the utmost to promote the emancipation of that age. The principal of these was of Germany; and Prince Leopold en- Henry von Veldeck, a man of noble birth, gaged in several negotiations at Munich, and high in office at the court of the landin Poland, and in Russia; and thus ac- grave. His chief poetical performance was a translation of Virgil's Eneid, with which quired the immortal honour of being the he interwove the achievements of the emfirst prince of the then existing Confe-peror Frederic I. The others were named deration of the Rhine, who openly declared against France. Walter von der Vogelweide, Reinhard von Zwetzen, Wolfram von Eschenbach, Peter Prince Leopold was in the battle of Olp, and Henry von Afterdingen. These men frequently displayed their talents in Lutzen, May 2d, and in various subsequent actions; in which he conducted competitions before the princes whom war or amusement brought to the residence of himself with great intrepidity. He received the cross of commander of the the landgrave. On one of these occasions they chose Herrmann himself, and his bro military order of St. George, from the ther-in-law, Leopold, duke of Austria, for Emperor of Russia, on the field of bat- their heroes. Afterdingen, who had retle, August 30. Among other decora-sided some time at the court of the dake, tions, during the operations between the characterized him in such glowing and en26th and 30th of August, he was pre-thusiastic strains, that Walter von der Vosented with the Austrian military order of Maria Theresa. He was also in the battle of Leipzic the 16th and 18th Oct. He commanded various bodies of cavalry in the progress of the Allies in France, and entered Paris with them, March 31, 1814. The Congress of Vienna, sensible of the services of the house of Cobourg, granted an indemnity, so far as the means they had at their disposal would allow. Prince Leopold managed the negotiation. It cannot be supposed that a prince so young could be already a mature and perfect general, or a Commander of the first rank and repntation; yet it seems likely that he might have emulated his father as a soldier, had he not been called to happier conquests. The work before us contains a history of the House of Saxony, which derives interest from the more prominent events and characters of the different periods. To examine the remoter parts of the History, would afford but little entertainment to our readers, nor would they be intelligible, without illustration of their connecting events. We therefore content ourselves with a few extracts, which mark the manners of the personages, and of their times. Herrmann I. was a warrior; but, Tired of the wars which at the commencement of the 13th century distracted Germany, Herrmann directed his attention to the arts of peace, and was a zealous patron of some of the most eminent minstrels gelweide, who was his most strenuous opponent, was obliged to acknowledge his superiority. The vanquished poet, deeply chagrined, urged a fresh trial. Veldeck and Olp seconded his proposal. Zwetzen and Eschenbach were appointed umpires: and to such a pitch was the poetic fury carried on this occasion, that nothing less than death by the hand of the public executioner of Eisenach was destined for the conquered party. Walter's friends, sensible that he was not a match for Afterdingen, succeeded by a variety of artifices in pre vailing upon the others to leave the decision to dice. His opponents played false, and he lost. To escape hanging, the apparatus for which was already prepared by the executioner, in front of the castle of Wartburg, where this singular competition took place, Afterdingen loudly insisted on another trial of poetic skill. His demand was complied with, but his adversaries had recourse to all possible means to disturb the current of his ideas, and with such success that he admitted himself to be overcome. He was accordingly adjudged without mercy, to suffer the fate agreed upon. In this dilemma he claimed the protection of the landgravine Sophia, intreating that Klingsor, the most celebrated minstrel of that age, might be appointed umpire. Not only the landgravine and her consort, but the other minstrels consented that Klingsor should decide the dispute within a year. Afterdingen himself proceeded to Hungary, and before the expiration of the time appointed, brought back bis umpire with him to Eisenach. According to various accounts, Klingsor had studied at Rome, Paris, and Cracow ; and had attained such proficiency in mediciue and other sciences, particularly astronomy, as to excite the astonishment of his be seen. At that time, and for some cena mania common turies before, it was among princes to strive to increase their wealth and importance by the practice of the art of making gold, and if they could produce metals of what was termed chemical gold, their happiness was complete. Our Henry IV. exhorted all his subjects, in four proclamations, to apply themselves with the utmost diligence, to the philosophers' stone, that by such means the nation might be relived from its debts. He en cotemporaries. He had visited the East, where he profited by the society of the learned Arabs of Bagdad, of whom he was supposed to have learned the mysteries of the black art, which in those days had numerous votaries. The truth is, that Klingsor was one of the greatest scholars of his time, and such were his poetic abilities, that he found it an easy task to bear away the palm from many minstrels. The latter, satisfied that their failure could not be the result of natural means, without farther ceremony ascribed his superiority to the assistance of the devil. On the ar-couraged the clergy in particular to this rival of this celebrated man, a solemn pursuit by the representation, “that as meeting was summoned at Wartburg, they were so fortunate as to transform in which this important dispute was to be bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, it would be very easy for them decided. Klingsor and Wolfram von Eschenbach tried their skill, and proposed to convert a base metal into one of nobler quality." No sovereign was more strongly riddles to one another. The victory was in general doubtful; upon which Klingsor addicted to alchemy, than the emperor is related to have been thrown into Rodolph II.; he was wholly absorbed in it, and therefore invited to his court the such embarrassment that he called a demon to his aid. In the Jena collection oracle of the art, the celebrated Sendivog, to assist him in his operations. The emof the works of the minstrels, there are actually several poetical fragments, in which peror Leopold I. had also many of these Augustus elector of the supposed spirit, Nasian, is represented artists about him. as telling the severest truths, especially to Saxony, as we have already seen, was rethe clergy on the infamous system of in-puted to have made greater proficiency in dulgencies, the greediness of the priests, alchemy, than any of these princes. Marand other similar subjects. In those days grave John, of Brandenburg, received from such sallies were certainly dangerous, and his favourite study the surname of the Alchemist, and he was prouder of this title Klingsor seems to have had the good sense to put them on purpose into the mouth of than of the electoral dignity. Duke Frederic V. of Wirtemberg, duke Francis II. of an evil spirit to avoid any unpleasant conSaxe-Lauenburg, Margrave Frederic Ersequences to himself. nest of Culmbach, and prince Augustus of Anhalt, are also recorded to have been successful alchemists. Prudent statesmen, nevertheless, exerted their efforts to check this folly, and one of them emphatically says: "I never yet saw a state which could declare with truth that it had grown rich by means of alchemy. May God divert the minds and understandings of all princes from such vanities and absurdi Such was the spirit of the age! and such were the resources of genius, on a difficult and dangerous subject! Was the Reformation, then, not called for? were not such castigations of the Clergy calls for it? ties!" The weaknesses of great men are serious evils; and whether they be musicmad, or ambition mad, or mad for the These warnings rung in the ears of duke acquisition of gold without labour and Christian, without producing any other efcommerce, they intrude on the proper fect upon him than perhaps to excite his duties of exalted station; and they af-pity for the ignorance of those by whom ford opportunities for knavery and imposture. Of this we find a striking instance, in Christian, of Eisenberg, at the close of the seventeenth century. This prince was a man of an honourable upright mind, and a tolerable proficient in languages and sciences. In the solitary leisure left him by the concerns of his little state, he fell, however, into the reveries of the alchemists, and fancied that he saw gold and spirits where neither was to they were given. He constructed a com plete laboratory for his favourite pursuit, was in correspondence with the most eminent alchemists of his time, and was known to the adepts in England as well as in Germany, by the name of Theophilus, abbot of the Blessed Virgin of Lausnitz. The dupe of many a swindler, he at length contracted debts, which he was never able to discharge. He consoled himself with the notion that spirits would infallibly relieve him from his embarrassments, even when -." he was necessitated to reduce his establish- | band. God in his justice has appointed a ment, and had but few resources to supply certain term for our reconciliation, and that the means of living like a prince-A term approaches. You are chosen to acjournal, in the duke's hand-writing, relative complish our re-union. Though I am to his intercourse with five supposed spirits, happy, I am not yet admitted before the and the magnificent promises made by throne of God, but have hitherto resided in them, is a singular monument of human a retired place of agreeable repose: wherecredulity. It embraces the period between as my inexorable husband still hovers be April, 1696, and March, 1706. It appears tween time and eternity, in darkness aud that the sum promised him by the spirits, cold, but not without hopes of happiness." during this time, if he would have patience, "But how is it possible that exceeded five millions of dollars in ready money, besides bullion and jewels to ten times that amount. The journal contains, moreover, a minute statement of the purposes to which the duke intended to apply these treasures; an estimate of the value of the diamonds and precious stones, and a ❝ calculation of the prodigious power and energy both of the red and white multiplied and fermented tincture," reduced with incredible pains and patience into tables-an operation which alone might suffice to turn the brain of an ordinary person. If the supposed appearances of the spirits which conversed with the duke, and made him such profuse promises, were mere il lusions of the imagination, they must have been more lively than any of which I can form a conception; if not, they may have been comedies that were acted with the deluded alchemist. It seems more than probable that a madame von Unruhe, a confidante of the duke, who is frequently mentioned in his journal, performed an important part in these transactions, and that the spirit called Job was a worthy assistaut. To some such agency may also be ascribed the following adventure. In 1705, the duke was reclined on a couch in his cabinet, meditating on his mystical concerns, when he heard a knock at his door. He was at a loss to imagine how any person could have come thus far, unobserved by his guard and attendants, and without being announced. He neverthe Jess cried: "Come in!" and a female in the old-fashioned dress of a princess entered the apartment. A chill came over the duke, but mustering his spirits and having convinced himself that he was awake, he questioned the visitor as to her name and errand. "Be not afraid," mildly replied the lady; "I am not an evil spirit. No harm shall befall you. I am Anna, a princess of your family; the unfortunate wife of duke John Casimir. You know my history." "I do," answered the duke; “but what now disturbs your rest, and brings you back into the world?" "I have something to request of you. I died without being reconciled to my hus "Believe my words. What I tell you is truth. How many things are there which the human understanding cannot compre. bend, and which nevertheless exist! Experience will be your teacher yonder, where we all see, feel, and believe, what here never entered into our limited conceptions." The Duke was struck dumb, and the spirit thus proceeded : We are rejoiced to find you chosen to be the instrument of our reconciliation Thank God with us that he has been pleased to appoint you such. I give you eight days to consider of the matter. I shall then return at this hour to learn your determination. God be with you." The spirit vanished, leaving the duke absorbed in meditation on what he had seen and heard. He resolved to consult Christian Hofkunz, a celebrated divine of Torgau, afterwards confessor to the queen of Poland, how to proceed in this affair.Hofkunz, with all his casuistry, was not a little embarrassed. At length he wrote to the duke, that "if there was nothing superstitious in the business of the reconciliation, he might undertake it; but he ought first to examine whether he had courage sufficient, and duly prepare himself by prayer for the important duty." The appointed time arrived, and the duchess again made her appearance. She saluted the duke, and asked if he were willing to comply with her request. He answered that he would, provided nothing superstitious or contrary to the word of God were required of him. "Nothing of the kind is required," said the duchess. You are acquainted with my history." "I am." In My husband dealt hardly by me. vain did I solicit his forgiveness on my death-bed: he remained unmoved. In order therefore that we may both become happy, and be admitted to the divine presence, we wish to be reconciled. I have already informed you where we are at present. These abodes we are now to leave, with the permission of the Almighty, who has selected you to promote this good work." "What am I to do? and how am I implicated in this matter? "Be ready to-morrow night to receive my husband and me: for I alone have power to come in the day-time, but not my husband. We will intreat you to be the umpire between us, to join our hands in token of reconciliation, to pronounce upon us the blessing of the Lord, and then to praise him along with us.” The duke promised to comply, and the The duke promised to comply, and the lady disappeared. His Highness then prepared to give a fit reception to his expected guests. He ordered wax candles to be lighted and placed upon a table between the bible and prayer-book, doubled the guards at the door of his apartments, gave himself up to spiritual meditations, prayed and awaited the time with firmness, though not with perfect composure. Precisely at eleven, the duchess entered, lively and friendly as ever, and stated her case to the duke. After her came her husband, gloomy and pale, and delivered what he had to say, in a harsh and unkind manner. "Now decide," exclaimed the duchess, "thou, in whom we place our confidence, beloved descendant of our race!" Christian, influenced perhaps rather by gallantry, pity for the souls that had not yet attained repose, love of peace, and a desire to extricate himself from the affair, than by any other reasons, decided that duke Casimir was in the wrong, and exhorted him to be reconciled with his beautiful consort. "Thou hast spoken wisely and justly," said the spirit. "I am reconciled with my wife." tions in his laboratory, to which he almost entirely confined himself, had destroyed his health, and he expired at the age of 57 years, totally exhausted and worn down to a shadow. The reader, probably will recollect many stories not unlike this, said to have occurred in Germany. Our pages have recorded several. What is there, peculiar, to that country, which so strongly inclines it to the marvellous, and the preternatural? The imagination of its poets, of its literati, generally, inclines to the excessive; but who would have thought this of its statesmen? A Portrait of the Prince is prefixed; and others, of his ancestors, are inserted in the work. A Letter to a Member of Parliament on the Slavery of the Christians, at Algiers. By Walter Croker, Esq. R. N. Price 1s. Stockdale, London. 1816. EVENTS lately reported as having happened along the shores of Barbary, are such as every humane, not to say every Christian, heart must be shocked at. Whether they originated in sheer fanaticism, or in ill understood rumours on the subject of that association, which under the auspices of Sir S. Smith, has been forming among Christian Knights, or in infuriate opposition to treaties. lately enforced from the Barbary Powers, by Christian armaments, or in whatever other cause, certain it is, the consequences have been afflicting and disgraceful in no ordinary degree. It is understood, that the military revolted against the authorities, and pro-. ceeded to violences, by which some hundreds of unsuspecting Christians were The duke then joined his ice-cold hand to the warm soft hand of the princess, and pronounced a benediction over them. Both said "Amen!" and the duchess kindly added: "Receive our thanks." Upon this the duke began to sing the Te Deum laudamus, in which he was accompanied by both his guests. When they had finished, the princess addressed him in these words: "Your reward for this your love and good-massacred. When the whole is known, ness, you will receive from God, and soon be with us." The spirits then disappeared, and left the duke overpowered by feelings of awe, which the promised reward could not fail to excite. The guards, according to their report, heard no part of this conversation, except what was said by the duke, neither did they see the apparitions. Christian acquainted his adviser Hofkunz, with all the circumstances, and began to prepare for his end, which happened about two years afterwards. His chemical opera the honour of Christendom, and of more than one Christian State, distinctly," may require a reparation proportionate to the offence. Not to promote this feeling prematurely, we wait for further intelligence. In the mean time, these facts have added importance to the testimony of eye-witnesses, as to what they have really beheld at the Barbary Ports; and we rely on the statements here presented to the public by Mr. Croker. That such powers should exist as make a regular profession of doing all possible injury to their neighbours, in defiance of expence and personal hazard, is among the inexplicables of bu-necessary refreshments and supplies for their great addition of the English garrison, and our squadron, occasioned considerable anxiety for the means of maintenance of the inhabitants themselves, as well as of the new masters and benefactors, as they called man nature. Yet we find the disposius. It was also a consideration of such tion in various nations, by land as well moment to the commanding officer of our as by sea, from the Ladrones which forces, that he encouraged the spirit of infest the islands of China, to the free-commerce, which had already shewn itself booters of internal Asia, and these inveterate pirates of Africa, which terrify and devastate the shores of the Mediterranean. That these should flourish and should triumph at the expence and to the dishonour of Christian States, is the most mysterious part of the whole. It is not, indeed, a novelty; but, why should it be invigorated by continuance ? The first part of this letter is not to our purpose: from the second we transcribe the following testimonies: in the natives, by requesting English pass- Some of these poor unfortunate men, returning from one of their little enterprizes, were, within sight of their own island, boarded by six boats belonging to two Algerine pirates; the colours which they vainly looked to for protection, were, by these assailants, torn in pieces and cast into the sea, and the unhappy crew were dragged to slavery. Such, Sir, was the fate of poor Vicenza Avelino, and his unoffending crew of eleven or twelve men, who surely were as much entitled to English protection as the inhabitants of any other island which wore the English colours! .. Our own Consul, a worthy man, confirmed all I had heard from those poor tion on the subject; and I plainly saw that people, and gladly gave me every informahe had used all his influence to effect their On inquiry into the purport of a paper which I saw in the hands of the Vice-Consul, I found it to be a subscription for the relief of nearly three hundred Christian slaves, just arrived from Bona, after a journey of many days; and who, after the usual ceremony of bringing them to the Dey's feet, were ordered to their different destinations: such as were able to go to their bani, or prison, were sent there; but the far greater number were found objects for the hospital, which Spain, in her bet-release, but to no purpose; his influence, ter days, humanely established for the relief of Christian staves at Algiers; it is the only one in that city. They were taken by two Algerine pi-house, and barely that. A short time ago, rates, which presumed to carry the English M'Donald had him secured until he heard a Turk came to rob his garden - Mr. colours; and by so doing, decoyed those un- from Algiers respecting it. The next day happy beings within their reach! which is much greater than that of the Consul of any other nation, extends to being able to avoid insult to his person and an order arrived for all the Consuls to leave On their journey fifty-nine expired, and their country-houses, and only to be alone youth fell dead at the very moment lowed to live in the city: this they promptly they brought him to the feet of the Dey.refused doing, saying, nothing but force Since their arrival, an interval of only six days, near seventy more have died! These inhuman marauders presumed to carry the English colours, as a decoy! The reader starts with indignation: well he may! That those who thus usurped the sacred signal, should despise it, when honestly displayed by their inferiors in strength, can excite no wonder the instance speaks home to the feelings of Britons. When the island of Ponza was added to the conquests of his Majesty's arms, the should make them leave their habitations! The Danish Consul a respectable and amiable man, was once actually taken to the bani, and the irons put on him until his nation paid some tributary debt! The Swedes are obliged to furnish artists for making gunpowder for them. The French government have sent them a builder for their navy: HE TOLD ME SO HIMSELF! The Spanish Vice-Consul of Bona, or Oran, I myself saw in heavy irons, working with the other slaves! Thus, these infidels trample equally on all the rights of nations and of nature. |