MUNICH, the capital of the kingdom of Bavaria, is situated in a plain on the west bank of the Iser. It is surrounded with a rampart, which Meioses three-fourths of the houses, the other one-fourth constituting the suburbs. Munich is divided into four quarters by means of two spacious streets, at right angles to one another, the place of intersection forming the principal square. The streets are in general broad, and the houses neat and well built, though high. The principal public building is the palace, which, though plain in its exterior; is splendid and magnificent. It contains a grand saloon, called the White Horses ; the grand imperial hall, which is reckoned the finest in Germany ; the cabinet, adorned with 130 miniatures, each of which is valued at 200 old Louis ; the bed of Charles VII. the embroidery of which, in gold, silver, and pearls, weighs 24 quintals; a tapestry, representing the actions of Otho of Wittlesbach ; the great marble staircase; the gallery of pictures ; the treasury, containing a large collection of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, Ste.; the royal chapel, with its valuable deposits, such as a virgin of gold, weighing 22 lbs., a superb picture of Michael Angelo, and the small altar which Mary, Queen of Scots used in prison ; a fine organ, the famous palatine pearl, and the model of Trajan's column, which cost 10,000 ducats, the ground being of lapis lazuli, and the bas relief in bronze. It was executed in 1780 by Livadier, and the bas reliefs by Bartolom.
The principal church of Munich is that of Notre Dame, which contains the monument of the Emperor Louis IV. besides thirty altars, and paintings of great value. The church of the Theatins, built on the model of the Vatican, contains a fine painting of the plague at Naples, by Sandrat. The church of the Augustins has a fine painting by Tintoret, which was cut in two in or der to get room to snuff the candles. The other prin cipal churches are, that of the ci-devant Jesuits, now be longing to the Knights of Malta ; the church of St.
Peter, adorned with fine paintings : that of the Knights of Malta, containing a treasure worth two minims of florins ; and that of the English religious, who instruct young girls gratis, not only in religion, but in objects of useful industry. Munich contains, altogether, twenty two churches. The other public buildings arc, the old electoral palace ; the palace of Prince Eugene Beauhar nois ; the Jesuits' college, containing several saloons, in one of which the academy of sciences holds its sittings, while another is occupied with physical and mechanical instruments and models, and objects of natural history ; the convent of the Franciscans, which contains a fine copy of the last judgment, by Michael Angelo; the land-haus, where the states meet ; the council house ; the arsenal ; the new opera house ; the barracks ; the mint ; the hospital of St. Esprit; the great military
garden.
The principal literary and useful establishments arc, the academy of sciences, established in 1759 ; the school of design ; the military school ; the lyceum ; the gym nasium ; the seminary for training teachers; the obser vatory ; and the veterinary and surgical schools; the house of industry, and the house of education, both of which were established by Count Rumford ; four or phan houses ; a lock-hospital, and a house of correc tion. The principal libraries are those or the king, the Jesuits, and the academy of sciences. The royal library contains more than 100,000 volumes, and possesses a great number of editions of 1400, and some valuable MSS. The first edition of Ptolemy, with maps, is one of the rarities in this library.
Munich carries on very considerable trade in grain, wood, salt and iron. Its principal manufactures are, the royal one of tapestry, one of silk ribbons, gold and silver lace, cotton stockings, piano-fortes, playing-cards, tobacco, beer, which is made to the annual value of a million of florins, porcelain made at Nymphenberg, and brought to the warehouse at Munich.
The environs of Munich are beautiful and agreeable. The king has three royal residences, viz. at Nymphen berg, Schlosheim, and Furstenried. At Nymphenberg, about 13 miles from Munich, are large gardens and water-works, but the palace is a tasteless mass of build ings, built on the plan of Versailles. The palace of Schlosheim, 12 miles from Munich, is a magnificent building, and contains 300 apartments. The gallery of paintings, for which it was once famous, were removed about 40 years since to Munich, and have been replaced by others. The population of Munich is estimated at 48,000. East Long. 11° se 30", and North Lat. 48° 8' 20". See Kuttner's Travels, Lett. xxvi.; Reichard's Guide des Voyageurs en Europe, torn. ii. p. 118 ; and Abregi de tout ce y a de remarkable a voir a Munich, 1790. Par. L'Abbe Bermiller.