BOOKS.

JUSTUS ERICH BOLLMAN.*

rFIRST NOTICE.?

Tins volume contains records of one whose name is little known anywhere, least of all in this country, but who was brought into close contact with many distinguished individuals and many stirring incidents, both in this and the other hemi- sphere. Readers of Varnhageu's Miscellanies may remember some mention of the adventurous man who tried to effect the rescue of Lafayette from Olmiitz. That, however, was but one of many daring enterprises in which Bollmann engaged. His whole life was a series of agitated episodes. Having come to Paris as a medical student, ho there witnessed some of the most stirring scenes of the French Revolution. After the sanguipary events on August 10th, he succeeded in helping Narbonne to escape to England ; there ho was thrown into the society of Talleyraud, Madame do Stael, and other emigrants of rank ; and the manner in which be had borne himself in Narbonne's escape led to Bollinann being asked to do the same for Lafayette. On the failure of this attempt, and his own release from Austrian captivity, he went to the United States, where, after having been engaged in trade, Bollmann was compromised in Aaron Burr's filibustering expedition ; then, having returned to Europe in 1815, he visited Vienna at the Congress, where he lived on terms of close intercourse with leading statesmen ; for all through the varied. phases of his troubled career, Bollmann never abated in his interest for the great intellectual movements of his time, and kept up an assidu- ous correspondence with men immersed in study, science, and politics, while himself restlessly and not very successfully striving to achieve fortune. This curious life, always actuated by noble sentiments, but under the guidance of an imagination too easily inflamed, is here recounted in a manner to command. the reader's deep interest.

Justus Erich Bollmann was born in 1709, at Hoya, iii .Hanover, being the eldest of seven sous of a merchant in good position. After studying medicine at Gottingen, ho was about to set up as a practitioner in his native town, when his natural disposition for travel and adventure irresisti- bly yielded to prospects that proved wholly illusory, hold out by a rich paternal uncle settled in Birmingham, but whom he had never seen. On acquaintance, this uncle turned out to be as mean as he was harsh and selfish. His appearance on the scone at that conjuncture proved, however, a determining incident in Bollmann's career. It tore him from the home where he was about to take root, and forcibly propelled him intothe world, under con- ditions which gave a roving turn to his future existence. In the summer of 1791, Bollmann started to meet his uncle in Paris, with the idea that the latter intended generously to give him the means of completing his medical and scientific studies in the schools of France and England. Instead of this, he found him- self in presence of one who demanded what was repugnant to self- respect; and he was soon abandoned to his own resources in the great world of Paris, as an almost penniless medical practitioner, with but very few acquaintances, and those mostly struggling countrymen of his own, who could not help him. The courage of youth carried Bollmann through. His letters show no trace of despondency. His mind ran on plans of extended travel and extended research, after which only would he return home. Meanwhile, he applied himself with adventurous energy to the practice of his art in Paris, and even succeeded in " getting some occasional patients." "My present situation has begun to improve a little, for last month I earned seventy livres, which is, at least, something," ho wrote in July, 1.792. A man of Bollmann's temperament could not be indifferent to the great political movement in the midst of which he found himself. The letters to his father contain vivid notices of incidents, historically memorable, which he witnessed. The most remarkable, perhaps, is his account of what he actually saw on August 10th. Boll- mann at the outset shared the enthusiasm then largely felt by generous minds for the principles of 1789. Ou his way to France,

he had stayed at Mayence, where he consorted with George Fors- __

* Juntas Erich Bollmann. Etn Lebenshild, aus Zwei Welttheilen. Von FrIell. rich Kapp. Berlin Julius Springer. ISSS.

ter, whose house was a meeting-place for minds animated with a longing desire to see the spread into Germany of the doctrines that were regenerating society in France. " I am with my whole soul a Democrat," he writes from Mayence, " and rejoice at living in these days, when mankind bestirs itself so actively. I rejoin in the French Constitution, even though it were but a bright meteor How glorious it will be, when present anarchy is resolved into concord and civil freedom, when the Rights

of Man are once more in force I Most certainly must one feel kindly towards the Revolution, when one thinks over all this." This enthusiasm evaporated quickly in Paris. In March, 1792, the Constitution was to him still a thing to in- spire admiration, and Marie Antoinette a " clever and deter- mined woman," but so " corrupted as to be without a shadow of feeling or probity." By July, Bollmann was driven to exclaim, " What can come of all this P What can one anticipate P Where is there any foothold for the feeble hopes of those who mean well, for those whose souls are animated with true love of country P" The Jacobins were in his eyes a " horde," Petion a man of deceitful cunning and immoral character. In Lafayette alone he recognised a man of " immaculate conduct" and capable of saving the country, " a man in the sense of the Con- stitution ;" while the Queen had got to be regarded as a "noble woman, abounding in resource and means." In the interval, Bollmann had got to know several persons in the higher circles, a circumstance which, no doubt, much contributed to his change of views. Iu this frame of mind he encountered the occurrences of August 10th, his narrative of which, as far as he was an eye- witness, written two days after the event, is very vivid :— " At nine in the morning, tho armed mob, raving like maniacs, passed under my window in the direction of the Tuileries. Instantly I left my room, to see what was about to happen. I got to the Tuileries Gardens before tho horde. I saw a large armed body of brave Swiss end National Guards moving slowly from the Palace towards the National Assembly. The King, his sister, his wife, and

two children were in the midst of them I saw the King enter, and was lucky enough to squeeze myself also in Never shall 1 forget

this memorable scene. The King took his place beside the President. The women seated themselves on a bench opposite, at the bar of the Assembly. But the King could not stay there, as the Constitution forbids discussions in his presence, and discussions were yet neces- sary. The question arose where to put him ? While this was being debated, the King, loaning on his hands, lay with his stomach resting half on the table in front of the President. Childishly silly and child- ishly good-humoured, careless and indifferent, without trace of dignity, of reflection, of mental labour, he listened to the various speeches, for and against, pretty much like one who for the first time hears anything of the kind, and half laughing says to himself, in a dull stupor, But this is very e,ornical.' Opposite at the Queen, on whose countenance one was astounded to find in double force everything that was wanting in the King. She wore a petticoat and jacket of blue chintz, with white flowers, a plain white kerchief, with- out lace or ornament s, round her neck, a kind of cap on her head. The Dauphin was on her lap,—a lovely little boy. At intervals she pressed him convulsively, as if she were thinking What will become of you ?' Occasionally she looked about, full of thought and care; with dignity and lofty contempt she fixed her glance on every member, from whom, in that moment demanding forbearance and cornmisseration, there fell unbecoming expressions. I can assure you

the Queen was very touching at this moment Her hair has

become grey in the last eight months. Her faults never appeared to me more pardonable than in the Assembly, -where right opposite to her I beheld her capital excuse, so thoroughly piti- able in that moment, the good-natured, poor, incapable Louis

XVI Soon the first discharges of cannon were heard. For a few instants the Assembly seemed petrified ; than it spoke in intense alarm. I got out, and from that time was close to the fighting, because I could no longer get back. All approaches to the Assembly

were occupied, and there was firing on all sides I saw scenes at which humanity shudders ! The Swiss wore thrown alive into the fire;

they were flayed and mutilated In the evening the mutilated corpses were removed, thirty to forty on a cart, pike-bearers, exult- ing, being seated on the top During the night of the 10th and the 11th all Paris was lit up, as is the wont in moments of public peril. But how ghastly was the illumination ! Ina the streets, at other times so incessantly thronged with movement, and carriages, and people till long past midnight, not a soul was on the move, but hero and there a slowly-pacing patrol, and hero and there a trembling, lonely, gliding individual. The slayers were for that night satiated and weary, and drunken with wine stolen from the royal collars. But the good citizens shut themselves within their houses ; they seemed to dread the ghosts of the slain • It is sepulchral, and desert, and spectral in Paris."

A postscript contains this addition :- " It must be admitted that there has not been so much robbery and plunder as might have been expected. But the fury and cruelty of the people transcended all bounds."

• The next letter, written ten days later, is from London :—

" I hasten to let you know that I am sound, and in the greatest possible comfort in London, How is this ? I wrote you once about

Madame de Stud Four hundred victims were on the list of proscriptions, amongst them Narbonne, Lafayette's friend. He was concealed with the wife of the Swedish Envoy. She thought 1 might save him, and I did so, at peril of my head. The Jacobins had made- devilish contrivances to prevent any of their victims °scraping, but I got the hotter of them, and myself obtained out of Petion's hand' passes for two Hanoverians. For the last twelve hours I have been here- with Narbonne. Common opponents of despotism and of the Jacobins . are here concealed, a small colony, the soundest portion of the French.. I am their physician. I consort with the most distinguished persons,. of both sexes. Meanwhile, I have fifty guineas in my pocket, and look forward to the most charming relations. , Further details before long. My direction, Chez M. Tall oyrand, anoien Eveque d'Autnn, in Kensing- ton Square.' "

His account of how he was induced to undertake this adventure is eminently characteristic :—

"Herr Gantz, pastor of the Swedish chapel, came to me ; he- spoke about the salvation of an unhappy individual who was in dire

guessed who it was. He took me to Madame de Steel. A woman close on her confinement, in deep distress about her lover, fired my imagination. You can fancy how terribly she was dis- tressed, for her lover of nine years should have been with the Army.. He was in Paris, clandestinely, at her entreaty ; but his presence was known, his head was being sought after, and a search of the house was in question. A woman in tears, a man in danger of his life,. hopo of the joy of successful rescue, the prospect of England, the• possibility of bettering my position, the charm of the extraordinary,. all this together worked on me. My decision was quickly taken.. ' I undertake it,' I cried, and will try my plan.' "

Bollmann was greatly pleased. with his first experience of the- Emigrant circle :—

" I live at present in a sot of twenty or thirty persons, compicising almost all that Paris could formerly show of wit, and taste, and bril- liancy ; I study here all the advantages and all the sins of the great world. How well-disposed is the class of beings of which one is so apt to entertain false impressions, how amiable from one side, and how much to be pitied from the other !"

In the first transport of gratitude, Narbonne settled an annuity of fifty guineas on his deliverer, who, however, some motile later renounced its enjoyment, under the impulse of wounded' feelings. " Narbonne's behaviour gave an appearance as if he- meant this as a payment whereas a really noble man, should know there are services which cannot be paid. I would, rather dig potatoes, than that it should be thought I did such things for money." When Bollmann sent back indignantly the- deed of settlement, he had nothing in the world except the- pittance he might earn as a physician, chiefly from French,

emigrants, not the best of paymasters, though very pleasant compauions :-

" Tho most sensible and the best Frenchmen are those with whom. I am living, but with the exception of Narbonne, not one amongst them.. glows with deep interest for his country and feels genuine sorrow at its disorganisation. More wit is expended in this small knot in the course of one day than probably during a week in Germany by a whole society. Public affairs are discussed either with the aim to

make a joke, or to display dialectic keenness Vanity and egotism are the quickening forces. Sundry gentlemen and ladies. seat themselves before the fire and evolve a plan for the salvation of the State, which they determine to put in execution to-morrow or next, day, as soon as a contemplated picnic is over."

The following is an interesting comparison between 'Narbonne and Talleyrand, especially, as many years later, Bollmann, appears to have been confirmed in his estimate of the latter :—

" Narbonne is inexhaustible in wit, in wealth of ideas. He is ni master in all social qualifications. He imparts charm to what is most dry. He irresistibly carries away and can intoxicate either an individual' or a whole society. There was but one man in Franco to ho put,. in this respect, along with him, and who, in my opinion, is far• his superior,—his friend, Monsieur de Talleyrand. Nei-bonne pleases,. but, in the long-run, ho wearies ; one could listen to Talleyrand for years. Narbonne labours and betrays the craving to please ; what everTalleyrand says seems to fall from him casually, and a passion- less case and quiet constantly surround him. What Narbonne lays is more brilliant ; what Talleyrand says, more graceful, refined, neat. Narbonne does not suit all, nay, occasionally persons do not like him ; he has no power over these. Talleyrand, without being morally less corrupt than Narbonne, can move even those to tears who despise him, Of this I have some remarkable examples."

In July, 1793, Bollmann thus describes his situation to his father :—

" I have not much to do, but still' somewhat. Since I was hero I have earned about £40, not much, but my life is most economical. I live with my friend Heisch, whom I already know in Paris. We reside in a very respectable house, and our total board, including drink and everything, does not come to more than Et 4s. a week; Those aro not brilliant conditions, but there is in them nothing in.. compatible with probity Meanwhile, I enjpy all-the advan- tages of a traveller who does net waste his substance in foreign parts, but observes and enriches his brain and heart by knowledge and experience. But all this, you will any, does not respond to the

sanguine expectations announced in a former letter. No Still, I entertain those expectations, but I am bound to avoid all. further specification and explanation as to the circumstances whereon. these rest."

Some weeks later he writes from ltheinsberg, the residence of Prince Henry of Prussia :— " I hope the confidence you ever have reposed in me will not be impaired by this new eccentric step, which is eccentric only in relation to what may be the customary course of a young physician, but which lies perfectly within tho circle I have drawn for myself, and in which it is my wish to move. The brother of the great deceased King lives

hero, and I am come on his account To-day and to-morrow I shall have some private conversation with him Then my affairs are likely to take me to the head-quarters of the Prussian Army."

What the motive of this unexpected expedition was is explained in the following extract from another letter :—

" The aim of my mission is Lafayette's liberation, who, as you know, is immured in Magdeburg, and at whose outrageously unjust treat- ment half Europe is indignant. Count Lally Tolendmil and the Princesso d'Irenri are those who have most interested themselves in the matter, and have induced me to come here. The one is Lafayette's most inti- mate friend, the other his relative. Pitt and Grenville aro cognisant of the matter, and I am awaiting, through Lally Tolendal, from both letters powerfully supporting the enterprise."

We must defer to another occasion further mention of this curious episode in Bollmaun's life.