AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HEINRICH ZSCHOHS.E.

THIS work is curious, various, and interesting : curious for its record of mind and character ; various from the different circumstances and adven- tures; and interesting from its picture of a healthy active mind, struggling with fortune, and still more with itself, as well as for its close exhibition of some celebrated men and stirring events. Heinrich Zschokke, though chiefly entitled to notice as a Swiss administrator, reformer, journalist, and historian, was a Prussian by birth; having been born at Magdeburg, in 1771. His father was a cloth-maker, who had acquired some money during the Seven Years War by contracts for the army; and he appears to have spoiled the son of his old age. Before his tenth year, however, Heinrich had lost both parents ; and though his share of the paternal property seems to have been suffi- cient for his education and support, the orphan was unhappily placed. Neither his elder brother and sister nor any of their burgher friends could understand the dreamy, solitude-loving youth, who kept a journal of his thoughts, even scribbled verses, and had been expelled from his first school lest his laziness should eventually bring discredit on the establish- ment ; tit ugh he subsequently learned rapidly, and devoured books when the key-note had been accidentally struck. Heinrich on his part had reasons for dissatisfaction. He yearned for family affection; he took no• interest in the domestic discourse ; he was forbidden fire or light in his. cheerless bedroom ; and when he had fashioned a lamp for himself out of a turnip, the curtainless windows betrayed his nocturnal readings, and the machine was destroyed amid a family outcry. Resolute as well as speculative, young Zschokke betook himself and his troubles to his guardian ; and when that functionary declined to interfere, went boldly to the President of the Obervormundschaftsamte, or Upper Guardianship Office. The upshot of the matter was, that he was taken from his sister, and, in his thirteenth year, sent to the Alstlider school; with the Rector of which he soon after was placed to board, and where he was introduced to literature as well as to learning.

" My old Rector Emeritus Elias Caspar Reichard, with whom I lived, and who is well known in the literary world as the unwearied translator of Latin, Engliah, and Danish works without end, granted me free access to his learned retreat. This was a large, gloomy, ill-lighted room, surrounded by well-filled book-shelves. In the midst of these sat the deaf old man, from morning till night, at a large table loaded with folios and octavos, and made himself amends for the loss of in- tercourse with the living by familiarity with the thoughts and languages of the dead. He was then employed at his continuation of Hauber's Bibliotheca Magica, for the Destruction of Superstition.' Yet the good man, as I soon found, was himself not suite free from the disease he professed to cure. It is not easy to dust any thing without becoming dusty. He occasionally used me as his journeyman while occupied over his learned works: sometimes I was to translate single passages for him; sometimes to compress the quintessence of some voluminous folio into a small compass. I readily did this, and was rewarded by free per- mission to range unchecked in the fertile wilderness of his library. With in- satiable hunger I devoured whatever chance or curiosity threw in my way, with- out choice or discrimination; poetry, astronomy, philosophy, geography, history, theology, and fiction. I wrote out for myself many volumes full of extracts. The life of the Rector appeared to me the most enviable on earth. I resolved that I too would become a learned man, and would earn for myself an enduring name ha the world. In Reichard's works I saw with proud complacency much of my own work printed word for word. I read these passages over and over again, with a curious fervour of admiration: the very letters seemed to me more beautiful than those of other words."

During his residence with Reichard, an indiscriminate reading, and an ardent temperament, belonging to the mystical rather than the poetical, involved him in all the miseries of scepticism with an inclination to be- lieve. He soon began to thirst for a wider sphere of observation than Magdeburg afforded him; applied to his guardian to be sent to the uni- versity; and when put off for two years, adopted a course which in any other country than Germany would have ended in ruin or the formation of a scamp. He went rather than ran away; and for two years sup. ported himself by privca teaching, or as poet or playwright to a strolling company. He likewise studied the learning of the Talmud, by means of some Hebrew acquaintances ; but at the end of two years wrote to his guardian stating that the time fixed had expired, and that he wished to enter the University of Frankfort-on-the-Oder. This proposal was gladly acceded to, at least by his guardian, whatever sorrow his heirs-at-law might feel on finding him still living—for his death had been assumed.

It was necessary to make choice of some faculty to be registered in on, entering the University; and Zschokke, though still retaining his scep- tical opinions, made choice of theology. He, however, gave equal atten- tion to jurisprudence and philosophy; and would have studied medicine as well, but for a repugnance to the dissecting-table. He also devoured books; made abstracts of the most important ; wrote essays, poetry, and dramatic pieces, one of which, Abellino, a melodrama, ran through the- theatres of Germany : and at the age of two-and-twenty, Heinrich, Zschokke was " solemnly proclaimed doctor philosophice and magister' bonarum artium."

With feelings akin to those of Goethe's Faust on the emptiness of the learning he had acquired, the "magister" and "doctor" accepted an in- vitation from his wondering friends of Magdeburg. Here he remained for six months, lionized, and preaching with such acceptance that only his youth prevented him from being appointed minister of St. Katherine's Church. He then returned to the University; where he continued for three years as a private teacher. At the end of this period, a wish to see the world, some disgust with the Prussian Minister, to whom his independence was distasteful, and a dash of that general expectation of human perfectibility which helped to produce and forward the French Revolution, induced Zschokke to set out on a pilgrimage to Switzerland, Paris, and Italy, in May 1795. The superstition and ignorance of the Romish Cantons, and the oligarchy of the Protestant cities, shook his faith a little ; which the government of the Directory increased.

" Paris and Schlabemdorf destroyed my dreams of Republican felicity. In the old Swiss Aristocracies I had seen mere withered formality held together only by the united selfishness of Nobles, Ecclesiastics, and Civic Dignitaries; in the French Republic, nothing but a caricature of freedom, formed by the juxta. position of anarchy and despotism. The huge superscriptions of the public buildings expressed the condition of the world-capital with bitter satire. Liberte, Egalite,' was everywhere the word; but beside the desecrated names grinned out the mocking addition, 'on /a mort!' through the thin veil of white paint recently drawn over it. Freedom and equality, guarded by cavalry and infantry, with loaded cannons and files of troops before the gates of the Directorial palace itself, was the most impious of lies."

On quitting Paris for Italy, one of those things called accidents turned the current of his future career. His luggage was unexpectedly detained at Berne ; and whilst waiting its arrival at Chur, he called on Nesemann, the then Principal of Reichenau, where Louis Phillippe is said to have earned his bread as a teacher of French and mathematics,—though accord- ing to Zschokke, there was neither so much of independence nor of in- dustry in the reality as in the story. Owing to the political fends which burn with such fury in petty states, the reputation of Reichenau, or at least the number of its pupils, was much reduced, from the proprietor of the seminary being of Democratic or Revolutionary principles, whilst the principal families favoured Aristocracy. Zschokke having made a favourable impression, it was proposed to him as a means of saving the institution, that he, a foreigner, should purchase it at a low price, and

take upon himself the office of Principal. After some consideration he accepted the proposal; plunged into the task with his usual enthusiasm;

and by the end of a year had raised the number of pupils from fifteen to

seventy. Some efforts towards improving the education of the poor, and a History of the Rlicetian Confederacy, made him a popular man, and procured him the rare gift of citizenship in the republic of the Grisons. But these prosperous times soon passed away. Democrats and Aristocrats at home, the French and Austrians on the frontiers produced a turmoil : the Aristocratical party called in the Austrians; their opponents were hunted for their lives. Zschokke, as one of their friends, narrowly escaped arrest; a price was set upon his head; and, wanting the original, his "name and picture" were decreed to be affixed to the gallows.

He was now forced into the excitement and activity of public life. Deputed by the exiles from the Grisons to represent them at the little Canton of Aarau, he was at once engaged in discussions with the Magistrates, and eventually connected with the French Minister and Generals. His wider experience and aptitude gave him a prestige among the Swiss ; and he filled several offices under various titles, but which were not inaptly called by him proconsular; for he was charged to maintain order in the district, keep down the Aristocratical and Priestly party, feed, mollify, and restrain the French, and in short attend to every- thing at discretion. This active life lasted till Napoleon was firmly fixed as First Consul, and had settled the destiny of Switzerland ; and it forms perhaps the most stirring part of Zschokke's autobiography, from the variety of the business in which he was employed, and the celebrity of the men with whom he came in contact. Except his marriage, which has a spice of romance about it, the remainder of his life, to his seven- tieth year, has less of the curious interest of his early days, or of the active variety of his proconsulship ; passing too much into garrulous generalization, with touches of reflective transcendentalism, and dis- quisition. He established a journal ; he wrote histories of Bavaria and Switzerland, which have been translated into various languages, be- sides composing several other works that have been favourably received ; he acted as Director of the Forests and Mines of his Canton ; he settled his scepticism by a sort of rationalism, stripping Christianity of every doctrine or dogma that has been engrafted on it by sects or theologians ; and though not free from trouble in the deaths of children, he has a numerous family both of the first and second generation, and is enjoying himself in the country of his adoption in a green old age.

This outline of Zschokke's career will enable the reader to comprehend the extracts without particular introduction.

THE PLAYERS BEHIND THE SCENES.

The theatre at Prenzlau was opened with a rhymed prologue from my pen. My new career pleased me well enough. I was always a passionate admirer of the drama. Even in his every-day life, my imagination still invested the actor with something of the poetical glory which beam.d round him on the stage. However shabby and tattered might be the artist's coat, I still saw in the artist himself, with inexpressible reverence, Schiller's ' Bearer of the Palm Branch.' But, alas ! how soon was this reverence dissipated, when I observed the behaviour of Bar- &ha's palm-bearers behind the scenes. The harmless flow of spirits which had animated our merry journey from Schwerin seemed now quite exhausted; they were no longer the same beings. They were perpetually wrangling and squabbling with one another, and mutually accusing each other of all kinds of intrigues and cabals. Not the drama, but perpetual drinking, gambling, love-making, and patron-courting, seemed to be their pursuit. Though vile actors upon the stage, they were perfect masters of all possible arts of deception in real life. Their real characters seemed to have been so smoothed away by all the various parts they had played, that no substratum of reality was left at all. Every day it was necessary to assume some new mask, in order to cheat goodnatared men, or de- ceive romantic girls and foolish women, to contract new debts, or evade the pay- ment of old ones.

THE SCEPTIC IN THE PULPIT : MAGDEBURG.

I may remark, that I never entered the pulpit but in the most solemn glow of emotion, with a fervent resolution to kindle into pious enthusiasm the hearts of my hearers. In the pulpit, doubt and terror vanished; I rejoiced in the sunshine of faith, like the most earnest Christian. I endeavoured to speak in that tone of respectful compassion and tender pity with which I fancied that Christ must have regarded 7nis ignorant and benighted fellow-mortals. My only object was to awaken and improve my hearers. I was too much possessed by my feelings to become a dry teacher of morality, and too keenly alive to the absurdities of creeds to become a fruitless doctrinal orator. As the announcer of eternal truths and hopes, standing in perfect harmony with the laws of Nature and Reason, whose disciple I was, I thought it no sin to clothe these in Biblical phrases and doc- trines, which in my heart I disbelieved. My readers will probably wonder how I, with my doubts and more than doubts, could dare to enter a Christian pulpit— nay, could even pray with an appearance of fervour which won the sympathy of my congregation, and could address them boldly and zealously on religious topics. Yet I was no hypocrite. I said to myself that the grown man must bend to children before he can raise them to him. I remembered that Christ himself frequently used the language of Israelitish prejudice and custom; that Paul con- descended to adopt thephrases of those whom he wished to convince; and that thousands of noble-minded men, to whom I could not venture to apply the name of hypocrites, are still in these enlightened days compelled to do the same.

The connexion of Zschokke with the French Revolutionists illustrates a remark we lately made in our notice of the Nelson Correspondence touching the personal bonhommie of vehement partisans. Some of both parties whom Zschokke knew were men notorious for severity if not cruelty towards enemies, without giving themselves the trouble to think what justification these enemies had ; yet they were agreeable and friendly to their intimates. Here are two, Isnard and Loison.

THE JACOBINICAL ANTIJACOBIN.

Isnard, one of the old members of the National Convention, attracted me more than Sieyes. I found in the former a man of agreeable exterior, and a French- man all over, from the crown of his hat to the sole of his boot. He was bold, lively, theatrical, and had a decision, a witticism, and a beau sentiment, always at hand for every subject. And yet he was the same man who, in the South of Prance, had raged against the Terrorists as furiously as they against their enemies, exhorting the mob to "Kill, kill all I If weapons are wanting, take clubs I If clubs are wanting, tear up the bones of your fathers from their graves !"

MILITARY AMUSEMENT.

However fierce was the fury of General Loison on learning this atrocity, [the murder of a soldier,] it never hurt his conscience at all to shed innocent human blood, for no reason or use whatever, so long as the enemies of France alone were the sufferers. He was riding one day for amusement with me, near the village of Treil, on the shores of the Waldstatter Lake, where a French battery was sta timed: in the village on the opposite side of the lake the Austrians were encamped. In order to amuse me by making the Austrian troops march out, he ordered gre- nades to be thrown into their camp. On both sides cannonading began; and I distinctly saw through the telescope two men fall in the ranks of the Austrians before I could persuade the laughing General to stop his murderous game. An . other day, Lecourbe had despatchedhis General-Adjutant, Person, towards Schwyz, with troops from Lucerne, to destroy an Austrian battery and carry off its boats. I went across the lake with Loison to witness the encounter. The fight was al- ready begun, and the enemy driven back into the village. Whilst Loison, tired out by the heat of the sun, enjoyed his noonday nap under the shade of a tree, I went on among wounded men and corpses to Insgebohl, in order to be nearer the place of action. The sole gain at last consisted of a couple of bad boats and a small field-piece. After the heroic deed was accomplished, I inquired somewhat bitterly of Loison, as we returned, "And is it for the sake of this paltry booty that so many lives have been sacrificed on both sides?" He stared at my igno- rance, and replied, "Oh, no! Don't you know, it's all for Poison's sake, that he may get favourably noticed in the next army bulletin?" Thus, it was for the sake of one man's paltry ambition that so many had suffered and died. The consciences of pious barbarians are reconciled to every atrocity by a few super- stitious ceremonies; those of civilized barbarians, by the thought of gold orglory.

FORTUNE OF WAR.

The Austrian General, Count Bey, endeavoured a few weeks later to enter Un- terwalden by the mountain-passes. It was a rainy day. The enemy was soon driven, back with the loss of eight hundred prisoners. Among these prisoners was General Bey himself. An Adjutant of Loison's, Captain Badin, had been his victorious opponent. Loison was, meanwhile, playing trictrac with me at Stanz when, on receiving news of the victory, he mounted on horseback and hastened after his troops. During his absence, some French officers led a man in Austrian uniform before me, who had an old peasant's hat on his head, was covered with mud from top to toe, and half frozen with snow and rain, was shivering in every limb. It was General Bey himself. After I had provided for his present wants by furnishing him from my own wardrobe with linen, clothes, and refreshment, he related to me the somewhat ridiculous mischance through which he had lost the battle and been taken prisoner. In order better to overlook the movements of his troops, he had climbed a neighbouring hill; but on the wet slippery ground, he had lost his balance, and, rolling down the opposite side he at length found him- self at the feet of some French drummers and soldiers, who were leisurely con- versing with one another. They raised him very civilly, quietly took away his sword and money, declining, however, the proffered watch, and then led him be- fore Captain Badin. Such is the fortune of war! Loison reaped all the glory and profit of the day by merely playing trictrac at home; Captain Badin re mained Captain Badin.