title, by turning the Wasserman' of the original | ancient and new regime of literature, is neverinto a Water Sprite: the more strict interpreta-theless very interesting. tion of Waterman' being unfortunately suggestive to English ears of nothing more poetical than a saucy man in plush unmentionables. GAFFER MICHAEL AND THE WATER Gaffer Michael and the Water Sprite Had dealings fair and good, So well they dealt, they drank that night What brotherhood with a Water Sprite! They ate together from the dish, Together drank their wine: Ay, eat fish with a Water Sprite ! Gaffer Michael dived beneath the stream, He went in with the Water Sprite- They ate the best, they drank the best, And as they went up stairs and down, How Michael stared to see Jars piled on jars each chamber round, 'What can this mean!' quoth he. 'Good store of jars, Sir Water Sprite, You have, but what's the good of it?' Why in them,' quoth the Water Sprite, Who's drowned in flood or sea.' The partial failure of Hugo's play encouraged the Classicists to put forward a young author, hitherto unknown-a native of Vienne in Dauphiné-M. Ponsard, whose Tragedy of' Lucrèce,' founded upon the story of the Chaste Lucretia, has been with unusual success presented at the Odeon. M. Adolphe Dumas, meanwhile, boldly planted the banner of Romanticisme upon the old ground, the Porte St. Martin, the theatre of so many romantic triumphs. M. Dumas' play has for its subject the fate of Mademoiselle de Lavallière, mistress of Louis XIV.; and while the classic author rigidly followed history to the satisfaction of the young students of the different schools at the Odeon side of the water, M. Dumas upon the Boulevards gave loose rein o the caprices of an active imagination-redee ning his violations of received historical truth by passages of much beauty, as well as by striking ramatic situations. The Paris critics to be sure are shocked at seeing Molière introduced on familiar terms with the haughty Louis XIV., and more shocked still, at a somewhat eccentric reply to a question put to the actor author by Bossuet. Who are you?' asks the abbé, afterwards the great bishop. An apostle,' is the abrupt rejoinder. It may perhaps be taken as an evidence of the progress of feeling in the right direction, that this poetic license was deemed worthy of censure in a high quarter. Upon discussion of the theatre subvention credits, in the chamber of peers, the Viscount de Dubouchage condemned the irreverent introduction of clergymen upon the stage. In justice to the author it must be added that he vindicated himself in a public letter, declaring that he entertained the most profound respect for religion. M. Dumas meant no more than that a great satirist like Molière was in reality a moral preacher. The plays of M. Ponsard and of M. Dumas, the one appealing to the traditions of Roman history and Corneille, the other to the memory of the Great Reign by a fantastic combination of its great personages, have been each greatly successful; but if M. Ponsard's play be the More The arts now so fashionable had all been used to prepare a 'sensation.' Boccage, the principal actor of the Odeon,' presided over two formal readings of the work, before two distinguished parties, at the last of which Lamartine, who was present, suddenly exclaimed with great enthusiasm, At length a dramatic poet has arisen; this work is an event!' The performance took place at the end of April; the most distinguished people of Paris were present; and when the curtain fell, there was a furore for the author's name. than this, we learn that the extraordinary success of Lucréce' has directed attention to a prize of 10,000 francs, which the Academy has the power of awarding for the tragedy " which is best calculated to exercise a favourable moral influence on public feeling." It would appear that the Academy had long forgotten even the existence of this prize, until M. Cousin formally proposed that it should be conferred upon M. Ponsard. The proposition was favourably received; but the decision is adjourned until the beginning of the year 1844. colder it is considered much the more correct, | And I, e'en I myself, upon the altar and we are adjured to believe that his laurels have been most fairly won. We will not stop to discuss the principles in dispute just now, but when we find the critics concede so much as that Louis may make love in rhyme, and Bossuet sermonize in hexameters, might they not go a little farther, and allow the poet to dream his dream of the time, when his object is to throw light on no history other than that of the human heart? We must at the same time confess, that when we thus see Bossuet the vis-à-vis of Molière, with similar grotesque contrasts, we incline to fancy we are only witnessing masquerade. But it is this nervous treading of the narrow line that marks the approximation of the sublime to the ridiculous, and vice versâ, which always illustrates the ingenious temerity of the romantic school. We expect every moment to see a writer of the Hugo class fall at one side or the other of this delicate line, yet does he generally contrive to recover his balance gracefully. Yet when people get over their trepidation, these intellectual gymnastics lose their interest, and it is a relief once more to French ears to listen even to the heavy drawling forth of those interminable speeches, which compose what is called the dialogue of a classic tragedy. age. M. Ponsard, though for the most part bent upon continuing the old form, has showed himself not insensible to the spirit of the existing With a surprising tact indeed he has steered his course between the two extremes. We have the classical proprieties blended with modern passion. He disregards the unities both of time and of place, and in his dialogue ventures upon a bold flight or two, not unworthy of the chief of the Romantic school-of Hugo himself. Hence the Romantiques, witnessing the enthusiasm with which his play is received up to the moment we are writing, claim him as one of their own; which the Classiques as strenuously deny; while he himself, like a great politician, leaves the two parties to settle the question between them. We take for an extract Lucretia's dream. The verses in the original are really powerful; which it is only fair to tell the reader of this perhaps indifferent translation. I dreamed I entered in a sacred temple The blood of Woman pure-and great be Rome.' tell. Stretched in his place, waited the falling axe. The monster folded round me like an arm. Contemporaneously with the appearance of Lavallière' and 'Lucrèce,' the Théatre Fran çais gave 'Judith,' a tragedy by Madame Emile de Girardin, the spirituel Vicomte de Launay of the Presse. Our readers are all acquainted with the Jewish story of Judith and Holofernes. The Parisian public know the same story from Horace Vernet's celebrated picture, hung up in the gallery of the Luxembourg. Madame de Girardin had long entertained the wish to see Rachel in a Jewish rôle, hoping that under the influence of the many associations so suggested, the great young tragedian would electrify the public. The poet, we fear, counted without her audience. We have already intimated why a classic tragedy at the Odeon among the students, and a romantic play at the Porte St. Martin, are at the samne instant enjoying an equal share of success. But the subject chosen by Madame de Girardin had no hold upon the sympathies of a French theatrical assemblage, and the tragedy, notwithstanding the harmonious construction of the verse, fell coldly upon the ear. The failure cannot be denied. We have been the more amused with Jules Janin's ingenious way of seeking to mystify both author and public, as to the opinion entertained of this tragedy by the critics. Before the play was presented, the fair poet, following recent custom, assembled a large number of the most distinguished authors of the day to hear it read. Of this réunion Janin gave a glowing account. The beautiful authoress he described, as she sat reading her production, her inspired blue eye, her long fair hair falling upon her heaving bosom, and so forth. But how different, alas! proceeds Janin, to hear poetry so read, and afterwards to be conducted to a theatre, with vulgar scenery and lamps, and uninspired actors and actressesthe black face of Holofernes over the folds of his white robe, looking like a prune in a dish of cream! In the one instance, imagination sup plied scenery and dresses; in the other, playhouse scenery destroyed the illusions of imagination. Was ever author let down so gently? Was ever retreat more kindly covered? Handbuch der allgemeinen Staatskunde von Europa. Von DR. F. W. SCHUBERT. Königsberg: Bornträger. 1842. And round me form a circling sea of bliss, This is charmingly rendered, though we could wish the authoress had said Orestes, oh my brother,' instead of 'Orestes, dear Orestes.' It would have been nearer to the original, and it brings forward the relationship, which is the basis of the entire scene. We could also wish that Miss Swanwick had adhered to blank verse closes the fourth act. in the whole lyric speech of Iphigenia, which There is a majestic mournfulness in this song, a wail of fatality, such as no altered form can convey. But probably she was afraid of giving an English public style of versification. a series of short blank lines, as being an unusual are commencing the study of the German language. WE give this title in German alone, for really we have no word which will exactly express 'Staatskunde.' Let Dr. Schubert, who has headed his first chapter, What is Staatskunde?" give his own definition. 'Staatskunde is the science which treats of the present formation of states among the politically cultivated people of We do not call these faults, but merely points the earth, in their inner and outer life, and their of difference between the translator and ourmutual co-operation.' If we look to the parts selves. The translations, as we have said beof the word, Knowledge of states,' is all that is fore, are very beautiful, and while they will conveyed, but present exactly gives it the limserve to make the mere English reader acitation, with which it is used. Staatskunde requainted with two of the most perfect works lates to the present, and is thereby distinguished ever written the 'Iphigenia' and the 'Tasso' from history (Geschichte) which has reference to they will form useful assistants to those who the past. All information respecting the constitution, the produce, the natural peculiarities of the different countries, is included in the general category of Staatskunde. Dr. Schubert's book is one of those laborious productions which are indigenous to the German soil. The first huge volume appeared in 1835, and was devoted to a general introduction, and an account of the Russian empire. The German states came next in order, and in 1842, the fifth volume, or as the author calls it, the first part of the second division appeared, with an account of Austria. The industry of Dr. Schubert is enough to scare literary weaklings out of their senses, and to those who desire a full and accurate account of present Europe, his book is invaluable. We most strongly recommend it. Jérome Paturot à la recherche d'une Position sociale et Politique. (Jerome Paturot in search of a social and political Position.) Paris: Paulin. 1843. THIS, as its name indicates, is a political novel, and owes perhaps to its title-page no small share of its success, which has been great, but will not be lasting. The public expect to find in a political novel some racy writing, a dose of satire, plain allusions to passing things, and good hard hitting at easily recognizable characters. They do not look for solutions of difficult questions, or novel views of grave subjects, and will soon tire of Jérome Paturot.' What they Selections from the Dramas of Göthe and Schil- want is, that to matters about which nothing ler, translated, with introductory Remarks, by remains to be argued, a biting pleasant flavour ANNA SWANWICK. London: Murray. 1843. shall be imparted. Swift and Voltaire have left THE dramas selected are the 'Iphigenia' of faded things may be imbued with life and models perfect in their way, of how dull and Göthe, which is given entire; the Torquato colour. So did Goldsmith in his Citizen of the Tasso' of the same poet; and Schiller's Maid World.' It may be that there is no room for a of Orleans' of which two last only portions are second 'Zadig; but if such inventions forbid given. The fair translator has gone to her beau-imitation, they have set the seal upon dulness tiful task in the right spirit, adhering to the words of the original with fidelity, and evidently discovered to excuse departure from the pamor commonplace. Some other form must be penetrating the mind of the poet. We give a phlet, the essay, or the report. speech from Iphigenia:' that which is uttered by the heroine on discovering her brother. Hear me, oh look up! This Jérome Paturot' is not good as a story -the author is not happy in portraying character. M. Reybaud is, nevertheless, a writer of See how my heart which hath been closed so long, great talent, already distinguished for a work of Doth open to the bliss of seeing thee, The dearest treasure that the world contains,- philosophical criticism. The leading view inculcated by his novel will be learned by the following extract. It is one of the cleverest in the book. "I was one of the high barons of shopocracy, and I assure you sufficient allowance is not made of the power attached to this state. It is here resides a part of the life of Paris, itself the patented provider of the human kind. The destinies of the world de The level of the pavé belongs to him, and the pavé of Paris is the Empire." Jerome being a thriving shopkeeper, is elected a captain in the National Guards, which position furnishes him with frequent occasions to manifest his loyalty, and being a good man and true, he receives encouragement from high quarters to canvass the electoral body of a remote district, which he does with success, and is made a deputy. The several stations of national guard, candidate, and deputy, afford him occasion for stating his views upon the national institutions; but the subject is not relieved by the vivaciousness of fiction, or dignified by the elevated calmness of inquiry. We have a hybrid work be longing too distinct class. The government of the country is in the hands of the shopocracy pend more than is imagined upon this interesting population, which tenants the rez-de-chaussée (parlours) of the capital. Without it are neither made Revolutions or Invasions; account must be had in all things of its passions, prejudices, and interests. The Cossacks themselves were even supported so long as they were good customers; but from the moment they had no more cash to spend in shops, cafés, or places of pleasure, they became in their owners' eyes savage enemies once more, destitute of civilisation. The Parisian tradesman takes thus a part, for or against, in all great events. He sided with the liberals against the restoration. He declared against émeutes after the revolution of July. As a general rule, the retailer demands, above all, prosperity of trade and tranquillity of payments. When affairs go on well he joins the Opposition; when the contrary, he sides with the government. If the three glorious days had been eight, the retail trade would have felt a relapse towards Charles X. It cannot endure to see its horizon troubled; it will such is the complaint of M. Reybaud's book, not pardon an opinion which obliges the shutters to be hastily put up. Let statesmen and candidates for office look to this. The feeling of the Parisian shopkeeper is an infallible political thermometer: there is little chance for the cause he does not adopt, and that which he abandons is soon compromised. and it is well founded. But of this we are certain: that the author affords no telling proof, no striking or resistless illustration, of the evil of the system, of which Jérome Paturot, mercer, national guard, and deputy, is presented as the incarnation. MISCELLANEOUS LITERARY NOTICES. AUSTRIA. THE emperor Charles IV. founded the university of Prague by a golden bull, dated April 7th, 1348: consequently the fifth centennial anniversary of the establishment of that learned institution, will happen on the 7th of April, 1848. It is intended to celebrate the event by a grand national jubilee, and a committee has already been appointed to commence the necessary preparations. It is proposed, on the occasion of the jubilee, to found a new literary periodical publication, and to print a curious Old Hungarian manuscript, as a splendid specimen of typography. The dramatic writer, Wilhelm Vogel, died lately in Vienna, at an advanced age. Vogel's last production, entitled Ein Handbillet Friedrichs II.,' a short time ago obtained a reward, which was sent to the author from Berlin, by his majesty the King of Prussia. Donizetti has recently been engaged on several sacred compositions, which the Vienna crities speak of in terms of high praise. Among them are an Offertorium, an Ave Maria, and a Mise rere. In the Franciscan church at Insbruck a beautiful monument has been erected to the memory of the Tyroleans who have fallen in the various struggles that have arisen to resist foreign invaLanner, the celebrated waltz composer, died sion since the year 1796. The Archduke John at Vienna in the beginning of April last. The attended the ceremony, which was rendered expopularity which his compositions enjoy through- ceedingly imposing by the observance of military out Europe, amounts to a positive furore in solemnities. On the base of the monument is Vienna, his native city, where the composer as the following inscription: Seinen in den Befrei well as his works was almost idolized by all ungskampfen gefallenen Söhnen, das dankbare classes of the people from high to low. Lan- Vaterland. (The grateful country to her sous ner's death was a subject of deep and sincere who have fallen in the struggles for freedom.) regret throughout the Austrian capital, and his funeral gave occasion to a marked demonstration of public respect. The procession as it moved along was accompanied by about 60,000 persons of various ranks and conditions, all habited in deep mourning. All the public and municipal authorities attended. BELGIUM. A VERY curious collection of old historical documents was recently sold by auction at Ghent. They were the property of General Vandermissen, who disposed of them, together with other property, previously to his departure from Bel- and active managers are Professors Paulsen and gium, in pursuance of his sentence of banish-Flor, of the University of Kiel. In the case of ment. All the most important documents were the Fædrelandet,' respecting which so much purchased for the archives of the Belgian gov- has recently been said, the nominal editor, who ernment. Among them are the rolls of expenses was cited before the Criminal Chamber, and in the households of Philip-le-Bon, Charles-le-threatened with imprisonment and bread and Temeraire, and Philip-le-Beau; several very im- water, was a shoemaker, portant documents relating to the arming of the Some notion of the present amount of literary fleet sent by Philippe-le-Bon to the aid of the taste in Denmark, may be gathered from the island of Rhodes when besieged by the Turks; report of the directors of a reading society called and some charters having reference to the sove- the Athenæum, which was established in Copenreignty exercised by Louis, Duke of Orleans, over hagen last year. The number of native memthe duchy of Luxemburg, at the end of the 14th bers is 750, which number neither increased nor and commencement of the 15th centuries. Some diminished throughout last year; but 254 tickets documents in the collection, relating to Tournai, of monthly subscription, and 499 of weekly subwere purchased by the corporation of that city.scription were issued to foreigners. The number M. Vottem, Professor of Anatomy in the Uni- of journals and periodical publications regularly versity of Liege, was lately killed by an unfortunate accident. Whilst he was driving in his tilbury on the banks of the Meuse, his horse took fright and dashed into the river. M. Vottem was drowned. He was one of the most distinguished Professors of the University of Liege, where he succeeded the celebrated Fohman in the chair of Anatomy. In the last number of the 'Foreign Quarterly Review,' mention was made of the plan formed by the Belgian government, for completing the collection of Belgic State Papers. În furtherance of this design, M. Gachard, the keeper of the Belgic Archives, has been sent on a mission to Madrid. It is known that the Royal Library of Madrid contains many documents relative to the old national assemblies of Belgium. M. Gachard is instructed to make a careful examination of these, and of all documents concerning the general history of Belgium. There is reason to believe that M. Gachard's mission will be attended with results most important to historical science. M. Gachard has published his report to the Minister of the Interior, on the documents relating to the history of Belgium, which are to be found in the various libraries of Paris and Dijon. The report states that the Archives of Dijon contain some curious letters of Jacqueline of Bavaria; an inventory of the jewels of the House of Burgundy; and the itinerary of the Dukes Philippe-le-Hardi and Jeansans-Peur, in which is noted day by day the employment of their time, &c. DENMARK. taken by the society, amounts to 161. Of these, forty-two are published in Copenhagen, thirteen in the Danish provinces, eight in Norway, and five in Sweden, (making altogether sixty-eight in the northern languages:) fifty-seven are German, twenty French, fifteen English, and one North American. During last year the library of the institution was enriched by upwards of 1178 new books and pamphlets. EGYPT. THE vast extent of interesting and instructive information to be derived from the Prussian Expedition now exploring Egypt, under the direc tion of Dr. Lepsius, promises to fulfil the most sanguine expectations. The individuals engaged in the expedition are eminently qualified by their knowledge and habits of research to throw light on those mysterious forms which the relics of antiquity present, and have always presented to modern observers: not only to our contemporary inquirers, but to the learned of remote ages, who, though ancients to us, were but moderns to the Pyramids and the Hieroglyphics. It is satisfactory to know that the present intelligent investigators, for whose selection and appointment the learned of Europe have to thank his Prussian Majesty, are not to confine themselves exclusively to the explanation of the past. The political relations of the surrounding states, and the facilities to be obtained for commercial intercourse with them, together with the statistics and natural history of those distant regions, are the objects of attentive inquiry. Much information may likewise be looked for respecting the religion and habits of the people. In Egypt, antiquities are not the only objects involved in mystery; there hangs over the whole state of society a veil, which is now likely to be, at least in part, uplifted. IT is a curious fact, that the society formed at Copenhagen for the maintenance and extension of the Danish language in the northern part of the Duchy of Schleswig, comprises members from all the provinces of Denmark, excepting Schleswig. It would seem that in that part The Prussian papers contain many letters of the kingdom the sympathy for the Danish from persons connected with the expedition of language is not very great; and P. H. Loren- Dr. Lepsius. Of these communications, the zen, of Hadersleben, the zealous champion of most recent are dated in the first weeks of May. the national tongue, complains bitterly of this We subjoin a few extracts, abridged so as to indifference in some articles which he has pub-accommodate our limits; but we call attention lished in a Copenhagen journal. to the portions we do insert, as the original Lorenzen has sent one hundred thalers to the communications from which they are made are editor of the Dannevirke,' a journal which sup- published under the sanction of the Prussian ports Danish interests, to assist in defraying the government. amount of a fine to which the publication was lately sentenced. The Editor Koch merely lends his name to the 'Dannevirke,' of which the real "In February," says one of the correspondents, whose communications we chiefly follow, "Lepsius, Bonomi, and I, made an excursion on |