This magnificent Palace has a Garden belonging to it, which looks towards the Elbe. It is adorn'd with Statues of white Marble, which the King caus'd to be purchas'd at Rome, of the Cardinals Annibal and Alexander Albani, Nephews to Clement XI. These Statues are much more priz'd here than they were at Rome.
Near the Palace of the Indies stands that of the Cadets; a magnificent Structure built by the States of Saxony, for maintaining two Companies of Cadets, all Gentlemen of the Country; who are there instructed in all the Sciences fitting for Persons of Quality.
Farther up in the same Street, there is an Amphitheatre, or Area, for the Battles of wild Beasts; of which a great number is kept for that purpose. Here are Lions, Tigers, Bears; in short, all the fiercest Animals from the four Quarters of the World.
The Bridge over the Elbe, which joins Old Dresden to the New, is scarce to be parallel'd, either for its Length or Substance. It has lately been made broader by forming Demy-Arches which support the Riders on each side. The Barriers are of Iron, well wrought. An Equestrian Statue of the King is going to be erected upon it.
The Palace or Castle joins to the Bridge, at the Entrance of New Dresden. This is an ancient Structure, which makes but a mean Appearance; and 'tis said, that the King intends it shall be pull'd down, and another built in its room; and that his Majesty has set apart eight Millions of Crowns for the Expence of it.
The inside of the Castle surpasses the outside. The State-Room is splendidly furnish'd. The Great Gallery contains several Curiosities, such as antique Busts, Vessels, and Pictures.
This Palace has two Chapels, one of which belongs to the Roman Catholicks, and the other to the Lutherans. The first was heretofore the Theatre for Operas, but the King turn'd it into a Chapel, upon account of the Marriage of his only Son with the Archdutchess, eldest Daughter to the Emperor Joseph; the second was always the Chapel of the Electors of Saxony. The King might, if he pleas'd, have order'd Mass to be celebrated in it, but he wou'd not give his Subjects that Handle for Complaint; besides, the late Queen, his Wife, having always stuck to the Lutheran Religion, in which she was born, he left her that Chapel for her use. The Treasure of it is extremely rich, and contains Vessels, Chasubles, and other things heretofore consecrated and given to this Chapel by the Piety of the Electors.
The Royal Treasury, commonly call'd the Grune Gewölbe, (the Green Vault,) is in the Palace. They are three arch'd Rooms, which contain immense Riches, and shine all over with Gold, Precious Stones, and Diamonds. 'Tis one of the finest Places in the World. There are several Sets of Brilliant Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, Pearls, Saphirs, and other Precious Stones. Every Set is compleat, and consists of Buttons for Clothes, Loops for Hats, Swords, Hangers, Canes, Sleeve-Buttons,
Shoe-Buckles, Muffs, and Sword-Belts, Snuff-Boxes, Watches, Tweezer-Cases, Pocket-Books; in short, all the Jewels that can possibly be imagin'd, even to the Furniture of a Horse; so that were I to write down every Particular, I should furnish you a Volume. And they all look the better, for being ranged with wonderful Nicety in Cases of Crystal.