YERMANY'S intellectual regeneration shadowed forth with the appearance of Opitz, became now more and more apparent; but many a Titanic effort was required to remove the still existing impediments. Bodmer's and Gottsched's literary contests, however useful in some respects, were not sufficiently sweeping in their results, they did not stir up the nation thoroughly; Germany wanted that which constitutes the essence of intellectual progress everywhere, i.e. national life. Torn by factions within, impeded in its onward movement by a crafty priesthood,-the football of an aristocracy deficient in patriotism, intellect, and wealth -those attributes which constitute its power elsewhere, Germany offered at this time a sad spectacle indeed, and needed a master mind, capable of rousing it from its lethargy, and reminding it that a nation, in order to be respected by others, must first know how to respect itself. We wanted the right man for the

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occasion, and found him in Frederick of Prussia. Bold enough to beard Austria, that antiquated state, which, to do it justice, has at all times been the consistent enemy of progress, always and everywhere, Prussia's king, in appealing to the martial spirit of his countrymen, came forward also as the defender of civil and religious liberty; and thus proved a benefactor not only to his own country, but to Europe in general. His own cosmopolitan taste made him appreciate merit in others, and though from his French predilections-the result of his early education-he neglected German literature, he gave, nevertheless, a stimulus to mental exertions, proving in his own person what may be effected by moral courage, tenacity of purpose, and perseverance, be the means however so small.

The peace which followed the seven years' war, proved beneficial to the cultivation of literature, though the progress (owing to the wounds inflicted by that long struggle) could be but slow. Learning, still confined to the few, gradually penetrated the masses. Pedantry and antiquated forms vanished before a refined criticism.

The reforms projected and partially carried out by Joseph II., a well-intentioned but feeble-minded monarch, were too much impeded to produce during his life-time the desired effect; and the little he accomplished was set aside by his successor Leopold II. It was the misfortune of Joseph to have acted in his praiseworthy endeavours without the co-operation of his people, to have obstinately relied on his own individual imperial prestige—a fatal error, to which must be attributed his failures, disappointments, and sufferings.

The study of the Greek writers characterising this period, had opened a splendid field for philological researches; a science, which thanks to the exertions of Friedrich August Wolf, has ever since proved increasingly fruitful in results.

The master-pieces of the great standard writers of England, then the home of literature, par excellence, reacted likewise beneficially on mental life in Germany. Bodmer, Liskow, and Breitinger drew some sparks from the splendid flame burning on Shakespeare's altar. The immortal swan of Avon was understood by Lessing, the reformer of our language; by Herder, so discriminating and refined; by Leibnitz, the erudite philosopher: by Mendelssohn, in whom the deepest philosophy was joined to the warmest philanthropy: by Schlegel, whose masterly translation of Shakespeare's works is not only a graceful homage paid to the transcendant genius of England's greatest writer, but in itself a glorious monument of our own literature: by Göthe, who at first

rather reluctant in appreciating Shakespeare's genius, redeemed his errors amply: by Schiller, who evinced his appreciation of England's bard in translating Macbeth: by Weisse, and Bürger, who became the interpreters of many of his creations.

The soul-stirring and homely strains of Burns, Hogg, Allan Cunningham, the inimitably graphic style of that photographer of nature, of the human character and history, Walter Scott, instilled subsequently also a healthy tone into our inflated literature, showed that there existed a mental affinity between the two kindred nations, proved an antidote to the sickly sentimentalism then pervading Germany, roused its youth to intellectual and patriotic pursuits, and originated that remarkable phase so full of enthusiasm and impulse, called 'DIE STURM-AND DRANGPERIODE.' True, we moved rather rapidly, convinced, as we were, that increased exertions could only compensate for the lethargy of the past. Klopstock, Herder, but principally the latter, became the soul of this movement. Klopstock's ardour, fanned by his classical studies and the reading of our ancient history, gave utterance to his lofty sentiments in ‘Hermann and Thusnelda,' and in resuscitating the athletic figure of the chief of the Cherusci, he reminded Germans that their country, in time gone by, was glorious and free. At the touch of his lyre, the holy oak-forests, those mute witnesses of the deeds of our fathers, bloomed anew; and through the rustlings of the leaves we heard again the sagas of old, and those martial songs, the sweet, never-fading wild-flowers of the German heart. Schubert's thrilling poem, 'Die Fürstengruft,' appealed the more forcibly to the sympathising heart, because the reflection of his own agony. Friedrich von Stolberg's Freiheitsgesang swept thunderlike through Germania, and kindled, like Gleim's Kriegslieder so imbued with the spirit of the ancient bards, lofty sentiments among the nation.

Ewald Christian von Kleist depicted nature in words, by writing his Frühling,' that sweet flower of the mind. The muse of Uz celebrated the great Creator of all, in his soul-stirring ode, 'An die Gottheit;' whilst the earliest poetical effusion of Schiller bore likewise witness to the lofty enthusiasm then prevailing.

And from this era of mental stir also dates modern German philosophy, ushered in by Kant, who placed the edifice on a larger basis, brought unity into the various metaphysical systems, and thus gave a new impulse to all philosophical speculations. Kant, who died in the fear of God, who never wounded a human being, whose honourable, spotless life, is the best refutation of the attacks made upon him.

When he appeared, philosophical speculations were sadly con

fused; the systems of Leibnitz, Wolf, Locke, Newton, Bacon, David Hume and Helvetius, had not produced the unity so essential in metaphysics, while the excesses of the materialists had only brought discredit on these pursuits; hence the difficulty of raising with these scattered materials a new and strong building. Kant accomplished this difficult task; his mind, deep, versatile and analytical, yet at the same time compact and constructive, possessed pre-eminently the genius of organisation; he collected the scattered materials, and, after having classified them, he erected that splendid monument of common sense called 'Kritik der reinen Vernunft,' a work, in which, setting aside the scepticism of Hume on the one hand, and the dogmatism of Wolf on the other, he traced out a new road, which, if followed, will finally lead to the desired goal.

But just as in the physical world, everything has its enemy, parasite, and antidote, so we see also in the mental regions speculations counteracted by other ideas diametrically opposed. It is most remarkable, that in this case, the town of Königsberg, where the new light had appeared, and from which it was radiating in every direction, should at this very time have become the centre of sentimentalism, the antidote to Kant's tenets. But so it was.

GÖTHE in his 'Dichtung und Wahrheit,' shows in all its ramifications a movement of which Jung Stilling, Lavater, Justus Möser, Moritz, Claudius, Bahrdt, Jacobi, Heinse, were the representatives par excellence.

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Even Hippel, in whom the romantic, and satirical elements so harmoniously blended, was at first contaminated by these noxious influences; but, after having studied the law, generally an antidote to dreamy speculations, his mind assumed soon the prosy settled mood, resulting from forensic pursuits. The ladies, above all, favoured the movement. It was the salt that seasoned the evening parties, and gave zest to the cup of tea; the higher their rank, the crazier they felt on the subject. Princess Galitzin then staying at Münster, Juliana von Krüdener, who subsequently led a somewhat anti-idyllic life at Paris, and Elisa von der Recke, were the fair and chief movers.

When Cagliostro the charlatan appeared, the mania had reached its climax; and but for the exertions of Jean Paul Friedrich Richter, Nicolai, and Tiedge, poor Elisa von der Recke would have become stark mad. Tiedge kindly conducted her to Italy, and submitted her there to a regime the effects of which proved eminently beneficial.

The Königsberg mystic school, confined within a narrow sphere, could not, however, arrest the onward movement, which was materially furthered by the formation of literary associations in our universities. Halberstadt became, in the year 1771, the first central point of the movement. Gleim, the founder of this association, was here supported by J. G. Jacobi, Schmidt, Michaelis, Heinse, and ultimately by Voss, Wieland, and Jean Paul Friedrich Richter. These pursuits proved most beneficial to mental culture in Germany; but a more direct influence and embracing a much wider sphere exercised the

'GÖTTINGER DICHTERBUND,' also called 'HAINBUND.'

Göttingen, at that time, already occupied, as it does now, a high position among the academical seats in Germany. History and political economy found there their most eloquent and gifted expounders, whilst the classics, interpreted by Heyne and Michaelis, attracted the young students in crowds.

Previous to the founding of the Hainbund,' a man of the highest literary attainments, and of the most refined taste, Heinrich Christian Boie, had founded, under great difficulties, in the year 1765, a literary periodical called 'Musenalmanach,' of which Gotter, the dramatic writer, Kästner, the mathematician, philosopher and poet, became the first contributors, the number of whom was subsequently increased by the most distinguished poets of Germany.

The principal founder, the soul, and the most enthusiastic supporter, of the Hainbund, which flourished most from 1772— 1774, was Gottfried August Bürger, associated with Hölty, Miller, Voss, Cramer, Hahn, the two Stolbergs, Leisewitz, Wehrs.

Its object was to promote literary pursuits, especially poetry, among its members, who were in the habit of meeting every Saturday, for the purpose of discussing the merits of the poems written during the week.

In order to be a member of this club, it was essential to lead a spotless life; thus the cause of morality could not but gain by such associations.

Bürger, who remained the prominent figure of this poetical group, wrote, at that time, his most celebrated ballads, so deservedly popular for graceful flow of language and purity of diction.