resent, is of a very
mysterious and complicated sort. Minerva is observed leading up Ceres to
a river-god, who has his arms round the neck of Pomona; while Mars (in
a full-bottomed wig) is driven away by Peace, under whose mantle two
lovely children, representing the Duke's two provinces, repose. The
celebrated Speck is, as need scarcely be said, the author of this
piece; and of other magnificent edifices in the Residenz, such as the
guard-room, the skittle-hall Grossherzoglich Kalbsbratenpumpernickelisch
Schkittelspielsaal, &c., and the superb sentry-boxes before the
Grand-Ducal Palace. He is Knight Grand Cross of the Ancient Kartoffel
Order, as, indeed, is almost every one else in his Highness's dominions.

The town of Kalbsbraten contains a population of two thousand
inhabitants, and a palace which would accommodate about six times
that number. The principality sends three and a half men to the
German Confederation, who are commanded by a General (Excellency), two
Major-Generals, and sixty-four officers of lower grades; all noble, all
knights of the Order, and almost all chamberlains to his Highness the
Grand Duke. An excellent band of eighty performers is the admiration of
the surrounding country, and leads the Grand-Ducal troops to battle in
time of war. Only three of the contingent of soldiers returned from the
Battle of Waterloo, where they won much honor; the remainder was cut to
pieces on that glorious day.

There is a chamber of representatives (which, however, nothing can
induce to sit), home and foreign ministers, residents from neighboring
courts, law presidents, town councils, &c., all the adjuncts of a big
or little government. The court has its chamberlains and marshals, the
Grand Duchess her noble ladies in waiting, and blushing maids of honor.
Thou wert one, Dorothea! Dost remember the poor young Englander? We
parted in anger; but I think--I think thou hast not forgotten him.

The way in which I have Dorothea von Speck present to my mind is this:
not as I first saw her in the garden--for her hair was in bandeaux
then, and a large Leghorn hat with a deep ribbon covered half her fair
face,--not in a morning-dress, which, by the way, was none of the newest
nor the best made--but as I saw her afterwards at a ball at the pleasant
splendid little court, where she moved the most beautiful of the
beauties of Kalbsbraten. The grand saloon of the palace is lighted--the
Grand Duke and his officers, the Duchess