The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-11-20
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL.
BY q. W. w.
LETTER NUMBER XX.
HANOVER. GERMANY, 1866.


continent Of Europe, and in many respects is tho
most interesting city. 1t is stuatol OH tho River
El,o a;xtv miles from it's entrance into the orth |
Soo and s connected by means of canals with tho |
Baltic Hamburg has q population of 250,O00. 1t
ia ominontly o commercial city. Tho imports |
amount to one hundred and fifty million dollars
per annum and the exports about tho samc. Tho
average number Of vessels arriving is about 5000.
Nearly all tho imports and exports Of Northern
Germany pass through the port Of Hamburg. In
1919 tho city was visited by terrible tiro, which
ragod for four days, laying in waste twenty thou
sand houses, rendering homeless moro than sc, 600
people. Largo sums Of money and provisions
woro sent from a quarters of tho globo to relieve
tho sufferers. After tho great fro the narrow
streets were both widened and Strengthened, and
magnificent storohousos and dwellings, erected,
which would do credit to Paris Tho established
religion is Lutheran but all denominations arc
tolerated. Twenty thousand Jows reside hero.
The city was formerly oncrcled by wall four
miles in circumference which has been torn ndown,
and beautiful ornamental walks hayo been laid out
on tho site Of the old useless Notifications.
At the beginning Of the nineteenth century
Hamburg was one Of tho most prosperous cities
in tho world. Merchants flocked here from oil
parts of Europe bringing with them immonse
treasures, which they vainly hoped would be secure
from the warliko connections at that time agitat-
ing the country. AS Hamburg was free city,
and neutral in religion and politics, they thought
it would not be molestcd. But when NAPOLEON
captured Berlin and was master of Prussia, he
regarded the rich town Of Hamburg as rightful
spoil of war. Heavy contributions wore laid on
tho inhabitants and tho city was annexed to the
French Empire. After NAPoLEoN's unfortunate
march to Moscow the French were compelled to
eyacuato Hamburg, and tho city was occupied by
Russian soldiers. In 1878 the French again be-
sieged the city, which they captured after months
resistance. The French commander, DAvoUsT, is
said to have exercised tho most cruel atrocities
upon the people. In the depth of winter he drove
every person from the city who could not furnish
six months supply OF provisions. The conse-
quence was, all the poor had to leave and some
twelve hundred men, women and children perished
from cold and hunger. A monument has been
erected to their memory. NAPOLEON was, without
doubt one Of the greatest generals the world ever
produced, but would not for ell his glory and
fame have the blood of the myriads Of human be-
ngs who perished under his ambitious tread stain
ing my skirts-he deluged Europe in tears and
blood
have visited the Stock and, Gold Exchange of
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston; the
celebrated Bourse Of Paris Vienna and Berlin; but
none Of them interested mo 80 much as the Mer-
chants Exchange Of Hamburg. The magnificent
building which was completed just before the
fire in 1842, although enveloped in flames, for
tunately escaped destruction. I went with my
guide an hour before Change, for the purpose of
examining the building, reading room, &c. One
OF the Directors explained to me how merchant
in crowd Of five thousand could be found without
difficulty. The immense hall, which is capable OF
accommodating six thousand persons when stand
ing, is laid out on the principle Of the radii Of
circle. At o'clock we took our stand in the gal
lery, among numerous spectators, both ladies and
gentlemen, where we could look down upon the
vast assemblage Of merchants. Tho hum of five
thousand human voices sounded like the roaring
OF waterfall. In this daily gathering Of mer-
chants you find tho cautious, frugal German; the
bold, dashing Russian; the lively, clever French
man; tho confident Englishman; the sharp shrewd
Yankee; and last, though not least, tho cautious,
lively bold, confident, sharp jew.
was introduced into the extensive reading
room, which is supplied with newspapers and jour
nails from all parts of the country. The Exchange
is the centre Of intelligence, commercial and DO
htical, foreign and domestic. A telegraphic Office
is kept in the building for it's use. Scarcely any
one is engaged in business who is not member
OF the Boursc Of Hamburg. Tho old city, fortu-
nately, was an ely Of Prussia in the recent war.
She has, consequently, been permitted nominally
to maintain her Independence.
Having spent two pleasant days in Hamburg,
left for the City of Hanover by railway. The
country through which VIC passed was quite level,
and generally unproductve. 1t is portion of the
immense plain of sand which extends through
Hanover, Prussia, and as far east as st. Peters
burg, in Russia. The most Of the land is extreme
ly poor, producing little else than barren heath
anu forests of scrubby fir. Near the railway sta
tion in Hanover I found good hotol with COM
Portable accommodations. This is the new town,
Here arc broad streets and handsome buildings
But Old Hanover interested me most. This
portion OF the city is fine specimen OF an antique
continental town. Many of tho streets are narrow
and crooked, and the houses, which arc often four
to five stories, project with each story somo two
feet, forming almost an arch over the Streets A
very novel sight was houses with gables toward
tho streets. From tho monument in Waterloo
Platz had a fine view Of the city and surrounding
country. The Palace and other public buildings
were occupied by the Prussians. Hanover is now
practically Prussian town. with large garrison
OF blue coats. I saw several thousand troops re-
viewed by tho Crown Prince. It is expected ha
Yill remove hero with his family, and make Ham
over his future home. His court will doubtless be
as Splendid as that ofthe ex-King. Ifeel sorry for
King GEORGE, who is DID, blind, and quite helm.
less. The inhabitants have made up their mind
that nothing that they can do will avert the new
state OF things and thew will bo found ga ad;lI