the north coast, nearly opposite Revel. This town, of 20,000 inhabitants, is the capital of Finland. Its port is protected by the fortifications of Sweaborg, which are constructed on seven islands. It was bombarded during the Crimean war, but has been restored, and is a well-built town, with spacious streets, and good houses. The principal objects of interest are the New Church, in the form of a Greek cross, terminating on two sides in a Corinthian portico; the Senate-house; the University, the most ancient in Russia, founded by Christian in 1630; the Public Library, of 80,000 volumes; the Botanical Garden; the Museum, rich in native minerals; the Observatory; the Bath-house, and the mineral springs connected with it. Helsingfors possesses some beautiful promenades, among which may be specified the forest of Standswik, and the gardens of Traeskenda. We now proceed to ABO (400 miles), (Hotels: Society's House), population 20,000. It is situated on the east coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, near its entrance, in a bay covered over with islands. Founded in the 12th century by St. Eric, and endowed with a University in 1630 by Gustavus Adolphus, this town was almost wholly destroyed by a conflagration in 1827. The University has been transferred to Helsingfors. There are no public buildings of any interest. We now proceed nearly due west, and, passing on the right the Aland islands, reach STOCKHOLM. For a description of this city see Route 159. DENMARK. por HE continental tion of Denmark is bounded on the north by the channel of the Skager-rack, on the west by the North Sea, on the south by Germany, and on the east by the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat. The total area is 14,553 English square miles, and the population, at the last census, taken in 1860, was 1,608,362. The continental portion of Denmark belongs to the great European plain, and is almost entirely level. There are some inequalities of surface in the interior of Holstein, but the elevation is very inconsiderable. The coasts are generally low, and the western shores are in many places protected from inundations of the sea by means of dykes, as in Holland. The rivers are inconsiderable 165. BERGEN TO HAMMER in point of size; the Eyder, which forms the boundary between Sleswig and Holstein, flows into the North Sea, and is navigable for small vessels below the town of Rendsburg, whence a canal connects it with the town of Kiel, on the Baltic coast. Near the eastern borders of the kingdom is the Trave, which flows into the Baltic below Lubeck. There are a great number of lakes, both on the mainland and in the island, generally of small size. The islands that belong to Denmark comprise, besides those situated at the entrance of the Baltic, Iceland, and the group of the Faroe Islands. The climate of Denmark is humid, but generally temperate; vapours and moist fogs are of frequent occurrence, owing to the abundance of water; but these are dispersed by the strong winds which prevail during a great part of the year. The winter is frequently severe, and both snow and rain are of almost constant occurrence during that season. MONEY.-One mark is 16 rigsbank skil. equal to 44d. English, or 9 cents U.S. money. Six marks make one rigsbank dollar, equal to 2s. 3d. or 56 cents. Two rigsbank dollars make 1 specie dollar, equal to 4s. 6d. or 1 dollar and 12 cents. SWEDEN and NORWAY Occupy the north-western portion of Europe—a peninsular region to which the name of Scandinavia has been given. Norway lies along the western side of the peninsula: Sweden occupies its eastern and broader division. Although distinguished by separate names the two countries form, in reality, but parts of one region in a geographical sense, and they are united politically. The kingdoms of Sweden and Norway were consolidated into a single state in 1814. The entire area of the Scandinavian peninsula is 292,700 square miles, of which Sweden contains about 170,000. The seas, rivers, and lakes generally abound in fish. In the Lofoden Islands, the fisheries not only supply a large proportion of the ordinary food of the peasantry, both in Sweden and Norway, but a great quantity of the better kind is exported. The rivers in the northern part of Norway are much resorted to by visitors on account of the abundance of fine salmon which they contain. The peculiar physical character of Norway gives rise to considerable variations of climate throughout the country. On the coast generally, rain and fogs prevail; while in the regions near the North Cape, storms are almost incessant, and rage with extraor In the interior dinary violence. In Norway proper the winters, as a rule, are long and cold; and the summers, which rapidly follow the melting of the snows in April and May, are warm and pleasant. On the islands, however, the heats of summer are often insufficient to ripen the corn. The protracted winter of the northern regions follows almost suddenly on the disappearance of the sun, when the absence of solar light is compensated for by the frequent appearance of the aurora borealis, which shines with sufficient intensity to allow of the prosecution of ordinary occupations. The chief rivers of Norway are the Glommen, Lougen, Louven, Drammen, Otter, and Wormen. The first of these has a course of 400 miles, but the majority of Norwegian streams, all of which rise at great elevations, have a comparatively short course, and are not navigable. Sweden forms three great regions-Swealand in the centre, Gothland in the south, and Nordland in the north. These are divided politically into 24 governments, or Läns, of which 8 are in Sweden proper, 12 in Gothland, and the remaining 4 in Nordland, which last division includes the Swedish portion of Lapland. Unlike Norway, Sweden possesses few high mountains, but contains numerous lakes of large dimensions. In the northern parts the land rises gradually from the Gulf of Bothnia to the Kiölen Mountains, which form the boundary between Sweden and Norway. South of 62° north latitude the slope is directed southward, attaining its lowest level in the vicinity of the three great lakes of Wenern, Mälar, and Hielmar, which nearly intersect the country from east to west; and south of these great inland waters the surface is in general level, though ranges of high ground and detached hills occur. The rivers of Sweden are numerous, and the lakes, which are on a gigantic scale, give to the scenery of the country several of its grandest features. The most important of the latter are lakes Wenern, Wettern, and Mälar. The population of the United Kingdom, taken at the last census, was 5,897,046. SWEDISH MONEY.-100 öre (1 riksdaler) equal 1s. 1d. English, or say 27 cents. There are no gold coins in general use. The silver coins are 4, 2, 1 riksdaler pieces. At the rate of £1, or 5 dollars for 18 riksdalers; 5s. or 1 dollar 25 cents, are equal to 4 riksdalers, 50 öre; 18. or 25 cents equal 90 öre; 1d. or 2 cents equal 7öre. NORWEGIAN MONEY. The specie dollar, containing 5 marks or orts of 24 sk. each, making 120 sk. The silver money comprises 1 sp. dollar; ditto; 1 mark or 24 sk.; mark or 12 sk.; and mark or 8 sk. One skilling equals d. English or 1 cent; 1 mark equals 103d. or 21 cents; a specie dollar equals 4s. 5d. or 1 dollar and 10 cents. The most convenient way of reaching Norway and Sweden from England is by steamer from Hull, from which port steamers sail at frequent intervals for all the principal ports. Steamers sail twice a week or oftener from Kiel and Lübeck for Copenhagen and the principal ports of Sweden and Norway. ROUTE 157. HAMBURG TO COPENHAGEN. 306 miles. Time by railway, 16 hours. 1st class, 13th, 174 sgr.; 2nd, 9th. 22} sgr. EAVING the terminus at Altona, we presently reach Elmshorn on the Krükau. The country is fertile, but abounding in marshes. A branch line goes off to Itsehoe, by way of Glückstadt, an important commercial town of 6,000 inhabitants, on the Elbe, with a good port, and carrying on a considerable fishing trade. Neumünster (50 miles), population 6,900, has several cloth manufactories. [From Neumünster a line goes direct to KIEL, a seaport town, of 17,000 inhabitants, on the Baltic. Its University comprises collections of natural history and antiquities. In the Castle are the museum and a collection of paintings and plaster casts. Steamers sail frequently for Copenhagen and St. Petersburg.] Passing Rendsburg (66 miles) and Kloster Krug (78 miles), from which latter place a branch goes to Schleswig, the capital of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein. FLENSBURG (115 miles, population 19,700, situated on the fjord, or bay, of the same name. Passing Hadersleben, where there is a fine church, and 8 monument to Luther, we reach Kolding (160 miles), the capital of Jutland, situated on the gulf of that name. Above it rise the ruins of a castle built in the 13th century. Passing Fredericia (176 miles) we reach Strüb (181 miles). Here a we leave the train and cross the Little Belt, the name given to the strait separating Jutland from Funen. The landing place is at Middelfart (186 miles). We go on to ODENSE (212 miles), a town of 14,000 inhabitants, the capital of Funen, and the most ancient town in Denmark. According to tradition it was founded by Odin, whose tumulus and castle, near the lake of Naesbyhoved, a short distance from Odense, are shown. The Cathedral, founded by Canute in the year 1080, and restored in 1500, 18 a very fine structure. The Raadhaus is very ancient. The popular writer, Andersen, and the sculptor, Jerichau, were natives of this place. At Nyborg (229 miles) we embark in steamer, and cross the Great Belt to Korsor (243 miles). At Soro (261 miles) there is an academy, established in the 12th century, and a beautiful Gothic church, containing the tombs of the Bishop Absalon, the historian Holberg, and King Waldemar IV. The old church of Ringsted contains the tombs of seven Danish kings, and several monuments, among which is said to be that of Canute the Great. Roeskilde (287 miles) was anciently the capital of the kingdom. The Gothic Cathedral was built by Canute the Great, in the 11th century to atone for the murder of his brother-in-law. It contains the tombs of 72 members of the royal family of Denmark. The most remarkable are those of Frederick IV. and V. Christian III. and IV. by Thorwaldsen; of Frederick II., a beautiful alabaster mausoleum; and of Queen Margaret. The altar is adorned with sculptures, representing the Nativity and the Passion. Passing several unimportant places, we reach COPENHAGEN (Hotels: Royal, d'Angleterre, du Nord, Phoenix). Population in 1860, 155,143. The principal PLACES are the Kongens Nytorv, from which extend 13 streets, (upon it are the Palace of Charlottenborg, the theatre, military school, and many fine buildings); and the Fredericks Plads, surrounded by palaces. The principal streets are the Amaliegade, Bredgade, and Goethersgade. The Frue Kirke (church of the Virgin) was destroyed by the English fleet, in the bombardment of 1807, but restored in 1829. It is adorned with sculptures by Thorwaldsen, including the Preaching of John the Baptist, the Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, the Guardian Angel, the Twelve Apostles, the Redeemer, Luther and Melancthon, &c.; the choir, in the form of a rotunda, is surmounted by a cupola; there is an excellent view from the summit of the tower. The Church of the Trinity was erected in the 17th century, by Christian IV. The vaulted roof rests on 14 octagonal pillars; the altar, the pulpit, the stalls, and most of the decorations are of carved wood. This is commonly called the Runde Kirke (Round church), from its lofty round tower, or belfry, which is ascended by a spiral inclined plane. The Church of the Holy Spirit contains a good painting of Luther at the Diet of Worms, by A. Möller. The PALACE OF CHRISTIANSBORG stands on the site of the palace of Bishop Absalon. The present building was reconstructed in 1830. Its principal façade is adorned with a pediment sculptured by Borup, four bas-reliefs by Thorwaldsen, and four statues in bronze, one by Thorwaldsen, the remainder by Bissen. The finest apartment is the Riddersaal |