The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-10-03

! OF the lie. OOeJne was d man vi lhoA VI
nately ambitious diligence touching his own
cultivation, but his views terminated in self
improvement, and the fame which it could
bring. The complexion Of the outward life
was with him matter of indifference pro-
vided he had made progress as a connoiS-
seur of the arts His habits were deplora-
BILE at the time he travelled in Italy as a
Dilettante. The chasest work of the pencil
in that classic land could not show him in
the way of contrast the deformity of sin,
He lived in an open and shameless violation
of divine and human laws. As Pantheist
he took his position at the altar of nature,
but his vices hurried themselves out of the
sea of his passions like the serpents that
crushed LAGOON, the Priest of Apollo
Richter we'll remarked of Goethe, that she
was propertius when the times demanded
Pindar." He amused himself with shells
when Napoleon was riAing the diadem Of
his Prince, aud with osteology when the
( gall;. tier vas cracking MS ,eeuatrF into
deity arrive at, Weimar when Schiller and
Goethe were carping at Moses, Richter de-
nying that atonement, was taught any where
in the four gospels, Herder preaching here
sy in the surplce of Luther, Wieland wor-
shipping, he knew not what, and all profess
ing some kind of hieroglyphic creed. A
love for the beautiful is the changeless cant
of these literati. Even their wives talked
and wrote of nothing but the mystic, for
they had slowed away common sense be-
lief into clouds of Egyptian Night. But
Moses was worth legion of such mystics,
because with unrivalled authority and sub
Unity he tells us, and that in a tangible
way, who created Heaven with its orbs, and
earth with all its gear. But in this poetical
system intended to supplant the revealed
system of religion, there was not entire
agreement among its supporters. 1t did
not produce love. The quarrels of Herder
and Wieland with Schiller and Goethe were
endless. They all seemed to have died
without realizing a mediator, and they were
deists, and it. does seem singular, that they
all contriYe to die about sunset, that these
learned Persians may act out their senti-
mentality. There cannot then be the least
danger that the sensible people of Rich
mond will ever engraft German scions into
that noble stock of English literature to
which they are the rightful heirs. They will
watch their heritage $ the Hesperian gar
den was watched, and they will not fail to
improve and enlarge it by literary labor.
But this subject is too voluminous to be dis
cussed in a letter.
You may look for my speedy return to
England though my plans are not settled
for the future. You cannot live by ltera-
ture, said Lamb to Barton and to me, you
have used the same language in your warm
but stern friendship. But collateral rela-
tive of that Hampden who rerished in Chal-
grove Field, Oxfordshre, olght to command
either seat in the House of Commons or
some India appointment, and to this end,
my dear Litteton, your influence in my be-
half will not be wanting. The great ne
phew of Lord Lyttleton needs no govern
mental appointment. Without domestic in
cumbrances to you the path Of life seems
unobstructed. You can go ad Ebitum to
your Kent or Salopshire Estates. You can
retire to Hales Owen when you please and
nestle at Hagley Park, which is endeared
to you by so many pleasing associations for
it was the home Of that Christian statesman
who wrote the conversion of St. Paul, and
the history of Henry the Second, and it is
further consecrated by the Memoirs Of Shen-
stone and Thomson.
Where'er we travel our warm hearts
To dear old England must be true,
To her welOOk from deserts far
And from each foreign mguntain blue
Her may glide to lndias beach
But from its glowing, fiery plans
They turn to AlbOns emwOOd parks
And hedges green that skirt its lanes.
Adiau than ill wa clasn hand = in Enrlond