"The gentlemen did not arrive before ten o'- these important despatches; and this cost the elock, when a long conference immediately be- ambassador no little time and labour, when gan, which every moment passed over to the he was not so fortunate as to receive it, ready news of the day, and other irrelevant topics. drawn up, from some old Frenchman, who Frequently, when a counsellor would open a cause, involving perhaps a question of inherit- made it his business to collect all the on dits ance, and another member or the president, de- in circulation. The despatches which the sire to inspect the documents, these, on presen- embassy received from Wurtemberg were tation, would be found to treat of a sale of oxen, quite of a similar description. The ambas or of something quite as foreign to the matter in sador was required to procure certificates of hand. At the stroke of twelve every member got up to go: the usual phrase being, Mr. Sec. deaths, &c.; to give orders to tradesmen retary, here are the papers; please to put the from the duke; or to commission the secretails to them.' All then instantly left the court, tary to look out for old bibles and black-letter to adjourn to the tavern.' rarities! The following anecdotes, which the author relates, are quite unique.

"The ambassador's valet, on one occasion,

On

Lang having been much noticed by the president for his promising talents, had soon knocked at two o'clock in the morning at my to share the discredit in which the latter, who door, with the words, Monsieur Lang, son Exhappened to be a man of impartial conduct cellence vous désire parler ce moment.' and honourable sentiments, stood with the arriving to learn what important matter could so prince and the rest of the council. He was unexpectedly have happened, the Baron began accused to the prince of being a freethinker, by saying, Monsieur Lang, I have long noticed and required to take the sacrament or quit his that you do not place your dots directly over the service. Lang would willingly have chosen i's in writing, but on the side; sometimes too the latter alternative; but the court-Jew who left. I intended several times to tell you of this; much to the right, sometimes too much to the had advanced old Lang the money, now think- but as it just now occurred to me in bed, I preing he might lose it altogether in case young ferred to send for you, at once, lest I should Lang were dismissed, entreated him with all again forget it.' On another occasion, I confess the zeal of a missionary to communicate; and I was much annoyed at not having been called at last in conjunction with his cook, who was up: The valet, with an air of great mystery, also interested in the matter, fairly forced been engaged the whole night in writing; a informed me one morning that the Baron had him into the church, where the clergyman courier having arrived late from Stuttgard. The received him "with a real Catilinian dis- bulletins of the next day contained the following course." Soon after this he gave up his information: On dit que son Excellence M. le place, as the prince threatened to have him Baron de Bühler, Ministre Plenipotentiaire de conducted into the sittings by a corporal! S. A. Monseigneur le Duc de Wurtemberg, avait Lang now repaired to Vienna, where, dis- reçu la nuit passée un courier, qui a remis des appointed in finding any employment, his dépêches de sa cour d'une très-haute importance, et qui doivent concerner, à ce qu'on présume, la limited means at last obliged him to accept nouvelle dignité électorale, qu'elle est due à cette a tutor's situation in Hungary. This, being maison illustre il y a long temps. Desperate at but little suited to his taste, he soon relin- not being able to get at the truth, I seized on a quished, and returned once more to Vienna, moment, when the Baron was gone to see his where he succeeded in obtaining the office of little boy, to pounce upon the compartment private secretary to the Wurtemberg ambaswhere the court despatches were usually deposador there, Baron Bühler, with a salary of My dear Baron von Bühler-By the present sited, and found the following communication: 200 dollars. The picture of German diplo- courier, my private secretary Pistorius, I send macy and diplomatists which is now pre- you a shoe of the duchess, my spouse, as a patsented, is not less astounding than his picture tern for you to get twelve pair made by the most of the petty German principality's court of celebrated workmen in Vienna, but with such law. On every post-day, that is, twice in the week, after the ambassador had passed the whole morning with his colleagues, courtagents, brokers and Jews, in collecting intelligence, the secretary was required to draw up a despatch for the court of Stuttgard. This Tired of the wretched trivialities of diplowas done amidst endless orthographical dis- matic life in Vienna, Lang seized with ardour putes between his Excellence and the secre- a proposal from the ambassador to attend the tary; and when at last they had come to an hearing of a cause at some court in Moldavia; agreement on these points, the whole was on his return from which, he was offered the copied fair, with numberless fine flourishes, post of court-secretary to prince Wallerstein, and sent off at night. A secret bulletin for a nomination which presents us with other the Duke, in French, always accompanied satirical pictures, in this court of a petty

expedition, that the returning courier may be able to deliver thein in time for the next grand having any other object, accept my greeting, assembly on the. The present letter not &c.'

So

German prince. The collegium, or ministry, | the ancient family-seat of the minister on the one and all, were, it seems, in disgrace at the road between Göttingen and Nordheim, and time of his arrival. The prince, therefore, the estate and all the old odd domestics. He only intrusted to it, with considerable restric- depicts the castle in its solitary state, and tions, the administration of justice: all other contrasts this with the bustle which reigned business he took under his own direction. when the prime minister came there with The service which Lang had to perform was his numerous suite and world of suitors. rendered intolerable by the prince's capricious Hardenberg employed Lang on several state humour. Although often in attendance by occasions, which let him into some strange appointment, he, and every one else, what- secrets. One was at the death of the old, ever their rank or business, had to wait day and the election of a new Prince Bishop of and night in the anteroom, till the prince was Wurtzburg and Bamberg. On this occasion pleased to admit them. When, at last, he Hardenberg distributed 30,000 florins amongst did succeed in obtaining an audience, it sel- the electors, on the condition that they would dom lasted less than three hours, at which, elect the most incapable fool that could be after speaking of the four quarters of the found, and one who could make no effectual globe, the conversation ultimately reverted to opposition to Prussia in central Germany. the affairs of the principality of Wallerstein. The electors performed their stipulation. The mode in which the prince transacted much for episcopal election. Hardenberg business was as follows. The documents afterwards gave Lang the post of councillor presented to him he laid one upon another and archivist at Bayreuth, though he had till they reached a certain height, when he completed the family history not quite to the set to work to reduce the pile, taking a paper content of his chief, who expected to be shown sometimes from the top, at other times from to have descended at least from Wittikind, the bottom or middle. After writing his de- the Saxon. cision in a few words on each, they were handed to the secretary to be despatched to the collegium. The latter, however, annoyed at many decisions having been delayed for several years, determined to make the prince feel the injustice he committed, by sending in every month a fresh copy of the original berg's success in negotiating the free accesdocument of such cases: so that at last, from the prince's manner of doing business, it often happened that five or six different judgments were pronounced in the same case.

"One poor devil was kept in prison at Harburg, for several years, because the ministers did not know which of the sentences pronounced in his case was to be carried into execution,

whether he was to be hung, or whipped, &c. At last he settled the point himself by breaking out of prison."

Lang came into employ more honourable and congenial to him, when sent by Hardenberg as attaché to the legation going to the congress of Rastadt. Haugwitz, whom Lang depicts as a timid, irresolute, and jealous dreamer, had been so envious of Harden

sion of Nuremberg to Prussia, that he actually broke that most advantageous engagement. To avoid a repetition of this, Hardenberg sent Lang and another faithful person to give him information of all that passed at Rastadt. These Memoirs contain sketches of all the diplomatists at Rastadt: and the host of German statesmen, negotiators and politicians, assembled on that memorable occasion, are characterized with infinite originality and humour.

"The amusing comedy of seeing Buonaparte Though highly entertaining, our limits do himself at the head of this puppet-show of amnot allow us to accompany Lang to the coro-bassadors I unfortunately missed by the lateness nation of the Emperor Leopold II., at Frank- of my arrival (Dec. 18, 1798). I found, howfort, whither he was sent to make observation ever, the three colleagues he had left behind, for transmission to the court of Wallerstein. namely, M. Treilhard, who resembled one of Soon after this service, Lang, in irrepressible our stage notaries, only in a bright coloured indisgust, quitted his post at the prince's court, draw up the last will and testament of the exstead of a black coat, called in, as it were, to and repaired to Göttingen, where he once more resumed his academic studies; and from the air with his arms; M. Bonnier, always in piring German empire, and perpetually sawing whence he was induced to solicit Prince black, and looking like a well-fed parson, but at Hardenberg, the Prussian minister, to give the same time grim, arrogant, and dumb; and him employ. He obtained promises, but nothing positive, until he offered to write a history of the Hardenberg family. This offer caught the old prince, and Lang was instantly taken into pay, and given apartments in Hardenberg Castle for the purpose. He describes

Monsieur Jean de Brie, a dark, thin, little man, with a fiery eye, who tried to preserve himself from German dullness by arguing stoutly and of the Greeks. In all three a profound contempt incessantly for the classics, and for the wisdom for everything German was visible in all their looks and actions. M. Treilhard did not remain

long, having been appointed to the place of di- this, because France promised them, in rerector; but in order, as it would seem, to pre- turn, the secularization of ecclesiastical proserve the triad entire, his loss was supplied by a M. Roberjot, a shopkeeper converted into a di-perty. This shameful crouching and cowplomatist, who, by his commercial loquacity and ardice before the national foe, and the mean habit of politeness to German customers, seemed avidity to plunder and hurt each other, which to revive, in some measure, the drooping courage at this time disgrace the name of German, of my countrymen, and to afford much amuse- and which can only be excused and accountment to the old school of the courtly. At the ed for by the fact that political affairs were special conferences in Setz, the celebrated Fran- confined to courts and diplomatists, is ably çois de Neufchateau was present, who, while depicted by Lang. Public opinion was, hownegotiating about the river boundaries, favoured us, at the same time, with his watery verses ever, even now rising, and seeking the liberty and idyls. The general secretary of the embassy of expressing its contempt and horror of all was a M. Rosensteil, brother to the Prussian that had been achieved. It shows how strongcounsellor of mines, and if I mistake not, an Ally fears and tendencies run in families, that satian; who, having long filled some subordi- the elder Metternich should, at this very time, nate diplomatic post, acted as prompter-at least call Lang to him, and offer him pay and place as regarded form-to his principals, who evidently if he would undertake, as a writer, to combat did not know exactly how to set to work. Being the rising frowardness of public opinion.

the only one who understood German, he was also employed to interpret the protocols of the Lang, who thought public opinion pretty deputation of the empire. At the head of the much in the right, drew back from the adimperial Austrian embassy-composed in like vances of old Metternich. Whatever Lang manner of a holy triad-was the imperial pleni- says against Austria must, however, be taken potentiary, Count Metternich, a stately, portly, cum grano; thus, he does not shrink from embroidered, old-fashioned gentleman; next came a Count Cobenzel, who had shortly before accusing Baron Lehrbach, one of the Austrian concluded with Buonaparte the treaty of peace plenipotentiaries, of having given the orders of Campoformio, a spongy, dried-up, chalk-white, for the murder of the French plenipotenlittle-eyed, blinking, twitching mannikin, but tiaries. clever in the forms of the world, of which he seemed to have seen much, and with no unobservant eye. The third part was performed by a Count Lehrbach, a perfect caricature in features, dress, and motions: the upper part of his face being Chinese, and the lower African, with the complexion of a gipsy; a cue pointed to the sky, like a telescope, its tip projecting above his head like the point of a lightning conductor; and a gait and carriage as if he was perpetually going through an English hop-dance."

The portraits of the ambassadors from the lesser powers are drawn with no less humour and originality; and among them the son of old Metternich, the present prince, who was there as representative of the Westphalian noblesse, is described as 'agreeable and cour teous."

One of the most disgraceful chapters in German history is this same congress of Rastadt. Every German power is at the foot of France-none of them stricken by their common ruin and humiliation, but each seeking to profit by the general disaster, and to rob and weaken his German neighbours, instead of all uniting in a common sentiment to oppose the French. Austria, ceding the Low Countries, was to be indemnified by the spoil of Venice. But she stipulated, moreover, that Prussia should get nothing. Prussia, learning this, declared that she wanted no indemnity for the duchy of Cleves, provided Austria got none for the Netherlands. France demanded the frontier of the Rhine, and all the lesser German states were eager to grant

Lang was summoned by Prince Hardenberg to Berlin in 1801. The domestic life of the minister, his connection with Madame Schoneman, the actress, and the persons of his society, furnish the memoir writer with so many pictures. He goes with the prince to Munich, and by his interest becomes one of the governor-commissaries of the Margravate of Anspach. Here he meets the French again: Bernadotte," fiery-eyed and dark-browed," who had at this time but one idea, that of getting a principality or a kingdom for himself. He thought of Anspach, and hoped to become prince of it; till, despairing of this, he sent Berton to persuade the good burghers of Nuremberg to elect him as their feudal prince, under French suzerainty. The honest burghers excused themselves by alleging that they did not understand General Berton's mode of speaking either French or German! Poor Mortier, Lang knew, "with his stiff head and statue-like expression." Davoust was "the least restless of the French in his cantonments, whilst as a waltzer he was, on the contrary, indefatigable."

From Anspach, Lang was removed to be Director of the Archives of Munich. Nor was his place there such a sinecure as it might seem. The old king issued an ordonnance, that no person should ever enter his employ, unless he could produce proofs of his nobility. This set all Bavaria in movement to prove nobility; and the archive-director was the person to give or refuse these indispensable

titles. Lang gives an amusing account of the intimacy with his Jew physician Koref, a man several claims of the Esterhazys to descend of much talent. It was even said, that they had both from Attila and Enoch; of the Ruffini conspired together to make away with the old to descend from the Roman Dictator, Publius Ruffinus; of the Widmers to be derived from the Ostrogothic kings. Not the least amusing was Count Aretin, who descended from a king of Armenia on the Persian Gulf, in 1515-the parchment proved-but who real. ly was the natural son of the Princess Palatine Theresa Cunegunda. Lang gives a laugh

able account of her.

prince, and make the most of his heritage. Of princess went off to Paris with Koref, who was this story I do not believe one word. The succeeded, as physician to the prince, by an Austrian, Dr. Rest. The prince was beset by a crowd of aunts and nephews, who took upon them to travel at his cost, and drag him to and fro as they listed. They brought the wearied died. His son, Count Hardenberg-Reventlow, old man next year as far as Genoa, where he heir of the rich Reventlow property in Denmark, took the prince's title."

A brief interview between Lang and Göthe must be our last extract.

The author's portraiture of old Montgelas, the prime minister of Bavaria during the days of French supremacy, is rather favourable. His sketch of Marshal Wrede, who was the chief of the anti-French party, and who.con. cluded the treaty of Ried with Austria in "Arrived at Weimar, I was blinded by the 1813, unknown to Montgelas, is quite the re-devil to write, to old Faust Göthe, an humble verse. Lang says, that however cruel and and complimentary little epistle. I was received at half-past one. A tall, old, ice-cold, stiff perunjust the French regime was in Prussia and sonage, like the syndic of an imperial city, or the north of Germany, it was more beneficent rather, like the stone statue of the Commander than otherwise in South Germany, which in Don Juan,' came to meet me, silently moFrance had delivered of all its feudal fetters; tioned me to a chair, and remained impassible, adding moreover the Tyrol to Bavaria, and giving forth no sound, though I tried to elicit thus placing the latter in direct communica- some by striking him on every side. I told of tion with Italy. So, on Napoleon's fall, in vain. At last he broke out by asking, Was the Prince of Bavaria's efforts, &c. &c. &c. Wrede, instead of stipulating the statu quo there an insurance company at Anspach?' Being for Bavaria, which might have been done, answered in the affirmative, he would have every gave up not only the Tyrol, but Salsburg, to particular of our insurance company, and of how Austria. Notwithstanding this diatribe of it acted in case of fire, &c. And on no other Lang's, Bavaria got her indemnity in Nu- subject would Göthe talk." remberg, Wurtzburg, and that wealthy portion of central Germany, the Palatinate, which were at least worth Salsburg and the Tyrol.

All

But two volumes of these memoirs have This last scene of the second appeared. volume is in 1825. The whole of the latter Our memoir-writer was, however, evident- part of Lang's life was passed at a small estate ly attached to Montgelas, whilst the triumphs he possessed near Anspach. He died in 1835.

of Wrede flung him out of favour and the way of promotion. He remained long enough at Munich, however, to be one of the committee for drawing up or preparing the constitution, the ruling principle of which was very sim

ple: being how to give the noble chamber ART. V.-1. Poésies complètes de ROBERT

all power, and the lower chamber none. Lang was finally driven from the Bavarian service, and he returned to old Hardenberg. The following is the account which he gives of the declining days of this statesman :

2.

3.

BURNS, traduites de l'Ecossais (Complete Poems of BURNS, translated from the Scotch), par M. LEON DE WAILLY; avec une Introduction du même. Paris: Charpentier. 1843.

Rimes Heroïques, par AUGUSTE BARBIER. (Heroic Rhymes). Paris. 1843.

Fables, par M. VIENNET, l'un des Quarante de l'Académie Française. Fables, by M. Viennet, one of the Forty of the French Academy). Paris: Paulin. 1842.

"Prince Hardenberg was at his ancient seat of Hardenberg, which, however, he had sold to the Count Hardenberg of the other line. He received me cordially, kept me to dinner, and conversed of the succession to the Duchy of Baden, and the expectancy of the Count of Hochberg. The prince was greatly sunk and shrunk, and heard with difficulty. He had with him his grand- M. LEON DE WAILLY, who presents to his daughter, the Princess Puckler-Muskau, and her countrymen the poetry of Robert Burns, is husband, a proud, gay, prattling bullfinch. Much change had taken place in the family: the already distinguished as a translator. He has old prince being even separated from his former followed up his mastery of the difficulties of wife, Madame Schöneman, suspected of too great Tristram Shandy by an achievement of equal