The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-12-14

and semi-baIbarous taste, nowhere except the
Rhine, and IL Is astonishing that such good Catholics
should tolerate shocking a violation, not only Of
good sste, but Of the sanctity Of the place. They
ought forthwith 10 "drive the money changers from
the temple" The cathedral of Manz is particularly
remarkable for its monuments in which il is exceed
ingly rich. The finest those of the Archbshops
of Mainz. who formerly Electors of the German
Empire and possessed ofconsdeIab able wealth and inu
ence as temporal princes. Their marble tombs
richly ornamented with sculpture, which, in some Of
them, possesses great merit. Some Of the more an
cient represent the Archbshops in the act Of
browning the Emperop, which was their exclusive Of
nee and privilege hut IL is curious to observe that
while the figures Of the Archbishop are Of full sire,
those Of the emperors are Of half sire only. Many
Of those old monumentshsve besides, exceedingly
dro appearance from the fact Of their being painted
even to the face and eyes This church also contains
the tomb Of Fsstrsda, the wife Of Charlemagne
slab OF sandstone, bearing newly sculptured image
and let into the wall, marks the place where her
mains are deposited. There is great deal of the
display and nery in the decoration of the affairs and
chapels, and statues, marble colu.nns painting and
gliding eprofusely lsvshed, bu, must confess that
the sight Of all these ornaments did no, afford me
much pleasure. There 10 too much Of every thing,
and a grsa, lack of simplicity and dignity. The
wood work in Of the choirs much more pleasing
and affords very beautiful specimen of that sort of
sculpture. The rich carving Of the pannels which
surround the choir, and the statues which decorate
them, cannot be viewed without strong feelings Of
admiration.
Near the Cathedral stands a fine statue Of
Guttemburg, the inventor Of printing, he is
generally called though in Holland found that
the same honor was claimed most pertnacously for "a
native Of HARLEM, the inscription whose monu-
ment Is just as positive in its declaration on the
subject as tina, Of Gutemberg's. Mayence was the
birthplace Of Gutenberg and witnessed bis first at
tempts in the art. He afterwards followed his new
vocation at strasbourg where there is also statue
of him. That at Mayence is much the more remark
able of the two. IL is Of bronze and is the work Of
Ihorwaldsen very famous Danish sculptor. Its
cost was betrayed by contributions from the whole Of
Europe, and 1t was erected few years ago with great
ceremony.
After strollng for some time through the crooked
and eless streets, my companion and l. tired of this
way Of studying Mayence in detail determined 10 get
rid of the task in much more expeditions manner
We assembled the highest church seeple in the place.
and travelled over the town with single glance
That glance suficed for the place ITSELF but not
for the beautiful around it. The prospect is
indeed charming and is worth dozen Of that which
is from the much lofty spire Of Srasbourp
Al Mayence, the unbroken monotony of the banks
Of the Rhine has already ceased. The surface
Of the country begins to undulate, and its fer
tilty and rich cultivation give it the appearance Of
vast garden. The junction Of the Rhine and Main,
nearly opposite the town, flows very pleasing fea-
turc, and on every hand, except towards the SOUTH
are seen rising in the distance; gently swelling ranges
of mountains This pleasing panorama lost much Of
its beauty, from the dimness and clouds which OBJ.
scure the view, but it was still very beautiful and
helped to make up for the interior DEFICIENCIES of the
town itself, which, notwithstanding the Cathedral
and its monuments, had begun to grow very stale
The next morning (Sept. l9th) continued my
journey down the Rhine to Coblentz. intended to
describe TO you in this letter few of tho remarkable
beauties Of that part of the Rhne,-the most inte-
resting part, by far, of it's whole course But have
been so unaccountably long-winded in my accounts
of Frankfort and Mayence, that ] mus, defer
ill .nn,har opportunity the gories of tho "castel-
lated Rhine" / will take occasion however 10
remark at present, that my only aim is to de-
scribe the exterior Of things. ! am totally una
bic to say any thing understandngly of the
interior Of German society, its feelings and OPT
Mons, its lights and shades" went through tho
country by steam-never stopped more than day at
tme-was almoAt totally ignorant Of the language
and the only object with which entered it, and in
Decd The only object it possible for me to attain
under such circumstances 10 see the country and
the curious things it contains rather than to acquire
knowledge of its inhabitants of their ways Of think.
ing and feeling, of those things, in word, which
sute the springs and moving principles of soce-
~ If may be permitted to Judge of German life,
however, by what Of il in the hotels and steam
boats though must be acknowledged that this not
altogether safe crterion) should say that il is far
from presenting either the neainess and order which
the English tho elegance and taste of
he French The hotels in the towns along the Rhine
the most Indifferent that have seen anywhere in
Europe at least in any places SO tbrongcd with travel
ers as those towns are,-always excepting, however
he hotels of Holland, which the poorest Of all ho
els cannot let the German hotels pass without pro.
esting against their feas along the whole course of
he Rhine they a source Of constant torment and
were asked to name any one town that il moro
ady infested with these disagreeabe bed follows than
my other should unhesitatingly designate Cologne.
Yours, ISL. Jr.
From the NJ Y Commercial Adrertser
LOSS OF THE STEAMSHIP SAVANNAH
The fear we expressed yesterday has been realized
letter has been received in this city via Philadol
40 Foam. - ~