The geology of Switzerland may be studied in the very complete series of fossils collected by M. Studer and others. There are a number of beautiful specimens of all the rarest minerals from St. Gothard, and several plans in relief of various parts of Switzerland. The illustration of Swiss Botany is equally complete. Antiquities.-Some of the Roman time; the Prie Dieu of Charles the Bold, and part of his tent-hangings, captured by the Bernese at Grandson; the pointed shoes worn by the Bernese nobles in the 16th century; dresses, &c. from the South Sea Islands, brought over by Weber, the artist, who accompanied Capt. Cook's expedition. On the S. side of the Museum is the University of Berne, founded 1834; on the N. side The Town Library, with 40,000 volumes, and a large collection of works on Swiss history. Haller, the physician, philosopher, and poet, who was born at Berne, was librarian. The butter-market is held beneath this building. On the N. side of the town is the Roman Catholic Church, by the architects Deperthes of Rheims and Müller of Freyburg. It is a reduced imitation of the Cathedral of Rheims, of rich Gothic, lined inside with marbles. The Bundes - Rathhaus or Federal Council Hall, built 1857, on the cliff above the Aar, at the S.W. corner of the town, by far the largest and handsomest building in the town (Studer, architect), includes all the departments of the Swiss Legislature, the Diet, and the various Public Offices. The Diet (Bundesversammlung) consists of 2 bodies, the Ständerath (44 Deputies of the 22 Cantons) and Nationalrath, (1 for every 20,000 Inhab., and 1 for each canton), who meet generally in July, in separate halls. The debates are open to the public. At other times the building is shown by the doorkeeper. In the upper story is the Picture Gallery (adm. free, 9 to 4, except Sat.) with good modern paintings by Swiss and French artists, Robert, Calame, Diday, Girardet, &c. The roof of the build ing should be ascended for the view. In front is a marble fountain, with allegorical statue of Berne. Among the curiosities of the Arsenal (Zeughaus) are some early rifled guns; a series of headsman's axes, each of which has cut off 100 heads; 750 halters prepared by Charles the Bold for the Swiss; armour from Laupen, found in a hollow on the Bramberg, which was the battlefield. Berne is celebrated for the number and excellence of its Charitable Institutions: they are, perhaps, more carefully attended to than any in Europe. There is a public granary in case of scarcity, two orphan-houses, an Infirmary, and an extensive Hospital, bearing the inscription "Christo in pauperibus." The new Prison and Penitentiary is an enormous building and said to be well conducted. E. C. S. on Sunday in the chapel of the hospital (Bürgerspital). The bear forms the armorial badge of the town, the name signifying "bear" in old German, and he is as great a favourite here as in the house of Bradwardine. Not only is his effigy on sign-posts, fountains, and buildings, but for several hundred years living specimens had been maintained when the French revolutionary army, on taking possession of Berne, 1798, led them away captive, and deposited them in the Jardin des Plantes, where one, the celebrated Martin, became the favourite of the the French metropolis. But when the ancient order of things was restored at Berne, one of the first cares of the citizens was to replace and provide for their ancient pensioners. There is a foundation for the support of the bears, which, after having been reduced to one miserable animal, have been renovated, and removed from the Aarberg Gate to a commodious den at the Nydeck Bridge. In 1861 an English officer was destroyed by the large male bear, having fallen in a fool-hardy attempt to pass along the wall separating the two dens. The struggle was long, and took place in the presence of many witnesses, and, it is said, of an armed sentry, who the spot. It joined the Swiss condid not interfere. The fortifications of Berne are converted into Promenades. The banks of the Aar, as seen from them, especially from the Grosse Schanze, outside the Aarberg Gate, are most picturesque; and the Alps, when visible, form a surprising background. The mountains, however, as well as the city, are better seen from the Enge, a terrace walk 20 min. N. of the Rly. Stat., outside the town gate, (but not beyond the river), the favourite resort of the citizens. On the way to it, is the Shooting-house. There is a pleasant footpath through the Enge-wald to the castle of Reichenbach, once the residence of Rudolph von Erlach. The Schänzli, a promenade at the end of the hill nearest the railway bridge, is the best point of view for the Alps. It is reached in hr.'s walk from the stat., by the magnificent rly. bridge (for carriages also), and past the Botanic Garden on the rt. bank of the Aar. The Gurten, the ridge above the Aar to the S. of the town, is another good point for a view of the Alps. On the top is an inn. At Tiefenau, hr. N. of Berne, near the Aar bridge, is an ancient Gallic battle field, whence swords, rings, spear-heads, &c., have been collected. The Casino, a handsome building close to the Bundes-Rathhaus, contains a reading-room and ball-room. There is also a Theatre in the town. to federation in 1353, having been for many years an ally. Until 1798 it held Aargau, Vaud, and other districts, as tributaries, and is reported have governed them tyrannically. The government latterly fell into the hands of a small number of patrician families, who lost their power in 1798, partly recovered it in 1814, and lost it again in 1831. A Von Erlach led the Swiss to the battle of Laupen in 1339, and a Von Erlach led them against the French in 1798. Until 1848 the Swiss government was carried on by Berne, Zürich, and Lucerne alternately, the governing canton for the year being called the Vorort. ROUTE 25. THE BERNESE OBERLAND. A. BERNE TO THUN AND INTERLAKEN. -WENGERN ALP. D. GRINDELWALD ΤΟ MEIRINGEN GREAT SCHEIDECK-FAULHORN. Booksellers.-Dalp and Co., Spital- C. LAUTERBRUNNEN TO GRINDELWALD gasse, keep a good supply of maps, photos, costumes, &c., of Switzerland. J. R. Dill, artist, has published Panoramic Views from the Eggischhorn, Sidelhorn, Gorner Grat, Niesen, and Grimsel. Travellers about to ascend these mountains will do well to obtain these excellent clue-views. Post and Telegraph-office near (N. of) the rly. stat. History of Berne.-It was founded in 1191 by Duke Berthold V. of Zähringen, and was so called by him because he had killed a bear on E. MEIRINGEN TO BRIENZ AND THUN— GIESSBACH. It was in this magnificent highland district that Byron "repeopled his mind from nature," and gathered many of the ideas and images which he has so exquisitely interwoven in his tragedy of Manfred,' the scene of which lies among the Bernese Alps. A traveller in the Oberland should be supplied with plenty of patience and small change. Nowhere are the |