crime nor by genius, by intolerance nor by enthusiasm, by passion nor by heroism, is existence either disturbed or exalted. The Austrian Cabinet during the last century was considered as very adroit in politics, a quality which little agrees with the German character in general; but men often mistake for profound policy that which is only the alternative between ambition and weakness. History almost always attributes to individuals, as to governments, more combination of plans than really existed.

Austria, concentrating within herself people so different from each other, as the Bohemians, Hungarians, &c., wants that unity which is so essential to a monarchy: nevertheless, the great moderation of her rulers has for a long time past produced a general bond of union out of the attachment to one individual. The emperor of Germany was at the same time. sovereign over his own dominions and the constitutional head of the empire. In this latter character he had to manage different interests and established laws, and derived from his imperial magistracy a habit of justice and prudence, which he transferred from them to the administration of his hereditary States. The nations of Bohemia and Hungary, the Tyrolese and the Flemings, who formerly constituted the monarchy, have more natural vivacity than the genuine Austrians: these last employ themselves incessantly in the act of moderating instead of that of encouraging. An equitable government, a fertile soil, a wise and wealthy nation, all contributed to teach them, that for their well-being it was only necessary to maintain their existing condition, and that they had no need whatever for the extraordinary assistance of superior talents. In peaceable times, indeed, they may be dispensed with; but what can we do without them in the grand struggles of em pires?

The spirit of Catholicism, which was uppermost at Vienna, though always with moderation, had nevertheless constantly during the reign of Maria Theresa, repelled what was called the progress of light in the eighteenth century. Then came Joseph the Second, who lavished all these lights on a country

not yet prepared either for the good or the evil which they were qualified to produce. He succeeded, for the moment, in the object of his wishes, because throughout Austria he met with no active emotion either in favor of, or contrary to his desires; but, "after his death, nothing remained of all his establishments,' "1 because nothing can last but that which advances by degrees.

Industry, good living, and domestic enjoyments, are the principal interests of Austria; notwithstanding the glory which she acquired by the perseverance and valor of her armies, the military spirit has not really penetrated all classes of the nation. Her armies are, for her, so many moving fortifications, but there is no greater emulation in this than in other professions; the most honorable officers are at the same time the bravest; and this reflects upon them so much the more credit, as a brilliant and rapid advancement is seldom the consequence of their efforts. In Austria they almost scruple to show favor to superior men, and it sometimes seems as if government wished to push equality even further than nature itself, and to treat talent and mediocrity with the same undistinguishing impartiality.

The absence of emulation has, indeed, one advantage--it allays vanity; but often pride itself partakes of it; and, in the end, there remains only a sort of easy arrogance, which is satisfied with the exterior of all things.

I think that it was also a bad system, that of forbidding the importation of foreign books. If it were possible to preserve to a country the energy of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries by defending it from the writings of the eighteenth, this might perhaps be a great advantage; but as it is absolutely necessary, that the opinions and the discoveries of Europe must penetrate into the midst of a monarchy, which is itself in the centre of Europe, it is a disadvantage to let them reach it only by halves; for the worst writings are those which are most sure to make their way. Books, filled with immoral pleasantries and selfish principles, amuse the vulgar, and al

1 Suppressed by the censors.

ways fall into their hands; while prohibitory laws are absolutely effective only against those philosophical works, which tend to elevate the mind, and enlarge the ideas. The constraint which these laws impose is precisely that which is wanting to favor the indolence of the understanding, but not to preserve the innocence of the heart.

In a country where all emotion is of slow growth; in a ountry where every thing inspires a deep tranquillity, the slightest obstacle is enough to deter men from acting or writing, or even (if it is required) from thinking. What can we have better than happiness? they say. It is necessary to understand, however, what they mean by the word. Does happiness consist in the faculties we develop, or in those we suppress? No doubt a government is always worthy of esteem, so long as it does not abuse its power, and never sacrifices justice to its interest; but the happiness of sleep is deceitful; great reverses may occur to disturb it; and we ought not to let the steeds stand still for the sake of holding the reins more gently and easily.

A nation may easily content itself with those common blessings of life, repose and ease; and superficial thinkers will pretend, that the whole social art is confined to securing these blessings to the people. Yet are more noble gifts necessary to inspire the feeling of patriotism. This feeling is combined of the romembrances which great men have left behind them, the admiration inspired by the chefs-d'œuvre of national genius, and lastly, the love which is felt for the institutions, the religion, and the glory of our country. These riches of the soul re the only riches that a foreign yoke could tear away; it therefore material enjoyments were the only objects of thought, might not the same soil always produce them, let who will be its masters?

They believed in Austria, during the last century, that the cultivation of letters would tend to enfeeble the military spirit; but they were deceived. Rodolph of Habsburg' untied from

1 Near the right bank of the Aar, in the Canton of Aargou, Switzerland, ands the village of Habsburg. There may be seen the ruins of a castle

his neck the golden chain which he wore, to decorate a then celebrated poet. Maximilian dictated the poem which he caused to be written. Charles the Fifth knew, and cultivated, almost all languages. Most of the thrones of Europe were formerly filled by sovereigns well informed in all kinds of learning, and who discovered in literary acquirements a new source of mental grandeur. Neither learning nor the sciences will ever hurt the energy of character. Eloquence renders men more brave, and courage renders them more eloquent; every thing that makes the heart beat in unison with a generous sentiment, doubles the true strength of man, his will: but >hat systematic selfishness, in which a man sometimes comprehends his family as an appendage of himself, but that philosophy which is merely vulgar at bottom, however elegant in appearance, which leads to the contempt of every thing that is called illusion, that is, of self-devotion and enthusiasm,-this is the sort of illumination most to be dreaded for the virtues of a nation; this, nevertheless, is what no censors of the press can ever expel from a country surrounded by the atmosphere of the eighteenth century: we can never escape from what is bad and hurtful in books, but by freely admitting from all quarters whatever they contain of greatness and liberality.

The representation of "Don Carlos" was forbidden at Vienna, because they would not tolerate his love for Elizabeth. In Schiller's "Joan of Arc," Agnes Sorel was made the lawful wife of Charles the Seventh. The public library was forbidden to let the "Esprit des Lois" be read; and while all this constraint was practised, the romances of Crébillon circulated in everybody's hands, licentious works found entrance, and serious ones alone were suppressed.

The mischief of bad books is only to be corrected by good ones; the bad consequences of enlightenment are only avoided by rendering the enlightenment more complete. There are two roads to every thing-to retrench that which is danger

which was the original seat of the royal family of Austria. Hapsbourg the usual orthography, is erroneous.-Ed.

ɔus, or to give new strength to resist it. The latter is the only method that suits the times in which we live; ignorance cannot now have innocence for its companion, and therefore can only do mischief. So many words have been spoken, so many sophisms repeated, that it is necessary to know much, in order to judge rightly; and the times are passed when men confined their ideas to the patrimony of their fathers. We must think, then, not in what manner to repel the introduction of light, but how to render it complete, so that its broken rays may not present false colors. A government must not pretend to keep a great nation in ignorance of the spirit which governs the age; this spirit contains the elements of strength and greatness, which may be employed with success, when men are not afraid boldly to meet every question that presents itself: they will then find, in eternal truths, resources against transitory errors, and in liberty itself, the support of order and the augmentation of power.

CHAPTER VII.

VIENNA.

VIENNA is situated in a plain, surrounded by picturesque hills. The Danube, which passes through and encircles it, divides itself into several branches, forming many pleasant islets; but this river loses its own dignity in so many windings, and fails to produce the impression which its ancient renown promises. Vienna is an old town, small enough in itself, but begirt with spacious suburbs. It is pretended that the city, surrounded by its fortifications, is not more extensive now than it was at the time when Richard Coeur-de-Lion' was

1 Richard was arrested near Friesach, one hundred and fifty miles from Vienna, on the road to Venice; and it is not improbable that he was imrisoned at the castle of Dürrenstein, on the frontier between Styria and Carinthia, at the entrance of the beautiful valley of the Olcza.-Ed.