Rotterdam, the second city in Holland in point of population and commerce, has 153,000 inhabitants, a magnificent harbor, superb docks, and many canals, these latter are as numerous as the streets, and upon them is done the principal traffic, communication being maintained by drawbridges and ferry-boats. The houses are of red brick, tall and quaint, thoroughly Dutch in aspect, one general feature being an arrangement of two mirrors placed at an angle outside the windows, giving the inmates views of all that is passing in the streets.

Rotterdam was the birthplace of Erasmus, the celebrated Dutch scholar, and his statue in bronze adorns the market-place, while in the park stands the marble statue of Holland's favorite poet, Tollens.

Scheveningen, a fashionable watering place, is three miles from the Hague, environed by fine residences and a wooded country; it is much frequented by the Dutch for its fine beach and surf bathing. From here Charles II. embarked for England after the downfall of Richard Cromwell.

The Hague, originally the hunting-seat of the Counts of Holland, and so called from the hedge which surrounded their lodge, is indebted to Louis Napoleon for conferring upon it the privileges of a city, and at present ranks as the political capital of the kingdom. The streets are wide and lined with trees; the principal buildings being the King's

Palace, the Queen's Cottage, and the Museum, which contains Rembrandt's celebrated painting of an Anatomical Examination, and Paul Potter's Bull, the latter valued at $100,000.

Amsterdam, "the dike or dam Amstel," is built on piles, and intersected by canals which are. spanned by 300 bridges dividing the city into ninety islands. Diamond cutting has here attained its great perfection, and gives employment to hundreds of men and women; the polishing is done with diamond dust on a wheel which revolves at the rate of 2,000 revolutions a minute, and the cutting is done by hand with a like stone; hence the origin of the expression "diamond cut diamond."

The palace is occupied by the king for only one month of the year. The ball-room, 125 feet in length, is finished in Italian marble, and is considered one of the finest in Europe. The Jews' quarter in Amsterdam is occupied by 60,000 of that race; and the characteristic type is marked on every face.

Zaandam, on an arm of the Zuyder Zee, six miles from Amsterdam, has a population of 13,000. Its inhabitants are primitive both in customs and dress; the streets are narrow, paved with brick, and without sidewalks; the houses are very small, quaint and painted green, as a rule, and the whole. town is scrupulously clean: a horse or other beast of burden being rarely seen. Zaandam is noted

for its 400 windmills, and for its being the scene of the self-exile of Peter the Great, who resorted thither, disguised as a common workman, to learn the art of ship-building; the cottage in which he lived, containing his work-bench, bed and chairs. is still extant; and a tablet over the mantel, placed there by the Emperor Alexander, bears the inscription: "Nothing too small for a great man." Bremen, built on both sides of the Weser, has a population of 113,000. It was formerly an independent and free city, but was added to Prussia in 1867, and is now garrisoned by troops of the German Empire. Its harbor is good, and shipping extensive; its snuff manufactories are the largest in the world.

Hamburg, a free, imperial city of Germany, is on the Elbe, 75 miles from its mouth; population, 290,000. It is one of the most important commercial cities of the world, and its lines of steamers run regularly to China, Japan, the West Indies and America. It has some fine public buildings and handsome streets, but nothing of special interest to detain the traveller.

COPENHAGEN:

CHAPTER VII.

ELSINORE: JÖNKÖPING: GOTTENBURG:

THE GOTHA CANAL: THE FALLS OF TROLHÄTTA :
CHRISTIANIA: MUSTAD: TRONDHJEM: STOCKHOLM :

UPSALA:

line of fortifications

COPENHAGEN, the capital of Denmark, is on the east coast of the Island of Zeeland, and has 236,000 inhabitants. The city is enclosed by a now used as a promenade mounting 150 cannon; and the harbor is protected by the Castle of Frederickshavn, which is considered impregnable.

Rosenborg Palace was built in 1604; it ceased long ago to be a royal residence, and contains at present a collection, belonging to Danish kings, made at the death of Christian IV., in 1648. Several rooms are devoted to relics of each of the kings comprising the furniture, arms, jewels and garments of the different eras, and the banqueting hall, hung in tapestry, contains the coronation chairs made of the ivory of the narwhal, considered in former days worth its weight in silver.

Thorwaldsen's Museum, built in 1848, for the exclusive purpose of containing the works of this famous sculptor, is of the Grecian sepulchral

style of architecture, surmounted by a bronze figure of Victory in a chariot, driving four fiery horses. The whole number of Thorwaldsen's works in this museum are 300; among them are Jason and the Golden Fleece, which first gave the sculptor his renown; an equestrian figure of Prince Joseph Poniatowski, Pope Pius VII., the Graces, Night aud Morning, the Ages of Love, and the bust of Martin Luther; this latter, his last work, was left unfinished. In the centre of the court lie the remains of Thorwaldsen, whose name and genius command the highest love and respect. The tomb is a simple, ivy-covered, granite slab, his greatest monument being his works, which surround him.

Christiansborg Palace contains the royal picture gallery, with fine paintings by Danish artists. Among them are Christian II. in Prison, and Samson at the Mill, by Block; A Fisherman's Home, and Rent-day, by Dalsgand. In the banqueting room is Thorwaldsen's famous frieze of Alexander's entrance into Babylon.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is adorned exclusively with the works of Thorwaldsen, whose remains were followed here by the royal family, and all the high officials of the Government. These works comprise twelve colossal marble statues of the Apostles, a Figure of Christ, and, the gem of all, the kneeling figure of an Angel holding a shell, which forms the baptismal font.