ably spent here in exploring the fine views and natural beauties of the spot, setting aside its artificial marvels; and there is a very good Inn close to the palace, to accommodate visitors.

A straight avenue of limes leads from the Wilhelmshöhe-Gate of Cassel, where carriages stand for hire to convey passengers. On the right, on quitting the town, is a huge edifice built by Jerome Buonaparte, while king of Westphalia, as a barrack, now turned into a manufactory and poor house. The vista is terminated by the figure of the Colossal Hercules on the top of the hill behind Wilhelmshöhe.

The Palace lies at the foot of the hill; at the side of it stands the Theatre, built by king Jerome Buonaparte (quondam cloth merchant at Baltimore), in which he used himself to act; it is now turned into a ball-room. Behind it are the Conservatories, and the Fountain, the highest in Europe, except that at Chatsworth, which throws up a jet of water, 12 inches in diameter, 190 feet. It is supplied from reservoirs 300 feet higher up the hill. At the back of the pond out of which it rises, is an artificial waterfall descending from a tall aqueduct. Both it and the Fountain remain inactive and empty, except on Sundays and Wednesdays. Their performances do not continue more than 50 minutes.

The more ancient Cascade of the Carlsburg consists of a flight of stone steps, 900 ft. long, leading up to the colossal statue; over which a stream of water is at times admitted to fall. A carriage road conducts by the side of this gigantic staircase, in zigzags, to the very top of the hill. Upon a sort of landing-place or platform, half way up the stairs, is a rude representation of the Giant Enceladus, lying on his back, with a mountain of rocks heaped on his breast; it was the intention of the artist who formed him that he should spout from his mouth a jet of water 50 feet high; this is now dried up. The staircase of this château d'eau (imitated, it is said, from that in the villa d'Este) is surmounted by an octagon building 1312 ft. above the Fulda, surmounted

by a pyramid, serving as a pedestal to the Colossal Hercules, 31 feet high, of beaten copper. It is possible to mount up into the figure; 8 persons can stand at one time in the hollow of the club, and, out of a little window formed in it, enjoy a prospect extending nearly as far as the Brocken. But the delightful view can be obtained from the top of the hill without so much trouble. The aquatic staircase, and the octagon Temple of the Winds, as it is called, on its summit, with the statue, and other extravagances connected with it, are reported to have employed 2000 men for 14 years. When their labours were completed, the cost was found to be so enormous that the accounts were burnt, to destroy all records of it.

In descending, a visit may be paid to the Löwenburg, a toy-castle, built to imitate a stronghold of the middle ages, with drawbridges, battlements, towers, and ditches. Among the rusty suits in his armoury, is one which belonged to the Great Condé; there is also a very curious collection of drinking-glasses, a series of portraits of the Tudors and Stuarts, and a library filled with romances alone. The Elector who built this castle is buried in the chapel. Those who have no taste for the follies above enumerated, will at least be gratified with the charming and various prospects from the slopes of the Löwenburg, and its agreeable gardens and pleasure-grounds.

trees, furnished in Rococo style of Louis XV. time, and with portraits by Tischbein.

Grebenstein Stat.

3 Hofgeismar Stat., a town of 3200 inhab., having warm chalybeate springs, not much frequented. The Bath-houses lie in a valley about 1 mile off. There are pleasant walks in the neighbourhood, and at a short distance a château of the Elector's, called Schönberg. Handsome barracks have been built here. The castle of Trendelburg, on the Diemel, is picturesquely situated near the road.

Hümme Stat. Trendelburg Stat.

3 Karlshafen Stat. (Inn, Schwan, tolerable) is beautifully situated on the Weser, but subject to floods; 1600 inhab. It was founded in 1700, and colonised by emigrant Huguenots driven out of France at the revocation of the edict of Nantes. Many of them came from valleys in the French Alps which border on the country of the Vaudois, Val Pragelas, Clusone, Embrun, &c. (p. 406.)

From this to Höxter the road runs by the side of the Weser, and within the Prussian territory, nearly as far as Pyrmont. The banks of the Weser (Visurgis, clade Romanorum nobilis amnis

Velleius) are picturesque, without being grand; the scenery has been compared with that of the Wye, and abounds in finely wooded hills often descending to the water's edge.

.

2 Höxter, on the high road from Cologne to Berlin. (Route 68.) The road passes over high ground, and near the base of a wooded mountain called Köterberg, from whose top there is said to be a fine view; it may be visited from Pyrmont.

Pyrmont, situated at the foot of a range of wooded hills, is one of the oldest watering-places in Europe; it was frequented by Charlemagne. Its mineral waters were so high in repute, in 1556, that 10,000 visitors collected here to use them; and as there was no accommodation for such a number in the town, a camp was formed on the outside of it, where they spent a quarter of a year under tents. It now belongs to the Prince of Waldeck, who has a Palace here, in which he resides in the season. He derives from this small town of 1800 inhab. annually 160,000 dollars, and his total revenue is not more than 250,000. The concourse of visitors, however, has fallen off. It has the reputation of being an agreeable place to stay at, especially during the season of July and August.

The principal street, in which are all the chief buildings, is lined with a double row of limes, and is called the Grosse Allée it forms a shady walk, frequented at all times of the day, and is the morning promenade for those who drink the waters; at that time a band of music plays for their entertainment. There are several other avenues in the town. The Palace Garden is surrounded by a rampart and moat: on one of the bastions grows a lime of great size and apparent age.

12 different mineral springs rise in and about the town. The Trinkquelle is the one most in repute: its water is chalybeate,-possessing valuable medicinal properties. 300,000 bottles of it are exported annually. It produces an exhilarating or even intoxicating effect, when several glasses are taken together; it is highly impregnated with carbonic acid gas, and effervesces like champagne. The gas Douche, or pipe by which the gas arising from the water is inhaled, or directed to any part, is tremendously powerful. These chalybeates require great caution, and do much harm if improperly taken.

The Well-house, above the Trinkquelle, is an octagonal building, surmounted by a clock tower. The Augenbrunnen is said to be good for sore eyes. The principal baths are das Neue Bad

haus, and das Badhaus für Eisenbäder (for chalybeate baths).

There are other springs here of saline and acidulous water; one of the latter is totally without gas, an unique example of the kind.

One of the curiosities of the place is the Gasgrotto, or Dunst Höhle, an artificial cavity hollowed out of the rock, from which rise noxious vapours similar to those of the Grotto del Cane in Italy. A person approaching it without being aware of their nature might be seriously injured; it is therefore enclosed. A stream of carbonic acid gas is constantly issuing from fissures in the sandstone (bunter sandstein), and in particular states of the atmosphere forms a stratum of suffocating vapour, which lies on the surface of the ground. It sometimes stands so high that children, and even adults stooping down to draw water from the springs, become sensibly affected by it, perceiving a prickling in the nose and a smarting in the eyes. Though the vapour is not so poisonous as that of the Grotto del Cane, it is fatal to animal life after a short exposure to it. A rabbit is killed by it in 8 or 10 minutes; a cat dies after 15.

There is a Theatre here, two Ballrooms, and numerous tables for rouge et noir, hazard, &c.

A small congregation of Quakers maintains itself here.

Schnellposts daily, in 10 hours, to Bielefeld (R. 66.), on the Cologne and Minden Railway. 3 times a week to Berlin, by Hohnsen.

Among the wooded hills around are many pleasant walks. The Königsberg was the favourite resort of Frederick the Great, who patronised Pyrmont. The ruined castle of Schell Pyrmont is another excursion. The Extersteine, a picturesque assemblage of isolated rocks, 16 m. distant (p. 384.). The Bomberg is worth a visit, on account of its view: it is accessible for carriages. Some antiquaries have placed the " Saltus Teutoburgicus," the forest in which the Roman legions under Varus were defeated by Hermann (Arminius), between Pyrmont and Detmold. (R. 68.) Her

mann's Castle is said to have stood on the Hermansberg, 5 miles from Pyrmont. (For Detmold, see p. 385.)

On quitting Pyrmont our road ascends the hills, and soon reaches the Hanoverian custom-house.

3 Hameln (Inns: Sonne; Stadt Bremen), a Hanoverian town of 6293 inhabs. It is a curious old place, full of wooden houses in the old German style, and has one fine church, in a pretty situation on the Weser, here crossed by an iron suspension bridge, 816 ft. long, hanging from a pier which rises from an island in the middle. The hill on the opposite side of the river is laid out in public walks, and here is a grotto celebrated for its beer. Hameln was once a strong fortress, and on this hill stood a strong citadel, the Bastille of Hanover; but the French blew up its works in 1808. Agreeable excursions may be made up and down the charming valley of the Weser. Ohr, a country house, with pretty grounds, on the Ohrberg, is worth a visit.

23 Springe. Beyond this the last hill is surmounted, and the road descends into the sandy but cultivated plain.

3 HANOVER (Germ. Hannover). Inns: Royal Hotel, close to the railway, new and good; British Hotel; H. de Strelitz; Römischer Kaiser; H. de Hanovre. The capital of the kingdom of Hanover is situated in a plain on the Leine, a small stream, and has 40,000 inhabs. It does not make an imposing appearance at a distance, and within it is somewhat dull, and does not contain much to interest a stranger: nor are its trade and manufactures of

great importance. Recent improvements, however, in its streets and houses, and the permanent residence of the Court since 1837, are making considerable changes for the better.

is a

The Royal Palace (Schloss) handsome building, and is fitted up in a style of considerable splendour. The Ritter Saal is a fine apartment. There is a large collection of portraits in this palace; among them the most interesting are those of Elizabeth Queen of

Bohemia; Geo. I., II., III., and IV.; Wm. IV.; the Duke of Wellington on a grey horse, by Lucas; Napoleon before Ratisbon, Adolph Adam. The departure of George I. from Hanover to ascend the throne of England, occasioned little or no alteration in his court; the same number of chamberlains, and an equally large stud of horses, were maintained at the expense of the country. Even court levees were held regularly every Sunday, with this difference that, instead of the Elector, his portrait was placed on the state chair at the end of the apartment. Every courtier, as he entered, bowed to it as he would have done to the original; and while the ceremony lasted, no one spoke louder than a whisper.

The finest buildings are collected around the square called Waterloo Platz, which serves also as a parade ground. N. the picturesque Schloss, encircled by the Leine; S. the Waterloo Column, 162 ft. high, surmounted by Victory, and inscribed with the names of the Hanoverians, privates as well as officers, who fell in the battle: on either side barracks. E., in the background, the Cadettenhaus; W., on a hillock, stands a circular Temple, enclosing Leibnitz's bust (damaged by stones thrown at it). The Royal Stables are filled with black and cream-coloured horses, of the stock from which are derived those which draw the state carriage of the Queen of England.

In the old town several quaint Gothic houses still exist. The Town-hall is curiously ornamented on the outside. Leibnitz's house, with stone ornaments in its front, is in the Schmiede Gasse.

The Schlosskirche, a handsome church, ́contains some relics collected by Henry the Lion. In the vaults beneath it are buried George I. and his mother, the Electress Sophia.

The Royal Library contains 40,000 volumes. Leibnitz's arm-chair, in which he studied and breathed his last, and a great number of his MSS. and some unconnected notes, scribbled on scraps of paper of all sizes, are also preserved here. Among the books are "Cicero's Offices," printed on vellum by Fust, at

Mayence. At the end is the date, 1465, with a statement that the book was executed "neither with a pen, nor a pen of brass, but by a certain art." The "Biblion Pauperum," an illuminated missal, given by Charles V. to Henry VIII.; "The Book of Esther," written with a pen, and illustrated by costly drawings, deserves notice. A large collection of autograph letters of remarkable persons are also included in this library.

The Theatre is attached to the palace. It is well supported.

The Estates of Hanover assemble in an elegant modern building called Landschaftliches Haus.

Herschel, the astronomer, was born here; he was originally musician in the royal band; Leibnitz and Zimmermann died here; Zimmermann is buried in the public cemetery; Leibnitz in the Neustädter Kirche. The brothers Schlegel and Iffland were also natives of Hanover.

On the outside of the town, at the distance of less than a mile, is the Royal Palace of Herrnhausen, at the extremity of a fine avenue of trees. It is a low tasteless building, and is now deserted and out of order, but contains some royal portraits connected with English history. It was the favourite residence of Geo. I. and II. ; it was built by the former for his mistress, Countess Platen: his smokingroom is still preserved. The Gardens, laid out in a formal style with straight walks, lined with high clipped hedges, which in one place are made to form a sylvan theatre, and carpeted with turf, contain statues, fountains, and splendid jets-d'eau. The Electress Sophia, mother of George I., and grand-daughter of James I., dropped down dead while walking in these gardens.

Mont Brilliant, a mile out of the town, on the left, going to Herrnhausen, is the summer residence of the present king, who has built a splen did Mausoleum there, in which is placed a fine statue of the late Queen, by Rauch.

Railways: To Brunswick and Magdeburg (Rte. 66.) — to Bremen,

Hamburg, Rte. 59.

Schnellposts daily to Cassel.

ROUTE 72.

CASSEL TO HANOVER, BY GÖTTINGEN.

=

21 German m. 98 Eng. m. Schnellpost daily, in 18 hours.

A range of hills intervenes between Cassel and Münden. On the summit is the frontier of Hanover; and here is situated the Custom-house, managed according to the new Prussian system (§ 30, 43.). The road commands fine views on either side of the hill. It descends towards Münden, into the picturesque valley of the Fulda, by a number of well-constructed zigzags. The postmasters compel travellers to take additional horses this stage in going to Cassel.

Münden (Hannoverisch). 22 Inns: Krone; Stadt Bremen ; Goldener Löwe. A town of 6000 inhab., situated between the Fulda and Werra. These two streams unite immediately below the town, and losing their names, become the Weser, which is navigable hence to the sea by steamers (Rte.

74 A.).

The Schloss, or old castle, built 1566, by Duke Erich II., formerly a residence of the Guelphic ancestors of the Royal Family of England, is turned into a magazine. The Ch. of St. Blaise is a fine building of the 14th century, and contains a monument of Erich II. From the public walk called the Andreas Berg, there is a good view of the town and the surrounding country.

The scenery round the town is pleasing, and has been compared with that of the Vale of Llangollen, in N. Wales.

The road to Göttingen follows a pretty valley up to Oberschedl, where it mounts to the plateau of the Leine, a district fruitful in oats, but dreary.

2 Dransfeld. The village was burnt in 1834, except 2 or 3 houses.

13 GÖTTINGEN. Inns: Krone; Stadt London; Englischer Hof. None very good, Göttingen lies on the

remarkable only for its University. It is destitute of fine buildings, and the houses, though old, are neither venerable nor picturesque in their antiquity, except, perhaps, the Rathhaus, a castellated edifice.

The Ramparts, now planted with trees, serve as a walk, resembling the walls of Chichester. There is an air of solitude about the town, which even the number of students cannot remove. They may be distinguished in the streets by the almost inseparable pipe and portfolio with which each is provided. Commerce seems to be confined to literature and tobacco; and the only flourishing trades are the booksellers and pipe-sellers, as their shops out-number all others.

The University (Georgia Augusta) ranks high in Germany. It was founded in 1737, by Geo. II., at the suggestion of his minister Münchau

sen.

It is regarded as the national university of Brunswick, Mecklenburg, and Nassau, as well as of Hanover. The colour of the cap distinguishes the country of each student.

In 1829 the number of students was 1264, and of professors 89; but they

have fallen off of late.

William IV. gave 3000l. towards erecting a building for the University, which was completed and opened in 1837. In the Concilien Gebaude (Council-house), behind the library, academical offences are tried. The Aula, in which degrees are conferred, &c., is in arrangement very much like the Senate-house at Cambridge; but not so large. Though gaudily painted, it is on the whole a handsome and effective room, Under the same roof are the meeting room of the Göttingen Academy, and on the upper floor, the prison cells (kerker), in which students are confined by the authority of the Pro-rector of the University and the Senatus Academicus. It appears from the inscriptions on the walls made by these culprits that imprisonments of 10 days are not unusual. These several parts of the University may be seen on payment of a trifling fee to the keeper.