One of the most hopeful institutions of Belgrade is the Lyceum, or germ of a university, as they are proud to call it.  One day I went to see it, along with Professor Shafarik, and looked over the mineralogical collection made in Servia, by Baron Herder, which included rich specimens of silver, copper, and lead ore, as well as marble, white as that of Carrara.  The Studenitza marble is slightly grey, but takes a good polish.  The coal specimens were imperfectly petrified, and of bad quality, the progress of ignition being very slow.  Servia is otherwise rich in minerals; but it is lamentable to see such vast wealth dormant, since none of the mines are worked.

We then went to an apartment decorated like a little ball-room, which is what is called the cabinet of antiquities.  A noble bronze head, tying on the German stove, in the corner of the room, a handsome Roman lamp and some antique coins, were all that could be shown of the ancient Moesia; but there is a fair collection of Byzantine and Servian coins, the latter struck in the Venetian manner, and resembling old sequins.

A parchment document, which extended to twice the length of a man, was now unrolled, and proved to be a patent of Stephan Urosh, the father of Stephan Dushan, endowing the great convent of Dechani, in Albania.  Another curiosity in the collection is the first banner of Kara Georg, which the Servians consider as a national relic.  It is in red silk, and bears the emblem of the cross, with the inscription “Jesus Christ conquers.”

We then went to the professor’s room, which was furnished with the newest Russ, Bohemian, and other Slaavic publications, and after a short conversation visited the classes then sitting.  The end of education in Servia being practical, prominence is given to geometry, natural philosophy, Slaavic history and literature, &c.  Latin and Greek are admitted to have been the keys to polite literature, some two centuries and a half ago; but so many lofty and noble chambers having been opened since then, and routine having no existence in Servia, her youth are not destined to spend a quarter of a lifetime in the mere nurseries of humanity.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 21:  To those who take an interest in this subject, I have great pleasure in recommending a perusal of “Servian Popular Poetry,” (London, 1827,) translated by Dr. Bowring; but the introductory matter, having been written nearly twenty years ago, is, of course, far from being abreast of the present state of information on the subjects of which it treats.]

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Preparations for Departure.—­Impressions of the East.—­Prince Alexander.—­The Palace.—­Kara Georg.

The gloom of November now darkens the scene; the yellow leaves sweep round the groves of the Topshider, and an occasional blast from the Frusca Gora, ruffling the Danube with red turbid waves, bids me begone; so I take up pen to indite my last memoranda, and then for England ho!