murder and assassination in the nineteenth century! While, however, he deprecates an opinion so utterly disgraceful to the age, the writer of these remarks cannot help thinking it mainly incumbent on the governments of Germany, maturely to reflect on the recent catastrophe; for every circumstance connected with the history and proceedings of Sand, is pre-eminently calculated to excite public astonishment: his education, amiable disposition, and unexceptionable character, all tend to make us pause and inquire into the cause of his having recourse to this act of vengeance: while they stimulate us to trace those gradations of thought by which the youthful enthusiast prevailed on himself to strike the final blow.

Between the acting of a dreadful thing,
And the first motion, all the interim is
Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream.
The genius and the mortal instruments

Are then in council; and the state of man,
;.

Like to a little kingdom suffers then

The nature of an insurrection!

Although the whole subject is involved in a maze of inexplicable difficulty, it is not the less worthy of minute and careful examination; for if, as a very shrewd German lately observed to the Editor, there are many thousand individuals amongst the youth of Germany, as totally indifferent to life as SAND and Lohning; who can say where the contagion of their example will end, or what will be the consequences to persons of a very different class to Kotzebue and Ibel?* There are many events of daily

* The following account of the attack on this gentleman is taken from the TIMES newspaper, and tends so much to corroborate the Editor's arguments, that he hopes to be excused for giving it somewhat in detail.

"Schwalbach (a mineral bath in the Duchy of Nassau, and two leagues from Mentz) has just been the theatre of a horrible event, which may be regarded as connected with that recently perpetrated by Sand, and which proves the fanaticism that reigns amongst the youths of Germany. A young man, son of an apothecary at Idstein, in Nassau, where there is a collegiate establishment, persuaded himself that he could render an essential service to his country, by ridding it of M. Ibel, president of the regency of Wisbad, who enjoyed the confidence of the Duke, and, in consequence, he resolved to assassinate him. He found M. Ibel at Schwalbach, and aimed a blow at his face with

occurrence, and those not unimportant either, calculated to guide our judgment with regard to public opinion, which pass away without exciting any thing more than temporary surprize. However, this revival of a practice that was thought not only meritorious, but in some cases even honoured with

a poignard. M. Ibel, who is tall and corpulent, and was not alarmed, seized the assassin, and disarmed him.Whilst they were struggling, the murderer drew a pistol from his pocket, and attempted to discharge it, according to some, at M. Ibel, but others say at himself: the pistol, however, missed fire, the assassin was taken into custody, and probably justice will be speedily executed From subsequent information we learn that the assassin's name is Lohning he studied at the university of Heidelburg, and only left it eighteen months ago. He served as a volunteer during the last war of invasion."-Frankfort, July 4th, 1819.

Another account, dated on the following day, states: "The President of the Regency of Nassau has the reputation of being an able statesman; but arbitrary fiscal measures are imputed to him. It is affirmed that previous to his aiming the blow at M. Ibel, the young apothecary reproached him with being the cause of his country's misfortunes fortunately the attempt only produced a slight wound. On his first examination, he confessed the fact, alleging for his motive a wish to rid his country of a man so injurious to the public weal."

Having been transferred to prison, it does not appear that the interrogatories which followed have led to any

an apotheosis, in the best days of Greece and Rome, though justly execrated in modern times, is a tremendous epoch in the annals of civilization, and opens a field of inquiry deeply interesting to the whole human race.

Lightly as some people, particularly those with whom the "solemn plausibilities of the world" are exploded, may be induced to

disclosures. And that he has preserved the same mistaken greatness of mind, as his predecessor, will be seen by the following account of his death, very recently received from Nemburg, and dated July 23d.

"All the precautions that were taken, could not prevent Lohning from executing his design of putting an end to his life in prison. At first he seemed resolved to starve himself to death, but in this he did not succeed. On the nineteenth of July he found means to break a glass unperceived, and to open an artery in the wrist with a piece of it: while the blood was flowing from the wound he held his hand concealed under the bed quilt, so that the circumstance seems not to have been remarked, till the blood had flowed in such abundance as to find its way to the floor. Uncertain whether the opening of the artery, considering the care with which he was watched, could remain concealed long enough to make his death certain, Lohning had contrived to swallow several pieces of glass, when the guard on seeing the blood flow from the delinquent's bed, gave the alarm, and called for help; Lohning lay already in violent convulsions, and every assistance was afforded, but in vain, as he expired before day-light."

treat the subject, the Editor is too deeply impressed with a sense of its importance, to let the occasion escape without venturing a few more observations, which are left for more acute reasoners either to dispute or illustrate.

It has been already hinted, that the most civilized and moral nations of antiquity regarded assassination as an act of heroic virtue, provided it was inflicted on the enemies of public liberty. Need it be added, that every modern nation has emerged from barbarity, in proportion as it has attained to the imitation of those glorious models; and that in every enlightened country, the study of the ancient writers is the basis of liberal education, and the surest characteristic of a gentleman?

If, according to the well known definition, history be no other than philosophy teach

*Soon after the death of Kotzebue, some wag took the trouble of writing a threatening letter to the editor of an English Journal, well known for its insensate violence against the people; when lo, and behold, a leading article appeared next day, in which this brave mercenary boldly defied all the daggers of his enemies. Perhaps a cudgel would not be misapplied!