around have an air of mingled curiosity and hatred.  There is one, however, in whose mild features and tearful eye is expressed sympathy and pity for the prisoner.  It is said this picture has had a great effect upon Catholics who have seen it, in softening the bigotry with which they regarded the early reformers; and if so, it is a triumphant proof how much art can effect in the cause of truth and humanity.  I was much interested in a cast of the statue of St. George, by the old Italian sculptor Donatello.  It is a figure full of youth and energy, with a countenance that seems to breathe.  Donatello was the teacher of Michael Angelo, and when the young sculptor was about setting off for Rome, he showed him the statue, his favorite work.  Michael gazed at it long and intensely, and at length, on parting, said to Donatello, “It wants but one thing.”  The artist pondered long over this expression, for he could not imagine in what could fail the matchless figure.  At length, after many years, Michael Angelo, in the noon of his renown, visited the death-bed of his old master.  Donatello begged to know, before he died, what was wanting to his St. George.  Angelo answered, “the gift of speech!” and a smile of triumph lighted the old man’s face, as he closed his eyes forever.

The Eschernheim Tower, at the entrance of one of the city gates, is universally admired by strangers, on account of its picturesque appearance, overgrown with ivy and terminated by the little pointed turrets, which one sees so often in Germany, on buildings three or four centuries old.  There are five other watch towers of similar form, which stand on different sides of the city, at the distance of a mile or two, and generally upon an eminence overlooking the country.  They were erected several centuries ago, to discern from afar the approach of an enemy, and protect the caravans of merchants, which at that time travelled from city to city, from the attacks of robbers.  The Eschernheim Tower is interesting from another circumstance, which, whether true or not, is universally believed.  When Frankfort was under the sway of a prince, a Swiss hunter, for some civil offence, was condemned to die.  He begged his life from the prince, who granted it only on condition that he should fire the figure 9 with his rifle through the vane of this tower.  He agreed, and did it; and at the present lime, one can distinguish a rude 9 on the vane, as if cut with bullets, while two or three marks at the side appear to be from shots that failed.

The promise of spring which lately visited us, was not destined for fulfilment.  Shortly afterwards it grew cold again, with a succession of snows and sharp northerly winds.  Such weather at the commencement of spring is not uncommon at home; but here they say there has not been such a winter known for 150 years.  In the north of Prussia many persons have been starved to death on account of provisions becoming scarce.  Among the Hartz also, the suffering is very great.