THE King of Saxony does not rule over a great or mighty people, but his subjects have always displayed intellectual qualities and a practical energy which distinguish them honourably among the conglomeration of states known by the name of Germany. Notwithstanding the constant sufferings to which Saxony has been exposed in the last and present centuries-the Swedish invasion, the two Silesian wars, the sevenyears' war which Frederic the Great carried on almost wholly at the expense of this devoted land, the vast contributions during the sway of Napoleon, and the exhaustion of all its resources during those complicated manoeuvres, which ended by bringing together half a million of soldiers on the memorable battle-field of LeipzigSaxony at present enjoys a prosperity unexampled in former times. It has recently given a striking proof of foresight, which has been deservedly attended with the most prosperous results, by taking the lead in introducing railroads into Germany. The line from Leipzig to Dresden was the first of any length that was laid down in that country, and it now forms the centre of the roads that radiate in all directions from the former city. After adhering to the principles of free trade, until, by its geographical position, it was obliged to join the Zollverein, the industry and frugality of the inhabitants of Saxony have secured to their native country a large share of the benefits which this association has conferred upon the manufacturing states of Germany.

The personal character of Frederic Augustus, called in Saxony the Just, had inspired his subjects with esteem and reverence, and the respect due to his misfortunes induced them to bear, without murmuring and even with good-natured irony, the somewhat indolent course pursued by his minister. But the French revolution of 1830 gave a feverish impulse in many countries to the public discontent which had previously slumbered, and this displayed itself by a general rising against the authorities in several cities in Saxony. The character of King Anton, an amiable but weak old man, as well as that of his brother, Prince Maximilian, the father of the present king, afforded no guarantee for such a change in the government as would satisfy the excited wishes of the people. Frederic Augustus, the subject of the present brief memoir, was declared co-regent with the reigning monarch; a measure which gave universal satisfaction. A constitution was at the same time given to the people, which has contributed greatly to the political development of Saxony. On the sixth of June, 1836, the co-regent ascended the throne, upon the death of his uncle, Anton, his father, Maximilian, having resigned his claim to the succession in the eventful year 1830.

FREDERIC AUGUSTUS, KING OF SAXONY.

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Frederic Augustus was born on the 18th of May, 1797. He lost his mother when in his eighth year; and his uncle, the king, who strictly maintained his privileges as head of the family, nominated his tutors himself, whose efforts would seem to have been successfully directed to preserving the youthful princes from the effects of flattery, a court vice equally common and pernicious. It is probable that the strict etiquette which was at that time observed at the court of Dresden, first laid the seed of that dislike to empty forms which has ever since characterized him. But the public misfortunes soon interrupted the course of his studies, and he was obliged to accompany the court in its flight to Leipzig and Francfort, in the year 1809, and in 1813, to Regensberg (Ratisbon) and Prague. After remaining for a year and a half in this latter city, he joined the Austrian head-quarters at Dijon, where he was kindly received by the Archduke Ferdinand. After visiting Paris and the capitals of Southern Germany, he returned to Dresden. The studies which had been so frequently interrupted were resumed with diligence, under the direction of the most eminent masters, in those departments of military and legal science which are essentially necessary to the complete education of a continental sovereign. In 1818, Prince Frederic was made major-general; in 1819, a member of the Saxon privy-council, but without a vote until the year 1822. After passing through the different higher grades in the army, he was made commander-in-chief in the year 1830. He was married, in 1819, to the Archduchess Caroline of Austria, who died in 1832, and in the following year he married the Princess Mary of Bavaria. He has no children, so that the throne will, in all probability, descend to his brother, Prince John.

The King of Saxony is highly and deservedly popular with his subjects. His affability and strict love of justice have not a little contributed to the good working of the new constitution; and although the public mind in Germany is, at present, in a highly agitated state, owing to religious ferment, and increasing demands for a more popular form of government, particularly in Prussia; and although the tumult at Leipzig and its calamitous results, with which our readers are doubtless familiar from the reports in the English journals, have even caused a temporary suspension of the good understanding between the king and the people, we doubt not that the mild wisdom of the king, united with the freedom of discussion in the Diet, which is now sitting at Dresden, will contribute to restore harmony; the more especially as the king's conscious love of constitutional liberty is universally acknowledged.

This monarch is honourably distinguished by his love of science, in many branches of which he is himself no mean proficient. He possesses very valuable private collections in the fine arts, which he has made with equal care and judgment. The love of botany is hereditary in his family; and of his diligence in this science he has given a public proof in the "Flora Marienbergensis, or a List of the Plants and Rocks,

&c., collected and described by Prince Frederic, Co-regent of Saxony, and J. W. von Goethe," published at Prague, 1837. Not satisfied with seeing men and manners in the confined and doubtful limits of a court, he has travelled into various countries, the Netherlands, France, Dalmatia, &c., pursuing his botanical and scientific studies with ardour, and mingling with men of all classes. In his recent visit to England and Scotland, far from being satisfied with the empty brilliancy of court fêtes, he exhibited an active and intelligent curiosity, rare, not only in crowned heads, but in the great majority of travellers of all ranks.

BARCELONA.

BARCELONA, which has played such an important part in the many recent revolutions of which Spain has unfortunately been the theatre, is one of the largest cities in that country, and the capital of the province of Catalonia. It is situated in the Mediterranean sea, between the mouths of the Llobregat and the Bezas, and is built in the . shape of a half-moon. It is well fortified, and has on the east side a strong citadel, erected in 1715, which is in connexion with Fort San Carlos on the sea. To the west, lies the Mount Montyouch, (Mons Jovis,) with a fort which protects the harbour. The harbour is spacious, but difficult of access, and hardly deep enough for ships of war: it is protected by a great dam, at the end of which is a lighthouse and bulwark. Barcelona is divided into an upper and a lower town, and (including the adjacent city of Barcelonette, which was built in a regular manner since 1752, and contains about ten thousand inhabitants, mostly dock-yard men, sailors, and soldiers) contains above ten thousand houses and about one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants, a cathedral, nine parish-churches and many other places of worship, a castle of the old Counts of Barcelona, a university, several public libraries, and other public buildings, a hospital for three thousand patients, a large arsenal, docks, a cannon-foundry, &c. Barcelona is the seat of a bishop, who belongs to the ecclesiastical province of the Archbishop of Tarragona; it is also the residence of a Captain-general. Formerly the Inquisition had a court here. Barcelona (as indeed does the province of Catalonia) belongs to the principal manufacturing districts of Spain; it contains thirty calico-presses, one hundred and fifty cotton-factories, many silk-weavers, and other establishments, connected with a variety of manufactures; it is also famous for its manufacture of fire-arms. Even in the middle ages this city was of great importance for the commerce of the Mediterranean, for which it was