After the most ancient fashion, benches were ranged around the wainscoting, and raised one step above the floor for the accommodation of the members of the assembly.  This readily suggested to us why the order of rank in our senate was distributed by benches.  To the left of the door, on the opposite corner, sat the Schoeffen; in the corner itself the Schultheiss, who alone had a small table before him; those of the second bench sat in the space to his left as far as the wall to where the windows were; while along the windows ran the third bench, occupied by the craftsmen.  In the midst of the hall stood a table for the registrar (Protoculfuehrer).

Once within the Roemer, we even mingled with the crowd at the audiences of the burgomasters.  But whatever related to the election and coronation of the emperors possessed a greater charm.  We managed to gain the favor of the keepers, so as to be allowed to mount the new gay imperial staircase, which was painted in fresco, and on other occasions closed with a grating.  The election-chamber, with its purple hangings and admirably fringed gold borders, filled us with awe.  The representations of animals, on which little children or genii, clothed in the imperial ornaments and laden with the insignia of the empire, made a curious figure, were observed by us with great attention; and we even hoped that we might live to see, some time or other, a coronation with our own eyes.  They had great difficulty to get us out of the great imperial hall, when we had been once fortunate enough to steal in; and we reckoned him our truest friend, who, while we looked at the half-lengths of all the emperors painted around at a certain height, would tell us something of their deeds.

We listened to many a legend of Charlemagne.  But that which was historically interesting for us began with Rudolph of Hapsburg, who by his courage put an end to such violent commotions.  Charles the Fourth also attracted our notice.  We had already heard of the Golden Bull, and of the statutes for the administration of criminal justice.  We knew, too, that he had not made the Frankforters suffer for their adhesion to his noble rival, Emperor Gunther of Schwarzburg.  We heard Maximilian praised, both as a friend to mankind, and to the townsmen, his subjects, and were also told that it had been prophesied of him he would be the last emperor of a German house, which unhappily came to pass, as after his death the choice wavered only between the king of Spain (afterwards), Charles V., and the king of France, Francis I. With some anxiety it was added, that a similar prophecy, or rather intimation, was once more in circulation; for it was obvious that there was room left for the portrait of only one more emperor,—­a circumstance which, though seemingly accidental, filled the patriotic with concern.