light; we enjoy it later in life from the application of larger critical powers, and deeper acquaintance with the works on which it treats with still greater gusto. Seldom, indeed, has there appeared a critic of similar accomplishments with A. W. Schlegel. To have attained to a complete mastery over two languages, such as Spanish and English, sufficient to translate Calderon in the one, and Shakspeare in the other, with a deep classical knowledge and perfect acquaintance with French,-is so uncommon, that possibly no European scholar of his day could have written the work that is before us. We regret to say he died in 1845. His studies took a totally opposite direction in his latter years, when he added Sanscrit and the Oriental languages to his previous researches. Amid his eloquent countrymen he was one of the most eloquent, both in speech and composition, and his memory rests among scholars hallowed and revered, and his acquirements when living won the tribute of her highest admiration, even from De Stäel.

ART. I.-Die Ruckkehr Von Verfasser der Briefe eines Verstorbenen. The Return. By the Author of the "Letters of a Deceased," (Prince Pückler Muskau). Berlin, 1846. First part Egypt. With a Map. 1 vol. 8vo.

Two years have now elapsed since the first part of our author's work on Egypt, viz. "Aus Mehemed Alis Reich," 3 vols. 8vo. was published, and nearly eight years since the journey was performed which gave rise to it. It is difficult to decide between impressions communicated in all their freshness, and those elaborated with the care and study allowed by time. Each has its advantages: the first views offered to the traveller are the most striking. Circumstances may, however, make them appear in a false light to the eye of the narrator; but the reader, by modifying them by his knowledge of the style and manner of the author, may depend upon their truth.

It is quite different with the traveller who, recovered from the excitement of his journey, sits quietly down in his study and carefully compares his notes with the works of previous authors, arranging them after a system adopted, perhaps, more for his own fame than for the object he is treating. This latter method may be more advantageous to the traveller himself; the former more interesting to a reader who, acquainted with the subject, seeks for new and real information, and not for what he already knows, as well as the author.

If in the present case we have dwelt on the time which has elapsed between the performance of the journey and its final publication, it is by no means our intention to impute to the

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celebrated writer, whose last work we review, any such purpose in retarding the publication of his book; for, if we remember right, the greater part of what we now find in it has already been communicated by the author to German newspapers, and we know him to be too conscientious to wilfully change the opinions he has once expressed, and too proud to add to his own observations those of other writers. Our object, therefore, in remarking on the lapse of time, has been only to examine in how far the interest of the work has been prejudiced by the long interval.

It will be as well to investigate here to which class of travels belongs the work "Aus Mehemed Alis Reich," and its continuation Die Ruckkehr," now before us. The golden days for travellers are gone, when it was sufficient to copy every day's journal with the most heterogeneous subjects appearing on the same page to become a favourite with the public, and satisfy even the man of science who gleaned in the book what he thought proper for his own particular research. Far different is the system now required of the traveller in distant and unknown countries; his materials must be divided, and his matter classified.

A traveller may therefore limit himself to what is called his personal narrative; or he may offer only political views; or, lastly, treat science in general, or any particular branch of it. It matters not how limited the subject may be which he has chosen ; his observations and researches only will be trusted who has reduced them to a certain method. On the contrary, the traveller who will not restrict himself to the limits of personal narrative, must expect that the critic will sort his matter for him, so as to develope the particular class of his investigations. Whatever may have been the feelings excited in England by our author's previous works, where the pride of the aristocracy was hurt by the exhibition of such of its foibles as the vulgar had been accustomed to consider as high acquirements, and to imitate which was the aim and object of their ambition, the eminent talent of the author will not even here be denied.

If we have to complain of the too open manner with which the English people were treated, there exists perhaps no work in any language where the superiority England possesses in so many respects is more distinctly expressed than by the unwilling but inimitable pen of the noble foreigner. The consciousness of his own birth and standing could not allow him to overlook the neglect he met with, so strikingly in contrast with the attention Germans are accustomed to pay on the continent to any travelling Englishman, who, whatever may be his humble condition at home, will be received in Germany by his superiors in rank and education with a deference quite inappropriate to

their own dignity. Such matters, unknown to the generality of Englishmen, must be taken into consideration when judging of the former works of our author.

The narrative in the "Return," as concerns the author's personal adventure, generally the most brilliant part, is here neglected, and, on the contrary, the scientific portion is too much extended, the political part forming the medium between the two. Here, then, the views of the author are the most important, and time only adds to their interest by confirming them. Mehemet Ali's empire, though now more limited than at the epoch of the author's journey, still excites the same political interest. The character of the viceroy, and his not less celebrated son, is now well known and appreciated, the latter having lately given to Europe, by his visit to France and England, an opportunity to judge for itself.

If we have stated that the traveller's personal narrative in the "Return" is more neglected than in his former works, the cause is less attributable to himself than to the partial critics who have been constantly attacking and harassing him. Freedom of speech is indispensable for that kind of writing in which the author of the "Letters of a Deceased" excels. He must be allowed to state his real feelings concerning others as well as himself, provided he shows no prejudice in the former, and no self-conceit in the latter. He can in this be guided only by an inherent tact, which no one can refuse to our author in his former works. There is moderation in his judgment of others, as well as consciousness of his own worth: unjust attacks produce generally the contrary effect to what they are intended to convey, and to our regret we see this result in the book now under review. The author, apparently disgusted, now seldom indulges in that pleasing laissez aller which gave so much charm to the statements of his personal impressions. Yet unwilling wholly to relinquish this, he gives to his own concerns that attention which he was wont to bestow on others; thus occupying the reader too often with trifles, in a manner which leaves us undecided whether he has been more checked by the critics, or spoiled by his too partial admirers. We quote the following passage in proof of our assertion:

"When I made the leap, some of our sailors who had come on shore were standing by, and one of them exclaimed, Tahib, Sultan Kaffir!' (well done, Sultan of the infidels), so that I learned that they were used to designate me by this strange (kuriosen) appellation."

This would be a very innocent assertion from any other than

our high-born author, already more than suspected of placing a high value on his quality. There are only three classes in which the people of the East rank travelling Europeans: Bej, prince; Hekim, physician; and Bazirghian, tradesman. Every one appearing with a numerous suite like an Elgee, ambassador, is called Bej; a scientific traveller is considered a Hekim; and all those who come for the sake of gain, Bazirghians. The title of Sultan given to our author is therefore an exception, and not a strange but a proud appellation, which must have pleased him highly, as we here and there find him expressing himself quite in the style of an Eastern sovereign: e. g.

"My bark is now presenting a peculiar aspect: I had a mimose hewn down and planted at the fore part; in whose branches the chameleon stirs about, and at whose foot my antelope, still somewhat sea sick and, as it appears, even suffering from nostalgia, is reposing. Near it I rest myself, stretched out on cushions, sending curling clouds into the blue atmosphere, with two Abyssinian girls standing before me, both the property of my valet-de-chambre, one to fan off the flies, the other to present coffee."

These scenes are very natural in the East, and are practised there by all Europeans, and more particularly so by raging abolitionists, when sufficiently distant from Exeter Hall; but it is only a Grand Seigneur who will write them down repeatedly.

We shall now give some extracts on such topics as the author relates in that interesting manner peculiarly his own, but of which we find few instances in the present book.

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"Before taking leave of Kahira (Cairo), I must mention a singular custom with which I became accidentally acquainted. It will be remembered that I mention in my Griech en Leiden,' one Count Sattenback from Bavaria, with whom I had become acquainted in_Tripolizza, where he filled the appointment of criminal judge. I met him again in Kahira, where, after he had lost his post in Greece, he had come to seek for a place without being able to get one. I offered to make him my secretary, and he accepted it. But,' said he, I was married here a short time ago.'- That indeed changes the matter.' 'Oh, no,' he continued, for my matrimony will expire in two months. Quite astonished, I requested a further explanation; and I then heard for the first time what I afterwards had sufficient opportunity to be convinced of, that there reigns here among rich and poor Copts a custom to marry their daughters and kinswomen for a time, on getting a certain sum. The marriage is formally consecrated by the priest, even if the bridegroom should be already married elsewhere, of which case the priest, receiving a good bakschis, takes no notice; it is therefore as valid as any other kind of matrimony, with the sole difference, that it only lasts for the stipulated