New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-28
ORIENTAL LITERATURE IN GERMANY.

learning from the village school to the University,
under one system, with minister of public ln-
strucon at its head has its good well as its bad
side. As all appointments to the Offices OF teach
inc are thus made in fact to depend upon the crown,
the government has tremendous power to curb
and restrain freedom of thought mold the ideas
of the people if WILL prevent the teaching OF too
liberal ideas and reward and advance its partisans,
which il can and sometimes does exert-as under
the late Plussian ministry for nstancet but 1t If
at lie came time enabled TO note the progress OF
distinguished talent, keep its eye upon any young
nan " ho bids fair to distinguish himself in any
bran ch of learning, aud mark for public trust sucn
as SIC peculiar Illness for the service OF the State
In England, when man has struggled Ill poverty
for lohg Yeas but by continued labor not loslug
heart under encouragement has at last conquered
fame then the Queens purse Is found large enough
10 lrlnt him q small pension; here, instead OF u
tension late III lite, beedy young men Oi more tnah
ordinary pIOmiee III learning or ART are almost sure
If getting some ala at the outset Of their career
floni the GOyernment-which strikes me as better
plau Ii is oiIing the wheels while y0u are passing
over the rough way instead of waiting until all OBJ
stacles ale Iast.
1t belongs to the policy of these Governments
see ouis Napoleon's anxiety TO get Agassiz-to
selfish, and certainly partly noble. 1t Is our policy
to give them perfect freedom aud let them foster
Themselves. Could our people be induced To do
for then psoyes what the people here have done Tor
them | would risk the result-havlng an unwaver-
ibg faith in feeedom OF conscience, freedom OF ths
bIess, and freedom OF discussion. But there's the
rub"
Really this is an odd introduction to 4 c0mmu-
ncation simply intended to give you few notes IN
relation TO certain works. just published, III the
press, or in preparation by leading Oriental
scholar here. lie association OF Ideas which took
ne of in that direction is with the gentleman III
question: who has been beneficiary OF system OF
aiding young talent.
" uer L. A. Behrnauer, now one OF the Officers
Of tie Imperial Library in Vienna, teacher OF the
1urkhh language in tie University, aud member
of divers Asiaiic and Oriental societies. is still
con paratiyely young (born at Bautzen, IN Sax
ony, Mach {, IcZ7). Whether from reading the
Arabian Nights or from some other cause matters
not but taste r Oriental languages and htera-
ture very early developed itself and at length be-
can,e passion. While still boy Of thlrCeeD IN
the Gymnasium, he began Hebrew. AT the Uni
yersiiy Of Leipzig, where he graduated in lo4o, he
devoted himself mainly to philOogy and especlalyto
his OTite languages under Professor Flelscher VI
enIa vas then, as now, the city to which young
German, fond OF Oriental stuGies, made hls PHI
pIinaeo-ii he had the means-as Berlin was and Is
ior divers other branches OF learning. Behrnauers
spirit was willing, but his pocket was weak. But
passing the various examinations, Tor his degree
aLd Tor other ENDS Which, Tor Germans In Ger-
man Universities are no farce, however IT may be
for foreigners with RENAL kabie success, and giving
in other respects great promise an Oriensa salist,
be was recommended by teischer and other proes-
sons us Il deserving candidate Tor ald irOm the Gov
eIIineut, and the Minister Of Public Instruction I'M
mediately granted him a small stipendian, which
enabled him TO come to Vienna anu devote himself
10 Ls 1uI ksh Arabic Persian and cognate studies.
Hammer FuIgstali-lhe distinguished Orientalist
and author Of the history u the Turkish Empire
took him ut once into favor, and through his niu-
ence the young man was soon ppointed--althoGgh
Saxon and Protestant-to the place in the Libra
~ which LIE stlL holds. This Is OF those places
OF which / have before spoken, existing IN great
numbers in Germany, to which small salary oaly
IA attached lust enough 10 enable the recipient 10
live respecIably, but which, on the other hand,
Cives hln ample time for private study and LABOR.
.JuGgiI fIOm my own observation and experience,
the ule in our country seems to be, to reduce the
number OF persons connected with large library
To the lowest possible figure, and demand OF them
oil their eLergies OF bOdy and soul IRON early
n ON to eniIg laie"--unt they become walking
bibit graphical Northumberland OF more titles
than gu Austrian Emperor, aud with as little knowl-
edge OF tie contents OF books in their heads. Prac
ticaly, the American idea Of perfect librarian
10 De, man WHO hlONe Vi every
bo,k ever printed, the number of its editions and
the Ike, With not an idea beyond. What really
valuable contribution TO science or literature,
ceIt HarTis's Treatise ON Insects can our htera-
tuie show, as the work of person in charge of
ore Of our principal libraries think of no other.
The principal OF such appointments here is differ
ent. Because s. ". Delm and Anton Schlnid
were two of the fIst authorities in Germany in
Musical History ard Literature the made
Librarian OF tie Musical department of the great
collection at Berlin, the other of that at Vienna;
and now, because young Betruauer gave such
promise as an OrienIaist, Lc Is put IN charge of
that department of the library mere, with duties
abch occupy him only three four hours daily,
aud hardly interfere with his private studies. Such
is the case too with Professor Stenzler at Bresau
ara in tact with other distinguished men in all parts
of Germany. II is this plan of making positions in
Libraries, Universities, aud Gymnasla desirable
for scbOHrsin that their duties are made exhaust
i've neither Of their time nor their intellectual ener-
ges--that has made the German scholar what he is;
which has placed him at the head OF the learning OF
the world.
In the case Of Behrnauer, no position could be
more admirably fitted for him than that winch he
fills. True. the salary does but just keep him
above want; but then his place gives him full
"veTge and scope" to all the treasures of the i'm
perial collection; il puts him in q position before
the learned world which opens all European libra
NEE 10 him. aud leaves him time and mental y!gor
enough 10 pursue his studies with all Industry aad
enthusiasm Shall we ever have greai hbraryl
And if 30, viii there be places ia /. for scholars.
or only for biblographersi