62 NEW ROAD TO MECKLENBURG. tillery during a review appeared to announce we were now approaching the capital. We passed a second barrier, and rejoiced on finding, at last, the termination of the sandy tract, and now proceeded along a regular road formed on the Macadamising system, the first we had seen since we left Hamburgh: this is the road which it is proposed to make to Mecklenburg. It will then be the interest of the Duke to continue it to the Hamburgh territory, and of that city to extend to its own gates. Each German mile, which is equal to five English, will, it is said, cost 400l. The great expense arises from the want of ma.... terials, there being no stone quarries; yet huge stones of granite may be found scattered over the fields, and by the side of the roads, which may be turned to account for such a purpose. These actually seem to have been rained*, or rather thrown up by some violent convulsion of nature. From their appearance and depth in the ground, one would imagine that they must have remained since the Deluge. Some of them are of most enormous magnitude, and great exertions * Doubtful as this may at first sight appear, a Philadelphia paper has mentioned that on the 26th of May, 1825, a spitting of stones took place at Nashville, which ended in a regular shower. Several sunk twelve inches into the earth, weighed 11 lbs., and this phenomenon was accompanied by a noise resembling that of the firing of cannon or muskets by platoons, and beating of drums; and, it is added, this is quite a common occurrence. ARRIVAL AT BERLIN. 63 were making to dig about them and then blow them with gunpowder, and break them, in order to lay down at the sides of the road. Thus a double advantage is derived; for not only are excellent materials furnished to make a road, but the fields are cleared of the stones, and can be ploughed up without interruption, which had hitherto been altogether impracticable; property, too, is consequently enhanced in value. At the distance of three miles a view of Berlin presented itself with its spires and windmills; and after passing a barrier, where it is singular that no offer was made to search our baggage, we were set down at a hotel in the Linden-Street; and on entering it, the passports were demanded, and our names and "character" entered in a book, for the purpose of being communicated to the police. Berlin. CHAP. III. Architecture. ·Fashionable promenade. Brandenburg gate.-Public buildings. - Statues of Dessau and Elector Frederick.- Palace. The King's small palace. Arsenal. Opera-house. Royal guard-house. King's private habits. — Anniversary of the battle of Waterloo. demy of Arts. — Exchange. University. Royal library.- Gallery for Egyptian antiquities. Facility of admission to public institutions on the Continent. Mint. Prostitutes and beggars. Benevolent institutions. — Vaccination, &c. - Population.· Taxes.-Police-Prisons.- Punishments.-Income of the King and family. Revenues of the state. Post-office. Orders of merit.- Hotels. Wool-fair.- Royal foundery. Manufactures. - Hatred against the French.- Letter from the King to the author on presenting a work. —Public walks. Charlottenberg. - Tomb of the Queen. - King's second marriage.—Gardens.—Palace of Bellevue.-National monument. Anecdotes. BERLIN may justly be considered the most beautiful and interesting city in this part of Europe, its general appearance being grand and imposing. It stands on the river Spree, may be calculated to be about fourteen miles in circumference, and to contain a population of upwards of 200,000 inhabitants. Within these few |