TUTTI FRUTTI

Is the name of an ice composed of the choicest fruits of the fruit- producing land of Italy. The selection of such a title for a book, is indicative of the variety of its subjects, and of the value which the author sets upon his work. Be Prince PiiCKLER-MUSKAU'S failings what they may, it is evident mauvaise honte is not amongst the number.

Although, however, the title allows of great variety of topics, and the publication of shreds and patches, the matter itself should be of a buoyant nature: such things as grave political and economi- cal discussions, with a long paper expository of the royal virtues of the court of Berlin, are not in character with the lightness of one of the lightest productions of the art of confectionery. But, quitting the title, proceed we to the book.

The two volumes contain some ten or twelve papers ; though one of theni, the " Album of an Active Mind," forms a recep- tacle for the stray thoughts of the author, and consists of more paragraphs than it is necessary to reckon up. Of the leaders, three only are entitled to much consideration. These are "An Aerial Voyage," the "Congress at Aix-la-Chapelle," and "Scenes and Sketches of a Tour in the Riesengebirge." The first is an account of Prince Pik:m.21es ascent in a balloon from Berlin; and is perhaps the best picturesque narrative of a journey in the air we have. The second contains a few portraits of the distin- guished characters present at the Congress. The third is a tour where reality is blended with romance : the landscapes are sketched from nature; the incidents are probable till the denoue- ment, which has been invented and coloured for effect. These are pleasant reading ; but England, and perhaps Germany, could have done without them. The remaindiir of the volumes was scarcely worth translating.

At first sight, the author appears to be one of those writers whose workmanship excels his matter. Looking closer, especi- ally at Tutti P'rutti, the delusion vanishes. We see that his power is transcriptive, and nothing more. He can catch the ob- vious, and that is pretty nearly all. He can reflect back the beau- ties of nature, paint the singular, and the (to him) new in man- ners, and even reach the fashionably free-and-easy : upon subjects of this kind he can strike out observations, though the remarks are just as likely to be false as true: but let the matter be trifling, the points latent, or the materials raw, and he fluctuates be- tween the Sir Oracle and the coxcomb. In aiming, like laviso, to invest trifles or his own thoughts with the garb of elegance, his points are that and his smartness vulgar : when he would be satirical, his tartness is more like sour wine than vinegar. He has discussed economical subjects without a knowledge of the elements of the science; and his speculations on politics display little acquaintance with facts or principles. One of his notions is, that Prussia should found a Penal Colony, by way of adding to the Wealth of the country. We apprehend the court of Berlin has Botany Bay and the cost thereof before its eyes. The worser parts of these qualifications are only exhibited in the made-up portion of the volumes before us ; in his celebrated Tour, they were kept altogether out of sight. The matters he dealt with were new to him, adapted to his powers, and sufficiently striking in themselves to dispense with the necessity of tricks of effect : he was also writing to pour forth his mind, whilst in the present case he has been writing—two volumes. The Tour also came before the English public with extrinsic advantages ; for it professed to describe us as we were, and self is a great sharpener of perception. We read even a writ with interest when it is ad- dressed to ourselves.

During the author's rambles in the Riesengebirge, he falls upon au old friend, who had served in the German and Russian wars. Many matters relating to the tenToris acti are discussed ; and it would appear from the statements of each supporter of the dialogue, that the discipline of the French army was not so lax as it has been represented. Sonic anecdotes of war, and some of NAPOLEON, are introduced. Here are two or three of the latter, told by the veteran.

"The great Emperor was a man formed in quite a different mould from those who flourished in our days. lie knew how to manage men and to gain the affec- tion of his soldicis. With him no specious appearance of zeal fur the service had any effect without the reality. I shall never forget when I first saw him, after the battle of I leilsberg, on the 51 of June 1807, where he reviewed our troops : every word he spoke was full of meaning, and he condescendingly attended to the most minute details : he walked slowly in front along our lines, and examined individually the muskets and accoutrements, to be convinced by per- sonal inspection that every thing was efficient and in goad order. He com- manded several private soldiers to step forward in front of the ranks, and de- manded their knapsacks, unpacked them himself, to be certain that nothing was deficient, and that the contents corresponded with the inventory. Ile then caused several men to discharge their fire-arms, to ascertain that they also were in good condition. The only thing he censured was, that the men carried no other shoes but those on their feet, and immediately commanded an aille-de- camp, in the most peremptory manner, to cause six thousand pairs to be deli- vered the next day to the twills. The order was punctually attended to. " He exhibited the same solicitude for the comfort of his men at Preshurg in Hungary. We were crossing the bridge over the Danube, whet, Napoleon sud- denly stopped, and, to the no small astonishment of the officers, pinched several of the men on the thigh : none of us could imagine at the moment what singular fancy had taken possession of the Emperor, till, addressing the officers, he ex- claimed with vivacity, Why, at this late season of the year, have not the men woollen clothes under their trousers? I hope for the future you will pay more attention to their health ; for the preservation of that and the maintenance of good order are your principal duties,—pomp, show, and parade, are but secon- dary considerations.' Our phlegmatic countrymen were uerfectly electrified at witnessing the anxiety of the Emperor fur our comforts, and burst spontaneously into long and continued vivats." •

"A ball was given about this time by a young soldier, on what to him at kast was really a festive occasion. He was a private in the Guards ; and had at the battle of Bautzen distinguished himself so much as to attract the attention of the Emperor, who caused his name to be written down, but took no further no- tice of it. During the last week of the truce, an ordnance-officer arrived at head-quarters and inquired after the soldier, who happened to be dining with a -comrade at a small inn. The officer sought him, and delivered a packet, which contained his patent as captain in the same regiment in which he had made his debut, together with an order for three thousand francs to defray the expenses of his equipment. I chanced to be at the same hotel, and I never beheld any man betray such ecstatic delight as did this mustachioed warrior. With true French vivacity be tore from his finger a gold ring and a gold watch from his aide, and throwing them to the landlord, requested that each of his comrades, who should visit the house that day might be iegaled at his expense. He com- pelled all around him to drink a large glass of wine to the health of the Em- peror. We congratulated him upon his good fortune, and admired la finesse du petit caporal '* in giving hint such a distinguished post in the very regiment in which he had cononenced his career. In a few days after, he gave his cons- rules the ball, on which was probably expended the greater part of his equip- ment-money."

This is a pleasant made of travelling ; and the following hints for equipment may du for other hills besides those of Germany. "It was ou a cheeria;•, radiant morning, that I determined to tear myself

" A pet name fur liapoleou among the soldiers. away, and commence a pedestrian tour to the distant blue mountaine. I tra- velled through dark, dreary forests, and gay, smiling plains, in search of new ad- ventures. Not that I was armed with the lance and sword of the middle ages, but merely with the peaceable paraphernalia of the nineteenth century—a walk- mg-stick in may hand and a note-book in my pocket.

" I gave orders to an old groom to follow me at a distance with one of my best hunters, and with what would have been called, in the aforesaid middle ages,

sumpter-horse :' the former I intended should relieve me occasionally from the fatigues of walking, and the latter was the bearer of a canteen amply an plied with such necessaries as I required, when I might feel inclined to bleak- fast or dine al fresco. I did not forget, also, to provide for my mind's nom ish- meat, by taking with me a few books. This gipsy method of enjoying life con- tains, in may opinion, an indescribable charm, of which I have never become • weary." • • •

"Perhaps it will one day happen, that thou, my friendly reader, may visit these hills. I shall, therefore, endeavour to administer to thy comfort, uud detail in, what manner I guarded against the various annoyances to which I might be exposed, and earrestly recommend thee under similar circumstances to pursue the same course. Above all things, a bed is necessary ; unless you choose to be consigned to one five feet long, and, as Madame de Genii., says, 'de coucher de bout,' being at the same time buried beneath a plumeau of disagreeable-smelling feathers, full of tormenting little inhabitants, whose lively spirits and indefati- gable exertions will deprive you of the possibility of sleep ! The most portable kind of bed, and which may be placed either on a sofa or on the ground, is an air mattress, to which add a pillow of the same material, with the necessary coverings ; and you have a bed which can be arranged in a few seconds. The whole, if expedient, may be rolled up in a green cloth and carried in the pocket ; this cloth will also answer the purpose of a curtain against the dirty wall. It will likewise be as necessary to prepare for refreshment, as you will find nothing better than burnt veal cooked in fat, butter, or beer ; therefore, it would be ad- visable to provide yourself with the English preparations of cavice and catsup, which leave the good property of making the worst preparations of meat agree- able. I recommend also a tea-kettle of English tin, which serves, at the same time, for a coffee-machine, and a box for carrying coffee, tea, sugar, ant your spirit-lamp. The whole apparatus takes up hardly as much place as a round bat, and by means of which you can command, in a very few minutes, a deli- cious repast, as excellent bread? butter, and cream, are easily attainable in the very poorest cottage in the mountains. For a mediciue-chest, I reconnuclid a box of seidlitz or other cooling effervescing powders, and another of quinine pills : the former are admirably calculated for allaying thirst, and the latter are an efficacious remedy against any temporaly derangement of the nervous system, or a slight attack of fever. } inally, with a good umbrella and the necessary ap- pendages to the toilet, you will find yourself perfectly equipped."

Another specimen and we will cease. Take the best bit of banter in the volumes. It is from a thing called "Visions of the Past and the Future," which the Prince sees in a "magnetic sleep:*

"The wand of the magician again passed over me, and I beheld those grounds to the beautifying of which I had dedicated the principal portion of my life. Merciful heavens ! what do I see? The river, which was formerly a bright crystal stream meandering through my park, has been made, for the purposes of commerce, navigable; timber-yards, bleaching-grounds, and cloth-manufactories, have usurped the place of my dark groves aud bloat ll i tt g meadows. But what do I behold ? My beautiful castle! Do not my eyes deceive me? Oh, no! it has become an establishment for cotton-spinners! Maddened with indiguation, I vociferated loudly for the proprietor. I was answered, that he lived in that small cottage surrounded by an orchard and vegetable garden. Is that all, ex- claimed I, that remains to my descendants of what I once called mine? 'Must certainly ;' was the reply, 'it has been divided among hundreds, and has now become the property of the Trades Unionists! You are surely not insane enough to expect, that so large a possession should continue to belong to one person in this land of liberty and equality ?'

"I turned from the speaker with sickening disgust, and penetrated by a mag- netic glance the interior of the cottage ; where I beheld, forsaken by all, in a corner of one of the rooms, the master of the house expiring. I then heard the sons saving to each other, 'Our father is undoubtedly dead, let his body be car- ried out of the house.'

" My beloved reader will naturally demand where is the grave, where is the cemetery in which to inter the corpse? Why, truly, it was conveyed to a place where it could be still useful—into the fields, for manure."

The translator of the work, Mr. EDMUND SPENCER, has prefixed an outline of the Prince's Life ; written with characteristic spirit, but without much of portraiture, and dealing only in the principal chronological events. Of the translation itself it is unnecessary to say a great deal, after the passages we have quoted. It will have been seen that the English is easy and idiomatic, whilst the spirit of the original has been caught and conveyed.