New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-15
GOETHE 1ND HIS MORALITY

Prom Our Special Correspondent.
LONDON, Wednesday, Dec. l2, 1855
Goethe was at bottom so little short of sensual
ist, that il seems 10 me hardly worth the while TO
discuss the difference. But nm in advance of my
story.
Goethes life by Mr.. Lewes no doubt numbers
ere this as many well-pleased readers on your side
Of the Atlantic as on this cannot easily recall
Biography which contains much vivid portraiture
and criticism. Mr.. Lewes himself has long been
noted for his easy aud graceful omuiloquence. From
Augustine 70 Grisi, from Plato to Fanny Ellsler,
nothing comes amiss TO his wayward and fippant
muse Scarcely any topic of speculation has been
left untouched by his pen, and be touches no SUBJ
ject, however heavy in itself, which he does not
kndle into mOmentary vivacity by the cOntagiOn of
his exuberant animal spirits. His spirits are in
deed intensely animal with scarcely any vestige Of
celestial radiance upon their wings and he himself
q capital instance of what a sunny natural dspOsi
ton will do for clever man, unsded by any Of
the prOf0under instincts. Mr.. Lewes, in fact, is
what is sometimes called an old boy. His uvenility
runs over slightly into the period usually allotted
10 human wisdom. He bears the same relation to
the serious and portly teachers of philosophy that
an American trotting pony does TO the English
draft horse, or the pert and effervescent ladies'
ration not perhaps, the sentiment you fee either
for the pony or for Mrs Abgail but they are both
alike so complete in their sphere and exhibit so
picturesque an infraction Of established routine,
that the charmed eye willingly yields them the
Difference Of its pleased aud wondering attention.
Any man might occasionally tire of the Duchess
of Sutberland's exclusive conversation, and find
the company even of her waiting woman a relief
Even SO the most jealous believer in theology or
PHILOSOPHY NAV now and then incline TO Mr..
Lewes and fancy for the moment that his spark
ling and lucent chatter touches the veritable soul
Of things. His Biographical History Of Philosophy
is capital analysis of the facts in the case con-
densing whole months of research into days
reading; and very much wender that no Ameri-
can publisher has yet reprinted it,
G0ethe's life, however, is written con dmOre. Ii
10 easy 70 see that Mr.. Lewes admires and
prizes in Goethe not merely the accomplished
scholar, the cultivated gentleman, and above all,
the brilliant genius who gave TO literature and
science a new expansion, but also, and still more,
the hardy moralist who is NOT afraid to make his
own pleasure, his own genius his own ambition,
the law Of his action, and persistently maintain
that faith unto death. In some respects so au-
dScous book as this has ever been published in
the EDglish language. Goethe is represented on
the one hand as systematically abjuring marriage
Tor great part OF his life out of regard for his
genius, or with view the better TO serve his ia-
cultiyating every chance iaisoH which sprang up
by the wsyside TO swamp him in the mazes of its
Temporary attraction The dainty sentimentasm
with which Mr.. Lewes psrades and expounds these
disgusting personal incidents is something to
Astonish one, and almost forces the belief that
Goethe Is looked upon in this relation as 9 repre-
sentative man, apropos of whom it were good TO
ventiiate and gently expose some new theory of
marriage. However this may be, Goethe, accord
ing to Mr.. Lewes's showing is little better than
sensualst. i do not mean that he was guilty of
any certain amount Of proAigscy. l mean that he
hsbitually and on principle made his own pleasure
the law of his action. 4 sensual man. unless be
rs also very foolish, may be very correct out
wardiy, or never come into collision with the po-
nee OF society; but within these liuts--the limits
H prudence-he acknowledges no law but his own
genius, his own pleasure, his own ambition. Now
Goethe, II strikes me, was a large specimen of
that sort Of man, and. since Mr.. Lewes forces one
TO consider the subject, il is worth while saving In
the frsnkest manner that the sort is noway ad
mirable, but on the contrary very despcable
Doubtless Goethe was an originals man OF
genlus-in the truest sense of the greatest persp.
cacity and calmness of judgment, of the most sur
Prising texiblty of faculty, and. moreover, of an
astonishing personal magnetism. All this and
much more Is true. But, beside all this. il is
olesi 'hat Goethe not only never felt any respon-
sN! save 70 himself or TO his own genius, but
also deliberately or on system discarded surb 70.
sponAbilty. When, for example a nrettv womsr
capuvued bis dscursiye fancy he simnlv ahsn-
doned himself ~ the attraction yri,hont avar
pausipg TO consider whether or how any actnalIe
existing tie of the same nature might be comnro.
missed BY the step, and above all without fvs-
suspeetiDg, apparently, that there might be a
divine sanctity In marriage which would one dav
Pneyousiy syenge this habitusi contempt of its
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