New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-24
Won RaInner.

1uiS CcleOTdteQ historian anG trdTcleT, ldVIllS
been elected corresponding member Of the Ma
tional Institute at Washington, has sent in reply
the following letter, which, from the generous
and candid spirit it breathes, and the interest 1t
exhibits in our country, cannot but interest our
readers. Won Raumer is one Of the most indc-
fatsablc of travellers and impartial of historians.
We hope to welcome him to our own shores
Such men are rare visiters among u.s. and when
they do arrive, we scarce know Of them till they
speak of US through foreign press; while a
literary fop is ietcd through the country:
BERLIN November IS, lSi3
Thoughnot entirely yunacquaintcd with the Eng
lish language, the German is so well known In
the United States that [ venture, dear Sir, to
write TO you in my native tongue. 1t is IN that
tongue only that | can, in the fullness of my
heart, express the great pleasure my election as
corresponding member of the National Institute
at Washington has given me. In the first place,
every European must value such an honor more
highly than when similar distinction is con-
ferrcd from places less distant. In the next place.
| behold in it sort of invitation to an under
taking for which l need more encouragement
than many others need. From my plan to visit
have attempted to dissuade me, saying that was
too old, that could inform myself sufficiently at
home, or that (being entirely unknown there l
would hear and learn but little.
Having been occupied so long with historical
researches on the PAST, | was, however, resolved
for once to explore the land Of the PREsENT-a
land where not the ruins only OF times long gone
by are planted, but all is full of youthful, active
life.
Some travellers have nothing to tell about the
United States, but to discuss such questions as
whether they eat tobacco, use two-pronged forks,
&c. Others, who pretend to examine more
deeply, lament that they did not find Judges with
lished church, lords and prelatcs, hordes of sol
diers and officers, and so forth.
Far from being impressed with such repre-
sentations and views, l became still more stub
born and pertinacious in my gainsayng-
Whether, however, North America is such as
imagine and picture it to myself, | cannot now
decide; and whether should go there remained
long undecided. At this juncture came my re-
ception into your Institute as favorable, en-
couraging omen | may now with redoubled
confidence hope for friendly information, and that
| will be considered and received as grateful
pupil.
With the highest regard remain mos, obsdisqs ser
Corresgonding Secre,aryef the National Institute
AS many among US have doubted the correct
ness of the descriptions of Irish suffering, we
give an extract from Won Raumer's Journal in
Ireland. 1t exhibits also the humanity and spirit
of the man. Says Raumer, in writing from
Ireland:
"My mind is filled with one thought can
entertain no other-it is that Of the nexpressible
wretchedncss of so many thousands. No words
can express the frightful truth which everywhere
meets the eye To form an idea of it you must
sec these houses-not houses but huts-not huts
but novels, mostly without windows or apertures;
the same entrance, the same narrow space, for
men and hogs,-the latter lively, sleek, and well
fed, the former covered with rags, or rather hung
with fragments of rags, in manner which It is
impossible to conceiue. If l except the respecta-
bic people in the towns, did not see upon thou
sands of Irish achole coat, 1ohole shirt,
1chole cloak, but all in tatters, and tatters such
as are no where else to be seen.
"The ruins of ancient castles were pointed out
to me, but how could take any pleasure in
them, while the desolate ruined huts surrounded
me and testified the distress of the present times
more loudly than the others did Of the grandeur
of the past Other huts were half fallen down,
but the occupants crept into the remaining halt,
which was not larger than coffin for the wretch
ed family | have read, and written much on the
suferings of different ages and nations, and
wrote with sympathy, but it is far different
thing to see them-to See them in their gigantic
forms in our highly extolled times-dcnied and
extenuated-nay, acknowledged and justified by
those who, like the French, fancy they are at the
head of all human civilization. No wonder II
the native Irish, like the prophet OF old BY the
waters of Babylon, sit down and weep, II l.
stranger am compelled to reckon the few days
passed among them as the most melancholy OF
my life"
BOOTS AND SHOES S-Wllson Il Johnson,
IL John HuehnSs have sI. storr