BOOKS.

AUERBACH'S VIENNA FROM LATOUR TO WINDISCHGRA.ETZ.* Timis cannot be a greater proof of the German unfitness for praotie.al affairs, especially government, than the conduct of the whole people during the last sixteen months, and the results that conduct has left behind. Whatever else may be said of the French revolutionists, they do their work. The system of the old regime, in spirit as well as form, was destroyed, never to revive again, and the aspect of French society was entirely changed. Charles the Tenth and his branch of Bourbons were driven from the throne and sent on their travels, in a masterly manner. Louis Philippe and his family were dismissed in a like style. With the ball almost at their foot, the Germans have done nothing at all but create confusion. As far as depends upon the Germans themselves, their year and a half of revolutions would leave them where it found them ; if a little advanced in paper politics, a good deal behindhand in pocket. Results, indeed, and disastrous ones, are likely to follow from the dia- tarbanees in Italy, the war in Hungary, and the assistance of Russia; but the consequences will be owing to Italians, Magyars, and Selavonians, not to Germans.

Through some instinctive perception of this truth, the German comma- tions have received little attention compared with those of France and Italy. The correspondence of the journals has been inferior and curt. Few if any gentlemen of the press were present during the siege of Vienna ; and though two young English tourists have published nar- ratives of their experience, they are short and superficial. The nar-. rative of an observer like Auerbach was therefore worth having; not merely as giving a German view of men and !binge, but the only view. It is true, Auerbach is not free from a little excitation about German glories and so forth ; but he is a person of moderate and rational ideas, whose trade it is to study men and opinions. In the beginning of September 1848, the poet and novelist found him- self en route for Vienna; and, after looking about at the new con- stitutional aspect of things, paid a visit to the "green fields of Styria." On his return route, he heard of the new revolution and the murder of Latour. Nothing daunted at this change, he pushed on to the capital ; and there he remained, observing, mixing in &hire, sometimes advising, and latterly bearing arms, till the fall of the city la him nothing more to do, say, or see, save military:executions. His narrative gives a very good idea of a city surprised into a revolu- tion, triumphant against its expectations if not its will, and desiring to gain by constitutional means what under the circumstances would only be yielded to the species of force the bulk of the Viennese shrank from em- ploying. Calumnious stories have been circulated, on hearsay evidence, by the correspondents of the Absolute party, in the press, of the violence. and atrocities of the people; but, as it would appear from Auerbach, without the slightest foundation, beyond the report of a forced requisition having been adopted in one particular quarter on one of the last days. The fact would seem to be, that the outbreak was improvised by the stu- dents, who took advantage of the, aversion of the regiment of Grenadiers to march into Hungary, less, it appears, from political motives, than from a dislike to change their comfortable quarters for a winter cam- paign in a wild country. The ensuing fight, and the murder of Latour, was a spirt on the part of the mob, with which neither the Diet nor the bulk of the respectable people had anything to do ; though, unluckily as it turned out, they adopted the acts provoked by the detected treachery of the Court. Republicans undoubtedly might be found among the students and strangers, but the mass of the, com- munity were loyal to the backbone. The flight of the Emperor did not shake this feeling, and in some degree it was the cause of the failure of the revolution. Instead of pressing the advantage they had gained, and attacking the Imperialists while weak and disunited, they lost time in negotiating for the Emperor's return while the Court was concentrating forces. This morbid fear of deviating into rebellion went so far, (as ap pears from a document in the appendix which Arr. Taylor the translator has added as a corrective of Auerbach's German prejudices,) that the Hungarian army could get no written order to advance into the Austrian territories, even when Vienna was threatened ; and as the Hungarian army was then commanded by men with similar scruples, the golden moment was lost.

This indecision, however, is scarcely matter of surprise. A similar feeling influenced the English Parliament at the -beginning of the Civit War, and it always operates upon moderate men. The true ground of censure, as it was the real cause of failure, is the ludicrous transcenden- talism of the German mind, as shown in the speechifying and prooession- izing of the leaders, "who, while the cannon at Schwechat were thun-- in their ears,—instead of ordering a sally to assist their Iitroga- lien allies, were with pedantic calmness discussing, at the top of the cathedral spire of St. Stephen's, the reciprocal relations of the unities of the Greek drama."

• - • During Auerbach's visit to Styria, he fell in with some emigrant aris- tocrats, both of blood and the breeches-pocket.; of whom he gives an in- different account.

" Among the monied. aristocracy I found the most frightful thirst for enjoy- ment. A constant succession of new sensuous pleasures all equally stimulating, is called for; only no disquiet, no trouble, no tasking the powers for themainte- rumce of life. I heard here again the oracular saying of the prophet Nestroy- ' Why should I do anything for posterity ? what has posterity done for me?' I found the youpgmen in these circles ever ready to inveigh against all who created disquiet, and longing and sighing for undisturbed enjoyment. A young fellow, twenty-one years of age, whose whole day's work consists in eating and drinking, riding and driving, and the like, was beat on emigrating to America with all his fortune: there alone was quiet to be found. The whole talent of these stable-

• A Narrative of Events In Vienna, nun, Latour to Windlschgriaz. (September to November VMS.) By Berthold Auerbach. Translated by John Etirtard Taylor. With an IrltrodUctIon and Appendix. Published by Bogue.

boys in kid gloves consists in iiilienting; andireedtan, too, they want to inherit, like their patrimony. When we 5alleekon the rottenness of this state of society, where wealth serves but to overlay these 'men With a varnish of education, we feel the historical necessity that new classes of men should arise, to root out and sup- plant this good-formothing frivolity. Nor less miserable did I find the condition of the titled aristocracy, who had retreated, or rather fled, to the retirement of their country-seats, small towns, and villages. On every side pale terror con- fronts you—a terror not to be scared awarby dilettante pianoforte-playing. These people tried to laugh, to be merry, to make parties of amusement; but the reality of mirth was wantiug. They trembled for their property, for their privileges, for their position in society: there was eager discussion as to the future fortunes of their younger sons, now that commissions in the army and places at court and in the bureaucracy, formerly so secure, were become questionable."

The peasantry were no better in their way, though their position may plead their excuse.

I once asked a sensible peasant, whom I joined on the road, what he thought of the Diet, which had devoted its principal care to the peasantry. Look ye,' said the man, ' we never bad to pay robot [labour-rent] ; so the care of the Diet is nothing to us.' This gave a complete check to any ideal flight. It seems that some strong concussions must yet occur, penetrating into the remotest villages, to make men comprehend the altered circumstances of the timee.

" It must not be forgotten'that selfishness and cupidity, which it is well known are everywhere found among the peasantry, have their origin almost of necessity in their position. In the first place, .a man is estimated in the country entirely by his property; and when once a villager begins to go down in the world he is ruined for ever: there are no new occupations here, as in the towns, no sudden turns of fortune surprising men with unexpected success ; gains are small and steady. Hence arises the niggardly avarice of the calculating peasant. Among this class a comprehension of the changed condition of social and political life

must follow in the train of substantial profit. " *

" I heard another remarkable expression from a peasant with whom I was walking one morning. In speaking of, the students, be called them inexpe- rienced men,' and added, that no man properly should be allowed to have a voice in ptiblicatffiiirs who is not married and has a household of his own. No objec- tion was of any avail."

Auerbach speaks badly of the morals and information of the priesthood, but represents thenfas all-powerful with the peasantry on the side of Ab- solutism.

" I everywhere met with a great excitement, raised by the priests, who were stirring ap the-people against the Diet, under the pretence that it was aiming at the submsion of religion. Hitherto, it is well known, religion, or rather church- dem, has, been the, only ideal wateliword. which could rouse the peasant. Peti- tions for the preservation of the convents, &c., with thousands of signatures, had been circulated. The priests are still the only class who come into personal con- nexion with the country-people; medical men form too small a body to be taken into account. The priests are the channel which communicates a knowledge of passing events to the country-people; the press cannot yet make its way among them. I passed through whole villages where no one ever saw a newspaper ex- cept the priest. Nor will the press ever attain that degree of power which per- sonal intercourse and conversation give. It takes a great deal to make a peasant distrust the priest, and far more still to dare avow this distrust in refusing to sign petitions recommended from the- pulpit. Moreover, there has hitherto been scarcely any trace of free parochial institutions in Austria. " Take the following instance of the state of knowledge among the priesthood, and the object of their labours. On my pedestrian tour I met at Gambs a man, well clad, with gray hair and a friendly look, carrying a fowling-piece on his shoulder: his stiff top-boots, which in Austria give their wearers the name of God's Postillions; soon indicated his clerical vocation, and he gave himself out as the priest of Galas. We walked some distance together; and the conversation turning on religious subjects, the priest said, ' Ay, the liberty-men would lord it over the great God, but the great God is far too great for them. All the mischief comes from philosophical religion: I asked what he meant; and he replied, 'Phi- losophical religion comes from Rousseau in France: his friends once said to him, We have no drums nowadays; to which he answered, Skin men, and make drums of their hides. Now that 's philosophical religion; and it all comes from Rousseau, who died anno 5.' All the objections I made were vain; the priest re- solutely maintained that he had himself read in a book in the convent that this was called philosophical religion. The book was probably a Jesuit's compendium."

The general conclusions as to the politics of the Viennese, and the history of their revolution, must be drawn from the volume ; an extract or two will convey an idea of the incidents of the interregnum. The following presents the best side of Austrian slowness.

"On my return from dinner, I met in the square of St. Stephen a body of armed men conducting a prisoner. There was a general exclamation among the bystanders of 'A spy ! a spy!' The man was deadly pale; he cast his eyes on the ground, and from time to time looked up and around, as if to seek help. Who can distinguish whether this is the look of a guilty person, or the indication of a free conscience? Fear always wears the same expression. Some of the by- standers exclaimed wildly, Hang him hang him !' and the poor fellow got many a hard blow. I interfered, and being taken for a student obtained a hearing; and succeeded in making the mob understand that no one ought to be punished be- fore conviction; and moreover, that if this man was a spy, some information might be obtained from him, which would be frustrated by their killing him outright. This had an effect.. I walked by the side of the prisoner; who looked at me with a glassy stare, muttering to himself occasionally, 'I know nothing.' A stout burgher, in the uniform of the National Guard, who walked by our side, kept clenching his fist and exclaiming that he would strike the fellow dead. "We arrived with the prisoner at the University-. Upon examination, it was found that he had undoubtedly endeavoured in a auspicious manner to pass the line by a by-path. He avas the servant of a goldsmith in the city, and was bear- ing a letter from his master to his wife, desiring her to send him a large store of food, as a siege was expected. Beside this letter the man had a quantity of the newspapers. and placards that had appeared during the last two days. He was found innocent, and was asked to stay there for a little while, and then to go quietly home. He admitted that I was right, and that the people were hardly to be blamed for their suspicion and irritability: but when the consequences fall upon

i an individual, it is hard to find consolation in such an excuse."

The following is from the closing scene, when the idea of resistance was over with the generality, and the troops were entering or had entered.

"I again went up the tower of St. Stephen's: there was dreadful confusion. A private of the Municipal Guard arrived, bringing a written order from the Muni- cipal Council, that a white flag should instantly be hoisted, or that otherwise all the'persons who were in St. Stephen's would be dealt with by martial law. We had no white flag. Several now entered the apartment of the watchman's wife, and taking a clean sheet hoisted it in place of a white flag. Presently afterwards cameother people, exclaiming that we were all dead men; that the proletarians and military deserters would not allow the white flag to be hoisted, and would slay all whom they should find in St. Stephen's as the perpetrators of the act. Wei left the tower to take care of itself, and repaired to a neighbouring hotel. It was awful to hear the crowd under a gateway, amidst scornful laughter and the rhar of artillery, shouting the song, Gott erhelte unsern liaiser,'. and in the pauses hooting and uttering the bitterest imprecations on the house of Hapsburg. In the vaulted wine-room, which wasligh—teif Wiffilis, we found a large assemblage of persons. A stoat man eat down by me, end addressed me by my name. I did not recognize him, until his voice -told ins that it was Dr. Frank. His flowing beard had vanished, and he had. sesicoilited his whole appearance to tho de- scription given in a passport which he carried about him, and which designated

him as an opera-singer. •

" There is quite a new population in the streets, a general unmasking. On every side, the little attentions to dress, smart gloves and the like, sire again to be seen,—luxuries which for weeks have been wholly unknown: and what a quantity of beards and long locks have fallen since yesterday! The German and Calais/au hats are exchanged for the ordinary tasteless cylinder."

Besides the translation of Auerbach's narrative into easy and gennio0 English, Mr. Taylor has thrown additional light upon events at which Auerbach was not present, or corrected statements where partial informa- tion or his German feelings have induced him to bear hard upon others. This is done in an introduction and an appendix, by papers supplied to the translator by friends well acquainted with the subjects they have written upon.