December i.
I continue at Dresden this and the three following days, to observe the curiosities of the place. It is a neat well built town, with straight and fair streets, compact but not large, enclosed within a regular fortification, and a deep foss constantly filled with water. It stands upon the Elbe, over which it has a noble bridge, almost as long as that of Prague, supported by eighteen arches, and on each side affording a delightful prospect along the bending chanel of the water. By this bridge the city is joined to a neat suburb, called Old Dresden, the residence chiefly of merchants, among whom I found two Englishmen, Mr. Northleigh and Mr. Dealing, by both whom I was kindly treated. Dresden was always the residence of the Electors of Saxony, till this present Elector was chosen King of Poland. However it is the ordinary seat both of the Electress, and the Prince, who is six years old; but both of them happened to be absent now. The Deputy of the Elector is the Prince of Furstemberg, who is of the Popish religion, but the whole town is intirely Lutheran. They have three churches, St. Cross, Sta. Sophia, and the chapel of the court. St. Cross is a large antient Gothic building, well adorned in the inside, particularly with a carved and stately altar. The number of ministers is about twelve, whose revenue is very small, and therefore the people here complain, that they make up that defect by the abuses of confession. The palace is a fair stone building, consisting of two courts, of which the first is large and regular, adorned both within and without with very good carving, and painting in fresco, which deserves regard, particularly one part of it that fronts the street, and represents a Roman triumph. The gardens are likewise curious, and the riding school is remarkably spatious; but what obscures every thing else in Dresden, and perhaps all others of the same kind in Germany, is the kunstkammer, with the arsenal, and stable of the Elector. Each of these are shewn to strangers at the price of three florins, the curiosities of which I reduced into a catalogue. On the bridge at Dresden is erected a curious brass crucifix, not inferior to that of Prague in the workmanship, but far exceeding it in design, and bearing an inscription, that disavows all superstitious worship.