Dresden is the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, whose territory is a thousand square miles smaller than the State of Massachusetts, but has a population of two million four hundred thousand. It is an independent state, except that its army is under the control of the King of Prussia in time of war. Its royal house is one of the oldest in Europe, and in the tenth century gave an Emperor to Germany. The population of Dresden is one hundred and fifty-six thousand. It is in a healthy and pleasant region, and has many attractions, so that it has long been regarded as a desirable residence by Americans. Hundreds of families from the United States live there, not only because it is cheap and pleasant, but because the place affords the best advantages for education, while its art collections and curiosities are not excelled by many of the capitals of Europe. Not many of the students appeared the next morning before nine o'clock, though most of them had slept all the way from Berlin to Dresden. Palaces and museums with waxed floors are very tiresome. One needs a week properly to digest the sights of the capital of Saxony; but our party were to do what they could in a single long day. Mr. Ferdinand Spott, one of the most honest, faithful, and reliable _commissionaires_ to be found in Europe, was engaged to engineer the sight-seeing, and to make arrangements for a visit to the Saxon Switzerland the next day. Dresden is on both sides of the Elbe, the old city being on the left bank, and the new on the right. They are joined by a noble stone bridge, fourteen hundred feet long, originally built with funds procured by the sale of dispensations from the pope of indulgences to eat eggs and butter during Lent. One of its arches was blown up by Davoust, to favor the retreat of the French army after the battle of Dresden, but was promptly restored by the Emperor of Russia. Near the bridge, in the old city, is a large square, part of it beautifully laid out in groves, gardens, and winding walks, with a pond and island in it. On or near this square are most of the attractions to strangers. The Hotel de Bellevue is on the river, in one corner. Next to it, on the river, is an extensive restaurant and beer garden. The theatre which stood in the centre of the square has been destroyed by fire, a temporary structure of wood taking its place. On one side stands the Zwinger, originally intended as the vestibule of a vast palace, the rest of which was never erected, contains the Armory and Museum of Natural History. Opposite the bridge is the Catholic Church, a very odd and profusely ornamented structure. The royal family are Catholics, though the great majority of the people are Lutherans. Next to this is the _Schloss_, or palace, and connected with it is the picture gallery.