JUSTUS ERICH BOLLMANN.*

[SZOOND NOTIOB.3

Tux hopes with which Bollmann undertook this first expedition for Lafayette's liberation proved utterly vain. He was then confined in the citadel of Magdeburg. Supported by counte- nance of the English Ministers, and equipped with strong recommendations to men like Prince Henry and Luchesini, Boll- mann went on a mission of appeal to the King of Prussia in favour of the French General. His representations were ,attended with apparent promise of success, until addressed to the essential quarter. The King declined even to give an audience to Bollmann. " My efforts have been fruitless, and could not but be so, for the simple reason that ordinary beings have no belief in virtue, but consider every -one to be as bad as they arc themselves, and treat those who fall into their power in the manner in which they themselves 'deserve to be treated." Early in 1794, Bollmann was back in London ; but, though foiled in his efforts, the idea was not abandoned ; only the mode of operation was modified; and other friends came on the stage. Evasion was contemplated where appeal had proved bootless, and the material assistance of Ameri- can sympathisers was brought into action, where the moral influ- ence of Pitt had been of no force. In May, 1794, Bollmann again proceeded to Germany under an assumed character. Lafayette had, meanwhile, been handed over to Austria, but the exact place of his detention was uncertain. Passing himself off as a geologist, and provided with excellent introductions, Boll- mann journeyed leisurely for weeks in the mountains on the Silesian frontier of Austria, until he received evidence that Olmiitz was Lafayette's prison, whither he accordingly proceeded. By a bold stroke of audacity, Bollmann

* Justus Erich lionnuinn. Ein Leisinehild, sea Zwei Weltthellen. Yen Fried- rich Kapp. Berlin : Julius Springer. 1f390.

conveyed notice of his presence to Lafayette, through the garrison doctor, to whom lie introduced himself as a brother-physician. This man was manifestly a simple- minded creature, singularly adapted to become a tool in the hands of an ingenious and enterprising individual, with fascinating manners and a flow of plausible speech. Con- tent with having broken ground for the first parallel in his siege, Bollmann went to Vienna, where ho "found a kindly reception in many families of position, and led the life of a young medical man devoted to scientific pursuits." Ho was really providing what was necessary for his project ; above all, he secured in a young American, named Huger, a confederate. In October he left Vienna with the latter, avowedly for Hungary, but really for Olmiitz, where he arrived with carriage and servants. Boll- mann instantly renewed operations on his dupe. Feigning indisposition, he sent for the doctor. "The self-possessed foreign physician of high rank made a mighty impression on the unsuspecting and very humble staff surgeon. He completely bewitched the latter, and made of him an absolute slave." The circumstances attending the attempted escape are known, and need not be• repeated here. On November 8th, according to prearrangement, Bollmaun and Huger, having provided horses, mot Lafayette, when taking his airing under guard, outside the gates of Olmiitz, and by a surprise sought to effect a rescue. It is no wonder that the plot should have miscarried, for a more foolhardy scheme could not be con- ceived. The blame does not rest, however, with Bollmaun. He counselled escape by night, and had provided instruments for the purpose, but Lafayette, who was animated with foolish over-confidence in his power to master his jailor, insisted on the mad project which resulted in his own recapture and in the extra- dition of Bollmann, who had contrived to get across the Prussian frontier. The extraordinarily daring character of the attempt very naturally created profound sensation. The authorities were disposed to suspect a wide-spread plot. It seemed inconceivable that a simple student of medicine should have dared to engage by himself in an attempt to carry off in broad daylight a State prisoner from the midst of the guard under which he was placed, by a coup do main. It was, therefore, matter of sur- prise that a Government so little disposed as the Austrian to treat revolutionary individuals with gentleness, should have shown to the audacious Bollmann remarkable leniency. Various mysterious influences have been assigned as the cause of this special favour. From this volume it appears that the really effective intervention was due to the efforts of Bolhnann's father with the Hanoverian Ministers, who exerted them- selves with energy in behalf of their incriminated country- man. After little more than six months' incarceration, Bollmann was set free, on condition of leaving Austria, and of never again setting foot on Imperial territory. After visiting his father at Hopa, Bollmann went to England. There his mind was turned to seek his fortune in wholly new directions. On October 24th he writes from London—"I go with fine expecta- tions—to which, however, I do not cling - and with many means to America. Time must show what I and circumstances can make out of it. Anyhow, I shall become acquainted with the most eminent men there, and shall acquire much knowledge. I hope soon to return on business to Europe."

Bollmaun revisited Europe only after many years. The United States became his home, though a home in which the course of his life was not free from much vicissitude.

Bollmaun'm career never settled down into placid quiet ; while his nature, notwithstanding many disappointments,

never lost inflammability or its bent for the eager pursuit of novel ventures. Washington's tenure of office was then drawing to a close. Public opinion was greatly stirred by the recently concluded Treaty with England, which furnished the ground on which the coming Presidential election was to be fought. A letter to his father gives a sketch of American politicians

Washington's popularity has been much impaired by the Treaty. Jefferson is the Opposition hero, the friend of the French. He is living on his property in Virginia, and puts on the air of indifference

His books prove him to be a man with a wide grasp of mind Washington is tall, strongly built, and handsome. Ilia countenance and whole bearing express coldness and firmness. Shrewdness, prudence, caution are the prominent features in his character. Me is more reserved than communicative ; more actually good and well- intentioned than liberal and generous ; more anxious never to do any- thing wrong than to do something remarkable ; without passion ; doing everything seemingly from principle. Virtuous, not groat, thoroughly

Nothing could show better how the negro imagination ran ,riot in imputing stupidity to those who were known to be stronger than themselves, than the charming legend where the Rabbit actually boasts that his family have always made a riding-horse of the Fox, with the express intention not of putting him on his guard, but of making him into a riding-horse, and succeeds none the less. The touches

of humour in the story are exquisite. The refusal to ac- count for Miss Meadows in any way beyond stating that she was " in the tale ;" the demeanour of Brother Rabbit when Miss Meadows and her daughters are laughing at him; sitting there 4' sorter lam' like," and then crossing his legs and winking his eye " slow ;" making his false boast, and -paying his " 'specks," and "tipping his beaver," and walking off as stuck-up as a " fire-stick ;" and the description of the fox looking as " peart as a circus pony " in the saddle and bridle and blinkers

in which he tamely came on purpose to prove that he had never been the Rabbit's riding-horse ; the account of the putting-on of the spurs ; the fault the fastidious horseman finds with his horse for losing his pace ; and the old negro's final objection to giving out more cloth at one time than is needful for one pair of trousers,—are all telling features in a most humorous ta•Ie. But, for ourselves, we think we even prefer the story of the contest of the Fox with the Terrapin, in which, again, a degree of stupidity is attributed to the fox far more charmingly grotesque than the cunning attributed to the tortoise :-

"' One day,' said Uncle Remus, sharpening his knife on the palm of his hand, ' one day Brer Fox strike up wid Brer Tarrypiu right in de middle er de big road. Bret. Tarrypin done heard 'm comin', en be 'low tor Mind dat he'd sorter keep one oyo open ; but Brer Fox won monstus perlito, en he open up do confab, he did, like ho ain't see Brer Tarrypin sauce do las' freshit. "Heyo, Brer Tarrypin, whar you bin dis long-come-short ?" sex Brer Fox, sezee. " Lounjun 'roun,' Brer Fox, lounjun 'roan," sex Brer Tarrypin. " You don't look apruey like you did, Brer Tarrypin," soz Brer Fox, sezee. " Lounjun 'roun' en suffer'n'," sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. 'Den de talk sorter run on like dis :—" W'at all you, Brer Tarrypin ? Yo' eye look mighty red," sez Brer Fox, sezoo. ."Lor', Brer Fox, you dunner w'at trubblo is. You ain't bin lounjun 'roun' en suffer'n," sex Brer Tarrypin, sezee. "Bofo eyes red, en you look like you mighty weak, Brer Tarrypin," sez Bror Fox, sezee. "Lor', Brer Fox, you thinner w'at trubblo is," sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. " W'at ail you now, Brer Tarrypin ?" sex Brer Fox, Saxon. " Tuck a walk do udder day, en man come 'long en sot do fiel' a-fier. Lor', Brer Fox, you clunnor w'at trnbble is," sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. "How you git out de fier, Brer Tarrypin ?" sez Brer Fox, sezee. "'Sot en tuck it, hirer Fox," sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. "Sot en tuck it, on do smoke sir in my eye, en de fier scorch my back," sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. 4' Likewise hit bu'n yo' tail off," sez Brer Fox, sezee. "Oh no, dar's de tail, Brer Fox," sez Brer Tarrypin, Bozo°, en wid dat he oncurl his tail from under de shell, en no sooner did he do dat dan Brer Fox grab it, on holler out : Oh, yes, Brer Tarrypin ! Oh, yes ! En .so youcr do man w'at lam mo on do head at Miss Meadows's, is you ? Youer in wid Brer Rabbit, is you ? Well, I'm gwineter out you.' Brer Tarrypin bog en beg, but 'twan't no use. Brer Fox done bin fool so much dat he look like he 'tormin' fer ter have Brer Tarrypin haslett. Den Brer Tarrypin beg Brer Fox not fer ter drown 'im, but Brer Fox ain't makin' no prommus, en den ho beg Brer Fox for ter bu'n 'im, kaze he clone elicitor fier, but Brer Fox don't any nuthin'. Bimeby Brer Fox drag Brer Tarrypin off little ways blow do spring- 'oust), en Bonze 'im under do water. Den Brer Tarrypin begin for ter holler,—" Tu'n loose dot stump root on ketch holt er mo—tn'n loose dat stump root en ketch holt or mo." Brer FoX he holler back,—" I ain't got holt er no stump root, en I is got bolt or you." Brer Tarry- pin he keep on holler's,—" Ketch holt er me—I'm a drownin'—rm s drownin'—tren loose do stump root en ketch holt or me." Sho' null, Brer Fox tu'n loose do tail, en Brer Tarrypin, he went down ter de bottom—kerblunkity-blink !' No typographical combination or description could do justice to the guttural sonorousness, the peculiar intonation, which Uncle Remus imported to this combination. It was so peculiar, indeed, that the little boy asked,—' How did he go to the bottom, Uncle Remus ?" Korblunkity-blink !" Was be drowned, Uncle Remus?" Who ? Ole man Tarrypin ? Is you

drowndid w'en yo' ma tucks you in do bed 9' Well, no,' replied the little boy, dubiously. Ole man Tarrypin wuz at home, I toll you, honey. Kerblinkity-blank ?' "

Brother Terrapin, allowing to himself that when the fox comes up " he'd sorter keep one eye open," his pocoeurante way of saying he'd been " lounjun 'roun'," and " suffer'n'," and his gentle patronage of the fox for not knowing what trouble is ; his ill-advised indignation at the idea that his tail had been burnt off, and the unfortunate demonstration of the existence of that member into which it surprises him ; and finally, the extra- ordinarily simple trap into which the fox fulls by being led to suppose that ho had got hold of a stump-root, and not of the terrapin's tail, are all of them charming touches of humour, and of humour obviously enjoying the conscious- ness of its own extravagance. So, too, when the rabbit gets tht: wolf into the chest, and before beginning operations against

him, deliberately goes to the looking-glass to wink at himself; and again, when the political indignation of the crayfishes breaks out because the elephant " puts his foot down " on one of them, and they "sorter swawmed tergedder, en draw'd up a kind o' peramblo wid some wharfoes in it, en read her out in de 'sembly;" and once more, when we listen to the delightful bravado with which the old, negro parades the fine, bushy tail of the rabbit of old times, in the hope of exciting his little auditor's wonder, we appreciate the popular humour of these legends as we have hardly ever appreciated any humour so gay and childlike. We must give the last in full :-- "`One time,' said Uncle Remus, sighing heavily and settling him- self back in his seat with an air of melancholy resignation, one time Brer Rabbit wuz gwino 'long down de road abakin' his big bushy tail, en feelin' des ez scrumpsbus on a bee-martin wid a fresh bug.' Hero the old man paused and glanced at the little boy, but it was evident that the youngster had become so accustomed to the marvellous developments of Uncle Remus's stories, that the extraordinary state- ment made no unusual impressionupon him. Therefore the old man began again, and this time iu a louder and more insinuating tone : ' One time olo man Rabbit, ho wuz gwiue 'long down do road shakin' his long, bushy tail, en feelin' mighty biggity.' This was effective. Great goodness, Uncle Remus !' exclaimed the little boy, in open- eyed wonder, everybody knows that rabbits haven't got long, bushy tails.' The old man shifted his position in his chair and allowed his venerable head to drop forward until his whole appearance was sug- gestive of the deepest dejection ; and this was intensified by a groan that seemed to be the result of great mental agony. Finally lie spoke, but not as addressing himself to the little boy. '1 notices dat dom folks w'at makes a great miration 'bout w'at day knows, is dos do folks w'ich you can't put no 'pennunce in w'en de 'cashun come up. Yer one cm urn no, en be done come en excuse me er 'lowin' dat rabbits is got long, bushy tails, w'ich goodness knows of I'd a dremp' it, I'd a whirl in en ondremp' it.'—' Well, but Uncle Remus, you said rabbits had long, bushy tails,' replied the little boy. 'Now you know you did.'—' Ef I ain't fergit it off'n my mine, I say date ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwino down do big road shakin' his long, bushy tail. Vat w'at I say, on dat I stan's by.' The littlo boy looked puzzled, but ho didn't say anything. After a while the old man con- tinued : "Now, den, of dat's 'greed ter, I'm gwine on, en of tain't 'greed ter, den I'm gwineter pick up my cane en look atter my own

intrust. I got wuk lyin' roun' yer dat's des natally gittitt' "

What could be more admirable than the dignity with which Uncle Remus confronts what the boy has inferred from what he said, with what he actually said, and accuses him of false witness, and reduces him to abject submission, before he will consent to go on a single syllable with his story P In such

touches lies the Charm of this fascinating little volume of legends, which deserves to be placed on a level with lieineke Fuchs for its quaint humour, without reference to the ethnological interest possessed by these stories, as indicating, perhaps, a common origin for very widely-severed races.