of William the Conqueror and to have borne the | Emperor of Germany, and of the second of his name of Matilda his consort. Its girth was 28 four wives, Maria Theresa of Naples. When feet, 5 inches, a foot above the surface of the ground. Cowper wrote some admirable verses on it, not known, however, till after his death.

Vienna was cannonaded by Napoleon, the palace in which Maria Louisa lodged, was by his own order exempted from the fire of his artillery. Napoleon marrying her by proxy in 1810, she repaired to Paris, and passed four years in France. Upon Napoleon's abdication in 1814, she returned to Austria with her son, and was made Duchess

of Parma and Piacenza. She declined sharing

some time at Vienna with her son the duke of Maria Louisa, after some vacillation, determined Reichstadt. Upon Napoleon's return from Elba, not to rejoin him, saying that as she had refused to partake of his adversity, she would not now participate in his prosperity. She still however retained her esteem for him. In 1816, a year after the battle of Waterloo, she went to Parma

Count Neipperg. He had lost his left eye in battle by a French lance-but when seen on the right side was very handsome. He died in 1928.

There is a story of two hunters in the Dismal Swamp, "the Great Dismal," who being overtaken by night, looked out for a lodging place. and found not far off an enormous old cypress Napoleon's fortunes at Elba, but corresponded tree, through whose top the winds of many with him while there for a time. She remained winters had whistled, but which struck by lightening had fallen, breaking a good many feet from the ground, the trunk still reposing on the stump. One of the hunters chose for his sleeping-place the top of this stump. So he gathered some boughs and pieces of bark from around and laying them across the hollow of the stump, made a bed which, although not quite as soft as a bed of roses, seemed at the least secure from the at- and took possession of her Duchy lying on the tacks of the wild beasts which infest that gloomy, south bank of the Po, containing 2,200 square unfrequented morass. The other hunter chose miles and nearly five hundred thousand inhabifor his resting-place the inclined trunk of the tants. Parma, the capital, contained a populatree. During the night the hunter who slept on tion of thirty-five or forty thousand. She was the top of the stump, being restless, perhaps obliged, however, to leave her son at Vienna. dreaming of Gorgons and chimeras dire, tossed In 1824 she married an Austrian officer, General and turned until the boughs and the bark began to give way under him, the lowest layer cracking first, then the next, and so on till at length all were broken, and at last upon another lurch She bore him three children. The eldest, a they caved in, and with them the sleeping hundaughter, married Count San Vitale, grand chamter fell down into the hollow of the stump. berlain of Parma. A son, the Count de MonteWaking he found that he had fallen into comnuovo, (the Italian for Neipperg,) was an officer pany,—and that a family of bears were in gyra- in the Austrian service in 1847, and may be so tory motion about him, astounded at his unexpected descent upon them. Under such circum-et. A second daughter died in infancy. Upon stances, and it being very dark, an introduction was out of the question, and the bears disgusted and alarmed at a disturbance so much in violation of all conventional rules, and so uncomfortable, determined to make for the open air. The hunter sympathizing in this disgust and alarm, and desire to emerge from the stump, seized hold of one of the bruins en passant who conveyed him out with telegraphic celerity, where the hunter, unwilling to impose upon the locomotive liberality of his "fat friend," let go his hold and awoke his companion, and proposed an incontinent decampment from this place of lodging and private entertainment, which proposal was voted reasonable and acted on without delay.

the French revolution in 1830, the outbreak in Italy extended to her Duchy, and she was forced to escape to Austria. But the Duchy being reduced by an Austrian army she returned. In 1834 she married Count Bombelles, an old emi

grè. At the time of the accession of Pius IX., her Duchy was again disturbed and Maria Louisa passed much of her time at Schönbrunn. Not long after she died and was succeeded by Carlo

Ludovico, duke of Lucca.

It is the prerogative of genius to stamp its interest on every thing connected with it. A worthy gentleman of my acquaintance, a native of Scotland, has in his possession some leaves of an Excise book kept by Robert Burns the poet. The first page is headed, "Excise 88th year 1794–5. Maria Louisa Leopoldina Carolina, Imperial Dumfries Collection and District. 4th Round princess, Arch-duchess of Austria, Empress of Diary including 7th December, 1794, and 17th France, and finally, by a singular anti-climax of Jany., 1795. Robert Burns." fortune Dutchess of Parma, Piacenza and Guas- The page is ruled into columns, the headings talla, was born at Schönbrunn, December 13th, being "Divisions and Officers, Dates, Places Sur1791, eldest daughter of Francis II., afterwards veyed, Miles, Com'n. Br'rs, Victuallers, Chand

When Julian, the philosophic emperor, came to the throne, it was found necessary to indoctrinate him in the rudiments of the military art, and while undergoing the process of the drill, being seriously bored, he exclaimed-" Heavens, what an employment for a philosopher!" So Burns, when weighing candles and hides and malt, had reason to exclaim-"Heavens, what an employment for a poet!" C. C.

LILIENHORN.

A DRAMATIC POEM BY J. E. LEIGH.

The reader well find in Book XII. of Lamartine's His

lers, Tanners, Spirit Dealers, Tea Dealers, To- | Hill, Jno. McCulloch, Alexr. Easton, James Grabacco Dealers, Tobacco Manufacturers, Reports." | ham and Robert Burns. The Reports are addressed "Hon'le Sirs." The first Report, dated December 7th, 1794, is as follows: "Preceding Round ended the 6th Inst. Sunday in obedience to the Collector's orders I took charge of this District and received from Mr. Findlater (indisposed) the cheque-book, &c." This report is marked "Ex'd J. M." i. e. Examined by John Mitchell. The next report regards the Dumfries Division and is in the following cabalistic terms: "In Vict'ry [Victuallery] had a preparatory remark and two charges. Two. Tobco. Manufrs at work; Stocked all the Tobco. Dealrs per weight. On examining the Books only observed in the Tobacco Book page 5th, Nov. 22d, m. 10. and 25 m. 10. Returns of Tobco. altered from 89 lbs to 41 lbs on the 26 mg. and 28 m. 10 from 138 to 90 lbs. More care promised. Opposite the notice of this delinquency is written, "Admonish. G. B. Done J. C." i. e. G. B. a superior functionary of the Excise orders the culpable Victualler to be admonished on the occasion, and J. C., the subordinate officer, says that he has admonished him. The last report on this page is :-" Had a charge and took worts off in Brewy and weighed to the Tanner 2 Backs and 3 Hides at 112 lbs." The next report is, "Surveyed as per margin In Paper, weighed of first class 5 Bundles, of second class 23 Bundles, of third class 39 Bundles-in all 1315 lbs-also exam'd remaining stock of malt, six guages; all with practical agreement. Nothing to blame in the Books." The places thus surveyed or where these last services were performed were, Park, Drumwhinnie, Kirkquinzion, Dalbeattie, Mount Pleasant, Home. On the 18th of the same month, December 1794, Burns reports-"A Guage a charge and Preparatory Remark in Brewery. Examined three stocks of Leather and weighed seven Hides, and two calves at 203 lbs. In malt four guages. Any inadvertencies in the books but trifling."

On another day the poet-exciseman "Returned and in Brewery took off second worts and had a confirming Guage of the first. Weighed a stage of candles at 240 lbs." Again he took "Two Guages in Cn. Brewery, counted large stock of depending Leather. Fourteen Guages of malt. Nothing considerable in the Books;" and "weighed 15 Backs, 13 Hides, 27 Kipps and 02 Calves at 908 lbs."

The Excise Divisions in that part of Scotland were Dumfries, Bridgeen, Annan, Woodhouse, Lochmaben, Lockerby, Sanquhar-and the Division officers, John Lewars, John McQuker, Geo. Gray. James Hosack, Leond Smith, John Crawford, Wm. Penn, Peter Warwick, Alexr.

VOL. XV-86

tory of the Girondists a very interesting account of the conspiracy against Gustavus III. King of Sweden, by many of the Swedish nobles, together with Lilienhorn, Commandant of the Guards at Stockholm, and of the assassination of the King on the night of the 16th March 1792.

CHARACTERS.

GUSTAVUS III., King of Sweden.
LILIENHORN, Commandant, &c.
COUNT DE RIBBING.
COUNT DE BRAHE.

COUNT DE STEGEBORG.
BARON D' ERENSWARD.

Conspirators

SCENE I.-Stockholm. The King's Palace.
Gustavus, Solus.

Whence come the warnings of impending ill
So strongly urged, so multiplied of late?
From watchful friendship's quick excited fears,
Or cunning foe's most subtle stratagem?

I fain would know, yet nought it doth import,
For fear of friend and scheme of foe I scorn.
And at my life then, treason aims its blow-
These warnings manifold do all declare,
But point not out the hand that's raised to strike,
Nor tell the hour appointed for the stroke.
In each man thus I must th' assassin fear,
And feel the pangs of death in ev'ry hour!
Behold the doom that is designed for me,
By thousand hands a thousand deaths to die!
Ha ha! I hold the sovereign power here
Whose chiefest form and action mercy is,
And on our royal self I do bestow
That saving grace which others oft have known,
And from this sentence will absolve ourself
And grant a pardon from this dreadful doom.
So from the pangs of death before it comes,
By virtue of this sovereign grace I'm freed.
I have met Danger often in his shape
And shivered in his hand his threat'ning lance:
He stood between the throne and my high aim,
A lion in the path in which I trod.
This full-blown crown attests my vict'ry gained.
He menaced ruin with the Russian Bear
And came to crush me with its icy arms;

But 'neath my blows the Northern monster reeled
And found its safety in my wrath appeased.
Vanquished thus in ev'ry open strife,

Lo! Danger now a masked disguise assumes
And by my fears would subjugate my soul.
That may not be-my fears are but my subjects,
Too fearful far to make essay to rule.

Enter LILIENHORN.

Gustavnus, continuing,

Ho, Lilienhorn! you come most opportunely,
This, this concerns Count Lilienhorn, not me.
A letter from the noble Bouillé, this-
That son of France who, in his heart's true faith,
Doth see his honor in his master's cause
And would from secret harm his ally guard.
He writes that proof or something like to proof
He has, that disaffection's taint hath touched
The hearts of some whose very hand I've armed
And thought to wield as if it were my own-
Bids me beware-that soldiers high in trust,
In Stockholm here, against our life conspire.
Of all my army here thou art the head

And sure must know the motives of the body.
Lilienhorn.

Ay, ay, my liege, of body, limbs and head;
But do not see the workings of this plot,
Or know the soil in which this treason roots
Whose branches spreading, bloom in foreign lands,
And only to your distant friends disclose

The peril which doth threat you here at home.
Gustavus.

This treason menaced-hast not heard before?
Lilienhorn.

Ay! no! ay, but 'twas from your highness' self.
When at the Council you declared your will
Against insurgent France to lead your strength,
To strangle faction and maintain the crown,
To crush revolt and snatch the king and queen
From the fierce people's bloody appetite,
Your Highness did with mock solemnity,
So well assumed it did impress with awe,
Propound a question piercing every heart:
With wrathful tone and bent and low'ring brow,
You asked what fate deserves the traitor Swede
Who in his heart doth plot his sovereign's death?
Responses warm, that quick arose from all

Were by your Highness met with most arch smile
That shewed you touched in sport their deep hearts'
chords.

With playful look of incredulity,

This phantom plot you then exposed to view,
Framed as you said of wishes of your foes
And dreamed-of horrors of your frighted friends,
And proved by two most truthful witnesses-
Rumor unsworn and fanciful surmise.
Gustanus.

'Tis true, most true, my faithful Lilienhorn.
I said I had braved the sword's biting edge
And could not fear the airy poniard's point.
Lilienhorn.

Then why, my Lord, give thought to thing so vain ? Gustavus.

De Bouillé's letter now from Verdun sent-
Lilienhorn.

No substance to the dagger gives, nor hand
To point its stroke-tells nor plot nor actor.
Horrors vague in unsubstantial mirage
Rise on Bouillé's view and hover o'er you,

Here all unseen by quick and straining eye.
Could treason germinate unknown by me,
Or have its growth amidst the vig'rous crop
Of virtues the most loyal and most true
That ever subject's heart did teem withal?
Gustavus.

Well let it pass-1 did but wish to know
If that which seemed but phantasy to me,
Had vital strength to mind of Lilienborn.

Lilienhorn.

Exit, Gustavus.

Most vital strength and strength most mortal too!
Life to my hopes but deathful force to you.
But yet-ah no! remorse would now be vain-
The fatal train to surcharged mine is fired-
The arrow from the slackened string is sped:
The noblest heart of all this world's the mark!
Enter a Messenger.

I am, my Lord, by Count de Ribbing sent,
In most quick haste, to bring you the advice
That at the house of Baron d'Erensward,
Certain of your friends have now assembled
Who do desire and await your presence
On matters instant and of high import.
Lilienhorn.

My friends! my friends! as tempters ever are!
Messenger.

My Lord! my Lord!

De Brahé.

I pray you, Count, distinctly to-
De Ribbing.

Last night, my Lords, from France, a courier came,
From Marquis Bouillé, with despatches charged,
Which only to the king he would commit.
Of double import I have learned they are:
That it was bruited and believed in France
A plot most subtle, deep and traitorous,
Of imminent and most fatal peril,
Against the king in Stockholm is conceived
By servants high in trust and near his throne,
With sharp expostulation urged in zeal
To ope the eye of his deep sleeping fears.
And then, as if to snatch him from his fate,
Beseeching him to speed his powers on
To rescue from the people's rough embrace
Her, his soul's homage, Gallia's periled queen.

What prudent valour thought not to withhold.
Let not the dagger now disgrace the hand
That might have flashed the sword in just defence.
De Ribbing.

Forsooth, my Lords, a most sweet homily!
Who, bere, has not accounted with his scruples
And in conscience' judgment gained a balance?
Deliberation's doubts have no place here.
My Lords and Lilienhorn, your instant voice!
Shall King Gustavus fall beneath our stroke
Aimed by the hand of Ankastroem to-night?
All the Lords except De Brahé.

The king shall fall, the nobles shall bear rule.
Lilienhorn.

No king in Stockholm, let the people rule! Memphis, Tenn., Aug., 1849.

the greatest poet of Germany who had risen from the son of a plain citizen to the dignity of a minister of state. He was quite content in his existence at Weimar. The little valleys of Thuringen, the stiff hedges of the Grand Duke's summer palace, the Belvidere, the quiet river Ilm, gentle as a rivulet, were pleasant to him. The poet who in the prime of manhood had enjoyed Italy with all the ardor of his fiery soul, now longed for nothing more than a trip from Weimar to the Bohemian springs. But perhaps he deigned to move in every-day life with so much apparent pleasure, because his nature transformed all things into poetry? And yet when I read in matured age the works of Goethe, I am far rather inclined to consider him a man of penetrating mind, than an ardent nature glorified in its own intensity. Goethe was thoroughly cold and measured. It seldom happened that he smiled,

Recollections of Weimar, the Native Place of and still more seldom were the graces of his soul

Goethe.

From the Unpublished Journal of Therese.

TRANSLATED BY MARIE.

developed in playful wit. In his immovable antique face, nothing beamed but the eye. But this was the eye of the king of spirits. It commanded, it governed, it flattered, it defied. His look was the symbolic expression of his soul—a mysterious communication. showing him an interpreter of the unknown-a revealer of the hidIn our childhood we are apt to regard great den things of nature. His deportment was digevents or persons with indifference. They ap- nified, perhaps with too much assumption and pear natural and common, and the most celebra- too little inborn nobleness. He wore a dark blue ted men seem to us but ordinary beings. Our surtout buttoned to the neck, and carried the left living near them in daily intercourse prevents, hand generally hid in his waistcoat. He walked perhaps, the effect that would be otherwise pro- slowly, bowed his head formally to those who duced. But in after life, when experience has who met him, said a few civil words and then taught us severe lessons, when we find how many passed on. My uncle thought himself obliged to blossoms we lavished for a single fruit, how many instruct his little neice by telling her of the glory vain attempts for one success, then we become of Weimar-of the literary cultivation of the more observant. Recollections long since faded place, and though doubtless at that time the butaway, revive in youthful freshness. The clouds terflies had more attraction for me than Goethe disappear, we behold the vanished stars,-those and all the poets in the world, I could not help flaming, everlasting constellations seem to be no listening, and thus became acquainted with the visions of imagination. Dust and clouds had classical Germans who have made Weimar so concealed them from our eyes, but they were celebrated. The great ones-Schiller, Wieland, never extinguished. Herder—were no more; all, except Goethe, who received in the evening, with his daughter-in-law, in the very small rooms of their plain home, a little circle of friends and admirers.

Such thoughts are sometimes awakened in me by recalling the days of childhood, when I walked in the shady avenues of the park of Weimar, merry and joyous, in ignorance of what surround- Goethe's was rather an humble dwelling for a ed me, regardless of my uncle's words when he prime minister, but the poet could here repose would draw his little prattling niece apart and more comfortably in the arms of the muses. The say, "There is Baron von Goethe." Goethe steps were narrow and led to a passage to the strolled daily in the park he had there his fa study. In this room Bettina, (Baroness von Arvorite spots, his pines, his oaks, against which nim,) the poetical child so celebrated by her work, he used to rest himself. The narrow limits of "Letters of a Child to Goethe," may have climbed a small town, the external monotony of a life often upon his lap, and caught words of endearwhich in later years was somewhat wasted in ment from his lips. We once visited this house. ceremonious forms-the title of Privy Councillor, My uncle and I were seated on chairs opposite the honor of being called "excellency"-these Goethe. When he heard that I liked mineralosatisfied in advanced age the gigantic mind of gy, he showed me his fine collection and took me