and the courageous mariner often dreaded the first sight of his native land, for treacherous rocks and sunken shoals too often proved the grave of those who had braved in safety the perils of the open ocean. Modern skill and science have diminished these dangers, but still "the ocean roars, the sea will have its victims.” Among these insidious foes, that lie in wait to ingulf the mariner when almost at his goal, is the long bank, known by the name of Ness Sands. Two lighthouses have been erected to guide the vessel on her way, but the picture before us displays but too clearly the risk and hazard so often incurred before the vessel can anchor in safety between the banks of the river Avon.

The commerce of Bristol has been declining for the last century, this has generally been ascribed to the heavy dues, and other local causes, but it is probable that this diminution is less to be attributed to any of these obstacles than to the great and astonishing change which has taken place in the manufacturing districts of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The vicinity of the great coal districts, and the adaptability of the streams as water-power in the cotton and woollen trade, will always secure to Liverpool peculiar advantages. But the merchants of Bristol have never been wanting in commercial enterprise, and they will doubtless avail themselves of all their advantages, to secure to their native city the benefits which its situation, as a maritime port, so eminently commands.

DRESDEN.

DRESDEN, the capital of the kingdom of Saxony, is situated on the Elbe, about 518 north latitude, and 13 east longitude. Its situation on both banks of the river, the possession of the gallery, the finest on this side of the Alps, and some other accidental circumstances, of real or fancied resemblance, have gained for it the name of the German Florence. It must be confessed, however, that the denomination is rather flattering to the northern capital; for, in beauty of situation and climate, and even in the treasures of art, it must yield the palm to the unrivalled city on the Arno. For such peculiarities as connect it with the past, Dresden is principally indebted to the clever, but dissolute Augustus the Strong, whose peculiar character has impressed its stamp upon the palaces and public

buildings of his times, much in the same manner as the merry monarch has done in our own country. The principal edifices which are likely to attract the notice of the traveller are in the Old Town, and near the bridge; here, within a few steps of each other, are the Royal Palace, the Picture Gallery, the New Theatre, the Orangery, &c. The palace is a spacious, but inconvenient building; the old apartments of Augustus, containing the beauties of his time, are now unused, except, we believe, on court festivals: the part inhabited by the present monarch is simply furnished, the king's habits being very domestic; he is a connoisseur in art, and a scientific botanist, and continues that patronage of artists which has conferred renown upon some of his ancestors. Several of the most eminent painters of Germany have been appointed professors in the Dresden Academy of Painting, during the reign of the present monarch. In the neighbourhood of the palace is the picture gallery, too well known to need description here. The present edifice is utterly unsuited to the preservation of the rare pictures which it contains, and those who have had an opportunity of viewing this collection at intervals of some years, will have noticed, with regret, the rapid decay of some of the finest works of art; the Saxon diet has voted a sum for the erection of a new, and more appropriate building. The historical collection is very rich in old fire-arms, and suits of armour of different periods; the Gruene Gewoelbe (green vaults) contains a vast number of specimens of workmanship, in ebony, ivory, mother of pearl, &c. The value of the pearls, diamonds, gold, and silver, preserved in these rooms is immense, and must amount to many million dollars, and gives us some idea of the lavish profusion of the electors, which is amply borne out by the secret history of the times in which the rulers of petty states absolutely vied in magnificence with the luxuriant rulers of licentious France. The New Theatre is universally acknowledged to be one of the finest edifices of the kind in Europe; to the spectator it appears somewhat low, but the idea of the artist was not carried out; it was originally intended that the theatre should form the close of a series of buildings, connected by a magnificent greenhouse; this would have certainly formed a fine coup d'œeuil from the bridge, but we believe that, on erecting the theatre, doubts were entertained whether it would be safe to execute the plan to its original extent in the immediate vicinity of the Elbe, and subject to its inundations. The Catholic Church is a pleasing object, and is seen to advantage on crossing the bridge. A covered passage leads from the church to the king's apartments and the palace. Our readers probably know that the Elector of Saxony conformed to the catholic religion, to become a candidate for the Polish crown, a dangerous honour, which immediately involved him in disputes with powerful competitors and conquerors; this event is still deeply lamented by the inhabitants of Saxony, who are

firmly attached to the Lutheran faith. There are few public buildings of great magnificence and beauty in Dresden, some however may interest the stranger; the Post Office, and the house in which the Diet assembles. The administration of government was formerly carried on under a prime, or cabinet minister; after the French revolution of 1830, the king granted a constitution; the ministers have the exclusive right of originating laws, which are discussed in two chambers. Notwithstanding the short period of probation, the debates have already exhibited several instances of members who have displayed no inconsiderable eloquence, particularly in the repeated attempts to substitute public courts of justice, with oral pleading, instead of closed courts and written protocols. The days of the present system may be considered as numbered, and the introduction of publicity in matters of the law, will, most probably, be the prelude of the trial by jury. Like most German cities, Dresden possesses promenades round a great part of the city, the favourite resort of strangers and loungers is, however, the Bruehlsche Terrasse, a raised mound, opposite to the catholic church, which is reached by a flight of stone steps. From the terrace we have a fine view of the Elbe, the bridge, the hills on the right side of the river, and in the distance the approaches to the romantic and grotesque scenery of the Saechsische Schweitz (Saxon Switzerland). The bridge over the Elbe was long famed for its beauty and supposed solidity, the unusually high water of the Elbe, a few years ago, stripped it of its undeserved reputation in the latter respect, and undermined it to such an extent that two of the arches gave way, nor have they, we believe, been completely repaired. Great fears were entertained at that time for the safety of the terrace; had this been swept away by the angry flood, the physiognomy of the city would have been completely changed. On the right bank of the Elbe lies the quarter called the New Town. The population of the city will probably soon amount to one hundred thousand. Dresden has always been the favourite resort of strangers; the beauty of its situation, the constant intercourse with persons of all nations, the comparative cheapness of living, induce many families to take up their abode here. Our countrymen are always to be seen in great numbers. One of the quarters of the city is now generally called the English quarter. Divine service is performed every Sunday, in one of the churches, in the English language.

The neighbourhood of Dresden abounds in beautiful scenery. The great garden is several miles in extent, and affords many beautiful walks. Cheap concerts of excellent music are performed here several times a week, and early on Sunday mornings in summer.