New-York tribune., 1867-04-05
LITERARY ITEMS.


At meeting of the German Society for Science,
Literature ana Art, d. A. Fes gave some interesting
Details EOuInan literature The oldest RouInan docu
lnents he said date from the tenth century they old
chronicles preserved The libraries of the monastees
Charters granted by Wallacbian and Modavan princes
and still eXtant belong 10 the thirteenth century; ana
there are also several early collections or laws III ,He
kouman language, the Oldest Of which dates rom The
of the twelfth and the beginning Of The thirteenth
centuries beside ecclesiastical books OF the same age
In thcffteenth century however the language employed
for religious and literary purposes was the scay0nc,
and, Of opposition the Roman Catholic CHURCHILL
continued 10 he used so uut the middle Of the seven
teenth century OG<3, when George Racoczy Prince al
TTansyvana rentrOduced the Rounan INTO the htuigy.
shOry afterward u6iGl, code was PROMULGATED hy
order of Bahus the Wolf the preface of which, written
IN by Eustratius, - the oldest piece or kohH
kts PSalter in r6yc; rs language is powerful and sub
Time, while Cantnrs style in his Nodaylan choincies
Transy authors the eighteenth centiy mas re
maned without any literary Pr9dafois & ~ teo o',,I %
language owing 10 the reign OF the fnhallO VINO oIy
Jatrouzed Greek But al the beginning of THIS century
Che national feeling again roused and dseveal authors
undertook 10 resusctate their native tongue
"The third and concluding volume of Hcine's
Correspondence, says The Saturday Rccieu. Will not
add tO his reputation author man, but is in
tercstc curious study OF poet the proSaie side
f hs eharaetethe side which in his works he keeps as
Tar as poss Of sight. This consideration may help
fe soothe the victims OF the ingenuity Of Herr Campo
Wit has secured sale for collection OF letters about
kuouey matters 10y publishing them the last volume OF
Aenes works. 'Buy my business correspondence. on
put up with I'm imperfect set substantially the dilemma
be prGpounds te possJssors Of Hemcs writings and
much might said of the taste and decacy Of inds
crimnate publications Of correspondence but II mnSt III
Fairness be admitted that prescription of trivial re-
marks and private matters would be equivaen To pro
scrptOn Oi lciucS entire correspondence. The matter
~ as commonplace as te St!e N utIshl!m & We n"a' W
always Questioned the justice Of representing HCme a.
the conscious and convinced apostle OF any intellectual
eerdeucy His correspondence proves that ideas had not
the least hold upon him. Writing from France ne mas
Winch nc NV hne1i %IHs 4 odSeG e me ,t cncrccs
rtfip rsi x
trace; scarcely word even of literary criticism Every
thing relates To business affairs ana 10 the pttSnhas'S
generally very insignificant. who had in one way en-
t4rs Voitaies Spccuiations afford the nearest par
slti thai occnrs TO us hut votaire's un-
.6iCnified squabbes with contractors and imancl9N
did not interfere with far more extensive
oOrrcspoBdence relating the important questions
Shat concern humanity. Heines letters nave no ot'rm III
eerest than that attaching to ana
the lively picture they present oi inc On,lhess I.S.'C
his value ana determined 10 MAKE Ihe iho' vi H. va
ble whole Heinc appears IN THIS correspondence I"
devoid of principles on convictions OF any sort bat
quite willing oafcct them for the ske OI poSIiy' ~
EoOdnatuled aud kindly disposed till he ncicd himself
the dcum of mortified vanity as unale to arrive at
hny consistent rule Of conduct, any comprehension of
far ne could aud make the most o s talents ana
opportunities both a. regarded 1ne ana prolll rms
caIne forward as political ana social lelormsr O'htI
rind real affection for ms WIFE, mother and brothers with
general GOOD feeling 10 all men Till tbcN cross ms pain
When however this happens he loses al sccOntrol no
controversies were ever before odcvoid Of magnanimy
OF even dccency Yet lac to have rarely been the
aeceS have been actuated by envy the cause of
nVesixths literary fcuds. Being written durlng TIE
OF his life, these letters are naturally
full illusions, his bodily afflictons. We may
suspect him 0f turning these To the best literary account
a. he did everything else Yet with every such allow
snee the anguish undoubtedly intense, ana the en-
nnranee OF the patient heroic It isa puzzle % the ly
shoOgst 10 flnd such stOicSm united To such childish
britabty and irrational caprice
The same Journal says: - much less amusing CORE
Epcndence far honorable TO the parties Is that
between Goethe and Count SternbeFg. While licne
affecting deepest concern for the progress Of human
Ety. took no real interest in anything but what could be
snade auxiliary his pocket his renown, Goethe, iu
spred by pure of knowledge, worked steadily in
Fields from which could reap neither glory nor emolu
Eoent These relate almost wholly 20 geology ana
nlneraOgy and prove how ardenty. and at the same
time how patiently, Goethe explored this branch OF ms
sputarious inquiries The science OF that day Is 0i
course wholly antiQuated at present, and the Letters IN
fFoduce us brilliant discoveries. Nor do we ilhd
many memorable sayings. What Is truly remarkable u
the settled earnestness the almost religious awe, with
which Goethe approaches the study Of nature II is the
nxset spirit of hs works and shows how entirely the
bOet and the man were az Count SternDerg was
man after GOetbes heart arlstOcrat by nature
and feeling well by birth He held to nc the duty
Of the aristOcracy place themselves at the head OF AZ
movements that tended 10 promote the general good ana
sis life continuous effort TO act upon his pilucl
ples."