The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-21

seize, replied they. Tome on, answered she, smii-
ing-and these words she her girdle into the
water. Hear my voice." continued she, singing,
shear my voice. powerful father of the waters de-
spstch forthwith thy rapid coursers that they may
bear away thy daughter in safety to the caves" Her
voice was drowned amid the roar of violent tenn
pest. The Rhine boiled like stormy sea, and its
dashing covered the shores and the steep rocks
with their white foam. In the midst of the terrible
commotion, two waves bearing the form of pair of
horses of dazzling Wilderness, flew with tn. rapdity
Of lightning towards the rock, and mounting to its
summit, they bore away the nymph into the angry
torrent and she disappeared forever beneath its
face.
The captain terrii ed at the supernatural spectacle,
and convinced that the wonder working nymph was
beyond the control of human power returned to the
palace where he behed, to his neffabe surprise, the
young count, who had just been thrown upon the
shore by the waves during the tempest; and, wonder
full to relate, though long submerged beneath their
surface he restored his father safe and sound.
Since thattime the water-nymph Of the Lurley has
never been heard to sing, although she con-
tnues frequent the rock and make sport of the sail
ors by echoing their voices"
fable in looks Pantheon, and worthy of forming
part of the mythology the ancient story of the
Echo, of which it may be considered as variation.
The narrow passage through which the Rhine flows,
after passing Bingen and Rudeshcim, and which pre-
sens such rapid succession grand and picturesque
objects, suddenly Coblentz, and for time
at least the banks Of the river become level and uni
form, and lose great part of their charm for
the traveller. Satisfied with what had seen during
my six hours journey from Mayence, and thinking
it glory enough for day. took short rest at
Coblentz. Just above this town, the Rhine enters
the Prussian territory had left forms and kremzers
behind me, and had now to make my acquaintance
with halers and groschsn. Coblentz is town of i'm
portance, as the capital of the Rhenish provinces Of
Prussia, and fortress situated as it is, at the
junction of the Moselle and the Rhine 1t is sur
rounded by forts on both sides of the Rhine and Mo-
selle, and strongly garrsoned: half the population
seem to be soldiers But the traveller would look in
vain for objects of sufficient interest to render stay
in it agreeable. There is thing, however, that is
worth SEEING for the sake of the good practical joke
which it offers. 1t is monumental fountain erected
to commemorate the invasion Of Russia by the
French, and bears inscription to that effect This
was done of course at the commencement of the EN-
perors expedition. After his retreat, the Russians
passed through Coblenz in his pursuit, and the com
mandr added to the inscription, the fountain, the
following words: &C Seen and approved by the Rus
sian commander of the town of Coblentz, January
Ist 1874"
/, like most travellers on the Rhine, stopped at
Coblentz chiefly for the purpose of visiting the for
tress of Ehrenbreitsei the opposite bank Of the
Rhine, one of the most stupendous objects on the
whole course of this river and one of the most re-
markabe examples in the world of fertilization
rendered almost impregnable by the work Of Nature
it is justly called the Gibraltar Of the Rhine. The
tort stands the summit of promontory of bare and
perpendicular rock four hundred feet in height.
which rises maestcally from the edge of the Rhine,
Immediately opposite the mouth of the Moselle. 1t
overlooks the surrounding country to great dis
tance and when viewed from below even at consider
able distance up and down the Rhine its high and rug
ged front forms object Of exceeding grandeur Ris-
ing abrupt it does from the surrounding level ex-
cept tongue of land which connects it on one
side with the adjoining heights, it would to have
required but little fortifcaton render it impregna-
BILE. But the extent and strength of the works are
almost surprising the vastness and grandeur of
the rock itself Its base its Sides and its summit are
alike fortified at every point, and military art has
done its best to strengthen the few points which Ma
ture has left weak. The fort contains four hundred
pieces of cannon and is capable of receiving gar
rison of fourteen thousand men. "The magazines
large enough to contain provisions for eight thou
sand men for ten years. The great platform on the
top of the rock serving parade covers vast arch
ed cisterns capable of holding supply of water for
three years, furnished by springs without the walls.
There is, BESIDES well sunk four hundred feet deep
in the rock communicating with the Rhine.'' Ehren-
breitstein has always been important fortress and
was occupied such in fact, by the Romans, but it
was so strong before it is at present The
King of Prussia well aware of its Importance to the
security of this part of his dominions has spent vast
sums of money in strengthening it. In its present
condition. it is difficult to imagine how it could be as
sailed with success the only possible Of get
ting possession of it would seem to be to starve out
the garrison, and when the magazines were fill
ed with provisions, this would be no easy matter.
Ehrenbreitstein well deserves the epithet which By
| ron bestowed on it" town of victoryn
have already prolonged my letter to an intolera-
BILE length and must close my narrative for the pre-
sent. A little yet remains to be said of the Rhine
for Of the finest of its scenery lies below Cob
lentz and then there are the churches of Cologne
and Aix-laChapelle the bone of st. Mathew and the
tooth of ST. Thomas all these and sundry other things
will tell of in another letter.
As have little scrap of paper to spare, ] will
give you the translation of advertisement which
copied some time since from the National" and
which will give you some idea of French matrmony
Madame Santonge, No. %, Rue is always
prepared to accommodate persons who wish to get
married. She has now on hand number of rich
young ladies and widows DESTROYS of being establish
La; lotto he