Retrofped of German Literature,.,.Belles Lettres: 
the Hiftory of the Countefs of Senneterre, 
~yelated by herfelf. This is a tranflation 
from a French novel, Le Dot de Suzette, 
which was publifhed laft year at Paris, and 
received with uncommon applaufe, of 
which it isnot undeferving. 
Der grauengel, &c. &c. 17983 pp. 
2243; 8vo. The Grey Angel, an Ori- 
ental Tale; by J. F. ArRnoLtp. Mr. 
Arnold would do well to ftudy his lan- 
guage, and to cultivate his tafte carefully, 
before he attempts again to write for the 
public. 
Rudolph von Werdenberg, von Aug La- 
Jontaine, 1793; pp. 6003; 8vo. This is 
one of the moft pleafing and inftruétive 
compofitions of the novel kind which we 
have feen of late, and reflects no fmall 
degree of honour on the talents and the 
philanthropic difpofitions of its celebrat- 
ed author, who was the firft popular 
writer in Germany who fucceeded, by 
his two interefting romances, Clara Du- 
pleffis, and Count St. Julien, in recalling 
his nation from the abfurd predilection for 
unnatural and horrid compofitions, to 
which the Germans were glaringly ad- 
diéted within the lafi ten years, and 
which, to our difgrace, was allo intro- 
duced, and promoted in this country by 
writers of fome eminence. The revolu- 
tion which took place in the country of 
the Grifons in the beginning of the fif- 
teenth century, and completed the final 
eftablifhment of Swifs liberty, is the main 
hinge upon which this interefting tale 
turns. The author hasintimately blended 
his account of the origin, progrefs, and 
final iffue of that memorable event, with 
the fate of Werdenberg, whois not alto- 
gether a mere imaginary being, and really 
acted a confpicuous part in the ftruggles 
of the brave Grifons for liberty, which 
gives additional intereft to the relation of 
his life. The language is unaffeéted and 
dignified, the incidents are harmonioufly 
united, the principles which animate the 
beautiful tale are excellent, and deferving 
of ferious confideration in our revolution- 
ary times; the tout enfemble is by far fupe- 
rior to any of the compofitions of Mr. L. 
which we have feen as yet, and calculated 
not only to amufe novel readers of the 
common clais, but alfo to intereft the heart 
and the underftanaing of thofe, who look 
for more fubftantial food than that which 
books of this kind commonly afford. We 
cannot refift the temptation of extracting a 
few paflages, which will convince our 
readers of the truth of this affertion. 
“Dear Rudolph (fays father Anthony, 
the venerable tutor of Werdenberg, to 
period, 
61 
his pupil), dear Rudolph, wifdom is the 
only: power by which mankind ought to 
be ruled; it isthe {word which God gave 
to man, to drive violence out of the world, 
Teach, inftruét, propagate knowledge, 
wifdom and virtue, expel error and fu- 
perftition ; and injuftice and »oppreffion 
will gradually ceafe to prevail in the 
world. You would vainly attempt to ef- 
tablifh liberty, while the people are not 
wifer and more virtuous than they are at 
prefent, alchough you fhould overturn all 
thrones, and leave not one prince who 
could invade her auguft empire. Liberty 
confifts in virtue, love, and truth. There- 
fore precipitate nothing, my fon; for li- 
berty depends not upon the form of go- 
vernment, but on the virtue and wifdom 
of a nation. Unhappy the nation that, 
by accident, or through a fudden revolu- 
tion, has obtained more liberty than it 
poffeffed before, without havingalfo grown 
wifer and more virtuous. Liberty ts like 
the f{pring, which expells the chilling 
cold gradually from the ground. The 
foil brings forth, at firft, fome plants 
which can ftand the feverity of the fea- 
fon; the air grows gradually milder, and 
when it, by degrees, has obtained a conge- 
nial warmth, the tendereft flowers and 
bloffoms, the moft beautiful children of 
nature, appear and profper ; whereas they 
would be deftroyed by the cold if they 
ventured forth fooner. The fame may 
be faid of liberty. The times will, and 
muft come, when princes will efteem it 
their greateft glory to be the protectors of 
the laws, and the fathers of generous and 
virtuous fubjeéts. Continual increafe of 
truth is the only road that leads to that 
We cannot accelerate the arrival 
of thofe times by force; but they muft 
arrive at laft, becaufe there is a Provi- 
dence. Liberty cannot fpring up from 
blood ; the fword cannot prepare the foil 
where it is to grow up. ‘Truth, light, 
and reafon, alone, are the nurfes of ge- 
nuine liberty. Liberty declined always 
again amongft every nation where it pro 
ceeded from riots, party-{pirit, and am- 
bition, and was not fupporred by truth. 
Neither are a few individual wife men 
fufficient to eftablifh hberty. The whole 
nation muft be wife; the former only 
can fcatter the ‘feeds of freedom. Let 
us therefore carry light and truth to the 
nations that are in darknefs, and expel - 
error and fuperftition !—Every nation is 
fufceptible only of a certain degree of li- 
berty, which is proportionate to the de- 
gree of light and truth with which it is 
bleffed. A completely wife and good peo- 
ple 
