LOUISA QUEEN OF PRUSSIA.

From the Literary Gazette.

gined that he was in distress, and therefore ordered her page to present him with four Frederic's dollars. He was, however, a re"Characteristic Traits from the Life of Frederic spectable citizen of Potsdam, who had just reWilliam III." By Bishop Eylert, preacher to covered from a severe illness, and had come His Majesty at Potsdam. From Vol. II., just into the park to enjoy the fresh country air. published at Magdeburg. [This is the work He therefore declined the proffered gift with a from which the selections by Mr. Birch were proper feeling of independence. The queen, made, noticed in our last No.-Ed. Lit. Gaz] who had in the mean time pursued her walk, It is with no ordinary feelings of satisfac-back to reassure the old man, whom she fanwas no sooner informed of this, than she turned tion that we take up that portion of Bishop cied that she must have hurt. Pardon me,' Eylert's second volume, which renders the said the queen; 'I did not wish to wound beautiful, the gentle, the highly-gifted Louisa | Queen of Prussia "a familiar acquaintance" to me to provide for your recovery by sending your feelings; but you must at least permit us. There is such queenly dignity blended with the gentle sweetness of the woman-such unaffected goodness of heart set off by the most exalted and expansive Christian principle-that her life is a model, no less for the sovereign than for the humblest female in the

land.

kitchen may perhaps not furnish. The king you every day such nourishment as your loves the good burgesses of his own native city of Potsdam, and I join in this feeling with all my heart.' The worthy master Van der Leeden rose up in grateful emotion before his did he daily receive supplies from the royal benignant sovereign; and for many weeks

Passing over the historical events connected with her career, and the general biography-kitchen. her birth, beauty, accomplishments, marriage "The allowances which the queen received to the crown-prince of Prussia, when both in the bloom of youth, and her lamented death-every quarter from the king, through his privycounsellor, M. Wolter, were often inadequate we proceed to select some of the more private to supply these daily liberalities. She theretraits of her exemplary life and character:"So great was the fame of her charity, that Wolter was straightforward, conscientious, and fore begged him to make some advances; but not a day passed without bringing her peti- very particular in his accounts: 'All my actions from the most remote parts of the king- counts,' replied he, are made up every month; dom. These she generally answered by her I am not permitted to enter any advances own hand, accompanying her gifts by words of the kindest interest, thus furnishing a beau- among the expenditure-it is contrary to the tiful commentary upon that expressive text of king's positive orders. But indeed, your mathe holy Scriptures, 'God loveth a cheerful jesty, it will not do to go on in this way; you giver.'

"During her residence in Potsdam," says Bishop Eylert, "the queen generally sent for my investigation the innumerable petitions addressed to her, and I had often the happiness of being the almoner of her charities. She was wont to say, 'it ought to be our chief object to remove the origin and causes of poverty, and to make the needy better and happier by their own active exertions. But then,' she added, in the genuine spirit of a woman, whether the poor man really deserves our aid, that is not for us to inquire. Who can know and weigh that? The lines which separate merited and unmerited poverty are so finely traced, and run so closely into one another! And how does our heavenly Father act towards us? is he not all mercy and compassion? This pious feeling, and the look of affectionate sympathy which expressed it, were habitual; she carried it so far, that if she beheld from the window of the palace, or in driving through the streets, a countenance which told of sorrow or suffering, she could not divest herself of the impression till she had investigated into the cause. This extreme readiness to afford relief, as we might suppose, sometimes led her into mistakes.

will

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give till you have impoverished yourself.' good Wolter, I love my children; and the word The queen replied, with much kindness, 'My Land's-child (Landeskind) sounds sweetly in that I am with my best friend, the land'smy ears; and I am ravished with the thought father, also the land's-mother. I cannot, dare not, separate from him; but must give help wherever it is required.' Well,' said the faithful Wolter, I will tell his majesty.' 'If you think that it will not make him angry,' rejoined the queen. But he, the most tender and happiest of husbands, with a heart and hand as ready as hers, did not upbraid. A few days after, the queen found the drawer of her writing-desk replenished. 'What angel can have placed it there? exclaimed the queen. The angel,' replied, the king, is Legion. I know not what may be his name, and I know but one; but you know the beautiful text, So He giveth His beloved sleeping.' (Germ. trans. Psalm cxxvi.)

"On occasion of some splendid military fête, which was celebrated in the church at Potsdam, the king and queen attended in state; every seat had been long occupied, when a worthy and highly respectable lady, who was a member of the congregation, entered the

"During one of her walks in the park near the palace at Potsdam, she saw a pale and emaciated man resting upon one of the seats; and as he was poorly dressed, the queen ima- | speaking of the king.

This was the queen's favorite term when

church. Being unacquainted with its different happy manner of carrying his point by some localities, she, in her search for some vacant sportive act. When he had made such a respot, suddenly found herself in the passage solve, he retained his wonted gravity; but leading to the queen's closet. She opened there was always a singular play of the counthe door, and, to her astonishment, beheld the tenance, accompanied by a sarcastic smile. royal party, who were already engaged in 'Well,' said the king one day to the Countess their devotions. She was about to withdraw, von Voss, the queen's first lady of the bedwhen one of the ladies kindly motioned her to chamber, who was a stringent observer of etiremain; and with the natural humility of her quette,- Well, I will conform; and to prove character, she silently took the most retired this to you, I will request you to announce me. place. But she little suspected the storm and to demand whether I may have the honor which this was to draw down upon her. No of an audience of my consort, her royal highsooner had the queen left the pew, than the ness the crown-princess; I am desirous of paymaster of the ceremonies went up to the poor ing my respects to her, and I trust she will be woman, in virtue of his office, and censured her graciously pleased to grant my wish.' The in the most vehement manner for presuming to lady of the bedchamber, who had often mourned force herself into the royal presence, and thus the sad dereliction of court-etiquette, was overviolate every law of decorum. The assurances joyed at this triumph of the good by gone custhat her offence had been unintentional were toms. She hastened to prepare herself, in orunavailing, even when she had stated the der to announce the desired audience-an intiname and rank of her husband: she was treat-mation to which she flattered herself she should ed as if she had been guilty of lèse majesté. receive a gracious reply. Who, then, can She came to me," says Bishop Eylert, "in the paint her astonishment when, on entering the deepest distress, but appeared most of all to be apartment to announce her royal lord, she affected by the thought that she should have found that he had anticipated her, and was appeared to be wanting in due respect to the actually walking arm-in-arm with the queen, queen. While she was still speaking, Count then still princess? The king burst into a loud von Brühl, the queen's chamberlain, entered hearty laugh, exclaiming, "You see, my dear with a message from her majesty, requiring Lady Voss, that my wife and I meet and conmy immediate attendance. On entering the verse together without being announced; this audience-chamber, the queen came up instant- is what we wish and desire, and this is accordly, saying, 'I entreat you to tell me what hasing to all good Christian rules. But you are a happened in your church. I have just learnt that a very worthy lady has been shamefully abused by my chamberlain. And for what reason? would you credit it?-merely because she had entered my pew during divine service. Every body knows what the king and I think of court-etiquette; it may not be altogether dispensed with, but surely there ought to be some difference made when in the house of God. I cannot tell you how deeply I am grieved at this occurrence, although I am personally innocent. But I entreat you to settle this affair. Dine with us to-day on Peacock's Island, and let me hear that this worthy lady feels satisfied; to-morrow you must come again, and bring her with you; and tell her I shall be delighted to make her acquaintance.' "It is impossible to estimate the blessings which resulted, not only to the royal family, but even to the whole country, from the royal union. If we had not the most independent testimony of eye-witnesses, the pure, simple, heartfelt picture of domestic bliss might be taken for some beautiful idyll, rather than a scene of real life, retaining all its force and freshness under every circumstance, a happiness such as is rarely found even in the less restrained intercourse of private life, and yet more rarely on a throne. It may readily be supposed that the devoted affection, the simple, unaffected union of the king and queen, would not submit to the trammels of old court etiquette.

"Wherever the king saw that remonstrances would be unavailing, he possessed a peculiarly

charming lady of the bedchamber, and shall henceforth be called, 'Dame d'Etiquette.'

"On another occasion, when the customary ceremonials attendant on a gratulatory visit of the court to an allied court, were under discassion, the lady of the bedchamber observed, that the departure to and from the palace must take place in one of the principal state-carriages, drawn by eight richly-caparisoned horses, two coachmen, and three of the body-jäger, in their state-liveries. 'Well,' said the king, smiling, thus, then, you shall order it.' When this splendid equipage drove up the next day, the king, with great violence, lifted her ladyship into it, rapidly closed the door, and calling out 'On to the drivers, sprung hastily, with the queen, into his ordinary carriage, which was open, and drawn by a pair of horses only, and drove himself after his grand statecoach, amid the acclamations of the crowd."

The following is a somewhat novel but pleasing proof of the perfect understanding which subsisted between the royal pair :

"It was the king's custom, after receiving presentations in the cabinet, to hasten, though but for a few moments, to the queen's apartments, to breakfast with her; his favorite refreshment being fresh-gathered fruit. He saw on entering, a very pretty cap lying on her work-table. He gaily demanded its cost. 'Oh, it is by no means well,' replied the queen, sportively, when husbands require to know the price of their wives' millinery; they don't understand it, and then fancy every thing too dear.' 'But you may tell me how much this

COURSES OF ENGLISH READING.

From Fraser's Magazine.

cap cost? I should like to know.' 'Well, I have chosen a cheap one-it costs only four dollars.' 'Only four dollars? terribly dear for such a thing! And while standing at the It was said upon one occasion, by a very window, continuing to amuse himself about its that it price, he perceived one of the guard of invalids stout gentleman of the last century, crossing the court; he motioned him to enter. is surprising to observe how small a quanOn coming into the apartment, the king said: tity of reading there is in the world: yet, The lady sitting on that sofa has a great deal if his subsequent conversation with the of money; for what think you, old comrade, younger Burke and Boswell be correctly she has paid for the cap which is lying upon reported, he has furnished a solution of his the table? But don't suffer yourself to be own problem. The progress which the blinded by the fine rose-colored ribbon.' The old veteran, who had but little experience in understanding makes through a book, he conceived to have in it more of pain than such affairs, shrugged his shoulders, and said, laconically, Well, it may have cost some gros-pleasure; and no man, he ventured to chen.' 'Do you hear that? said the king; assert, ever reads a work of science from 'groschen, indeed! Four dollars did she pay pure inclination, the books really perused for it! Go now and ask the fair lady to give with pleasure being only such light compoyou just as many. Looking up with a smile sitions as contain a quick succession of at her husband, she instantly opened her purse, events. The reader will, doubtless, have and placed four new dollar-pieces in the solidentified the stout gentleman of our dier's hand. But,' added she, playfully, 'look at that illustrious gentleman who is quotation with that great Dr. Johnson, standing in the window; he has a great deal whose critical shoes have creaked over the more money than I; all that I have comes from threshold of the present generation, in all him, and he gives willingly now go to him, that unoiled roughness in which Boswell and make him give you double--eight dollars.' determined to preserve them. In uttering With a merry laugh, the queen turned to see his last remark, he was probably thinking how this command would come off at the hands of the day when he read through Fielding's Amelia without stopping. But the assertion is not well founded, and if Johnson had known any thing of Cambridge education, he would have immediately perceived its fallacy. Peacock's Algebra is the Ivanhoe of St. John's; and we have known a

C

of the ever-ready king. On this occasion, however, there was somewhat of backwardness in his responses. Shrugging his shoulders, yet laughing and wishing the veteran all happiness, the eight pieces were forthcoming. It was the man's good fortune to have beheld the happiest of husbands and wives; and on leaving the room he overheard their mirthful and gladsome laugh."

man of science whose constant and favorite companion among shady lanes was Bland's Collection of Problems. This taste, however, is not easily imparted. Whatever may be the contagion of the gown, Mr. Blakesley or Mr. Thurtell could give some interesting illustrations to show that the infection of the differential calculus spreads slowly; and the present popular Master of Trinity cannot fail to number, among his tutorial reminiscences, a considerable party of Young England, absolutely deaf to the charmings of pulleys and Bramah. The difficulty resides in awakening a taste for a pump or a poem.

DECORATIVE-ART SOCIETY.-This society, the formation of which we announced last year, has resumed its meetings. On Wednesday last, a paper was read by Mr. Cowtan, 'On Paper Hangings,' in which an account was given of the rise and progress of the manufacture in this country, illustrated by specimens of various dates. It was contended that the higher principles of art were more truly appreciated and more extensively ap plied by the manufacturers, some sixty years since, (amongst those named were Sheringham and the Echardts, assisted by the artists Boileau, Fuseli, Jones, &c.,) than by those of the present day. During the discussion which ensued, it was We approve of Johnson's suggestion, to observed that our paper-stainers do not, as formerly, employ artists as an integral part of their turn a boy loose into a library-having establishment, but content themselves with pur- previously removed all works of an injurichasing their blocks from the designer, whose ous tendency--and to let him graze as he artistic character thus necessarily merges in that likes. Nothing can be worse than to enin this particular was disadvantageously contrast-close him in one small field of knowledge, ed with that of the calico-printers, a somewhat with thorn hedges, a cord, and a staple. analogous trade, who were said to employ from The confinement of the pasture destroys its five to ten designers for their especial service, al- relish. Instead of binding down his eye though they do not produce more pieces per and attention to a single book, let him annum than some of the larger paper-staining please his appetite in the selection; and, houses.-Athenæum.

of a mere dealer in carved wood. Their conduct

er of genius will overcome." But say rather, that there is always an indisposition among the many to welcome or to admire the beautiful and pure in art. Is it conceivable that Spenser should ever be the poet of the Reform Club? The atmosphere of popular feeling and thought grows every day denser and cloudier; if the song-thrush would sing, it must ascend above the mist, and out of the sight of the vulgar, and there, followed only by a few loving eyes,

"Scatter its loose notes in the waste of air."

the roof of the house by the aid of a prop and lever; Vaucanson might never have exhibited his remarkable mechanical talents, if he had not in his boyhood been shut up in a room with nothing but a clock for a companion. By a similar process of imitation a few sunny hours over Hooker may make a Field, and Spenser may yet create many a future Cowley.

above all, abstain from discouraging him by a statement of difficulties beyond the reach of his understanding. If he find the trunk of the tree too huge and knotty for his arms to encircle it, he will, of his own accord, soon abandon the attempt to climb to the boughs. Nor is another caution of the Doctor's undeserving of regard. If a man or a boy begins to read in the middle of a book, and feels an inclination to go on, he advises him not to turn back and commence methodically at the first page, lest the inclination to the task should lose its heat, or entirely forsake him. In We think that this turning free of the addition to the removal of all books harm- young intellect may often be productive of ful to the spiritual health, the field ought excellent results. Fergusson was made a to be carefully weeded from modern mis- man of science by seeing his father mend cellanies and every body's abridgments. An opinion of Gray has been recorded that might be pondered with advantage by those whom it concerns: he thought that the abundance of dictionaries of all kinds promised badly for the literature of the age, because rich and profound learning is never derived from such sources, but drawn at the fountain-head; and the inducements to idleness which such compilations hold out, While we were thinking of the difficult effectually weaken, if they do not entirely hills which all benevolent Clarksons have quench, the spirit and the industry to study to climb, in their efforts to mitigate the a subject in the original authorities. We slavery of ignorance, we met with a volume think it, accordingly, no topic of rejoicing, entitled, A Course of English Reading, when a young man is versed in the intel- adapted to Every Taste and Capacity.* lectual statistics of The Literary Gazette, The author is a clergyman, the Rev. James or fond of paddling, with the water just Pycroft. Now the book has merits, and up to his toes, in the streamlet of The may do good; but one objection to it Penny Cyclopædia. This is what we call, should be stated at once. The work itself to borrow Gray's description of Harris's contains not only internal indications, but Hermes, the shallow profound. "It is a distinct avowal of having been composed amazing to consider to what an universality for the youthful scholar alone, and with a of learning people make pretensions here. sort of wavering inclination towards the There is not a drawer, a chair, or a hack- feminine gender. Complete essays on ney-coachman, but is politician, poet, and these comprehensive subjects," says the judge of polite literature." The words are writer, in allusion to history, &c., Shenstone's and were written from Lon- not to be expected from one who addresses don in 1740. A hundred years have cer- himself to the young and inexperienced tainly not diminished their truth. There student, and whose chief ambition is to be is around and among us the chatter, but useful." This caution is pointed by Pope's not the refinement of taste. The sale of admonition to quarrelsome critics, about 3000 copies of Paradise Lost in eleven years, would, according to the frank admission of Hallam, have been a very satisfactory success in our own times. Yet that success was obtained in the seventeenth Certainly not: but then, instead of page 98, century, and against the full strength of these wise words should have appeared in ignorance, prejudice, and vice. An inter- page 1. If a course of reading be "adaptnal machinery of life worked the noble ed to every taste and every capacity," it ship into the haven, in defiance of wind must also be suited to every age; for the and tide. "There is sometimes a want of congeniality in public taste, which no powDECEMBER, 1844.

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regarding

66

are

"The writer's end, Since none can compass more than they intend."

* Published by Longman and Co. 1844.

taste and the capacity fluctuate with the snatches of reading will not make a Bentley changes of time. If this book be addressed or a Clarke, but then Bentleys and Clarkes strictly and singly to young persons, then make themselves. No man of genius ever the title-page ought to be altered; if to sailed over literature by the map of his persons of maturer life, then the course it-predecessors; he marks his course by the self should be amended. As it is, you pass stars overhead in the heaven of intellect. under the arch of Buckingham Palace, and How to read, and what to read, are quesfind yourself in an infant school at Pimlico. tions more easily asked than answered. The contents of the volume are also open Look, for instance, at history. Temple reto rebuke; there is rather too much of quested a mutual friend to obtain from flippancy, and not quite enough of accu- Gray a plan for studying modern history, racy. Some of the remarks, however, not confined to any particular period, but are ingenious, and calculated to be benefi- beginning and ending at the epochs he cial to the young ladies and gentlemen of might deem to be most expedient. We whom the compiler speaks in his preface. gather from the recently published corresWe cannot approve of his hints for educat-pondence of Nichols, that Gray disliked ing a female order of commentators upon the task-" You aggravate my misfortunes the Scriptures. After giving an account by twitting me with Temple, as if a pack of a young lady, who delights in writing the marginal references of the Bible upon some paper most mystically arranged in vertical columns, he adds, "This is a much more profitable employment than knitting, though ladies may be allowed to do both;" and astonishes us with the question, "Who would not be more proud of a mother who bequeathed him a commentary than a quilt?" We are so sacrilegious as to say, with unblushing effrontery, that we should prefer the quilt and the reason is obvious, and to our mind unimpeachable. We already possess several commentaries, but never had a quilt. Lady Jane Grey, reading Plato, was surely invading with sufficient hardihood the privileges of the universities; but even Ascham himself would have shrunk from the Commentary. There is truth, as well as neatness, in the lines of Cowper,

"Great offices will havə Great talents; and God gives to every man The virtue, temper, understanding, taste, That lifts him into life, and lets him fall Just in the niche he was ordained to fill.".

of names of books and editions were any cure for his uneasiness, and that I withheld it from him." What Temple desired was, not a pack of names, but a list of a few of the best and most necessary in each period, sufficient to compose a historical chain, and continue it unbroken and what he asked for himself in vain, has been supplied to all students by Gray's successor in the historic chair of Cambridge. Smyth's Lectures on Modern History-already recommended in REGINIafford a clear and safe light to the inexperienced traveller along these rugged paths of investigation. Pycroft, having the professor's arm to lean upon, maintains a good pace and a very becoming attitude in this section of his labors; the suggestion, to chocse some particular branch of modern history, is plausible, but inconvenient, if rigidly carried out. No spectacle can be more absurd, than a person familiar with an episode in the life of a nation; acquainted with its manhood, but ignornnt of its childhood and old age. It is knowing one's way to St. Paul's without having ever heard of the Mansion-house, Still, by all means,

Mr. Pycroft professes, then, to teach us select some "strong points." what to read. The offer should be welcomed. Among these Pycroft justly enumerates: In the present day we live, as it were, in a (1.) The early history till about the time mill, and the driving tide of business among of the Conquest. (2.) The era of the midthe wheels keeps up a perpetual tumult dle ages, including the feudal system, chivand foam. Intervals of repose are all the alry, and the crusades. (3.) The dawn of opportunities of study and reflection that discovery - printing-gunpowder-commany of us can hope to obtain. A foot pass, &c. (4.) Civil Wars, (5.) Revoluupon the cradle and a finger upon Horace, tion of 1688. Here, with the help of may be the fate of more than one literary Smyth (why does he call the good professor, descendant of Hooker. How can these Dr. Smyth? as if every stain and wrinkle intervals be best employed for the purposes in that bombasin M. A. gown did not reof mental cultivation? Every one feels, ject the title !), Pycroft mentions some imand acknowledges with Johnson, that portant books, and his directions for reading