New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-06-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
preo1LECTIoNs OF A DIPLoMATIsT IN
GERMANY.

Svc mn 90 Macmillan & Co.
The louneer of Summers day will find pleas
ant recreation in dipping at random into the UMPIRE
sar,;no sLotcbes of this desutory volume. Itmakes
no severe claims the attention OF the reader "u
demands as little stretch Of the intellect ~
an afternoon conversation at fashionaple
,vaterine- Mace The author has had long career
of Diplomatic service and was prepared 10 MAXI 'o
hest use of his opportunities from bis previous hn'i
mate acquaintance with foreign society anu hte."
ture While yet young man, he became iS",iii'N
with the writings of German poets ana pniosopno''
giving vitality to ms studies by frequent NiSi.S
70 the Continent. Mr.. Wards INTRODUCTION
official life was on the return Oh Loiu Ouh-
ham from Canada toward the close oil the
wear 1s9s when he acted for about four months as
re nrivota secretary and afterward became official
sooyotarv 70 the New-Zealand Colonization Com
nanv Of which Lord Durham was Governor. In
iell he was appointed by Lord PalmerstOn to the
oaice of British Commissioner of the tolls levied py
che Crown of Hanover on ships navigating the EiDe
= service which involved residence of two or three
wears in the delightful city of Hamburg lie was
then transferred 10 Berlin as Commissioners lor
the settlement Of certain claims on france INC
King of Prussia being the arbitrator between INC
two governmental in the disputed questions OF inter
national law At the termination Of the commission
ne was offered by Lord Aberdeen the post of Consul
General in Leipsic and in 1885, took up his residence
IN that CITY where he remanedfor the long period oil
6fteen years He then became Charge dAhalres IN
Hamburg entering upon the duties fhis new position
in 1860 and In 1865 was promoted 20 the ONCE Ot MINIS
ter-Resident to the Hanse towns remaining IN tnat
most until the suppression Of the mission by the
British Government in 1870 The consequence Oh
this measure was his retirement on pension anu
returning to England he has since devoted ms leisure
hours 70 the composition of the present work. for
oirnCU No
faithful adherence to the advice given by Horace
Walnole 10 Madame du DefaDd: Write down
what Won have seen, and even If you are
not contented with il, it will be pretty
sure 10 aInuse somebody else. II any one would DO
satisfied with stating exactly what he has seen,
without preparation without ornament, without
TRYING to shine he would have more readers than
the best authors The agreeable character OF MI.
Wards sketches is almost wholly due TO bis ngid
compliance with this canon, which If more generally
observed would be benefit TO literature. A few
snecimens of his inartifcal narratives may begule
tho WEAKNESS of our readers with the thermometer
90 near the nineties.
The following picture Of Berlin society in 1914,
with King Frederic William " its central figure
presents striking contrast to the new order OF
things at the present day:
Berlin the central point Of the intelligence OF Ger
MANY was undoubtedly during the year hVed there gu
agreeable place Of residence as regarded soceIs a a
che winter season there was scarcely o Ga Gn S The
Court gave a certain number OF fetes; the frusstn
insS nrettV ubersy; and there we're some literary
circles reqlented by professors and learned men, Inc
strangers had easy access aud the heaters and concerts
fered their attractions IN the best STYLE hayhS OsS
notice Of the King. Frederic William lV ana eOud NOV
but be struck by A so3A HSSS RSS Sss S4s
yious TO Court dinner to which was ssioOa In
adycrTed 70 the commission Wnlch
Berlin and said he had very good legal ADVISERS
se 70 decide questions OF international law he asked
pe had studied law and, on my answering stFms
lively said he knew there was great dnerence
between the legal system q E9gSe h2S a q S
before the public but that he had heard that the English
Judges went much the letter OF statutes
ses thew 81 Sd y apply sPeSFns some distinguished
person in London the King SAID ne had geaI TespeS d
supposed knew Bnnsen, then his envoy in London l
theysiier Bunsen and ventured to add everybody
likes him." The King paused, but soon resumed,
Madame Bunsen is very smia6le lady, and dsressay
s equally liked in London" replied, Undoubtedly,
your Majesty" and there the conversation Which was
he King inquired Of NJ. Engehardt, the French commits
noner about Prssslan nooleeh VINO nav 1e SDa
sngehsrdt said that that nObeman mad propheseu the
Ssn ~ hG S So RSg aid he make that
prophecy before after he went out of his mind - The
kObleman in question then in madhouse. on SUD
Iequent occasions the KING spoke 70 me in English in
sften TO the theater, and how liked Berlni ON my
stating that enjoyed myself very much in his capital,
Sied e OH I am so charmed when a foreigner amuses
himself well IN Berlin" The King understood Englsh
Ioerably WELL but now and then made of an odd
oresson In Diminishing me he once said, Goodbye
by dear !" phrase which have also heard him use TO
Dthcs The King told Lord Westmoreland that he was
much pleased with Mr. MOncktOR Mines NOW Lord
HoughtOnl, who visited Berlin this Winter and made
good Of his observations Indeed, Frederic william
Nv. was always gratited by the resort OF inte i
rent foreigners TO his Court He had undoubtedly
great social talents and born in the middle ranks
81 nfe would have been deemed hrstrate taker. At
tOasts aud afer-dnner speeches he was particularly
guest at the palace OF BTh the Rhine, in August,
ls45, thus reported with applause by the German
ING English and Prussian hearts, which thirty years
ago echoed on the teds OF Waterloo nom Enghsh ana
1one brothers In arms; now 1t resounds on German
ground In the midst OF the blessings OF that peace whch
the fruit OF the great connet mat words Iic0td
Gentlemen, let drink 70 Her Majesty tue Queen &c
it's well known that the ana o. TINS
Kuests that tie Prince ConsOrt spoke OF 1t
scesSie temperament was Of course derived from bis
mother the charming Queen Louisa whose virtues and
gotten in Prussan history. The calumnies which
indstrously dused in regard to his habits OF life
did rest upon the slightest foundation The King
seldom drank anything stronger than wine and water,
and II he at times In elevated spirits IT was certainly
any OF that nature but simply from the
effect Of society and conversation upon peculiarly ex
ntable constitution.
Mr.. Wards reoollections of MendelssOhn, with
whose family he had neighborly intimacy in
Leipsic will not be without interest to the admirers
Of the illustTiOus composer.
The death Of Felix MendelssOhn, whose spirit departed
gloom over Leipsc and the whole musical world. He
daughter of a pastor and a young family For about
u he had been the director OF the celebrated Lep
high reputation they had acquired during the lapse of
century. The MendessOhns were our near neighbors,
but be struck with his brilliant talents his deep feel
ing, ana certain nobility OF character which dis