AND

Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, etc.

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ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

ON THE COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE OF THE

MR. EDITOR,

ROMANS.

gained possession of the soil, by the empty formality of touching it with their bended knee.

by several of my acquaintance to realise my
idea of revising and republishing my trans-
lation of them.-In compliance with their
wishes, I now send you a portion of it, re- Among the number of those bold and
vised and amended, so that it may, in fact, enterprising usurpers, were several, who
be considered as a new translation; the laid the foundations of the greatest mo-
former having been very hastily executed. narchies and perhaps, if the point were
If you deem this specimen worthy of ad- thoroughly investigated, it would be found
mission into the columns of your entertain that the present emperors, kings, and sove-
ing miscellany, I intend to supply the re-reign princes, are all indebted to them for
maining four chapters, revised and amended the rank which they now enjoy. As to our
in like manner.
family in particular, we do undoubtedly
stand in that predicament.

In page 535 of your 83d Number, you allude to an opinion held by many, that the colloquial language of ancient Rome was a mere vulgar idiom, and that classical Latin, as handed down to us in the works of poets and historians, was, in fact, an artificial But let me first recall to the recollection arrangement. I believe, Sir, that I have of your readers the information given in read all, or nearly all, that has been written my preceding letter, that the printed French upon that subject; but there are one or two original, now in my possession-bearing facts, not yet noticed, that seem to deserve the date of 1766, and entitled, "Entretiens insertion in the Literary Gazette. In the sur l'Art de régner, divisés en cinq Soirées"— first place, it is clear that the Roman language could not at once start into the ele-officer, who, without pronouncing it either was presented to me, in 1789, by a Prussian gance of the Augustan age: wherefore some genuine or spurious, simply informed me difference must always have existed be- that it had been secretly printed at Berlin, tween the colloquial idiom, and the written and that the government had made diligent language; this must be admitted by the ad- exertion to suppress it. vocates on both sides of the question, so that the extent of the difference becomes that it is not so strictly literal as that With respect to my translation, I own the point of debate. Now, Sir, it is diffi- anonymous one, from which the extracts cult to believe that the Roman people in speaking, could put a verb through all its But neither did I intend a literal version. were published in your Number of May 9. tenses, or perhaps a noun through all its I chose, in preference, that other more cases besides, we find many irregular free and liberal style of translation, in verbs that had not got their final polish which we aim at the sense and spirit, rather when Rome began to decline in arts and in than the exact words, of our author; and arms; and if we form any opinion respect-study to express his ideas in such phraseoing the early Latin, froin words that still appear in their original roughness, such as duntaxat, and many other adverbs, it surely appears probable that much artificial refinement must have taken place. But it has been urged, that it was impossible for two languages, if at all distinct, to be in existence at the same time amongst the same people! That difficulty, however, falls to the ground, when we read Hume's England, Robertson's America, Gillies's Greece, &c. and recollect that the writers of these, West Square, August 10. as well as many of their readers and judicious admirers, actually spoke, and do still speak, the broad Scotch Patois of our mutual Saxon ancestors.

This solves the paradox.

Yours, &c.

UNUS.

"CONFESSIONS OF FREDERIC OF PRUSSIA."

To the Editor of the Literary Gazette. SIR,

logy as we may suppose that he would him-
written in our language.
self have adopted, if he had originally

66

I now proceed to the
themselves, after having previously ob-
Confessions"
served, that I henceforward renounce that
new-coined title-and subscribed myself,

Sir,

Your humble Servant,
and constant Reader,
JOHN CAREY.

ROYAL EVENING CONVERSATIONS,

OR

LESSONS ON THE ART OF GOVERNMENT.

|

You blush?-Go!-I excuse you, this time: but never let me again see you guilty of similar puerility!-Learn, once for all, that, where a crown is the prize, we are to snatch it when we can: and the wearer is pelled to resign it. never in the wrong, except when com

the rights of sovereignty, was Tassillon, The first of our ancestors who acquired count of Hohenzollern. The thirteenth of his descendants was burgrave of Nuremdenburg; and the thirty-seventh was king berg: the twenty-fifth was elector of Branof Prussia.

sionally appeared the Achilles, the Nestor, In our family, as in others, has occagish drone, the learned lady, the stepthe Cicero, the drivelling idiot, the slugdame, and, beyond all doubt, the woman of gallantry. At length it aggrandised itself by the assertion of rights which are never acknowledged except in those fortunate princes who possess the advantage of superior might: for, in the line of sucpediency, reversion, and protection. From cession in our house, we find those of exthe time of Tassillon, to that of the Great Elector, our family did no more than barely vegetate.

There were in the Empire fifty different princes, who could in no wise be considered as our inferiors; and our house, properly speaking, was nothing more than one of the numerous stars in the great Germanic constellation. But William the Great, by his brilliant achievements, exalted us above our fellows; and at length, in the year 1701, (no very ancient transaction, you see) vanity placed the regal diadem on my Heir ap-grandfather's head. It is from that period that we are to date our real stability; since it was then that we became fully competent to cope with kings, and to treat on a footing of equality with every power upon earth.

(Attributed to Frederic III. of Prussia, as
addressed to his Nephew
parent, afterward Frederic IV.)

EVENING I.

If we sum up the virtues of our ancestors, we shall readily discover that it is not to

Origin of our Family. During the ages of disorder and confusion, the germ of a new description of Sovereignty began to develop itself amid the barbarous nations of Europe. The governors of different countries shook off A curious metaphor in the original-“ une the yoke of subjection; and, having soon branch of the great Germanic lustre," or chandebecome sufficiently powerful to intimidate lier!--I have ventured to substitute a "consteltheir masters, they obtained certain privi-lation," but leave the reader at liberty to choose between the stars and the candles,

The notice of those "Confessions" (as they have been new-named) in your Number for May 9-and my letter (in that of June 6) detective of the mistake respecting their supposed originality-have, it seems, excited some curiosity: and I have been urged | leges; or, to speak more correctly, they VOL. II.

562

their advantageous qualifications that our when equipped with a small bag to their | continually made, and by the information house owes its aggrandisement. The ma-hair, an enormous hat, yard-long ruffles,§ which it gives of the present condition jority of our princely progenitors conducted boots reaching up to their waist,§ a dimi- of our high schools. themselves unwisely: but chance and fa-nutive cane, a very short coat, and a very vorable circumstances happily concurred in long waistcoat. promoting our interests.-Let me further observe to you, that the first diadem, of which our house can boast, was placed on a head infected with superlative vanity and levity, and a body at once crook-backed, and disfigured with additional distortion.

I evidently perceive, my dear nephew, that I leave you still unsatisfied respecting our origin, Well! that same count of Hohenzollern (it is said) was a personage of high extraction; though, in fact, no man ever forced his way to fortune with more slender pretensions than he. On the whole, however, our claims to unquestionable gentility have now been long enough established: so, let us e'en keep to our present ground.

Situation of my Kingdom.

In this particular, I am not one of the most fortunate princes. To be convinced of the truth of my assertion, only cast your eye over the map; and you will at once perceive the major part of my dominions to lie so unconnected, that the different members cannot afford each other mutual aid in cases of emergency. I have no great rivers flowing through my states: there are, indeed, some which wash the boundaries of my territory, but few that intersect it.

Soil of my States.

One full third part of my dominions lies waste and uncultivated: another third is covered with forests, lakes, and morasses; and the remainder, which is in a state of cultivation, produces neither the grape, nor the olive, nor the mulberry. It is only by persevering labor and attention that fruits and culinary vegetables are raised in the country; and but few of these attain to real perfection. I have some districts, however, which produce rye and wheat that are held in tolerable estimation.

Manners of the Inhabitants.

Of these schools the most distinguished are the Gymnasia at Smyrna, at Kydonios, and in the island of Chios. In the Number for November last year (1817,) you have meritorious probably remarked an article on the preticle is M. Oikonomos, a very sent state of Smyrna. The author of this arProfessor of Philology in the Gymnasium of on the Sciences, was obliged to retire for that city. M. Koumas, who lectures there a short time, but will not delay to return very shortly. This latter is the author of the letter addressed to his Colleagues, same year. From the details which this letwhich is in the December number of the ter contains respecting the Grecks at Odessa, he further seeks to prove our rege

With respect to the married women-
they are constantly pregnant or nursing:
they possess great sweetness of character,
are of a domestic disposition, and not de-
ficient in conjugal fidelity. As to the un-
married females, they are allowed to enjoy |
all the benefit of the fashionable doctrines:
and so far am I from being displeased at
the circumstance, that I have endeavoured,
"Memoirs," to palliate and excuse
in my
their frailties. It is absolutely necessary
that the poor souls should be set free from
restraint, lest they be driven to adopt mea-
sures for their own security, which would
prove prejudicial to the state. Nay, the
better to encourage them, I am ever atten-neration.
tive, in my regimental appointments, to
give a decided preference to the offspring
of their amours: and, if the father happen
to be an officer, I give the youth a pair of
colors, and, often, raise him to a higher
grade, before his turn.

(Evening II. in our next.)

Perhaps you may remember what I have said in my Proligomena to Plutarch's Lives (vol. 5th,) respecting the funds which the inhabitants of the Island of Chios had set public library. They have now at a great apart for the purchase of books, to form a expence erected a building for the reception of this library. This constitutes a re

§ "Des manchettes d'une aune, des bottes jusqu' markable and honourable epoch in the his

la ceinture."

MODERN GREEK LITERATURE.

tory of modern Greece, since it proves that the desire of knowledge is becoming a seShall I adduce another rious passion. proof of this passion? A young man, reThe following extract of a letter from commended to me by the Professor at Kythe learned Greek, Diam. Koray, in Paris, donios, has been now for a quarter of a to the editor of a German literary journal, year in Paris, whither he came for the sole purpose of learning the art of printing of contains some interesting particulars rethis appears to be a very simple and ordiinteresting to England, since so close a specting a nation which is become doubly the celebrated Firmin Didot. At first sight torate of the Ionian Islands: connexion has been formed by the Protec-nary occurrence, but there is something in

66

The progress of education and instruction among my countrymen becomes every

it which excites surprise, when we reflect that it happens at a time when we should us; that the affair originates in Kydonios, hardly expect a press to be required among day more and more remarkable, and is aca little town opposite the Island of Lesbos, apprecelerated in such a degree, that all hension of a relaxation in this respect must and which may contain from 8 to 10,000 For these last 30 inhabitants; and lastly, that the whole is be wholly dispelled. years I have unceasingly observed them, undertaken at the expense of a single inhathough indeed always with a secret uneasi-bitant of that town: ness, which was caused by the conduct of some wretched pedants, as these learned On this head, I cannot speak with any gentlemen, perceiving that they were in degree of precision; my states resembling danger of losing the reputation they had a piece of patchwork composed of various long enjoyed, united all their efforts in dissimilar shreds. The only certain infor- order, after the manner of the 13th century, mation I can give you on this point, is, to decry every kind of reform in the stuthat my subjects in general are brave and dies. But most happily for our nation, the hardy; not much addicted to epicurism, oldest, and consequently the most incorribut immoderately fond of the glass; tyrants gible of these literati, have been succeson their own estates, but slaves in my ser- sively carried off by the scithe of death. vice; insipid lovers; morose husbands; Of their few remaining scholars, some have possessing a wonderful portion of sang-been reduced to silence, without however froid, which, however, I conceive to be, at ceasing to exhibit from time to time some bottom, no other than sheer stupidity; faint signs of life; others have chanted a deeply read in the law; little given to phi- kind of Palinode, rather equivocal it is true, losophy, less to oratory, and still less to but which cannot fail to promote the good poetry; affecting great simplicity in dress, cause. and considering themselves as quite fine,

"Ny a assez de tems que nous sommes très

bons gentilshommes.”

"Rivers," in the original-by mistake, no

doubt.

Our literary journal, called The Learned Hermes (Ayios Es,) will have enabled you to judge of the progress of my nation, particularly by the notices of translations of works of every description, which are

Now I am speaking of Kydonios, I must mention another circumstance, which is an additional proof that the desire of intellectual improvement is generally spreading among us; even the fair sex have become sensible of the advantages to be derived from education. The sister of the Professor at Kydonios, a young lady of 18 years of age (her name is Erianthia) acquaints me in her last letter, that she has completed a Among your translation of Fenelon's Essay on the Education of Young Women. countrymen this would be indeed a trifle; but a real wonder. "The blind see again, and among us, and in our present situation, it is the lame walk." And as we have again the sight will become more and more acute, use of our limbs, we must hope that our and our march more independent and rapid.

Another wonder, Sir, and I conclude, not because I fear to abuse your curiosity, but because I must not over exert my

Thais led the way

strength. The Demogoronti, or superiors | mutilated, which must be attributed to the where Hephestion died. Would not such of the congregation at Chios, have lately re- bigotry of the first Mussulmen who invad- a place reward the labours of an intellisolved in a meeting, at which the Bishop ed Persia; those of the newly discovered gent people more than Pompeii or Herpresided, that in future no person shall figures are quite perfect, which shews that culaneum? To our minds it would furenter into the clerical profession, unless the they must have been covered before the nish as interesting grounds for research Gymnasium find him worthy. Two things Saracen invasion: the nicety of their preare to be remarked upon this important de-servation would lead one to suppose that as Persepolis itself, where cision first, that the congregation has they had been so protected for many ages felt the necessity of having an enlightened before that invasion. clergyman; and, secondly, that it is the Bishop himself, who, that this resolution may be irrevocable, gives his own consent to renounce, as we may say, his rights in favour of the Professors of the Gymnasium. This venerable prelate is a native of Chios, and the sacrifice which he makes to his country, is a proof of his sense and of his

rare virtues.

Besides the infirmities attendant on my age, I am afflicted by many sorrows, the greatest of which is that of surviving my best friends. You have probably heard of

Though interrupted in his excavations by the jealousy of the Persians, the whole of the author's proceedings in this quarter are of the deepest interest to the antiquarian. When he get into the Northern provinces, his inquiries in this way are perhaps still more curious. His observations on Hamadan confirms the opinions of D'Anville and Rennel, that this place occupies the site of the ancient Ecbatana, and that the mountain

To light him to his prey, And like another Helen fired another Troy. Of Mahomedan antiquities (says Mr. M.) Hamadan contains a great variety, consisting of sepulchral stones, towers, old mosques, old bazars, and Cufick inscripThe burial place of Avicenna is to be seen tion which are met with at every turn. here. We were overwhelmed by Arsacean and Sassanian coins, which are found in great quantities at Hamadan, as well as at a village three fursungs off; and we also got several intaglios on cornelian, and numerous Mahomedan talismans. One cylincharacters upon it, fell into our hands; and The situation of Hamadan, so much unlike several coins of the Seleucides were brought that of other Persian cities, would of itself to us, but none of them rare or of remarkbe sufficient to establish its claim to a re- ably good preservation. Upon the whole mote origin, considering the propensities we found that Hamadan presented more of the ancients to build their cities on ele-objects of research to the antiquary than any other city we had visited in Persia; and there is every probability that excavations, particularly on the site of what I suppose to be the ancient palaces of the Kings, would lead to valuable discoveries.

the death of M. Clavier; only two volumes of Alwend is the Orontes of ancient geo- drical stone with Persepolitan figures and

of his Pausanias are published. M. Courier gives us hopes that he will continue it. Paris, February 3, 1818.

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

graphy :

Morier's Second Journey through Persia, &c. vated positions. Ispahan, Shiraz, Tehe

London 1818. 4to.
(Continued.)

What we have related are by no means solitary instances of Persian policy ;the capricious barbarism of a despotic government is a ruling principle, and the only wonder is that any people can be found so besotted as to endure it. Our ensuing extracts will not only illustrate this position, but many minor fea

tures.

ran, Tabriz, Khoi, are all built upon plains;
but Hamadan occupies a great diversity of
surface, and, like Rome and Constantino-
ple, can enumerate the hills over which it is
spread.-----

Great light is thrown upon the celeIts locality agrees with that of Ecbatana, according to Polybius and Herodo-brated march of the Ten Thousand, in tus; and on a steep declivity of the other parts of Mr. Morier's tour; but as we must not dwell too long on antiquimountain of Alwend, are to be seen two tablets, each of which is divided into ties, we return at one stride to our days, three longitudinal compartments, in- when the Persians are as much astoscribed with the arrow-headed charac-nished at the sight of an Englishman's wig, as their ancestors would have been ter of Persepolis. These inscriptions are when Darius was defeated. We shall called by the Persians, Genj nameh, or select a few notices illustrative of motales of a treasure. dern manners.

But a more im

On the 7th of April, when the Embassy reached Shiraz, they were welcomed honourably, and remained there some time, during which Mr. Morier took an opportunity of revisiting Perse-portant fact, connected with this subject, polis, and other gentlemen of exploring is thus related :— different parts of the surrounding country. The most interesting portion of the ruins of Persepolis, in point of sculptured detail, is the front of the staircase which leads to the great

hall of columns. Of these Mr. M. sent

a quantity to England; but his greatest discovery seems to have been the commencement of the arrow-headed inscription, the termination of which Le Bruyn has given in his drawings; so if ever this character should be deciphered, we should have the whole of the in

scription.

Both Le Bruyn and Chardin have only given one line of figures on the left of the staircase;-Mr. M. fortunately dug out a second row highly preserved,

The details of whose faces, hair, dresses, arms, and general character, seemed but as the work of yesterday. The faces of all the figures to the right of the staircase are

Another monument of positive antiquity, we discovered casually in exploring the Northern skirts of the city. It consists of the base of a small column, of the identical order of the larger bases of the columns at Persepolis, and appears to be of the same sort of stone. This led to a discovery of some importance; for adjacent to this fragment is a large but irregular terrace or platform, evidently the work of art, and perhaps the ground plan of some great building; of the remains of which its soil this spot agrees with that which Polybius must be the repository. The situation of lib. x. 24) would assign to the Palace of the Kings of Persia, which he says was below the citadel. Now the position of the ruins of the modern castle, which is most likely the site of that of the ancient, is much more elevated than the platform, and sufficiently near for the latter to be below

the former.

This we have little doubt is the site where Alexander slew Parmenio, and

The Mehmandar at Shiraz treated the Embassy with

A concert, performed by four musicians; one of whom played on the Kamounché; a second sang, fanning his mouth with a piece

of

paper to aid the undulations of his voice; the third was a tambourine player; and the last beat two little drums placed on the ground before him.

A whimsical picture of these, the best musicians of Shiraz, is given. The author once shewed a miniature picture of his mother to an Ethiopian eunuch, who was quite incredulous of the account given him of the liberty enjoyed by European women.

After looking at it for some time, he exclaimed, "Then I suppose your father is a painter?" When I answered, No,' in great astonishment he said, "Then who could have painted this picture?"

Thus in few words giving an insight into the whole of eastern feelings upon this subject. The Persians are very super

stitious-those who had the charm call- | claimed, "O King, you have broken your preserved there†) to visit Tefflis, where ed the Dum, or breath, thought them-word, but I'll show you my submission to its entrance at one gate drove out the selves secure against the bite of snakes, the last." Upon which he stooped, picked plague, which was desolating the city, up the ring, and died. In commemoration in the shape of a cow, at the other!! and the sting of scorpions; and as some of this event, the Shatir was buried on the of them were servants attached to the and this tower, now called the Shatir's Embassy, they were always put into re- Tomb, was built over his remains. quisition to seize the snakes and scorpions found, which they did most courageously.