volcanic tufa, which, when mixed with separated Holland from Spain, was signed lime, makes terrass, which has the remark- in the University. able property of becoming harder when submerged in water; consequently, very valuable to the Dutch in the construction of their locks and dikes. From Amsterdam to Oberhausen by Utrecht, and Arnheim, and Emmerich, distance 112 miles. Fare, first class, 8 g. 80 c.; time, 4 h. 30 m. by express. The ride to Utrecht is very pleasant; the neat farm-houses, surrounded by gardens blooming with flowers, the canals and rich green fields, the villas and summerhouses of the rich merchants of Amsterdam, the whole quiet, soft, and subdued, create an impression never to be effaced. Utrecht contains 49,000 inhabitants. Hotels are Pay-Bas, H. Bellevue, and H. Kastul Van Antwerpen. It is a well-built and agreeable city, and carries on considerable trade by means of rivers and canals. It has been the scene of several important events in history. In the Middle Ages it belonged to the warlike bishops, who derived their title from its name. It is situated on the Rhine, which is here reduced to a very insignificant stream, the larger portion of its waters passing into the channel of the Meuse. The principal objects of attraction in the city are the Cathedral, the tower of which stands on one side and the church on the other; the nave of the church was carried off by a storm in 1674. The tower is 320 feet high, from the top of which a magnificent view of the whole of Holland may be had. The sexton and his family live half way up this steeple, and all his children were born there! The church contains several fine monuments. The Mint, University, and Museum are the remaining attractions. The University contains nearly 500 students, and has a fine collection of minerals. The ramparts have been formed into a boulevard and planted with trees; that on the side of the canal forms an agreeable promenade. The Malibaan is a beautiful avenue of limetrees half a mile in length and eight rows deep. They were so very beautiful that when Louis XIV. was ravaging the country, he gave an express order that they should be spared. The house in which the famous treaty of 1713 was signed, which gave peace to Europe, has been pulled down; the treaty of 1579, which The first bishop of Utrecht, St. Willibrord, was an Englishman, who left England in the seventh century to convert the heathen. The Pope ordained him bishop, and Charles Martel presented him with the castle of Utrecht as a residence. The museum of agricultural implements was formerly the residence of Louis Bonaparte. Utrecht has a chamber of commerce, and large manufactures of woolen, silk, and linen fabrics. It has more spacious squares and fewer canals than most Dutch towns. It is the birthplace of Pope Adrian VI. The gates of the city close at 9 o'clock, but a small fee will open them at any hour. About six miles from Utrecht is a Mo ravian colony, well worth a visit. Near it is the celebrated mound erected by 30,000 men under Marshal Grammont, in memory of the day on which Bonaparte was crowned emperor. The whole army were thirtytwo days in raising it. Arnheim contains 18,000 inhabitants. Hotels are H. Belvidere, H. des Pays-Bas, Golden Eagle, The Sun, and Boar's Head. This town is prettily situated on the Rhine, and is the chief place in Guelderland; it contains nothing of importance to detain the traveler, although its suburbs are very beautiful. Most travelers start here in steamers to make the ascent of the Rhine, but we intend to come down the Rhine. If your time should be limited, and you do not wish to go farther east, this is the best place to take a steamer to make the ascent. (See return route for description of the cities on the Rhine.) We now arrive at the first Prussian town: Emmerich, containing a population of 5000 souls, is strongly fortified, and has considerable of a garrison. Baggage is here examined. Hotel Royal, near the station. Nothing of interest to be seen. From Emmerich to Düsseldorf, about 2 hours. Düsseldorf (Stat) Hotels: Breidenbacher Hof, excellent, and the worthy host, Mr. Capellan, is ever alive to promote the comfort of his visitors; Hotel Domhardt, Drei Reichskronen (Three Imperial Crowns). These are in the city--Europaischer Hof, very excellent, and Prinz von Prussen, near the Coln and Minden Railway. On the right bank of the Rhine (here about 1200 feet broad, and traversed by a bridge of boats), at the junction of the small river Düssel, is situated the city of Düsseldorf, capital of the duchy of Berg. It has now a population of over 50,000, which is fast increasing; many new and handsome residences being in course of erection, squares being laid out, and great improvements taking place daily. Düsseldorf, until the peace of Luneville, was a fortified town, some remains of which are still to be seen; but at the present time it is surrounded by gardens and pleasant walks. The Hof Garten, in which is situated the residence of the Prince Hohenzollern, cousin to the King of Prussia, abounds with beautifully-shaded walks, and extends from the Grand Allee down to the Rhine, and is the place of general resort for the inhabitants of this famed little city, which contains at present nothing worthy of notice save the school of its living artists (and a very popular school it is among American art-lovers). They occupy the palace near the Rhine built by the Elector John William, whose bronze equestrian statue stands in the market-place. The main portion of the edifice was destroyed by the bombardment of the French in 1794. It was here, up to 1805, the famous collection of pictures-now of world-wide celebrity, and known as the Munich Gallery-were to be seen. All were at that time removed save one large painting of inferior quality, "The Ascension of the Virgin," said to be by Rubens, which was left behind with some few old and worthless specimens of a by-gone age. the direction of the great Cornelius (a native of the town), in whose studio most of the distinguished artists of this school first displayed their now acknowledged talents. The artists in 1860 purchased the celebrated residence of the poet Jacoby, and there established their club, known as the "Malkasten" (Painters' box). Strangers can easily procure admission thereto by introduction of any artist, and then can have the proud privilege of roaming through the gardens where Goethe, Schiller, Lessing (the poet), and all the most celebrated men of their time were wont to congregate. In the Allee Strasse is situated Schulte's Gallery of Fine Arts, where daily new pictures are placed on exhibition fresh from the easels of the most distinguished artists. By an arrangement with the painters of this school, every work issuing from their studios is placed in this gallery, if only for a few days, it is the lounge for the more wealthy class of residents as well as all passing visitors, and here we often meet the principal artists, who come in to criticise or praise each other's works. Achenbachs, Sohn, Hildebrandt, Preyer, Tiddeman, etc., etc., are usually to be found there, watching with pride the growing talents of their younger brethren. Another collection of good pictures can always be found at Conzen's (Hohe Strasse); admission free. There is an English Church service on Sundays at the German Protestant Temple, Berger Strasse, at 11 A.M. A most noteworthy fact is the establishment in this city of the celebrated Dr. Mooren, the oculist, who, to aid the poor, has given up a most lucrative practice to take the management of the Ophthalmic Institution of this town. Thousands of cases yearly are either cured or their sufferings alleviated by this most worthy benefactor of the human race. Parties from all parts of the world flock to this young There is, however, a most remarkable collection of drawings by the old masters of nearly 15,000 in number, including several by Raphael, A. Montagna, Guido, Romano, Domenichino, Michael Angelo, Titian, etc., etc.; also about 380 water-color copies of the most remarkable paintings of the Italian school from the fourth century by Rantoul. Below this gallery is the pub-man-from China, India, Africa, America, lic library. The modern school of Düsseldorf artists, which has, most curiously enough, risen up since the removal of the old picture. gallery, was only originated in 1828, under 256 England-nay, it would be difficult to state from whence they come not; and though large sums are frequently offered to secure his services, yet the poor are the first to meet attention at his hands. Austria (upper and low- POLITICAL DIVISIONS, 12,268 2,173,000 177 Austria, with her dif ferent provinces.... 233,000 36,000,000 150 Prussia (excluding her Polish territories)... 159,875 23,590,543 167 Bavaria.. 29,628 4,519,000 152 THE States of Germany extend over a large area of Central Europe, between the Baltic Sea and the head of the Adriatic on the north and south, from the Netherlands and the shores of the North Sea on the west, to the borders of Poland, Galicia, and Hungary on the east. These distances embrace 600 miles in the direction of latitude, and nearly 700 in the direction of longitude, and the total area which they comprehend is little less than a quarter of a million of square miles. Within this extensive range the people are nearly throughout German, and, with some minor modifications, the language, customs, usages, and manners are the same. It is in regard to religious and political in- Hesse-Darmstadt* stitutions that the chief differences are to Holstein and Lauenbe noted. Southern Germany is Catholic; Northern Germany has for the most part Brunswick embraced the doctrines of the Lutheran or Reformed Church. The former exhibits Saxe-Meiningen* in most of its governments the forms of absolute monarchy, while the latter has made at least some progress toward the development of free institutions. But, although the Germans are, in a geographical sense, one people, with a common language, and although their writers are fond of indulging in dreams of a common nationality, Germany is by no means one politically. It is divided into not less than 27 states of various sizes and population, and in which various forms of government prevail. The two principal of these states are Austria and Prussia, which embrace three fifths of the entire extent of Germany. The whole are embraced in the following table. These different states, while possessing many characteristics of climate and natural productions in common, have, at least so far as the larger of them are concerned, some features which are peculiar to each, which will be noticed as we pass through their various countries. "For nine centuries previous to 1792 Germany formed an empire, governed by a sovereign elected by the different states. For the purpose of administration, the empire was divided into ten circles, and comprised, besides the kingdom of Bohemia, Würtemburg. burg. Oldenburg Saxe-Weimar* Saxe-Coburg-Gotha* hausen. Lubeck Bremen* แ 7.658 1,743,000 227 The States marked thus belong to the North German Confederation. the Margravate of Moravia and the Duchy of Silesia. Its capital was Vienna. "The Diet, or general assembly of the empire, which was composed of three colleges, was convoked by the emperor; he was assisted in the administration of affairs by the Aulic Council, which exercised the functions of the supreme court of the empire. The conquests of the French, and the annexation of Belgium and the other countries on the left bank of the Rhine to France, led to the dissolution of the empire in 1806. This was replaced temporarily by the Confederation of the Rhine, which had for its object mutual assistance and the maintenance of peace among the confederate parties, who consisted of the king of Bavaria and Würtemburg and several petty sovereigns. The Confederation was established at Paris 12th of July, 1806, under the protection of Napoleon. Its territory was from time to time considerably augmented till its dissolution in 1813. a part in German history. Subsequently to this period Prussia endeavored to form a confederation, with herself at the head of it. This plan was opposed by several states, including Austria, which last, proceeding to act on the old law of the Confederation, by which, since 1815, the Diet of German States had been annually assembled at Frankfort, convoked the Diet, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Prussia. With the exception of Prussia and Oldenburg, all the states obeyed the summons. 'Subsequently to this period, the pretensions of Prussia to form and head a separate confederation nearly involved Germany in a general war, which was, howev "In 1815, the Congress of Vienna established the Germanic Confederation, composed of all the states of Germany, who formed an alliance to secure the integrity of their laws and their respective territories, and to maintain the peace and order of the whole. The different states contributed to the military force in proportioner, happily prevented. Meetings between to their population. The Confederation was represented by an assembly called the Diet, composed of deputies from the different states, the seat of which was Frankfort on the Main. This state of matters continued until 1848, when an attempt was made to replace the German Diet by a representative Parliament, to meet at Frankfort on the Main. Such a body, composed of 500 representatives, did meet at Frankfort, March 30, and drew up a plan of representation, in accordance with which the first German National Assembly was elected, and met likewise at Frankfort, May 18, 1848. This Assembly elected Archduke John of Austria to be lord lieutenant or regent (Riechsverweser) of this newly-constituted German Empire. The same prince was in like manner elected regent by the Diet, when sitting in Frankfort, and with this transaction the existence of the Diet may be said to have, for the time being, at least, virtually terminated. "The newly-constituted Assembly proceeded to form a constitution for the German Empire, which, however, after being passed, was not recognized by the several important states. Discussion ensued; and on May 30, 1849, the Assembly resolved to transfer its place of meeting to Stuttgart. "But this resolution not being acquiesced in by the government, it resolved to remain at Frankfort, while a large body of the members withdrew to Stuttgart, where the so-called German Parliament was summoned for June 6th. This was the final death-blow to that assembly, which at one time seemed destined to play so important the ministers of Prussia and Austria took place, and differences were so far arranged that these two leading powers, with the concurrence of the other states, united in attempting to re-constitute the German Confederation, which was finally accomplished, and the Assembly met at Frankfort May 30th, 1851." The startling events of 1866 are so recent, and the affairs of Germany so unsettled, that for the present we refrain from stating the actual condition of things, hoping before our edition of 1869 goes to press matters will be so arranged that we can state with some degree of certainty the political status of this country. PRUSSIA. The German Customs League. - Until lately every different state in Germany Money.-Accounts are kept in Prussia had its own custom-houses, its own tariff in thalers and silver groschens. 30 silver and revenue laws, which frequently dif- groschen=1 thaler. 1 thaler 73 cents fered very widely from those of its neigh- U. S. In Brunswick and Hanover, 1 thabors. Each petty state endeavored to pro- ler=24 good groschens. The silver coins cure a revenue for itself, or to advance its are marked 3 einen thaler thaler=24c.' own industry by taxing or prohibiting the U. S.; thaler=124 c. U. S.; thaler= productions of those by which it was sur- 6 c. U. S.; thaler=3 c. U. S.; and 1 rounded, and custom's officers and lines of silver groschen. Prussian gold coins are, custom-houses were spread over the coun- double Friedrichs d'Or, marked 10 thaler= try, instead of being reciprocal and depen- 8 40 U. S.; single Friedrichs d'Or, markdent. Now, throughout the whole extent ed 5 thaler=24 20 U.S.; half Friedrichs of this immense country, there is nothing d'Or, marked 24 thaler=$2 10 U. S. The to prevent the freedom of commerce. A copper coins are, 1, 2, 3, 4 pfennings; 12 commodity, whether for consumption or pfennings=1 silver groschen. Decline transit, that has once passed the frontier taking paper money. of the League, may be subsequently conveyed without let or hinderance throughout its whole extent. The duties are received into a common treasury, and are apportioned according to the population of each of the allied states. Throughout Germany thirty pounds of baggage is allowed free of expense; all above that is charged. If you have much heavy baggage, make arrangements to send it ahead, as very often the director will not allow over fifty pounds in case the baggage car is full. The traveler will notice that the gold coin is marked at a less figure than it actually passes for. For instance, ten-thaler pieces pass for 11 thalers and 10 silver groschen. We have, however, given its actual value in dollars and cents U. S. currency. There is a police regulation throughout Germany compelling the proprietor of every hotel to hang up in each apartment of his house a regulated tariff, with all the charges for rooms, meals, servants, commissaires, or valets de place. If it is not hung up, you may insist on seeing it. The rates are examined periodically by a proper officer appointed by the government, and when he thinks a charge too exorbitant he has it reduced. The average prices are: bedroom, 1st floor, 50 c.; 2d floor, 37 c. Table d'hôte, 60 c.; breakfast, with beefsteak, bread, butter, coffee or tea, 35 c.; valet de place, 50 c. per day. From Emmerich to Oberhausen Station, distance 38 miles. At this station we change cars, taking the train coming direct from Cologne to Berlin, via Minden, Hanover, Brunswick, and Magdeburg. From Oberhausen to Minden, distance 118 miles. Time, 7 hours. Fare, 1st class, 6 th. 9 s. g. $4 66 U. S. Minden, a strongly-fortified town on the River Weser, contains 15,000 inhabitants. Hotels, Eisenbahn Gasthof and Stadt London. The new barracks and cathedral are its principal buildings. The last has some very pretty windows. The fortifications were blown up by Frederick the Great at the end of the Seven Years' War, but have since been rebuilt. A little north of the town lies the field where the battle of Min |