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We had agreed to descend the Rhine in a boat from Strasburgh to

Rotterdam, whence we might take shipping for London. During this

voyage we passed many willowy islands and saw several beautiful

towns. We stayed a day at Mannheim, and on the fifth from our

departure from Strasburgh, arrived at Mainz. The course of the

Rhine below Mainz becomes much more picturesque. The river

descends rapidly and winds between hills, not high, but steep,

and of beautiful forms. We saw many ruined castles standing on

the edges of precipices, surrounded by black woods, high and

inaccessible. This part of the Rhine, indeed, presents a

singularly variegated landscape. In one spot you view rugged

hills, ruined castles overlooking tremendous precipices, with the

dark Rhine rushing beneath; and on the sudden turn of a

promontory, flourishing vineyards with green sloping banks and a

meandering river and populous towns occupy the scene.