98 
former, the golden key of flattery gave 
him an easy admission, but the latter 
was by no means so readily accessible : 
his cold forbidding manner had well nigh 
repulsed the adventurous Russian; per- 
severance and compliments were, how- 
ever, at length victorious, and the first 
ceremonious interview was succeeded by 
a social evening, in which they parted 
mutually satisfied with each other. 
«¢ Never, never,” says M. Karamsin, 
« shall I forget him. You should have 
seen, my friends! with what frankness and 
energy he speaks, though nearly sixty years 
old; what animation pervades every feature 
of his countenance in conyersation! His 
mind has not yet begun to grow old, and his 
powers are unimpaired. The same richness 
and playfulness of poetic genius which dis- 
tinguish his Oberon, Musarion, and other 
works, is found in his last production, Clelia 
and Sinibald. It appears even, that the last 
fruits of his muse approach nearer and near- 
er to perfection. The has been known in 
Germany as an author for upwards of thirty. 
five years. His earliest essays attracted pub- 
lic attention. The severity of criticism, 
which then began to prevail in Germany, 
certainly found many fauits in these first 
flights of his youthful genius; though it 
could not deny the author the merit of a 
peculiar art of representation, a fertile ima- 
gination, and exquisite sensibility. But the 
period of his fame properly commenced with 
the publication of his Comic Tales, which 
are inimitable in their kind ; and were in 
Germany considered as unique. ‘The reader 
cannot but admire the wit, taste, and beauty 
of the language, and the skill in narration 
which prevail in these pieces. Poems after 
poems by him have since appeared ; the last 
of which always appeared the best. Ger- 
many has long acknowledged him one of 
her first-rate poets. He now reposes beneath 
his laurels, but he does not slumber. The 
¥rench have renounced their former con- 
temptible opinion of German. literature, 
which was not without foundation, at a 
time when the Germans occupied themselves 
with the departments of dry literature. If 
the principal and most impartial of the 
‘French literati now confess, that the Ger- 
mans have not only overtaken them in many 
things, but even surpassed them in many 
others, it must be confessed, that Wieland’s 
works have partly contributed to produce 
this effect; though they are not remarkabl 
well translated into the French language.” 
M. Karamsin entered Switzerland at 
Basle, and on his way thither from 
Strasburgh, made an acquaintance with 
2 young Dane, who is the hero in many 
cf the incidents afterwards recorded in 
our traveller’s journal. 
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. 
“« He is the son of Mr. Becker, of Copett+ 
hagen, apothecary to his Danish Majesty, 
and has studied medicine in Germany ; but 
chiefly devoted himself to chemistry, under 
the instruction of Klaproth at Berlin. After 
this he traversed almostal] Germany on foot, 
with his dog and his hanger, sending his 
trunk,before him by the coach. He is now 
going to see what is remarkable in Switzer- 
land, and then intends to visit France and 
England. He loves his dog with the tender- 
est affection. On the road he kept looking, 
out behind, every now and then, to see whe- 
ther he was following the coach ; and as he 
observed, a few miles from Basle, that the 
animal was fatigued, and began to lag be- 
hind, he wished us a good journey, and got 
out of the coach, that he might follow slows 
ly after with his faithful companion.” 
At Zurich, M. Karamsin visited La- 
vater, with whom it appears that he 
had been before engaged in a corre- 
spondence, and whom he seems to re- 
verence as the wisest of mortals. His 
first reception, though cordial, was not 
so tenderly sentimental as the inexpe- 
rienced enthusiasm of our traveller ex- 
pected. He obtained, however, by this 
acquaintance, an introduction to most 
of the Swiss literati, and in the next in- 
terview with Lavater, found himself 
quite at ease, and upon terms of inti- 
macy. Nemerous anecdotes and little 
traits of character, are related concern- 
ing this celebrated man, which show in 
a striking manner his great benevolence 
and great vanity ; and the result of the 
whole on the mind of the reader, will 
be esteem for the one, and indulgence 
for the other. 
«« Every day angments my admiration of 
Lavater; he has not an hour's leisure and 
the door of his closet is never shut. Hither 
throng beggars asking charity,—the afflicted 
who seek consolation,------ travellers who, 
though they want neither, at least contribute 
to occupy his time. Besides, he visits the 
sick not only of his own parish, but likewise 
of many others. This evening, afier writing 
several letters, he took his hat, and request- 
ed me to accompany him. I should like te 
see where he is going to, thought I, and fol- 
lowed him. We went out of one street into 
another, and at length through the gate of 
the town. 
entered a cottage. ‘* Is Anna yet alive?” 
demanded Lavater of an old woman who 
came to meetus. She scarcely breathes,” 
replied she, with a flood of tears ; and open- 
ed the door of a chamber; where } beheld, 
in a bed, an aged and emaciated woman, 
whose wan and livid countenance bespoke 
the near approach of death. Two boys and 
two girls stood round the bed and wept. The 
Wearrived at a small village and ~ 
” 
