bias from his tenderest years. But his father considered it a duty to tolerate rather than encourage the first poetical attempts of his son. He entertained too high an idea of the art, not to watch with peculiar care, lest that which might be only a mere propensity should be mistaken for genuine talent.

Schiller and Goëthe were the favourite poets in the house of Körner's parents, and the ballads of the former were in all probability the first poetical compositions which he had an opportunity of reading.

About the middle of his seventeenth year, he quitted his father's house, and studied partly at the Cross-school at Dresden, and partly under private tutors. Among these was Dippold, afterwards the historian, who died too early for the interests of science, in the enjoyment of a professorship at Dantzic.

The art of mining happened to attract Körner's youthful attention, and in the summer of 1808 he commenced the study at Freyberg under very favourable circumstances. Werner, intendant of mines, was a friend of his father's, and treated the son with peculiar kindness. Of the other teachers, Professor Lampadius was very attentive to him. He met with a flattering reception from the most respectable families, and his habit of contracting an acquaintance with such young men as interested him, proved of advantage there: for, just at that time, there was an assemblage of highly-gifted and well-educated young chemists and mineralogists at the Mining Academy in that town.

At first Körner pursued the practical part of his profession with great ardour: he shunned no toil, and speedily familiarized himself with the peculiarities of a miner's life. This he depicts with the most glowing colours, in the poems which he composed about that period. By degrees, the pleasing ideas which he had cherished yielded to a less attractive reality; and the more powerful incentives, which the auxiliary sciences to mining, presented, seduced him from the practical part. He now occupied himself chiefly with mineralogy and chemistry, collected fossils, explored the mountainous regions in the neighbourhood, drew diagrams, and made chemical experiments: Werner and Lampadius beheld with satisfaction the progress of their pupil.

Dresden is but a short distance from Freyberg, and thus he was frequently able to share in the festivities of his family. The education of the daughter of a deceased friend, Mr. Kunze of Leipsic, had been entrusted to his father, and Körner thus obtained a second sister. His presence, of course, could not be dispensed with, on the celebration of her nuptials, which were solemnized with a Mr. Von Einsiedel of Gnandstein; and the ceremony, which took place at Leipsic, was, after the old fashion, attended with all those mirthful accompaniments which are tempered to the joyous hours of youth. The account of the poet's life from which we sketch this abridge

ment, was written by his father, who dwells with complacency on the invitation which his son received to pass some days at the Duchess of Courland's at Löbichau, near Altenburg, and on the intimacy of his own family with the aforesaid Duchess.-It is added that young Körner, as godson of her Grace, received what in German is called splendid, but what in plain English we should call useful presents, for the purpose of prosecuting his studies.

In the summer of 1809, he undertook a tour into Upper Lusatia, which, though accomplished on foot, was the means of introducing him, according to his fond father's account, to the particular notice of a great many illustrious German Counts, whose names are too little known to us to trouble our readers with repeating them. What is much more interesting in the history of the youth, he became, from this period, deeply ingrossed with strong and determinate feelings of religion. "Little," says his paternal biographer, "would any one have suspected, from his exterior appearance, that the idea of a Pocket-book for Christians should have originated with him." In Germany, we suppose, this is meant; for the Christian Lady's Pocket-book, an idea not materially different from Körner's, has long been sold, for two shillings a number, in England.

Körner's academic career at Freyberg terminated in the summer of 1810; and he was at first desirous to continue his studies at Tübingen, principally with the view of attending Kielmeyer. Some time after, however, he decided in favour of the newly established college of Berlin, which offered a combination of advantages for the furtherance of his scientific pursuits. Nor was Leipsic to be entirely neglected, as being the birth-place of his father, the residence of many of his friends and relatives, and provided with well-qualified teachers in the several branches of his studies. As the lectures at Freyberg terminated too late to allow of his attending the commencement of the summer course at Leipsic, he devoted the intermediate time to travelling.

The evening amusements at Löbichau consisted partly of extemporary essays in composition. A lady of talent, in the train of the Duchess of Courland, a physician, and an artist, were Körner's associates in furnishing the "Tea-table Contributions;" which were only intended to be circulated, in manuscript, among the members of the society. It was at this time that Körner first appeared before the world in the character of an author, by causing a collection of his poems to be printed, under the title of " Buds." He studied history and philosophy with assiduity; devoted several hours of the day to anatomy; became a member of an æsthetic society, and of the Macaria, an association instituted for the cultivation of the mind, as well as for social recreation; established a poetic club; was a welcome guest in the houses of the first people, and was, at the same time, esteemed a kind companion in the cirete

of lively youths, who were not subjected to the trammels of a citizen's life. It may be easily conceived that, in opposing those who endeavoured to curb him, he allowed of no infringement upon his honour-that his zeal, in behalf of his friends, was unbounded, and that he did not always submit to the dictation of the higher authorities of the college.

In Berlin, where he arrived about the Easter of 1811, he devoted himself to lectures on philosophy and history. His studies were, however, interrupted by a tertian ague, which attacked him in the beginning of May, and continued for several weeks, during which, a succession of relapses left him much debilitated. A journey being recommended, he passed a month at Carlsbad with his parents; after which, he was desirous to proceed to the parts about the Rhine, and to Heidelberg. But his father was hostile to the spirit which then predominated in most of the German universities, and felt anxious to guard his son from the danger of such connections. His father also expected great advantages to accrue from a residence at Vienna, on many accounts. Besides a residence in the capital, he reckoned largely upon the intimacy of the Prussian minister, and the ambassador William Von Humboldt, with whom he had been closely connected for several years. He hoped much, for his son, from the celebrated scholar Frederick Schlegel, on account of their former friendship.

With August 1811, being the time of Körner's arrival at Vienna, commenced that period of his existence which decided his future fate. Here he found himself in a new world, in the prime of youth, enjoying the happiest state of mind. Without neglecting the advantages of cultivated society, or renouncing its nobler enjoyments, as they occurred, he devoted the greater part of the day to serious studies. He now indulged his propensity for poetry; knowing that, even if he were reduced to extremities, the information he had acquired at Freyberg would assure to him an independent subsistence. The object of his father was, that he should aspire to the formation of an illustrious character; for such only did he consider qualified to exert the privileges of a poet. Körner also was aware of the necessity he was under of gaining a knowledge of history, and of learning the ancient and modern languages. The former study presented a strong collateral inducement-the amassing of materials for dramatic composition.

His first productions, "The Bride" and "The Green Domino," consisting of only one act each, and written in Alexandrines, were performed at Vienna in January 1812, with much applause. "The Watchman," a farce, succeeded. Körner now turned his attention to tragical and impassioned subjects. A tale, by Henry Von Kleist,was, with some alterations, wrought into a drama, of three acts, entitled "Toni;" and, shortly after, he composed a tragedy, in one act, called "The Expiation." He now considered himself qualified to

venture on dramatizing the story of "Zriny," the Hungarian Leonidas. "Hedwig," a very gloomy drama, and "Rosamond," a tragedy, founded on English history, followed next in order. The last of his first-rate theatrical works was "Joseph Heidrich," the plot of which was an incident of real life-the sacrifice of a brave Austrian subaltern, who devoted himself to death for his lieutenant. In the intervals between these compositions, he found leisure for the production of three comic pieces: "The Cousin from Bremen." "The Serjeant," and "The Governess;" besides two operas, "The Fisherman's Daughter, or Hate and Love," and "The Four Years' Post" (the plots of which were borrowed from some little poems); and an opera, "The Miners," which he had begun at an earlier period. One part of an opera, "The Return of Ulysses," which he had destined for Beethoven, was also finished; and the plans of other greater and lesser pieces already formed. The short space of fifteen months would have been by no means sufficient for the production of so many works, had he not become master of an easy versification, acquired by early and constant practice. The search after historical materials, and the designing of the plot, always cost him the most time. For the execution of an extensive work he required only a few weeks; utter seclusion, however, and unintermitted exertions, were indispensable. A summer retreat which he chose at Doblingen, an agreeable village near Vienna, was well suited for his pur

pose.

His productions were, in general, as favourably received as he could possibly have desired; but the public approbation was most strongly testified on the first representation of " Zriny." The poet was called for, which is, in Vienna, a very rare occurrence. The commendation also of individual critics was very encouraging to him; and especially that of Goëthe, which reached him from a remote quarter, and under whose direction, "The Bride," "The Green Domino," and "The Expiation," were got up with particular care, and very favourably received at Weimar.

Vienna fully realized all the expectations which both the father and son had formed of it, and even far exceeded them. The charms with which he was environed, and the treasures of art which this capital contained, occasioned to young Körner a diversity of enjoyment. The gay world, by which he was surrounded, and in which he soon found himself quite at home, contributed to increase his happiness. Far, however, from relaxing through indulgence, his active mind only received thereby additional incentives to exertion. He owed much, not only to his intimacy with Humboldt and Schlegel, but also to his intercourse with the literary characters who frequented the houses of the well-known and admired poetess, Caroline Pichler, and Madam Von Pereira.

But it was love that chiefly preserved him from being led astray

by the allurements of a seductive capital, at an age too when the buoyancy of youth is at its height. An amiable young woman, in a refined rank of society, attracted him by her charms, both personal and intellectual. His parents came to Vienna, and approved the object of their son's choice.

In all Germany there is but one post which, by securing to a poet independence, allows him a full field for the exercise of his talent; and this fell to the share of young Körner. His appointment of Court Dramatist at Vienna was a result of the approbation with which the public had received his dramatic productions, especially “Zriny."

Körner had, for some time, formed the resolution of becoming a soldier, to fight for the deliverance of Germany: when, therefore, the Prussian proclamation was issued, nothing could induce him to abandon his purpose. He left Vienna on the 15th of March, 1813, strongly recommended to several distinguished individuals in the Prussian army. At the time of his arrival at Breslau, Major Von Lützow was there, raising the free-corps, called after his name. At his invitation, many youths and men of cultivated minds flocked to his head-quarters, and Körner added himself to their number on the 19th of March, in the above year. A few days after his enrolment, Lützow's free corps was solemnly consecrated, in a village church, not far from Zobten. The following passage, on the subject, occurs in Körner's letters ;—

"After a hymn had been sung (a choral song which Körner had himself composed), the minister of the place, Peters by name, delivered an energetic and comprehensive discourse-no eye remained unmoistened. After this, he tendered to us the oath, that we would spare neither our blood nor possessions in fighting for the cause of humanity, of our country, and of our religion, and that we would go forward cheerfully to meet victory or death-We swore! He then sunk upon his knees, and prayed God to bestow a blessing upon his own warriors. By heaven, it was a moment in which every breast burned with the desire of a death so hallowed-every heart throbbed with the devotion of a hero. The war-oath, dictated with gravity, and repeated by all over the swords of the officers, and the hymn, "Our God is a strong hold," &c. made an end of this noble solemnity."

To such hardships as the infantry service would bring with it Körner was sufficiently inured by his mineralogical excursions, and he had also prepared himself for it by the practice of shooting. He devoted himself, with ardour, to the scrupulous performance of his duty. When it was required, he shunned no danger, nor personal sacrifice; and, in gay society, his presence always heightened the enjoyment, owing to his good-humour and social talents. In letters and poems which he wrote about this time, there occur frequent indications of a presentiment of approaching death, which, however, appeared to shed no gloom over his mind; but, with a