of the man. And surely nothing can be more elevating, nothing more cheering than this contemplation, to one who has faith in the possible virtue, and pride in the possible dignity of mankind. The book is written, we believe, by one of the poet's most intimate friends one too in whom we recognize a familiarity with the thoughts, and sympathy with the feelings of his subject. It consists of letters, conversations, and fragmentary recollections, interspersed with comment by the compiler, and dedicated to " Elizabeth and Robin, the Fairy Prattler, and still Meek Boy of the Letters." The letters are by far the most valuable part of the compilation — although all is truly so. A portion of one of them we copy as affording a picture, never surpassed, of great mental power conscious of its greatness, and tranquilly submitting to the indignities of the world.

It has always been a matter of wonder to us that the Biographia Literaria here mentioned in the foot note has never been republished in America. It is, perhaps, the most deeply interesting of the prose writings of Coleridge, and affords a clearer view into his mental constitution than any other of his works. Why cannot some of our publishers undertake it? They would be rendering an important service to the cause of psychological science in America, by introducing a work of great scope and power in itself, and well calculated to do away with the generally received impression here entertained of the mysticism of the writer.

ENGLAND IN 1835. BEING A SERIES OF LETTERS WRITTEN TO FRIENDS IN GERMANY, DURING A RESIDENCE IN LONDON AND EXCURSIONS INTO THE PROVINCES. BY FREDERICK VON RAUMER, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN, AUTHOR OF THE "HISTORY OF THE HOHENSTAUFEN,' OF THE "HISTORY OF EUROPE FROM THE END OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY," OF " ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HISTORY OF THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES,' &c. &c. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY SARAH AUSTIN AND H. E. LLOYD. PHILADELPHIA : CAREY, LEA AND BLANCHARD.

structure

[Southern Literary Messenger, July, 1836.]

the

THIS work will form an aera in the reading annals of the more contemplative portions of Americans while its peculiar merits will be overlooked by the multitude. The broad and solid basis of its superthe scrupulous accuracy of its datadisdain of mere logic in its deductions the generalizing, calm, comprehensive in a word, the German character of its philosophy, will insure it an enthusiastic welcome among all the nobler spirits of our land. What though its general tenor be opposed at least apparently to many of our long-cherished opinions and deeply-rooted prejudices? Shall we less welcome the truth, or glory in its advancement because of its laying bare our own individual errors ? But the England of Von Raumer will be sadly and wickedly misconceived if it be really conceived as militating against a Republicanism bere, which it opposes with absolute justice, in Great

Britain, and Prussia. It will be sadly misconceived if it be regarded as embracing one single sentence with which the most bigoted lover of abstract Democracy can have occasion to find fault. At the same time we cannot help believing that it will, in some measure, be effectual in diverting the minds of our countrymen, and of all who read it, from that perpetual and unhealthy excitement about the forms and machinery of governmental action which have within the last century so absorbed their attention as to exclude in a strange degree all care of the proper results of good government the happiness of a people-improvement in the condition of mankind — practicable under a thousand forms and without which all forms are valueless and shadowy phantoms. It will serve also as an auxiliary in convincing mankind that the origin of the principal social evils of any given land is not to be found (except in a much less degree than we usually suppose) either in republicanism or monarchy or any especial method of government - that we must look for the source of our greatest defects in a variety of causes totally distinct from any such action - in a love of gain, for example, whose direct tendency to social evil was vividly shown in an essay on American Social Elevation lately published in the "Messenger.” In a word, let this book of Von Raumer's be read with attention, as a study, and as a whole. If this thing be done which is but too seldom done (here at least) in regard to works of a like character and cast and we will answer for the result. as far as that result depends upon the deliberate and unprejudiced declaration of any well-educated man. We agree cordially with the opinion expressed by Mrs. Austin in her Preface to this American imprint. The book is

the most valuable addition to our stock of knowledge about England and her institutions which America has ever received or which, in the ordinary course of things she is likely to receive.

Of Professor Von Raumer it is almost unnecessary for us to speak —yet a few words may not be amiss. He is a man of unquestionable and lofty integritythe most highly esteemed living historian- second to none, living or dead, in all the high essentials of the historiographer - profoundly versed in moral and political science — and withal, a lover, and a connoisseur of art, and fully aware of its vast importance in actuating mankind, individually, and nationally. He is a member of the Academy of Sciences at Berlin, and Councillor of the Court Theatre in which he labors to keep up the moral influence of that establishment as a school of art. He has constantly opposed absolutism in every form- especially the absolutism of exclusive political creeds. "If," says the Conversations Lexicon, "the much talked of juste milieu consists in endless tacking between two opposite principles, Raumer belongs rather to one of the extremes than to that. But if the expression is taken to denote that free and neutral ground on which a man, resting upon the basis of justice, and untrammelled by party views, combats for truth proved by experience, careless whether his blows fall to the right or the left — then Raumer unquestionably belongs to the juste milieu." He has written the History of the Hohenstaufen and their Time

a history richer than the richest romance a work On the Prussian Municipal System a work On the Historical Development of the Notions of Law and Government Letters from Paris in 1830, a series of papers printed precisely as they were written to his

family, and evincing a spirit of foresight nearly amounting to prophecy so accurately were his predictions fulfilled Letters from Paris in Illustration of the History of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries a History of Europe from the End of the Fifteenth Century, in six volumes, of which one is yet to be published-a History of the Downfall of Poland-in which although employed and paid by his government he did not hesitate to accuse that government of injustice Six Dialogues on War and Commerce. The British System of Taxation - The Orations of Aeschines and Demosthenes for the Crown - CCI Emendationes ad Tabulas Genealogicas Arabum et Turcorum Manual of Remarkable Passages from the Latin Histo

rians of the Middle Ages tures on Ancient History which we have no account.

Journey to Venice

Lec

and some other works of The present Letters are

printed just as the author wrote them from day to day. We are even assured that some mistakes have been suffered to stand with a view of showing how first impressions were gradually modified.

Mrs. Austin, the translator, however, has taken some liberties in the way of omission, which cannot easily be justified. Some animadversions on her friend Ben

tham are stricken out without sufficient reason for so doing. We learn this as well by her own acknowledgment as by ominous breaks in particular passages concerning the great Utilitarian. The latter portion of the book is translated by H. E. Lloyd.

The plan of Von Raumer's work embraces, as may well be supposed, a great variety of themes the political topics of the day and of all time the present state and future prospects of England-comparative views of that country, France, and Prussia descriptions of