134 List of New Works published on the Continent. Annuaire de l'école royale polytechnique, pour l'an- 1840 8vo Stuttg. 9s Der Freihafen. Galerie von Unterhaltungsbildern aus den Kreisen der Literatur, Gesellschaft und Wissenschaft. 1840 Part III 8vo Altona 7s Humoristische Blätter, 1840. Edited by Theodor von Kobbe. 52 Nos. 8vo Oldenburg 7s 6d Jaffa, Tenue des Livres du Commerce. 8vo Paris. 6s Leblanc, Recueil des machines, instruments et ap- Longpérier, Essai sur les Médailles des rois Perses Mémoire d'agriculture, d'économie rurale et domes Oct., 1840. tique, publiés par la société royale et centrale d'agriculture. Année 1839. 8vo Paris. 78 Memorie delle R. accademia delle Scienze in Torino. Serie seconda. 4to Vol. I. Turin. Physiologie du goût, ou Méditations de gastronomie transcendante. Par le baron Richerand et M. de Balzac. 12mo. Paris. 4s Reybaud, L., Etudes sur les réformateurs contemporains ou socialistes modernes, Saint-Simon, Charles Fourier, Robert Owen. 8vo. Paris. 9s Seneuil, Le crédit et la banque. 8vo Paris. 2s 6d Stud Book français etc. Vol. II. 8vo Paris. Tardif, de Mello, Des Peuples Européens, leur état social. Esprit de la démocratie de 1789 à 1840. 8vo. Paris 9s 6d Trouvé, Baron, Jacques Coeur, commerçant, maî tre des monnaies, argentier du roi Charles VII. et négociateur. 15me siècle 8vo Paris 6s MUSIC. Anweisung theoretisch praktische, zur Erlernung Berg, C., Aperçu historique sur l'état de la musique Fétis, F. J., Biographie universelle des Musiciens et Bibliographie générale de la Musique. Vol IV 8vo Bruxelles 10s Jahrbuch des deutschen National Vereins für Musik und ihre Wissenschaft. Edited by Dr. G. Schilling 2d half year 26 Nos Stuttgart. 15s 6d Schindler, A., Biographie von Ludwig van Beethoven. Mit dem Portrait Beethoven's und 2 Fac. similes. 8vo Münster. 12s Elwart, A., Théorie musicale. Solfège progressif, rédigé d'après un plan qui réunit l'exposé des règles à leur application immédiate. 8vo Paris 4s THE FOREIGN QUARTERLY REVIEW. No. LII. FOR JANUARY, 1841. ART. I.-Denkwürdigkeiten und vermischte course, not the light limber canoe that Schriften, von K. A. VARNHAGEN VON prances friskily amid the twinkling phosENSE. 4 vols. 8vo. Mannheim: Hoff. phorescence of babbling waves. Or say it 1837-8. Neue Folge, 1ster Band. Brock-is a piece of Mosaic put together with exhans, 1840. ceeding skilfulness, and presenting here and there some pretty, even playful pictures; but as a whole, formal, systematic, stiff, failing to please remarkably by an over-zeal not to offend, infected considerably with the unavoidable dulness of studied decency and prudish propriety. THE Germans, who write everything, cannot write memoirs. Let them not be ashamed. NON OMNIA POSSUMUS OMNES. Neither let them despair. Time, which in so many cases brings roses, and has even been accused latterly (though strangely in the face of recent But there is another screw loose in the notable facts), among other mirabilia mundi, matter. Quiet humour may be an apt surof threatening to make Frenchmen sensible, rogate for nimbleness of wit, and purity of may also succeed, by a succession of reason- feeling for brilliancy of idea: that magical able efforts, in making Germans witty. We undefinable German GEMUETH may turn the have known very solemn persons by constant scale favourably against the redoubtable and conscientious endeavour (aided perhaps French esprit any day, we are assured. somewhat by a favourable change in their Jung Stilling's autobiography, and other digestive system) learn to make very proper books of that sort which have been uncompuns. "J'apprends d'être vif," as the old monly popular in England, are remarkable baron said when he jumped over the tables: instances here; but when instead of mystical why should not that heavy lumbering Ger- young men and old charcoal burners, village man transport, laden with sand-bags and wind-pastors and sensible housewives, statesmen bags, and all expressible bulky things innu- and diplomatists,-a Metternich, a Gentz, a merable, by the aid of carpenters and ship- Talleyrand, and even such "high persons" wrights and other skilful persons, be shaven as a Francis, an Alexander, and a Frederick down and trimmed and painted into a neat pleasure pinnace, such as those in which English and French wits delight to sail Meanwhile Varnhagen von Ense has only done the half, and the least important half, of the work he has trimmed the vessel neatly enough, painted it gaily, and licked it passing smooth but it is still the bulging junk that we knew of old in German dis William are brought upon the carpet; when, comes tion. never can flourish under that fatal restric. | gossip-greedy reader finds himself deceived and disappointed again and again through the No one can have entered into the historical volume; till when we begin to count our and biographical literature of Germany with gains in that sort of merchandise which we any small spirit of discrimination, without had expected specially to find in memoirs having had frequent occasion to make this (since it can be found nowhere else), we remark. It is not that this or the other in- | perceive that they are for the most part very stance of reticency or false delicacy requires small indeed, and that names, names, names to be pointed out by a minute and curious--mere names--or things as unsubstantial as criticism of detail, but there is a general tone Banquo's kings or Justinus Kerner's Ritter, in the whole handling which strikes the free are all that we have got for real and natural Briton instinctively as something strange. men that eat and drink, talk, laugh, ride, The political institutions of Germany bear walk, and sometimes trip and stumble like the same relation to those of England that ourselves. Popery does to Protestantism; and the politi We are informed, for instance, in this same cal literature of the two countries is necessarily account of the congress of Vienna, that the affected in the same way by the civil institu- Emperor Alexander and Eugene Beauharnois, tions as the theological literature of the two viceroy of Italy, were seen daily walking arm religions is by the ecclesiastical. There is in arm on the Bastei "in bearing and carin despotic countries a sacredness felt to sur- riage two of the most beautiful phenomena round the characters of kings and officers of (die schönsten Erscheinungen) that one state, similar to that which separates the ec- could set his eyes on." What a respectable clesiastic from the layman in countries where and very proper generality is this! Why Popery is the predominant religion; and this did not the writer tell us how Alexander was feeling in either case produces the same re- dressed; whether he wore on the Bastei the sult; viz. even when there is no formal cen- same "blue coat and breeches that he used sorship, a virtual extinction of all freedom of to wear when galloping on a large grey horse individual remark on the character of persons on the Prater;' "* and how beautifully his who are the objects of unconditioned public round, smiling face contrasted with the dark reverence. No doubt this is becoming and military moustachio'd countenance of Eubeneficial in many respects; to "speak evil gene? But no man is a hero to his valet-deof dignities" habitually, as is the common chambre; and as all kings and princes are trick of all free countries, is a double sin, heroes to Varnhagen, it is not surprising that once because of the speaking and again be- he should abstain from going into such micause of the person spoken at; but it is ma-nute details as might prove that they also are nifest on the other hand, where the follies, mortal. Not so, however, with "high perfrailties and absurdities of persons in high sons" (hohe personen) beyond the immediate places are not and cannot be freely exposed, reach of German and Russian influence. If anything like truth of history, much more Lord and Lady Castlereagh, like their own anything like character and nature in bio- nation, given to bodily neatness, walk the graphical detail, is hopeless. Varnhagen, for Bastei as "primly rigged as if they were goinstance, in his account of the congress of ing to a masked ball," this is sure to be noVienna, to be presently noticed, tells us that ticed; and with the neat observation apto relieve the monotony of the waltz, the act-pended, "not remarking how much they were ed charade and the tableau vivant, some of remarked." Varnhagen is indeed by no the diplomatic wits proposed the problemwho is the most laughable figure at the congress and that this question should be answered according to the forms of process of the congress, by protocols, notes, statistical tables, committees and other known machinery of diplomatists. The proposal was agreed to; folios were blotted, and tape was wasted past reckoning, and the result-parturiunt montes-was that the prize of ludicrous externality was after much deliberation allotted to the two individuals who—“ natürlich lassen wir dergleichen Geheimnisse auf sich selbst beruhen."-" But these mysteries of course," says our memoir writer, "must be * Bright's Travels in Hungary, 1818. We get left in their own obscurity"—and thus the no such picturesque particulars from Varnhagen. ? means deficient in an eye for those apparently insignificant externalities which are the surest index to character; he is only so thoroughly infected with the true German reverence for titled dignities, that he never dares to speak of them in their vulgar capacity as men. Therefore he tells us nothing of " a thin figure with sallow shrunken features, of mild expression, with a stiff neck, bending a little forward, and walking badly," that struck Dr. Bright particularly among the notables of the congress. But this figure wore a German crown; and characteristic as the man ner is in some respect of the man (Kaiser | rough, unmannerly, English Whiggism of Franz), Varnhagen's memoirs contain no Herr von Raumer. He only wants what such notices; throughout the entire work we Metternich and Goethe also want-a broad are constantly cheated of truth, nature, and gush of jovial human feeling, and a certain reality, by the vague reverence of loyal, and rough manliness of character, which, when the nice propriety of diplomatic phrase. wisely tempered, never fails to please, even amid the most artificial smoothness of a fashionable saloon. He, on all occasions, prefers the manageable regularity of polished weakness, to the occasional eccentricity of rude strength. He makes an idol of Gentz, a man who, notwithstanding his European celebrity, was little better than a skilful stylist; in other respects scarcely a man at all, less than a woman,* a mere "eunuch of the portfolio." He sneers in his delicate way (for he has not pith enough to give a muscular Gibbonian sneer) at Jahn, Von Gagern, Werner, and other rude and uncourteous, though honest and true developments of manhood. He sins in the same places where his Magnus Apollo, Goethe, sinned; fingering often where a brave man would strike; painting where an honest man would cut. He is, indeed, a walking cabinet edition of Goethe, in all the externalities of manner and style; elevating neatness almost into sublimity; witching prettiness that it looks like beauty. For Varnhagen von Ense, we must here observe, is not only a German and a courtier, but also a diplomatist-a sort of small Prussian Gentz-and for this reason also, not the most fit person to write good memoirs of public persons and public things. A memoir writer should be, inwardly, of the most free and gossiping humour, and outwardly, quite uninfluenced by political or other considerations. But Varnhagen is, at this present moment, or has, till very lately, been living in the service of the Prussian government as a diplomatic scribe; the congress of Vienna is but of yesterday; Gentz, and Frederick William, and Talleyrand, and William Humboldt, and so many other famous persons of that assemblage, only died the other day; Metternich is still alive, and his policy with him is alive also, not in Vienna only, but further north; and in these circumstances, what could a prim, proper, prudent, Varnhagen von Ense be expected to do but to bring forth his gather-all of public reminiscences, licked into smoothness by the political Ayyos that rules the etiquette of the Von Ense's memoirs have been much council that sits at Frankfort, and to deal praised-not a little overpraised, we think, forth his small parcels of politico-personal in Germany. But there are reasons for this. facts with measured neatness, as a select spi- In the first place, the Germans, though the rit of the select society of la crême at Vienna, most systematic book-makers in Europe, with delicate fingers, deals cards? Not, know nothing, properly speaking, of style. however, that our memorialist has suffered As a nation, they cannot write. They roll any real bodily violence to be done to his on their heavy carriages of heaped erudition, soul in this matter. Not he. He has been their ponderous gasometers of a flatulent phiin long training-like poet Goethe at Wei- losophy, like the lumbering motions of some mar-and by an instinctive sympathy, by an half-created antediluvian megalotherion, unconscious wisdom of pretty words, says on through bogs and sea-marshes portentous. every doubtful occasion precisely that thing Of this they have become of late sensible; that no wise man in Berlin or Vienna could and though they will not allow, perhaps, have better said, being paid 100 dollars for when the question is bluntly put, that, as a every line. He is the very picked man of nation, they are most clumsy handlers of proprieties; the beautiful genius of glazed their own proper instrument and "national paper, gilt edges, and crow-quills. He is the symbol," (as Menzel will have it,) the GOOSE apostle of moderation; the living incarnation QUILL, yet they betray their secret consciousof all the decencies; the complete orthodox ness of the weak point, by the multitudinous body of all the respectabilities. And yet he cackling instantly raised round this or that is not a common man in any sense; he is a singular individual, whom nature or art may man of uncommon neatness and tact, and have gifted with the rare talent of saying bearing about with him, even when he says what he means to say clearly and naturally, the severest things, (as he can do, when without embarrassment. So it has happened kings are not in the case), an air of candour with Varnhagen. He can write smoothly only to be equalled in the critical writings of and prettily, and intelligibly; he has studied Goethe, or in that calm, classical, diplomatic the craft of turning sentences; and straightaspect of Prince Metternich, which bewitch-way, with our honest Teutonic critics, there ed Mrs. Trollope into the worship of conti nental despotism, and before his trip into He says this himself in a letter to Varnhagen's Italy, metamorphosed, most opportunely, the wife, the celebrated Rahel. 1. Memoirs of Justus Erich Bollmann. 3. My Young Days, and the Friends of my Youth. 4. The University Halle. 1806-7. is no end to the noise of general wonderment the general table of contents of such part of and laudation. "Dieser SCHÖNE Styl! dieser the contents, at least, as, taken together, form VORTREFFLICHE Styl!! diese Klarheit und a connected historico-biographical whole. Reinheit! diese ruhige Würde! diese edle Einfachkeit, die nicht nur an Goethe stets lebhaftig erinnert, sondern Goethe selber leibhaftig ist!"-And so forth, in a strain that, in England, would appear ludicrous, and even childish. In the second place, Varnhagen is, and has for a long train of years been, in close connection with the periodical press, and has proved himself a most active and intelligent member of the noble brotherhood of reviewers in Germany. The literary productions of men so situated are generally, and in the nature of things must be, apt to be overpraised in all countries. 5. Studies and Interruptions. Berlin, 1807. 6. Rahel. 1807. 7. Visit to Jean Paul Richter. Baireuth, 1808. 8. Tübingen, 1808-9. 9. The Battle of Deutsch-Wagram. 1809. 10. Paris. 1810. The Fête of Prince Schwartzenberg, at 11. The Court of Napoleon. 1810. 12. Steinfurt. 1810-11. 13. Hoping and Waiting. Prague, 1811-12. 15. Hamburgh in the Spring of 1813. We have only one other remark of a preliminary kind to make. We have now before us five considerable volumes, not of Denkwürdigkeiten only, but of Denkwürdig keiten and Vermischte Schriften-"Memoirs and Miscellaneous Works.' What are these The intelligent reader will see at once Miscellaneous Works? The veriest imposi- from these headings of chapters what a comtion upon the credulity of an unsuspecting prehensive interest the volumes before us are public that we have seen for some time-a calculated to command. No well-informed very prime specimen of the grand modern person who takes a common interest in the ex art of book-making. One-half, or one-third traordinary events by which the present busy of a volume, contains the proper memoirs-century was ushered into existence, will read the bait by which the public is caught. The this bead-roll with indifference. In any hands rest is a mere bundling together of loose memoirs of such a diameter could not be ephemeral criticisms, that, if Scott or Cole- blundered into utter uselessness; and Varnridge had written them, might have merited hagen von Ense, bating the weak points posthumous publication in a separate work; which we thought it our duty to notice but, in their present connection, can only be regarded either as a piece of most egregious vanity on the part of the writer, or as a vulgar trick of the trade, to swell three volumes into five, and make every dollar count two. Our author has thrown an agreeable variWe should not have made this observation ety into his memoirs, by writing part of them on Varnhagen's account, had he been a sole in his own person, and part of them in the offender, but it is a national sin of the Ger- shape of separate biographical notices of reman people; they print all that they scrib-markable individuals with whom the fortune ble; they scribble all that should have been of life brought him into contact. With two riddled out of the brain with shame, instead such biographies he commences, and they are of being hashed up into a dessert with much among the most interesting and characterispretence and in that broad brown bowl of tic in the whole work. Justus Erich Bollbeggars' soup-thin and yet muddy-for mann, an Hanoverian by birth, by profession which you have paid three Prussian dollars originally a physician, by practice afterwards currency, (a genuine English gull,) the Chris- a merchant in America and England, was one tian student is very lavish of vision who will be eager to search out the rari nantes in gurgite vasto, of German wit and German intellect, which inhabit there. prominently, is no vulgar artist. We shall therefore proceed hopefully on our survey, and point out with as little commentary as possible what appears most remarkable. of those intelligent and energetic persons whose merits are always in the inverse proportions of their prominence, and who only want the spur of ambition or the itch of vanity These remarks concern our German readers to make them play a great part in human afmore immediately. Our English readers will fairs. But the instinctive modesty and wise be more pleased that we proceed to glean moderation that tones their nature generally from these multifarious pages of contemporary keeps them in the back ground; their soul record such passages as may seem to possess works in many places where their hand is the most permanent and general interest. For not seen, their presence by the many never this purpose we cannot do better than prefix suspected; as the impetuous eloquence of |