Litchfield enquirer., 1861-12-26
For Me Enquirer. coRoN ATIoN OF THE KING OF PRUS- ], SIA


 CORONATION OF THE KING OF PRUs-l , SIA.
 (Extract from private letter.)
 22 MAYER SrRAssE, BERLIN PRUSSIA,
 Sunday, October 27th; 1861.
 In this letter purpose to give some account of what have already seen of Prussian royalty Let me first say, however, that have no hope of giving any just idea of that profuson of splen- dor and wicked extravagance which 1 have been permitted to see. Ten days ago went to Pots- dam. This is walled city about twenty miles from Berlin, contains over 50000 inhabitants in- cludng 5000 soldiers, and is very rich in histor ical associations. Here Frederick the Great lived, and surrounded himself with costly pala- ces and extensive pleasure grounds; here Vol, taire lived and wrote his baneful books ana here the great Humboldt spent many years. and composed his greatest works. In the city are many buildings occupied at times by the King and his satellites and as all these at the time or my visit were away at the coronation festivitles in Konegsberg, I entered some rooms wnich otherwise would have been closed against me- The most extra vagant palace that we visted was one built by Fred. tn. Great. The building alone cost over S6,OOOOOO and it's giittering rooms. rich paintings, and life like statues are beyond all description. The place of particular interest in this palace is what is called the /" Shell-Room, into whose sides and ceiling are worked thousands of rare shells and minerals But of all the buildings in Potsdam was most pleased with a royal summer residence, called " Babelsberg." This is a very elegant building, in the midst of lovely lawns, fountains, groves, Sc. While everything about the house and it's surroundings is very rich, yet there is not so much dazzling and coying splendor as character izes many of the other buildings Then at Pots dam were many fountains throwing water in eve. " conceivable manner many luxuriant artfcal groves, and one of orange trees; many far-reach- ing marble colonnades; and many other things which I cannot describe, and even if could, am afraid the account would seem more like picture of the imagination than reality.
 have also been to Charlottenberg, which is about miles from Berlin, and is of particular interest as containing the mansolcum of Fred, Wm. III, who died in l84l: In this Kingly tomb is displayed more taste than have seen elsewhere in Germany. The outside of the building is of Siesian granite-a dark red stone which admits of a beautiful polish ; while inside, the walls, floor and ceiling are entirely of the incest marble. In the centre of this marble room are two sarcophagi of white marble, on which are the King and Queen as if asleep- There are no windows in the sides of the manso- leum, but little light shaded with blue is ad- mitted through kind of window in the roof. The situation of the mansoleum is in harmony with the taste shown in the structure itself. It is far from the noisy street, in the centre of a pine grove, and immediately surrounded by many weeping-willows and certainly the mournful signing of the wind through the pines, and the ever suggestive eloquence of the willows, are ap- proprate to the chambers of death. To this must be added the effect and the lesson of the season. The withered and failing leaves of late October, while chanting the requiem of departed summer, were emblematic of the sure lot of man -gro,cM, maturiy, decay
 But let us turn from the dead to the living Wm. l. succeeded his brother on the throne of Prussia in January last, but he was not crowned until the 18th fast. The coronation was at Konigsberg-a long distance from Berlin, and on Tuesday Oct. P the newly crowned King re- turned to Berlin. For many days very extensive had been made for a grand recep- ton. On the line of march hundreds of the Ma tonal flags were flying hundreds of bouquets were displayed, and many magnificent arches were erected and adorned with flowers, ever- greens, ribons Sc. About 9 o'clock went into the street, which were already swartning with the waiting thousands and long before the King ap- peared the principal streets were one solid mass of humanity. About l11a the head of the pro- cession arrived and after long line of citizens and bands on horse back came the King grace fully riding dark bay horse. The King conti- nualy bowed to his people and seemed we'll pleased with their enthusiasm. After another long procession of cavalry, the Queen, prince and princess royal came in splendid carriage drawn by eight black horses. The queen looked proud and silly, but the princess (who is Eng lands Victorias daughter} modest and almost beautiful. Then followed an almost endless train of representatives of the different trades and societies in Berlin with their banners and insignia. In the evening the city was most splendidy illuminated. Nearly every building that saw (and I was walking all the evening" WIS furnished with dozens of candles, and very many with more magnificent displays. Unter den Linden-the great street here, was one con- tnuous blaze. A fire fountain probably l5 feet high was playing all the while, lights of many brilliant colors were burning in every direction, and fire balloons were sent up at rapid intervals, and from these in their ascent showers of color ed balls would fall, and splendid fireworks go off During the day and night missed the ringing of bells, and firing of cannon which are so common in our American gala-days And never before have l seen large crowd in such good temper and order. saw no one drunk and no demonstrations of rowdyism. But when say that more order prevails in German, than in an American crowd, am by no means saying anything against my own country. For we must remember that the Germans are less excit- able in temperament than we :; that they are very rarely drunk, but (which consider worse) are continually stupid with excessive beer guzzling and tobacco fumes and besides. presume they stand in continual awe of the immense military and police force everywhere and always around them. I came back therefore to my room after that day and night of Kngly pomp, not with a weakened faith in the institutions of America, but rather with desire to whistle Yankee Doodle" and to give three cheers for the Stars and Stripes. On the morning after the festivi- ties just spoken of, the King reviewed that DOT tion of his army which IS stationed in Berlin.- The troops were arranged on both sides of Unte,' den Linden-the cav. Try one side and the infan- try the other-and when all was ready the King and his generals on horse s.back, and the Queen and princess in carriage passed up and down between the ranks. This was to me the best part of all the exercises of the week, to see over 10000 soldiers-richly uniformed and well drill. ed-go through their movements with the preci- sion Of clock work. T. F., Jr.
 Gen. McClellan's thirty sixth birthday occur red on the Sd of December. His friends gave a social dinner-party on the occasion, and pledged him for another thirty-six.