The Sun.
London, England, 1831-04-02 00:00:00

NIEBUHR.

(From the Morning Chrotaict.)
~ ___

The death of Niebuhr, while it deprives us of
one of the brightest ornaments of literature, and
leaves a void in that peculiar branch of it to
which this great man more immediately directed
his attention, fills us no less with regret for the
loss of a person with whom we have learned to
connect such estimable qualities of the heart as
well as the mind. It is true, he had many
enemies, men who are malicious enough to rail
who will not be slow to raise
over his grave,
their voices in the condemnation of one, before
whom, when living, they were glad to find a
shelter to hide their diminished heads. Niebuhr
was a bold censurer, and was thus led, very fre-
quently, to appreciate the merits of others more
truly than judiciously. In Germany, where an
over-zeal for literature often involves its devotees
in a personal feud, when even the technicalities
of phraseology, the obscure hints of a commen-
tator, the very non intelligo of a rival Editor can
convert the closest intimacy into the most deadly
hatred, it is not much to be wondered at that
Niebuhr, in chasing before him the swarms of
drones he was at times compelled to disperse,
incurred their enmity when they could not deny
him their admiration. _ _ _

...... _
In his family, and by all who knew him, he
was beloved and respected ; and, even amongst
those who did not know him, he always com-
manded esteem. His habits of life were tem-
perate ; his application incessant ; and his erudi-
non unbounded. He was not a man cast for
the turbulent scenes in which he had lived,
though in them he had taken a part, and that,
too, a zealous part. They had lent him, how.-
ever, an experience, that taught him from analogy
to pierce futurity, and resolve history into so
many 'cycles of events. I recollect to have
heard him, on the morning he received the re-
port of the late revolution in Paris, descant
upon the consequences to the several nations of
Europe ; and so far the result has verified his
words. He had received the first intelligence of
this great event, and devoted the hour usually
apportioned to his lecture, to its description and
probable issue. None of the audience were at
-all conscious of it, and it fell upon all with a
' convulsive shock, that struck with a simultaneous
dread, so deeply rooted in men's minds are the
horrors of the former revolution. The feelings
with which the students of the University re-
garded this man were never more identified than
upon this occasion. Each looked upon him as a
father and adviser, as he eloquently adverted
to their father-land, upon which he spoke with
a freedom that, while it vindicated himself from
bias, still dictated rules of wisdom and worth
to all.

Niebuhr was educated strictly and severely in
the discipline of his father, whose memory he al-
ays cherished as dear, in testimony of which
there remains to us a simple and beautiful me-
morial in his smaller writings. Like him, he
was well versed in Arabic, though in the latter
years of his life he did not devote much atten-
tion to it, probably deeming it, as Reiske was at
last obliged to confess, but a poor indemnifica-
tion for the loss of time. His love for England
was intense, with which not only his residence
in this country tended to imbue him, but also a
more intimate knowledge of each period of its
history, its free institutions, and the unbending
character of its people, that seemed framed to
command, while, on the other hand, he was ac-
customed to deplore the lack of such a spirit
amongst his fellow-countrymen.
When we say that Niebuhr was not suited to
the scenes in • which he lived, we mean, that
though full of the energy of the times, he was
not always prepared to decide upon them. His
political conduct cannot be impugned; he was
a liberal, and as such lived under a despotic
Government. This course of conduct, he knew,
did not tend to the attainment of place or
power ; but he pursued it, conscious that it was
established in right. He viewed each change
with the eye of a calm philosopher, and was a
just judge of human nature. In his disposition
he was cheerful and gay, and adapted his con-
versation to his hearers, always playful and good-
humoured, and abounding in anecdote. His
lectures were the same, diversified by the narra-
tion of coincident facts and frequent digressions ;
yet, though at first he seemed to the student to
wander front the subject, he led him, by an un-
trodden and entertaining path, to the just and
historical conclusion. His memory was accu-
rate to a degree almost marvellous. Supported
by it alone, he used to travel through the detail
of the most intricate portions of ancient history,
for his lectures were invariably delivered with-
out a recurrence to notes ; and yet he pursued
his path with a steady and cautious step, never
either wanting facts or words in which to com-
municate them.
At Bonn he lived for several sears, not as
Professor, but lecturing merely from option.
His literary occupations there formed his sole
delight ; he lived, and enjoyed ease and inde-
pendence, in time bosom of his family and a few
friends, with the laudable ambition of perpetu-
ating his fame. This was to him real and unal-
loyed enjoyment ; he had survived days of ad-
versity and trouble, and had arrived at an age
when he could remember them with pleasure.
Fate did not long permit him the enjoyment of
tide repose ; he died in his fifty-fourth year,
after an dines.; of but a few days. The burning
of his house occurred about a year since, and the
disorder into which his library was thrown by
this accident cost him much anxiety and trouble
in remodelling it. By the scholar his memory
must be always held in esteem—to the friend it
must ever remain dear. His loss to the farmer
is great, when we remember, that, after having
spent years in collecting materials for his his-
tory, he should after ail, have left it incom-
plete. Enough, however, remains to preserve
his fame unsullied, when the cavillings of his ene-
mies shall have teased, and when it shall be for-
gotten or doubted whether such ever existed. To
the latter the lines of the spripathising poet will
readily suggest themselves
" Cui pudor,
Ineorrupta tides, nudaque veritas—
Quandii inveniet paretn ?"
T, 31. D.

There is to be no Easter Ball at the Mansion-
house this year. Three years ago, in consequence of the
nuisance occasioned,,by the crowding of " all sorts," and
the frequent and violent contests for refreshments, the
ChiA Magiati ate determined to put a atop to the annual an•
noyanee, and the ball has been since discontinued. It was
supposed that the present Loan MAYott would be in-
duced, by the universal juy caused by the introduction
of the new Reform Bill, to give the citizens' wives and
of testifying their approbation
olirgtlii'et"Lassn opportunityureiey-tripping it " on the light fantastic
toe," in the place from whence has issued so strong a
supporter as the petition of the merchanth and bankers.
It is, however, s mistake ; the Loan MAYOR, whp re-
ceived many letters, containing an appeal to that effect,
replied generally, to those who addressed hitn, that, al,
though he had not the merit of originating the Easter
Ball Reform, he should certainly supprt the Bill during
his Adiniutration,