New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-20
A NEW LIGHT ON HEINE.
URIOCS CORRESPONDENCE OF THE:
POET FROM MUNICH
CURIOUS

POET FROM MUNICH.
Paris correspondence OF The London News.
NJ WyZewa the eminent French critic. pub
fishes an extraordinary correspondence OF Helm
rich Heine written in ISIS, when the poet was
a newspaper editor at Munich. These letters,
which now appear in print for the first time.
in his dilatory negotiations with Napoleon III
never surpassed pamphleteer named Witt
Dorring, who appears to have led a wandering
life and lived by political blacknail in the little
German capitals where he pitched his tent,
rived in brunswick just feud raging
between the young reigning Duke Charles and
his former guardian George of Hanover. The
young Duke of Brunswick was left an orphan in
1910. ms rather having been killed at Quatre
Bras. lie had to submit to the guardianship of
ms EngiiSn cousin George ~. who was also
King OF Hanover. But Charles swore in his
heart To be quits with George Immediately he
This Duke OF brunswick was one OF the most
fantastic and imperious members of the Guelph
family. After a despotic reign OF two years.
his subjects rose against him and turned him
out. but in December 1927. when Witt arrived
in brunswick. Duke Charles had just begun to
reign. Almost his first ducal act was to publish
pamphlet, in which he attacked his old guard
ian and the latter's Minister. Count Munster,
father of the present German Ambassador to
Paris. Minister replied in another pamphlet.
Witt, who posed as a martyr of the Liberal
cause having done time for one OF his bro
chures, offered the young Prince write for him
a pamphlet against the Hanoverian Minister
The Duke accepted opened his archives to the
adventurer. and fortnight later the latter
brought out in Hamburg pamphlet under the
title An Endeavor to Dispel the Msunder-
Duke OF brunswick, the only Responsibility for
Which Rests on Count Won Munster
HEINE"S DEAR FRIEND WITT"
This brochure was sent by the author TO
Heinrich Hene. and the following is the extraor-
binary reply received from the poet. who
boosted that he had always been a brave and
of the German Fatherland. After thanking
Witt for his pamphlet. and assuring him that
his dear friend Witt will always have a large
place in his recollection, Heine gives him his
entire approval for his attacks on Minister. He
writes:
"A German Prince is also a son of Germany
II were in better health 1 would take up
cudgels for the Brunswicks. AS il is. l place
my paper. The Politsche Nachrichten.' at your
disposal. l wish you would send me at
abstract of your paper against Minister. that
| l may publish it. You know Lindner and
! have become editors of this paper since January
last. and it would be very pleasant indeed if the
each of us, il il were only order of knight
hood to me, and to Lindner cask of wine.
suspect he wrote that review OF your memoirs
| in Cotta's paper. which caused much
pain. but will write about you myself in The
| will not be light task. If you will only supply
me with the materials you may depend they
abstract of your attacks on Minister. send it to
my private address Will you also send
| letter to me in which you will clear me OF any
suspicion of sharing your opinion, and appeal
only TO my lihPar.la,ty 10 Pupiish Your views
or will you give me leave to write myself let
| ter OF this sort as coming from YOU? l have
asked somebody 10 give me an article in favor
of Minister. You see l am taking attitude
of apparent impartiality, but 1 will insert a
| footnote In my own way. AS soon L receive
the article in favor of Minister L will send ii to
you. but very confidentially. Your private POI
siton fills me with anxiety and pity. If the
worst comes, Munich will always offer you
shelter. Not much TO pick up. but you can live
here safely. Farewell, my dear Witt. believe me
your faithful friend IL. HEINE.''
| Wits attacks on Count Won Minister never
| appeared in THE Nachrichtcn," but month
after this almost gushing letter to Witt, Heine
writes TO Varnhagen Won Euse:
witt has come here. and God knows what
| scandal he will bring on. Personally. he pleaseS
| me, but he compromises me everywhere 10y call
ing me his friend Still am not sorry that
| owing to him the Revoutionists do not come
too near me. which is "A comfort, and the author
| tiles conclude | am not terrible after all and
that l may be squared. Witt is my FuuChe.
He cannot hurt me. and through him / can hurt
anybody, and whenever il pSaSes me. | may
add that If l had the power to do il | would
| never be quiet until had hanged him"