be regretted, that, before he drew so near the close of life, some particular inquiries had not been made on this interesting point, into the opinions which prevailed among his countrymen. Truth mixed with much error, we might naturally expect; but his testimony would have confirmed or corrected the various accounts which travellers and voyagers have taught us to believe. 66 engages much of the public attention. As the general history of his life, and the various steps by which he so rapidly advanced to popularity and honour, have been given in many of our public papers, we shall forbear to notice any of these particulars, but refer immediately to his unhappy exit, as stated in the following letter, dated Manheim, March 24th, 1819. "Our town was yesterday the theatre of a horrid scene of fanaticism. M. Augustus de Kotzebue, whose literary celebrity had even penetrated to Japan, has been assassinated in his bed-chamber. A student, or at least an individual who had inscribed himself as such, on the register of strangers at the Weinberg Inn, entered the apartment of M. de Kotzebue, attacked him relative to his opinions and conduct, and after a short delay, and proposals for a duel, which M. de Kotzebue probably refused, stabbed him four times with a poniard. M. de Kotzebue fell dead in the arms of his eldest daughter, who ran into the room on hearing the cries of her father. The assassin quietly walked out of the house, knelt down in the street, and, raising his clasped hands to heaven, exclaimed, Vivat Tuetonia! Afterwards, rising, he stabbed himself on the spot. The assistance which was administered to the assassin, leaves even to-day some signs of life; but it is not thought that he can recover. The University diploma found upon him, states his name to be Sandt; his shirt is marked S; but he had inscrib Closely connected with the belief of hereafter, in what condition of society soever it may be found, are some general ideas of a supreme Being; but on this subject, only confused and indistinct conceptions can be expected from barbarous nations. It is, however, pleasing to behold, even a few solitary, rays of light penetrating the gloom of savage darkness, although they only lead us to see God in clouds, and hear him in the wind;" and to infer from the obscurities which, in a state of nature, we every where find resting on this important reality, how much we are indebted to Revelation. In no part of the world has God left mankind destitute of proofs of his eternal power and godhead; although, from many accounts which we have read, it must be confessed that, in some instances, all genuine knowledge of his nature is nearly obliterated from the human mind. But it is only by an appeal to fact, that theory can be either confirmed or disproved; and opportunities, like those which have led us into these reflections, but seldom occur. On this account, whenever they pre-ed himself at the inn under the name sent themselves, they should be carefully embraced; and few articles would be more pleasing and instructive, if laid before the public, than the result of such communications. To the general opinions of the Indian 'tribes on these points, the English reader can hardly be considered as an entire stranger. But it will furnish instruction, even to behold individuals of the same tribe concurring in one common sentiment, or differing in opinion from each other. ASSASSINATION OF KOTZEBUE. THERE are few literary characters, who have exhibited, in modern times, a more conspicuous figure on the great theatre of Europe, than M. Augustus de Kotzebue, whose untimely fate now of Henrich. A billet was also found upon him, with another poniard, containing the following words: - 'The sentence of death of Augustus de Kotzebue, executed the 23d of March, 1819.'It is said, that this young man is a native of Wunsiedel, in Saxony." Other accounts, on the authority of private letters received in Paris, state his name to be Charles Sander, a theological student of the University of Wurtzburg, and that he arrived post the same morning at Manheim. One account asserts, that M. de Kotzebue survived half an hour. The peculiar circumstances under which this horrid deed was perpetrated, and the probable causes which led to the assassination, are thus detailed in another letter. "On the 18th of March last, the students of Erlangen assembled in a house of recreation, situated without the town, and deliberated, with closed doors, upon the fate to which they should subject M. de Kotzebue, for having attacked the licentiousness which existed in the Universities, and the novel doctrines, which, since the events of Walsburg and Gottingen, have made so much progress amongst the youth of Germany. At this secret meeting, the death of the writer, whose remarks they so much dreaded, was conspired; the students who pronounced the horrid sentence, then cast dice for one who should be charged to execute it. Chance, at first, designated five; who threw between themselves, until the lot fell upon one: it was the young Sandt, son of a judicial counsellor, born at Wundtzigel, in Saxony, on the borders of Lower Bohemia, who found himself charged with what they called, in true revolutionary style, the materiel of the crime. Sandt set off post from Erlangen on the 21st of March, and arrived at Manheim on the 23d, at seven o'clock in the morning: he took a bath, breakfasted at the table d'hote, visited the magnificent church, the castle, and the promenades. At four o'clock he called upon M. de Kotzebue, who was dressing himself to receive company. The valet-dechambre told him, that his master could not be seen. 'Inform him,' said Sandt, that a deputy from the Muses of Erlangen is come to visit him.' M. de Kotzebue begged him to wait, and gave orders to serve him with coffee, &c. and sent him a pipe, filled with Virginia tobacco. Kotzebue, when only half dressed, caused this pretended deputy of the Muses to be introduced, went to meet him at the door, received him with distinction, took from him a paper, which he presented to him, and, whilst he was perusing it, fell, pierced with a stiletto. The billet contained the following sentence:- Sentence of death pronounced on the 18th of March, by the University of Erlangen, and carried into execution on the 23d March, by the bearer.' Sandt, having seen his victim fall, went tranquilly out of the house, and scarcely was he in the street, when he stopped, and lifting up his hands to heaven, exclaimed several times,- Opus consummatum est!' and plunged the poniard twice in his own breast. There was found, upon a large blue riband, this No. 2.-VOL. 1. device, Vita et Mors.' He was taken to the civil hospital, and two centinels posted at his bed. This event, it is said, will be followed by very important consequences, and may lead to confessions of the highest interest." According to accounts received from Manheim, dated April 12th, the assassin still lives; and the professional gentlemen say, that it is even possible he may recover. The point of the poniard passed between his heart and his lungs. The family of Kotzebue still remain here. They have changed their residence. The proprietor of the apartment in which the assassination took place, might have made a fortune if he had exacted a small sum from the multitudes who came to visit it. Kotzebue received from the Russian Court, 15,000 rubles per annum. Grand Duke has dispatched a commissioner to Heidelburgh, to obtain information relative to certain facts, which may throw light on the origin of the crime committed by Sandt, or Sant. The INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE REV. SAMUEL LEE, Whose talents, industry, and attainments, have raised him to an exalted station in learned eminence. "Let high birth triumph,-what can be more great? Nothing, but merit in a low estate." Mr. Samuel Lee, now Professor Lee, is a native of the county of Salop. The village of Longnor, which is situated on the Hereford road, about eight miles from Shrewsbury, was honoured with his birth, on a day and year, which we regret we have not the means of stating with precision. In this village a charity-school had been founded, and endowed by the family of Corbett; ancestors of Archdeacon Corbett, who afterwards became Mr. Lee's patron and friend. In this school he received the first rudiments of his education, remaining in it until he was twelve years of age; but acquiring nothing more than a general knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic, and without distinguishing himself in any respect by those bright coruscations of genius, which occasionally give, in early life, such strong indications of future greatness. Nothing, indeed, appeared in this seminary, to kindle the latent spark, or to awaken the torpid energies of his soul N Punishment for negligence was the only stimulus to action; and, under this cheerless system, the height of his ambition was to avoid flagellation. one of the priests, who frequently visited the chapel while it was in building. But, unhappily, instead of finding that assistance with which he had flattered himself, he was dismissed with this unexpected repulse, "Cha Having attained the age of twelve, Mr. Lee was put an apprentice to a carpenter and joiner, through the kind-rity must begin at home." On the ness of Robert Corbett, Esq. His situation, as an apprentice, was not without its hardships; which, on many occasions, rendered his condition rather uncomfortable. But his father having died when he was young, and the support of two other children devolving on his mother, "whose hand Jaborious earn'd their daily bread," he submitted, though with some reluctance, to the destiny which he could not avert. Advancing towards maturity, Mr. Lee felt an attachment to reading, and perused with attention such books as happened to fall in his way, in the house where he lodged. In the pages of these, he occasionally found quotations from Latin authors, and felt no small degree of mortification, in not being able to understand them. This circumstance suggested to him the first idea of making an attempt to learn the Latin language. Another incident occurring nearly about this time, tended in no small degree to confirm the resolution which he had thus formed. Being employed in the building of a Roman Catholic chapel, for Sir Edward Smith, of Autonburnel, he had an opportunity of seeing many Latin books, and, not unfrequently, of hearing them read, accompanied with the painful reflection, that their treasures were concealed from him. motive which dictated this reply, to a young man struggling with all the difficulties of his situation, and attempting to emerge from the shadows of ignorance, it will be useless to spéculate. It is not improbable, that the priest imagined the axe and saw more becoming the hand of a poor mechanic, than the volumes of Livy, Virgil, or Sallust. Happily, however, for Mr. Lee, he was not to be intimidated by this cold refusal. He was mortified at the unkindness he had received, but his indignity only furnished a new stimulus to exertion; and he determined, if possible, to excel, in his knowledge of the language, the man who had dismissed him with such frigid indifference. But, unfortunately, Mr. Lee had at this time to contend with a more formidable rival. His wages amounted to no more than six shillings per week; with which sum he had to provide for his own subsistence, and to pay for his washing and lodgings. But even poverty itself was unable to extinguish the fire of genius, which the circumstances already mentioned had conspired to kindle. Small as this sum was, he contrived to reserve a pittance, to gratify his desire of learning; but in the same proportion as this literary propensity was indulged, he was compelled to suffer a partial privation of the necessaries of life. But these difficulties, though formidable in their nature, were only tempo Having fixed his resolution to at tempt the Latin language, when he had attained the age of seventeen, Mr. Lee found, on a book-stall, "Ruddi-rary in their rigour. His wages were man's Latin Grammar," which he im- soon afterwards advanced one shilling mediately purchased; and, by unre- per week; and in the ensuing year, mitting application, committed the one shilling more was added. Smal whole to memory. Not long after- as these improvements in his circumwards, he bought "Corderi⚫s' Collo-stances may seem, they enabled him quies, by Loggon." from which he to prosecute his studies with renewed derived considerable assistance; and vigour, and furnished him with the to this he soon added, " Entick's Latin means of reading the Latin Bible, FloDictionary,' Beza's Testament," and rus, some of Cicero's Orations, Cæsar's "Clarke's Exercises." But, notwith- Commentaries, Justin, Sallust, Virgil, standing the information which these the Odes of Horace, and the Epistles books afforded him, the difficulties of Ovid. To procure these works, with which he was compelled to strug- Mr. Lee had recourse to an expedient, gle, still appeared formidable. To which his pecuniary circumstances obviate some of these, he one day very naturally suggested. The books ventured to solicit information from enumerated were never in his posses 99 66 sion at one time. Having purchased one, and read it, this was sold; and, with a little addition, the sum enabled him to procure another; which, in its turn, was disposed of in a similar manner. Such was the progress of Mr. Lee's mind, and such were his acquirements during his apprenticeship. On being liberated from his indenture, he formed a determination to make himself acquainted with the Greek. He accordingly purchased a Westminster Greek Grammar; and not long afterwards a Greek Testament; which, with the assistance of Schrevelius' Lexicon, he was soon able to read. Having made this proficiency, he next procured "Huntingford's Greek Exercises," which he wrote throughout; and then, agreeably to the plan recommended in these Exercises, read Xenophon's Cyropædia, and, shortly afterwards, Plato's Dialogues. Some parts of the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, the Golden Verses of Pythagoras, with the Commentary of Hierocles, Lu-ian's Dialogues of the Dead, some of the Poet Minores, and the Antigone of Sophocles, soon followed, to mark the career of intellect, and to augment his stock of knowledge. Having surmounted these difficulties, Mr. Lee next thought he would attempt the Hebrew; and, with this design, he procured Bythner's Grammar, with his Lyra Prophetica, by the help of which, he was enabled in a short time to read the Hebrew Psalter, a copy of which he procured. Advancing in the study of this language, he next purchased Buxtorf's Grammar and Lexicon, together with a Hebrew Bible, with which he soon made himself acquainted. It was much about this time, that a kind of accident threw in his way the Targum of Onkelas, which, with the assistance of a Chaldee Grammar he already possessed in Bythner's Lyra, and Schindler's Lexicon, he was soon able to read. His next step was to undertake the Syriac, in which also bis efforts were crowned with success. By the assistance which he derived from Otho's Synopsis and Schindler's Lexicon, he was soon enabled to read some of Gattir's Testament. He next turned his attention to the Samaritan, in which he found less difficulty than in several of his former attempts. For as the Samaritan Pentateuch dif fers but little from the Hebrew, except in the variation of character, he found few obstacles to his reading it. In this, however, he was compelled to confine himself to such quotations as books supplied; as works in that language did not lie within his reach. During the whole of this astonishing career, Mr. Lee was unaided by any instructor, uncheered by any literary companion, and uninfluenced by the hope either of p:ofit or of praise. The difficulties which he had to surmount, arising from his situation in life, were more than sufficient to depress any spirit less active and energetic than his own. But in addition to these, his incessant application to study, brought on an inflammation in his eyes, with which, at times, he was severely afflicted; and this induced those with whom he was surrounded, to use every effort to dissuade him from his pursuits, and to oppose his progress with every discouragement in their power. These circumstances united, presented to his view an accumulation of opposition, the aspect of which was truly formidable. But habit, and a fixed determination to proceed, had now made study his principal solace; so that when the business of the day was finished, he renewed his application, and found it rather a source of rest from manual labour, than a mental exertion which augmented his bodily toils. And although, in his prosecution of these arduous studies, he suffered many privations; yet the solitary satisfaction which he derived from his successful efforts, imparted a recompense, which a mind actuated by similar principles alone could feel. But while Mr. Lee made these rapid advances in the acquirement of languages, he was not inattentive to the business upon which his livelihood depended. In the purchase of books, he had expended much money; but he had also procured a chest of tools, worth about £25, by the time he had attained his twenty-fifth year. Considering his trade as his only support, and receiving some intimations and promises of a favourable nature in the line of his occupation; his prospects in life, now fully engrossed his attention; and under these views he married. The changes which had thus taken place, soon induced him to think, that, how pleasing soever h acquisitions might appear, they were entirely useless in the situation that seemed to be allotted him; and under these impressions, he thought it prudent to relinquish the study of languages altogether. His books were accordingly sold, and new resolutions were formed, that coincided with his station, if they were not conformable to his inclination. But the issues of human life frequently depend upon incidents, which we can neither anticipate nor command. Mr. Lee, prior to these latter resolutions, had been sent into Worcestershire, to superintend, under his master, Mr. John Lee, the repairing of a large house, belonging to the Rev. Mr. Cookes. While in this situation, he was awakened from his dream of life, by a melancholy accident, that in one instant totally disarranged his plans, and reduced him and his wife to a state of the most severe distress. A fire broke out in the house which they had been repairing, which consumed all his tools, together with his hopes and prospects, in one devouring blaze. In consequence of this calamity, he was now cast upon the world, without a friend, without a shilling, and without even the means of subsistence. On his own account, as he had long been accustomed to misfortune, these calamities were but slightly felt; but the partner of his life, being involved in the same common affliction, her distress gave to his sufferings a degree of acuteness, which virtuous sympathy alone can comprehend. Affairs, however, had now reached an important crisis. What was lost could not be recovered; and Mr. Lee began seriously to think of adopting some new course, in which he might derive advantages from his former studies. At this time, nothing appeared so eligible to him, as that of becoming a country schoolmaster; and to qualify himself more fully for this office, he applied with assiduity to the study of " Murray's English Exercises," and to the improvement of his knowledge in the rules of arithmetic. But against this scheme there was one formidable objection. He had no money on which to begin; and knew not any friend, who, under existing circumstances, would be disposed to lend him the sum he wanted. Providentially, while he was in this state of depression, solicitude, and embarrassment, the Rev. Archdeacon Corbett, having heard of his singular attachment to study, and of his being at that time in Langnor, requested an interview; that he might learn from his own statement, the genuine particulars of a report, in which, from its singularity, he hesitated to place implicit confidence. A little conversation soon convinced him, that, on this occasion, the trumpet of fame had not sounded a delusive blast; and an inquiry into his mode of life, soon led to a development of his present calamities. Pleased with having such an opportunity of fostering genius, of relieving distress, and of rewarding application, this worthy gentleman soon adopted measures, through which Mr. Lee was appointed to the superintendence of a charity-school in Shrewsbury, and, at the same time, introtuced to the notice of Dr. Jonathan Scott, who had been Persian secretary to Mr. Hastings in India, and who is well known and highly respected as an Oriental scholar. It was with this gentleman, that Mr. Lee had, for the first time in his life, either an opportunity or the pleasure of conversing upon those arduous studies in which he had been so long engaged; but which, under all the disadvantages arising from solitude and poverty, he had prosecuted with so much success. Astonished at Mr. Lee's acquisitions, and finding him possessed of almost unexampled facilities for the acquirement of language, Dr. Scott put into his hands some books, through the assistance of which he has made himself acquainted with the Arabic, Persian, and Hindostanee languages. The loan of these books, and some instruction in pronunciation, included all that Mr. Lee required from foreign aid. His own mind furnished every other resource. And such was his progress in these hitherto untrodden paths, that, in the course of a few months, he was not only able to read and translate from any Arabic or Persian manuscipt, but to compose in these languages. To his friend and patron Dr. Scott, Mr. Lee sent Arabic and Persian translations of several Oriental apologues, taken from Dr Johnson's Rambler and also Addison's Vision of Mizra, in the Spectator. These translations, in the opinion of Dr. Scott, were wonderfully well done;" and his tes 66 |