""Which is Mrs. Arbuthnot?" said an elderly of the old school, whose bent form and silver locks told a tale of years gone by, to a young aspirant in diplomacy, during an entertainment at Lady Strong's, at Putney. "Which is the confidant of Princess Lieven, and the counsellor of the Duke of Wellington? Do I see her in that lovely woman, sitting near our host, with that singularly sweet expression and bright, laughing eye? ""No, that is the celebrated beauty, Rosamond Croker, the niece of the sarcastic secretary. The object of your inquiry is nearer home, — hush ! speak lower, look to the right of Mr. Holmes: see, she is listening with evident satisfaction to the badinage of the great captain. With his grizzled hair, hooked nose, and piercing eye, how like an old eagle! Now, now, she looks this way."

"And that is Mrs. Arbuthnot," said the old gentleman, musing. "Those faultless feminine features and clear pale countenance

"Which," interrupted his youthful Mentor, " are invariably of the same delicate hue, and at no time, rare instance in a woman of fashion! masked with rouge: look at her well: for she's a woman that has served her country."

""Her country-how? when? where?"

"Those are questions more easily asked than answered: but as nothing ostensible appears, we must suppose it to be in the way of secret service. Aid," continued the young diplomatist, "she must have rendered, and of no common description. Otherwise there would never have been granted, under an administration on principle hostile to all extravato unmerited pensions, to every species of expenditure unsancgance, tioned by necessity; under a Premier who pared down the Custom-House clerks without mercy; whose watchword was economy" and general order "retrenchment"; who spared no salary, and respected no services, a pension of no less than NINE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT POUNDS PER ANNUM TO HARRIET ARBUTHNOT. —No, no; rely upon it, her claims upon her country are weighty, and her services in its behalf unimpeachable." - Vol. 11. pp. 180-182.

We are tempted to select one more specimen of the Whychcotte anecdotes, although the reader may naturally require some better confirmation than anonymous authority.

"You have called," said the young diplomatist, "the late Queen unfortunate; how is this?"

"I have," said the old man sternly; "and will not recall the epithet. Without passing any opinion on her guilt or her innocence, I term her an unfortunate Princess, because I think few will deny her just claim to that appellation; and that still fewer will assert that she was not, during the greater part of her life, and particularly the closing scenes of it, an object of the sincerest pity. I am old, and, from circumstances and situation, know much of the earlier passages of her married life. I was at Brighton during the first visit of the Princess; the only period at which she was an inmate of the Pavilion. I was at table on one particular occasion, when Lady Jersey, she has since gone to her account, may she have found mercy with her God! was sitting at the right hand of the Prince, monopolizing, as usual, his entire and undivided attention. The Princess, who knew little of English manners, and was unguarded in her own, was guilty of some trivial violation of etiquette, which drew down upon her a hasty censure from the Prince, somewhat harshly expressed. The Princess rose and withdrew in tears. The Prince, who, left to himself, was ever generous and kind-hearted, and who had not calculated that his remark would produce such painful results, rose to follow her. Lady Jersey, — what a

retrospect a dying hour must have unrolled to the view of that fearful woman!-exclaimed, "Go, go by all means. Follow her. Soothe her by your submission, and then sue for pardon. Let her see her own power. She will never abuse it." The Prince hesitated — advanced — returned and, with a smile, resumed his seat. Lady Jersey had triumphed.

The circumstance was canvassed at Brighton, and commented on. It was mentioned in my hearing, and I called it "unmanly conduct." My observation was repeated, and I was dismissed. I was told, "THAT IN

CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES NO MAN WAS ALLOWED TO HAVE AN OPINION OF HIS OWN."

The Princess was unfortunate in other respects. Dr. Randolph, the Prebendary of Bristol, was appointed to an embassy of a private nature to Germany. Among other commissions, he was charged with letters from the Princess of Wales, which he was directed to deliver personally to the Dutchess of Brunswick, and other members of her family. For some reason or other, the Doctor received counter orders, and another gentleman was despatched to Germany in his stead. Instead of surrendering the Princess's packet to herself in person, he transmitted it to her lady-inwaiting, Lady Jersey, to be by her delivered to her royal mistress. The packet was opened, found to contain letters commenting, in ludicrous terms, on various members of her husband's family, and his mother in particular; these letters were handed over to the parties-and never forgiven. That such communications were highly censurable, indiscreet, and improper, I admit but what epithet sufficiently strong can be applied to the treachery which could thus way-lay and appropriate them?

The end of the Countess was singular. During the Queen's trial, and for some years previous to it, she resided at Cheltenham. On the withdrawal of the Bill of Pains and Penalties, she received a round-robin, numerously signed, telling her that her presence was not desired at Cheltenham, and that she would consult both her quiet and her safety, by a speedy retreat. Considerably chagrined at this document, which was powerfully and convincingly written, she asked a leading personage at Cheltenham, whether public opinion there ran so strongly against her as her letter averred. She was told, it did; and that the advice given in the roundrobin was, in the opinion of her counsellor, judicious and sound.'

"Then I will quit Cheltenham without delay."

'Whether she did so, and only reached the first stage of her journey, or whether, when all her hasty preparations were complete, she was suddenly taken ill, I am unable to state positively. This I can affirm, that the vexation and annoyance consequent on the round-robin, brought on the illness which rapidly terminated her existence. She died in the same week as the Queen; and their funeral processions passed on the road. Strange that they should thus meet, both silent in death, the injurer and the injured, the oppressor and the victim!'- Vol. 11. pp. 190-195.

[The following article throws a strong light upon the character of Fichte, and illustrates the history of German metaphysics. The writer, Beneke, is himself the author of several works upon the Philosophy of Mind. Among them are the two following: "The Foundation of a Natural Science of Morality," (Grundlegung zur Physik der Sitten); in Opposition to Kant's "Metaphysics of Morality." 8vo. Berlin. 1821.-"The Study of the Human Mind by way of Observation (Erfahrungsseelenlehre) considered as the Basis of all Knowledge in its higher Branches." 8vo. 1820.

It

may be remarked that the long word Erfahrungsseelenlehre, of which we have given such an explanation as might stand in the title of a book, is technical

in German metaphysics. Seelenlehre or, "the Science of the Soul," otherwise called "Psychology," is either on the one hand Erfahrungsseelenlehre, that is, "the Science of the Soul which is founded upon experience or observation' ("empirical Psychology"), or on the other hand it is vernunftgrundige Seelenlehre (rational Psychology "), which, having nothing to do with experience or observation, is wholly included in the conception, "I," so far as this conception is connected with all our thoughts.

After this specimen of explanation, for the clearness of which we do not make ourselves responsible, having only translated it according to our ability, most readers will excuse us for not endeavouring to illustrate the allusions to Fichte's doctrines which occur in what follows. Sufficient information concerning them to enable one to perceive the purport of those allusions may be found in Mad. de Staël's" Germany." - EDD.]

[Translated from the "Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung," Halle. Oct. 1832.]

ART. VII. JOHANN GOTTLIEB FICHTE's Leben und litterarischer Briefwechsel, herausgegeben von seinen Sohne DR. H. Fichte, Erster Thiel, die Lebensbeschreibung enthaltend. Mit Fichte's Bildnisse. xvi. u. 584 S. Zweyter Theil, die erläuternden Aktenstücke und den litterarischen Briefwechsel enthaltend. xiv. u. 474, S. 1830 u. 1831. Sulzbach, b. Seidel. 3 Rthlr. [JOHANN GOTTLIEB FICHTE'S Life and Literary Correspondence, edited by his Son, DR. H. FICHTE. First Part, containing the Biography; with a Portrait of Fichte. Second Part, containing Explanatory Documents and Literary Correspondence.]

It has often been remarked that in the developement of nations, as in the developement of individuals, a period of the greatest activity and vigor is usually succeeded by a period of weakness and decline. This change, it is true, is not so distinctly marked in modern nations as among those of antiquity. The various cultivated nations of the present day have received their developement at different periods; and in consequence of the intimate relations and ready intercourse, which exist among them, the life of one is transmitted to others in such uninterrupted succession and in such full measure, that the actual loss or utter decline even of a single science or art or practical pursuit seems scarcely a possible occurrence. We may, nevertheless, observe in the course of the developement, alternations of energy and relaxation, of elevation and depression.

We Germans have now arrived, it would seem, at the end of a period, which in many respects will always be regarded as one of the most remarkable in our history: whether we have also reached the commencement of a new period is a question which cannot now be decided.

We have seen one after another of those who shone as heroes in this golden epoch depart from among us. It is but a short time since the brightest of our poetical luminaries went down, and in the firmament of philosophy a few stars only, and those of second

magnitude are seen glimmering here and there, the scanty remains of our former glory. Soon the new generation will be left to themselves, and then it will be seen whether they are capable of working out for themselves an independent developement of their own; or whether they must be content to worship, and to echo those who have gone before them. While we await with no small eagerness the issue of this crisis, we cannot but welcome whatever tends to keep alive and to enrich the remembrance of that golden era. In this point of view the work before us is one of deep interest. Together with Reinhold's Life, Jacobi's Letters, portions of Erhard's and Jean Paul's correspondence, and other less important works, it affords not only a pretty complete picture of our philosophical developement during the latter part of the last century and the beginning of this; but gives us also a peep into the more secret operations attending that developement. We cannot but feel grateful to the editor of so profitable a work.

The first volume contains, as announced in the title-page, "Fichte's Life," gathered partly from reminiscences, particularly the reminiscences of his late widow, partly from oral communications, and, what is most valuable, from fragments of a very full and carefully preserved correspondence with his friends. The second volume, in addition to the literary correspondence, presents us with several hitherto unpublished documents respecting the most interesting events in Fichte's public life.

These communications are the more important to the history of Philosophy, as Fichte has exercised, in some respects, a more decided influence upon our philosophical developement than even Kant. The latter appears throughout undecided in respect to the real, fundamental character of his own philosophic views. A philosophy was to be established on a basis independent of experience, and yet, according to Kant's own doctrine, experience alone can give us knowledge of the existence of things; and to this experience, in the course of his undertaking, he is continually recurring. The same is true with regard to many other important points which we cannot now specify. Fichte, on the other hand, exerted himself with such decision, and with such overwhelming power, that the stamp of his philosophy, moral as well as intellectual, has appeared almost unaltered in every subsequent system, even to this day.

Considering then the great importance of Fichte's life as it regards the history of German philosophy, we are particularly grateful to the editor of these volumes for collecting and presenting with such faithful and impartial care the documents relating to it. And if the judgments which he passes upon Fichte are, in many instances, according to our view, much too favorable, we are rather disposed to approve than to blame such partiality in a son. The author has not suffered this partiality to exercise any influence upon his statements of facts; he has neither suppressed nor mutilated a single document, however unfavorable the impression it might produce, but has given us the whole complete and entire, in

order that each one may form his opinions from them. We shall accordingly first present in a brief review those parts of the biography which seem to us best adapted to illustrate Fichte's character, and the influence which he exerted upon his age.

Johann Gottlieb Fichte was born at Rammenau, in upper Lusatia, on the 19th of May, 1762. At his baptism he received the blessing of an aged uncle, who had come from a great distance to attend the ceremony, and who died shortly after. This man, "venerated by all who knew him for his sanctity and almost prophetic wisdom," prophesied concerning the infant that "he should grow up to be the comfort and joy of his parents." As a boy, in the society of his brothers and sisters, he appeared reserved and uninterested; preferring to wander through the fields alone, his eye fixed upon the distance. The "Horned Siegfried," a book which, in his seventh year, so engrossed his attention as to make him unmindful of every thing else, he committed with heroic resolution to the waves; but from fear or shame concealed the real cause of this sacrifice from his father, and suffered a severe punishment in consequence. His repetition of a sermon in the presence of the Baron von Miltitz, on which occasion "the boy appeared entirely to forget the company, and could find no stopping-place amid the abundance of the thoughts which flowed in upon him decided his destiny. At that nobleman's expense he was educated, first at his castle at Siebeneichen, then, on account of the melancholy and homesickness from which he suffered in that secluded spot, at Niederau under the tuition of a clergyman, next at the city school in Meissen, and lastly at Schul Pforte. The hard treatment which he here received from his Obergeselle,* joined to the enthusiam created by Campe's Robinson Crusoe, induced him at one time to escape from this place, but the thought of his parents brought him back. About this time he entertained a great veneration for Lessing, founded chiefly on that writer's “Antigöze." Having completed his studies at Jena where he became a "determinist" through the influence of Spinoza and Wolf, he accepted the situation of private tutor in the Gasthof zum Schwerte in Zurich.

A characteristic anecdote is related of him while engaged in this office. Finding that all his plans for the improvement of the children committed to his care were defeated by the injudicious management of their parents, he resolved to begin the work of education with them. Accordingly, notwithstanding the opposition of the mother, he assumed the right of prescribing the course they were to pursue in the management of their children, and kept for this purpose a diary which he read to the mother once a week, no

[* Obergeselle, literally, Upper Journeyman or Foreman. At Schul Fforte the younger scholars receive a part of their instruction from their elder schoolfellows. There is usually one teacher to two pupils. The former is called Obergeselle, the latter are Untergesellen, apprentices. - TR.] [Determinist, equivalent to our term necessarian. - TR.]