleon pronounced his Berlin decrees from the middle window. The best furnished and most interesting rooms are those occupied by Frederic the Great. The White Hall, recently fitted up at great cost, £120,000, and decorated with the statues of the twelve Brandenburg Elect

ors, and the eight Prussian provinces, is very beautiful, but inferior to the ball-room in the Royal Palace of Munich. In the third story of this palace is the Kunstkammer, (chamber of art,) soon to be removed to the New Museum. It contains some curious things, but upon the whole, it is a poor affair. The Palace of the Prince of Prussia is the finest in Berlin, yet inferior to several others in Ger

many.

The Royal Library is also in the same vicinity; a large and tasteless building containing five hundred thousand volumes and five thousand MSS. Among its curiosities are Luther's Hebrew Bible, the copy from which he made his translation, with marginal notes in his own hand; the MS. of his translation of the Psalms, with his corrections in red ink; the Bible and prayer-book which Charles the First carried to the scaffold, and gave before his death to Bishop Juxon, etc.

The Museum facing the Lustgarten is quite a handsome edifice, built on piles, as the spot on which it stands was previously a branch of the Spree which has been filled up. At the right side of the entrance is a group in bronze, representing the combat of an Amazon with a tiger. The walls of the front are adorned with frescoes by Cornelius. The main entrance leads into a beautiful rotunda ornamented with statuary and Gobelin tapestry. The lower story is filled with statuary, vases, and bronzes, and the upper story is occupied as the picture gallery. It contains a vast number of paintings, of but little value, and to one who is acquainted with the works of art in the galleries of Italy, Paris, Munich, or Dresden, it is but a poor treat. The new Museum, which is connected with the old building, is one of the most beautiful structures in the city. The walls and columns are covered over with frescoes in imitation of the designs on the great temples of Egypt; and the rooms are well filled with valuable Egyptian antiquities. Near the Museum are the Barracks and the University building. The number of students in the University is said to be fifteen hundred, among whom are several young men from the United States. The society of Berlin, like that of Boston, is distinguished for the number of its literary characters. The most talented men of Germany are here employed either in an official capacity, or as professors of the University.

Before leaving the Lustgarten, I must allude to the Theatre,