AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF VARNHAGEN VON ENSB.

ITARNHAGEN VON ENSE is a German author, soldier, and diplomatist, who was born at Dusseldorf in 1785, and just remembers the outbreak of the French Revolution, and the hopes it excited in the minds of men. Soon afterwards he had some of its consequences imprinted on his me- mory ; for his father was then a Liberal, and with his young son was for a time driven about from place to place in consequence of his opi- nions. In 1800, Varnhagen Von Ruse entered the medical college at Ber- lin; in less than three years he was expelled "for some trifling cause " ; and then supported himself as a tutor. The battle of Jena found him at Berlin ; and he gives a graphic picture of the bragging confidence of the Prussians before the action, and of the total want of conduct and capacity in the public authorities afterwards ; as well as of the manner in which society was left to maintain itself—for there does not seem to have been much of anarchy. He subsequently served at Aspena and Wagram as an officer in the Austrian army; and was at Paris soon alter Napoleon's marriage with Maria Louisa. On the failure of the Russian campaign and the uprising of Germany Von Ense was again in action under Tettenborn ; whom he appears to have followed from the defence of Hamburg to the first capitulation of Paris. He attended the Congress of Vienna as secretary of Prince Hardenberg, the Prussian Minister; and afterwards went as Prussian charge d'affaires to Carlsrnhe. Since 1819 he seems to have lived at Berlin, occupied in literary pursuits.

In 1843-46, Varnhagen Von Ense published his Memorabilia, in four volumes octavo, consisting of his autobiography and reminiscences. From this work Sir Alexander Duff Gordon has arranged and translated the volume before us ; selecting such passages as either for their intrinsic character or the events they commemorated were moat likely to interest the English reader. In this task he has displayed great tact and judg- ment. The matter is throughout curious and entertaining ; the transla- tion easy and spirited, retaining the German manner without any. German idioms. There are occasional skips, by the omission of incidents and matters that have no immediate English attraction ; which give a frag- mentary air to the places where they occur : we jump over something, without knowing what. A few connecting notes would obviate this.

The autobiography is not without interest ; for Von Ense is a re- markable man, who has mixed a good deal with society and authors, and who conveys shrewd and critical observations in a terse and lively style. The great value of the book, however, consists in the writer's observations upon public opinion, and his reminiscences of the events and men with which he was connected. Considered in this point of view, the volume is a valuable contribution to the history of the period; sometimes, we think, new ; always strengthening those opinions which exhibit the true causes of the success of the French Revolution and the Empire, and of Napoleon's subsequent downfall. The hopes from the outbreak in France of the professional and trading (burgher) classes of Germany, insulted if not oppressed by the governments and the aristo- cracy—the manner in which this sentiment was strengthened by the inso- lence of the French emigrants—and the gradual way in which the licence of the Republicans and the oppressions of the Imperialists substituted for this favourable feeling one of intense national hatred to the French—are continually indicated in the earlier narrative. The hollow nature of Napoleon's power—the real dissatisfaction among many of his old soldiers at his assumption of the Imperial crown and his con- nexion with the old French aristocracy and the crowned heads of Europe—the theatrical character of his so-called court, and the strong smack of the actor if not of the charlatan in himself—the unsettled uneasy state of Parisian society from the highest to the lowest, and the total want of public honour or principle which the Revolution had left behind it—are well indicated by anecdotes, description, or remark. The accounts of the national war in Germany exhibit to us a new phase of military action. The narrative of the regular campaign has little novelty beyond what arises from the German character ; but we have a scholarly and critical mind in the descriptions, as well as that of the mere military man; so that principles—the essential causes of success or failure—are suggested to the reader, if not always expressed by the writer. The sketches of the Congress of Vienna aud anecdotes of the leading men are both in- teresting and politically useful, but perhaps have not so much of novelty and raciness as the other parts. An allowance is of course to be made for the nationality of the author—we get a German view of things : but we think this obtains more in politics than in war, and it is never extreme.

A full idea of the value and use of the book will only be obtained by a rather careful perusal; but a few extracts will show the sort of reading it furnishes.

FRENCH EMIGRANTS: ran OLD REGDIE.

The people of Mayence had a much stronger dislike to the emigrants than those

of Manheim, and we heard them spoken of on our way to Coblentz with perfect hatred. Hundreds of stories were told of their pride, their extravagance, their violence, and their laughable vanity. Coblentz was overrun with them; they had there established their head-quarters, and played the part of lords and masters. The Elector of Treves, who had received them into his territory, had not a word to say in the matter: his magistrates were treated with contempt by these strangers his troops supplanted; French courts of law were established, before which Germans were forcibly dragged whenever the French had any complaint to make against them. All civil order was at an end: men's homes were in- vaded; young nobles quartered themselves wherever a pretty women struck their fancy.; their gallantry took the coarsest form, and the grossest immorality pre- vailed. The inhabitants complained to the Elector; and when he expressed his inability to assist them in their necessities, they asked his permission to drive the foreigners out of their country, he begged them for God's sake to have a little patience. This was a terrible predicament for any German prince, and one not likely to make him respected by his own people. The only hope was, that war would soon break oat, whereupon their troublesome guests would be ffirced to pass the frontier. The emigrants themselves looked upon the triumphant march into France as so certain, the acquisition of power and wealth as so infallible, that they did not think of husbanding their resources: on the contrary, they threw away their money in the most reckless manner, as if they wanted to be rid of it, so as to have more room for what they were so sure to obtain. I saw gold pieces, which had been used as marks for pistol-shooting, thrown among the people to be scrambled for. A peasant girl, who was selling flowers, had gold showered into her hands because she was pretty. The most luxurious feasts took place: it was an amusement to make every one, even the school-boys, drunk, and to send them reeling to their homes. But nothing excited greater disgust than the contempt with which the emigrants treated the rye bread: they took out the crumb, and kneaded it into pellets, with which they pelted passers-by or broke windows: they hollowed out the crusts, which the young viscounts or abbes put upon their feet, and danced about in the streets amidst loud laughter until the bread was broken by the stones and lost in the mud. The manner in which they treated God's gift was the one sin which the Germans would least forgive, and upon which

they called down the vengeance of the Lord.

REPUBLICAN FEELING DI THE FRENCH ARMY.

My daily intercourse with these people French officers after the battle of Wa-

gram, where he was wounded) soon inspired them with such confidence as to mdpeethem to lay aside all restraint; and I heard with secret joy that general discontent prevailed in the army, together with a liberal tone that alarmed the Emperor. The complaint of the deterioration of the army was universal; which these men attributed entirely to that love of court display which had led Napo- leon to forget the main consideration that he was their general and emperor, and • that to recognize and reward merit was better than to dispense favours. It was asserted as beyond question that one regiment of Bonaparte's, Moreau's, or Jour- dan's Republican soldiers, was as good as three or four of the Emperor's present troops. I also heard remarkable confessions of which no mention was made in Napoleon's bulletins: here a superior force of French cuirassiers had been beaten by Blankenstein's Austrian hussars, or the infantry had not done their duty; there some particular general had committed some egregious blunder. Napoleon himself was not spared: they did not scruple to call him a rogue; but were ready nevertheless to do his bidding at a moment's notice.

NAPOLEON AND HIS COURT.

Officers in gorgeous uniforms were working their way with great difficulty amid livery servants bearing refreshments. Conversation was loud and animated; every one was trying to find their acquaintances and more room. There was no appearance of dignity or ceremony worthy of the occasion; every one looked un- comfortable and bored. The only people whose appearance did not belie their station were the members of the Austrian Embassy. Prince Schwarzenberg espe- cially had a noble appearance: his manners were easy without languor, and earnest without pomposity; his whole conduct made a striking contrast to the ridiculous activity and glib insignificance of so many others, especially of those courtiers who having followed the popular current had now been left behind in the race, which was the fate of many present. If these people, with their crosses and smart clothes, and in the circle in which their nature and education intended them to move, made so wretched a figure, what was to lie expected of them in the councils of princes, in high offices of trust in the camp? These thoughts struck me the more, because I now found the French court, which had been de- scribed as the seat of all that was dignified and imposing, to be the picture of disorder and ridicule.

At length the time approached, and every one rushed towards the doors; ushers, pages, and guards, filled the passages and the antechamber. Even here the soldiers seemed to be the only people who knew their business; and these had learnt it not from courtiers but from their corporals.

A half circle was formed in the audience chamber, and we waited till the cry of l'Empereur announced Napoleon's approach. He was dressed in a plain blue uniform, with his small cocked hat under his arm; and slowly advanced towards us from the end of the room. He had the air of one exercising a strong restraint upon himself, in order to conceal his contempt for those from whom he had some object to obtain. He wished to make a favourable impression ; but nature had denied him ease of manner, and it was scarce worth the trouble to assume it. Hence there was an incessant contest going on within him. He first addressed the Austrian Am- bassador, who was at one end of the half circle; and the conversation turned on the unfortunate ball. Napoleon intended to express sympathy, but failed in convey- ing his meaning. His manner was less friendly towards the Russian Ambas- sador, Prince Kurakin; and lower down the circle he must have heard or seen something to annoy him, for he lost his temper, and nearly annihilated the mi- nister of some second-rate power, whose name I cannot at this moment recall, by his furious manner. Those who were near enough to witness this scene after- wards asserted that no cause whatever had been given for this sudden outbreak of temper, and that Napoleon had selected this unlucky night upon whom to vent his wrath in order to keep the others in wholesome dread.

As he proceeded further down the circle, he tried to be more gentle; but his Ill- humour was constantly showing itself. He spoke in a short hasty tone; and even when he intended to be kind, he always looked as if he were angry: I scarce ever heard so rough or so unpleasant a voice as Napoleon's. His eyes were gloomily fixed upon the ground, and occasionally glanced rapidly from one person to another. When he smiled, the smile played only about the mouth and cheeks, the eyes remaining immoveably fixed. If by an effort he suc- ceeded in forcing the smile into the upper part of his face, his countenance grew

still more repulsive. There was something awful in this union of smiles and sternness. I cannot understand what those people mean who say that they found his countenance captivating from its pleasant and kindly expression. His fea- tures, undeniably classical and beautiful, were hard and fixed as marble, and in- capable of expressing confidence or any generous emotion. What he said, at least whenever I heard him, was insignificant in substance and expression, without force, wit, or clearness; sometimes it was commonplace and ridiculous.

THE CAMP PRESS: GERMAN WAR OF LIBERATION.

One great cause of annoyance to the French was a newspaper from the camp, which was first published in Liinenbarg. The eagemess which the people showed for news of what was going on made it imperative upon us to print hasty ac- counts of the chief events of the campaign, so as to satisfy their zeal and curiosity as speedily as possible. The quantity of matter which poured in on all sides soon compelled us to publish our intelligence daily: it only wanted a name to be- come a regular newspaper. The frequent mention of what was going on in our immediate neighbourhood made Marshal Davonst one of the chief objects of re- mark in the paper; which being published wherever Tettenborn's head-quarters happened to be, soon had a great circulation, and was received with the greatest favour and curiosity. Nor were satirical effusions wanting, in which the humour and wit of our camp found a vent. The French had been accustomed until now to have a monopoly of this species of warfare; and were furious to see themselves equalled, nay even surpassed. This newspaper was always published wherever we were; and at last ceased with its sixteenth number in France, where it ap- peared in French, and its last words were devoted to Marshal Davonst.

PRUSSIAN EXPLANATION OF PLUNDERING THE FRENCH.

The excesses committed by our troops, of which the French papers gave such awful descriptions and Napoleon never ceased talking, were not only extremely exaggerated, but were even inferior to those which the French soldiers allowed them- selves in thew own country. However, the impression of terror which these constant representations excited in the minds of the people gradually began to tell, and to produce those very excesses and disorders which before were mere invention. Nothing could be more imprudent than the conduct of that portion of the French people who did not take up arms against us. The doors and windows in every town or village which we entered were barricaded; the inhabitants had disap- peared, and the authorities had absconded. When after a long search the mayor happened to be discovered, he invariably said that the village contained nothing to supply the wants of the troops; that the constant plunderings to which they had beau subject had exhausted their means; time was requested in order that search might be made in the neighbouring villages whether peradventure some- thing might be discovered there. In this manner many hours elapsed, during which we got nothing but good words; and when, after waiting a long time, no provision or fodder made their appearance, the soldiers, who ran the risk of losing their hour of rest and refreshment, and naturally became impatient, searched for themselves, and found in most cases a superfluity of all they wanted. This con- duct of the authorities made our men take matters with a high hand; and in a spirit of revenge they seized upon whatever they could find in the people's kitchens and cellars, where with different treatment they would have been content with a crust of bread. If a Cossack took up a bundle of straw, there were loud screams of plunder; if he asked for a kettle for the camp, there were noisy complaints of personal violence, until at length plundering and personal violence became very general, caused entirely by such conduct. The guides were often led by the army with a rope round their necks: but this precaution, which the Moniteur described as degrading to humanity, was adopted in consequence of the guides so frequently running away, and had been taught to the Cossacks by the French in Russia.