SECRETARY'S REPORT. So-l 



contents of the diamond room alone, it is said, would pay off 

 all the national debt of Saxony. 



A party of six usually visits this collection at a time, as the 

 entrance fee for one is the same as for six. When our party 

 registered their names, as all have to, I noticed one gentleman 

 put against his name. New Orleans, and so I kept my eye on 

 him. As soon as I could meet him in the court of the palace, 

 I made bold to accost him. 



" You come from New Orleans, do you not ? " 



" Ya ! " and I saw he was German. 



" Secesh ? " 



" Union to the backbone." 



" You're my man," and from that hour I stuck to him while 

 I remained in Dresden. I ought to have remarked before, that 

 I left Mr. Smyth in London, in August, after arriving from 

 Ostend, and that my rambles after that were alone, except the 

 chance acquaintances which I constantly made, like the above. 



We visited the galleries together. Here is the original of the 

 Madonna di San Sisto of Raphael, purchased of the convent of 

 Piacenza for about forty thousand dollars. Too many other 

 choice works exist here to make it practicable for me even to 

 name them. We lingered long here, and returned again and 

 again. There is probably the largest and finest collection of 

 ancient armor here that exists anywhere in Europe. It gives 

 a very complete idea of the mode of warfare of the Middle 

 Ages. 



The country from Dresden to Berlin is flat and uninteresting^ 

 the land apparently poor, for the most part, and so far as 1 

 could see, not particularly well cultivated. Not so the gardens 

 about Berlin, which were very attractive. 



Prussia stands at the head of the German States. It is the 

 most extensive and the most powerful nation, and Berlin, I 

 suppose, prides itself as one of the most refined capitals in 

 Germany. Nevertheless I did not find so much to admire there 

 as I did elsewhere. Its art collections, though extensive, do 

 not seem to me to compare favorably either with those of 

 Munich or Dresden. But the city itself is laid out on a large 

 and generous plan. The 'finest street, Unter den Linden, is 

 one of the most splendid avenues on the continent, out of 

 Paris ; and its great Thierg-arten, or park, thickly set with 



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