Aug. 6 – First day in Berlin. Spent the morning in walking over the city to see the different shops. Engaged some shirts to be made and after dinner took a walk with our friend, Mr. Witte. He pointed out to us that King’s Palace, the castle, the Arsenal and other public buildings, purchased tickets for us to the Opera, which was given to commemorate the King’s return and victories of the Prussians. When the King approached, he bowed all around and was rec. with loud cheers by the people. The house was crowded. After prolonged music by a full brass band, the curtain rose and a hundred or two men and women clothed in the National colors, black and white, sang a National hymn, after which the curtain fell and the band playing “God Save the King”, all the assembly joined in and sung it. After this the curtain rose, exhibiting a beautiful scene, the whole Company of players dressed in fancy dress, illustrating the war. The women were dressed in picturesque peasant costumes and danced several fancy dances. The back scenery was very fine, representing tent makers and camp equipage a band of music and two companies of soldiers, besides a cannon drawn by four horses and a company of cavalry ____. Eighteen soldiers crossed over the stage. The last scene was the crowning of the King with a wreath of laurel.

Aug. 7 – Walked early in the morning, after which we went through the rooms of the castle. The State Apartments are very sumptuously furnished. Many of the rooms contain portraits of the royal family and many notable Germans. In the Rittersaal or Knights Hall, is the throne and a large sideboard covered with gold and silver plate, used on grand occasions.

The most interesting rooms were the apartments of Frederick the Great. The Chapel for the Royal family was very handsome. The crucifix on the altar is said to be worth $500,000; It is studded with precious stones.

In the Museum we saw a very interesting gallery of paintings, given to it by Consul Wagner. They are of the German School. Few of those disgusting Catholic pictures that render other galleries so uninteresting. Many were pictures of things familiar to us; of places visited, etc.

Aug. 8 – Spent the entire morning in the Museum, which has the largest and most interesting Egyptian collection we have yet seen; mummies of every description, in perfect preservation, cats, birds, alligators, bulls, etc. fish, Scandinavian relics, pipes of the 2nd century before the discovery of American and tobacco. Also a large number of curiosities from China and various parts of Asia. The sculpture gallery was principally copies in plaster of the original. There was quite a collection of articles from Pompeii; also a number of ancient coins and jewels. The room containing models of buildings, monuments, etc. in cork was very interesting. In the porcelain saloon there were many good specimens that made in Berlin is not fine. The large picture galley was full of disgusting Catholic pictures. The other works were of no consequence. There are numbers of handsome buildings in Berlin. Many have statuary on the outside, along the caves or cornices. The statue of Frederick the Great on horse back in bronze is very fine; also those erected to Blucher and other Generals. We went to the Thier gardens or winter where persons resort to walk or sit and shat. There is a theater which we did not patronize. The first day of our arrival we met a gentleman at the table whom we met for the first time at Jerusalem. After dinner we had a pleasant walk with him and Mr. Witte, whom we met at the same time. Had some very nice coffee at the ______ House.

Aug. 10 – Left Berlin and arrived at Aix la Chapelle at half past one P.M., a long day’s ride.