LETTERS OF JOSEPH II.

To Cardinal Herzan, Imperial Royal Minister in Rome. MONSIEUR le Cardinal,-Since I have ascended the throne, and wear the first diadem in the world, I have made philosophy the legislator of my empire.

In consequence of its logic, Austria will assume another form, the authority of the Ulemas will be restricted, and the rights of majesty will be restored to their primitive extent. It is necessary I should remove certain things out of the domain of religion which never did belong to it.

As I myself detest superstition and the Sadducean doctrines, I will free my people of them; with this view, I will dismiss the monks, I will suppress their monasteries, and will subject them to the bishops of their diocese.

In Rome they will declare this an infringement of the rights of God: I know they will cry aloud, "the greatness of Israel is fallen;" they will complain, that I take away from the people their tribunes, and that I draw a line of separation between dogma and philosophy; but they will be still more enraged when I undertake all this without the approbation of the servant of the servants of God.

To these things we owe the degradation of the human mind. A servant of the altar will never admit that the state is putting him into his proper place, when it leaves him no other occupation than the gospel, and when by laws it prevents the chil

dren of Levi from carrying on a monopoly with the human understanding.

The principles of monachism, from Pachomius up to our time, have been directly opposed to the light of reason; respect for their founders ultimately became adoration itself, so that we behold again the Israelites going up to Bethel, in order to adore golden calves.

These false conceptions of religion were transmitted to the common people; they no longer knew God, and expected every thing from their saints.

The rights of the bishops, which I will re-establish, must assist in reforming the ideas of the people; instead of the monk, I will have the priest to preach, not the romances of the canonised, but the holy gospel and morality.

I shall take care that the edifice, which I have erected for posterity, be durable. The general seminaries are nurseries for my priests; whence, on going out into the world, they will take with them a purified mind, and communicate it to the people by wise instruction.

Thus, after the lapse of centuries, we shall have Christians; thus, when I shall have executed my plan, the people of my empire will better know the duties they owe to God, to the country, and to their fellow-creatures; thus shall we yet be blessed by our posterity, for having delivered them from the overgrown power of Rome; for having brought back the priests within the limits of their duties; and for having subjected their future life to the Lord, and their present life to the country alone.

Vienna, October, 1781.

To van Swieten.

JOSEPH.

Mon Cher, I do not know how some monarchs can OCcupy their minds with such trifles, as to acquire literary accomplishments; to seek a sort of greatness in making verses, in drawing a plan for a theatre, which is to be placed beside the works of Palladio.

I conceive that kings ought not to be entirely unacquainted with the sciences; but that a monarch should pass his time in writing madrigals is, in my opinion, very unnecessary.

The Margrave of Brandenburg has become the head of a sect of kings, who occupy themselves in writing memoirs, poems, and treatises. The Empress of Russia imitated him, studied Voltaire, and wrote dramas and verses to Vanhal; then some odes to her Alcides. Stanislaus Lesczinsky wrote letters of pacification; and, lastly, the King of Sweden letters of friendship.

Their inducements for writing are as singular as their productions. The King of Prussia began his academical occupations at Rheinsberg, whither his father had exiled him, and where he could scarcely live in the style of one of my colonels. When he became king he continued his learned engagements; immediately a number of French champions assembled around him, and sung his victories in Silesia; that is to say, the conquests of a country, which was defended by two regiments of infantry, and which he overrun with forty thousand men. At a later period, his passion for making verses induced him to enter into friendship with Voltaire, which, however, was broken off, renewed, again dissolved, and afterwards continued till the death of that watch-maker of Ferney.

The Empress of Russia undertook it from pride; she wished to shine in every thing; time and circumstances, love and friendship, and perhaps a portion of vanity, did the rest.

Stanislaus was a good-natured man; he dreamed like the Abbé St. Pierre, and, if it had been possible, would, from his Luneville, have commanded peace to the whole world. His Majesty of Stockholm had other motives; Gustavus had been treated in France with distinction, and after his return wrote such tender letters to Paris and to the Court of Versailles, that they could not help paying him a compliment, by saying that he was not only a king, but also an accomplished gentle

man.

You see how I think on these matters. The illustrious Greeks and Romans are not unknown to me; I know the history of the German empire, and that of my states in particular; but my time never allowed me to make epigrams, or to write Vandevilles. I read for instruction; I travelled for the enlargement of my views; and when I patronise men of letters, I do them more service than if I were sitting down with one of them to compose unmeaning sonnets. Adieu!

Vienna, Dec. 1780.

JOSEPH.

To the Landgravine of Fürstenberg, daughter of the Count of Sternberg, in Bohemia.

Madame,-Your consort is a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and ranks among the highest, but he can no longer be governor of Bohemia.

That I had my reasons for appointing the Count of Nostitz as his successor, you may well imagine!-With me every one is in his place.

After nearly thirty years' services, it must, I conceive, be a delight to a man of so many engagements, to be allowed to

resign an office, which has proved too heavy a burden on many a shoulder, and which must be the less desirable to a man, whose fortune has placed him in a situation in which he can dispense with my services.

For the rest, consider the assurance of my friendly disposition as a proof that I am not insensible of the services which the family of Fürstenberg has rendered my house. I destine for your son a rank in the army, which I usually confer on princes of sovereign houses only. Besides, I must tell you, Madame, that, in future, things can no longer go on in Austria as formerly; that I shall suffer no Princes Etrangers at my Court, and that now many a nobleman is only lieutenant, whose ancestors were invested with the staff of field-marshal and the command of great armies.

Give your consort the assurance of my regard, and at the same time remind him, that, in future, in matters relating to the state, I expect his own immediate reports; I am not accustomed, in affairs of my empire, to correspond with-ladies. Vienna, June, 1782. JOSEPH.

To Maria Anna, Archduchess of Austria, (eldest sister of

Joseph II.)

Madame, While I travel from one extremity of my dominions to the other, to inform myself about the condition of my subjects, to hear their complaints, and to enforce the observance of the laws of my empire, you are enjoying in your retirement, that desirable lot, which was designed only for the wise.

I sigh for you from a longing desire to enjoy repose, and envy your happy destiny, while the government of more than twenty millions of souls weighs upon me as a heavy burden, which can be felt only by monarchs.

Live more contented than myself, my dearest sister; enjoy the advantages of your station, and make it your only care to increase the charms of life. I shall on every occasion, when my friendship is an assistance to you, with the greatest pleasure, renew my proofs of esteem and respect. Your Royal Highness's most obedient brother, JOSEPH.

Vienna, October 1, 1782.

To Count Kollowrat, Grand Chancellor of Bohemia, and First Chancellor of Austria.

My dear Chancellor,-The appointment to an Aulic Counsellorship may formerly have been the usual promotion of the Court-secretaries; in future, I will not have it so; we must