408 Se 
thofe branches of induftry, wherein the 
German genius has the afcendant over the 
Englith. The works of jewellery which 
are made at Drefden are known through 
all Eurepe, as likewile the infruments of 
mfic, organs, hautbois, French-horns, 
huating-horns, and, above all, German- 
flutes. ‘The manafa&ure of macaroni 
juftly enjoys a reputation, which fearcely 
yields to that of Italy ; but the moft con- 
fiderably manufaQure of the environs by 
far, and the moft celebrated, is, unquel- 
ionably, that of porcelain, at Meiffen, a 
lictle town cn the Elbe, about half a day’s 
journey from the capital ; its works, how- 
ever, are too well known to {peak of them 
here. We fhall only remark, that there 
is to be feen, in the Palais de Fapon, a 
colletion of pieces of the moft ancient 
porcelain of Meiffen, and a quantity of 
the porcelain of Japanand of China, valued 
altogether at more than a million fterling. 
It is time to repair to this lait palace. 
What an immenfe co'leétion of flatues, of 
bufts, real antique mafler-pieces, not to 
be matched in Germany, and moft of them 
equal, and fometimes fuperior, to thofe of 
Jtaly and of Paris. Here you will find 
two reftored Venuses, the ftyle of which, 
in the opinion of fome great con- 
noificurs, bears away the palm even from 
that of the Venus de Medicis at Florence. 
Here is an Efculapius, which is efteemed 
preferable to all the ttatues of that divini- 
ty to be found at Rome, or in any other 
city of Italy ; it is of the beft Greek ftyle. 
Here is likewife an athletic figure, whole 
body and left arms are antique, a maficr- 
Piece truly incomparable. Among the 
moft valuable rarities of this colleétion, 
© fhould, doubtlefs, place the three cele- 
brated ftatues difinterred from among the 
ruins of Herculaneum. They are won- 
derful, efpecially for the drapery, and dif- 
pute tre palm, in this reipeét, with the 
Flora Farnefe, and with other Greek 
works of the firft rank. King Auguttus 
was {o fortunate as to purchale them for 
the moJerate fum of fix thoufand Saxon 
crowns. 
The building, which is mof ftriking to 
a ftranger, as well from its agreeable fitu- 
ation near the bridge, as from the fingu- 
larity and elegance of its conftruéction, is 
the Catholic Church, unqueftionably one of 
the fineft temples of Germany, although the 
architecture deviates fromthe rules and the 
form which ferve for models in thefe times. 
On entering the church, through the prin- 
cipal do.r, we are agreeably furpriled 
with the beautiful exfemdble, with the jutt- 
nels,the harmony of proportions of allparts 
Defcription of Drefden and its Environs. 
(June I, 
of this grand edifice, with the agreeable 
light that illumines it, and with the fym- 
metrical mafles fimply decorated, where 
the eye Joves to repofe ; but, on advan- 
cing fome paces, the furprife increafes, and 
changes to admiration, at the fight of the 
magnificent painting which adorns the 
altar-piece—it reprefents the Afcenfion. 
A dozen of perfonages appearagitated with 
differen® emotions; the expreffion is as 
natural as the contrafis are happy. At- 
titudes, draperies, colours, all is beautiful, 
all is harmonious ; every thing flatters 
the eye, fatisfies and rivets the mind. The 
principle figure, noble and almoft aerial, 
rifes majeftically, and without effort, as a 
being fuperior to humanity, and, fo to 
fpeak, homogeneous with the pure ether 
that environs it. The angels that accom- 
pany the Redeemer, in fome meafure ab- 
forbed in the brilliant vapours of his glo- 
ry, are exquifitely beautiful. This com- 
pofition places Mengs on a par with the 
greateft matters ; it fhould be feen more 
than once to appreciate it duly. In a 
chapel to the right appears a Calvary, 
which no fenfible being can contemplate 
without experiencing a lively and pro- 
found emotion, whatever may be his creed. 
But that which attracts the greateft crowds 
to this fuperb temple is the excellent mu- 
ficin the chapel of the Eleétor ; it will fuf- 
fice to name a Naumann, a Schulter, and 
a Seidelmann, all three worthy rivals and 
matters of the chapel, to withhold our 
aftonifhment at the concourfe of people 
who attend the facred offices. According 
to the Court Calendar for this year, the 
EieStor keeps in pay no lefs than fixty- 
feven muficians. With the exception of 
Rome and of Naples, no capital in Eu- 
rope poflefles a church-mufic comparaole 
to that of Drefgen. | The author recol- 
le&s that, on iis return from Italy, with 
M. Schufer, affiftant in the church of 
Drefiien, at the execution of a piece com- 
pofed by that virtuofo, he was perfeétly 
enchanted with the exfémble ard the good- 
nefs of the orcheftra, although his mind 
was fully taken up with the impreffions 
that the Italian mufic, had made upon 
him. 
Among the different cabinets of curto- 
fities, we particularly diftinguifh that 
which is defignated under the name of 
Green Chamber ; we may confider it as 
unique in its kind. On entering this enor- 
mous magazine of toys, you are dazzled 
with the magnificence of the different ob- 
jects. An enfilade of eight chambers, al- 
mef all inlaid with marble, prefents it- 
felf; fome partitions are covered with 
murors 
