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me to a higher duty, and admonished me to do | thou never been in any deadly peril, that I mine. Imprudently I had, in former conversa- might show thee the lion in thy husband?" tions, first awakened her religious scruples; the passion for me, which had so much in- return to Dresden," says Heyne, "I learned But better days were dawning. "On our creased her enthusiasm, increased her melan- that inquiries had been made after me from choly; even the secret thought of belonging Hanover; I knew not for what reason.' more closely to me by sameness of belief had reason by and by came to light. Gessner, unconsciously influenced her. In a word, I Professor of Eloquence in Göttingen, was The formed the determination which could not but dead: and a successor was wanted. These expose me to universal censure: helpless as things, it would appear, cause difficulties in I was, I united my destiny with hers. We Hanover, which in many other places are little were wedded at Ensdorf, on the 4th of June, felt. 1761." But the Prime Minister Münchhausen himself; and he was wont to watch over it had as good as founded the Georgia Augusta with singular anxiety. The noted and notorious Klotz was already there, as assistant to Gessner, "but his beautiful latinity," says Heeren, "did not dazzle Münchhausen; so Klotz, with his pugnacity, was not thought of." The Minister applied to Ernesti for advice: Ernesti knew of no fit men in Germany, but recommended Rhunken of Leyden, or Saxe of Utrecht. Khunken refused to leave his country, and added these words: do you seek out of Germany, what Germany "But why itself offers you? why not, for Gessner's suc cessor, take Christian Gottlob Heyne, that true pupil of Ernesti, and man of fine talent, (excellenti virum ingenio,) who has shown how much he knows of Latin literature by his

This was a bold step, but a right one: Theresa had now no stay but him; it behoved them to struggle, and if better might not be, to sink together. Theresa, in this narrative, appears to us a noble, interesting being; noble not in sentiment only, but in action and suffering; a fair flower trodden down by misfortune, but yielding, like flowers, only the sweeter perfume for being crushed, and which it would have been a blessedness to raise up and cherish into free growth. Yet, in plain prose, we must question whether the two were happier than others in their union; both were quick of temper; she was all a heavenly light, he in good part a hard terrestrial mass, which perhaps she could never wholly illuminate; the balance of the love seems to have lain much on her side. Nevertheless Heyne was a stead-Tibullus; of Greek, by his Epictetus? In my fast, true, and kindly, if no ethereal man; he seems to have loved his wife honestly; and so amid light and shadow they made their pilgrimage together, if not better than other mortals, not worse, which was to have been feared.

opinion, and that of the greatest Hemsterhuis (Hemsterhusii To Távu,) Heyne is the only one that can replace your Gessner. Nor let any one tell me that Heyne's fame is not sufficiently illustrious and extended. Believe me, there learning, that ere long all Europe will ring is in this man such a richness of genius and with his praises."

Neither, for the present, did the pressure of distress weigh heavier on either than it had done before. He worked diligently, as he found scope, for his old Mæcenases, the Book-Rhunken's, in favour of a person as yet little This courageous and generous verdict of sellers; the war-clouds grew lighter, or at least known to the world, and to him known only the young pair got better used to them; friends by his writings, decided the matter. "Münchalso were kind, often assisting and hospitably hausen," says our Heeren, "believed in the entertaining them. On occasion of such a visit boldly prophesying man.' to the family of a Herr von Löben, there oc- ficulty Heyne was unearthed; and after various 99 Not without difcurred a little trait, which, for the sake of excuses on account of competence on his part, Theresa, must not be omitted. Heyne and she-for he had lost all his books and papers in had spent some happy weeks with their infant, in this country-house, when the alarm of war drove the Von Löbens from their residence, which with the management of its concerns they left to Heyne. He says he gained some notion of "land-economy" truly; and Heeren states that he had a candle-manufactory to

oversee.

But to our incident. "Soon after the departure of the family, there came upon us an irruption of Cossacks, (disguised Prussians, as learned.) After drinking to intoxication in we subsequently the cellars, they set about plundering. Pursued by them, I ran up stairs, and no door being open but that of the room where my wife was with her infant, I rushed into it. She arose Courageously, and placed herself, with the child on her arm, in the door against the robbers. This courage saved me, and the treasure which lay hidden in the chamber." "O thou Lioness!" said Attila Schmelzle, on occasion of a similar rescue, 46 why hast

the siege of Dresden, and sadly forgotten his Latin and Greek in so many tumults,-and various prudential negotiations about dismis sion from the Saxon service, and salary, and privilege in the Hanoverian, he at length formally received his appointment; and some three months after, in June 1763, settled in Göttingen, with an official income of eight several additions, in the course of time, inhundred thalers, which, it appears, was by creased to twelve hundred.

His long life was henceforth as quiet and
Here then had Heyne at last got to land.
fruitful in activity and comfort as the past
period of it had been desolate and full of sor-
rows.
quently invited to do so, and sometimes with
He never left Göttingen, though fre
highly tempting offers; but continued in his

He was invited successively to be Professor at Cas sel, and at Klosterbergen; to be Librarian at Dresden;

and, most flattering of all, to be Prokanzler in the Uni

versity of Copenhagen, and virtual Director of Educa
tion over all Denmark. He had a struggle on this 'ast

THE LIFE OF HEYNE.

fold pang, beyond the pitcn of human feeling, | sidered in his private relations, such a man pierced through my soul! How did my limbs might well reckon himself fortunate. tremble as I approached this holy spot! Here, then, reposes what is left of the dearest that heaven gave me; among the dust of her four children she sleeps. A sacred horror covered the place. I should have sunk altogether in my sorrow, had it not been for my two daughters that were standing on the outside of the church-yard; I saw their faces over the wall, directed to me with anxious fear. This called me to myself; I hastened in sadness from the spot where I could have continued for ever: where it cheered me to think that one day I should rest by her side; rest from all the carking care, from all the griefs which so often have embittered to me the enjoyment of life. Alas! among these griefs must I reckon even her love, the strongest, truest, that ever inspired the heart of woman, which may be the happiest of mortals, and yet was a fountain to me of a thousand distresses, inquietudes, and cares. To entire cheerfulness perhaps she never attained; but for what unspeakable sweetness, for what exalted, enrapturing joys is not Love Amidst gnawing anxieindebted to Sorrow? ties, with the torture of anguish in my heart, I have been made even by the love which caused me this anguish, these anxieties, inexpressibly happy! When tears flowed over our cheeks, did not a nameless, seldom felt delight stream through my breast, oppressed equally by joy and by sorrow!"

In addition to Heyne's claims as a scholar and teacher, Heeren would have us regard him as an unusually expert man of business and negotiator, for which line of life he himself seems In proof of this, we indeed to have thought that his talent was more peculiarly fitted. have long details of his procedure in manag. ing the Library, the Royal Society, the Univer. sity generally, and his incessant, and often rather complex correspondence with Münchhausen, Brandes, or other ministers, who presided over this department. Without detract ing from Heyne's skill in such matters, what struck us more in this narrative of Heeren's was the singular contrast which the "Georgia Augusta," in its interior arrangement, as well as in its external relations to the Government, exhibits with our own universities. The prime minister of the country writes thrice weekly to the director of an institution for learning! He oversees all; knows the character, not only of every professor, but of every pupil that gives any promise. He is continually purchasing books, drawings, models; treating for this or the other help or advantage to the establishHe has his eye over all Germany; and ment. nowhere does a man of any decided talent show himself, but he strains every nerve to acquire him. And seldom or ever can he succeed; for the Hanoverian assiduity seems nothing singular; every state in Germany has But Heyne was not a man to brood over its minister for education, as well as Hanover. past griefs, or linger long where nothing was They correspond, they inquire, they negotiate; In a short time, ac- everywhere there seems a canvassing, less for to be done, but mourn. cording to a good old plan of his, having places, than for the best men to fill them. reckoned up his grounds of sorrow, he fairly Heyne himself has his Seminarium, a private wrote down on paper, over against them, his class of the nine most distinguished students "grounds of consolation;" concluding with in the university; these he trains with all dilithese pious words, "So for all these sorrows gence, and is in due time most probably entoo, these trials, do I thank thee, my God! And abled, by his connections, to place in stations now, glorified friend, will I again turn me with fit for them. A hundred and thirty-five proundivided heart to my duty; thou thyself fessors are said to have been sent from this smilest approva! on me!" Nay, it was not Seminarium during his presidency. These many months before a new marriage came on things we state without commentary: we be the anvil, in which matter, truly, Heyne con-lieve that the experience of all English, and ducted himself with the most philosophic indifference; leaving his friends, by whom the project had been started, to bring it to what issue they pleased. It was a scheme concerted by Zimmerman, (the author of Solitude, a man little known to Heyne,) and one Reich, a LeipBut to return to Heyne: We have said, that zig bookseller, who had met at the Prymont Baths. Brandes, the Hanoverian Minister, in his private circumstances, he might reckon successor of Münchhausen in the manage himself fortunate. His public relations, on a ment of the University concerns, was there more splendid scale, continued, to the last, to also with a daughter; upon her, the projectors be of the same happy sort. By degrees, he cast their eye. Heyne, being consulted, seems had risen to be, both in name and office, the to have comported himself like clay in the chief man of his establishment; his character hands of the potter; father and fair one, in stood high with the learned of all countries; like manner, were of a compliant humour, and and the best fruit of external reputation, inthus was the business achieved; and on the creased respect in his own circle, was not 9th of April, 1777, Heyne could take home denied to him. The burghers of Göttingen, so a bride, won with less difficulty than most men fond of their University, could not but be proud have in choosing a pair of boots. Neverthe- of Heyne; nay, as the time passed on, they less, she proved an excellent wife to him; found themselves laid under more than one kept his house in the cheerfullest order; ma- specific obligation to him. He remodelled and naged her step-children, and her own, like a reanimated their gymnasium (town-school), as true mother; and loved, and faithfully assisted he had before done that of Ilfeld; and what her husband in whatever he undertook. Con- i was still more important, in the rude times of

Scotch, and Irish university-men will, of itself, furnish one. The state of education in Germany, and the structure of the establishments for conducting it, seems to us one of the most promising inquiries that could at this moment be entered on.

L 2

"Next day," says Heeren," was Sunday: I saw him in the evening, for the last time. He was resting in his chair, exhausted by the fatigue of yesterday. On Monday morning, he once more entered his class room, and held his Seminarium. In the afternoon he prepared his letters, domestic as well as foreign; among the latter, one on business; sealed them all but ɔne, written in Latin, to Professor Thorlacius, in Copenhagen, which I found open, but finish- * It is a curious fact that these two men, so singularly ed, on his death. At supper, (none but his correspondent in their early sufferings, subsequent distinction, line of study, and rugged enthusiasm of chaelder daughter was with him,) he talked cheer-racter, were at one time, while both as yet were under fully, and at his usual time retired to rest. In the horizon, brought into partial contact. "An acthe night, the servant girl, that slept under his quaintance of another sort," says Heeren, "the young Heyne was to make in the Brühl Library; with a perapartment, heard him walking up and down; son whose importance he could not then anticipate. a common practice with him when he could One frequent visitor of this establishment was a certain not sleep. However, he had again gone to specially desirable for the librarians, such endless labour almost wholly unknown man, whose visits could not be bed. Soon after five, he arose, as usual; he did he cost them. He seemed insatiable in reading; and

praise, surely; yet, as we must think, one not | perhaps, is not very singular among commen unfounded, and which, indeed, in all parts of tators. Europe, is becoming more and more confirmed.

For the rest, Heeren assures us, that in pracSo much, in the province to which he de- tice Heyne was truly a good man; altogether voted his activity, is Heyne allowed to have just; diligent in his own honest business, and accomplished. Nevertheless, we must not as-ever ready to forward that of others; comsert that, in point of understanding and spi-passionate; though quick-tempered, placable; ritual endowment, he can be called a complete, friendly, and satisfied with simple pleasures. or even, in strict speech, a great man. Won- He delighted in roses, and always kept a bouderful perspicuity, unwearied diligence, are not quet of them in water on his desk. His house denied him; but to philosophic order, to clas- was embowered among roses; and in his old sical adjustment, clearness, polish, whether in days he used to wander through the bushes word or thought, he seldom attains; nay, many with a pair of scissors. Farther, says Heeren, times, it must be avowed, he involves himself in spite of his short sight, he was fond of the in tortures, long-winded verbosities, and stands fields and skies, and could lie for hours readbefore us little better than one of that old school ing on the grass. A kindly old man! With which his admirers boast that he displaced. strangers, hundreds of whom visited him, he He appears, we might almost say, as if he had was uniformly courteous; though latterly, bewings but could not well use them. Or, in- ing a little hard of hearing, less fit to converse. deed, it might be that, writing constantly in a In society he strove much to be polite; but dead language, he came to write heavily; work- had a habit (which ought to be general) of ing for ever on subjects where learned armor- yawning, when people spoke to him and said at-all-points cannot be dispensed with, he at nothing. last grew so habituated to his harness that he would not walk abroad without it; nay perhaps it had rusted together, and could not be unclasped! A sad fate for a thinker! Yet one which threatens many commentators, and over-ranked, for honesty of study and of life, with takes many.

As a man encrusted and encased, he exhibits himself, moreover, to a certain degree, in his moral character. Here too, as in his intellect, there is an awkwardness, a cumbrous inertuess; nay, there is a show of dulness, of hardness, which nowise intrinsically belongs to him. He passed, we are told, for less religious, less affectionate, less enthusiastic than he was. His heart, one would think, had no free course, or had found itself a secret one; outwardly he stands before us, cold and still, a very wall of rock; yet within lay a well, from which, as we have witnessed, the stroke of some Moses'-wand (the death of a Theresa) could draw streams of pure feeling. Callous as a man seems to us, he has a sense for all natural beauty; a merciful sympathy for his fellow-men: his own early distresses never left his memory: for similar distresses his pity and help were at all times in store. This form of character may also be the fruit partly of his employments, partly of his sufferings, and,

called for so many books, that his reception there grew rather of the coolest. It was Johann Winkelmann. Meditating his journey for Italy, he was then laying in preparation for it. Thus did these two men become, if not confidential, yet acquainted; who at that time, both still in darkness and poverty, could little suppose, that in a few years, they were to be the teachers of cultivated Europe, and the ornaments of their nation."

On the whole, the Germans have some reason to be proud of Heyne; who shall deny that they have here once more produced a scholar of the right old stock; a man to be

the Scaligers, the Bentleys, and old illustrious men, who, though covered with academic dust and harsh with polyglot vocables, were true men of endeavour, and fought like giants, with such weapons as they had, for the good cause? To ourselves, we confess, Heyne, highly interesting for what he did, is not less but more so for what he was. This is another of the proofs, which minds like his are from time to time sent hither to give, that the man is not the product of his circumstances, but that, in a far higher degree, the circumstances are the product of the man. While beneficed clerks and other sleek philosophers, reclining on their cushions of velvet, are demonstrating that to make a scholar and man of taste, there must be co-operation of the upper classes, society of gentlemen-commoners, and an income of four hundred a year;-arises the son of a Chemnitz weaver, and with the very wind of his stroke sweeps them from the scene. Let no man doubt the omnipotence of Nature, doubt the majesty of man's soul; let no lonely unfriended son of genius despair! Let him not despair; if he have the will, the right will, then the power also has not been denied him. It is but the artichoke that will not grow except in gardens; the acorn is cast carelessly abroad into the wilderness, yet it rises to be an oak; on the wild soil it nourishes itself, it defies the empest, and lives for a thousand years.