38 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



competition, the greater the fun," seems to pervade ev- 

 erybody and everything. What a sight for the onlooker 

 from one of the galleries, where every stranger, who has 

 not come on a business mission, goes to watch the world 's 

 marketing. ♦ 



Many a foreign potentate of civilized and uncivilized 

 domains visits the Hamburg Exchange and marvels at 

 this industrial bee-hive of the old Hansatown, which was 

 founded by Charlemagne in the year 811 A. D. It was he 

 who granted the city free trade and a special legislature. 

 But my thoughts return to the Exchange. What a con- 

 course of nationalities. Within the space of half an hour 

 one may converse with natives from every corner of the 

 globe. You hear German, French, English, Dutch, Span- 

 ish, Danish, Flemish, Norwegian, Swedish, Russian, Sla- 

 vonian, Persian and many other tongues, which I heard 

 spoken during my few visits. The whole has something 

 fascinating and yet stupifying. I have been there three 

 times without being able to give an exact description of 

 this truly overwhelming experience. No stranger should 

 leave Hamburg without having visited this center of com- 

 merce, this soul of the commonwealth, for Hamburg is at 

 the Exchange, as the Exchange is Hamburg in bulk. 



No wonder, then, that the galleries are adorned with 

 representatives of the beautiful sex from all parts of the 

 world. 



While the building itself is not particularly remarka- 

 ble for its architectural beauty, there is certainly some- 

 thing imposing about it which tells the new-comer almost 

 instantaneously: "This is the Exchange of the world's 

 market." I felt impressed that way when crossing the 

 Adolph's platz for the first time, facing the main en- 

 trance. 



Hamburg, May 7th, 1851. 



I commenced this letter yesterday and will endeavor to 

 continue it now at my leisure until it will be long enough 

 to send to my beloved ones at home. 



Having tried to picture the Exchange in the few lines 



