STRALSUND, is a sea-port town of Germany, and the capital of a government of the same name be longing to Prussia. It is situated in the strait which separates the island of Rugen from the main land. From the sea it has a good appearance, but upon a nearer approach its aspect is gloomy, from the nar rowness of the streets, and the lowness of the brick houses, which are pointed at the top. It contains four Protestant and one Catholic church, two of which, the cathedral and the church of St. Mary, are handsome. In the former the baptismal fonts, the altar, and the lamps, are worthy of notice; and in the latter the paintings and the organ. The principal public buildings are the government house, the governor's house, the town-house, the arsenal, and the mint. The town-house is a singularly beautiful Gothic building, in a very peculiar and remarkable style. There are here an academy, a public library, an orphan house, a poor house, and a lunatic hoSpital.
The harbour of Stralsund is safe and capacious. Buttner remarks that he saw more vessels in it than in any of the ports of Sweden or Denmark, excepting Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Gottenburg. Vessels
of more than fifteen feet draught of water are obliged to unload in the roads. The chief manufactures are woollen and linen goods, tobacco, soap, glass, and earthenware, with breweries and distilleries. Ship building is also a considerable branch of trade. The principal article of export is corn, of which about 35,000 quarters are annually exported. It is, how ever, inferior in quality to that of Mecklenburg. The imports are principally colonial produce and foreign manufactures. From being bounded at one part by the sea, and other places by lakes and marshes, it is accessible only by bridges. Before 1807, it was a well fortified town, but since then the works have been in a manner dismantled. The town is supplied with water by hydraulic machinery, near the Gate of Kuter. The promenades are the Gardens of Westphal, of Richter, of Hagemeister, and of Wollf. Population 10,000, exclusive of the garrison.