frequently been known to be sent separately, so that the work was published in Germany a fortnight after it had appeared at London or Paris. Of the Waverley novels, there are at least six different translations, besides three or four editions of the original.

Every thing relating to English dramatic literature, may be supposed to present an additional interest to the Germans. They are under great obligations to the old English drama; and their acknowledgments have certainly been as handsome on their part, as they were well deserved on ours. They were not content with imitating the freer forms of the English stage, and discarding for ever the pretensions of the "Classical" French tragedy, with its "three "piled hyperboles, spruce affectation, figures pedantical." They received Shakspeare with genuine enthusiasm; and there is not one of their poets of the first rank, but who has contributed to render his works still more popular in Germany. Those who are at all acquainted with the modern dramatic school of the Germans, can bear witness, that their most distinguished works, though evidently written by men who were imbued with the spirit of the Greek drama and of Shakspeare's poetry, are by no means to be called imitations of either, and that they yet have come much nearer to the true standard of both, than perhaps any thing written since the reign of Elizabeth. We ought not to forget, that what some of their first critics have done for the illustration of Shakspeare's text, and for the knowledge of the English drama, both of his own age, and some time previous to his appearance, though but little known in this. country, except from quotations, is yet fully entitled to a place at the side of the most highly esteemed works of English critics. In saying so, we trust that we shall not be accused of undue partiality for the German critics by any one who is acquainted with the writings of Lessing, Schlegel, Voss, Horn, and L. Tieck.

There is one feature in the theatricals of the Morgen Blatt, which, as far as German theatres are concerned, has obtained for it a high reputation. Its reports are considered to be drawn up with greater impartiality, and connected with less intrigue, than those of other journals, which would lend their columns to the most harmless of factions-a faction which even the watchful governments of Germany have not yet declared a subject of apprehension, as they would undoubtedly have done, if its machinations and menées were extending beyond a somewhat humorous discussion of the tastes of authors, managers, performers, critics, and the public. We remember some of those feuds, which had originated in local cabals, but which were taken up with a good deal of spirit by the leading journals, whose highest ambition it was, to give both in prose and in verse, the latest intelligence of the actual state and movements of the belligerent powers. Only last year an intrigue of that sort gained great publicity by the lively publications which emanated from several Berlin coteries. Who has not heard of Mademoiselle Sonntag, by whose silver sounds all Paris was enchanté? Who is not dying to hear her? So they were in Berlin-and Berlin was all

enthusiasm, when the wittiest journal of Germany, the Schnellpost, edited by Saphir at Berlin, commenced its scurrilous attacks upon the general favorite. Berlin was in an uproar. The friends of Mademoiselle Sonntag were absolutely enraged. It so happened, that one fine morning as the beau monde were making their way through the Friedrichs-Strasse, (next Oxford Street, we believe the longest specimen of the kind in the civilized world) their progress was stopped for a few minutes by a file of heavy loaded waggons, which crossed the street, and were severally unpacked, with great ceremony and mystery, at Herbigs', the booksellers. Novelties from Leipsic! What could it be? Was it an essay on the quadrature of the circle? Was it the hundred seventy-fifth volume of a compendious abrégé of the theory of the human mind? But it looked much too smart for that it must be a novel-and a novel it was; and, such a novel! The loungers commenced an attack. Great was the glee among some, and long were the faces of others, when they read "Henrietta, "the fair Songstress:" and so it was, scenes of fashionable life depicted with much spirit, by one who must evidently have had access in the highest circles; by one who had pourtrayed some characters at full length, and annoyed others by anecdote and inuendo; by one who more than probably was among them at the moment, and watching with infinite satisfaction the smile that played round many a lip, and the blood that rushed up into many a cheek. The names were altered in a laughable manner, and served only to signalize the characters more distinctly. Matrons and Spinsters, Professors and Hofrathe, Saints and Worldlings, were amused and terrified by turns, by the exhibition of the chronique scandaleuse. It was a bolder stroke than any thing achieved by the Prussians since Katzbach and Waterloo. But in a few days, the twelve thousand copies that had been sent from Leipsic, were sold off, and were devoured; the public fancied, with what right is still unknown, they had detected the author; much of the zest was gone; and a week after the book had been published, the thing was declared to be after all but an illnatured quiz; and the river Spree was seen to pursue its natural course, and so were the beau monde their's along the FriedrichsStrasse.

We ought to say a few words of the Litteratur Blatt, which has for a series of years been published as a pendant to the Morgen Blatt. It derives its chief merit from the collection of reviews which it gives from time to time of German, English, Italian, and French literature. It is at present conducted with much more talent than it had been before; and it promises fair to be an independent and highly respectable tribunal of criticism-a thing which is an absolute desideratum among the German periodicals, whatever their other merits may be. We find that the Editor, who has acted for some time as the spirited leader of the opposition in matters of taste and literature, has softened down the high tone of party feeling, with which he had conducted another journal, which we shall mention in

our next.

I

The Kunst Blatt, or Gazette of the Fine Arts, we consider, upon the whole, as the best conducted and most comprehensive periodical of the kind. The reports from Italy and Paris are regular, and drawn from distinguished authorities; and the articles from different parts of Germany may contribute to prove, that if the Germans have most excelled in music, they have by no means been backward in the cultivation and encouragement of other arts. It is perhaps curious to see, that the most arbitrary and the most liberal government in Germany are the most active in promoting the arts, as far as any government may do by judicious encouragement; and it would be difficult to point out two cities which stand more pre-eminent in that respect, than Berlin and Munich.

We understand that the Morgen Blatt, with the exception of the news of literature and the fine arts, is for the future to be conducted by a young writer of considerable talent, who has opened his career by two highly popular novels, by which he has in a short time acquired celebrity, and a great many enemies; they are both of a satirical turn; the first, "The Man in the Moon," is a parody on the manner of one of the most popular novel writers of the day, Clauren, whose literary character certainly deserves to be held out as an example of popularity of the very worst kind. "The Man in the Moon" has done this in rather a severe but piquant lesson to the public: the public took the dose very quietly, and they were much amused by the circumstance, that the book was published under Clauren's name; but Clauren himself was supremely provoked at the offence, and brought an action against the publisher, tout comme chez nous. Still, to enable our readers to appreciate the wisdom of the court of justice which had to act on the occasion, we must inform them, that there is not such an author in existence as Mr. Clauren, his real name being Carl Heun; but Mr. Carl Heun brought an action for publishing a book under the fictitious name of H. Clauren, which, he said, was neither more nor less than an anagram of his own name— Carl Heun!! The court, of course, gave a verdict against the publisher, and the fortune of the book was made: it had an immense run. The other novel we alluded to, is entitled "The Memoirs of "Satan :" it is a satire of much incidental merit " on all things and "some others" in Germany; it discusses literature and fashion, lecture-rooms and drawing-rooms, and gives even a political hint or two; and the Argus of the press was uncommonly civil to the old gentleman, considering the naiveté of his appearing for once in his own character, which, at any rate, is much less terrifying than that of a revolutionist or demagogue.

Among the rivals of the Morgen Blatt, stands first the Gazette for the Elegant World. Who are the elegant world? It would be difficult to define the idea; but if we may follow the clue given by that publication, we would infer, that the elegant world delight in very pretty poetry, but nothing distinguished; in very pretty tales, but rather lengthy, and spun out with more successful sketching than invention; in a world of theatrical reports, of very different merit

and interest; in occasional attempts at humor, but which must not be bold; and at satire, but which must not be pointed; in a timely notice of forthcoming novels, voyages, and travels, and of lions at all places where lions may be found; and, lastly, in miscellaneous reading, which we should call, in homely phrase," odds and ends."

Our readers are aware, that with the exception of formal reviews, which are not admitted, the Elegant World appear to fall in with the taste of the readers of the Morgen Blatt; the difference that may exist between the two journals is rather occasional than the result of different principles. Both journals have, of course, no political principles; and whenever the relation of a court festival is given, their language is equally loyal, and always full of admiration for any government that chooses to support the "Hof Theater," or a gallery of painting, or an academy of music.

But there is one department of this same Gazette, which affords endless amusement to the elegant world, and to every reader, whether he belong or not to that tribe, which however are said to have but little of an exclusive character abroad: we mean the said "odds and "ends." A more amusing collection of literary curiosities, of extracts from scarce books, of anecdote, literary and fashionable, and of jeux d'esprit and epigrams from all languages, has probably never graced the columns of any journal: the principal merit of that collection is belonging to Mr. Haug, the first now living epigrammatist in Germany, who is inexhaustible in good things. His impromptus have acquired him a reputation far extending beyond the circle of his own acquaintance, and his epigrams are considered a treat from one end of Germany to the other. His resources in conversation are boundless; with a vast reading he unites a prodigious memory, an inexhaustible stock of anecdote, and an irresistible vein of parody and persiflage. Thus circumstanced, and having spoken and written epigrams all his life, it is indeed a phenomenon, that he is not known to have ever made any man his enemy; the very worst erimination that has ever been thrown upon his name-let Mr. Hood hear, and rejoice, socios habuisse malorum-is an unconquerable passion for the ruinous practice of punning.

We mention the " Abend Zeitung," not so much to enter into a minute characteristic of that paper, for its plan is nearly coincident with the two former journals, but to avail ourselves of the opportunity to introduce to our readers another of the German literati of the day, to whose contributions much of the credit is owing, which that journal at present enjoys. Professor Bottiger, of Dresden, has for some time been engaged in conducting the literary part of the Abend Zeitung, and giving an analyse raisonnée of distinguished performances. It seems to have been his ambition to unite res dissociabiles-a vast erudition with popularity and elegance. There is not a man who is more completely at home in ancient literature, who has taken a more comprehensive view of ancient art, and who, at the same time, has been keeping pace with the productions of the day, both in fashion and literature. If our readers should ever chance to meet with a

series of the Taschenbuch Minerva, we would recommend them by all means to look over the illustrations of Schiller's plays, by Ramberg, which are done in very good taste, and some of them in superior style, and to read the comments on them by Bottiger. His personal acquaintance with Schiller has enabled him to give a very satisfactory account of many points of interest, and besides a very able discussion of the merits of the plays, he has thrown much light upon the characters, when they are borrowed from history and on the manners of the age. He has not always escaped the imputation of pedantry, and his numerous and learned quotations have frequently been ridiculed, even on the stage. But then quoting is a natural weakness of the Germans: it is the point in which they indulge themselves: it is the first and the last of their natural predilections. It has lately been asserted, somewhere in our own pages, that "there is no luxury comparable with a warm bath;" now a German would probably listen to that eloquent panegyric "with ditfi"dence and respect, but without either conviction or assent." He would conscientiously declare, that, all things well considered, his prime luxury lies in quotation, and that the older the books, the longer the titles, the more intense will be the delight.

The "Gazette of Literary Conversation" is by far the most comprehensive, and at the same time the most expeditious, review of German and foreign literature: it excludes poetry, tales, and theatricals; but it contains, besides the reviews and extracts, a great mass of original information on subjects of general interest from all quarters. The principles of this journal have undergone great changes: it was first established under a different title, by that most contemptible of literary jobbers, Kotzebue. At present, its principles are decidedly liberal, that is to say, as far as the Censure, monstrum horrendum, will allow it.

We must not forget to mention, among the daily papers, the "Hesperus."

66

"O Hesperus! thou bringest all good things!"

says Sappho of old, and Byron after her. We would not venture to say quite as much with regard to the "Hesperus, Encyclopadische Zeitschrift;" but we may say that it is one of the most instructive, or the most instructive, periodical in Germany. It contains a variety of miscellaneous information, statistical and geographical details from the most approved works, and frequently from original sources difficult of access, valuable reports of literature, science, and the arts, and popular essays on topics of general interest. The Editor, Mr. André, was formerly living in the city of Bruinn, in Austria, and has long distinguished himself by his uncommon literary activity. He had very much annoyed the Austrian government by his incessant efforts to promote general knowledge, and, among the rest, popular education. Now in that happy laud it is intended to be understood that the rearing of youth should be a process precisely similar to that of rearing turnips: this, and a variety of causes equally provoking,