Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1867-05-28
LETTER FRom sAxoNY.


Special Correspondence at he Joarnai ond Safiaan
DRESDEN, MAY, 1867
Onr party, seven in number, mailing from
America, four Of whom Were from San iran, ,
cisco and tile others from New ORR ahn
Philadelphia, purchased third class tickets
10 Pocska, about nm hours ride from ORES /
den. We started, expecting rough ume
of il, and thought it useless to go III way
not corresponding 10 our anticipa'lonsi oe-
sides, this afforded amusement Tor Tue UP
At Pocska we baTgained with guide, VINO
agreed 10 carry our blankets ana DINER aIll-
Giles for the sum OF seventy five cents per
day. Can you imagine how any one could
hire himself out al so small a sum per day to
climb hills, crawl over rocks, and pack on ms
hack a load large enough for q small h0isef
These poor fellows trot along from day to
day, without anything TO eat (unless treated
by the party which they arc serying) nul
brown bread and beer We found our guide
such an agreeable parsonage, that we mus
tered five thalers ($3.T5) including his pay
per day, and gave il to him for his services
whereupon he insisted on shaking hands all
around, and desired to escort us part OF the
way ON our home trip.
In the forest We SAW a large Hat stone,
mounted ON two Of smaller species, which
our guide informed us was the table from
which Augustus the Strong ate his meals
| during the hunting season. There were
several strange devices on II which we were
unable to decipher--our inability is derived
from not being members Of the "Pickwick
Club.n After two hours of uphill walking,
somewhat fatigued and hungry, we reached
Basei, where we did justice to a substantial
breakfast. Bastei is an immense column OF
rocks six hundred and seyenty-tive feet in
height, and of most fantastic shape -
another monument of Natures wonders.
1t affords splendid view Of the valley and
river Elbe. So beautiful is the panorama
that one imaslnes himself gazing upon an
artists masterpiece On the outer column
, Is an iron railing Tor the accommodation Of
visitors, from which to view tie surrounding
country. Ii is said that an Englishmar
became 20 infatuated with this panorama
that he leaped over the rail and fell shape
less mass on the rocks below
: Directly opposite is Kongsieln, one o
! the strongest Notifications in Europe. l
was against this that Napoleon directed TIN
Il whole force OF his artillery, without effect
AS a last resort, he scaled bluff direct.
VI opposite and renewed the seige; but he wa
i, soon forced 10 retire, leaving the field TO il
righiful heirs. Even the conquering Prus
l. slams, fresh from the fields of victory, dare
a not venture an attack, There they lay q
If their arms within sight OF this much covetc
spot, but so soon as they came within gun
shot, the Saxon sharpshooters began thei
y deadly work. AT the beginning Of the wa
Ia it was proyisioned for eight years, with
es sufficient quantity OF water supplied hy
an well SIX hundred and SIXTY six feet dee
through soldrock, taking bucket seyentec
seconds 10 reach The bottom This stroni
Ve hold is mass OF rocks six hundred feet higl
nj perpendicular on all sides, excepting the 81
trance, which is reached by long, narrow
winding road commanded by the guns
u the fort There is a draw bridge to conne
le the fort with TIN mainland, which in tin
ed Of war is drawn in, thereby leaving a pr
=, cipituous mass Of rocks Should the enen
succeed in getting directly under the wal
% it isequally dangerous, for the whole is 9TH
Z il, the tOp) surrounded by stout wall
which are embrasures, with guns pointed
tn every direction. All along the walls are hu!
=, piles of stones 10 hurl upon the advcnturer
Gu so it would be running from tie shot al
on shell 10 meet more horrible death
is. II is said TO be the only iorlifcation in
nm Europe never taken. During the Sey,
Years War portion Of tlle Saxon arm
u. numbering seventeen thousand, laid dow
their arms to Frederick the Great, in sig
he OF their king, Augustus the Strong, then sh
ds up in the fortress.
-" This slro' gaold, by treaty, is now In t
le- possession of the Prussians Poor Saxol
lat likely to continue, for King .Iohn can
10 iealiiy ouly be called Governor His trou
belong 10 Prussia, his court almost dtseItt
and hc is now but an officer where once
was ruler His son Able t., Grown Prn
OI SaXuny, vas summoned TO the Court
lcb Prussia, was made General, and took
oath to support that country in preference
he all others. william and his friend Blsmai
,a, understand managing The finn VERY well.
-, At the rear Of the Basie are numert
w columns OF these spiral pillars, extending
INT a great height, arising in every variety
form and are separated from the main ho
sh by chasms Of the most fearful depth I'll
were in centuries past inhabited by robb
leu knights, who watched the approach Of V
ous sells upon the Elbe and pounced upon the
ret either for plumber or to make captiv
VIII These retreats were made secure BY me,
OF the ofaw.hridge, which was hauled Ia
the approach OF danger.
di- A little further on Is the "Freischutz Gle
Of Of Wolfsschucbi, which is made access
lpr. from the valley by steps built in an open
- caused by tile separation of the rocks
ing just large enough to admit the ascent q
elr common-szed man. 1t was here that w
ex- Der laid that beautiful opera Der Friesch
Gree shot.) suppose tile history is ger
ally known. A pleasant little stream wi
pay its way through this beautiful and pic
the esque valley. The rocks and hills on cit
AXE side are SO gigantic, together with being G
enl, cred with heavy growth of standing timl
,,r, That the sun seldom peDetrates the gree
'ieu part Of this romantic spot-made so fam
ues by Weber. hope to be able to finish
rec trip In my next letter W il
l.; --ssps-----