foundation--His fate--True history--Neagu Bassarab, its founder--John Radul--Quaint and interesting tablets concerning its history down to 1804--Subsequent history and present condition--(Note: Brief history of Christianity in Roumania--Atheism and indifference to religion). I. The chief cities or towns in Roumania are Bucarest, the capital, in the district of Ilfovǔ; Jassy or Iasi, the old capital of Moldavia, in that of the same name; Galatz or Galati, in Covurluiǔ; Curtea d'Ardges, in the district of that name; Braila or Ibrail, Craiova, Botosani, Ploiestĭ, and Pitesti. We have not named them exactly in the order of their size, as it is our intention to give some details of the first four only. [Illustration: PLAN OF BUCAREST, WITH THE MAIN STREETS AND BUILDINGS. (_Reduced from Plan by Professor Zamphirolu._) 1. Filaret Railway Station. 2. Tirgovistea Railway Station. 3. Metropolitan Cathedral. 4. Palace. 5. National Theatre. 6. Council of Ministers. 7. Academy. 8. British Embassy. 9. Post and Telegraph Offices. 10. Church, Radu Voda. 11. Ministry of Finance. 12. Summer Palace (Cotroceni). 13. Asyle Hélène. 14. Coltza Hospital. 15. Colentina Hospital. 16. Bank of Roumania.] Of the capital, Bucarest, the reader will here find a general plan, in case he should at any time visit the city. To give any lengthened account of it, however, would be a mistake; for such a description would certainly be inaccurate a few years hence, as the city is undergoing great change and improvement from day to day. Still it is the heart of Roumania, the centre from which all progress emanates; and whilst we shall refer to some of its more valuable institutions when we come to deal with national and social questions of general importance, we propose to dwell upon it for a brief space. Some of the questions that are asked concerning Bucarest, even by persons who believe themselves well-informed, are highly amusing. One friend, who is really a well-read man, asked us shortly after our visit whether it was not a great continuous 'Mabille,' and he looked very incredulous when we told him that, although we had walked through and through it, and had carefully looked at all the posters announcing amusements in various places, we had no recollection of seeing a dancing-garden amongst them, and that we believed none existed. Another friend, a highly educated professional man, was not quite sure whether Bucarest was north or south of the Danube; but it was a place, he knew, where the chief occupation was gambling. There may be some little truth in the latter statement, but gaming-tables are forbidden, and he need not go so far from home as that to see the law evaded.