The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-12-04
SKETCHES OF TRAvE
LETTER NUMBER XXI.

,MAYrScE, Germany, 1e6e.-Franlfort is in th>Al
valley Of the Main and is in tho centre of fertile
country. It has nearly 100, 900 inhabitants. The
new portion of the city contains the finest private
Residences in Germany. One of the chief objects
Of interest to the traveller is the old hall of the
Sennte-not so much for its splendor as Tor its
historical associations. AS walked through tho
Electors room, fifty-two old German Emperors,
from CONRAD I. to FRANCIS H., looked down from
The walls ~, which they were hanging upon me; I
could but think where are these great men now?
To their praise it is recorded that IN this long line
of Elnpercrs there wero very few tyrants among
them. In addition to the ffty-two Portraits there
are many splendid paintings in the hall. ssThe
Judgment of Solomon, by STE1NLE, is q striking
picture. It was wso thought Of SOLOMON in pro
posing to sdivide the child in two; give one half
to the one and half to the other" said he. The
greatest horror is depicted the countenance> Of
the natural mother, at the prospect Of having her
child slain. Immediately above The bridge,
Main is the statue ofthc famous CHARLEMAGNE,w who
was for q long time resident Of the Imperial Free
City. CIALE,IAGSE, in his day, was equal to NAPo-
LEON in the 10Th century The favorite Germanp poet
GOETHE was born here, and q handsome marble
statue OF him stands in the Public Library. There
is also a monumental statue Of GOETHE near the
theatre In the gallery is q fine portrait Of the
great Rcformer, MARTIN LUTHER, who at one time
resided in Frankfort though he native Of
saxony The old Notifications that encircled the
town have been Torn down and handsome gardens
laid out on the site. The Jews, until recently, were
treated with great illiberality in Frankfort. They
were restricted to particular quarter Of the city,
and the gates were closed at an early hour every
night, after Which ingress and egress denied
them. The law restricting their marriage in the
city to thirteen annually, was not repealed until
1884, Tho Exchange here is a fine building, and
contains two imposing figures, representing Hope
ard Prudence. Hope inspires confidence, and en-
courages in pilgrimage through this life, while
Prudence makes cautious, careful and discreet.
I was introduced into two extensive reading
rooms-cach Of them contained more than hun
dred newspapers and journals. American politics
studied as closely here on Wall street. The
bankers said to me- tsYou will have civil war again
in the United States in less than twelve MONTHS"
replied Never-never. They said, seR we could
feel assured Of that fact your bonds, which are
selling at thirty per cent. discount would COM
mand premium. A restored Union, no doubt,
would inspire confidence and create such foreign
demand for American securities, as to restore
our currency to specie basis-a result greatly to
be desired by al sections Of the country Until
political affairs are more settled capitalists
will be very cautious in making investments IN
American securities-especially at anything like
their value. The Germans hold q large amount Of
Confederate bonds and wished to know the pros
pect of their being paid told them the bonds
would be good sssix months after the ratification
Of treaty Of peace between the United States and
the Confederate States" it was quite uncertain
when such On event would happen. -
An hour by railway from Frankfort. in Tho Wallis
Of the Main, through al extremely 1er11e ana nne-
ar17V at yoJ7np
the chief city of the Grand Duchy Of Hesse Darn
stadt. Mayence is at the mouth Of the River Main
on the Rhine population 5000. It is a strongly
fortified city, having, for long period, been the
strongest fortress of the German Confederation,
with garrison Of 5000 Prussian and 5000 Austrian
troops, commanded alternately for FIVE years by m
Austrian and a Prussian Governor. The lofty old
houses and narrow crooked streets, gives the city
an antique appearance, The mammoth cathedral,
built Of red sand stone, is nearly thousand years
old. The interior is richly painted, and con
tains numerous old statues. During the frequent
bombardments Of the city, the old cathedral was
much damaged. The Jacobins converted it into
powder magazine. A bridge Of boats 100 feet
long, connects Mayence with Cassel on the oppo-
side side Of the thine.
The printing press, which has had such power
full influence in advancing human knowledge, was
-
bronze statue has beon erected to his memory:
Steamers, during the summer months, leave May
ence three OF four times daily for Cologne; also,
three railway trains. Mayence carries on a brisk
trade in grain and lumber brought down the Rhine
and from the interior by rail The growth of the
finest Rhenish wine is limited to circle Of about
ten miles around Mavence. l%@
Prussia has absorbed Hanover Hesse-C -Cassel
Nassau and Frankfort. She will not be satisfied
With the humiliation of Austria, but will dictate
terms Of her own for Ill the German States; Ho,.
) Land, Belgium, and old Hamburg may for the
present maintain their nationality, but they will all
sooner or later be Plussianized
The recent war in Germany was not for liberty,
but for territorial aggrandizement Prussia wished
to extend her northern boundary over the Duchy
OF Hostein, which was at one time province Of
Denmark. It was against the interest Of Austria
for Prussia to increase her territory, and thereby
the power Of her rival for position and supremacy
The German Diet at Frankfort adhered to Austria
J, by vote Of nine to six and armed against Prus-
s sia. Austria found herself between two fires:
! King EMANUEL wanted Venetia, and now was the
time tc strike the blow for it's recovery to italy, II
was the expectation Of NAPOLEON that the two great
powers, before the conflict ended would, become
50 exhausted that when he got ready to mediate,
I: France would be able to secure the Rhine as the
!. boundary OF her empire The unexpected anddis-
,ocfrC 1aEoo 49, k1,eA 49, -