Vor. VI.] — Retrofpeét of German Literature... Belles-Lettres, 527 
and money, then no doubt, with their 
increafing weaknefs, they alfo improve in 
fentiments of humanity, and negotiation 
at length opens the road to peace. ‘* Ax 
Effay on the Means of refloring the former 
Cheapnefs of Provifions, and obviating the 
Prefent Dearth occafioned by Ufury and 
Forefialling,’ by M.S. v. Rk. deferves to 
be mentioned here as the ingenious pro- 
duction of a lady, who in the introduction 
charges the male writers with a fpecies 
ef neglect rather fingular than true, that 
they are more anxious to furnifh the 
world with productions of the mind, than 
to attend to the wants of the body, or, 
as expreffed in the original, to the coz- 
eerns of an empty flomach. 
BELLES LETTRES. 
As the age of novel-writing appears 
to be rather on the decline in Germany, 
fince the Ghojis and Spectres have nearly 
fupprefled the purer and more natural 
modes of fiction we fhall for the prefent 
mention only two or three works of this 
kind, which are not tinttured with the 
marvellous. ‘* The Life and Manners of 
George Waller, probably defcribed by him- 
felf’ pp. 400. 8vo. is by no means 
deftitute of genuine wit and fatire, while 
it abounds in found moral refleétions.— 
* The Sunday Humorsof Mr. Tobias Laufche, 
Inn-keeper, at the fign of the Blue Angel, 
on the frontiers of Swabia.’’ pp. 198. 8vo. 
1798. Thefe humorous tales recom- 
mend themfelves by the elegant fimplicity 
with which they are written, and the at- 
tractive manner in which familiar events 
are rendered interefting to every reader 
who 6 not altogether void of focial and 
moral feelings. ‘* Peter Schmoll and his 
Neighbours; by the author of Erafmus 
Schleicher: Part I. pp. 325. 1798. 
This is the production of Mr. Cramer, 
a celebrated political viétim in Germany, 
and a man of unqueftionable talents as a 
writer, if his ftyle were not fo eccentric 
and frequently loaded with vulgar expref- 
fions. Yet we muft neverthelefs admire 
his animated method of reprefenting 
the variegated events of life, the very in- 
terefting and frequently furprifing fitua- 
tions and changes in his compofitions, 
his lively and fudden effufions of fancy, 
nay even his {prightlinefs, together with 
his cheerful and fincere fympathy with 
the character of hjs heroes and their oc- 
currences in life ; all thefe excellent qua- 
lities are amply dilfplayed in the prefent 
work. Although the {pecimens of facred 
elocution in Germany are not fcarce, and 
the number of *¢ Sermons,’’ and ** Ma- 
terials or Texts for Serinons,” are almoft 
é 
incredible, yet it cannot be denied that 
the Germans poflefs very few elementar 
works onelocution, Since our laft Re- 
trofpect, we mect with only one work of 
that nature, and this is a fecond edition 
of « Dr. C. T. Babrdt’s Rhetoric for the 
wfe of Church-Orators; with a Preface 
and Additions, by F.D. Bichling. This 
original work of the late Dr: B. has met 
with great oppofition among the orthodox 
German divines, on account of the fingu« 
lar tenets and principles it contains, 
which are confidered as fubverfive to the 
interefts of chriftianity. Independently 
of this remark, however, the “« Rhetoric’* 
before us is an admirable treatife which 
ftands very high in the eftimation of the 
more heterodox theologians of Germany, 
as a performance containing many claffical 
and initruétive obfervations. Amoug the 
late dramatic publications we have to an-~ 
nounce one not well calculated for the 
tage: “* The Death of Gufaw Ul; a 
plychologico-moral pi@ture of the errors 
to which enthufiafm and the paflions may 
lead: In four books: with five plates. 
pp. lvi. and 70z. The author firb{cribes 
hinWelf after the elaborate preface, G.'C. 
Horst, and his chief ‘object in this dra- 
miatic attempt avowedly is, to exhibit te 
view the dangers of political enthufiafm, 
to caution the reader againft the {hares of 
fanciful innovation, to fhow that thofe 
_who with to realize in the actual world, 
whatever prefents itfelf as a plaufible idea, 
will in the end neceffarily meet ‘with dif- 
appointments, and that the tragical event 
-of Gultav’s, death is another ftriking 
inftance to prove, in a cenvincing man- 
ner, the dignified and amiable fupe-. 
riority of virtue over hateful vice. The 
author is at confiderable pains to repré- 
fent the character of the unfortunate king 
in the moft favourable light, and to be- 
ftow particular praife on his undaunted 
and perfevering {pirit, but with all the 
warmth of declamation he kas left a chafm 
in the character of this prince, which the 
moft exquifite flattery of his courtiers 
cannot fupply. And this material defeé& 
in the confiftency of character arifes 
chiefly from the circumftance, that in 
every thing the king fays and does, even 
where he, remote from witneflcs, follows 
the impulfe of his heart, there prevails a 
certain coldnels which, entirely again 
the defign of the author, renders the fin- 
cerity-of his fentiments and feelings fuf- 
picious. It is further an objeétionable 
trait in the king’s private charaéter, that 
all his thoughts, even the recolle&tion of 
his humane and, tender agtions, are in 2 
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