RIESBECK’s TRAVELS THROUGH GERMANY.
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His converfation is Angularly interefting, as he is poffeffed of a fund of anecdotes ofGerman writers, which, if they were to be publifhed, would furpafs ^ery chroniclethat has hitherto been called fcandalous # . He knows all their clubs, and the fecrets oftheir private houfes.
Madam Karfchin is an amiable poetefs. Her tales breathe innocence, foft fenfibiltiy,and peace of mind. She is likewife very good company, and the more admirable forhaving made herfelf what fhe is.
You meet with many women in this place who are well acquainted with the politearts, and belles lettres. Madame Rechlan, among many others I could mention, is anexcellent German poetefs. I was in feveral focieties where all the young women tooka part in literary converfations.
There is no country in which you meet with minifters fo enlightened as you do here.All the minifters and effective counfellors are chofen men, amongft whom there is hard-ly one but would be a wonderful writer in his own line. The prefent Attorney Generalhas done more in clearing up the fubjeft of criminal legiflation, in a fhort pamphlet onthe fubjeft, than all the folios and quartos in the Beccaria tafte put together. Theminifter Hertfberg, to whom the King’s Effay on German Literature is addreffed, andwho takes the part of his countrymen with great warmth, has been diftinguilhed by thewriting of many, and the publication of ftill more excellent ftate-papers. He is anexcellent minifter, and muft be known to you by his condudt of the difpute on theBavarian inheritance, and the peace of Tefchen. The Chief Juftice Zedlitz has pub-lilhed fome very exellent remarks on education; and many of the King’s counfellorsare good writers. If, according to the old proverb, a man is known by his fervants,every one muft think highly of the King of Pruffia.
What principally diftinguilhes the literati of the northern parts of Germany , is theiracquaintance with the literature of the more cultivated European nations. I did notmeet, either here or in Saxony, with a Angle charader of eminence, who was not wellacquainted with the bell French , Englilh, and Italian writers. They are true cof-mopolites in literature, and totally void of prejudice, either in favour of the produc-tions of their own country, or againft thofe of a foreign growth. I have no wheremet with fuch univerfal and impartial knowledge of the world as there is here.This is an advantage which neither the Englilh, French, or Italians , can difpute withthem.
LETTER LIV.
OF all the amufements of this town, that which delights me mod at this feafon, isthe walk in the park on the fouth Ade of the Sprey. I have never feen a Aner publicwalk. The varied beauties of the woods, alleys, groves, and wildernels, beggar allimagination. It is above three miles round, and has water fufficient to give it morelife than there is in the walks of much larger cities. A part of it commands the Sprey.B is a pity that they have not carried it over the parade and the royal wood market asf ar as the river, from both banks of which you have very beautiful profpeds.
In this pa,rk on a Sunday you fee Berlin in all its glory. It is to the people of thisplace what the Thuilleries are to Paris , only the mixture of the company is muchmore ftriking, as you And all the populace and all the Ane world here. You ride or
* Mr. Nicolai, greatly to his honour, has declared that they never Stall.
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walk