A country life lost all its charms for Wieland after the decease of his faithful wife; he therefore, in 1803, disposed of the estate of Osmannstädt to the present proprietor, M. Kühne, from Hamburg, and returned to Weimar; where the two courts by which be had been constantly patronized, as well as the circle of his friends, received him, as usual, with respect and affection. The Duchess Amelia prepared for him a new and agreeable summer retreat at her charming residence at Tiefurth, where, he, with Einsiedel and Fernow, formed the more immediate literary society of that excellent princess. years, from 1798 to 1803, in the enjoyment of rural pleasures; and here he was visited by the amiable Sophie Brentano, the grand-daughter of his juvenile friend, Sophie von Laroche. With a prepossessing person, she united the greatest diversity of talents and the highest feminine delicacy; a soft melancholy, which sometimes clouded her eye, and doubtless originated in the constitution of her heart, tended to bind all around still more firmly to this accomplished creature. Cheerfully quitting the bustle of the great world, she felt the beneficial influence of the seclusion and tranquillity of Osmanustädt, the society of the venerable Wieland, and his family assembled round him in patriarchal simplicity. Soon, however, she fell sick, and, in spite of the most assiduous attentions and the best medical aid, she expired September 20, 1800. Wie land, who had loved her as his own child, prepared for her, thus pre-crs, was accomplished in 1804, maturely snatched from him, a repository in the little grove at the lower end of his garden. It was not long before he was destined by Providence to endure another severe trial. On the 9th of November, 1801, he lost his wife, who belonged to a noble family of Augsburg, named Hillenbrandt. The faithful partner of his life, the tender mother of his children, was laid beside his departed friend, and added to the mournful sanctity of the spot. Wieland determined that his remains also should once repose together with those of the two objects of his love; often did he repair to their graves, and sat lost in contemplation on a turf-seat which is yet carefully preserved, Amidst these enjoyments, the place of tranquil repose at Osmannstädt was not forgotten. The design which Wieland had long entertained of separating that part of the garden with the graves from the rest of the property, which was liable to a frequent change of own through the interference of a friend, and with the greater facility, as the present respected possessor co-ope rated the most willingly in this arrangement. That part of the garden which was deemed requisite, was ceded with all the usual legal formalities to the friend alluded to above, and by him conveyed to the family of Brentano, of Frankfurt on the Mayn, to which it now inalienably belongs. At the same time, the idea of erecting a monument on the spot was first suggested, in order to mark the site of all three graves; for Wieland again positively declared, that, after his earthly pilgrimage, as he termed it, his remains also should there repose. A younger friend and ad mirer of the poet, to whom the Red with a circular garland of newpreparation of the design was com- blown roses; and underneath, the mitted, proposed a triangular py-inscription:" Sophie Brentano, ramid; to be placed in such a man-born 15th August, 1776; died 20th per that the inscription and emblem September, 1800." On the second on each side should indicate the are two hands conjoined, as the exgrave which lay in that direction.pressive symbol of union and fideThis design was approved, and the lity, encompassed with a wreath of execution of it, in Seeberg stone, oak-leaves, and this inscription: was entrusted to M. Weisser, sculptor to the court of Weimar. The military operations of 1806 deferred the completion of this monument; but on the return of peace, it was speedily finished. Wieland himself, in December 1806, furnished a distich for this monument, to the following effect: "Love and friendship in life united their kin- "Anna Dorothea Wieland (born Hillenbrandt), born 8th July, 1746; died 9th November, 1801." On the third is seen the winged lyre of the poet, surrounded by the star of immortality, and beneath is inscribed:-"Christoph. Martin Wieland, born 5th September, 1733; died 20th January, 1813." M. Facius, the eminent engraver of Weimar, is at present engaged upon a medal in commemoration of the deceased. On the obverse, is This inscription was engraved a profile of Wieland, which is an on the pyramid, and seems to unite excellent likeness; and on the rethe three distinct sides into an har-verse, is the emblem of the lyre monic whole. In 1807, this simple, sculptured on his monument, with but appropriate little monument was this motto above:-"To the imerected in the garden at Osmann-mortal poet." Below is a female städt; and it has now, through Wie- head between butterflies' wings, land's death, attained its final des- from which springs a rose-branch on one side and Oberon's lily on the other. tination. On one side appears a butterfly, the emblem of Psyche, surround THE BESPOKEN WIFE. A MERCHANT who had removed from England, and settled in one of our West India Islands, where he acquired a considerable fortune, could not be satisfied unless he had a wife to share his success with him. As he could not meet with a person to suit him in the island, he determined to write to one of his corre spondents in London, with whose punctuality and probity he was well acquainted. Being a stranger to every other style than that of commerce, he wrote his friend a letter, in which, after dispatching his other business, he proceeded to the subject of his intended marriage, in these terms :-Item, As I have formed the resolution to marry, and cannot here find a suit able match, do not fail to send me, || of goods for the merchant. She was provided with certificates, endorsed in the manner and form di by the first ship bound to this place, a young woman of the following qualities and figure, viz. As to for-rected by the correspondent. She tune, I expect none with her; let Ker be of a respectable family; from 20 to 25 years of age; of middle size and well proportioned; of a pleasing countenance, mild disposition, and unsullied reputation; enjoying good health, and a constitution sufficiently strong to bear the change of climate, that I may not be obliged, by her sudden loss, to seek another, which must be guarded against as much as possible, on account of the great distance and the dangers of the sea. If she arrives according to the above order, with this letter endorsed by you, or at least a well attested copy, for fear of mistake or deception, I promise to honour the bill; and to marry the bearer fifteen days after sight." was included in the invoice in these terms:-Item, One young woman aged 21, of the quality, figure, and condition as per order; as appears by the attestations which she will produce." Before the departure of the lady, the correspondent dispatched letters of advice by other vessels, to inform his friend, that he might expect, by such and such a ship, a young woman answering to the terms of his application. The letters, the goods, and the lady all safely reached the place of their destination. When the vessel arrived, the American was in waiting: a buxom damsel stepped on shore, and hearing his name mentioned, thus addressed him :"I have a bill of exchange upon you, sir, and hope that you will honour it." With these words she handed to him the letter of the correspondent, on which was endorsed to this effect:-The bearer is the wife you have ordered me to send you. The London correspondent read again and again this extraordinary article, in which his friend bespoke a wife in the same terms as he would give orders for a bale of goods. He admired the prudent" Madam," replied the merchant, precision and laconic accuracy of this American, and resolved to suit him if he could. After some search, he conceived that he had found such a person as he wanted in a young lady of amiable character, but without fortune, who accepted the proposal. She embarked in a ship which carried out a quantity "I never yet suffered my bills to be protested, and I assure you I shall not begin with this. I shall consider myself as the most fortunate of men if you will allow me to pay it." This first interview was soon followed by the wedding, and the match was one of the happiest in the colony. THE WILL. By AUGUSTUS VON KOTZEBUE, THERE once lived in France an | found it impossible to keep any old bachelor, whose ayarice was domestic in his service, for he not equalled only by his wealth. He only required unimpeachable inte grity, but likewise the unusual faculty of fasting. In return, he promised to provide for them, but nobody knew how. Allured by these expectations, many servants out of place applied for the situation; but, unable to endure the privations to which they were subjected, one after the other soon quitted him again. "Null and void!" repeated the other. "My uncle had but one eye, consequently you could not close his eyes." In vain the servant remonstrated, that, by this expression, the deceased had only meant to signify his death, and therefore he designed the legacy for the person who should continue with him till his death. The nephew, on the other hand, maintain The affair became the subject of legal discussion, and the whole province interested itself in behalf of the poor servant, who justly gained the cause, though the heirs carried their effrontery to such a length-as to appeal to the parliament of Paris. The miser at length found that he should be obliged to wait oned, that his uncle well knew that he himself, unless he could hit upon had but one eye, and of course only some other method. He made a intended it as a joke, when he made will, by which he promised to the the legacy dependant on a condiservant who should close his eyes, tion which could not possibly be not only a certain sum in ready fulfilled. money, but also an estate which he possessed in the country. No sooner was it known that the miser would prove so generous after his death, than servants thronged to him from all quarters; and at length he met with one, who, in the hope of better times, endured hunger and thirst with heroic fortitude. Whether he would long have been able to sustain so unequal a conflict is doubtful, for he was already reduced to a skeleton, when, fortu-equally avaricious with the onenately for him, at the end of the first half year, the old miser expired. The following anecdote, which is likewise true, may serve as a counterpart to the preceding:Lord F, an English nobleman, was a bachelor, equally rich and eyed Frenchman. He lived in the most retired manner in the country, and had no other attendant than an old faithful valet, who had been fifty years in his service, and whose arms he at length expired, but without taking any notice of him in his will. His heirs joyfully hastened to take possession of his property, which was immense. Such, how-in ever, was their greediness, that they grudged the starved servant so considerable a legacy. One of the nephews desired to see the will, which was shewn to him; and when he came to the words, "I give and bequeath to the servant who shall close my eyes," he suddenly exclaimed, with malicious joy, "The bequest is 'null and void!"-" How so, sir?" rejoined the thunderstruck legatee. The heir at law, whom the deceased, when living, would never admit to his presence, was a poor Scotch nobleman, to whom the valet immediately dispatched a messenger with the welcome invitation to take possession of his late master's property. He came with sparkling eyes. The old man gave him the most correct account of the produce of the estates of his relative, for whom he had long acted as steward, and then delivered to him £90,000 in Bank-notes, which he had found in the pocket-book of his deceased master. No person knew of this hoard but himself. The heir, without expressing the least surprise at the integrity of this conduct, examined the pocketbook with greedy looks, and merely exclaimed, "Is that all?" At this behaviour the tears trickled down the cheeks of the honest steward, whose name was Furant." You shall not go unrewarded," said the heir, turning over the Bank-notes, till at length he found one of ten pounds, which he gave to the valet, and discharged him. This honest servant afterwards died in London in poverty. The circumstance was related to the ce lebrated Linguet, by his physician.' He made it public, and at the same time proposed this question:Which ought to excite the greatest' astonishment, the probity of the valet, or the ingratitude of the heir?-He asserts, and with equal justice, that the Greeks and Romans often immortalized names which were much less worthy of being perpetuated than that of Furant. INTELLIGENCE, LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, &c. AN edition of the Select Writings of Henry James Pye, Esq. in six volumes octavo, is in the press, and will be published by subscription. An additional volume to The Picture of Verdun, will soon be published, under the title of The Englishman at Verdun, or the Prisoner of Peace. In this volume the sufferings of our countrymen in France will be dramatically represented; and the author contrasts the loyalty and dignity of the old government, with the vulgarity, insolence, and depravity of the upstart satellites of the new dynasty. Mount Erin, an Irish tale, in two volumes 12mo. by Matilda Porter, is in the press. A new translation of Atala, or the Amours of two Savages in the Desert, by F. A. Chateaubriand, author of Travels in Greece, &c. with an English version of the songs, may soon be expected. The Baroness de la Motte Fou-. qué has published at Berlin, an energetic Address to the Women of Germany, relative to the duties which their country expects of them at this important crisis. She lays just stress upon their obliga- . tion to, exert their utmost influence, not only to excite and keep alive the patriotic ardour of their fathers, their husbands, and their brothers; but also, by their attention to their language, dress, and manners, and to the education of their offspring, to restore, as far as possible, the ancient German national character. "Our native country," says the fair writer, "has become strange to us; the revolutions of time have so altered, subtracted from, and added to it, that from what is called national character, has sprung a something over which we know not whether to laugh or to weep." An edition of Wakefield's Lucre |