The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-16
Berlin.
Berlin.
Correspondence Of the HsraIdI
BERLIN, May "a, ls4S
int1esfsng deseription OF Briin-ks Histmy-Pub
nc neutrality-suspicious. Wealth.
JAS g. BENNETT. ESQ

JAS VI. BENNETT, ESQ.,
SIR
Although Berlin has several namesakes in the IT,
states, IL is less known to your countrymen in ge-
neral than many second rate cities OF France Bel
gum and lialy-not TO mention England This is
easily accounted forby Its distance from the beaten
track OF continental travel, by its situation in the
midst OF a sngulary unpicturesque and monotonous
country, and by its only being accessible after a
tedious and protracted journey along Indifferent
reads, traversed at the snas pace of five miles an
hour. In few years, however, this latter obsta-
Gle will cease to exist. Some railroads having been
previously constructed on a smaller scale between
this capital and the surrounding cities OF Potsdam
Leipzig, Frankfort on the Oder, Stettin, and Made
them to Breslau, Hamburg and the Rhine, and COM
panies have been formed for this purpose. which are
to commence operations Immediately. The railroad
to Hamburger is expected TO be finished within the
space of three years, and this will undoubt
eddy tend to render Berlin much more frequented,
even by Atlantic visers thanit is at this
ment, short sketch Of its history, its present state,
and its future prospects, may not be il-timed.
Berlin, though the metropolis of powerful king
dom,the centre of German art and literature and
rogating to itself, like Boston and Edinburg, the ap-
peiiaion OF modern Athens; is of very mushroom
origin A small town, or chateau, was founded in
the Degnning OF the 18th century, on the banks OF
muddy rver, or creek, called the Spree, by Albert,
the Bear, Margrave of Brandenbursh, from whom
1t derived It's name, and struggled through several
centuries OF an obscure existence scarcely distin-
guishable IN size or importance from the neiehbor.
ing villages Its only preeminence above them
was owing to the Circumstance Of its being the fa&
vorite abode OF race of petty sovereigns whose
limited power was unable to redeem their capital
from the nsigniicance to which it appeared doom
ed by lis isolated situation, the steriity of its soil
and the total absence OF commercial industry 1t
was not until the reign OF Frederick William, bet
ter known by the slrname of the Great Elector.
(l64O-S8.) that Berlin began to emerge from this
unpromising condition, while the victories OBJ.
tanned against the Swedes gave the first impulse
TO that spirit of nationality, which has ever since
Gharafesed the russians hon, to
cation of the edict of Nantes. by tine bigory of
Lewis XIV, induced thousands Of industrious
of industrious French Proestants to seek asylum
in foreign land; many OF them emigrated to Eng
land, others to South Carolina, and still greater
number to Germany, where they were received
with open arms by the Protestant princes, particu
arlv by the great Eector and his son Frederick, the
the first king of Prussia. whole French colony
established at Berlin, which exists to this day.
and has furnished this country with some of its
The manners OF the north of Germany presented at
that time disgusting picture Of ignorance, gross.
ness and sloth the French emigrants the first
to introduce the refinements OF civilized life. They
erected the first manufactures, constructed the first
theatre, and gave the tom in every respect Frede.
rick the Great HIMSELF the idol of the Prussians, was
complete Frenchman in his language. his tastes,
and even in his preudices, and this epoch has mbued
the inhabitants of Berlin with prediction for eve
thing Galllcan, that has survived the invasion of
Napoleon and the ravages of his legions French
is still almost exclusively the language of the higher
circles Gin spite of the personal example OF the
King), and even in the middle classes. down to the
lowest, the knowledge of French is considered
nearly OF as much Importance as that ofreading and
writing.
The population OF Berlin amounts at present to
about three hundred and thirty thousand persons,
including the garrison which is estimated at 80 600
men Every tenth individual is consequently sol.
drivers, every connected with the railroad, the
pupils OF the military schools &c are in uniform, it
is no wonder that you fancy yourself in large bar
rack. The streets are as long and straight file
Of grenadiers. particularly the one called the Fried
rcksrasse Frederlck stleeD, which in length
only in lengths nearly equal to Broadway. The
" Inter den Lnden"-(beneath the lime trses)-
reaching from the Palace Bridge to the 'randen-
durgh gate. and forming in the summer season
you enter the park the avorite resort of the Berlin
cockneys, Tor which reason, suppose, it is called
in the language OF the country, the Ihier Garden
l. E. Garden tor Animals-the only animals you
meet there being two-legged ones, smoking long
meerschaum pipes, and drinking an abomlnable
composition, yclept white beer.
Like st. Petersburg and Venice, Berlin has recei
vedthe hattering and not unmerited surname OF the
City of Palaces Among her numerous splendid
edifces the Royal Schloss, or Chateau, stands pre-
eminent in size and dignity 1t is an immense heavy
building, erected at different times by successive
electors and kings, and more remarkable tor its
huge proportions than for any beauty in the arcki
lecture. The late monarch, Frederick William III
had very simple tastes, and preferred modes
dwelling at the entrance of the linden during hi
reign the schloss was. neglected, and only small
part of it inhabited by the family of Prince William
younger brother TO the klng-but on the accession
of his present majesty The royal residence wal
again transferred TO the ancient seat OF his forefa
theirs, the apartments were fitted up in most ele
giant style, and a series Of fetes commenced, I'd
which all classes of his subjects were invited and
of which have given some account in my last.
The palaces Of the Prince of Prussia, Primo
Charles and Prince Albert, are far less imposing
point of taste. Among the other palaces will onl
mention that of the Princess Of Liegnitz, relict d
the late king, that of the Elk King of Holland, VIII
lives here incog. Count of Nassau, the Hotel d}
Radzivil, belonging to the noble Polish family
that name, and the gorgeous mansion erected by thu
Emperor of Russia for the accommodation of hi
embassy, As to public. edifces, the museum an
the new theatre are distinguished for the chasienes
of their architecture, and the university, the AGA
denny, the opera house, the royal library, woul
adorn any capital in Europe. There is no want
statues IN Berlin; one square, the Wilhelms-plat7
(Willam's-place,) is studded with the marble eff
gies OF the most eminent Prussian commanders;
fine bronze statue OF the veteran Butcher rises
front of the principal corps de earde, and coloss
temptation. The view from the Palace. Bridge
altogether one OF the finest that can be imagined
On one hand you have the chateau, its grand an
heavy black outline extending from one end of tn
square to the other !; adjoining 1t the quaint dome
of the cathedra and right opposite the graceful CO
lonnade of the museum, with beautiful founta
playing in front and glitterng amid the verdant f
liage Of the surrounding shrubs; the other hand
the river you have the superb avenue of lin
trees. terminated by the Brandenburgh gate, wi
the figure of Victory in her car rising above
lined with palaces and thronged with carriages an
pedestrans-while the architectural school, III
Gothic chu! Oh of the Werder, the arsenal, the Gu
tom house, &c, serve to complete the panoram
With the exception of the prospect from the poi
Louis XVIin Paris, | do not recolect having ey
met finer coup d'oeiL. OF course i am speaking
only of this particular kind of scenery; the impre
sion produced by the works OF art are never equ
TO those occasioned by the contemplation Of
miracles Of Nature, and the first view Of the haf6
Of Rio JaneiIo, the bay of New York, and the III