Monday.

LS
~~
~~)~
c/M-/1S
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
AND LETTERS
OF
,/
GEORGE
HENRY
PERTZ,
(Editor of the •• Monumenta Germanica"; Member of the ,Academics
of Berlilt, Paris, &oe.)
EDITED BY HIS WIFE.
MONUMENTA GERMANrAE
HISTORICA
Bibliothek
PREFACE.
THE following extracts from the Autobiography of the early portion
of the life of my husband were dictated by him to me 'in the year
1869. I have translated them from the German and added some
of his correspondence with the distinguished Statesman Baron vom
Stein, the Founder of the .. Menumenta Germanica," and other
literary and scientific men, as well as several family letters. The
Letters are also translations, except those to myself and my family,
which were written in English.
,
.
I regret that, owing to circumstances over which I had no
control, I have not been able to give more than a sketch of the
important work he accomplished during his long and active life,
but I hope that on some future day a more complete biography
may be published in Germany, where his name is better known than
in England,
In the meantime I trust that this short record will be of interest
to his children and grand-chlldren, and to those friends who still
remember him.
LEONORA
, ,
PERTZ.
CHAPTER
I.
A UTOBIOG RAPHY-I795-I820.
THE town of Hanover is situated on the River Leine, and is
surrounded by meadows and gardens, and skirted on the south
by a chain of hills, which extend to the Hartz mountains.
The end of the Lindener range of hills is close to the town
and the four towers of the churches are seen just below them.
The highest of these towers, called the Market Tower, a
monument or' the fourteenth century, is a large, square, brick
building, crowned with an octagonal spire.
In the church register of the town is recorded the birth of
George Heinrich Pertz, on the 28th of March, 1795.
I was the eldest child of Christian August Pertz and
Henrietta J ustina Deppen, to whom afterwards a second son
and a daughter were born. My father was descended from a
family originally settled in the principality of Lüneburg, who
had probably resided there for many centuries.
They
. possessed land held under the tenure of the Dukes of Bruns
wick, in whose feudal registers they are entered as early as
the year 1320. The name of Pertz is also recorded in the
feudal registers of the monastery of St. Michael in Lüneburg.
When in the year 1634 a branch of the family of BrunswickLüneburg entered into possession of the principality of
\Volfenbüttel, the Pertz's, as old retainers of the House,
appear to have followed them, since we find them employed
in the service of the Duke as bookbinders for the library at
\Volfenbüttel, a connection. which lasted until the middle of
the eighteenth century.
On the death of my grandfather, his widow removed with
her two sons to her own family, who were merchants in
2
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
Hildesheim, where she remained during the seven years' war.
She afterwards went to Hanover for the education of her
children. Her eldest son, a goldsmith, ultimately left Hanover for Russia, where he married and settled at Pleskow in
Livonia .. Her younger son, my father, was apprenticed to
his uncle, the Court bookbinder, and at the end of his term
also travelled for several years in Russia, and spent some
time in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
All trade in Russia which demanded a higher culture was
at that time in the hands of Germans. My father was placed
in very favourable circumstances, and he would probably
have taken up his abode in Russia, as so many of his countrymen did, if he had not been prevented by his attachment to
his country, to his old mother and his uncle. He always
looked back with pleasure to his residence in Russia, and delighted to relate his experiences there to his children. He
returned to Hanover about 1790, and married in 1794.
My father was distinguished by a very clear understanding,
depth of feeling, and a calm temper; my dear mother was
quick and lively, and exceedingly affectionate; they both set
us an example of true religion, of pure and strict morality and
indefatigable industry, and it was their principal object to
give their children as good an education as could be procured
in Hanover.
The first ten years of their married life passed most happily;
their circumstances were prosperous, owing to my father's
activity arid industry; but a change took place in the year
1803, on the renewal of the war between France and England,
and the unexpected inroad of the French army.
I recollect some incidents of my early childhood: of being
present at the funer~l of my uncle; and I retain' a lively.
recollection of my first Christmas tree, and the presents I
received, the houses and gardens with the small wooden
figures of men and beasts, which 'were afterwards carefully
preserved and brought out on subsequent occasions. I learnt
reading and writing from my parents, and when I was five my
G. H. PERTZ.
3
mother took me to a small school where the usual elementary
instruction was given to boys and girls. At six I was placed
in a higher school, where Latin and French were taught.
The head master, Fromm, was a candidate for theology; the
free style of his lectures on German history and geography
made a deep impression on me, far more than any I received
from my subsequent teachers.
In the meanwhile the invasion of the French had begun.
We all detested the foreign oppressors of our country, and
delighted in giving vent to our feelings, whenever our singing
master permitted it, by singing" Rule Britannia".
When in
,May, 1803, I read in the Hamburger Correspoltdmt England's
declaration of war with France, I rejoiced, not anticipating
how soon we should suffer in consequence. From that period
I took a lively interest in the political progress of the world.
The predatory invasion by the French, which Germany
passively endured, began on the day that General Mortier?
entered Hanover, by the extortion of twenty million francs
for the French Government, and one million for himself.
This was the beginning of the drainage of the country by the
French, which continued almost incessantly until the year
1813; constant demands for money being made by soldiers
quartered on the people, and for the equipment of successive
levies of troops for the French army. It is incredible what
suffering this brought on the country, as well as on each
individual family. The Hanoverian army, which was disbanded, hastened in great numbers to the asylum offered
them in England by George IlL, and under the name of the
German Legion, played an honourable part in the wars
between the English and the French in Portugal, Spain and
Sicily, and in France itself, till it was broken up in 1815. An
uncle, on my mother's side, joined the German Legion in
1805 in the capacity of surgeon, and went through all the
campaigns. The news which we received from him, at long
• On the rstb May. 1803. the French army commanded by General
Mortier crossed the frontier into Holland.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
intervals, afforded us much pleasure, and made us hope for
better days.
In the meantime we suffered under a terribly oppressive
system. The French army was scattered all over the country
and systematically drained it. The owners of houses were
forced to maintain the soldiers, and large sums were demanded
for purchasing uniforms, providing horses, and supplying the
table ,?f the officers; added to which was the bribery, from
which none of the French Generals were exempt j and when
at last one regiment was provided and equipped, it gave place
to another, likewise to be maintained at the expense of the
country. During the course of the year the garrisons were
constantly being changed, and fresh demands were therefore
always made. The greatest oppression arose from the French
Guards, on their return to France from the Prussian campaign
of 1807, who in their arrogance committed every kind of
depredation. . This was succeeded by an ingenious contrivance called the Continental System, which separated all the
coast of North Germany by a triple line of custom duties from
commerce, and connection with England, and introduced a
new method of extorting money to enrich the French commanders, tLus causing a vexatious interference with agriculture and commerce, and the purchase of provisions from
abroad. Then followed the Battle of Ulm, the retreat of the
French, the landing of the German Legion, the entrance of
the Russians under Tolstoi, the defeat at Austerlitz, the
occupation of the country by the Prussians, the defeat at
Jena, and the entrance of Prince Jerome Bonaparte into the
country. I was much impressed by a French placard which
announced that the Minister Baron von Stein was' outlawed
by Napoleon..
1 was three years in the Hofschule, from my eleventh to
my fourteenth year. Two distinguished masters exercised an
important influer ce in th~ school. Herr Mügge, from his
firm character and his admirable mathematical lessons, and
Prediger Sievers from his excellent religious instruction,
G. H. PElnt.
5
which especially conduced to accuracy of thought and fixed
attention, the power of expressing oneself clearly, a high sense
of morality, and mental activity. He retained the love of his
pupils all his life. He also gave lessons in Natural History,
and encouraged us to collect plants and butterflies, which led
to frequent walks in the neighbouring woods, beneficial both
to body and mind. Private lessons were also given in the
English language, which I joined, my father defraying the
additional" expense. I kept up my acquaintance with the
language in after years in England.· At fourteen I began' to
prepare for my confirmation along with II7 other boys and
girls. The instruction was accompanied by frequent questions,
which gave life and animation to the lesson. Among the
girls, Fräulein Hausmann, afterwards the wife of Professor
Brandis of Bann, distinguished herself. I struck up a friendship which lasted for life with Stiedenroth, who became
Professor of Philosophy successivelylin Göttingen, Berlin and
Greifswald, and with Oberdick, a theologian and naturalist,
and the greatest pomologist in Germany.
Three months previous to my confirmation I had to make
up my mind as to my future career, therefore with my father's
consent (although it involved him in considerable expense) I
decided to become a student, and entered into the Latin High
School (Hochschule) of the Hanoverian Lyceum. In consequence of the pecuniary losses sustained by my family during
the French occupation of the country, it became necessary
for me to exert myself in order to procure some of the books
I required. My teachers having advised me to give lessons
in Latin and History, I devoted part of my leisure hours to
this object i ~he produce of 266 lessons enabled me to buy my
Greek Lexicon, and no boy ever learned as eagerly as I did
from the dearly earned book.
With the Headmaster Tegetmeyer we read Cicero, Ovid
and Terence, and composed Latin and ·German essays;
Pastor Kohlrausch read Homer with us, and we studied
Modem History and Mathematics with a third master. I
AtJ'rollIÖGnAPHY
of
sat next Louis von Pape, with whom I soon formed an
intimate friendship, which continued in after life.
In my sixteenth year I was promoted to the first class,
where the Iliad and Xenophon, Cicero and Horace were read,
and at home I studied with my friend Pape, the Odyssey
and parts of Euripides and Sophocles. Together with my
other friend, Stiedenroth, we took walks on the Lindenberg
and beside the river, reading Shakespeare in Wieland's translation, arid we devoted the winter evenings to German literature, with which Stiedenroth was especially conversant.
Such studies occupied two years of my school life, and
during the last year I also taught the children of the Oberforstmeister (ranger of the forest), Malorti, which introduced me
to two most amiable aud intellectual women, the Gräfin
Platen, sister of Graf Münster, the Ambassador in London,
and her daughter, Frau von Malorti. They both took a
Jively interest in the instruction I gave in their family•
. During these years the country continued to be occupied
by the French, and there was always the possibility of being
obliged by the conscription to serve in the army, but the
French Prefect was a man who appreciated learning; he
therefore ordered a public examination of the boys, and in
place of the usual pecuniary reward to the best scholars, since
no money was forthcoming, exemption from the conscription
was announced as the prize to be obtained, and this reward
fell to me; fortunately, however, it was unnecessary, since in
that year, 1813, Germany was delivered from the French yoke.
During the summer North Germany had been kept in the
greatest suspense. As early as May, fresh Hanoverian troops
. were collected on the Eibe, and the two Counts Kilmansegge
enlisted as volunteers, and divisions from the German Legion
arrived from England.
One day two schoolfellows informed
me that they intended the following day to join these troops,
unknown to their parents and masters, upon which ~ assisted
them in their scheme, and accompanied them part of the way,
carrying back messages from them to their parents. They
7
succeeded in crossing the EIbe, and were received into the
service.
In the early days of May, I, together with a companion,
visited a friend in the neighbourhood of Hanover. One morning, while we were lying on the grass in a wood, we were
suddenly startled by a sound like distant thunder, which
continued the whole day; we heard afterwards that it was
the report of the cannons at the battle of Lützen.* In the
course of the summer the enemy approached Hanover, and
single Cossacks ventured into the neighbourhood of the town.
About the end of October, 1813, I entered the University
of Göttingen ; soon after my arrival news of the battle of
Leipsic] reached us, the army of the North approached by
Heiligenstadt, and in a fe~ days the Bülow regiment and the
Swedish troops passed by Göttingen on their road to Hanover.
My friends and I also were inspired with enthusiasm for the
war, and we determined immediately to leave our studies and
join them.
We assumed the Hanoverian cockade; __and
hastened to Hanover, but on our arrival we found things were
very different from what we anticipated. General Decken
and the Duke of Cambridge, who had been entrusted with
the arming of the people, were very dilatory in their proceedings, and it soon became evident that .the Hanoverians
would not be ready for action before peace was concluded, so
that we thought it best to return to our studies in Göttingen.
_It was customary upon entering the University of Göttingen,
for the student to decide on the subject of his studies. Most
of them chose either Theology, Law; or Medicine. A smaller
number chose Philosophy, which included Natural History,
Mathematics, Astronomy, and Philology, but which was no
preparation for any particular vocation in life. I commenced
with Theology, studied the Hebrew grammar, and attended
lectures on Church History, &c., but at the close of the year
•
Battle of Lützen, May and, 1813. .
t Battle of Leipsic, röth-rßth October, 1813.
AUToBIOGRAPHY
OF
I determined to suspend my theological studies, and devote
my time especially to History and Philology, and the following year I decided to occupy myself especially with German
History, though I continued to read Greek and Philosophy
with my friend Pape. It frequently happened that during
the first years at the University a young man would leave
one of the three principal subjects to take up one of those included under Philosophy. Thus in my second year, while on
a walking tour in the valley of the Weser, with three companions, we discovered that we had all four commenced as
students of Theology, and had all chosen different careers.
One had become a student of Philosophy, another was a
Philologist, the third a Geologist, and myself a Historian.
I became at once a member of the Philological Seminary,
where Greek and Latin treatises were written. It was under
the direction ~f Professors Mitscherlich, Wunderlich, and
Dessen, the first of whom was distinguished for his learning
and his clear and accurate interpretation of the classics. As
I thought of writing the life of Louis the Pious, I consulted
Professor Heeren* with regard to my historical studies; his
advice was: "Do not occupy yourself with modern books,
hut go to the contemporary sources of history, and a light
will dawn upon you." This was truly the best advice he
could have given me, and the correctness of his judgment
proved true to the end. His accurate knowledge, his integrityand many-sided clear political views, inspired his scholars,
and all who studied his works, both in Germany and abroad,
with the greatest confidence. I at once began to study the
contemporary authorities for German history, which subsequently became the occupation of my life.
Of the other professors at Göttingen, Blumenbach+ was the
• Arnold Hermann Heeren. b. near Bremen, 1760. Studied Theology
and Philosophy at Göttingen, and ultimately devoted himself to the study
of History, in which he became distinguished. d. 1842.
t [ohann Friedrich Blumenbach. b. at Gotha, 1752. Professor of
Medicine in the University of Göttingen, and published works on Anatomy
and Physiology. He was made physician to George Ill. 1816, and was a
member of the Academy of Science in Paris. d. 1840.
G. H. PER-Tt.
9
most distinguished.
His lectures, the result of his extensive
learning and experience, were as instructive as they were
interesting.
After my return to Hanover I became intimate
with him and his family. He had in his possession two
basaltic pillars from the Giant's Causeway, which had been
presented to him by Lord Bristol, and fifty-five years later I
saw the corresponding pair at Ickworth Park in Suffolk.*
In the summer of 1814 the Prussian Guards returned from
Paris, and as they stopped a little while in our neighbourhood,
we students determined to give Prince Blücher a welcome,
but as he was indisposed he did not alight from his carriage,
and we only saw him passing. \Ve availed ourselves of the
summer vacation to visit the Wartburg. Eisenach, Gotha, and
Weimar, hoping in the last place to have a sight of Goethe
but we were disappointed in our expectations.
To his Father.
Göttingen, April 24th, 1814.
It just occurs to me that this is the day on which my dear
mother entered the world. With a full and grateful heart
I send my best wishes, and pray for the return of this blessed
hour, in which I feel more hopeful than ever, that I may long
possess the best of mothers, and be enabled to requite, as far
as a son can, the many cares and innumerable proofs of her
tender love which I have enjoyed, and be able to secure to her
and my dearly beloved father, a peaceful and happy old age.
Thank God, who has preserved us hitherto; may He permit us
to reach our appointed end in such blessed companionship, if
in accordance with His will. May He continue to preserve
her to us, as we pray and put our trust in Him.
In the summer of 1816, while I was occupied with my
historical researches for the history of Louis the Pious and his
time, I was surprised by receiving a letter from Frau von
• The
seat of Lord Bristol.
10
AU1'OBtOGkAPHY
OF
Malorti in Hanover, the mother of my former pupils,
asking me to undertake the education of her children. I had
intended after finishing my course at the University to lecture
on History in Göttingen, which might ultimately lead to a
professorship, but in the meanwhile such a life would have
been attended with many privations, and it was generally
very long before that result could be obtained, especially at
Göttingen, where it was obligatory first to visit several
Universities;
whereas, the proposal of Frau von Malorti
would leave me leisure to continue my historical studies
while fulfilling my engagement with her. Being likewise on
terms of friendship with all the family I willingly accepted
the offer, the more so, as it was agreed that I should first
complete my three years at the University.
I continued writing my treatise on the reign of Louis the
Pious, but finding the remaining months of my stay at
Göttingen not sufficient, I obtained permission to finish it in
Hanover.
Ha ving passed my examination in Philology and History
under Heeren and Mitscherlich, I received the degree of
Doctor from the hands of the Pro-rector, on the 14th
October, 1816, which was renewed fifty years afterwards in
1866, when a fresh diploma was sent me to Berlin.
[At Michaelmas, 1816, Dr. Pertz returned to Hanover and
entered the Plat'en and Malorti family as tutor to their
children.
In 1819 he published his first book, "Die
Geschichte der Merovingischen Hausmeier" (The History of
the Maires du Palais) in consequence of which he was named
a Member of the Society for German History, at that time
founded by Baron von Stein.]
About this time I became acquainted with Graf Münster
through his connection with the Malorti family, Frau van
Malorti being his niece, and when in 1819 I had finished my
history of the 11 Merovingischen Hausmeier" and published it
c.
H. PER-Tt.
11
with Heeren's approval, I presented a copy to Graf Münster,
and at the same time consulted him with regard to a future
work in connection with Hanoverian history. The book met
with a very favourable reception, particularly owing to a
special notice of it in a Vienna paper by Baron von Horrnayr ;
when therefore my employment as tutor ceased, at the confirmation of my eldest pupil, I applied to Graf Münster for an
appointment, either in Hanover or Göttingen. He preferred
my request to the Ministers in Hanover, who found it difficult
to accede to his demand, there being at that moment no opening, but they suggested my being placed as third Secretary in
the Library at Hanover.
Whilst these negotiations were pending, events took another
turn. The Minister, Baron von Stein, who spent the autumn
and winter months at Frankfort on-the-Maine, had, since hi~
retirement from public life, conceived the idea of forming a
collection of the German historians of the Middle Ages, and
with this object had brought together those men who
were best acquainted with German history. Upon the foundation of this society in 1819, called" Ein Verein von Freunden und Kennern der Deutschen Geschichte",~' he named me
a member, inviting me to assist in the work.
I had been introduced by my friend, Louis von Pape, to
Geheimer Cabinetsrath Rehberg and his family, resident in
Hanover, who received me with the greatest kindness; and
since Rehberg had been formerly on intimate terms with
Stein, I shewed him the letter I had received from the Minister,
and asked him to give me his opinion, though I had already
made up my own mind. He read the letter, congratulated
me, and added, "I shall probably never see you again; he
whom the Minister van Stein values he retains." My friends
the Malorties also rejoiced in my unexpected good fortune. I
answered the Minister at once, and accepted his proposal,
and I offered to undertake the historians of the Carlovingian
• A Society of those who are interested
and learned in German History.
12
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
period, and as a commencement, I sent him a catalogue of
those manuscripts in the Royal Library of Hanover which
might be available for the purposes of the society, and set to
work to make a register of the Carlovingian historians. I was
agreeably surprised at Christmas by receiving an autograph
letter from the Minister, in which he proposed that I should
go to South Germany to examine manuscripts, especially
those in Vienna.
From
BARON
VOM STEIN.~'
December 27th, 1819-
I perceive by your essay on the French" Maires du Palais ..
that you are well versed in historical research, I am therefore
rejoiced to hear that you are willing to undertake the historians
of the Carlovingian period, and to have them published. The
manuscripts in Germany must be used for the critical examination, and a very large number are in the library of Vienna.
I therefore propose that you should decide on taking up
your abode in Vienna, in order to examine the manuscripts in
the Imperial library, and report upon them, our Society paying your expenses. By these means, you would very essentially forward your own especial work, whilst you will, at the
same time, promote our undertaking.
To
BARON
VOM STEIN.
December 27th, 1819.
Knowing the active and unremitting exertions your Excellency has made to fulfil in the most perfect manner the great
work you have undertaken, which will bring honour to you
and to the German nation, you will easily understand what
joy and gratitude I feel in the confidence you place in me.
Without a moment's hesitation, I am ready heartily to
accept a vocation, which is in every respect qualified to give
a firmer foundation and a wider circulation to my labours in
* .. Stein's
Leben," Vol. V., p. 478, 480, 497.
G. H. PERTZ.
13
German history generally, but more especially those of the
Carlovingian period. This consideration alone decides me,
and your Excellency may count on my services for every part
of the work connected with this aim.
The terms proposed were very satisfactory, and commensurate with the work. I received a hundred and twenty
ducats, and the expenses of the journey paid, with thirty
ducats for every month spent in Vienna.
When through my correspondence with Stein the necessary
arrangements for the task assigned me were completed, and I
had settled my affairs in Hanover, I set out on my journey
to Nassau,* via Göttingen, provided with letters from
the Gräfin Kielmansegge, the sister-in-law of· Stein. I
spent the evening at Göttingen with Heeren, who said
to me, "Placed as you are, all depends on your gaining
the confidence of Stein, and a short conversation is better
than long letters."
Travelling by Cassel, Giessen and Wetzlar, I reached
Limburg on the 27th of April, and in the early morning
passed through the wood of Dietz and Holtzapfel, by the
beautifully situated monastery of Arnstein and the vineyards
of the Lahn valley, to Nassau. I immediately announced
my arrival to the Minister, and he sent me word that he
would expect me at eleven, and at the same time he invited
me to dinner. I went with a beating heart, and was led
through several rooms hung with pictures to the tower.]
There sat Stein in his armchair at his writing-table, with his
high forehead, large nose, beautiful eyes, and kindness expressed in every feature. He invited me to sit down, and I
placed before him the letters I had brought with me, and
said :-" This is one of the happiest days of my life, since it
enables me personally to express the veneration I feel for
your Excellency."
He read out
• The residence of Stein.
t Stein's study at Nassau was in the tower of the Castle.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
loud the sketch he had drawn up, and then discussed the documents of the Carlovingian period. He said that all the catalogues hitherto made were worthless, and then pointed out
how, by taking each period separately, a perfect catalogue
might be obtained; and explained to me how my visit to
Vienna had a double purpose, namely, to examine the manuscripts, and to stimulate the scholars there, to unite together
and work up the period of the Swabian emperors, and
Rudolph of Hapsburg. ·At the same time he shewed me how
the work was intended to kindle a greater love for our
country, by acquaintance with its history; he talked to me
most openly about persons and things, and after he had thus
rapidly initiated me into the situation of affairs and the position I should hold, he concluded by saying :-" I have ordered
a room to be prepared for you in my house; send for your
things." •
• •
After dinner we walked in the garden and out into the
road. He expressed a desire that I should not only work a
the Carlovingian, but also at the Merovingian documents
which I promised to do, and I at once made furtber inquiritrespecting the circumstances and the persons with whom I.
was to work.
To his Parents.
Frankfort. April 29th.
DEAREST
1820.
PARENTS,
You would have heard from me before this, were I not at
. present so little master of my time. Half-an-hour ago, at
nine in the evening, I arrived in Frankfort, and I shall probably remain here several days. Yesterday morning I drove
. by Dietz, down the Lahn valley to Nassau, the hereditary
property of the family of Stein, I was most kindly received,
and was invited by the Minister to dinner and tea, and to stay
in the castle. We discussed the object of my journey for
several hours, and made greater progress than could have
IS
G. H. PERTZ.
been effected by twenty letters. Early this morning I left
cheerful Nassau, and drove by Langenschwalbach and Wiesbaden into the Taunus hills. Here I first saw the Rhine.
It flO\~edlike a silver stream between its two chains of hills;
the wooded hills rising higher and higher on each side, islands
in the river, and, surpassing everything, the fortress
of Mainz, with the Rheininsel and Kastell. The country is
studded with fruit trees, pear and apple trees in full blossom.
Monday morning, rst May.
I reached Frankfort late in the evening. Early yesterday
morning I went at once to the Legations Rath Büchler from
Baden, who is secretary of the Historical Society, and was
introduced by him to the most important of its members who
are here; the Bavarian Ambassador Freiherr von Aretin, the
Würtemberg Ambassador von \Vangenheim, the Austrian
Ambassador Freiherr von \Vessenberg, and the banker Mülhaus. They all took a great interest in our work, and gave
me the best introductions for Stuttgardt, Munich and Vienna,
Herr Büchler took me to the Casino, which is excellently
arranged, and is the best club here. Herr Mülhaus invited
me to dinner and took me in the evening to his box in the
theatre.
Heidelberg, 3rd May.
I have passed by Mainz and Kastell opposite Biberich, and
a great part of the beautiful country on both sides of the
Rhine.
The day before yesterday I returned early to Frankfort,
received my instructions, and money for the journey from
Hanover to Vienna, amounting to sixty ducats, which will be,
more than sufficient, I shall therefore send you part of it to pay
my arrears in Hanover. At five to-morrow morning I proceed
16
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
to Stuttgardt.
You will receive further accounts from Munich.
I hope in eight days to be in Vienna.
Remember me to all relations and friends.
Yours,
GEORGE.
I reached Vienna on the 19th of May, 1820, and shortly
after my arrival I paid my respects to Prince Metternich, to
whom I had a letter of introduction.
The Prince received
me graciously, inquired what I desired, respecting the use of
the Imperial libraries and archives, and furthered my views
in every way.
I at once set to work, and began by making a catalogue of
those manuscripts
in the Imperial library, which related to
the history of Germany.
I drew it up in alphabetical order,
it occupied two parts of the second volume of the Archives of
the Society for early historical documents;. a mine of unforeseen riches.
When I had finished the catalogue I selected
the most important
manuscripts,
and my account of them
filled up the succeeding volumes of the Archives.
I was in
daily intercourse
with Herr
Kopitar,
the keeper of the
manuscripts, learned in Sclavish literature, and with whom I
took my meals.
\Ve met at the hotel, the" Weissen Wolf",
where other scholars frequently joined us and where I met
the Historiographer,
Baton von Hormayr,
and the Abbe
Dobrowsky, the venerable and amiable patriarch of Sclavish .
literature, who had come to Vienna to finish together with
Kopitar his" Institutiones
Linguee Sclavicse."
Philological
discussions occupied an important part of the time we spent
together.
Both Kopitar and Dobrowsky took a lively interest
in my occupations,
and undertook to assist me in collating
some important German historians.
They were regarded by
the Sclavs, as well as by the Poles and Russians,
as their'
most learned men, and whoever visited Vienna sought them
out. Therefore -we constantly
met at our meals Greeks,
Hungarians
and Oriental
scholars.
17
G. H. PERTZ.
The result of my histori~al work was most satisfactory. I
sent a weekly report to Frankfort, and most of it was published
in the periodical Arclrives of the Society. While the Minister
von Stein was in Switzerland and Italy with his family, the
correspondence of the Society was in the hands of Büchler,
Legations-rath of the Grand Duke of Baden, who displayed
a very meritorious activity.
I had brought a letter to Graf Spiegel from his brother, the
Archbishop of Cologne, and was kindly received by him and
his family. He was of great assistance to me in my.
literary work, particularly in procuring me admission to
the Imperial State Archives.
I also met with a kind
reception from the learned Orientalist, joseph von Hammer, and I passed many agreeable hours in the house
of Herr von Collin, who was tutor under Count Dietrichstein to the Duke of Reichstadt, with whom he spent
every second day. He liked the Prince, and related how,
contrary to what was usually supposed, the Emperor and
'Empress treated their young grandson with great kindness.
When the Prince in his historical lessons came to modern
times, and was curious about the history of his father, the
tutor asked the Emperor how much they should tell him.
The Emperor replied, "the truth, and the whole truth
The
Empress loved the Prince like her own son, and was tenderly
solicitous about him.
I had several audiences with the Archduke john, who took
a great interest in History, made enquiries about myoccupation, and discussed German politics with me. He advised me
to visit his beautiful establishment, the johanneum* at Gratz,
and invited me to his estates in Upper Styria. His collections
embraced all branches of science, industrial and artistic,
besides the natural products of his favourite Styria. Baron
von Hormayr, who advised and assisted him, was, nevertheless,
at that time, although Imperial Hist?riographer, excluded from
It.
• An Institution founded by the Archduke John in I8n, containing a
museum and library, etc.
B
18
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
all political action, and also from the use of the archives, and
was on the worst understanding with .Metternich and the
Emperor.
As Stein was anxious to obtain the assistance of Austrian
scholars, to promote his object, he had especially drawn my
attention to it. Before my arrival the Archduke John and
Prince Metternich as well as Baron von Hormayr had been
named Members of our Society, and Prince Metternich had
accepted the nomination; but the other two first applied to
the Emperor for his consent, and on my arrival I heard they
had not yet obtained it. Upon my reporting this to Stein,
he asked me to try and remove these obstacles, but I
was unsuccessful in my attempt.
Graf Hardenberg, the
Hanoverian Minister at Vienna, to whom I might have
applied, had no literary tastes, and was deeply immersed
in questions of finance. He was not respected by his subordinates, who related many characteristic anecdotes about
him; for instance, when Graf Walmoden= negotiated with
him for a loan of fifteen thousand gulden, he received as payment a cart-load of English steel snuffers, which he was
obliged to sell to a Jew for ten thousand gulden; and it was
well known that when he drove to his estate at Zwettel, he
passed the toll-gate without paying. During my residence of
a year and a half in Vienna, I only saw him once, when I
delivered the letters I had brought from the Hanoverian
Ministry. His' Secretary of Legation told me he had been
only once invited to dinner, and that was when Graf Hardenberg was obliged to.,ive a dinner to his Chief, Graf Münster,
on his visit to Vienna.
To his Parents.
Vienna,May 23rd, 1820.
Hoping, dearest parents, that you have received my letter
from Frankfort and Heidelberg, I shall continue to relate the
details of my journey. The castle in Stuttgardt is exceedingly
• Field Marshal
in the
service of George Ill. in Hanover.
G. H. PERTZ.
19
splendid, the royal library is twice or three times larger than
that in Hanover, and the private library of the King is in a
truly regal saloon; the books are beautifully bound, and it
contains besides, most valuable works of art. I spent several
hours with the distinguished German sculptor Dannecker,
his works surpass all that I have ever seen. A colossal bust
of Schiller, and a statue of Christ are his best works. Unluckily the last will one day go to Russia, to be placed in the
great" Sieges Kirche" at Moscow, for the worship of all the
nations of the great empire. Both in Heidelberg and Stuttgardt, the introductions of the Legations-rath of Baden
gave me access to all the treasures that I was able to see in
so short a time.
To his Parents.
Vienna, August 5th, rßzo.
D,EAREST PARENTS,
After the long interval that has elapsed since I heard from
you, your letter was a great pleasure. You wiIllike to hear
something about my present place of abode, and I can assure
you that I am much pleased with it. Vienna is a beautiful
town, and looks particularly well, seen from the walks which
lie between it and the suburbs, the surrounding country
is rich .and populous. For several miles there are no
villages, but summer villas belonging to the Viennese, situated
amidst the most varied pleasure grounds.
The Danube,
with its numerous islands, cornfields, vineyards, hills and
valleys all close together, form a whole such as none of the
European towns, except those near the sea, can boast.· I
therefore seldom remain at home on Sundays, but make
excursions to Schonbrunn, where the Imperial family are now
staying, and the Leopoldsberg on the Danube, from which
one has a view over the greater part of Lower Austria and
Baden, which is celebrated for its baths, so much frequented
by strangers. I shall employ all September, when the library
is closed, in travelling to Gratz, and in visiting the monasteries of Styria and Austria, which are important for their
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
20
OF
libraries; and at the same time I hope to make some valuable
acquaintances, for which I shall be indebted to my present
position and my book,* and I also owe it to them that I had
the honour some weeks ago to pay my respects to his Imperial
Highness, the respected Archduke John, and in a long conversation I was fully confirmed in what I had previously
read about his great information and highly cultivated mind.
*
*
*
Though I am unable this time to congratulate my dear
father in person on his birthday, you may be assured how
heartily I do so, even at this distance, and how ardently I
hope to hear that he is happy and has quite recovered his
health.
My principal work at Vienna was in the Imperial library,
which occupied me during the summer months six hours of
the day and in winter three hours. Neither the manuscripts
nor the books were allowed to be taken out. I sat in the
public reading room beside the Custos Kopitar and surrounded by from fifty to sixty people; hut I soon accustomed
myself to work undisturbed by the noise around me, and I
have always retained this habit. The remainder of my time
was employed in the Archives and in an active correspondence.
I visited the extensive libraries of the Princes Esterhazy and
Lichtenstein, and their splendid collections of pictures, and
the picture gallery and armoury in the Belvedere; the Iatter
was under the charge of the Custos Primissen, with whom I
was acquainted. As the library was closed all September, I
determined to make use of that month to visit the principal
monasteries in Austria, to examine their libraries and
archives, and to become acquainted with the heads of these
establishments, in order to induce them to assist us in our
work.
Baron van Hormayr had taken advantage of the
position he formerly held of Imperial Historiographer, and of
• Geschichte der Merowingischen Hausmeier (Maires du Palais).
G. H. PERTZ.
21
his influence with the Archduke John, to impress upon the
spiritual heads of these monastic establishments, that with
the ideas now prevalent in the world it would be for their
interest to gain public favour by making known the learned
productions of their ecclesiastics, and for that purpose some
one should be appointed in each monastery competent to
make historical researches. His advice had been successfully
carried out, and as he was in constant communication with
these monks, he gave me letters of introduction to his friends,
stating the object of my journey.
When the time approached to depart, I found a colleague
and companion on the journey in Herr Primissen, who
selected the artistic portion of the work as the object of his
investigation.
The first monastery we reached was the
celebrated Götweih, a splendid building situated on the top
of a hill overlooking the Danube. The monks, who belong
to the Benedictine Order, are expected to supply forty
parishes with priests. The abbot received us with princely
hospitality, inviting us to dine with them. They spoke
openly and withou.t any restraint about the Roman Curia,
and shewed no signs of bigotry. The Librarian, Herr
Blumenberg, was a well-known and learned historian, and I
commenced my examination of manuscripts here.
Thence we crossed the Danube to Zwettel, a Cistercian
Monastery, situated in a wooded country; we drove through
woods of ~ild pear trees, and then proceeded south to Mölk,
which was formerly a border castle, fortified against the
Hungarians, and is built on a considerable height above the
Danube. The next monastery we came to, Seitenstätten. is
in the plain, near the lower hills. The transition from the
wild country we had passed through, into the rich cultivated
land of Upper Austria, makes a very favourable and striking
impression; the country is studded with towns and villages
and detached houses, and watered by the Traun and the
Ems and other streams which descend from the Alps, and
after collecting in lakes fall into the Danube.
22
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
The splendid palatial monasteries of St. Florian and
Kremsmünster are situated in this prosperous district; during
the French invasion they were obliged to receive within their
walls, and to maintain, eight thousand men. St. Florian is
especially famous for its patronage of learning. Here we
approached the Austrian Alps, where the chamois is hunted
within sight of the monastery. Kremsmünster, which lies
some miles further west, celebrated for its observatory, is
principally occupied with natural history and mathematics.
We were in the centre of Upper Austria, surrounded by
mountains, lakes and rivers; the inhabitants are mostly
occupied with agriculture, wood-cutting, and working the
subterranean salt works. Favoured by splendid weather, we
proceed to Gmünden in Styria, crossed the lake to Ischl and
on to Hallstadt, at the foot of the great Salzberg. where the
snowy top of the Dachstein, the highest mountain in this
. part, is first seen. We penetrated to the extreme end Of the
valley, where the waterfall of the Strub descends many hundred
feet from the rocks, and then ascended to the top of the Salzberg,
and visited the rock caverns, in which rock.salt is dissolved by
. water and led through wooden pipes several miles to Gosek,
and is there used as edible salt. Roman remains are found
on the top of this mountain, a proof that the Romans must
have had a colony here. It being Sunday, we looked down
from the heights on the people pouring out of the valleys, and
crossing the lakes in boats, on their way to church at
Hallstadt. In the sixteenth century the Reformation rapidly
spread here, and in spite of all later persecutions, it still
silently maintains its place. Here I separated from my
travelling companion, Herr Primissen, who left me to visit
the country round Salzburg; whilst I with a guide crossed
the lake and the mountain to Aussee, in the valley
of the Ems, and ascended the nearest Alp, some
thousand feet high.
The inhabitants pass half the year
up above, with their cattle, occupied with the care of
the dairy and haymaking, and communicate with each other
G. H. PERTZ.
23
from mountain to .mountain by means of their melancholy
native song, the" Jode!". Having some provisions with me, I
passed the night in a chalet; but as a high wind rose, and
penetrated into the chinks of the building, I rose early and
continued my journey through the picturesque valley of th€
Ems to Admont, which is charmingly situated at the point
where the Ems changes its eastern course and flows northwards, passing through the mountains of Styria into Lower
Austria, where it joins the Danube. Since I was there, a
splendid hall which contained the library at Admont has been
burnt down. The historian of the monastery was so active
in finding the documents relating to Austrian history, that I
was able to leave that afternoon and continue my journey
wer the mountains to the Monastery of St. Paul in Carinthea,
where the learned ecclesiastics of St. Blasius, after the
dissolution of their house, were established.
The abbot,
Berthold Rottler, assisted me in my researches. A manuscript of German laws, from the beginning of the ninth
century, commenced my edition of the" Capitularien ", which
appeared in 1835. The venerable historian, Trudport
Neugart. was still living in his seventy-ninth year. At
Michaelmas I left the monastery, paid a visit to the J ohanneum
at Gratz, and got back to Vienna on the 3rd of October,
much satisfied with the interest which had been taken in our
work, and with the opportunities which had been given me
to make use of valuable manuscripts. But the hopes we
entertained that those persons who were qualified to appreciate our labours would take an active part in them, had not
been fulfilled as much as we expected. The consent of the
Emperor was made a preliminary condition for such a
participation, and this had not yet been obtained on my
return to Vienna.
I continued my work in the library, but as during the
winter months it was only open for three hours in the day. I
again applied to Prince Metternich for admission to the,
Imperial Archives, my petition being strongly seconded by
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
Graf Spiegel.* In the beginning of January I obtained my
permit, and I was most kindly received by the head of the
Archives, Herr van Rademacher. I found a complete chronological catalogue of all the documents in the different depart.
ments of the Archives, from the end of the eighth century into
the fourteenth century, thus giving a genera! survey, and I
made an extract as a foundation on which to work.
Among the manuscripts I came upon documents from the
Venetian Republic, which explained much that had been
hitherto unknown concerning their connection with the
German Empire. While I daily made extracts from these
copious materials, I also collected the documents relating to the
German Emperors from the eighth to the thirteenth century.
In order to induce some of the Austrian literati to join our
Society, I got an introduction to Herr von Gentz, and in
several conversations I had with him, he surprised me by his
account of the state of things at that time in Austria, which
were all quite new to me. The Emperor Francis inherited
the opinions of his father Leopold, who, during his government of Tuscany, was initiated into Florentine politics. A
Macchiavellian policy prevailed in the Lothringian family,
and was strongly developed in Francis, in consequence of his
early training.
He was kept in perpetual anxiety and
suspicion by those about him, and was always imagining
clandestine enemies and conspiracies. Large sums of money
were wasted in paying spies to protect him against these
supposed enemies, and to watch his Ministers, and more
especially Prince Mettemich. and even particular agents were
employedby the Government to watch the ambassadors abroad.
Graf Appony and his counsellors in Rome were aware that they
were observed by four different spies. The suspicions of the
Emperor were especially excited at that time, in consequence
of the murder of Kotzebne+ by Sand, the Jena student. The
• Brother of the Archbishop of Cologne.
t August Friedrich Kotzebue, a dramatic writer, born at Weimar,
176I
On account of his violent anti-Liberal opinions he was assassmated in
18I9 by the student Sand, who considered him an enemy to liberty.
G. H. PERTZ.
German Universities were considered nests of conspiracies
against the lives of monarchs and their ministers j and those
statesmen who did not approve of the persecuting measures
employed against the Freethinkers were accused of so-called
Liberalism and J acobinism, Herr von Gentz told me that the
Emperor did not approve of any societies, since he believed
that such meetings were dangerous, and when I explained that
the object of our Society was to spread the knowledge of German history, he replied it was impossible to foretell to what
uses German history might be diverted. He said that it was
true Baron von Stein had no longer any political influence,
since he had stated at the last Congress, that he was tired of
politics, and had retired to his estates j but, Gentz continued,
half of the other members of the Diet are Jacobins, and he
named several whom he personally disliked.
In consequence of my prolonged residence in Vienna, the
circle of my acquaintances increased. Some younger scholars
joined me, whom, in accordance with the desire of Baron von
Stein, I trained as assistants in our work, and I also became
acquainted with scholars from North Germany who were
settled here. I met Herr von Buchholtz, who, after a long
residence in Italy, had come to Vienna. He was ~ome years
older than myself, a strict Catholic, with an appointment
under the Chancellor, Metternich. which had brought him into
connection with Frankfort, where he had made the acquaintance of Stein. He was a man of much cultivation; and from
his position with the Chancellor he was able to help us with his'
advice and by his personal influence. He lived during the
summer in a country house, where he sometimes invited us to
come, and where we met Friedrich von Schlegel, for whom he
had a great respect.
During the \Vhitsuntide holidays, when the library was
closed, my associates and I visited the monasteries in the
Austrian Alps, Heiligenkreuz, Lilienfeld, and Marienzell. We
also visited the Kloster Neuburg on the Danube, above
Vienna, on St. Augustine's Day, August 28th, when its
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
greatest festival was celebrated. We found a large company
assembled there, enjoying the contents of the cellar, its
Bisamberger 'wine being a hundred years old. I spent
several days there, examining the .nanuscriprs. This summer
I made the acquaintance of the learned Hungarian historians,
the two Herrn van Kovachich, father and son, who invited me
to visit them at Ofen, and having also received an invitation
from Herr van J ankovitch, who possessed many valuable
scientific and artistic treasures, I determined to accept both,
for the month of September, and having with great difficulty
.obtained a passport, I set out for Hungary on board a large
boat on the Danube. The journey from Vienna to Ofen, at
that time, lasted six days; as the boat was heavily laden
with goods, and consequently so deep in the water, it could
only advance slowly on this rapid stream, especially against
a high wind. Vie landed first at Debin at the confluence of
the March and the Danube. I climbed up to the ruins of a .
fortress, built in the ninth century, whence there is an
extensive view over the Marchfeld. We also stopped at
Presburg, where I visited the library; in passing an island of
the Danube the wind was so violent we had to seek shelter for
twenty-four hours. The river becomes much wider at Comora,
where the Waag joins the Danube, and surrounds the
fortress, and where there are frequent earthquakes. From
Comora we went to Gran, the possession of the first Archbishop of Hungary, and at length reached the sister towns
. Ofen and Pest, which were formerly united by a bridge of
boats. I found my,friends, the two Herrn van Kovachich,
already expecting me, they at once took possession of my
luggage and. conducted me to their house, which was in the
citadel of Ofen. The two towns so closely connected differ .
much from one another. The fortress of Ofen, situated high
above the Danube, was the seat of the Paladins, the officials
of government, the military, and the aristocracy; whilst Pest
in the plain, on the banks of the Danube, is enlivened by
trade and commerce and the animated life on the river. The
G. H. PERTZ.
heights of Ofen command a very beautiful and extensive
view over the Danube with its islands, and opposite the
great field of Rakos, the vine-covered hills, and in the
distance the Adler mountains. We visited the sights of the
town, examined the. manuscripts and documents, and
wandered through the beautiful environs. I picked up a
little Hungarian, though the conversation was usually in
German.
At the house of the publisher of a Magyar
periodical, the national dance was performed for my edification. The younger Kovachich possessed along with his great
learning a remarkable acquaintance with the English
language. The Magyars are great linguists, which facilitates
their intercourse with other nations. When the sovereigns
met at the Congress of Vienna, the Physician in Ordinary of
the Emperor Alexander, an Englishman, Wylie, became
acquainted with the Kovachichs, and asked them whether the
Hungarians would not prefer to belong to the Ru·ssian
Empire rather than be allied to Austria, a question which
was most decidedly negatived; but it shewed where people's
thoughts were even at that time di'rected.
Herr Jankovitch 'spent his fortune in books and manuscripts and in making a valuable collection of gems, and these
splendid treasures were exhibited when the sovereigns visited
.Ofen. I was occupied with the examination of his manuscripts during most of my stay, and I sent a catalogue of them
to our periodical journal. All his possessions Wereafterwards
placed in the Hungarian National Museum.
The most
agreeable person I met with was the great Hungarian histonan, Stephen von Horvath, who being also a distinguished
lawyer, was consulted by politicians belonging to both sides.
Thirty thousand documents had passed through his hands,
from which he had selected many and added them to his
.:ollection. In few countries of Europe at that time the
possession of property depended so much on the testimony of
documents, as in Hungary, and Horvath had studied all these
documents while he was investigating the connection which
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
28
OF
exists between the hundred and eight Magyar tribes. He
possessed also a remarkably valuable historical library, and
portraits of learned men, either of his friends, or of those persons whom he:::valued, among whom he desired to count me.
I therefore could not refuse his request to leave my portrait
with him, which with his other possessions is in the Hungarian 1\1 useum. Later on, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
did me the honour to elect me one of their foreign members.
The liberal tone which was shewn here, compared with the
narrow-mindedness and restraint and police scrutiny in Vienna,
impressed strangers agreeably. As soon as we crossed the
frontier and entered Hungary we enjoyed complete freedom
to travel everywhere undisturbed.
A hospitality and a frank
and friendly interest is shewn, such as one meets with in
England; the stranger is everywhere introduced and shewn
all that is remarkable. My friends offered to introduce me to
the Archbishop of Erlau and to take me to the most important
places in the country, a proposal which, under other circumstances, I should certainly have accepted with great advantage to my literary work, but which I was now obliged to
decline as the time for my departure ..approached.
With
most grateful feelings I separated from the circle of my new
friends, to whom I had become quite attached, and in the
beginning of October, 1821, I returned to Vienna.
[The following letter to his brother, refers to his friend
Herr van Pape, who in consequence of not receiving an
appointment which he had expected, was so mortified at the
slight thus cast on him, that he shot himself.]
To his Brother
waus«.
Vienna, 25th February.
DEAREST
1821.
WILLIAM,
I was much grieved by
contained; it was the most
I have lost in my friend is
tained that I should work
the news which your last letter
painful moment of my life. \Vhat
irretrievable.
The hopes I enterwith him for one common object,
29
G. H. PERTZ.
that we should together overcome the difficulties we might
encounter in our laborious, though self-rewarding exertions,
is now past for ever; I must now work alone, with no one
who can understand my inner life.
But enough of this. Thank you, my dear brother, for the
faithful account of what you know of the last event of his
life. If you learn anything more, even trifles, such as the
books he sent you just before his death, let me hear it.
The other changes which my parents have met with *, may
perhaps still be arranged, though certainly not without every
assistance being afforded them.
Unfortunately, at this distance, I can neither understand
nor advise anything, therefore I beg"you, my brother, to act
and help them for us both, neither yielding to dejection, nor
deserting our parents.
*
*
*
*
*
You have a difficult part to play just now, but we must
each submit to our lot in life, and if we do, energetically, all
that we are capahle of doing, Providence will not forsake us.
You are aware that I have also laboured honestly and with
unceasing exertion, but I have not let you or my parents
know the anxious life I have often led, because I would not
cause you pain for the mere object of having your sympathy,
Just when I was at the worst, Christmas, 1819, I was assisted
in a way I least expected, and which I could not have foreseen, and though I am not yet able to help you and my
parents, I hope soon to do so. Since that time my motto
has always been that. which I learnt from Hofrath Heeren,
" God does not forsake us if we do not forsake ourselves."t
Again, I entreat you, dearest brother, to be brave, to do
right and to work for others. I heartily wish' you joy on
your birthday, and send you and my sister for her birthday,
a trifling remembrance which I hope will please you. "
• His parents had met with pecuniary losses, which caused them great
anxiety.
t Gott verlässt un~ nicht wenn wir uns nicht selbst verlassen.
30
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
I hope you will soon write to me again, and God grant it
may be an improved account. You may believe that I cannot
feel happy, not even cheerful, least of all at present, as long
as you are not so. I have written somewhat more cheerfully
to our parents, in order not to lower their spirits more by my
sadness.
And now farewell, dearest brother,
Yours,
.
GEORGE.
To' his Parents.
Vienna, 25th February,
1821.
My DEAREST PARENTS,
My warmest thanks to my beloved mother for her letter,
and for her good wishes for the year. You were not aware
how I responded in anticipation, and added besides, my best
.wishes for the happiness and comfort of all of you, and you
may be certain that here also I desire to act in every way to
please you.
God, Who in His goodness has brought us graciously and
beneficently through so many trials, will continue to conduct
everything for our good, and will requite you in your old age,
for all ,the care and love you have shown us through life.
My greatest consolation, at the distance I am from you, is,
that He is everywhere with us, and orders things better than
we can think possible. How often have we not experienced
this, when perhaps we little thought in our distress that His
help was near us. I feel most grateful to God for my lot in
life. If for some time I must be separated from you, my
dearest parents, it is only to return to you, grown better and
more useful, when my work abroad is completed. If I were
to remain constantly beside you, I could neither assist you
nor contribute to the relief or comfort of your position. My
present occupation has drawn the attention of many persons
towards me and my future career; I am employed in a work
which is honourable and advantageous to me and others,
G. H. PERTZ.
31
and which will render me more capable, and also make me
better known; and, dearest parents, be assured God will continue to help us, as He has hitherto done, beyond our
expectations.
The Minister von Stein, and other influential men, place
confidence in me, and are perfectly satisfied with my' work,
and desire that I should continue it in Rome or in Switzerland.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Moreover, I am associating with learned and highly culti.vated men, who both value and are pleased with me, and
anticipate more from me in the future. I wish, my most
beloved parents, that you could share some of the agreeable
life which I am enjoying. Neither my vocation nor my
desires permit me to enter into gay society. A few and more
sociable meetings are more to my taste.
Yours,
*
GEORGE.
32
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
CHAPTER
11.-1821-1823.
my residence in Vienna, which had lasted a year
and a-half, a situation in the Royal Archives in Hanover was
offered me, but before 1 consented to accept it, I wrote to
Baron von Stein, and asked his advice relative to the continuation of my present .employment. The Minister advised
me to accept the situation, since while it offered me an
employment suitable to my tastes, it did not prevent me continuing the task which I had undertaken. At the same time
he advised me to petition the Hanoverian Ministry for a
prolonged leave of absence, in order to finish tbe work 1 was
engaged in; therefore, as I had concluded my researches in
Vienna, I proposed to employ the remainder of my time in
visiting the libraries in Italy, since Stein, who had spent the
previous years in Rome with Niebuhr, had decided to entrust
me with the Italian portion of the work.
The road from Vienna to Trieste crosses the Austrian and
Styrian Alps over the Semmering to Gratz, the capital of
Styria, which is splendidly situated, commanding an extensive
view over the surrounding country, which is planted with
Indian corn. From Gratz the road runs south to Klagenfurt,
the capital of Carinthea, and to Carniola, where the people
are of Sclavonic origin; their principal town is Laibach.
Paulus Diaconus, in his history of the Lombards in the time
of Charlemagne, mentions his travels in the land of the
Sclaves. From Laibach I drove across the high and bare
mountains to Trieste on the Adriatic. The view of the sea
and the town is very striking. The people principally spoke
Italian, a language which I had hitherto only read, but on the
passage to Venice I picked up sufficient of the colloquial
language to speak to the officials. Having left Trieste in the
evening, we reached the Lido the following morning, and
DURING
G. H. PERTZ.
33
soon afterwards landed on the Piazza of St. Mark. I brought
letters of introduction to the German poet and Patriarch of
Venice, Herr Ladislaus Pyrcker, whom I had previously
met at a friend's house, when he was Archbishop of Erlau in
Hungary. He received me in his house on the Piazza. I
dined with him in the same hall where the downfall of the
Republic of Venice was signed by General Bonaparte
and Manin, the last Doge. He introduced me to Abbot
Bettio, the librarian of St. Mark's Library, where I met
with a rich collection of manuscripts. I found time also to
visit the churches, palaces, and galleries in this ~onderful
island town, and to admire the principal works of Titian,
Bellini, Manfrini, and Albert Dürer.
.
I likewise visited the Armenian convent and library of St.
Lazarus, and the Arsenal, looked down upon the town
from the top of St. Mark's tower, and spent the evening in
the Piazza, which was lighted up with its brilliant shops and
coffee-houses. But Venice had much deteriorated from its
former splendour; whole streets with their marble palaces
had been sold, and I learnt from ,Germans' who h~d been
settled there some time, that many of the most distinguished
families had been ruined.
From Venice I proceeded in a gondola to Fusina, passing
between the islands through narrow canals overgrown with
reeds, surrounded by mist, and then took the carriage of a.
vetturino, who agreed for a fixed sum to drive me to Padua
and provide for me on the journey, then a common method
of travelling in Italy, since stage coaches did not exist, and
the travelling by post involved a considerable expense,
Travelling was therefore slow; ·it took us an entire day to
cross the flat plain, between high poplar avenues, which
leads to Padua, where I saw the relics and works of art in
the celebrated church of St. Antonio.
We crossed the
different canals and branches 0.£ the Adige and the'po,' and
went by Rovigo and Ferrara to Bologna, where I endeavoured
to get access to .the University library.
I called on the
c
34
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
librarian, the Abbate Mezzofanti, and from his wonderful
facility in speaking all languages, found no difficulty in conversing with him, but except shewing me a few manuscripts,
he could give me no information concerning the contents of
the library, or whether it contained anything of value to
German history. However, I enjoyed seeing the St. Cecilia
by Raffaelle and some masterpieces of Francia in the picture
gallery.
'
I proceeded with another vetturino over the Appennines to
Florence. In the evening of the first day I saw the burning
naphtha springs near Filicajo. The view was magnificent as
we drove down from the heights upon Fiesale and the plain
of Florence. On the road peasant girls offered us the first
southern fruits, dried figs and grapes. Since my travelling
companions were Italians, who only knew their own language,
I had made much progress in the facihtyof speaking, and
therefore found no difficulty in conversing with them. In
Florence I first visited the Laurentian library, which contains
chiefly manuscripts; to prevent their being stolen they are
fastened to the shelves with chains, which are unlocked for
use. I saw the Cathedral, the Campanile, Ghiberti's bronze
gates of the Baptistry, and the Uffizi and Pitti galleries,
and then continued my journey to Rome.
Two roads led from Florence to Rome, the shorter one by
Siena, the longer by Perugia, which took seven days with a
vetturino, and as I was anxious to reach my destination I
chose the former. I spent some hours at Siena, celebrated
for its good air and the purity of its language, which has
consequently attracted many German artists and scholars to
reside there.
I visited the, Cathedral, and devoted some
hours to the Archives, and continued the journey in the
course of the afternoon. From Siena the country became
morehilly and the roads steep, so we walked a great deal.
At the highest point we reached Radicofani, on the borders
of the papal dominions. We left Orvieto to the left, and
reached Monte Fiascone, where I dined and tasted the wine
G. H. PERTZ.
35
called Este, associated with a story of Count Fugger.,a canon
of Augsburg, who like many of his brethren was a lover of
good wine. When on his journey through Italy to visit the
graves of the holy apostles, he sent on his servant to note
down where the best wine was to be found, and directed him
wherever he met with it, to write an Est with chalk on the
house door, which his master, following him, faithfully took
advantage of. \Vhen the servant reached Monte Fiascone,
he found the wine of such superior quality that he marked
the door with two Ests, so that when his master arrived,
finding it too delicious, it proved to be the last he ever drank;
his faithful servant buried him on the spot, and being evidently as conversant with the Latin language as with wine,
he wrote this inscription on his master's tomb, which is still
preserved :Est, Est, Est,
Propter nimium Est
Dominus meus, comes de Fugger
Mortuus est.
The road led past the lake of Bolsena to Viterbo, Sutri,
and Storta, the last station before Rome, and so across the
Campagna. About a mile before the town we saw the high
cupola of St. Peter's. I entered Rome on Christmas Eve,
1821, by the Porta del Popolo, accompanied by an artist from
Hamburg and a young English sculptor, Gibson.* Having
refreshed ourselves at an inn, we proposed, along with two
Florentine artists, to witness that night the great festival in
St. Maria Maggiore, which was marked with two stars in
our guide book. \Ve started at midnight; the distance was
great, and the streets were dark, no lamps being lighted; the
moon was hid behind clouds, and from not knowing the way,
we met with many difficulties, but in our eagerness to see
the ceremony we hastened on.
In commemoration of the birth of our Saviour, the manger
is carried round the church by the Pope, the cardinals, and
the priests, and worshipped by the people who flock in from
tJrohn Gibson, b. 1791.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
the town and country. After wandering about a long time,
we at length ascended the hill and reached the church, where
we found a number of people as curious as ourselves, standing .before the closed doors. We lingered about, hour after
hour, watching in expectation; at last a light appeared in the
house of the sacristan, which gave us a ray of hope, but it
ended in nothing .. Many of the Italians left, but we remained
patiently waiting. Towards morning a slight rain began to
fall, which increased; the lamp of the sacristan was extinguished, still we did not give up all hope that the ceremony
must at last commence.
At four o'clock, we heard a bell from the interior of a
chapel at the foot of the hill, ringing in the morning hours.
Our Florentine companions advised us to take shelter there
from the rain, which we accordingly did, and exhausted from
our journey, and the time we had been standing waiting, we
slept for' several hours on the benches in the chapel. Such
was my first night in Rome. Between six and seven, we
were roused by the sound of the great bell, which called us
and all the people to behold the ceremony. The church was
brilliantly lighted and was crowded with people, some of
whom were moving about and some sleeping on the benches
in the aisles in picturesque attitudes and dresses. Singing
began, and the procession moved up the central aisle bearing
the supposed manger of Christ, but as it was enclosed in
marble, it was invisible. The whole festival consisted only
in this procession, with the accompanying hymns. We were
thankful to go to our hotel, resolving never in future to trust.
to our guide book.
The first visits I paid were to the Hanoverian and Prussian
Ambassadors, van Reden and Niebuhr; and the Prussian·
Secretary of Legation, Bunsen. Being provided with letters
of introduction from Stein I everywhere met with the kindest
and most hearty reception. Geheimrath von Reden, though
in advanced age, was very lively. He was a highly cultivated man, and a patron of learning and art. He had served
G. H. PRRTZ.
37
in the diplomacy at Carlsruhe and Berlin, and for several
years at the Papal Court, and was commissioned to conclude
a negotiation concerning the position of the Catholics in the
kingdom of Hanover; the Governments of Hanover and
Prussia being closely allied. Herr von Reden was intimately
associated with Herr Niebuhr, for. whose remarkable talents
and writings he had the greatest respect. August Kestner*
was Secretary of Legation to Herr von Reden, and with his
artistic and social tastes, was an agreeable inmate of the
family. The Hanoverian Embassy was on the Monte Pincio,
the Prussian Embassy on the Capitol, and Bunsen, the Prussian Secretary of Legation, in the Palazzo Cafarelli; Niebuhr,
who was then about forty-five, lived in the Palazzo Savelli,
He was much respected ·by the Pope and Cardinal Consalvi,
and was both the friend and the patron of the Germans who
assembled at his house. I felt at once attracted to him, and
was gratified by the interest he took in my work and its results, which he always maintained, He thought, from what
. he knew ·of the Italians, and judging by the experience of
other scholars, that I should never be able to gain access to
the Archives in the Vatican, and that it would be very difficult to obtain admission to the library; but he said, being
interested in the work, and for the sake of Baron vom Stein,
he would endeavour to curry favour with Monsignor Mai; the
principal Custode, which promise he faithfully fulfilled.
Herr von Reden introduced me to Cardinal Consalvi,
and in the name of the King of Hanover, urgently begged
him to forward my researches, which the Cardinal promised
to do, though owing to the flattering manner in which I had
been introduced, he was somewhat surprised at my youth,
Through Niebuhr's .influence, and the respect Monsignor
Mai entertained for Stein, I was, however, admitted into the
library of the Vatican; I only regretted that the time permitted to study there was extremely limited, being only three
·Son of Kestner, the husband of Goethe's Lotte.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
hours a day, and as the hour of opening was not. regularly
observed, whatever extra time I could obtain, by small bribes
to the servants, depended on their arriving early. The catalogue of the manuscripts was not accessible to strangers, the
light was bad, and since the room was not properly heated,
the Only means of warding off the cold was by occasionally
resorting to a large pan of charcoal placed in the centre of the
room, where we warmed our frozen hands, and where·
Monsignor Mai and the other officials joined us.
It was a very severe winter for Rome; Monte Soracte was
covered with snow, which Horace in one of his Odes mentions
as a rare occurrence. Soon after my arrival I was joined by
a very agreeable companion, Herr Bluhme, from Hamburg,
who had attended the lectures of Savigny, and had become
a Roman jurist, and having distinguished himself by discovering the composition of the Pandects, he had undertaken to
examine Roman law in Italy. He had spent some time in
Rome, and was now on his return from South Italy, where he
had been during the autumn. "Ve met at Niebuhr's and at
Bunsen's, where he communicated to me the results of his last
journey, and since he was likewise occupied with Lombard law,
which I had also been studying in Vienna, I proposed that he
should join us in our work, which led to our being constantly
together during our residence in Rome. We visited the
churches, palaces and monasteries, the splendid picture
galleries, and other art treasures and antiquities of the city;
also the studios of the most distinguished painters and
sculptors, particularly those of our own countrymen, Schnorr ,
Veit and Overbeck. We were present at the Carnival, at
the Easter festivities and the feast of flowers at Genzano, and
were joined by Mr. Bancroft, the American historian, who had
just arrived from Göttingen, and whom I met again fortyseven years later in Berlin, when he came to reside there as
Ambassador of the United States. \Ve made expeditions to
Albano, Nemi, Marino, Grotta Ferrata, Frascati and Tivoli.
The charm of this pleasant and attractive life, combining
G. H. PERTZ.
39
work and amusement, was enhanced by the sympathy we received, and especially valued from Niebuhr and Bunsen, and
from the interest they took in everything which attracted the
attention of strangers, particularly whatever was of importance
to German scholars .
. ' During three months of the year Niebuhr collected in his
house, on one evening of the week, artists and scholars,
and the German families residing in Rome, and Bluhme and
I were received there, as well as at the houses of Bunsen and
Reden.
In the month of April, and still more in May, the heat being
very great and the libraries closed, I determined to seek cooler
regions. While Bluhme selected the libraries in North Italy,
I first visited Monte Casino. This is the oldest monastery
in Europe, and is situated high up in the Appennines, above
San Germano. The road which leads to it from Rome passes
Palestrina, and the valley of the ancient Hernici, between the
towns of Segni, Anagni and Terentina, 'some of which are
surrounded by Cyclopean walls. The diligence stopped at
Frosinone, where we slept, and the next morning a donkey
was hired to take me and my light baggage to San Germano.
The preparations for starting were tedious: at last, about
eleven o'clock, I set off accompanied by a boy, who was to
return with the donkey. The heat was of course very great.
After several hours we came to the borders of the' papal
dominions at Ceprano, where we took shelter from the sun,
and refreshed ourselves with figs, cooled in ice; thence we
continued our journey through the valley of Ponte Corvo to
Aquino, and towards evening reached San Germano. It did
not seem advisable at such a late hour to ascend to the
monastery; Ltherefore dismissed my guide and his donkey,
spent the night in the cool inn, and the following morning
reached Monte Casino. This splendid monastery, the principal station of the widely scattered Benedictine Order, was
surrounded until quite lately by a strong wall, and the entrance
was the same as that left by the Founder, A.D.529. The
AUTOBIOGRAl'HY
OF
church is richly decorated with marble carvings, and on the
ancient bronze doors of the eleventh century a list of the
possessions of the monastery is inscribed. The library contains several hundred valuable manuscripts, among them
those of German and Italian historians, which I examined.
The Abbot welcomed me kindly, and acceded to all my
demands, and the Archivist, Don Ottavio Fraga di Frangipani,
remained beside me a great part of every day. I occupied
the suite of rooms in which the King of Sicily lived when he
visited the monastery. They were very simply furnished, a
bed, a sofa, a table and two chairs; but they commanded a
splendid view over the country below and the mountains as
far as the Mediterranean and the town of Gaeta.
I rose with the sun, worked several hours, and took coffee
at eight. In the course of the forenoon Don Ottavio lunched
with me on fish and eggs, and at six, when my day's work
was finished, he regularly joined me again at dinner. I then
took _a walk on the hill, upon the road to San Germane,
where the ruins still exist of the old Roman town Casinum
and the Rocca J anulse, built in the Middle Ages for the protection of the Abbey. The monks were still in possession of
a part of their estates, which they superintended, besides
supporting an ecclesiastical seminary. The Abbot, who was
descended from the Scotch families of Murray and Hamilton,
was a well informed man, particularly versed in paleography.
The Archivist, who was also well acquainted with the treasures
entrusted to hIS care, conversed with me, and asked for infermat ion about German affairs; and as he appreciated my
historical studies, he hoped that I would remain permanently
with them. The remembrance of my visit, which lasted four
weeks, has been maintained on both sides, and it was only
last year (1868) that I received a pleasant proof of this.
When the Italian parliament decreed that all the monasteries
in Italy were to be dissolved, Monte Casino asked to be,
exempted, and on the plea of preserving the learned institutions in Italy, claimed protection from the principal Protestant
.
'.
G. H. PERiZ.
governments. I was accordingly petitioned by a German
Catholic ecclesiastic to apply on their behalf to the Prussian
Government, which request I willinglycomplied with, though
doubtful of success. The Prussian.Government, after making
careful enquiries in Florence, learnt that the English Prime
Minister, Lord Derby, entertained the same idea, but was
convinced that the Italian Government would not yield,
therefore Prussia was satisfied with the assurance given by
the Italian Government that whatever was feasible would be
done for Monte Casino and La Cava.
From Monte Casino I drove by Capua to Naples, where I
remained only a short time, and spent the hot month of
August in the Benedictine Monastery of Trinitä della Cava,
on the ridge of a mountain which lies between Naples and'
Salerno, a place which combines the beauty of Italian and
German nature, ~nd in this ~cool, retired spot time passed
rapidly. Every day, when my work was done, I accompanied the Archivist, who was likewise the superintendent of
the ecclesiastical seminary, in his walks with his scholars.
The view from the height on all sides, towards Naples,
Salerno, and the Mediterranean, as far as Psestum, is one of
the most charming in Italy, and I persuaded the young
people one Sunday to accompany me to the top of Monte'
Finestra, whence one looks down on Vesuvius, Naples, and
the islands of Ischia and Capri. \Ve then walked to Amalfi
and took a boat to Salerno, whence we returned to La Cava.
Having collected abundant literary materials, I left
La Cava and returned to Naples to pursue my work there.
Letters of recommendation from Niebuhr and Reden to the
English, French, and Prussian ambassadors procured me
access to all the learned collections, and through Consul
Truchssess-\Valdburg, and Prince Ruffo, I was introduced
to the Directors of the Archives, the libraries and museums.
The English ambassador, Sir William Hamilton, received me
everyday in his hospitable house. I made the acquaintance
ofthe Russian ambassador, Herr van Oubril, and the French
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
ambassador, M. de Saire j the latter had been previously
Minister of Justice, and was one of the most distinguished
French statesmen. Stein's name opened all these doors to
me. Together with some iriends I ascended Vesuvius, and
saw the sun rise during a constant downfall of hot ashes. I
also visited Fort St. Elmo, Camaldoli, Herculaneum and
Pompeii, Massa, Sorrento, Capri, and the Monastery of
Monte Vergine, which possessed documents of the Emperor
Frederick n. The Austrians at that time occupied the kingdom of Naples, and a division of their army, under Graf
Walmoden, kept Sicily quiet, and since some of the principal
proprietors in that island, to whom I had letters of introduction, possessed important documents of the Hohenstauffens,
especially of the time of Frederick lI., I left Naples in the.
beginning of October for Palermo. I had a letter from Graf
Walmoden to the Duke of Serra del Falco, and the Prince of
Cassero introduced me to the Prince of Fitalia, whose library
contained a valuable manuscript, namely, a letter of the
Chancellor, Peter von Vinea, which had hitherto been inaccessible. After I had thoroughly examined this library,
under the guidance of the Duke Serra del Falco, and visited
the other libraries of Palermo, the archives, and the monuments of the Swabian emperors in the Cathedral, I ascended
Monte Pellegrino, and saw the cave of the holy Rosalia, *
the archiepiscopal church in Monreale, and made an expedition to S. Martino, the principal Benedictine monastery in
Sicily, but whichis not to be compared to Monte Casino or
La Cava.
During the last week of my stay in Sicily I made the tour
of the island. For this purpose I hired a strong horse, whose
owner was likewise my guide. From Palermo we went to
Alcamo; I rode, whilst the guide followed me on foot. In
the evening he took me to a house he knew, where I spent
the night. Having been furnished with the necessary money,
• A princess of the Norman blood royal, who in the bloom of youth
retired here to lead a contemplative and ascetic life.
,
G. H. l>ERtZ.
43
my guide went to market, and bought macaroni cheese, fresh
eggs, bread and wine. He boiled the macaroni on the hearth,
laid the cloth, and served the supper; I then cut a stroke
across the dish with my knife' and fork, and we each took our
share, and in this simple fashion we proceeded all the journey.
We had excellent Sicilian wine from Castelvetrano;
The
next morning after breakfast we started again, and reached
the Greek temple of Segesta, which is situated in a solitary
green valley, west of Alcamo, and is in tolerable preservation.
Since the rainy season was approaching, when it is difficult
and sometimes impossible to cross the interior of the island,
on account of the floods, I determined only to venture as far
as Girgenti. At Castelvetrano are the great ruins of the'
Temple of Selinuntium, it is supposed that .the temple fell in
consequence of an earthquake. The pillars have fallen in
separate pieces, and appear like huge millstones. The country along the coast as far as Sciacca is quite bare. The
Abbate Scina told me that in the harbours of this granary of
the old world, American flour was now imported, and that the
island had three times paid a sum to the Neapolitan Government for the construction of roads, but the money had been
employed for other purposes.
The Abbate was well acquainted with the condition of
Sicily, especially during the occupation of the island by the
English army under Lord William Bentinck, who was involved in sharp disputes with Queen Caroline, Ferdinand
IV. taking very little part in the government. The Queen,
obstinate and accustomed to rule, did not approve of the
measures adopted by the English authorities for the defence
of the island against the French, and she so far forgot the
duty she owed to her protectors, that she entered into a
private understanding with the French in Naples, antagonistic to England. It grew into a conspiracy, and the day
was fixed on which Lord \Villiam Bentinck and his family
were to be attacked, and they and the island delivered up to
the French.
The Governor-General and the principal
AUTOBlOGRAPHY
OF
attaches of the court were sitting at the royal table, when
Lord William Bentinck received a hasty despatch, in which
the whole plan was disclosed. He immediately took the
necessary steps for the security of his army, and 'arrested the
Queen.
When she saw her plans frustrated, she rose up in a passion
and openly accused her son, the Crown Prince, who was
sitting beside her, of treachery, and knocked him down with
her chair. She was obliged to leave Sicily, and went first to
Constantinople, afterwards to Vienna, and passed the last
. years of her life away from the kingdom of Naples.
Graf Walmoden lived in a palace outside Palermo, not far
from the Cathedral, near a monastery, one half of which was
occupied by his troops, whilst the monks remained in the
other half. They each retained their customary habits of.
life, but the troops complained that they lived like monks,
whilst the monks lived like soldiers. The ecclesiastical state
of the island, which was closely connected with the domestic
life of the. people, remained such as it had been in the eighth
century. In Palermo, a town of 12,000 inhabitants, there
were forty monasteries full of monks and nuns, as well as
10,000 secular priests.
The education and morality, of the
upper class was very low.
I left Sicily in November, 1822, in a steamer running
between Palermo and Naples, which had been started by a
countryman of mine, a former officer of the German Legion
in England j it was considered a quick boat, but we were
delayed by a storm, so I retired to my cabin to escape the
movement of the vessel in sleep, and when I awoke, I found
that in place of arriving at Naples, we had been obliged to
return to Palermo. We took advantage of the first calm
weather to start again, and' reached Naples the following
day. I was struck with the altered appearance of Vesuvius.
A great eruption had occurred during my absence, streams of
lava poured out, and the top of the mountain had fallen in.
I drove in twenty-four hours to Rome, and felt as if I were
/
G. H. PERTZ.
45
returning to a home which I had left. I learnt from Bunsen
that three large rooms on the top story of his apartment in
the Palazzo CaffarelIi were vacant, and he offered them to
me, which I gratefully accepted.
The spacious three-windowed room, on the summit of the Capitol, commanded ,a
view to the south upon old Rome, the heights of the Palatine
and the Aventine, the 'Tiber, and the Albanian and Tiburtine
mountains,
and on the oppos~te side, over the whole of
modern Rome, St. Peter's, the Vatican and Monte Marie,
My neighbours on the same floor were two artists, Julius
Schnorr and his friend, and beneath us were the Bunsens.
My friend Bluhme, who had returned from North Italy, took
an apartment lower down on the Tarpeian rock, so that we
could see each other, and converse out of our windows, and
we took daily
expeditions.
walks together
to the
Vatican,
and
other
Contrary to my expectation, I had succeeded in obtaining
access to the Archives in the Vatican.
When I visited the
Archivar, Monsignor Marini, he offered to show me the
records of the earlier popes in his own house in the Palazzo
Cesi, and allowed me to make use of them under his super.
vision.
He also proposed to give me a secretary, who should
copy s~ch passages as I might select, each of which
Marini would examine, verify, and put his seal to. At the
same time, he added, that each extract so sealed entitled him
to demand a carolini, equal to six dollars. Three hours in the
afternoon were appointed to carry out this~rrangement.
On the following day, when I had finished my work in the
Vatican library, I went there and he placed before me the
first volume of the registers of Pope Honorius Ill.
I
examined them and marked those passages which related to
German history, but as no secretary appeared, I asked leave
to undertake the copying myself, which was granted me, hut
only for two documents, which he examined and then vouched
for their harmless character by his signature and seal. The
following day the secretary arrived, with whom I -agreed
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
about the payment, and arranged matters so that I should
copy all the important documents myself and should dictate
to him the less important. l\Iarini examined everyone, and
affixed his seal to them. Since all this business was transacted
in Marini's own room and in his presence we soon became
very intimate. He watched my work with ever increasing
interest, and confessed to me one day that German scholars
were able to accomplish much by their perseverance. I
replied in jest, "You wish to say, Monsignor, that the Ultramontanes work like oxen, whereas the Italians possess more
genius." He smiled at my interpretation of his meaning, and
asked me whether I thought he could undertake a similar
work. Since he possessed plentiful materials for such a task
he certainly had it in his power; I therefore answered in the
affirmative, and encouraged him to render such a service to
literature. After remaining for some time absorbed in thought,
he returned to the subject, and said he was considering for
which European nation he would undertake the work; he
thought England, being the richest country, would pay him
best, to which I assented, and he seemed to have made up
his mind. He always recurred to the subject, consulting me
as to the title of the work, which I considered might be determined after the book was written. The discussion lasted a
fortnight, and at the end, in place of beginning the book
itself, he insisted on the necessity of first writing the preface,
and entered into all the details; that, however, only afforded
. me more time for my writing, which often lasted till eight in
the evening. D~ring our conversation he intimated that .he
intented to renounce the payment due to him for signing the
documents, at the same time he begged me to intercede with
the Minister vom Steim to receive him as a member of our
Society. I promised my intercession, and in due time he
received the diploma, which he most gratefully acknowledged,
and shewed it immediately to the Secretary of State, Cardinal
Consalvi, who had the highest respect for Stein.
Niebuhr and Bunsen were much interested when they heard
G. H. PERTZ.
47
that I had succeeded in obtaining access 10 the Archives of
the Vatican.
Niebuhr, who did not expect that I should
succeed, mentioned my success to Stein in the most flattering
terms.
to
NIEBUHR
STEIN.*
• Stein's Leben, Vel. V., p. 796.
January 18th, 1823.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
You will have heard from Pertz, that I have not been
unfaithful to your undertaking. I must tell you, that in order
to enlist Mai for Pertz's object, I forgave him all his misdemeanours, and have shown him more real friendship than
he has ever before received.
I have at last been able to obtain the other catalogues for
Pertz, but it is of far greater importance that he has succeeded
in gaining access to the Archives, which can be attributed
solely to his skill and sagacity.
, If I had any influence in Prussia we should take possession
of Pertz,
He is adapted for every kind of work which
demands eminent and special talent, and we are attracted by
his character as much as by his intellect.
'
*
STEIN
*
*
to
NIEBUHR.
*
*
'"
February 15th, 1823.
Dr. Pertz is a most excellent young man. The entire
publication of the Monumenta must be placed in his hands;
we must. afford him every support in our power, and the
choice of his assistants, and whatever he requires for the
·work, must be left to him. In North Germany, both at
Göttingen, \Volfenbüttel and Kiel, he will be able to induce
many to assist him.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
Whilst on my travels I had corresponded regularly with
Stein and Büchler and my Roman friends, communicating to
them the results of my investigations, which interested
Niebuhr especially, who, when I called upon him one day,
expressed a wish that I should enter the diplomatic line.
Bunsen had decided to resign his post of Secretary of Legation, in order to become Professor of Theology at Bonn, and for
that purpose intended to spend a year at Oxford with his
. family, in order to study the state of the English Church.
The King of Prussia," with his Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Graf Bernstorff, was shortly expected in Rome, to whom he
intended to send in his resignation. Niebuhr thought of proposing me as Bunsen's successor, and felt certain he would
obtain the royal assent. He had no doubt that I should soon,
under his supervision, understand the business. He purposed
at Easter to ask for leave of absence on account of the health
of his wife, and go for a time to Germany, and he would then
propose that I should take his place as Charge d'affaires. This
proposal came upon me quite unexpectedly, and I felt much
honoured by the confidence he reposed in me, but hesitated
whether I ought to accept it, as I was quite ignorant of the
kind of work, though as far as the French language was
concerned, the ten years of occupation of Hanover by the
French had familiarized me with that tongue ; but I had hadno
opportunity of learning the language of diplomacy. Niebuhr
assured me that I should soon acquire that by reading the
Journal des Dtbats, and grammatical French was so rare
among diplomatists, that none of the reports of the Prussian
diplomatists were exempt from error. I also hesitated on
account of my engagement to my own Government, who so
recently had conferred on me the situation I _desired in the
Royal Archives of Hanover.
In the meantime the King came to Rome, and every pre-..
paration was made to make his stay agreeable. There was
an exhibition of pictures by German artists, oratorios, and
• Frederick WiIliam Ill.
49
G. H. PERTZ.
expeditions to Tivoli and Albano. At a great dinner given
to the King, the conversation turning upon some music of
Palestrina which was going to be performed, the King asked
Niebuhr who Palestrina was; Niebuhr, astonished at the
question, hesitated to answer, upon which the King, struck
with his own ignorance, turned to Bunsen, sitting opposite to
him, who at once explained and answered another question
about the Ambrosian library. After dinner the King took
Bunsen into the recess of a window, and conversed with him
about a new liturgy, which he had drawn up in Berlin, and
upon which Bunsen had written his remarks to Colonel von
Witzleben. The King was so much pleased with his conversation, that he named him Legations-rath, and bestowed
upon him the Order of the Red Eagle 4th Class. After such
proofs of royal favour, Bunsen considered that it would be
ungracious to resign his appointment at Rome, and withdrew
his petition. Thus the idea of my entering the diplomatic
service was given up.
From that time Niebuhr confided much to me, inviting me
several evenings of each week to his house, when he was alone
with his wife, their son Marcus, and their two charming little
girls. After his wife and the children had gone to bed, the
conversation, led by Niebuhr, branched off into all kinds of
subjects of ancient and modern times, the history and politics
of Europe, on art, and on remarkable men, from all which I
gained a vast store of knowledge. He was interested in the
state of Hanover, had known Scharnhorst, and highly valued
him. He had been early attracted to the writings of Rehberg,
and was much interested in all I could tell him of his personal
character, and his influence in Hanoverian affairs. A great
deal of what I related about the University of Göttingen was
new to him, and I was able to correct many prejudices which
he had imbibed. Henceforward he took a higher view of
Heeren's character, whose opinions, a few years previously,
he had violently attacked in a review, and it was in consequence of our conversation, that on a later visit to Göttingen,
D
50
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
he paid Heeren a visit and apologised for his previous attack,
remarking:
"Wenn man ein mal ein Bär gewesen sei, so brauche man's
doch nicht immer zu seyn."
I had in after years the gratification of introducing Niebuhr
in my house in Hanover, to the Rehbergs, and to Steglitz,
the physician; which was a mutual pleasure. These instructive evening visits lasted as long as Niebuhr remained in
Rome; we generally sat up talking till one in the morning ..
After I had accomplished what was feasible in the appointed
time, I left Rome, in July, 1823, and proceeded by Florence
and Turin to Milan. I spent several days in each of these
towns, visiting the libraries and archives. On the rst of
August I crossed the Alps by the great St. Bernard, passing
through the valleys of Ivrea and Aosta, by Martigny,
St. Maurice, Vevey, Lausanne, and Freiburg, to Berne, where
. I called on Graf Mülinen with an introduction from Stein,
and he gave me leave to make use of the valuable manuscripts
in his possession. One fine evening I saw from the Berne
terrace the splendid Alpine glow. The next place I went to
was St. Gall, where the wonderful collection of manuscripts
are under the care of the learned historian, Herr van S. Arx.
I then proceeded by Strasburg and Heidelberg to Frankfort.
Stein had left, but I became personally acquainted with
several of his friends, and had a long conversation with Dr.
Böhrner."
Having received an invitation from Stein to visit him at
Cappenberg, I continued my jourrey down the Rhine to Bonn.
Niebuhr was already settted there with his family. During
the two days which I spent with him we discussed my future
career, and he approved the plan which I had formed.
From Bann the road led past Elberfeld and Dortmund to
• Dr. Böhmer, Librarian at Frankfort, was a most intimate friend of
Dr. Pertz.
He was a partisan of that political condition of things in
Germany which had been hastily and thoughtlessly concocted on Napoleon's fall-the so-called German Confederation, which was in reality
nothing but a dependency of the Austrian Empire.-G. v. BUNSEN.
G. H. PERTZ.
51
the banks of the Lippe, and passing by Lünen, I reached the
ancient monastery of Cappenberg, then the residence of
Baron vom Stein. I laid before Stein the results of my work
in Italy, which he examined with intelligent and lively interest,
and agreed to all that I had, by his desire, drawn up and put
on paper, and which, under the name of the Cappenberg project, became the foundation of the plan of operations for the
"Monumenta Germanica." In the course of the following
day, we discussed the subjects connected with the "Monumenta," as well as the state of Italy and Germany, and he
dismissed me with the desire that, after returning to Hanover,
I should visit the principal libraries of Lower Saxony, as well
as those of Brunswick, Wolfenbüttel, Lüneburg, and Celle,
and find out the best scholars to join in our work. .He also
hoped we should meet in Frankfort the following winter to be
able to start the undertaking.
To
DR.
BÖHMER,
Cappenberg, August 29th, 1823.
I am going to Hanover early to-morrow morning, whence I
hope soon to send you more information. I have been fortunate in finding the Minister vom Stein here, in full vigour, and
during my four days' stay I was able to show his Excellency
the work I had done, as well as to hear the opinion of this
most highly esteemed and remarkable man with regard to
the future organisation of the undertaking, which is entirely
in accordance with what we considered to be most essential.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER
OF
III.-I823-1831.
[ONthe 5th of September, 1823, after Dr. Pertz returned to
Hanover, he was appointed, by the Government, Secretary to
the Archives.]
.
I had been three years and a half absent from Hanover,
and during that period I had always received good accounts
from my family, and had written from FrankforUo announce
myreturn home; but on my arrival, I learnt that my' dear
mother had only a few days before departed this life, and I
found my father, brother and sister in the deepest affliction.
I lived in my father's house, and commenced my work at
the Archives, where I was kindly received by my chief, to
whom I expressed my thanks for the liberal manner in which
my leave of absence had been prolonged, which had enabled
me to accomplish my literary researches. After I had become
acquainted with the arrangement of the Archives, I employed
the vacation of a few weeks in visiting similar establishments
at Brunswick, Wolfenbüttel, Lüneburg, and Celle, and in
this last town I discovered the original manuscript of the celebrated Memoirs of the Markgräfin of Bayreuth, the sister of
Frederick the Great; it was many years afterwards offered
for sale at an auction, where I obtained it for a moderate
price for the Royal Library in Berlin. This was one of many
instances where, whilst making researches for t~e "Monumenta," I was enabled to acquire important manuscripts for
the Berlin library.
In February, 1824, Stein invited me to meet him at Frankfort to consult about the publication of the" Monumenta." I
readily obtained leave of absence from the Hanoverian
Government, and stopped on the road at Göttingen, where I
'had a pleasant interview with Heeren, Mitscherlieh and
Blumenbach ; at the same time I examined the manuscripts
G. H. PERTZ.
53
the University library, and quite unexpectedly found a
number of Imperial documents of the Bishopric of Hildesheim,
which were lying unknown and useless in the dust of the
large historical hall. As soon as I returned home I requested
the Government to secure them for the Royal Archives,
which was at once done. At Cassel I met for the first time
with the brothers J acob and \Vilhelm Grimm, and formed
a lasting friendship with them. In Frankfort I found the
other members of our Society assembled round Stein, but
none of the former deputies were present; they were replaced
by Herr von Carlowitz from Saxony, and the distinguished
Frankfort historian Schöff von Fichard. Büchler, who had
been our Secretary, was appointed to an office in Mayence,
but he always retained his interest in the work, and, at the
desire of Stein, attended our meeting, and Dr. Schlosser, who
had worked with Herr von Fichard and Dr. Böhmer at the
last number of the Archives, became our Secretary.
Stein placed me between himself and the Saxon Minister,
and invited me first to give an account of the Cappenberg
project, by which the direction of the work was to be
organized, and after it had been discussed in detail, it was
unanimously accepted. With Stein's approval I was appointed
to direct the work, and to employ the money placed at our
disposal, as well as to choose our associates. At the same
time it was settled that I should edit the J ournal of the Society.
The question then arose about the printing and publication.
1 had already negotiated with two publishers in Hanover and
Brunswick, who were both willing to undertake it, but owing
to the probability of its large size and the expense it would
entail, it was necessary to proceed with caution.
I observed, that considering the high character which the
House of Hahn in Hanover bore from their careful and active
businesslike habits, and considering the w~a1th they had
acquired by their publication of classical literature, we might
safely entrust them with the" Monurnenta," and could reckon
upon their faithful fulfilment of whatever they undertook; I
10
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
54
OF
was certain they would esteem it an honour to undertake the
publication of a great national work, such as this would be.
Stein also suggested that it would promote the success of the
work if the printing and publishing were done in the neighbourhood of my residence, it was therefore decided to employ
Hahn in Hanover, and I was commissioned to make the
preliminary contract.
On my way back to Hanover I visited Niebuhr in Bonn
and communicated to him what had been accomplished in
Frankfort. He was then occupied 'with his Roman history
as well as his lectures on ancient and modern history, but he
bestowed whatever remuneration he received on the University, which thus benefited by his exertions. He asked me
about my personal affairs, and when he heard that I received
no salary for my work at the" Monumenta," he wrote to Stein.
NIEBUHR
to
STEIN.*
Bonn, February erst, I824.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Pertz's visit has been a great pleasure to me in the secluded
life which I lead. What he has accomplished since he has
been to Rome excites my truest admiration, and it is delightful to behold the intellect~al vigour of his mind.
Pertz is, to his honour, modest about his future prosperity
in life, but would it not be too great a sacrifice for him to
receive no remuneration for his work?
The social circle which I returned to in Hanover grew
larger, and I became more intimately acquainted with Rehberg
and his family. During my absence he had gradually retired
from all political business, and no longer belonged to the
government; he was now only exceptionally employed in
business that did not require continual exertion.
~ Stein's Leben, VoI.VI. a, p. I7.
G. H. PERTZ.
55
An Ultra-aristocratic party had been formed in Hanover,
with the Chamberlain von Schele at its head. He was a
nephew of Graf Münster, and had been previously in the
service of George Ill. He was ruled by his wife, and with
her went over to the French party, and when the court of King
J erome was the centre of the most contemptible elements of
Hessian, Hanoverian and Brunswick nobility, Herr and Frau
von Schele played a conspicuous part. He naturally got
into disgrace when J erome with his courtiers were driven out
of the country, and Graf Münster treated his contemptible
nephew as he deserved. He was of course passed over when
the Hanoverian Government was established.
When \Villiam IV. died in 1837, and his successor to the
throne of Hanover, Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland,
arrived, accompanied by an aristocratic court, he appointed
Schele Prime Min~ster. During the years 1824 and 1825 I
was occupied with my work in the Archives, as well as
advancing the first volume of the" Monumenta," so that in
the summer of 1825 two hundred sheets were printed. A
notice of its publication was drawn up and distributed every"
where, and met with immediate success. In Hanover, the
Minister von Arnswald subscribed for twenty-four copies.
Brunswick subscribed for seven, and Bückeburg for two, and
the Prussian Government ordered copies for twelve libraries
and universities, and sent the payment in advance; thus the
work was favourably received throughout Germany. In
Vienna, at first only one copy was ordered for the private
library of the Emperor, but later on, at the suggestion of
Prince Metternich, a considerable number were purchased.
I employed the summer holidays of 1825 in making myself
better acquainted with the learned institutions of Halle, Leipsic
and Dresden. In :Halle I met my friend Bluhme, who had
been appointed Professor of Jurisprudence in that University.
At Dresden I obtained access through the Minister, Graf
Einsiedel, to the State Archives, in which a number of
important manuscripts were preserved. Occupied with these
56
AUT01310GRAPHY
OF
researches and enjoying the society of Ebert, the librarian, as
well as the splendid collection of works of art, and tbe drives
in the beautiful neighbourhood,
the weeks passed rapidly
away. The Rehbergs added to the pleasure of the visit, as
we often met in the galleries or on the Brühl Terrace, also in
expeditions into the country, and we spent several evenings
together listening to Tieck's readings.
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Hanover, 19th January, 1825.
Do not be uneasy how your future destiny will be decidedIt is ~right and natural that whoever is conscious of power
and character, endeavours immediately to lead an active life,
but if no suitable vocation offers, then an independent learned
life is better than the unimportant
daily work of a subordinate in business;
what can be more strengthening
and
.elevating than the certai~ty of working for our country, and
if we cannot accomplish much, we can at least contribute
'something.
You see yourself clearly how important
your
active participation is towards the advancement of our undertaking, so I need not repeat it, and I most heartily desire the
success of our joint occupation.
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Hanover, October 6th, 1825.
I received your letters of the 21St of August and 22nd of
September last Saturday, on my return from my journey,
which was much extended, as from the excellent effect of
change of air, and the renewal of old friendships, and by the
. opportunity I found of doing some work for our society, I was
less particular as to time.
I passed some very agreeable weeks, and gained all the
strength I required after such continual exertion, and I have
now resolved, if possible, every year to spend some weeks in
G. H. PERTZ.
57
a similar way. I am now settled down again, and hasten to
tell you what you have not learnt from my letter to our
venerated founder.
I travelled by Brunswick to Halle, Leipsic, Dresden, and
back again to Leipsic ~where I finished looking through the
manuscripts of the Town Library) to 'Weimar; and after paying a visit to Goethe, I went to Nordheim, to make the
acquaintance of Dr. Forstmann, and on to Göttingen and
Hanover. In Göttingen I learnt that Canon Wolff has been
working for several years at the letters of St. Boniface.
[In the year 1826, the first volume of the "Monumenta"
was printed and forwarded to Stein, who had frequently told
his Frankfort friends that he feared it would not appear during his lifetime.]
To
BARON
VOM STEIN.*
August 14th, 1826.
I did not wish to answer your Excellency's letter before the
completion of the first volume of the" Monumenta," That
is now accomplished, and t beg to be the first to thank you,
in the name of our country, for the execution of a work which
your patriotism has started, your judgment, determination
and devotion has founded, and whose future success, with
God's blessing, is no longer doubtful.
I should esteem it an honour if you would permit me
personally to present you the volume in Cappenberg, more
especially, since there are many important subjects connected with the work, on which I desire to receive your
orders.
Herr Schlossen will have already informed your Excellency
that the. work has been favourably received in Hanover.
The day after to-morrow I hope to have the honour of an
• Stein's Leben, Vol. VI., part L, p.
272.
58
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
interview with Graf Münster, and be able again to remind
him of the assistance he promised to give us.
BARON
VON STEIN
to
DR.
PERTZ.
August zoth, 1826.
. The news you have sent me of the completion of the first
volume of the" Monurnenta" has given me immense gratification, which will be much increased if you bring it yourself,
and give me the pleasure of a visit. The principal part of
the merit belongs to you, all the credit I claim, is having contributed in good earnest to the organization arid promotion 'of
the undertaking. The appearance of the first part will silence
those who have any doubt of its success.
[As his journey was delayed for several weeks, he sent the
volume in advance, and Stein wrote on the 19th September.]
BARON
VOM STEIN
to
DR.
PERTZ.
September 19th, 1826.
I have in vain hoped to see you. You have probably been
detained by unforeseen hindrances; I can therefore only
thank you by letter for the copy of the "Monumenta Hist.
Germ. ", which has been sent me, and express my pleasure
at the beauty of the type, which surpasses all my expectations.
it does honour to the establishment of Hahn and to Germa~
skill.
The introduction which precedes each author, proves the
importance of manuscripts which have been hitherto generally neglected, and the German public must rejoice that the
historical documents of our country have been' edited by a
truly clever and intelligent scholar. We must only hope that
our means may be sufficient to take you to Paris to continue
the work you have been doing in Rome and Vienna.
I reached. Paris early in December, 1826, and as the first
G. H. PERTZ.
59
volume of the" Monumenta" came out in that city about
the time of my arrival, it, as well as my letters of introduction, opened the doors to me of the best literary and
political salons of the French capital. At Lafayette's I met
Alexander von Humboldt, and several more of my countrymen, also Ary and Henri Schaffer, who were much valued
by Lafayette. On certain evenings in the week Mrs. Clarke *
invited me to her house, where she collected English,
Germans and Americans. Here I met Augustin and Arnadee
Thierry, Benjamin Constant and his wife, and Mrs. Garnett t
and her daughters, who also appeared regularly at the.
soirees of Lafayette.
In the library I saw a great deal of Abel Remusat, a distinguished physician, who was well versed in Chinese
literature, which he introduced into Europe by his translation
of a Chinese novel called the" Two Cousins ". Through M.
Remusat, I became acquainted with M. Guerard, a young
scholar who under his superintendence was occupied with
. French history, and was making a copy of a register of the lands
belonging to the Abbey of St. Germain in Paris .. This
inventory of the estates of that celebrated Abbey, made under
Charlemagne by the Abbot Irminio, was invaluable in explaining the state of things of that period. It was one of the
works carried out by Charlemagne throughout his empire, and
of which this is almost the only part extant. The rich lands
which this monastery possessed everywhere were registered,
.especially those in the neighbourhood of Paris, and it gave a
detailed account of the estates, their component parts, and
enumerated each separate family, their occupations and their
revenues; it was therefore possible, by comparing it with the
present state of things, to draw an exact parallel between the
Carlovingian times and our own. I urged M. Guerard to
• Mother of Mrs. MohLg
Widow of the astronomer John Garnett. Early in the century he
went to America, and died there in 1820, when his widow and three
daughters returned to England, but soon took up their abode in Paris.
t
60
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
undertake this work, and although he was at first doubtful of
the result, he entered into the idea, and completed and afterwards published it. He became the most distinguished of the
French historians, but unfortunately died prematurely.
The German philologist Hase, from Weimar, a learned
Greek scholar, was highly esteemed by the French. He
patronised the German scholars in Paris, and through his
practical talents obtained a great influence both among
statesmen and in the army. Marshall Scult employed him to
make researches in Algiers and the Morea, and he was a tutor
of Louis Napoleon. After him Letronne was most renowned,
he was called the Napoleon of philologists, and was the centre
of a brilliant society.
Cuvier, who lived in the Jardin des Plantes, received me
with much kindness, and gave me an invitation for his
Saturday evenings. He was by birth a German from Würtemberg, he received his education in the Carlschule at
Stuttgart, and was distinguished among his learned contemporaries for his thorough information.
Through Humboldt I obtained free access to the royal
Archives in the Hotel Soubise, where I studied the documents
of the Merovingian and Carlovingian kings for a new edition
which I intended to publish. Humboldt invited me, together
with .General Lafayette, Benjamin Constant, and his friend
the botanist, Kunth, to a dinner in the Palais Royal, where,
among other political subjects, the state of America was
especially discussed, and Humboldt eagerly. advocated the
necessity for the abolition of slavery in the United States,
and urged Lafayette to express himself openly and strongly
in favour of the measure, though its accomplishment at that
time seemed very remote.
Benjamin Constant was then the most remarkable speaker
of the opposition in the Chamber of Deputies, next to him
Rayer Collard distinguished himself by his influence in that
Assembly j I was struck by the effect he produced by the use
of isolated philosophical maxims.
I was present at the
61
G. H. PERTZ.
celebrated session, in which Peronnet's law about the Press,
called" Lai de Justice et d'Amour ", was discussed.
Royer
Collard opposed it, and spoke with great calmness and dignity.
When he pronounced the words, "11 n'y a pas de Droit contre
le Droit", it went like an electric shock through the House.
Guizot gave me the impression of a dry, calvinistic professor,
who valued learning by its political results.
I had before been
informed of his character, and succeeding years have exposed
his defects.
In 18.4-8, in reference to his assumed integrity,
he received the appellation
in the Chamber of Deputies of
" le Tartuffe de l'honnetete ", The sum total of his philosophy of history was professedly' the constant
progress of
mankind up to the present time, placing himself at the top of
the ladder.
To
DR. BÖHMER.
Paris. December 6th, 1826.
You can hardly have understood,
dear friend, my long
silence.
I have only been three days in Paris.
I spent one
day in Aachen, two at Liege, twenty-one in Brussels, one at
Louvain,
two at Antwerp, three at Ghent, and have examined the libraries everywhere,
except at Aachan
and
Antwerp.
At Liege I rescued out of the dust the un arranged
MSS. of the original of the" Chronicon Lamberti
Parvi et
Reineri ", and the probable Latin original (ssec. xiv •.xv.) of
Reinecke Fuchs.
*
*
*
*
*
In Brussels I examined the still unarranged
manuscripts
returned from Paris, at least 2,000.
I found many important
ones, namely, the MS. of the" Armales Bertiniani and Vedastini ", in the last, two long passages which have never been
printed, and a small one in the" Ann. Bertini.",
I have collated the whole of the" Ann. Vedastini " ; the arbitrariness of the
editor is inexcusable.
Then I collated the whole of a MS. of
" Liutprandi
historia ", from the end of the tenth or eleventh
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
century, and by chemical means brought out completely the
unprinted last chapter of the sixth book-a second MS. from
the eleventh century has been also thoroughly made use of.
It will now be possible to restore" Liutprand "j I pass over
many others. " It is indispensable that some one should be
sent to Brussels, if the necessary collations are to be made,
for example, of a MS. of the" Chron. S. Pantaleanis " and
" Godefridus monachus S. Pantaleanis ".
I have carefully marked each single thing which has to be
done. The large Archives hardly contain anything of use to
us. There is nothing in Liege j in Ghent there is the original
of the" Chronicon de Normannorum gestis in Francia " and
some more important ones j also along with a " Beda ", a very
short "Annales S. Amandi" related to those in the first
volume of the" Monumenta".
December 9th. I have examined this week the MSS. of
the" Capitularien " and of the- Lombard Laws, and shall
continue with those that follow, in order to make the necessary collations at home. Hase has been most obliging, and
of his own accord immediately assured me that in the course
of eight or ten days I should have the MSS. at home.
Having become, through him, acquainted with Abel Remusat
and Guerard, I hope also to obtain the later 1\1:5S., but in
the meantime I hear that there is only one MS. of Neithard
there, and from the sixteenth century, those from which the
formula of the oath was discovered have been returned to Rome.
10
DR. BÖHMER in
Frankfort.
Paris; January 17th, 1827.
Although nowhere perhaps, except in Rome, a stranger
finds so much opportunity as here to amuse himself with the
objects around him, yet there are moments, and not few, when
one feels very solitary in this crowd, and longs for a friend
to share in one's work and amusement.
I was therefore
delighted to receive your last letter, which gives me hopes of
G. H. PERTZ.
seeing you here for a short time this month. Only carry out
your decision quickly, and come as soon as possible. * * *
I have taken a very comfortable room only a few steps from
the Library, at the corner of the rue Richelieu, and in the
centre of all great institutions; there are at least ten rooms
empty in the house, as the number of strangers this winter
does not appear to be as great as the Parisians expected. I
shall be very glad to secure one of the rooms for you, unless
you prefer to choose one for yourself on your arrival. ,,~ * *
Life in Paris is not very attractive, but as comfortable as
anyone can desire who does not make great pretensions.
Whoever has been in Italy can easily accommodate himself
to some few peculiarities that are unknown in Germany.
Much money is not required. A student can li~e quite
. respectably on 3-400 francs a month, and visit the theatre
several times a week. It is easy to gain admittance to evening
assemblies.
Every day I get a firmer footing in the Library; for several
weeks past I have taken the MSS. home, and I work daily
several hours in the Archives on the documents of the
Carlovingians.
If you find nothing to prevent you, I would advise you not
to take the diligence as far ,as Paris, but to stop at Metz, and
to devote two or three days to the library of that town, which
contains the MSS. of the old Metz monasteries. A diligence
leaves Metz every day for Paris. * * *
Since communication between different places is now so
very easy, I hope that your present visit to Paris will not be
the only one, for I know that your "Codex diplomaticus"
will not allow of a long interruption, and that your visit can
only last a few weeks. What you write to me about your
work has interested me very much; you could hardly have
written me anything more pleasing than the last news in your
letter, namely, that you have discovered in the environs of
Frankfot t traces of the old German Constitution which
.existed up to 1800. Just before I left Hanover I made the
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
same discovery in the neighbourhood of my native town, and
the surrounding principalities, which has convinced me that
it is only the fault of historians that the same has not been'
done with more or less accuracy for other parts of Germany.
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Paris, April 8th, I827.
I write to tell you that the King has granted my request
and prolonged my leave of absence for three months more,
and has added the permission to spend the last two months in
England. Therefore I shall only be here till the end of the
month, and I think of going to London by Laön and Amiens.
I hope to find in Laon the only MS. of Eginhardt's letters i it
was formerly preserved in the library of the Chapterhouse,
which has been united since the French Revolution with the
town library. In England I shall endeavour to finish all
the MSS. of the Laws, and what is extant of Alcuin, Bonifacius, and Liutprand, and if possible on the journey back
to spend a few days examining the libraries in Leyden, the
Hague, Amsterdam and Utrecht. * * *
The hidden treasures of the library (in Paris) have been
made accessible to me by Guerard, who takes a lively interest
in our work, and with whom I am on a most friendly footing.
This state of things might easily be transferred to you, if your
business would allow you to come here this spring or summer,
in which case I would mark for you all the MSS. which I
have already examined and used. * ~, ~,
'In the beginning of May, 1827, I went from Paris to
England. On my way, at Laöns, I discovered a MS. which
had beenmissing for two hundred years, namely, the letters
of the celebrated historian, Einhart or Eginhardt, who in the
ninth c~ntury took refuge here, when he fled from the
Normans in Ghent.
G. H. PERTZ.
Cuvier and my other Parisian friends, gave me letters of
introduction to their friends in England, and through Graf
Münster I was admitted to an audience at the Duchess of
. Kent's, where I saw her eldest daughter, the Duchess of
Leiningen and the Dukes of Sussex and Cambridge. I was
invited to their large receptions, and the Duke of Sussex
shewed me his library, invited me to dinner, and introduced
me to the most distinguished scholars of London, Oxford and
Cambridge. I visited the principal museums, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr. Charles Manners Sutton, admitted
me into the library of Lambeth Palace.
In these establishments I collected much information connected with German history, which I published in the succeeding volumes of the" Monumenta," and I was most kindly
received by all the professors and heads of these learned and
valuable institutions.
In the course of the summer I visited
Cambridge, Oxford and Salisbury, and after trying in vain to
see Sir Thomas Phillip's" large collection of manuscripts at
Middlehill, I returned to London and paid a second visit to
Paris, where, on the 24th of September, I was married to
Miss Julia Garnett+ in the presence of the Hanoverian
Minister, of General Lafayette, and other friends.
After visiting the neighbourhood of Paris, we left France
early in October, visited Niebuhr in Bonn, and Stein at
Cappenberg, and reached Hanover by the end of the month.
During my stay in England, Graf Münster was much
occupied with a disagreeable business ..
Duke Charles of Brunswick had been advised to accuse
George IV. and his Minister of having unjustly deprived him
of his Government, and he therefore spread false accusations
against the king in the European courts, especially those of
Prussia and Austria; this induced George IV. to desire Graf
Münster to refute these calumnies; he was engaged in this
• Possessor of a valuable library in Worcestershire .
.t See p. 5~
E
66
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
task and communicated the substance of it to me. The refutation was written in French, being designed for all the
European Courts, and when it was completed Graf Münster
presented it to George IV. for his approval, who being per-.
fectly satisfied with it, ordered it to be translated
and
published also in German, and the Minister entrusted
me
with the translation.
George IV. had empowered
.
the Minister
to say that
from
his present experience, if he had it again in his power, as in
he would
1813 and 18[4, to restore the German Principalities,
hardly be inclined to do so. I ventured to represent to Graf
Münster in what light this declaration would be received in
the Courts of the smaller German princes, but the Minister
replied that was the King's affair, and left the statement
unaltered.
Stein was agreeably surprised by this passage in
the pamphlet, since it was exactly in contradiction
to what
Graf Münster had maintained at the Congress of Vienna.
Duke Charles of Brunswick, encouraged by the Court of Austria, persevered in his dispute with George IV. and GrafM ünster.
He asserted that he was entitled by the laws of Brunswick
to assume the reins of government
at eighteen, but as this
was a doubtful point, I was empowered to investigate
its
legality, and I discovered that from the earliest times down
to the present date, the Dukes only attained their majority at
twenty-five.
The Government
endeavoured
to pacify him;
but he obstinately
maintained
his point, and the principal
members of the State and the City of Brunswick contemplated
his removal.
He was alarmed by disturbances
in the town,
and under the plea of security he had the Archives, which
had been preserved in the same venerable building for four
hundred years, removed to the palace; but the people rose in
rebellion, pillaged and burnt down the palace; and the Duke,
to save his life, fled with his possessions and left the country.
After the flight of the Duke, the Burgomaster,
Bode, along
with two of the principal inhabitants
of the town, restored
tranquillity
and placed at the head of the Government
the
G. H. PERTZ.
younger brother of the Duke, who was a lieutenant in the
Prussian Guards at Berlin. The real power was in the
hands of Bode, who with an ardent and courageous devotion
_to his country, only desired its welfare and the preservation
of the town, and by his extraordinary exertions he maintained
order. When the tidings of these events reached Hanover I
was sent to Brunswick to endeavour-to save the Archives. I
offered a reward for every document which was forthcoming,
and about a third of them were reclaimed out of the hands of
the Jews, but much injured, and the gold seals cut off; they
were afterwards incorporated with the Ducal Archives at
Welfenbüttel.
The first document which came into my
hands was the record of the foundation of the Duchy of
Brunswick-Lüneburg by the Emperor Frederick 11.
I had now received the. appointment of Archivrath and
Librarian of the Hanoverian Library, a position which
allowed me to reckon on a permanent employment suited to
my capabilities and my tastes, combined with an independence
such as I required to fulfil the expectations of my friends.
We resided at first near the library, but finally settled in a
house outside the town with a garden.
In 1829 I was commissioned by the Government to offer
Professor Dahlmann of Kiel the situation at Göttingen vacant
by the death of Sartorias.
As Dahlmann had been out of favour with the Danish
Government, ever since he had brought the complaints of the
Holstein nobility before the Diet, he agreed to accept the
appointment.
His opinions. were shared by Stein and the
Hanoverian Government, who considered him a great acquisition to the 'University of Göttingen. In the autumn Dahlmann with his family paid us a visit, and afterwards entered
upon his new office in Göttingen. About the same time the
historian Lappenberg from Hamburg with his wife visited us
on their way to Italy. Both he and Dahlmann were active
contributors to the" Monumenta Germanica."
In July, 1831, having been invited by Stein to meet him at
68
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
Pyrmont, we hoped to have shown him our two sons, but on
our arrival at the hotel we were met by Graf Kilmansegge,
his son-in-law, who asked us if we had not heard what had
occurred. Baron vom Stein had suddenly died at Cappenberg
the day before, and equally unexpectedly we learnt that a few
days previously, Niebuhr and his wife had died at Bonn,
Stein bequeathed to me the task of continuing and if pos·
sible finishing the" Monumenta Germanica." I relied on the
faithful assistance of my friend Böhmer and other scholars,
and the support of the German Governments, and I· have
now (1869) lived to see twenty volumes almost finished, and
a work :created which will preserve the memory of Stein in
everlasting honour.
To
DR. BÖHMER.
Hanover.6th
DEAREST
July, 183I.
FRIEND,
The news of the death of our noble Founder will have
affected you as painfully as it has me. We have both of us
lost in him a fatherly friend; the "Monurnenta"
its most
ardent supporter; the country, perhaps, its last great man,
who possessed integrity, power and sufficient personal
authority to be the leader in the approaching storms. He
leaves a blank behind him which no one can fill. You may
have heard that he intended, the very evening he died, or at the
latest, the foUowing morning, to arrive at Pyrmont where his
daughter was drinking the waters, and where he had also
appointed me to meet him. * * A slight cold during the warm
days, when he usually suffered from the oppressive air, was
accompanied by fever, which at first subsided, so that no
·danger was apprehended, but returned again with more
violent symptoms, which grew so serious that the patient
became aware that his end was approaching. He met it with
the quiet composure which was natural to him, took the
Sacrament early on Wednesday, and when he~had settled all
69
G. H. PERTZ.
his worldly affairs, he passed several hours without pain, and
uttering kind and benevolent words, he died at six o'clock in
the evening (June 29th, 1831).
He will be buried, as he
desired, beside his ancestors and his revered mother, at
Frucht, near Nassau; his daughter and son-in-law will go
there in a few days, where the Gräfin Giech* was also
expected.
It is now our duty tc continue without him to advance the
work he originated. In your last visit here we both decided
that we are able and willing to do so. Since then, to my
great vexation, the plan of my journey to Munich for this
year, is upset, as I have been given an unusual amount of
work, and been refused leave of absence.
To
DR. BÖHMER.
Hanover, July zöth, 1831.
I shall send Herr Hase as soon as I can the collation of
the passages of the" Lambert," with the "Vita Annonis" ;
unfortunately, it is impossible for me to do so just now, on
account of the large amount of work for which I am responsible, and for which reason you will kindly excuse this short
letter. I shall only have some breathing space when you
return from your journey to Lorraine and Burgundy, the
result of which I shall be delighted to hear. Political prospects are more peaceful, and you need not fear the chblera in
Frankfort as much as we do in the north.
*
*
*
*
*
*
If you think my presence in Frankfort later on will further
the work of the" Monumenta " I shall be quite ready to go
there for some days, and shall easily get leave of absence.
• Stein had two daughters, Gräfin Giech and Gräfin Kielmansegge.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER
OF
IV.-I83I-I834.
DURING the year 1831great changes took place.
The seat of
the Hanoverian Government had hitherto been near the :
person of the king in London, but in consequence of Graf
Münster resigning the post which he had hitherto held, and
owing to the nomination of the Duke of Cambridge as Viceroy,
it had been removed to Hanover, and the government being
placed in the hands of the Viceroy and his Ministers, its
power was naturally much increased. Several new administrative arrangements were _made, and it was considered
necessary to set up a newspaper, as hitherto Hanover only
produced, on Saturdays, half a sheet of the most meagre and
timidly expressed record of events. I therefore consented, in
accordance with the wishes of the government, to be the
editor of the paper, under the following conditions: that I
should have its sole guidance, independent of any censorship j
that I was to be my own censor and bear the whole responsibility j that I should receive no pecuniary profit for my
trouble, and be at liberty to resign the editorship at any
moment, if I should feel it necessary. I thus secured as much
independence as an editor could desire. I was independent
of the government and other influences, and lastly, independent
of myself, since I had no temptation of any personal advantage.
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Hanover, December znd, 183I.
In the hopes of seeing you and His Excellency the Minister
von Nagler, in Frankfort, I shall probably go there byway
of Göttingen the end of next week,.to talk about the continuation of the" Monurnenta" with you.
Please let me have a line at Professor Bluhme's in
Göttingen, that I may be certain of really meeting you.
Meantime I consider it my duty to tell you that, though very
71
G. H. PERTZ.
reluctantly, I have at last consented to offer myself as editor,
for the first year, of the Hanoverian
newspaper,
as I have
been urgently pressed to do so by Dahlmann, as well as by
Bluhme, Stüve and Kohlrausch,
and been also convinced of
the importance
of the paper for Hanover,
and perhaps for
Germany.
It will appear here on the first of January, 1832.
In order that you may not misunderstand
me, and that you
may be exactly informed about the state of things, a verbal
explanation is necessary.
It has cost me a great effort, but
I have acted with the belief that Stein and Niebuhr would
have approved of my decision.
Therefore do not judge before
you have heard me.
The newspaper was advertised in December and appeared
on the rst of January, 1832. My friends Kohlrausch, Stüve,
Dahlmann,
Jacob and \Vilhelm Grimm and Brandis sent
articles
which excited
the greatest
enthusiasm,
and spread
the interest and influence of the paper both in the kingdom
of Hanover and the rest of Germany.
I encouraged free
discussion from all sides and on every subject of importance,
and this led to the publication
of the parliamentary
debates
when the General Assembly of the States met. I was elected
by the town of Hameln, a deputy in the Second Chamber,
and retained this place as long as the Assembly lasted, which
was only ten months.
After its close I devoted, my time
exclusively to my literary work, since I was convinced by my
experience
of parliamentary
life, I should best serve my
country by continuing in the path I had hitherto pursued.
In this year, 1832, I was employed by Government to write
a statement on the foundation of the Hanoverian Constitution,
and in the course of the year it was so far completed that the
Government was able to see where the most important alterations could be made. Among other things the Crown property
and domains were discussed,
concerning
which the most
opposite opinions prevailed, but which were cleared up through
my investigation.'
12
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
To
DR.
OF
BÖHMER.
Hanover, February 24th, 1832.
I am certain you will pardon me for my long silence, even
after the reception of your valuable letter of the 14th January,
for you know, dear friend, that the only cause of this silence
has been the newspaper, which only now begins to' proceed
smoothly and to give me less trouble; hitherto it has exclusively taken up most of my time.
I must now turn my thoughts to Frankfort to see what
people think of me there, for however certain I am, in all
circumstances, of your friendship, and am never afraid of
being misunderstood by you, yet I cannot expect the same
indulgence from others.
Herr von Nagler will blame me on account of the article
" Gegen die Fürchtenden ",* at least I hear that in Frankfort
as well as in Berlin it is not liked; the Prussian minister here
regards it very seriously.
At the same time, I think he is so clear-sighted, that I need
not fear its affecting the" Monumenta."
If you can, will you
be so good as to remove my doubts about it?
To tlu same.
Hanover, March 7th, 1832.
* * I am daily expecting an assistant for the newspaper to
relieve me from much business which absorbs my time. It
gets on better now that we are more experienced, but also
worse, as the extreme susceptibility of the Hanoverians makes
them often imagine they are ill-used,
The short and masterly description of our venerable'
Founder, which lately appeared in the article called" Gegen
die Fürchtenden.", was written by Dahlmann, but he does
not wish it to be known, because the Prussian Government
considers the article revolutionary, and it might therefore get
him into trouble in Hanover.
Written by Prof. Dahlmann, which had caused some offence to Prussla.
G. H. PERTZ.
73
It is nearly a year since you have been here; the spring
weather to-day reminds me of those beautiful days.
To
PROFESSOR
DAHLMANN.
Hanover, March 21St, 1832.
The Duke (of Cambridge) sent for me at eleven o'clock,
and he' communicated to me that the Government was in
difficulty on account of that article. *
*
*
He acknowledged the difficulty of editing a newspaper,
more especially in Hanover, where nothing of the sort had
existed, and where everyone is ready to take offence at each
word, therefore it is impossible to see how any paper can be
written. He said all this in a friendly, kind manner; but
the Prussian Parliament cannot be again mentioned.
The Prussian ambassador asked for a private audience
with the Duke this morning at noon, evidently on the same·
business.
O'
March 23rd, 18~2.
I wish you would decide to write a series of articles, upon
the present state of Germany. Think over it and let me
know your decision.
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Hanover, April r rth, 1832.
For the last eight days Dr. Lex of Nassau has been my
assistant with the newspaper, a very cultivated young
man ,
,
with upright and delicate feelings, and I should have been
able to breathe again, and even to continue writing (which I
ha ve hitherto been prevented from doing, owing to the enormous
amount of business connected with the editorship) had I not
been elected by the town of Hanover a deputy to the General
Assembly of the States, and under present circumstances,
when everything depends on the next meeting, I felt obliged
to accept my election. To-day, however, the Assembly has
• Gegen die Fürchtenden.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
74
OF
been prorogued to the 30th of May, so I hope to be able to
finish my present work for the" Monumenta," before the very
busy time arrives.
*
*
Your catalogue of the Carlovingian Regesta is surprisingly
copious. I should like to commence the work at once, if I
was not prevented by my present occupations.
*
My best thanks for the portraits of ,Niebuhr. I have sent
one, as you know, to Dahlmann. They appear to be very
well executed; the artist has caught the characteristic features
of Niebuhr, but probably when younger. I confess that
though I value the picture, as a picture, and because I can
think of Niebuhr when looking at it, I should hardly have
recognised the likeness. I met with the same thing once
before at Rome, in a picture drawn by Schnorr, which
Bunsen now possesses. You perhaps know that there is a
likeness of him in Bann, which, according to the testimony of
his dying wife, must be very like. Brandis knows it, it was
to have been engraved.
The article on English Reform is by Gülich, the review of
Stüve's work by Rehberg, who is by far the most active contributor. Will you not send me sornething ; anything about
your, neighbourhood or about yourself, either general or
particular, for your observations will be true and hit the right
mark,
To the same.
Hanover, September 21St, 1832.
I will no longer put off writing to you, as I hope I may
possibly secure your visit when you travel back from Berlin
to Frankfort. I hope your time is not so limited that you
cannot give us a few days, and we are not much out of the
way, as it will enable you to visit the Archives at Magdeburg
on the road. . You will, alas, find me still immersed in politics,
G. H. PERTZ.
75
but I am anxiously looking forward to the end of the Diet
(which has lasted four months), and longing to get to work at
the" Monumenta," where daily progress is made, and not to
waste time listening to empty talk, which prevails here also,
and which I am obliged to have published.
You will find Dahlmann here, and perhaps Bluhme and
Hormayr, who continues working on the "Monumenta
Boica" and. the "Langschen Regesta," and has already
shown me the second volume of the Imperial documents;
those which are taken from copies will be published in the
spring, and will be equal in number to those which are taken
from the original MSS.
My wife joins me in hoping that you will stay with us in
our now enlarged house, and see the garden in its autumnal
dress. The grapes are certainly not equal to those on the
Rhine, but we give what we have, and we know that you will
not expect more than what can be produced in our northern
climate. Therefore do not let us expect you in vain.
To the same.
Hanover, November 29th, 1832.
Since your departure, dear friend, all has gone on here in
the usual way, and this is the first day I have had any leisure,
owing to the sess~onof the States being postponed for three
days.
*
*
*
*
*
*
After Bluhme's hesitation for several weeks about his destination, he has at last decided for Göttingen, and I hope his
appointment will soon be confirmed. This unsettled state of
things has a bad influence on his mind and his energy; it is
out of the question to feel happy when there is the possibility
that in the course of every year all outward circumstances
may be changed, and unfavourable conditions added, such as
those at present in the University.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
To the same.
Hanover, January 6th, 1833.
.:' * * As to my own affairs, since I do not consider
this the right moment to give up the editorship of the Hanoverian newspaper, I must sacrifice two hours to it regularly
every day; but as soon as a fit opportunity offers, I shall
withdraw entirely from parliamentary business. As you will
have remarked, the paper has now a much wider circulation,
which was necessary, and many people here declare it contains so much matter, that no other newspaper is required.
There are now only some able and trustworthy correspondents
needed from South Germany and Berlin. The Hanoverians
have very much fallen off, on account of the great space
occupied by the reports of the States.
To
PROFESSOR
DAHLMANN.
Hanover, 13th April, 1833.
I hasten to send you and your wife the good news, that my dear
wife gave birth to a son this afternoon, and, thank God, is as
well as circumstances permit. My wife says she has taken a
fancy for the name Hermann, and hopes you will he with us at
the christening. As I am of the same mind with her, I send
you our wishes and entreaties, in hopes that you will grant
them j and that you will also have the kindness to let our
friends, the Bluhmes, Rehbergs and Grimms, hear of the
increase of our domestic happiness.
[Dr. Pertz had three sons; the eldest, KarJ Augustus, godson
of Baron vom Stein, was born in 1828. He worked several
years under his father in the Berlin Library, and edited the
"Gai Grani Liciniani," which was much commended. He
was appointed Sub-Librarian at the University of Greifswald,
which office he held several years, but died in 1881. The
second son George, godson of Niebuhr, was born in 1830, he
G. H. PERTZ.
77
studied law, and besides writing original verses, he made a
very good translation of some of Burns' poems into German.
He died in r870.
Hermann, the youngest, was born in r833 and Dahlmann
was his godfather. He entered the Prussian army as an
engineer, and distinguished himself in the Franco-German
War at the sieges of Strasburg and Paris, by his courage
and his energetic active service.• He was presented with the
Iron Cross by the Crown Prince on February 3rd, r87r. In
accordance with the law in Prussia, he was obliged to resign his
post in the Armyin October, r880, to give place to younger men,
which was a great distress to him; and not being of a strong
constitution, overwork and exposure to the cold of a severe
winter in England, while constructing a railway, caused his
death in I88r. He had good: abilities, a lively disposition,
very domestic habits, and was much beloved by his wife
and children, and all who knew him.]
To
PROFESSOR
DAHLMANN.
Hanover. April 29th, 1833,
Before the post leaves to-day, I am anxious to ask a favour
from you, hoping much that you will grant it. You know
that last year, you wished to send a full account to our newspaper of our method of tuition, especially in the Universities,
and I always hoped you would do so at your first leisure
moment; but time now passes, and Rose has commissioned
me to ask you for it. The Governments, and still more the
aristocratic parties, are so hostile to the Universities, that
unless they are forestalled, it is to be feared that something
very bad may occur. A paragraph in the paper by you, in
which the subject would be impartially and clearly stated,
might do much good. .In all the newspapers there are semiofficial menaces from the Governments, and there exists nowhere a moderate opinion upon such adifficult and choice
subject.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
My wife and children are well and beg to be remembered to
you. Yesterda y little George asked where your Dorothea was!
You see what a dangerous impression the roguish little girl
makes.
In July, 1833, I visited the old monastery of Fulda,
founded by a disciple of St. Boniface, and remained several
days there examining its manuscripts. As I heard that- there
were some in a cha pel above the town, I ascended the hill,
enjoying the view over the surrounding country, and entered
the chapel. There I found a solitary old priest, to whom I
expressed my wishes; he replied that there were no manu- .
scripts there, but when I urged my request and mentioned
what I had heard about them, he said, " Is it possible that
you are Pertz? " and upon my answering in the affirmative
he expressed his joy, and confided to me that he did possess
the manuscripts, but he kept it secret, only showing them to
historians.
From Fulda I went to \Vürzburg, where I met my friend
Dr. Böhmer, who joined me, and we travelled together to
Bamberg and saw the cathedral and the monastery of
Michelberg. In the library I discovered the original MSS.
by the learned Richer (a scholar of the famous Gerbert, Pope
Sylvester 11.) of the history of the tenth century, of which I
made an exact coPy, and had it published in the third volume
of the" Monumenta."
From Bamberg we went to Nuremberg, 'and after seeing
the works of Albert Dürer, and the churches of St. Sebastian
and Lorenz, we proceeded by Augsburg to Munich, where
we spent several weeks examining the large collections of
manuscripts in the Royal Library, the University Library,
and the Archives, and visited the numerous monasteries which
contained valuable materials for the '! Monumenta."
We called on the principal artists, 'Cornelius, Schnorr,
Ansler and Hess, and renewed the acquaintance we had
begun in Rome.
G. H. PERTZ.
79
The continuation of the" Menumenta "occupied me during
the winter of 1834, and ·1 was able to finish the printing of
the third volume in the July of the following year.
To
PROFESSOR
DAHLMANN.
Hanover, October 18th, 1833.
1 am glad that 1 am able to send you this letter by your
son Hermann, who agreeably surprised us by his arrival two
hours ago. I wish 1 could accompany him on his return
home, to make up for what I lost when I passed your door in
the early morning, but since I cannot have that pleasure at
present, I must be satisfied with writing to you.
So far we might look forward to a quiet winter, if everything else accorded equally with our desires.
I allude
particularly to my amphibious position between history and
politics, which after two years' experience, I see clearly will
not permit proper work and success to either, and which I
must give up if this half and half condition of things lasts
much longer. My journey, which for the first time permitted.
me to return to one single occupation, first led me to consider
it desirable to give up my employment with the newspaper.
It is quite necessary after such a long pause that the work
with the" Monumenta" should be soon and quickly resumed,
and in order to do that, it is out of the question continuing to
edit the paper, which on the other hand, owing particularly
to my having undertaken parliamentary duties, with its bad
results, has not become what 1 desired it to be. With the
exception of one or two men, the Government has
not supplied any news, the contributors are either tired
or otherwise engaged, and leave me in the lurch. Under
these circumstances the newspaper as well as the" Monumenta" would succeed better if I gave up the former, and I
intend to represent this to the Minister, but 1 should like at
the- same time to point out how the paper might be
improved. * ~, *
80
AUTOBIOGRAPHV
OF
Rose has several times urged me to enter Parliament
again, which I have decidedly refused. Yesterday Kohlrausch
spoke to me on the subject, after Rose had fully informed
him, how important he considered it, hut he did not convince
me. His principal reason is, that when the Chambers open,
other newspapers may appear and report the debates
differently, and consequently the Hanoverian paper would
not be read, while he thinks it important that the debates
should be reported by a 'member of the House, who has the
means of hearing what is going on, and is trustworthy. I do
not entirely share this apprehension; if those who were the
principal opponents of the paper are again returned, it
is hardly to be expected that they will take the trouble to
write a paper themselves, for they are too much occupied
with other matters, even to find time to speak. Therefore the
Hanoverian paper ought to have, while the House sits, one
or two leading articles every week upon what is going on,
and if they are not always written by Rose or Stüve themselves, they must express their views, but might be written
by those who are not members of the House; and every day
there should be a short sketch given, after the manner of the
English papers, in which case they are sure to be read.
With good reporters we ought not to have any anxiety. I am
aware that as a member of the House I might be useful, but
with my reasons against it, the necessity does not seem to
me sufficiently urgent to make me desire to sit again. Let
me hear your opinion, which I hardly think will differ from
mine, as you yourself have refused to be re-elected.
After Stein's death, my friend Dr. Bäehme and I had very
little pecuniary means, except our own, for carrying on the
work of the "Monumenta."
Therefore in 1834 we applied
to the German' Confederation at Frankfort, and were from
that time helped by the Government, so as to enable me to
acquire some assistants, who came to Hanover and worked
under my direction. The most distinguished amongst them
81
G. H. PER'rZ.
was Dr. Waitz, who in 1842 was called to Kiel, as Professor
of History, and in 1848 went to Göttingen in the same
capacity.
To
DR. BÖHMER.
Hanover, October 7th, T834'
* * * * The family of Stein asked me in the spring
to write a biography of our late Founder. On every accountI felt bound to comply with such a request, and a fortnight
ago I heard that the steps I proposed to take towards collecting the materials had been accepted, and that I shall
receive a selection of the papers from Cappenberg and'
Nassau. It will not at first add much to my work, since
merely collecting the materials will occupy all the time till
Easter. I am sure this will meet with your approval.
To the same.
Hanover, October 27th, I834'
I have well weighed what you have said about Stein's
life, but I consider the work (as far as it is such) a relaxation
compared with that of the third volume of the" Monumenta,"
and I believe that my undertaking it will be useful, since the'
information contained in it bears both on 'the present time
and the future; because in order to understand the whole aim
of his 'life the state of the law in the German Empire for a
thousand past years must be thoroughly explained. But'
Stein's own life is undoubtedly the principal object, and it'
appears to me right to make it known.
[In the summer of 1835 Dr. Pertz, accompanied by his wife
and little boys, went to Ostend for sea-bathing, and to meet'
Mrs. Gamett and her daughters, whom they had not seen for
six years. The Garnetts had come from Paris.
He left'
them chere and continued the journey with his friend,' Dr. :
Böhmer, whom they had met at Cologne. Owing to political
F
82
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
disturbances they met with some difficulties on the road.
The kingdom of the Netherlands, as arranged by the Congress
of Vienna, consisted of Protestant Holland and Catholic
Belgium, consequently they could not agree.
In 1830
Belgium rose, and there was much fighting in Brussels. The
countries finally separated, and a Declaration of Independence
was proclaimed by the Belgian National Congress. In 1835
the countries had not yet settled down.]
At Cologne we paid a visit to Archbishop Spiegel, the old
friend of Stein and a constant patron of the" Monumenta."
No one could anticipate how unfortunate the choice of his
. successor, Droste, would prove to Prussia and all Germany.
The beautiful library, which Archbishop Spiegel had been
collecting for many years and which he bequeathed to the
Cathedral Chapter, was immediately closed by his successor,
and consequently rendered useless.
From Cologne we went to Liege, Louvain, Mechlin,
Ghent and Brüges, and by canal to Ostend. As communication betwe~n Belgium and Holland had not been perfectly
restored, Dr. Böhmer and I were obliged to make a circuit
through France to Calais, and so on to Rotterdam, which
we reached after a quiet passage. We then travelled through
South Holland to Delft, Haarlem and Leyden.
The University of Leyden possesses a rich collection of
books and manuscripts, so we found enough to occupy us in
valuable documents for the "Monumenta."
Nevertheless
the academical life appeared to us in many respects defective.
We met with much kindness from the Professors, who took
great interest in our historical work, and at the Hague we
were equally well received by the officials in the Archives and
the Library, namely by the librarians, Herr Holtromp and
Herr Groen uan Prinsterer. We proceeded in a Trekschuyt*
to Amsterdam, where we remained several days, and ended
• Boat used on the canals in Holland.
G. H. PERTZ.
our tour in the old archeopiscopal town of Utrecht.
We
returned by Scheveningen, Louvain and Dunkirk to Ostend,
"
where I had left my family. I had been made very anxious
during the journey by receiving no letters, but was relieved
by finding them all well, and it turned out that in consequence
of the unpleasant feeling then prevailing between the two
countries, none of their letters had been forwarded.
END
OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
LETTERS
CHAPTER
OF.
V.
LETTERS.-I836-184I.
To
DR.
BÖHMER,
Hanover, 15th July, 1836.
My principal request to-day is this. The cholera is getting
the upper hand in Italy, and not only on account of the
danger of the illness, but the tiresome quarantine established
by the different governments, may make it very doubtful
whether it would be wise and right for you to go there this
year. You will have more certain information than we have
at a greater distance; if it is such that you cannot make the
journey safely, I should advise you to come north and spend
the months of August and September with us.
My wife, who knows that nothing could give me greater
pleasure, joins me in the invitation. You could make excursions to Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg, Wolfenbüttel and
Gernrode, whilst I am superintending the printing of the
fourth volume of the" Monumenta." There will also be
time for me to take daily walks with you in our neighbourhood, and it will be a satisfaction to me to discuss many
things with you about our work.
You would live here very quietly, work without undertaking too much, and finally return to Frankfort, having made
many acquisitions.
To the same.
Hanover, December 31St, 1836.
On the last evening of the year, I send you, dear friend,
my best wishes for the approaching year, and hope that you
may begin it, live through it, and end it, in health and cheer-
G. H. PERTZ.
fulness. I and my family are', thank God, well, and I look
forward to continuing actively and vigorously at work.
In the year that is passing away I have had a severe affliction. A fortnight ago I lost my father. He was preserved
to us up to his eighty-fourth year, and we have every reason
to be thankful that he retained his strength to the end. He
spent some weeks of this summer with us, then returned to
his house in the town, saw all his earthly desires fulfilled,
and felt that his home was no longer here. His end was,
therefore, all that one could wish. At nine o'clock in the
evening he went, as usual, to bed, and intended,although
unwell, to rise at five; one hour later he slept away. He had
perfectly accomplished his task in life, therefore we ought not
to wish him back again, however painfully we feel ourselves
lost without him.
To the same.
Hanover,
July 21St, 1837,
* * * * A few days ago I received your letter of the
gth with its contents, and send you my best thanks for it, dear
friend. You have not only fully attained the object of your
journey: but you have opened up new fields of knowledge
which I hope you will profit by. If, through want of time
and circumstances, you have not been able to arrive at all
you desired, you can make up for it the next opportunity
which offers.
.
I am now very anxious to discuss with you what is to be
done next month. After the fourth volume" is finished, of
which the text, contents, preface and index as far as Care .
'printed, I can dispense with the services of Dr. Waitz. I
shall besides be freer, since I have determined to give up the
editorship of the Hanoverian paper. * * * * I could,
therefore, 'travel for six or seven weeks, which would be very
I
... The Monumenta
Gerrnanica."
86
LETTERS
OF
good for me; the correction and arrangement of eight hundred pages (the size of the fourth volume) was hard work,
and we must gain fresh strength for a new volume. Now the
question is: first, would you like me to go first to Frankfort,
bringing Dr. Waitz with me, to make you acquainted with
him. Secondly, have you determined to make a second
journey to Italy, and what time do you think of going to
Montpellier ? If you are free in August we could visit the
Swiss libraries and Archives together, and take Dr. Waitz
with us, or let him return to Hanover, by Cassel, where he
has relations; but we must visit Einsiedeln (for the sake of
its third Codex of the Annals), Muri, Engelberg, Rheinau,
Zurich, St. Gallen and Berne; I also consider it would be
worth while to visit St. Maurice in the Valais, St. Jean de
Maurienne, and Monstiers in the Tarantaise; both the last
were Archiepiscopal Sees in the time of Charlemagne
(Maurienna and Tarantaria) now in Savoy, whose libraries
and archives Bluhme hardly mentions; and perhaps they
ha ve not been examined by the Piedmontese scholars for the
M01Zumenta patri«, ,
To the same.
Geneva, September
rst, 1837.
I intended to have written to you, dear friend, from Basel,
but was prevented by the short time I was there. After I
parted from you with much regret, the coach brought me in
forty-four hours to Basel, where I' arrived on Monday at
twelve o'clock. After dinner I went to the library and
fortunately met myoId colleague in the philological seminary,
the Librarian, Professor Gerlach, and I saw the Holbeins.
~, 'I' * In the morning and afternoon of Tuesday I examined
the manuscripts in the library, where I found some valuable
ones. Short annals of the tenth century, though of small
value, were copied. In a chronicle, which was written before
1218, there is a remark that the Palatinate of the Rhine in.
G. H. PERTZ.
electione Rom regis prinills est; at the same time I found that
several historical MSS. are either entirely wanting or are
defaced, so that Gerlach, with the best intentions, could not
find them. Whatever 1\1:SS.we wish to have from Basel will
be sent us to Frankfort.
To the same.
Chambery, September 7th, 1837.
I have been much pleased with the valley of St. Jean de
Maurienne, which is enclosed by high Alps, and lies solitary
and wild on the outskirts of the world, but the sight of the
cretins would make it unpleasant to live here. Montneiliar,
where the Isere flows out of the hills, is one of the most
beautiful spots in the Alps; the valley is full of Indian corn
and rice. Savoy is especially an industrial country, and the
inhabitants' are very diligent.
The priesthood seem very
powerful, and have much influence with the people. Everything has the appearance of order, which I formerly was glad
to remark was the case in Turin.
Only the postal arrangements are troublesome and have lost me this day,
Hanover, October 8th, 1837.
I missed you very much in Frankfort, so after one
day's rest in your hospitable house, and after talking
over the most important
things with Herr Schöff
Thomas, I continued my journey without stopping at
Giessen or Marburg.
I arrived in Lucerne just as Herr
Schneller was leaving; I walked out with Professor Kopp,
and we went on the lake, which was lighted up by the full
moon. On the 17th of September I went to Winkel, crossed
the lake to Stanzstadt, walked to Stanz and drove thence to
Engelburg, where I was allowed to examine all the manuscripts. '" * * About noon I left, descending again to the
Lake of Lucerne, crossed to Brunnen and walked to Schwyz.
I reached Einsiedeln on the 19th, whence I sent you a letter.
88
~,.* : '" Early
,LETTERS
OF
on the zoth I went by steamer
to Zurich,
where I was very kindly received by the Archivist, Meyer
von Knonau.
;~
I hear that the Ministry
have
accepted my resignation of the Hanoverian newspaper, but I
am waiting for a written decision before announcing it.
:\
* *
[Dr. Pertz resigned th~ editors hip of the Hanoverian newspaper at the death of William IV., 1837. Hanover then was
separated from England and came under the government of
the'Duke
of Cumberland,"
who was disliked by the Hanoverians on account of his narrow views and his tyrannical
dismissal of some of the ablest Professors from the University
of Göttingen on political grounds.]
To the same.
Hanover, January rst, 1838. ~
I cannot enter upon a new and perhaps momentous year
without thinking of you, dear friend, and sending you my
hest wishes.
May this year bring you much satisfaction
and continue the success you have hitherto had, by your
unceasing activity for the country and for the promotion of
learning ; and may you be fortunate in whatever may add
to your happiness.
My wife shares these wishes with me,
and sends you her best regards.
We have begun the new
year with earnest thoughts.
To the same.
Hanover, November 25th. 1838..
Dear friend, the quite unexpected
news in your letter of
the death of Herr Schöff Thomas, has. pained. me deeply.
You lose in him a friend whom no one. can replace, and
Frankfort
and Germany
a noble, pure-minded' .man, who
. !The Duke of Cumberland expelled seven Professors from the University
of Göttingen ; amongst them were Dahlmann, Wattz, Bluhrne and ]acob
and WilhelrnGrimm.
".
....
..
. .. _.'.
89
G. H. PERTZ.
might have long been a blessing to both ..' How often I have
thought of you in these sad days, how gladly would I have
been there in order to support you in your solitude j but I
.was not even able to write to you, being more than usually
oppressed with business, which did not leave me an hour
.free.
We have also lost in him an intelligent friend and adviser
.for the "Monumenta," one of the few for, whom it is a
pleasure and reward to work, and whose recommendations
contributed so much to gain for us the confidence of influential men, and to procure us the means of accomplishing
our work. It was through your kindness I came to know
him more intimately, and, his childlike nature, the purit~
of his heart, his faithfulness and manliness, combined with
such a cultivated mind, will always be remembered by me.
May his son grow up like him. ,
To the same.
Hanover, August loth, 1839.
Since you are pleased with my sketch of the life of Graf
. Münster, I send you a more correct edition.
* ~, *
As this satisfies you, I am certain that you will be pleased
with the life of Stein, upon which I have been constantly
occupied during the winter. Part of it is almost finished, and
I should like you to see it before it is published. Gräfin
Giech" has again invited me to visit her in Nassau in August
or September, in order to go over with her the papers which
are there, and I hope to be able to do so. I shall need a rest
after the fifth volume of the "Monumenta."
I cannot yet
determine whether I shall get as far as Treves or Paris, but
I calculate upon seeing you, either at Frankfort or somewhere
on the road. You remember that we agreed to meet every
two years, therefore let me know what plans you have made
. for your journey, that we may if possible accomplish' this. r-'
,
• Stein's daughter.
go
LETTERS
To
PROFESSOR
OF
DAHLMANN.
Hanover, August r Sth, 1839.
Your letters of the 28th January of this year, dear friend,
reached my wife and me, and rejoiced us much by the happy
account they brought us of you all. * * * I am now
occupied with Stein's life; whether it can be printed at present is not apparent, but the right time will come and it shall
find me ready. My wife and children, who neither now, nor
ever will forget you, are as well as can be desired. The
children develop in strength and character, and enliven our
quiet home. My wife, who will write herself, affo;ds me the
real happiness of complete agreement on all subjects which
.excite and deserve her sympathy. * * ~,
The great political development in which we have lived for
two years, affects now all classes, and will certainly spread
throughout the country, as decisive measures are so long
delayed. No one can foresee how it will end, since the circumstances and the general political situation evidently
develop, but I hope for a happy result. ~The country has
already passed through more difficult times, and met them
honourably, and it will maintain its own character through
this trial and be strong enough to bear the political education
, which is forced upon it by events, and adapt itself to it.
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Hanover, September 25th, 1839.
On my return from Hamburg, where I went to meet my
wife and children on their way back from Havre, I found
your letter from Düsseldorf, so I now hasten, dear friend, to
let you know my plans. Guerard writes to me that all the
catalogues and manuscripts which I require will be at my
disposal in Paris, and since tbe weather still continues fine,
and that I can leave my wife well and strong as 'Yell as the
"thildren, I have at once decided to go, ani have asked for
six or seven weeks' leave of absence; I shall set out early on
G. H. PERTZ.
91
Monday. I should like first to visit Gräfin Giech in Nassau,
but expect to hear next Tuesday at the Post Restante, Cassel,
whether she can receive me; if this the case, I should remain
some days in Nassau, and go by Treves to Paris. Would
you not like to accompany me to Paris, to examine the
Copial books, the treasures of Charnpollion, and other documents for the "Regesta"?
You would meet with all facilities, and we could once again live and work together for four
weeks, which is the time I think of remaining there.
To the same.
Hotel de Lyon, rue FilIes St. Thomas, Paris, October rzth, 1839.
Dearest friend, I only write to tell you that I arrived here
yesterday morning at eight o'clock, after a comfortable and
prosperous journey. I began my work at the Library at ten,
and have already examined seven volumes of catalogues of
manuscripts, and at home the" Vitre Joh. Gorgiensis" and
" Adalberonis ;" have spoken this morning with Kunst, and
am now going again to the Library.
Let me soon hear from
you, and tell Dr. Waitz that he may drive at once to my
lodgings here, my former room is ready for him.
October röth, 1839.
Yesterday I saw Ranke* for the first time; Stüler, Döllinger and Guido Görres are also here.
Paris, November 6th, 1839.
As I have to-day secured a place in the mail for my journey back, I must tell you, dear friend, that I shall leave this
next Monday, the r rth, at six o'clock in the evening, I therefore hope to be with you on Wednesday evening at the same
time, or perhaps earlier.
I reckon upon finding you in
Frankfort, and I hope to give you an account of the result of
my journey in an extraordinary session of the central direction.
• Author of the" Lives of the Popes," &c., &c.
92
LETTERS
OF
To the same.
Hanover, December rst, 1839.
Twenty-four hours after I had parted from you, dear friend,
on the 14th, I gave Jacob Grimm your" Regesta Ludovici,"
for which he is very grateful. I supped with him, Wilhelm
and his wife and children, and the sculptor, Professor
Henschel, and I was glad to find them all well and cheerful.
J acob works much more and with greater vigour than he did
in Göttingen, and has at this moment four works in hand.
The second volume of the documents will soon be published,
the rest will follow in a few months.
One more day brought me back to Hanover. I was met by
.my two elder sons, and the rooms at home were brilliantly
lighted and decorated with flowers, and a transparency
~'Welcome" at the entrance. I found my wife and children
all well.
To the same.
Hanover, February rath, 1840.
The letter which I received from Guerard to-day, written
from the Academie des Inscriptions, announcing to me
that I have been named a Correspondent Member of
the Institute, would have pleased you much, dear friend, if
you had been here, by the lively and sincere pleasure with
which he expresses himself.
To the same.
Hanover, July and, 1840.
The change of sovereigns in Berlin turns the eyes of all
.Germany upon the new king, from whom I expect much.
For the first time since 1815 a new day may dawn upon us.
May the king continue to build upon the foundation laid by
Stein in 1808. What he has hitherto said refers to the great
• Fred. WiIliam Ill. ofPrussia
son Fred. WiIliam IV.'
died in 1840, and was succeded by his
..
G. H. PERTZ.
93
period of the preparation for, and the liberation of the
German Fatherland, and is opposed to all the political
immorality of the last ten years. He will not let Germany
be forgotten, and take a' second place to Prussia, as some
artful people on the Spree have secretly intended. Therefore
the Cabinet Government (Cabinets Regierung) to which
Prussia owes the dismemberment of its Governments, and
formerly the defeat in the battle of Jena, is done away with,
and I hope we shall live to see at last a Government which
comes before the country with great measures, and gains in
public opinion.
'
Hanover, October 23rd, 1840.
The speeches of the King of Prussia have made a very
favourable impression everywhere here; he is a man of
intellect and heart, may we hope that his reign will be a
continued performance of his promises.
To
PROFESSOR
DAHLMANN.
Hanover, December 21St, 1840.
* * * *
My short stay in Paris of six weeks has convinced me that a new revolution is preparing in France.
Louis Philippe is not respected, the Duke of Orleans seeks
support in the army, which it is thought will unite with the
National Guards. The royal family will only last as long as
the middle classes think they require them to keep order, and
the death of the king will therefore be an anxious moment for
Europe. In what state will Germany be? Nothing remains
for us but to work as long as there is daylight .
. I am still partly occupied with Stein's life, partly publishing the sixth volume of the" Monumenta," of which about
forty sheets are printed. Dr. Waitz is a very useful assistant
to me. Bethman, who has been travelling a year and a half
in the Netherlands and France, will certainly return at Easter.
He has just terminated a journey through the bishoprics and
abbeys of Normandy * * * * His travels have had
very important results. After his return he will finish the
94
LETTERS
OF
edition of ,; Gregory of Tours" and the remaining Merovingian Historians as well as = Slgebert of Gembloux."
Hanover. March röth, 1841.
I am very busy with Stein's life,have arrived at the campaign
of 1812, and I hope in three months to finish the years 18131815, in order if possible to begin to print. You willbe ableto
judge Stein more justly, when you read in authentic documents
about his energetic work, rather than form your opinion from
the expressions of a Silesian landed proprietor, who is not aware
to whom he owes it that he is not speaking French to-day,
nor is forced to relinquish his property to a French General.
All the French party in Prussia, the melancholy product of
the revolution, have always declared Stein's policy as revolutionary, because he upset their evil deeds, and gave the
rotten buildings a new and morally religious foundation, from
which Prussia has acquired all the good she possesses. Stein
was the greatest enemy of all selfishness, all vulgarity, all
ficklemindedness and half measures, ard he despised the
rabble who wanted to appropriate the king and the country
by their cunning and artful measures; thence arose their
deadly hatred of him, the misrepresentations of the daily
press, and until now of history.
It is incredible, for example, how insignificant, shallow,
worthless and incorrect Manse's "History of Prussia" is, or
even the "Memoires d'un homme d'Etat," therefore no
wonder that your Silesian authority is likewise no better
informed. I long to finish the life, then Germany will see
that if patriotism, generosity, resolution, intrepid perseverance, intelligence,· active measures, taken from the highest
aims, make a man great, this country for a century and more
has possessed no greater man than Stein * * * * The
papers to-day say that I have been called to Berlin, but
hitherto I have heard nothing about it.
G. H. PERTZ.
95
[In the autumn of 1841, the King of Prussia, Frederic
William IV., offered Dr. Perti the place of chief librarian in
Berlin. Dr. Böhmer, who was attached to Hanover and was
averse to the politics of Prussia, regretted the possibility of
Pertz accepting this appointment.
The following letters
explain Pertz's reasons for resigning his office in Hanover.]
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Hanover, October 21St, 1841.
* * *
My presence in Berlin or Hanover is regarded by
those who have any influence here as a subject of the most
perfect indifference, and what you hoped and expected (from
the too favourable view you take of me) when we separated
in Lucerne, has proved a mistake; although the opinions
entertained towards me on this occasion by my friends and
acquaintances have been universally kind. I shall reserve
what more I have to tell you for a future time, and hope for
.your approval whatever I may decide. The affair has already
caused me enough uncertainty and thought, and must soon
end, one way or the other.
To tire sam«,
Han~ver, November 18tb, 1841.
Now that my Berlin business has since the day before
yesterday come to a doubtful conclusion, I must tell you how
it has proceeded. * * * After my return ~from Switzerland) 1 went, according to my official instructions, to the
Cabinet Minister von Schele, told him of the offer, and desired
to hear his opinion about it. I remarked that the appoint.
ment was very honourable, nevertheless that I in no case
wished to do anything which would be the least disagreeable
to the King. * The Minister replied that I should receive an
answer. Not a word was said about any conditions to induce
me to remain, not even the smallest regret was expressed, or
• Emest Augustus. King of Hanover.
LETTERS
on..
any expression of satisfaction with the work I had done
here.
My chief at the Archives, Geh. Cabinetsrath Hoppenstedt
to whom I also spoke of the appointment offered me, ex-.
pre~sed the liveliest wish that I should remain in the
Hanoverian service, and as he was not well, wrote to the
Minister von Schele, saying that he did not doubt, since I was
so much attached to this country, that I should consent to
remain,
gave me any proof of his satisfa~.
. . if the King
..
tion. * * ~,
On the 30th of September the Minister von Schele replied
to the Geh. Cab. Rath Hoppenstedt, that he had laid the subject before His Majesty, and-that he had dilated on the learn, ing and the archivistic and historical knowledge of Dr. Pertz,
as well as the wishes of the Geh. Cab. Rath that he should
remain in the service.
But His Majesty was not inclined to
raise the salary of Herr Archivrath Pertz, or altogether to',
make any change in his position which might induce him to
remain in Hanover, and he declared that he had no objection'
to make against the Herr Archivrath
Pertz accepting the
offer he had received from Berlin.
>
"'..
..
-
This CÜDI decision was rather unexpected by me, since both
my wife and I had decided to remain here, preferring our
h.o~e 'life, to which' we were accustomed, to a more brilliant
society and the turmoil of a great city. Our circle of friends
and acquaintances, even the house and garden, attach us to'
this place, and strongly support your advice in our decision.
But what will you say to a second letter of the Minister,
addressed to the Geh. Cab. Rath, which followed the first
some hours later, and was given to' me along with the first
one ?
"You will now undoubtedly
request
Pertz to send in, in due form, his petition
the Herr
Archivrath
to resign.
I don't
understand why he did not do so at once, or at least even.
tually, if no further advantage here is offered him."
,I abstain from any remarks upon such treatment, everyone
97
G. H. PERTZ.
who has heard of it· is indignant. I am told that the
Minister spoke to the King contemptuously about my literary
work.
My reply to the Geh. Cab. Rath, to be forwarded to the
Minister, was as follows;" I beg to thank you for your communication. Since as an
official in the Archives, I am bound neither to seek or accept
any foreign service or other obligations without the consent
of His Majesty, I felt it my duty to send a confidential letter
to the Cabinet Minister, about the offer which I had received, before in any way expressing my own sentiments.
* * * Since His Majesty the King, through his gracious
declaration, has been pleased to relieve me from the duties of
an Archivist, I feel I can now answer the offer made by the
Prussian Minister, and treat with him about those details,
upon the settlement of which the decision which I shall come
to will depend."
After I had. thus placed the affair in its true position, I
wrote on the same day to Berlin [r st October), accepting the
offer made me, on the condition that the official residence of
Wilken * was secured for me, and the expense of the removal
paid. The official residence was at first a difficulty. One of
my friends took advantage of being in Hanover to go to the
Minister without my knowledge, to persuade him to take
some steps wnich might induce me to remain here; the
Minister was quite indifferent about it, but said I might
remain if I liked. Tired of the delays, I determined' at last
to look into the thing myself, and asked for a short leave of
absence to go to Berlin. The Minister then sent for me, and
informed me of a decision of the King, according to which
I might receive a long leave of absence, if I would at once
resign. Under these circumstances I withdrew my petition
for a leave of absence, and told the Minister that I should
now only wait for the decision from Berlin.
• Former Librarian in Berlin.
G
98 '
LETTERS OF.
I have felt the treatment the more, as during my twenty
years' service I have never given them cause to be dissatisfied'
with me; if when the offer was first made me, the king had
had thegrace to assure me that he was not willing to release
me from my obligations, I should have declined the proposal
from Berlin, without any expectation or demand for an
increase of my salary,' for a title or anything of the sort, and
I should only have allowed myself on this occasion to express
a wish that a cultivated and distinguished young man, qualified for the work, might be appointed under me in the
Archives. The Minister strongly advised me to accept the
Berlin offer, and even if it was not quite eligible, to consult
him before refusing it.
The day before yesterday I received a letter from the
Prussian Minister, Eichorn*, which removed all my doubts'
My conditions were accepted, and yesterday I sent in my resignation, which nevertheless appeared in some way to cause
surprise. To-day I have, as a preliminary step, sent my
acceptance to Berlin. * * * * * I have asked for my
dismission at Easter, and hope by that time to have brought
my work here to a satisfactory conclusion, and now I await
the result, being convinced that since, without any act on my
part, destiny has taken this turn, Providence will direct it
for my benefit and for that of my family. I should like to be
certain of your approval, I do not see how I could have acted
differently without throwing away my opportunities. The
business of the" Monumenta "is safe. The printing will be
continued here, ..and I shall hereafter receive the sheets for
revision in Berlin.
[The following is an extract from the letter of the Prussian
Minister Eichorn, containing the formal offer, with the condi·Eichorn, b.I78I, d. 1854. He was many years a clerk in the Prussian
Foreign Office, until in 1840 Frederic William IV. made him his Minister
of Public Instruction, which he.retained till I848.-G. v. Bunsen.
G. H. PERTZ.
99
tions attached to the office of Chief Librarian in Berlin, sent
by Dr. Pertz to Dr. Böhmer.]
Extract from the Letter of tbe
DR.
MINISTER
EICHORN
to
November,
184I.
PERTZ.
You have already been made aware, through the private
communications of your friends, of my earnest desire that
you should accept a post here under the king. Whilst you
have raised my hopes that this desire of mine may be fulfilled, I have also been assured that between the Hanoverian
Court and our Goverhment no obstacle is raised against your
leaving the position you now occupy. It is my business now
to send you a formal proposal, and to give you some information concerning the office which our Government intend to offer
you. 1n the first place, the situation is that of Chief Librarian
in the Royal Library, now vacant, and which is in the gift of my
Ministry, and for which we believe we have found in you the
most worthy successor to the late G. R. D. Wilken ~, * *
Whilst this position will offer you immediately upon your
entrance into the service, a rich field for your industry, it is
at the same time intended to give you an appropriate and
active occupation in the Archives of the State," with occasional employment in the Ministry when an opportunity
occurs, and in certain cases it is desirable to profit by your
long and intimate acquaintance with the largest and most
important archives of Europe, for the arrangement and
scientific use of the State and Provincial Archives, as well
as by your thorough and extensive knowledge of the political
conditions of Germany.
Although I am not yet able to determine more accurately
the extent and the limits of the work which is expected from
you, in addition to the post of Chief Librarian, yet I can
give you at once the most comforting assurance that it will
• .. Geheime Staats-und Cabinets-Archive."
100
LETTERS OF
not in any way draw you away from your present literary
occupation; but being ~ather connected with it, will be calculated in one way to promote it, since the free use of the
Archives will be what you most desire. * * *
To D.R'
BÖHMER.
Hanover, December 17th, 184.1.
Your judgment about the Berlin transaction is on the
whole right, but you neither see things in their true aspect,
nor understand the elementary conditions
, to enable you to
be quite fair. \Ve live here on a volcano, which might burst
out any day. There is no idea of legality, not' even of
observing the prescribed form. The will of the Master is
the only law and the Ministers execute it. The confirmation
of the rights and freedom of the country and of individuals,
which has hitherto been upheld without opposition by the
reigning sovereigns, as well as the permanence of officials in
their posts, has not existed since the accession of the present
king. Everyone is therefore liable to be arbitrarily deposed,
and the case of the Professors at Gottingen* shows, that it is
more than possible.
There no longer exists any respect for learning. Morality
is to a great extent lost runder a secret police. Officials no
longer rely on the sovereign or on the country. I am convinced that among the upper classes money is considered the
only worthy motive, and I have the strongest proof of
this. * * *
You have always judged too favourably of the circumstances
here, and may have thought my expressions about them
prejudiced, perhaps exaggerated, but the reality would fill
you with the greatest disgust. * * *
I have no fear of any injury to the "Monumenta."
My
duties in Berlin, when I am once accustomed to them,' will
• See Note, p, 88.
G. H. PERTZ.
101
not absorb more time than what they require here, and I
shall find it easier there to procure younger assistants and to
train them.
With this end in view, I shall lecture on
"Diplomatik,"*
and perhaps later on German History,
which I must now begin to write if I am ever to do anything.
I t is a good prognostic for the" Life of Stein that lectures are
given openly in Berlin, on Hormayr's "Lebenbilder," whilst
here they are forbidden, and I shall find there at my disposal
all the materials needed.
It
*
*
*
*
*
The former king, through whose liberality I was allowed
leisure to pursue my literary work, and his successor who
resembled him, are departed; I should never have separated
myself from them; one must have lived through such changes
as we have now experienced to produce that which we supposed to be impossible.
Ministers like Graf Münster or
Arnsweldt would not have said, as Schele did, that the
" Monumenta " contains nothing but what is already printed,
and that even if some Imperial documents had not yet been
made known, it would perhaps have been better if the whole
work had not been printed. You will see how things are
regarded here from the judgment formed by the Minister von
Arnsweldt. He said, however much he personally regretted
mydeparture, he congratulated me from the bottom of his
heart on getting away from such proceedings as are going on
here i that is the universal opinion, many people tell me how
gladly they would follow me; so much is Hanover changed
in these last days. By means of the railroad I shall not be
further from Frankfort in Berlin than I am now. Berlin is
only five hours from Leipzic, the Berlin plays are advertised
each time in the Leipzic newspapers, since people go there to
see them; soon the railroad will be extended westward
beyond Leipzic.
• Study of Documents.
102 .
LETTERS
CHAPTER
OF
VI.
LETTERS.-I842-1844·
[IN the spring of 1842 Dr. Pertz with his family removed to
Berlin, and entered at once into a distinguished literary
circle of friends, which included J acob and Wilhelm Grimm,
Professors Ehrenberg, Lepsius, Rose, Haupt, Schelling and
Ranke, to which were added later Du Bois Reymond, Hofmann,
Helmholtz, Bunsen and many others.
The dinner hour
being in the middle of the day, supper parties were the
fashion, which were very sociable; the conversation was
animated, and they often lasted till past eleven. Dr. Pertz
attended regularly every Thursday afternoon the meetings at
the Academy of Sciences Unter den Linden, of which he
was a mernber.]
To
DR.
BÖHMER,
Berlin. May 5th. 1842.
Since my last letter to you, dear friend, from Hanover,
many weeks have passed in rapid succession, in days of discomfort and business, in leave-taking and sad thoughts upon
entering into a new life. I was thus unable to send you a
line. But I will no longer delay telling you that my family
and I are well, that we are settled in our house, the children
at school, and my wife and I received on intimate terms by
the Grimms. We have entered into an agreeable and intellectual society of distinguished men and women, and after
eighteen days' residence in Berlin, we are more satisfied than
we could have expected to be after a much longer time. We
. have met on all sides the greatest kindness and cordiality,
and have been most agreeably surprised by this reception.
I have every reason to be satisfied with my official position.
G. H. PERTZ.
103
The day hefore yesterday I was introduced, and yesterday
I commenced business, and I confidently hope I may be able
to further those measures, by which the library maybe well
preserved, increased and utilized.
.
I have some excellent officials under me, Drs. Pinder,
Friedländer, Sybel and Buschmann, who are anxious to
promote the welfare of the library.
May loth.
Time flies here in a constant interchange of business, which
I feel myself up to, I begin to breathe freely in the new
atmosphere; a salutary spirit animates this society. I hope
that we may be indemnified for the years which have been
lost by the hateful distrust of narrow-minded Cabinets since
1819. I know that you would be hopeful if you saw what
happens now here, what people think, and what they desire.
You must come that you may rejoice in it.
To
HERR
HOFRATH
DAHLMANN
JENA.
Berlin, June zöth, 1842.
You have been informed by my wife and Jacob Grimm of
our removal here, and our present circumstances. . I cannot
resist writing to you myself, dear Dahlmann, what you would
learn less definitely from our friends, and which will not be
unpleasant to you to hear. The day before his departure for
Russia, the King sent for me to Sanssouci.
He was cheerful at dinner, made enquiries on several literary subjects, the
history of the Guelfs and the archives of Hanover; but as
the Duke of Brunswick was present, there was no political
talk. After dinner the Queen spoke with me feelingly about
Niebuhr's letters, his character and his children. Then I
had a long talk with Humboldt. \Ve discussed the latest
scientific and political events. He was very open and quite
shared our views about the affairs of Hanover, and the state
of political uncertainty, which on the first opportunity will
*
• Palace near Potsdam.
LETTERS
104
OF
shake thrones and nations. Unless the German princes in
whose hands power is united with good intentions reinstate
equity, and unless good laws are restored to Hanover, and
the seven professors recalled to Göttingen, no one can doubt,
who knows our circumstances, and is willing to see the truth,
that disgrace and misfortune will never cease.
Humboldt also said that the King always contemplated
calling you to Berlin, and that only particular events prevented this intention from being already accomplished; and
that the Minister Eichhorn also desired it. I expressed the
pleasure I felt in what he told me, fully concurred with
him in his good ideas, and returned to Potsdam and Berlin.
That Eichhorn was of the same opinion, I heard from him.
self in the first conversation I had with him after my arrival
here, I therefore hope our most earnest wishes will, before long
be fulfilled, and that you will have the satisfaction of meeting
here with a career intellectually worthy of you, since the few
opportunities for an active life in the other German Universities, which were once so beneficial and satisfactory, are now
approaching their end.
, The Grimms are on the whole well, Wilhelm is in constant
activity; Jacob cheerful and strong, Dorothea in rather delicate health * * * * I am principally occupied with the
Library, but the printing of the seventh volume of the" Manu.
menta" continues.
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Berlin, August rst, 1842.
I would gladly accompany you again this year on your longer
journey to Bohemia and Austria, especially as there is so
much to be done there for the biographies of the eleventh and
twelfth centuries, and I must probably, at the latest, next year
make the journey, but at Michaelmas we move for a second
time, into my official residence near the Library, so I must on
that account give up the idea of leaving Berlin again for any
long period, till I have taken a firm root h~re.
G. H. PERTZ.
105
I like my work in the Library, I find it agreeable
and" easy, and I hear that my colleagues are satisfied
with me.
The intellectual life here continues to please
me. On Friday evenings I read Greek authors with Bekker,
Lachmann, Meineke, Pinder,' Tredelenburg,
Homeyer,
Parthey, Kortüm and Brüggeman, we are now in Herodotus.
'We see the Grimms frequently, also the Schellings, to whose
daughter Waitz is engaged.
[The above refers to a sociable meeting in Berlin called
the Griechheit; it consisted of not more than twelve members,
who met in turn in each others houses, every Friday evening,
to read Greek. There were several similar clubs for reading
Greek in the town.
To tile same.
Berlin, October rath, 1842.
I must first tell you that I entered my official residence
last week, and now live close to the Library, only separated
by a door, of which I have the key, this is very convenient
for my work. The house is very well arranged, which I hope
you will one day prove hy your own experience; it is light
and cheerful, on the sunny side of the street, and I have the
whole house, therefore, except for the garden, which cannot
be replaced, it is more commodious than the one in Hanover.
I have more space, which is very desirable for my books and'
papers. From the corner window I look out upon tke Markgrafen Strasse, more than a mile long. My hooks and papers
are arranged, and I have a spare room for a visitor. My wife
also is quite satisfied with the household arrangements on the
first and ground floor; the latter is not yet in order; the
children are only ten minutes distant from their school.
We are situated between the Opera House and the
Theatre, the Catholic and two Protestant Churches, the
Linden and the Leipziger Strasse, therefore quite in the juste
LETTERS OP-
milieu of Berlin. The Linden is between us and the Grimms,
which is soon crossed, therefore we see them as often as
before, so work will quickly advance.
To
HERR
PROFESSOR
WAlTZ.
Kiel, November 9th, 1842.
You will see, in the papers, Dahlmann's appointment as
. Professor of Politics and German History in Bonn.
He
came here quite unexpectedly
three
weeks
ago,
being
called
,
by the Minister. The King, at his last visit to Bonn, engaged
him for the University, to which Bluhme has since also been
appointed. It was doubted whether he would not be better
placed in Berlin. If Dahlmann could have decided at once to
assist in the publication of a newspaper, Berlin would undoubtedly have been his destination, but he had scruples about
beginning his official work here in that manner, and so Bann
was decided on. He wili" begin to lecture next month. We
found him cheerful, fresh and young, without a trace of
depression, which many people formerly remarked in him, but
completely as he was in old days, and we discussed the
interval of time since October, 1837, as well as the future.
His appointment is a new step forward in the steadfast path
of the King, for the improvement and happiness of his people.
The King of Hanover will find it hard to swallow this pill.
- To the same.
Berlin, January 30th. 1843.
We have been looking forward, dear friend, with the
greatest interest for the news which your letters have brought
_us, and which are in every respect what we most desired, and
I should have long ago answered them, if it were not for
business and other engagements, which are more urgent in
winter than during the long days of summer, when people
are left more to themselves.
Among the agreeable events which have lately occurred, I
G. H. PRRTZ.
107
must mention the celebration of Schelling's birthday last
Friday. It was started first by Neander* and Steffens+, and
sixty of us were assembled. 'Ve were delighted with the
youthful vigour with which Schelling responded t~ Neander's
congratulations. Poems from Kopisch, van der Hagen and
a \Vürtemberg_doctor were not wanting.
A few days previously I went for the first time to the
Academy of Sciences, where Raumer and Ranke, who sat
next the King, and the Princes Kar! and Augustus, entertained
his Majesty by a refutation of the accusations against Frederick
11. of being the most immoral of sovereigns. . . Raumer
spoke very sensibly and with less indecision than in his work
on the history of the last century. Ranke was not understood by many, but seemed to endeavour to be distinct, and
Steffens pulled his coat-tail whenever he hurried too much.
As I can rely on your discretion, I may tell you that I have
been chosen for December, by thirty-two votes against four,
an ordinary member of the Academy of Sciences, but the
consent of the King has not yet arrived, therefore the election
must not be mentioned. The four voters in the minority are
said privately to have declared that the" Monumenta" contained only reprints, which were not worth anything, an
opinion which somewhat reconciles me with Herr von Schele
(of Hanover) since what can one expect from such a Cabinet
Minister, when Academicians do not form a different opinion.
To
DR. BÖHMER.
Berlin, July 9th, 1843.
On Thursday I made my inaugural address in the Academy
upon Leibnitz]. It took place between a speech of Böckks
• Neander, Professor of Theology in Berlin, b. 1789, d. 1850'
Steffens a Norwegian by birth: Professor of Philosophy, in Berlin,
b. 1773. d. 1845
: Dr. Pertz edited the works of Leibnitz from the original manuscript in
the Library at Hanover.
t
I
108
LETTERS
OF
on Leibnitz "Theodicere" and Raumer on Diderot, both of
which, being long, occupied together two hours. As the
inaugural address ought to be short, I limited myself to a
general view of those parts of my historical works, which
either now, or at all events soon will be, produced in print,
namely the" Monumenta," "Stein's .Life " and "Leibnitz
Armales imperii," the first volume of which I laid before the
Academy.
To the same.
Berlin, August 15th, 1843.
I passed the last week of July in the Hartz' mountains,
whilst my two eldest sons spent their holidays with friends in
Hanover; I wrote to them to meet us on the Blechhut at
Thale, and started with my wife and youngest son by rail,
and. the same evening we reached our destination, where we
have enjoyed daily walks and climbing about the rocks and
hills. On the evening of the appointed day, the boys arrived
on foot from Halberstadt ; we climbed the hills again with.
them, and in a few days accomplished our journey home. The
children, thank God, progress hoth mentally and physically,
and give us much pleasure. I hope to shew them to you
next year, if, as we now at least intend, we visit my motherin-law, and upon our return go to Frankfort, which my wife
has not yet seen.
To the same.
Berlin, October 29th, I8.B.
The autumnal and already occasional wintry weather will
have taken you back, dear friend, to your winter quarters,
therefore, I must begin' from where we separated on the
Danube.
"
The road crossed the broad Marchfeld ,
which from being almost a flat surface, gradually rises some
miles from Vienna, and atWagram*
and Gänserdorf we
• Victory of Napoleon over the Austrians, July, 1809.
G. H. PERTZ.
109
passed rapidly over these blood-stained fields, and between
one and two o'clock stopped at the foot of the hill, which
protects Brünn by a natural fortification. The journey over
the beautiful wooded hills of Moravia and Bohemia lasted a
day-and-a-half, In Prague I met Dr. Giesebrecht," who had
just arrived from Berlin, and we were obliged to share one
room, since, owing to a horse race and a fair, Prague was
overcrowded with people of all ranks. I called on Palacky, t
who believed he had done all that was requisite to enable me
to see the Fürstenberg MSS., but both the librarian and the
Prince were absent, so I was obliged to postpone this work.
Palacky regretted not seeing you again: we spent the even.
. ing in his house with Schaffarik], At half-past three in the
morning I parted from Giesebrecht, at the office of the omnibus, and at four left beautiful Prague; at seven I went on
board the steamboat, somewhat above the point where the
EIbe receives the Maidau.
The journey was made in alternately bright and rainy'
weather; we passed by Melrek, Leutmeritz, Teschen, through
the Saxon Switzerland, past the Lilienstein and Königstein,
and we reached Dresden about seven. The following even.
ing I entered my wife's drawing-room quite unexpectedly,
and found her and my youngest boy quite well, the eldest had
gone on a pedestrian tour to the island of Rügen, accompanied by Dr. Bethman'[ ; they only returned the end of the
week.
To the same.
Berlin, December 3ISt, I843.
Since my last letter I have resumed my work on Stein's
Life, after two years interruption, dating from our journey to
t
• Dr. Giesebrecht, Professor of History.
Francis Palacky, an eminent Bohemian historian.
B; 1798, d. 1876.
t P. Joysef Schalfarik, eminent Bohemian antiquarian. B. 1776.
, Later Professor of History at Wolfenbüttel.
LETTERS
1I0
OF
Zweibrücken and Elsass. I have now brought it up to .
February, 1813. Perhaps it will be advisable, first, to publish immediately the history of the year 1812, which will
form a thick volume, and is complete in itself; but I shall be
able to decide this better in the summer, when the work is
further advanced. I am now in the war of 1813, and the
Congress of Vienna, after which I shall be occupied principally with the state of the provinces and the beginning of the
"Monumenta," and the not very gratifying state of Germany
up to 1831. I hope you will see Gräfin Giech*, who is spending the winter in Frankfort with her husband.
To the same.
Berlin, May rath, 1844.
Last Tuesday I ~began my lectures :on Diplomatik t to
eight scholars, and including students, as many more came
. to the second lecture;' so that I have now an audience of
sixteen; among them are Bethman, Wattenbach. Köpke, and
several. historians and philologists, who intend to travel.
Some people from Siebenbürgen thought of coming, and
decided to do so, but finding that I was not going to lecture
on ambassadors and ministers, they remained away. As
it is years since Diplomatik has been lectured on here, or in
Leipsic or Halle, I thought I might supply a deficiency with
a good result, as I hope, especially for the benefit of the
present and future workers at the" Monumenta."
To
PROFESSOR
WAlTZ.
Berlin, June 4th, I8H.
*. * * It is difficult to continue any occupation here,
unless it happens to be imperative business. * * * Since
I began this" letter the railway from Hanover has been
opened," and the two brothers Reden, Hausmann and
• The eldest daughter of Stein.
t
Study of documents.
III
G. H. PERTZ.
J usterrath
r
Stieglitz have arrived i besides, so many. things'
have happened at the same time, that I have not left the
house since the day before yesterday. You must therefore
excuse me, dear friend, if I have not yet been able to read
consecutively your last work, the first part of the" History.
of the German Constitution;" what I have read has only
strengthened my conviction, that whatever you begin will be
something new and thoroughly investigated. I am also much
pleased with the subject you have chosen, which is far from
being exhausted, or useless, both for the present time and for
the future.
You wlll find the further preparations for your lectures
very useful, as they oblige you to have more definite ideas
and reflections. * * * .
.
Every Saturday we have a conference for the" Monumenta," which Bethman, Köpke and Wattenbach= regularly
attend. I think we shall soon begin to print the ninth
Volume.
The Kingt has granted 100,000 thalers to fill up the gaps
in the books of the Library. Secondly, 2,500 thalers for the
musical department.
Thirdly, he has raised the capital
annually by 2,000 thalers, so that we have now regularly
10,000 thalers for purchasing books. Fourthly, he has considerably raised the salaries of the officials.
[In the summer of 1844, Dr. Pertz went with his family to
England.]
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
4, Carlton Terrace, London, July 31St, 1844.
Dear friend, during the sixteen days which have passed
since we separated at the railway, and which appears to me
twice as long, we have attained half the purpose of our
• Assistants at the" Monumenta ."
t
Fred. Wilhelm the IV.
112
LETTERS
OF
journey •. On Sunday we had a rough sail down the Rhine to
Coblentz ;_but it was smooth thence to Bann, where we slept
~nd spent that evening, and the following day, with our old
friends the Bluhme's, Dahlmann's and Brandes'.
I also
called on Arndt and found him strong and well; he, Brandes
and Holweg* dined with us at the Bluhme's.
Parties are still very warlike, a Catholic Professor of Theology, who has only been appointed one year, said among
other things in his public lectures upon the Council of Trent,
that the Protestant religion positively led to sin, that there
certainly were some good people among the Protestants, but
they are only so from inconsistency, if consistent they must
all be bad, and that was listened to without interruption.
The country is splendid; we 'ascended the Rolandseck,
where I had not been before, it reminds me of the view over
the Niederwald. The next day we went to Cologne and
Liege, and the following day to Ostende. On Thursday'
morning at nine o'clock we went on board the' Princess
Alice,' had a good passage, and reached Dover at two
o'clock. About three we were on the railroad, which took us
in two hours to Staplehurst, and at six we started in a coach,
- and driving through a beautiful country, reached Hastings,
on the sea coast of Sussex, at nine o'clock. There we found
my wife's mother and sisters], with whom I left my family, in
order to commence work.
Panizzi.] Madden and Holmes have given me the greatest
assistance; I can work in the Museum from nine o'clock in
the morning till seven in the evening; which, however, is not
really practicable, .or in accordance with English customs,
since breakfast is only between nine and ten, and at six
hunger drives one home to dinner. • • . After seventeen
years I find London essentially the same, as once upon a
time a discontented King remarked to the Lord Mayor;
* Bethman Holweg, the proprietor of Rheinek on the Rhine.
t Mrs. Garnett and her daughters.
: Chief Librarian of the British Museum.
G. H. PERTZ.
one cannot change the course of the Thames; but great improvements have been made, the mass of people crowded
together has, however, much increased. All public institutions are improved, the British Museum and other establishments are rendered much more accessible to the public. The
connection with the Continent has been advantageous, and
good measures have been strengthened by everything being
made public. The officials in the Museum are well chosen,
. and are not overworked, each has six weeks holiday in the
year.
There is nowhere anything like the brilliancy of the large
shops in Regent Street, with windows fourteen feet high and
eight wide, of one pane of glass. How I should like to take
my daily walk to the British Museum, through Regent Street
and Oxford Street, with you, you would enjoy the sight.
To the same.
September 9th, 1844.'
Evening on board the steamer'
Caledonia',
at the mouth of the EIbe.
I take the opportunity, dear friend, of the hou~ we are de-
tained here, before going up to Hamburg, to announce to you
our happy return from England. \Ve left London the day
before yesterday, had a perfectly quiet sea and ci favourable
v::ind; but were stopped in our course yesterday evening, on
approaching Heligoland by a thick fog, which only permitted
us to-day to enter the EIbe. We are now above StadeBrunshausen, and hope to reach Hamburg to-night, and tomorrow, or the following day, to take the first steamer to
Potsdam ,therefore twenty-six hours later to be in the Behren
Strasse, Berlin,
I have the happiness to tell you that my work for the
.. Monurnenta" has been very successful, the next volume
could not have been published without this journey. I spent
a fortnight with Sir Thomas PhiIips in Middlehill, and
together with my son Karl, have looked through, examined
H
LETTl!:RS OF
and partly made use of the 14,000 1\1:5S.which Sir Thomas
has collected at the expense of £100,000 sterling; we were
only interrupted by a daily walk in the beautiful neighbourhood, and joining the family at breakfast, luncheon, dinner
and tea. Sir Thomas Philips is a very peculiar man, who,
seventeen years ago, and now also, has tried my patience by
the many obstacles he has placed in the way of my going to
Middlehill ; but after we arrived there, he not only atoned for
this annoyance, but has really attached us to him by his
active· prOlpotion of my work, the perfectly English confidence with which he has received us into his family; the
time he has sacrificed to us (because some of the MSS. were
difficult to find, so that he spent half a day searching for
one), as well as by his veneration for learning and for the
means of acquiring it, almost equal to what used to be the
feeling in past times. This man possesses one of the finest
estates, with woods and meadow-land, in the beautiful county
of Worcester; the air splendid, cool and pure on the hills,
which are about 800 ft. above the sea, the country as' green as
Switzerland and the valleys of Zweibrücken; yet he never
takes a walk. The windows of his house are never opened
and the rooms are crammed with manuscripts and books.
Middlehill, as its name implies, is situated on a height
surrounded on two sides by woods. On the top of the
hill there is a tower which overlooks seventeen counties.' I wish I had known this sooner, and told you
of it, in order that you might have decided to accompany me,' and learn to like England, which seldom
fails, if we look at it in the right way. I must hope you will
. join me another time.
To
PROFESSOR WAlTZ.
Berlin, September
30th, 1844.
Volewere very sorry owing to our hurried journey, to have
been prevented visiting you, dear friend, and your wife in
G. H. PERTZ.
Kiel * * * .~, Our journey has been in every respect
satisfactory, and I have accomplished all I intended, having
examined 13,000 newly-acquired manuscripts in the British
Museum, collected since 1827 * ~, * * Besides offering
the great prize for an historical work, which I hope one day
to discuss with you, the King has ordered twenty-four copies
of the" Menumenta " to be purchased and distributed in the
libraries here, and in the country, and at my request has also
set aside a sum to be spent in having translations made from
the best original authors of German History, to be distributed
in cheap editions.* . I calculate if this money is only
employed in paying the translators, the expense of the printing and paper will be covered by the sale; and I propose to
connect this selection of the transla ted chronicles by in troductions, so as to form a united whole-a history of Germany.
If you were here, I should like to talk the matter over with
you, and I should be still more glad, if you could undertake
it yourself.
By my wish, J acob Grimm, Lachman and
Ranke will join in the work, also Ritter, as geographical
works will be translated.
\Ve can therefore reckon upon the
principal authors of one century, for each year.
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Berlin, November 22nd, 1844.
A fortnight ago I went to Hanover for three days, the first
time since my. removal to Berlin, besid~s increasing our
acquaintance, it strengthened the connection, which had
been maintained by frequent visits from old friends. It feIt
strange to breakfast at seven o'clock in the morning in
Berlin, and to arrive in Hanover that evening at nine o'clock.
I am staying in a hotel, but otherwise everything seem's
tolerably unchanged. I felt, as if I had only yesterday left
my garden and house, and could have continued my former
life.
• Geschiclitschreiber der Deutschen Vorzeit. Edited by G. H. Pertz,
Grimm, I. Lachmann, L. Ranke, K. Ritter.
,
J.
II6
LETTERS OF
But I also saw very clearly
have been free from these,
which one must despise, the
the helm, only occupied with
places with their relations.
allowed to approach the King,
the disagreeable side, which I
last years.
A Government
miserable aristocratic spirit at
themselves, and filling up all
No one who is not noble is
and whatever is done, must be
submitted to the King through a nobleman.
* * * The
people have lost all self-respect and right feelings; this will
only last till the wind blows in another direction.
Educated
people look upon the Government as they did formerly. *~, *
IX7
G. H. PERTZ.
CHAPTER
To
PROFESSOR
VII.
WAlTZ.
Rügen, July 25th, 1846.
You will have received the third volume of Leibnitz's
Annales; the fourth volume of the history will conclude this
series, and in the course of some months, the Leibnitz
Medaille will appear, which belongs to you as correspondent
of the Academy; let Schelling bring it you, or I will gladly
manage to send it a week after I return to Berlin. ~, ~~ *
The translation of the Geschichtschreiber is printed as far as
Csesar, its reception is equal to my expectations, on the 4th
of July 3,500 subscribers had sent for it.
To DR.
BÖHMER.
Berlin, August rath, 1846.
Just after receiving your last letter, for which I thank you
_ much, we went by railway in four-and-a-half hours to Stettin,
then in a steamer to Swinemünde, and the next morning
across the Baltic to Putbus in Rügen, and that evening were
established in very countrified quarters in Sassenitz. Four
weeks only passed too quickly. The splendid air from the
sea, and the woods, the walks and constant wandering on the
chalk cliffs, covered with the most beautiful beech woods, and
expeditions to Stubbenkammer and Mönchgast. have perfectly
restored our health and strength, and we had nothing to
regret, except being obliged to give up, at last, our simple life,
which was rendered cheerful by the society of several agreeable famÜies. Of course we visited the Hünengräber (prehistoric mounds), which are some of them situated in the most
II8
LETTERS
OF
beautiful parts of the island; also the sacrificial stones, the
supposed Herthasee. *
To the same.
Berlin, December 5th, 1847.
On account of the meeting at Lübeck, which I could not
miss, I have been obliged to give up the pleasure of travelling
with you to Salzburg. I went from Munich to Regensburg,
stayed there one day, in order to see the Cathedral and the
Walhalla, travelled by night to Nuremberg, where I only
remained one hour, in order not to miss seeing Bamberg.
Here it rained violently; I visited the Cathedral, where afternoon service was being performed, to a small congregation,
and I was reminded, at every step, of our visit there together
in 1833; I went to the Michaelsberg, where Eckhard wrote,
and, in bright sunshine, to the Altenberg, which we omitted
that time. Early on Monday morning I left Bamberg only
half satisfied with what I had seen; ever since 1833 I had
always wished to revisit it; it was not the place dissatisfied
me, but I missed my companion. The road up to Hof, in the
Fichtelgebirge, I made partly on foot, crossed the watershed
in the night, and· the next Lfifteenhours brought me from
Reichenbach to Berlin. I remained here three days, arranged
my affairs, andtravelled on Saturday with Bethman, Merckel,
Köpke, Bürgermeister Schmidt and Stengel to Lübeck, where
we arrived that evening. * * *
Lübeck reminds me much of Nürnberg; the town is situated
as it were on a shield, with the surface intersected by two
long, and a number of broad streets, therefore in going up or
down one always sees the sky, and the houses are in a bright
light. You would be delighted with the churches, and also
the people, who are simple, pleasant and kindly .. I visited
the Sailors' Guild, where the seamen from Riga, Bergen and
other places, have a Home; also the Margarnethen Hospital,
• Where the goddess Hertha was worshipped.
:
G. H. PERTZ.
IIg
where all who are in need, are well cared for during the rest.
of their lives, and they grow old here among happy
companions.
I have discussed with Bluhme the publication of the legal
documents in the "Monumenta."
Nürnberg has been
chosen for the meeting next year, and the King of Bavaria
has already given his consent.
The political feeling in
Lübeck was fifty per cent. better than in Frankfort, in con.sequence of the alteration in the Courts of Justice, and in the
Diets.
To the same.
Berlin, February 7th, 1848.
* * * You mention the changes that have arisen in
opinions and ideas since 1833. My opinions are sufficiently
explicit, regarding the difference between Hanover of 1833,
and 1848, and Prussia of 1833,and 1848,.and what Germany
might and dare expect from either of them. I heartily admire
a king * who in everything does not seek his own good, but
the welfare. of his people ; who considers 'the interests of
Prussia irrevocably bound up with those of Germany, and
seeks no other honour than to work openly for the good of
the whole country; a king who respects the rights of his
powerful neighbours, as much as his own, and who endeavours,
in his own country, to remove every just ground of complaint
with temperate justice. It is only human nature that the
sovereign cannot immediately accomplish all that he strives
after; time is required to remove obstacles, to convince men
whose opinions must be respected, and whose opposition is
caused by ill-will, deception, calumny, lies and underhand
dealings i but as I never give up the hope of the triumph of
the right, I adhere firmly to the king.
And how much Prussia is altered since 1840,how much the
feeling since 1847 has developed, and become a clear con• Fred William IV.
120
LETTERS
OF
viction, that all parts of the kingdom, including the Rhine,
must hold firmly together; that we can only thus hope to
attain a happy and safe future. If the saying, "Be subject
to the authorities that are over you," ever had a meaning,
you will acknowledge the inhabitants of the Rhine must feel
this, and act accordingly, and they are on the road to it. I
should only regret any unnecessary yielding to the groundless
prejudices of individual classes. You may trust me that I do
not justify all that happens here; still less that I honour all
who are in power.
Since, therefore, I may expect from you that you give me
. credit for being perfectly honourable, and true in my convictions and actions, and I have the same opinion of you, and
always shall have, I do not believe that in the difference
between our earlier and later opinions there is any break. It
is possible we may both err, I shall be grateful to you if you
will point out -and correct me where I am wrong; we have,
both of us, only to aim at what is eternally true and just, to
prove the existence of error, and to acknowledge it, as the
sailor, when on the ocean, looks up to the stars to ascertain his
position.
[On the t Sth March, l848, excited by the revolution in
Paris, the people in Berlin rose, and there was fighting in
the streets. The troops became exhausted, and by the orders
of the King, Fred, Williarn IV., who would have no more
bloodshed, they were withdrawn from the town, and an undisciplined militia of the citizens was formed, along with a
liberal but vacillating government. Anarchy prevailed, but
a National Assembly was appointed in Berlin.
On the rSth of May a Parliament was held in Frankfort,
with the idea of uniting all Germany and establishing a
German constitution of the Empire, while retaining the
governments of the separate states. An attack upon the
royal library in Berlin was threatened, therefore, as his house
121
G. H. PERTZ.
adjoined the library, Dr. Pertz removed his family for safety
to Schönhausen, in the neighbourhood of Berlin.]
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Berlin, March 21St, 1848.
I hope and I know that our friendship will survive the
change of all outward things; I reckon upon it, as a firm
possession, which together with a few others, Heaven has
preserved to me. The events of this week carry us down
into the whirlpool, in which perhaps our poor country will
sink, I have hardly any hopes for Germany. I shall write
again in a few days. I shall perhaps take my wife and
children away from Berlin. \Ve live in fear for to-morrow,
when those who have fallen will be buried.
The Menumenta papers and Stein's life are packed up in
bags, and are now in the library, which for the present appears
safe.
At this moment the King, with the princes William and
Adalbert, and the Minister v. Arnim, is riding through the
streets, and he is proclaimed Emperor of Germany. May
God protect him.
Afternoon.
I open my letter again, in order to give you the last news.
The King has addressed the Civie Guard in the court of the
palace, thus:" It is no usurpation of mine, if I feel myself called upon
to rescue German freedom and unity. I swear to God, that I
will not overthrow any prince from his throne, but I will
protect the unity and freedom of Germany-it must be pre- .
served by German fidelity upon the foundation of a genuine
German Constitution."
When the people proclaimed him Emperor, he protested
earnestly against it, and refused to accept the title.
The black, red, and yellow flags are waving over the palace,
and in all the town. It is impossible to describe the impres-
LETTERS OF
122
sion made by these last days. I shall send you what I have
written, as a record of my own impression. I feel more composed now. I do not think that the time is near when I should
feel it necessary to resign my present situation. * * *
To
PROFESSOR WAlTZ.
Berlin, March 23rd, 1848.
The late events 'will have convinced you, dear friend, that
we in Germany must now strain every nerve to stand together,
firmly united in opposition to the threatened subversion of
everything. We ought now to put aside all internal disputes
in order to be externally strong. The question is not whether
we prefer this or that form of legislation, not even if we can
set up a legitimate claim for it; ~ut whether we, as a free
and great people, shall stand united, or despising history,
shall for a second time fall dismembered; and I think it is
the duty of everyone urgently to strengthen this conviction
among his friends.
The revolution in France* appears to me to have been long
ago planned in connection with clubs in Italy, Switzerland,
Poland, and perhaps also Germany. The reform banquets
arranged by committees in all the principal towns of France,
in combined action with Paris, pr7pared everything, and now
you see how the same men who had led these banquets, appear
at the head of the Government. .Are not the branch committees in Germany preparing something similar, unconsciously serving the same end?
[The Constituent Assembly, elected to frame a constitution
for Germany, held its sittings in Frankfort, and chose the
Arch Duke, John of Austria, as Lieutenant-General of the
Empire. In the following April, the Assembly elected the
King of Prussia, as hereditary Emperor of Germany, which
• February 24th, 1848. Louis Philippe fled to England. and a Republic
.
.
'.
was proclaimed in France.
G. H. PERTZ.
123
the King declined, as well as a constitution which the Prussian Chamber, sitting at Berlin, had framed for his own
kingdom.]
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Suderode near Quedlinburg, July rath, 1848.
Whilst you in Frankfort are witnessing the demolition of
the last supports of Germany, as it has been, and must rest
satisfied at the revival of old Germany, prepared on paper, I
have retired into the solitude of the Hartz, and enjoy with
my family (on the spot where King Henry I. hunted) the
rest and refreshment which was too necessary after the las I
six months. The most beautiful oak and beech woods extend
all round us, each hill invites us to climb, and among the
simple, good, contented, and pious inhabitants, we forget the
terrible agitation in the great cities. We shall remain here
till the beginning of August, when school will recall the
children to Berlin; letters reach me quite safely from Berlin,
please to address your answer as usual. I have taken the
first volumes of Stein's Life with me, in order to go through
them again, and then have them printed, to which Gräfin
Giech has at length consented; the one question remains,
whether any bookseller will undertake to print them just now,
while a year ago anyone would have gladly accepted it. I
shall therefore first consult Reimer*. * * *
In order that you may not suppose that we only consider
Prussia, I beg you to read Rehberg's pamphlet upon the
administration of German Principalities (1807-1808), which
contains the most bitter criticism on the Prussian administration of that period; but along with it, the description of what
truly constitutes official life, in the sense in which Stein at
that time transformed it in Prussia,
Prefectures, as well as the arbitrary dismissal of officials,
destroy an honourable independence, and· deprive the sub• Publisher in Berlin.
· LETTERS
OF
'ject of the surest guarantee of good government. But official
life in North Germany ought not to be confounded with that
in Bavaria, Austria, or Nassau.
Your kind opinion of my son. Karl has given me much
pleasure, I hope he will always make himself worthy of your
indulgence. He has an earnest desire to prepare himself
thoroughly for the service of his country.
To the same.
Berlin, August rath, 1848.
I received your letter of the 25th of last month on our
return here, after our stay in the Hartz had sufficiently
strengthened us for the autumn and winter months.' ~, >t *
We found a great change had taken place; the revolution has
evidently failed, the majority have come to their senses, and
the principal thing, the spirit of the people, which had been
crushed, rises once more, and helps to strengthen the Government, which advances with rapid strides towards the restora tion of order; a better time has begun.
To the same.
Berlin, October röth, 1848.
From the tone of your letter of the loth I see that you have
~itnessedthe terrible days of the 17th and rSth (of September) in Frankfort, * while I hoped that after the roth you had
left, and felt rejoiced that you had escaped these horrors.
What you write about the feelings of the neighbourhood gives
the deepest shades to the picture. \Ve cannot conceal from
ourselves that the mob, who are prepared for the overthrow
of all governments, seize every means in their power, and
shrink from nothing that can serve their purpose; that in
Germany they excite the peasantry against the proprietors, in
order, in the. general confusion, to enrich themselves and
• On September r Sth the Democratic party
Uchnowsky and General von Auerswald were killed.
rose, and
Prince
G. H. PER~Z.
125
gain power. The extreme Left in all the Diets are united
for this end, they act according to one plan, and there is no
doubt that they will gain their end, unless heaven protects
us, and the Governments are firm in using the means still
left them. * * ~, *
The peasantry in North Germany are better, and cling to
their religion, their king and their country. In Hanover,
where I spent a few days lately, I heard that all the landed
proprietors, who were at first also excited, are now quiet, and
became strict Conservatives as soon as the lower classes, the
labourers, spoke of a division of property. ':' * * * The
Republican agitations have certainly caused much superficial
excitement, hut beneath fear'of the law prevails, and the last
experience in Baden, Wurtemberg, Cologne, Weimar and
Altenburg has shewn that a comparatively small force is
required to bring the· people who have revolted to order.
As soon as the Governments recognise their duty, and with
decision and energy desire peace and justice, they will not
only be able to remain but will grow stronger. At present
the decision lies in Vienna, perhaps later it will be in Berlin.
In both places it appears to me there is ground for hope, if
the decision is not too long postponed. * * *. *
However I do not yet consider it right to make my children
exiles, and to spend my remaining years abroad, where my
work is not wanted. Although here I am daily agitated by
the sight of unworthy weakness and unchecked anarchy, I
keep in view the continuation of the task of my life, and hold
to my duty as much as I possibly can. I certainly do not
conceal from myself that circumstances might arise under
which we cannot remain here, in which case, I first thought
of England, which we may hope will remain as it now is for
some years. Hanover is tolerably quiet, and when there, I
had a real pleasure in meeting my old friends and acquaintances; their friendship is unchanged, and I think perhaps it
only requires a beginning to bring back the old connections.
But apart f~ommy feeling that I think it my duty to remain
126
LETTERS
OF
in the situation where I have been placed, and wrong to
abandon the king in bad times. who called me here in
happier days, I am averse to look too far into the future. * *
My garden in Hanover, which is not yet sold, looked a
wilderness, but it breathes the dear old spirit of peace and
quiet. The sun shone on the spot which I had planted with
roses and hedged in with bushes for myoId age. >I< * ~,
The ultimate cause of the failure of the transactions in
Frankfort is the complete want of political judgment, caused
by the, hateful hereditary fault of our countrymen, envy of
everything great. The first folly was the Heidelberg plan,
the destruction and upsetting everything, in place of improving things ; next the despotic usurpation of power in
the previous parliament by the fifty tyrants; Gagern's
egregious blunder in creating the eighty professors, commencing by the top instead of the bottom, exhausting and
throwing away strength, time and honour, in order, contrary
to nature, to make the small great, the great small, in place
of simply declaring that the smaller States must depend on
Austria or Prussia, if they are to stand at all, and that if
Austria, in consequence of the terrible republican artifices,
should perish, which God forbid, the one hope would be in
Prussia. As things now stand, Frankfort can only be preserved through Berlin.
In Prussia it is the army upon
which our hope rests. The first day on which, since the rSth
March, we could breathe freely, was the r Sth September,
when Wrangel entered and mustered the troops.
This
creation of Scharnhorst's will continue. It is a sign of better
times that the King takes up his position again. Yesterday,
his birthday, deputations appeared in the Palace of Bellevue,
in the Thiergarten, from the States, the Academy, the
University, the corporation of the clergy and the town. It
was not a numerous meeting, but there were Generals
Wrangeland Colomb, and my excellentfriendRadzivill, whom
I saw again for the first time since the march to Silesia; the
Princes and the Queen also appeared. When the King came
G. H. PERTZ.
127
out of the Cathedral he was received all through the town
with festivities, and went about among the people.
He has
grown older, owing to the difficult times he has passed
through, but looks in good health, and replied to the speeches
.with warmth and the spirit which belongs only to him.
[In November there was a reaction in Prussia, Manteuffel
became Prime Minister, and General Wrangel entered Berlin .
at the head of his troops without opposition.
The town was
proclaimed in a state of siege, and the citizens were disarmed,
The National Assembly was dissolved, and a charter given
for a constitution with two Chambers.]
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Berlin, December 31St, 1848.
I received, dear friend, with great pleasure your long detailed letter of the 19th, and have learnt much from it. The
reason I have not answered it sooner was partly owing to the
state of things here, when I felt it my duty to tell the truth in
a series of articles, while all the papers were full of the worst
misrepresentations;
and among others the Allgemeine Zeitung
gave a proof of the complete incapacity of its correspondents.
I selected the Hanoverian
newspaper which, under the
direction of a new Editor, Director Dr. Krüger, is fulfilling
* * *
better its original design, and is patronized by Stüve,
Through the permission of Graf Dönhof, I have made use of
this time to obtain some information out of the Archives here
for Stein's Life.
I am so far advancedthat it is ready to be
printed.
To-day I received the first sheets for correction.
* * * *
the spring I
will appear,
second part
Paris, 1814;
.
The printing will now proceed rapidly, and in
hope the first part of this division of the whole
up to Stein's proscription, December, 1808. The
of the third division brings it up to the Peace of
the conclusion includes the history of the summer
of 1814, the Congress of Vienna, the campaign of 1815, and
.
128
LETTERS
OF
the second Peace of Paris.
This finishes Stein's great public
life. The years Isi6-IS31
must be differently treated, they
are not yet written.
You see I go on, as you do, with my
occupation as if we had a certain future 'before us, for which
we work.
But I think things have improved.
My view of
the condition of things here has been confirmed during the
last weeks; it appears to me possible that reason will conquer, since it undoubtedly
is made clear to the dullest eyes
that the choice only lies between lawful order and bloody
despotism.
A large party of the better sort has arisen here,
and they form societies which extend over the whole country.
The good as well as the bad side are preparing for the next
elections.
* * * ~ * *
My original opinion that twenty deputies from the Governments will agree easier than five hundred representatives
of
the people, appears, unfortunately,
to be always more confirmed, therefore nothing remains but a firm union of the
Governments
like the alliance of the Princes in 1785, in
which way an improved edition of the Act of Confederation of
1815 will be obtained, unless new blows from France compel
a union.
To the same.
Berlin, March rath, 1849.
Now that Frankfort and Berlin have approached each other
within a quarter of an hour by the telegraph, one can hardly
write any news.
Yet I must tell you that peace and quiet
reign here, and in spite of all the reports which were circulated a little while ago, it will certainly be firmly maintained.
A few days ago 13,000 troops were reviewed, in which I
rejoiced.
The Chambers certainly differ. The first Chamber
is almost united;
the second contains two nearly equal
parties, yet the good cause has the upper hand, and will be
maintained if they only remain firm.
G. H. PERTZ.
129
To the same•.
Berlin e , May 16th, 1849.
Do not think that I exclusively claim perfection for my
own opimons.
I believe that everyone is worthy to be
esteemed who pursues an honest aim with honest measures,
even when they are opposed to mine. If I lived in America
, it would be just as disagreeable to me if a foreigner changed
the constitution of the North American Free States into an
Anarchy, as that Poles, Jews and Frenchmen should undermine our German Constitution.
* * * Stein's life is
slowly progressing and has now reached the end of the first
volume, but I wish that the two first should appear together,
as they form a united whole; after the overthrow of the
Prussian Monarchy, its restoration follows immediately.
To
PROFESSOR WAlTZ.
Berlin, March 13th, 1850.
A great deal of unavoidable business, dear friend, has prevented me thanking you sooner for your kind and pleasant
communication, but I can do so with a happier mind to-day,
since I can give you and your dear wife the most favourable
account of ourselves. Last summer was really very sad; it
was only in the week before our departure from Suderode that
a violent crisis came on, in consequence of which, thank God,
there was an evident improvement.* * * * This improvement has immensely progressed since that time, and you
would find no change in our life from what it was formerly,
except as regards society, which we have had to give up as
much as possible, and must continue to do so, but we receive
friends at home, though only a few at a time. My wife does
not go out at all, and I seldom find an inducement to do so,
because since March, 1848, a great change has taken place
in this respect, much to the advantage of study. We do not
• Since 1848 his wife had been in bad health.
130
.LBTTBRS OF
. yet know how we shall spend the summer, perhaps my sister.
in-law from England will meet us.
As to the children, Karl has been here'since Easter, 1849,
studying philological, philosophical and historical subjects.
* * * Georg will attend some lectures at Easter. Hermann is in Secunda, so you see there is no want of learning
in' our house.
I recognized the notice of the first volume of Stein's Life
as yours, before you sent it to me; two days previously I
received a copy of it from Brunswick, which delighted me
both from its contents, and for the sake of the author, and
because it was the first public opinion about the book. The
second volume is prin~ed as far as the last sheet of the
appendix, and I hope you will become acquainted with much
that was hitherto unknown in the description of Stein's administration from 1807 to' 1808 and later., The third volume
will soon be printed, the manuscript is ready as far as the
last revision, but it requires to be examined, either for further
research, or for alteration.
I consider it essential to read
the latest histories and accounts of these events before I quite
conclude. It is certainly remarkable that Thiers' in his last
volume does not mention Stein's attitude to Napoleon, the
letter to \Vitgenstein, or his proscription; a comparison of
his account with mine, of the conclusion of the treaty between
France and Prussia, clearly shows how little he cared for truth,
I am sorry I cannot send you a copy as I wished to do, as
the few which I have received must be sent to the family of
Stein; even the daughter of Frau van Berg, to whom I am
indebted for her letters, has not received a copy. * * *
Dr.' Böhmer is in Italy, he will· probably return from
Naples and Rome at Easter; you will understand that he is
collecting for the "Regesten"
and "Scriptores."
I am
afraid that your opinion that the "Monumenta"
has not
suffered by the events in 1848 is not quite well founded.
\Ve certainly have not to complain of the Government, rather
to praise it and, the Parliament for their assistance and
131
G. H. PERTZ.
sympathy, and we owe them both thanks; but the blow
struck in the midst of universal confidence, has not yet lost
its effect on the" Monurnenta." In the first instance, Hahn
had to stop the printing for a time, because he did not wish
to risk losing his capital. By my journey to Hanover in
October, 1848, I made him promise at least to continue
\
printing slowly the fourth volume, which was already begun,
and slowly enough it was continued, and still continues.
To the same.
Berlin, March 13th, 1851.
I received your kind letter, dear friend, in due time, and
heartily thank you for it. I have only just now found time
to answer it, a pause in my work affording me leisure. * **
The library progresses visibly, I have made a great improvement since the autumn by simplifying some of the business
and making alterations in the rooms, which will considerably
benefit the readers, the dfficials, and the establishment in
general. You know that the reading-room is open every day
from nine to four, and since the news-room has been opened
the number of those-who profit by it has increased immensely.
The catalogue of the historical depart ment is almost entirely
finished, and about 200,000 titles have been transcribed from
the books themselves. The number of manuscripts which we
have acquired since 18p is about 2,500. * * * Karl is
here, finishing his third year of study, he will devote himself to history, and thinks of, paying you' a visit. Georg
is studyirg in Bann, and seems very happy there, and Hermann is in Obersecunda, he has outgrown his brothers, and
strives at least, to rival them in learning. I will not write
about politics, we must wait for the result of the present
crisis, so as to begin again on a firm foundation. We have
lived through bad and dreary times.
March 15th.
Lachmann's* death will have pained you as much as it
has us. It was exactly six weeks ago, when he had started
• Professor of Greek Literature.
LETTERS
132
OF
to come to the Griechheit, that he had to turn back, on
account of pain in his feet, and he suffered ever since that
moment. The grief for his death is universal, it is rare that
anyone has met with such warm regard and sympathy from
a wide circle of frie~ds. His 'loss to the Academy and
University cannot be replaced.'
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Berlin, June röth, 1851.
* * * You will perhaps decide to travel. In which
case we should like best if you would come to us; and fulfil
your former promise.· ,"Ve could give you a room both in
Berlin or in our summer residence, close to the Park of
Schönhausen, where I have taken a large apartment for these
months, and I find the fresh pure air has a beneficial effect
on my wife. I spend my mornings in Berlin, and generally
return every evening to Schönhausen.
It would be a great
pleasure if after such a long time we could meet again and
make plans for the future.
To the same.
November 24th, 1851,
You ask me what has taken place since my last letter. .Tn
truth, I can only think of one subject, that my dear wife has
been very ill all summer, so that our stay in the country has
been much spoilt; we were therefore obliged in the beginning
of September to return to town; she was very seriously ill,
was seven weeks in bed, and recovered very slowly. Now,
thank God, she is so far better, that she can walk about the
room, and hopes soon, on a sunny day, to drive out; but
probably she will not be able to leave the house during the
winter. In the summer, therefore, I was constantly moving
between Schönhausen and Berlin, and I established my
writing table beside my wife in her room. You will easily
understand that work did not make much progress, it was
sufficient that I kept the business going.
I think now, however, of taking up Stein's life again. The
,G.
133
H. PERTZ.
fourth volume, which is printed, reaches to the end of 1815,
next comes the preparation for the" Monumenta Germanica."
I found a plan drawn out for it in the beginning of 1816.
To the same.
July 9th, 1852,
I accept with hearty thanks, dear friend, your kind invitation to me and my wife, in the hope of not causing you any
extraordinary inconvenience. \Ve shall leave this to-morrow,
and probably arrive in Frankfort on Monday. The effect of
the journey on my wife will decide whether we shall arrive
by the first or second train, we think of leaving Cassel on
Monday, ~here we shall see our second son, who will meet
us there from Göttingen. My wife is so much better that I
commence the journey with a good heart, may it turn out a
cure, and bring us again tranquil happy days. I rejoice at
the thought of seeing you again after so many vain attempts
since 1847, and I hope since Frankfort and Hamhurg are so
near, not to be too much or too often separated from you.
To
PROFESSOR
\VAITZ.
Soden, August 17th, 1852,
While I wish that your journey may be very successful, I
cannot refrain sending you our heartfelt thanks for the
friendly and very kind reception which you have given to
Georg. I am certain your advice and judgment have been
most useful to him. He is thoroughly good and diligent,
and determined to pursue his legal studies, and I feel sure he
could not pass the winter anywhere better than in Göttingen.
Karl will take his doctor's degree at the end of his year's
service as a volunteer, and will study history, but he has still
hard duty before' him. * * * *
Ten sheets of the thirteenth volume (" Menumenta ") are
printed. I have had frequent and long interviews with Dr.
Böhmer ; he has prepared much for the continuation of the
134
LETTERS OF
" Regesten" and also the third volume of "Fontes," and
works incessantly. He has now quite recovered. It seems
that Soden agrees with my wife, and I hope there wiII be a
good result, which I also wish for your dear wife.
Berlin. October 18th, 1852.
DEAR FRIEND,
My son Georg, who is returning to you, will bring you
these lines. As he was the faithful participator of my
sorrow..* when a few weeks ago he spent some time with us
at Soden, he can tell you more than I am able to write. It
was a great comfort to me to have my three sons with me
through this time of suffering; we felt it was the wish and
the will of our dear departed one, that we should support
each other and submit and mourn together, and the true love
and solicitude by which she made my life happy has revived
in the devotion of my sons. Therefore I feel it is a fresh loss
to me, that Georg must leave us now, but it is necessary,
and I hope it will be for his good to continue the studies he
has begun (at Göttingen). Allow me, dear friend, to recommend him to you and your wife, you will value him when
you know his true and sensitive nature.
The true and cordial sympathy you shewed me, immediately after my sudden and unexpected bereavement,
affected me much, and I thank you for all you then expressed. You were so long an intimate and daily witness of
our life, that you know what she was to me, and what I have
lost in her, and she took the liveliest interest in all concerning
you and your dear wife. * * * *
We have found some consolation in gathering round us
whatever proceeded from her, we are trying to collect her
letters in order to recall and retain her image most truly and
completely. You and your wife possess letters, which I am
sure you will allow us to copy. I beg you to lend them to
us for a short time, and to send them by a safe conveyance,
perhaps when Georg returns to us. * * * *
• His wife died in September,
1852' .
G. H. PERTZ.
To
135.
I
DR. BÖHMER.
Berlin, December 24th, 1852.
* * * *
I have finished the Life of Stein up to the
year 1820 and beyond it, and am busily occupied with the
continuation. * * * * Graf and Gräfin Kilmansegge
have been here the Jast fortnight and mean to spend the
winter here. He told me, among other things, that he had
met Graf Münch at Karlsbad, who of his own accord spoke
about Stein's Life, and said that Prince Metternich had
written to hirn,'" that he had swallowed it," therefore I need :
not be afraid of being driven back from the Austrian frontier .,
if I go again to the Erzgebirge. Gräfin Kihnansegge is
quite her father's daughter * * * * Gräfin Giech is an
invalid and lives in a small town near Nuremberg in order to be near her doctor. * * * *
LETTERS
CHAPTER
To
OF
VIII.-I8S3-18S4'
PROFESSOR
WAlTZ.
Berlin, January 19th, 1853.
I have to thank you for two letters which gave me much
pleasure, as well as for the many proofs of kindness which.
you and your wife have shown my son Georg.
The letters which you have most kindly sent me, are now
being copied by Hermann ; they are a valuable addition to
the collection, which will preserve to my children the most
lively image of their beloved mother.
We are spending the winter quietly together...
I am
very busily occupied with Stein's Life, and have now reached
the middle of the year 1824..'
. The first two parts of the
eleventh volume of the Archives will be sent you shortly,
they are just being completed. Then will follow the review
of the Manuscripts, which have been so long prepared by
you and others.
To DR.
BÖHMER.
Berlin, July 7th, 1853.
I received your letter, dear friend, on my return from a
little journey to Kösen near Naumburg, where I had accom- .
panied my youngest son Hermann, who by the advice of his
doctor was ordered to spend his holiday there, using the
Soolbäder. I left him there in an agreeable and well situated
house, and I hope the beautiful air and the country life will
agree with him. We: took walks to the Rudelsberg beside
the Saale, and on the hills and meadows at their foot. The
place lies exactly between Rossbach and Auerstadt, and the
cannon balls in the houses remind oneof the" Defileen von
Kösen."
. I shall return there in a few days, and it would be better
G. H•. PER':"Z.
137
for me if I could get away from work for some weeks, but
there is no prospect of that at present.
[In the Autumn of 1853 Dr. Pertz, accompanied by his
eldest son Karl, went to England to examine manuscripts in
the British Museum, and to visit the library of Sir Thomas
Philips at Middlehill in Worcestershire. During his ·stay in
England, among other friends he saw Chevalier Bunsen, and
made the acquaintance of Mr. Leonard Horner and his
family, who were residing at Highgate, and of Sir Charles
and Lady Lyell. Subsequently he became engaged to one
of Mr. Horner's daughters.]
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
London, rzth September,
1853.
The constant occupation and activity in which we have
passed our tim.e since our arrival here, has prevented me, dear
friend, from writing to you sooner. Now that half the time
is over, I will not delay making up for the past. Yesterday
we returned from Middlehill, where we spent nine days i the
work here being so far completed, that I was able to accept
the invitation from. Sir Thomas Philips.
In the British
Museum I have been received as usual with the greatest
kindness, and been given the same privileges as the officials.
I have a quiet place near the Manuscripts along with
Karl. * * * I have hitherto been in a hotel, but
to-morrow or the day after, shall go into lodgings, as I
shall remain here nearly all the time. If you write' to
me, please address your letters, Dr. Pertz, 9, Carlton House·
Terrace, Prussian Legation, London.
[During his stay in England, Dr. Pertz visited Manchester.
Mr. Horner, who was then Inspector of Factories, was staying
there, and introduced him to Mr. Nasmyth at Patricroft,
where he saw the steam hammer. He returned to Berlin
towards the end of September, and commenced a correspon-
LETTERS
OF
dence with Miss Leonora Homer, from which the following
extracts are given.]
,
To
MISS
LEONORA
HORN ER.
Berlin, January 17th, 1853.
* * * After leaving the Academy, I visited 'an old
friend whom I had not seen since my return from England,
who takes a lively interest in all my proceedings, Eichhorn, * who
from 1840-1848was Minister of Public Instruction, and through
whose mediation I was called to Prussia. He was a friend
of Stein, in whose life you will find him mentioned. I owe
him a great deal of information, and am in the habit of visiting
him from time to time. He is no doubt the most experienced
and intelligent politician in this country, having for a long
time been Director in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
His perfect knowledge of German affairs, particularly of the
leading men and their principles, enables him to form a very
impartial and clear judgment, and he imparts his ideas to me
with perfect openness.
To the same.
Berlin, December rst, 1853.
Here is an amusing anecdote of the Emperor Joseph n.
* * * He was a great imitator of Frederic 11. of Prussia,
and reformer of his country, but rather ·hasty, and often inconsiderate, therefore he was hated by the clergy and nobility,
and particularly by Hungary, which he intended to Germanize
in his own way. Amongst other institutions he built a lunatic
asylum at Vienna called the Narrenthurm (the tower of fools) •
On its completion, this inscription was found at the top.
J osephus secundus
Ubique secundus
Hic primus.
The Emperor, being told of it, was very angry and offered a
reward of 1,000 ducats for the discovery of the culprit. The'
-Note, see p. 98.
G. H. PERTZ.
139
next morning another inscription was found at the top of the
tower*Ich, Dinte, Feder und Papier
\Vir sind unserer vier,
Keiner wird den andern verrathen.
Joseph, behalt deine Ducaten.
To the same.
Berlin, February röth, 1854.
I am just returning from the Academy, where our friend
Ehrenbergt gave an interesting account of the state of the
Atlantic ocean at great depths. He' had received from Mr.
Maury at \Vashington, specimens from the bottom of the
sea at the depth of 8,000, 10,800, even 12,000 feet, analyzing
which had occupied him these last months. After mentioning that Sir Charles Lyell was of opinion that there was a
constant increase of salt in proportion to the increasing depth
of the ocean, which would prevent or' render exceedingly
difficult animal or vegetable life, and EHe de Beaumont's
supposition about the immense pressure exercised by the sea,
and increasing according to the depth, which would produce
the same effect; he said that, believing in these principles, he
had expected to meet in the specimens brought up from that
immense depth, no living organisms, but only bruised and
broken remains of organic life. But after analysing the
specimens, and making forty analyses of the material at
10,800
ft. and twenty of that found at 12,000, he had.
now come to the conclusion, that organisms at that depth
were at least quite as living and numerous as in the higher
regions of the sea. He found a good number of the same
shells and animals, and nearly as many quite new and never
known before. He mentioned, besides, some few vegetables,
t
• I, ink, pen and paper
There are four of us
No one will betray the other.
.
Joseph. keep your ducats .
The distinguished Naturalist who travelled with Humboldt.
LETTERS
OF
one a kind of conferva, which he supposes covers the ground
to a large extent; the other articulated and more like grass,
which may serve for aliment to the thick mass of animals
living at the bottom of the sea. * * * I hope you have
received good news from Teneriffe,* how they all are, and
how climate and travelling agree with them, and 'when they
intend to return.
To the same.
Berlin, February röth, 1854.
How far has E. O. S.t got on in her difficult undertaking.
Has the printer begun? I shall.be anxious to see it finished,
and propose to read it immediately, both on account of the
author, whose talents and character raise my expectations
to a very high degree, and on account of the subject, which is
not sufficiently known to me, and so very important to every
one who wants to understand the history of our own time.
To the same.
Sunday, February 19th, 1854.
Yesterday I received an invitation for to-day to the Royal
Chapel. The King has built at the top of the Palace, a
beautiful chapel, where divine service is to be now
regularly performed. I drove there at ten o'clock, and
met a numerous assemblage, which filled the large space.
The building is an octagon, consisting of four immense
pillars connected by four niches and surmounted by a
beautiful high cupola like St. Peter's at Rome. The interior of the cupola is gilt and exhibits three successions of
painted saints and angels. The light enters through the
windows at the base of the cupola, which is surrounded by a
gallery all round the building. The four niches are adorned
* Sir Charles and Lady LyeU and Mr. and Mrs. Bunbury were travelling in Madeira and Teneriffe. Lady Lyell and Mrs. Bunbury were
daughters of Mr. Homer.
t Miss Susan Homer, who translated Colletta's History of Naples, with
an original supplementary chapter.
G. H.' PERTZ.
with serpentine, porphyry and other stones, as in ancient
Roman churches. The four pilasters are gilt and painted,
exhibiting apostles, saints and prophets i above the altar
Christ is represented instituting the Sacrament, and there
are other sacred subjects. The walls of the building being
painted white or in stucco or marble, the whole makes a
very pleasing impression, chaste, rich, and not overloaded.
In the gallery below the cupola were placed the" Domchor ..
who performed the choruses, their sweet and powerful voices
seemed to descend from heaven, they being placed so high.
above us. At ten o'clock, the King, Queen, Prince of
Prussia 'and the rest of the Royal family entered' and the
service began. Herr Strauss* preached. * * * * *
Monday, February 20th. I am just returning from the
Academy, where we h,ad an interesting lecture from Herr
Boeckh] about ancient measures and weights.. A
Genoese, M. Oppert, had sent an account of measurements
at Babyion i he has succeeded in tracing the three
walls mentioned by Herodotus, together with tbe tower,
or palace of Nimrod, and the measures agree exactly
with what is told by Herodotus. Herr Boeckh arrived at
the general result that all the ancient measures from Babyion
to Rome were taken from the same standard, and he
. examined the changes which have occurred in the course of
time.
To the same.
Berlin, Tuesday, February erst, 1854.
* * * Last night "1 spent some hours at Gräfin
Münster's. There were about fifteen persons i I talked
mostly to the three daughters, who are clever, well-informed
persons i they visited England, their native country, in 1852~
There were about four gentlemen there, amongst whom I
t
• Court preacher
Professor of Greek literature in Berlin.
~ LETTERS
OF
spoke to a good-natured and well-informed Hanoverian, an
old acquaintance of mine, Baron Grote, member of the first
Chamber of Parliament" To day Count Kilmansegge called,
and we had a conversation about the political state of Prussia,
which he considers in the same light as I do. The letter of
L. Napoleon has produced a good effect, but it is already
known that Nicholas has absolutely refused to accept good
advice, and war has become almost inevitable-i-still I do not
believe in it, but hope to the last that reason may gain the
upper hand, and insolent ambition yield to the feeling of the
immense responsibility which Niebolas would incur by
persevering in his evil course. It is believed, that his
aristocracy already feel the effect of the stagnation of cornrnerce upon their incomes, and will eventually not be very
well pleased at the new situation of affairs. You know that
it was a Russian nobleman who told Count Münster when at
St. Petersburg in 1801, that killing their emperors was their
'Magna Charta.'
That sounds very barbarous, but truly
everywhere people who won't yield to law and reason are
obliged to give way to force and passion. And since even
the Austrians feel vexed with the revolutionary measures
employed by the Russians in Moldavia, Wallachia and Servia,
I suppose Russia will soon feel perfectly isolated in the face
of Europe.
Thursday. Last night Karl and I went to Mr. Gerhard's,*
where we met a large party, amongst them, Mr. and Mrs.
Ehrenberg, and Mr. and Mrs. Pinder j we spent some
pleasant hours at tea and supper. * * * I got a very
good place near. Abeken, Lepsius, Ehrenberg, Wiese and
Peters, and we separated only towards midnight. Mr. Wiese
is a Councillor in the Ministry of Public Instruction, clever
and intelligent, and some years ago he published a book upon
English schools, which paved the road to his present situation .. Dr. P~ters is a very intelligent natural philosopher,
. • Professor of Arcbreology in Berlin.
G. H. PERTZ.
under johannes Müller, the anatomist; he has been travelling
for severai years in South East Africa, Mozambique, &c., and
threatens to return there after finishing his great work, of
which only the first volume in small folio has appeared. He
has a great deal of independence of character, great honesty,
and is liked by everyone. So you see there were amongst us,
four African travellers.
'
To tile same.
Berlin, Sunday, February
26th, 1854.
After dropping my letter in the post-box yesterday evening
I went to the Griechheit, which happened to be at the house
of a new member, Professor Haupt, who is very well known
amongst us all, and has been called to Berlin, in the place of
our departed friend Lachman. He is Professor of Ancient
Greek and Latin, as weU as "German Literature, is very
learned, taking a great interest in all literary- as well as
political subjects, and has been involved at Leipsic (where
he happened to be Professor in 18.t-8 and 1849) in some political demonstrations which the Saxon Government took so
much amiss that he was deprived of his place, and found it in
consequence exceedingly difficult to get another. However,
his merit is such, that after Lachman's death the philosophical faculty of the Berlin University unanimously
proposed him to the Ministry as Lachman's successor. At
that time the fear of democratic or liberal principles was such
that the Ministry declined entering into their views, the
Saxon Government also interfered and tried to keep him' out
'of employment, but the feeling, not only of the philosophical
faculty, but of the whole University, supported by everyone
who was able to appreciate the case, was so strongly and
repeatedly expressed, that at last the Ministry yielded, and
Mr. Haupt was called here during last summer. He began
lecturing at Michaelmas with good success, and will inspire
new life into the philological studies. We elected him at once
LETTERS
OF
a member of the Academy, and of our Griechheit, and he has
been present at our meetings all the winter.
* * * His wife is daughter of the celebrated philologist,
the late Professor Hermann of Leipsic, one of the most distinguished scholars in that branch of literature. * * * Soon
after ten, I went to the French Ambassador's. * *
I met
a great many people, am~>Dgstothers, my friend Dr. Barez,
the physician, Humboldt, Rauch, M. Nothomb the Belgian
Minister, Dr. Lepsius and several others of my acquaintance.
*. * * Yesterday morning I arranged several things for
moving the University Library, which is also under my
direction, and for which I succeeded last summer to get a
proper official house in our neighbourhood, as it has hitherto .
been placed in hired lodgings at a great distance off, and in a
very inconvenient small building. * * * The Library
consists of about 40,000 volumes, I hope to have the whole
business accomplished in ten or twelve days.
'Yesterday afternoon we had a violent snowstorm, which
lasted several hours, but did not prevent me from taking my.
usual walk in the Thiergarten.
In the evening I wrote my
preface to the fifth volume of Stein, which I· looked over
again and finished to my satisfaction this morning, and
besides read a mass of letters which I had received too late
'for insertion, and from which I shall add four supplements to
the volume. * * *
Monday, 27th. To day Mr. Reimer, my publisher, called,
and we arranged finally the publication of the fifth volume.
He brought at the same time a copy of the second volume
sent from Russia, which had been under the Censor's hand,
on the frontier. You would hardly believe it; large black
patches have been placed upon the passages which displeased
him. * * * The whole third volume as well as the
fourth are prohibited in Russia, which I don't wonder at,
since all such institutions as censorship, &c., are usually
employed, not as they were intended, to avert real dangers,
but to gratify personal feelings of dislike, revenge, &c., arid
*
145
G. H. PERTZ.
certainly the present Chancellor of Russia, Nesselrode. does
not appear in the light of a great statesman in those volumes.
To tlu same.
Berlin, Thursday.
March and, 1854.
* * * The snow has entirely disappeared, and the
shrubs before the library will soon show the approach of
spring. I suppose we shall see crocuses in a very few days.
* * * * As to Mr. Sopwith's information about the progress made at Vienna in taking impressions from nature,* it
(the process) is quite astonishing. The publications of the
Viennese Imperial Academy show the great discoveries made
in this line; plants as well as lace and such objects, are wonderfully well represented. I receive the publications from the
Academy, having been elected at its first institution in 1848,
one of the eight foreign honorary members of the historical
class, four of whom are here, Ritter, J. Grimm, Schellingand
myself; amongst the eight members of the physical class are
Humboldt, von Buch and Johannes Müller.
0
o
To!he same.
Berlin, Sunday, March 5th, 1854.
o
o
I went to the Griechheit at Homeyer's. He is professor of
German Law at the University, and member of the High
Court of Justice here, called Geheimes Oher Tribunal. He
is a native of Pomerania, being born at \Volgast, a seaport
on the Baltic, where his brother is a rich shipowner.
To-morrow Hermann's examination begins; he will have
plenty to do for six days, and I shall be glad if it ends well ;
though very irksome, it still does not lead to a true judgment
of the character and knowledge of a young man. I see that
you intend to introduce the same system now in the civil
service in England, but some opposition is appearing from
Lord Brougham and. others. The subject is a difficult one,
talent and knowledge are not certain criterions of character.
.
• The beginning of photography.
K
146
LETTERS OF
I have received a note from General Count Gröben,
telling me that he was setting out this morning for a visit of
some days to London. He is a particular friend of the
King sent to convey an important political communication to
the Queen. * * * * He was formerly adjutant of
Field-marshal Gneisenau, and has just sent me some letters
for my history; Gneisenau used to call him his Ajax; he
is very tall, and now in command of the corps of the Royal
Guards, a place of great confidence. * * * * *.
I suppose you have seen the semi-official declaration of
Austria; she considers England and France right in claiming the evacuation of Moldavia and \Vallachia, and intends
henceforth to be guided in her conduct only by what affects
her interest. So her political gratitude towards Russia is
luckily at an end. In consequence England and France have
already supported Austria's clai~ for a guarantee in Italy,
meaning the right of placing a garrison in Alexandria, to the
great discomfort of Piedmont. Mr. Gladstone's financial
plan seems to meet with general approval in England. How
far raising the Income Tax will be approved of by people of
small and moderate fortunes, remains to be seen.
Sunday, March 12th,1854. Yesterday evening I drank tea
at Count Kielmansegge's. There were besides myself only
Count Dönkoff, the Queen's Oberhofmeister, and another
gentleman. Our political discussions begin to become more
and more animated in consequence of the Gerlach party trying to
influencethe Government in the Turkish question. I am told
that Nicholas is willing to yield in order to keep peace, but
that he is afraid of the old Russian party led by his second
son Constantine. This prince seems to be possessed of more
energy than the Grand Duke Alexander, the elder brother,
and is said to have told his father that he (Constantine) ought
to succeed him, as he was born when his father was
Emperor, and Alexander when their father had no prospect
at all, which sounds exactly like the sophistry of the
Byzantine Emperors.
It is said that at Nicholas' death
G.
H.
PERTZ.
147
there will be dissensions, three parties existing at court, the
smallest in favour of Alexander the legitimate successor, a
strong and energetic one in favour of Constantine, and the
largest in favour of the Grand Duchess Marie, Nicholas'
daughter, a very ambitious woman. Therefore a fine, prospect for the Russians and Europe, if she (Europe) does not
get her head out of the Russian snares before that time.
To the same. Berlin, March 23rd, 1854.
During this week, I have had a v,isit from my friend and
assistant in the "l\Ionumenta,"
Professor W aitz from
Göttingen. He is staying at his father-in-law's, Schelling.
* * * He is by far the most able assistant I ever had, he
is engaged in a great many literary labours, and has written
a history of Holstein and Schleswig, of course not from a
Danish point of view, being himself a native of the town of
Fleusburg. He also assisted at the National Assembly at
Frankfort in 1848and 1849; his political feelings are strong
and he hates injustice as much as I do. He told me that the
blind king of Hanover is violently opposed to the king of
Prussia, the only power which in reality protects him, and
intrigues with Saxony, Bavaria and \Vürtemberg in order to
gratify his personal feelings, when the interest of the country
ought to induce him to ally himself closely to Prussia.
To the same:
Berlin, Sunday, March aöth, 1854,
Our political vista seems to be now perfectly clear, I think
there can be no longer any mistake as to the line we ought to
.follow, supposing always that the intentions' of England and
France perfectly agree, as they seem to do hitherto. If you
could depend upon France's stability and sincerity, there
would be only one line to follow, viz., joining England and
France in the vigorous endeavour to stop Russia's encroach-
LETTERS
OF
ments and ambitious bearing. The question is clearly now
whether Nicholas is to be allowed to go on in his scheme for'
the destruction of Turkey and consequently establishing the
foundation for a universal monarchy in the East. That such
a plan ought never to be allowed to appear, much less to be
carried into execution, cannot be subject to any doubt, and
as long as independent powers exist in Europe, they ought to
join in discountenancing the man who dares to impose his
law upon th(civilized world. I hope our politicians will be
thoroughly convinced of this truth; the Russian party are
stunned for the moment; in the Chambers there seems to
exist energy enough, and provided the King and Government
see their way with France, which seems to put an immense
army on foot, we might hope for a decided and manly course.
But this distrust of France seems to pervade our measures.
There is a great deal of negotiation between Prussia and
Austria going on, with the avowed object of keeping peace in
central Europe, and to assist each other in defence; but that
seems now not to be sufficient.
* * * To-day we had the Griechheit at Mr. Meineke'~~
He is one of the most learned and distinguished Greek a~d'
Latin scholars, Member of the Academy and Director of the
first Gymnasium in our country, the' Joachims Thal,'. in
which my three sons have been educated. Hermann
yesterday got through his examination with very good
success, particularly in Greek, Latin and Mathematics,
He
is to study at the University, until able at Michaelmas to
enter the military service as an engineer.
To the same.
Berlin, Thursday, March 30th, J854.
To-day we had a lecture in tbe Academy by Dr. Beyrich,
the geologist, about the chalk strata in Silesia. Afterwards
Professor Ritter communicated a letter written by Dr. Barth,
the African traveller, after his arrival at Timbuctoo, to my
G. H. PERTZ.
149
friend Bunsen. The Doctor had been attacked by fever on
his arrival, and seems to have suffered for three weeks; it was,
in the rainy season, the most dangerous to Europeans. * *
He intended to return by way of Bornou and Tripolis.
The spiritual Head of Timbuctoo had taken him under his
protection, and warranted his safe return, as well as the
safety of any Englishmen who were coming for the sake of
trade to that place. It was interesting to see the first German
letter written in that remote capital.
To tlze same.
Berlin, April 4th, I854'
Your fear about the Russians having crossed the Danube
was only too well founded, and I think the English and
French Governments and fleets are to be blamed for allowingthe Russian fleet to second that movement. It appears
Turkey gets more and more disorganised in consequence of
the insurrections, as well as the demands of the Christian
powers at this period of danger, but it is to be expected that
the courage of the natives and their deep hatred towards the
Russians will be roused more and more as the war continues.
* * * You will have seen by the latest publication laid before
Parliament, that Prussia has most seriously advised Russia
to yield and to evacuate the principalities, and only has not
yet agreed to declare war, as she is really exposed to the first
attack of Russian forces, English and French assistance being
very remote, and France herself not to be trusted.
ALEXANDER
VON HUMBOLDT
to
DR.
PERTZ.
April 25th, I854.
A disagreeable but slight illness prevents me, respected
friend and colleague, from offering you personally my warmest
thanks for your valuable present.* In spite of the influenza,
, ...
Stein's Life."
q~TTERS OF
from which I suffer, I have already read it for three consecutive hours. The first lines of your preface give an excellent
representation of Stein's aim in life, to which he ,faithfully
adhered. I like also the peculiarity of his fine but passionate
character. * :;: * In the epoch, which you paint so truly
(I was with Capo d'Istria and Gentz and Stourdza at the
Congress of Aix-Ia-Chapelle) occurred the foundation of his
splendid national work, rerum Germanicarum, to which you,
have given lustre and. a secure footing. How insignificant,.
timid and feeble Niebuhr appears, as a political figure, next
to Stein.
[Dr. Pertz was married to Miss Leonora Horner on
May r Sth, 1854' They travelled to Berlin via France,
Belgium, and the Rhine, spending a few days on the road'
with old friends at Bonn.]
To
DR.
BÖHMER.
Berlin. June 7th, 1854.
Having happily returned here ten days ago, and being
pretty well advanced with the most important arrangements,
I will not delay answering your letter of the 4th, just received.
It gives me great pleasure that you are satisfied with the
fifth volume of Stein, and I hope that after the completion
of the whole, you will be convinced that whenever there was
anything disagreeable concerning individuals, governments,
or States, I was obliged to relate it for the sake of truth, and
not from any ill will, or one-sided, blind prej udice, as it
always gave me pleasure when I had anything good to relate,
of whoever it 'might be.
Welcker, in Bonn, who was on an intimate literary footing
with our late Founder, told me that others have been pleased
with the details I give of Stein's connection with the" Monumenta," that he himself had here first learnt the extent of
Stein's knowledge, and his. insight into the importance of
learned historical researches, and that this memoir has thrown
a new light on his character.
G. H. PERTZ.
CHAPTER
IX.
[ON the completion of the Life of Stein in August, 1855,
Frederic \Villiam IV. of Prussia presented Dr. Pertz with
a gold enamelled snuff-box, as a proof of his high esteem of
his work, In the course of this year Dr. Pertz began preparing an abridged edition of the Life for the general public,
omitting many of the documents.]
To'Ms wife, in London,
Berlin. November 19th, 1855.
I am advancing fast in the small edition of Stein; yesterday I
got through half the third book, and expect to finish it to-morrow. ::: '" ::: Many things may be omitted, which it was
necessary at first to print, when Stein's enemies and ad versaries
had nearly succeeded in effacing. the memory of his great
achievements from the public, so much so, that the most
opposite parties abused him and shamefully misrepresented
his actions. It was therefore' necessary to establish the facts
by authentic documents, and having succeeded in giving a complete change to public opinion, I may now. rely upon the evidence of printed documents, and omit a good many of them in
a smaller edition. This will enable the publisher to produce
a shorter and less expensive book, which is therefore more
likely to be read by the great mass of the people in Germany,
as well as abroad. If possible I hope to get through the
third volume before starting for England, in order to enable
Mr. Reimer to begin printing the smaller edition. Mr.
Reimer has just been elected deputy for Berlin, and will
therefore be a great deal occupied during the winter with
/
LETTRRS OF
politics, so it is well to have things arranged before the end of
this month, when the Chambers will meet * * *
November 21St, 1855.
* * *
An important discovery has been made at Potsdam. The King, it is said, remarked that the contents of a
letter received from his sister, tbe Dowager Empress of
Russia, was' nearly verbally inserted in an article of the
Moniteur, and another in the Times.
This excited his
suspicion; persons were watched, and the discovery was
soon made, that all the despatches and letters which the
King sent to General v. Gerlach and to Mr. Niebuhr, were
regularly opened, and copies sent to the French and Russian
(some say also the English) Ministers.
Gerlach's and
Niebuhr's servants received each ten dollars a month for this
infamous work. Mrs. Niebuhr told Mr. Twesten that her
servant had opened and copied all the letters not only containedin the King's portefeuille, but everything also contained .
in her own and Mr. Niebuhr's private portfolio, of which he
had all the keys.
To
PROFESSOR \VAITZ.
Berlin, December 31St, 1855.
I thank you for the kind interest you take in the increase
of our domestic happiness by the birth of a daughter. We
went to England in August, and spent some weeks in the
country, in the neighbourhood of Cambridge, with my
brother-in-law Bunbury,* son of the General whose history
of the war you probably know. * * * While I was in
England I discovered a hitherto .unknown Roman historian
in a Syrian Codex, written three times over, besides fragments of. four books of Annals of the history of Granicus
Licianus, probably of the time of Ctesar or Augustus. I
deciphered two pages which contain the events of the
Caudian vyar; this holds out the prospect of an unexpected
.. Mr. Bunbury, later Sir Charles Bunbury, Bart.
G.
H.
PERTZ.
153
increase to our classical documents, and it will therefore be
necessary to go through all the Syrian manuscripts. * * *
A short edition of Stein's Life is printing. I have begun
Gneisenau,* and hope to continue it without interruption,
therefore yo~ see I am not haying a holiday .
To his sister-in-lee,
LADY LYELL.t
Royal Library, Berlin, April 15th, 1856.
Hermann has been lately promoted to be an ensign, the .
first step up the ladder to a field-marshal. Perhaps he is
happier now than if he were at the top of the ladder. * ~, *
The life of a military man is so uncertain, so exposed to many
accidents, that the present seems always to be better than
the doubtful future. * * * The war seems now to be
brought to a conclusion, I suppose without having fulfilled
the hopes and expectations of most people, particularly in
your country. It seems to be evident that France has obliged
the English Cabinet to yield, and to desist from demands
which might have afforded greater security against future
aggressions in the East.
But that connection with the
French Emperor was the inherent defect in the whole alliance,
and nobody could expect his support longer than his personal
interest would justify. Sardinia, Sweden and Tvrkey will
have to suffer, because the weaker States, after being cajoled
and persuaded into an unequal alliance, are generally sacrificed in the end-witness the fate of the alliance in 1815,
when after all the bloodshed, Germany was left alone by
England and Russia in order to preserve the French alliance,
which both wanted, in expectation of conflicts i~ the East.
I have therefore never been able altogether to blame the
Prussian neutrality during the last war, the sacrifices in men
and money would have been certain, the gain for the country
nought, if it was to depend upon France and England.
• Life of Field Marshal Graf Neitbardt von Gneisenau.
t Wife of Sir Charles Lyell.
154
LETTERS OF
To the same.
Berlin. April rzth, 1857.
. I am much obliged to you and Charles for taking the trouble
of getting me admittance to Lord Spencer's and Lord Ashburnham's libraries. In case you should take any step before
my arrival, it would perhaps be as well to mention expressly
that I do not want to examine pictures and miniatures, but
that my time will be entirely devoted to historical manuscripts,
comprising annals, chronicles, letters, charters, ·calendars,
and other historical documents referring to Germany, the
Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy during the Middle Ages,
and that the laws of those countries form a special object of
my inquiries. Lord Ashburnham, for instance, is in possession of a manuscript on vellum containing fragments of the
barbarian laws, the remainder of which manuscript I have
made use of in Hanover; it is now in the British Museum.
Lord Spencer is supposed to possess a manuscript containing
a collection of letters written by the German King, William
of Holland, in the middle of the thirteenth century, which we
do not find on the Continent: These are my special wishes,
which will show that I do not desire to see these libraries
from motives of curio~ity, but I should like to be allowed to
look at the catalogues, if any exist, and then mark those
numbers which appear worthy of examination.
I am now printing the sixteenth volume of the "MoilU'
menta Germanica;" as soon as I have got to a certain point
when I may safely leave the superintendence of the printing
to my subordinates, I intend setting out for London.
To his sister-in-lam,
MISS
HORNER.
April 19th. 1857.
r
I was very much interested in your account of the
Manchester elections, which must have presented scenes of
great animation and excitement. * * *. * \Ve have here
at this moment an interesting discussion in Parliament about
155
G. H. PERTZ.
the means employed by Government to prevent the possible
injurious effects caused by the press; of course you might as
. well discuss the means of preventing the dangers arising from
.fire or water, snow or sunshine; and the Minister of the
Interior uses the argument that England is England, and
Prussia is Prussia, and that there everything has come from.
the activity of the people, here everything from the influence
of the Crown-which is not at all true, nor has ever been
acknowledged by thekings themselves, and which, if upheld,
would be in contradiction to the legislation since 1807, and
would keep the people for ever in a state of subserviency and
dependence for everything upon the government at the time
being. I hope at least some good will come from the open
discussion and its general circulation through the newspapers,
I have n~ver heard how far on you are with Colletta, * and
whether it is now.being published, but I shall soon hear more
about this and many interesting subjects, when I shall have
the happiness of joining you and your domestic circle.
To "is u'ife, in England.
Berlin, April 25th, 1857.
The important event of the day is the salt tax proposed by
the Government, and which had been voted by a majority in
the Lower House, but ~has been thrown out with an
immense majority by the Lords! The general opinion is,
that their motive was not wholly disinterested, They are
against any new tax, or increasing an existing one, because
they are afraid that they themselves might have to submit
to a land tax, from which, contrary to equity and justice, they
have been' hitherto exempt. No order or class of people
have gained so immensely during the last twenty years as the
landed proprietors, whose property has been raised to double
its value, and who have enjoyed the profits of good harvests,
combined of late with very high prices. Their conduct is
• Translation
of Colletta's History of Naples,
LETTERS OF
the more unjust as it is well understood in the country that
they do not contribute at all in proportion to the income tax,
which does not produce what it ought j the town of Berlin
contributing the fifth part of the whole, without containing
more than the fortieth part of the population of Prussia.
Further, here everyone's income is much more open to investigation, but in the country landed proprietors estimate each
other, and according to a German proverb, no crow scratches
out another crow's eyes.
To the same.
Ashburnham Place, Battle, Sussex, July 15th, 1857.
I arrived here yesterday morning after half an hour's drive
from Battle, and was received by Lord and Lady Ashburnham with great hospitality. The greater part of yesterday
was employedin going through manuscripts, of which there
is here indeed a great treasure, and I find full occupation
and shall find it as long as it will be possible to remain. My~
kind host not only told me at once to make use of all his
. literary treasures, as much as I should like, but expressed at
the same time the hope that I would stay as long as would
be necessary; as he himself remains here for two or three
months longer, and should be glad to see me make the best
use of his manuscripts. Upon which I, of course, had to regret that my leave of absence being nearly expired, I was not
able to take full advantage of so kind an offer. * * * ":
We dined at three; the company consisted of a young gentleman, Lord and Lady Walsingham arid myself, besides the
. family.' After coffee I returned to my literary occupation till
nearly eight o'clock, when Lord A. came in and asked me to
. take a walk through the grounds, which extended from the
house (a fine stately piece of masonry) round a sheet of water,
up the hill into the wooded part, where very fine treescedars, chestnuts, etc., spread their long branches. * * *
After enjoying the lovely and sweetly perfumed air, we re(
G. H. PER':"Z.
157
turned to tea, after which Lord A. took me again into his
.library and showed me the choicest and most ancient manuscripts in his possession, of course a great treat to me. It is
indeed not to be conceived, how the British Museum could
ever allow these treasures to escape, as they were first offered
to them and carefully examined for a whole month. The
present owner has printed a catalogue of his collection, a fine
"volume in folio. * * * * As I have found a chronicle
which belongs to the class published in the present volume of
the" Monurnenta," I shall make it a point to copy that' at
least, and go on with it to-day and part of to-morrow, as long
as possible. I trust these lines will reach you in time to let
Charles and Mary* know of my success, and how much I am
pleased with the open and confiding manner in which I am
received.
To
SIR CHARLES LVELL.
Berlin. February 6th. 1858.
As soon as we were certain of being in possession of both.
your reports about Mount Etna and Vesuvius, I sent them to
Humboldt, telling him, at the same time, to communicate
them to Messrs. Gustav Rose, Ewald, Beyrich, and
MitscherIich. Humboldt replied immediately in a few lines,
thanking me very much for the privilege of seeing them.
* * * Yesterday I met him at dinner, he told me that he.
had enjoyed them very much, and begged to have his thanks
expressed to you. He talked a good deal and expressed
himself as well as ever, only his ears seemed to be somewhat
less acute than formerly. He told us that before Prince
Frederic \Villiam, The Emperor Frederic, had set out
on his bridal tour, he had given him a list of fifteen of
the most distinguished Englishmen, you, Sir John Hersehel
and Faraday at the head, whom the Prince was to
invite to dinner at Prussia House, and he felt disappointed
• Sir Charles and Lady Lyell.
LETTERS OF
that .the Prince had not been able to put his intention
into execution, since we had heard nothing about it.
I daresay the Prince found it difficult to fulfil all his
social obligations during his present short visit, and was
obliged to renounce the pleasure he expected from receiving
such an interesting company. \Ve, of course, have not heard
anything yet about his future social plans, but it is thought
that he intends breaking through the strict etiquette and
seeing distinguished persons of all ranks. * * * The
town is in great excitement, all, without any exception, that
I have seen or heard of, feel the greatest satisfaction both
from what is known about the Princess, her character and
education, and the mutual attachment of the royal pair, as
well as for the prospect of a closer union between the
countries, which cannot but advance in a high degree the
cause of real liberty and independence, and the development
of all our resources. Already I think, considering the extent
of the countries now more closely united, from the shores of
England. Belgium, the Netherlands, Prussia, Hanover, and
the small German States, we may feel secure against any
attempt of either France or Russia to encroach upon the
independence of Europe. Our people are also fully aware'
of the influence which such a union will unavoidably have upon
the internal government of our country, the doing away of
pedantic customs and the spreading wider views, and a more
elevated manner of treating the important business of the
country. The young Prince has always been much liked by
those who knew him more nearly, and his easy and kind
manners, and the opinions expressed on different occasions in
England and at home, have increased his popularity, which
has now by his marriage reached a high degree, and will
smooth the way before him.
To
* * *
MISS
HORNER.
Royal L,ibrary, Berlin. April 15th, 1858.
I am glad you are making progress with Colletta ;
the translation will, I think, be particularly acceptable in
G. H. PERTZ.
159
England, where Naples attracts so much attention, and the
state of that country seems, at last, to occupy the European
powers seriously •. If they would and could agree to do for
Italy, at least, as much as is perfectly consistent with their
safety, and the safety of the Italian governments, the fate of
Italy would be much improved; a thorough improvement
cannot ~ expected, before a solid reform of the religious and
ecc!esiastical state of the nation takes place, which can only
be brought on by degrees. They ought to do at least what
could reasonably be expected from the Congress of Vienna.
Have you read an article in the last Wes/mimte1' Review about
that Congress?
I should think it was written by Mr.
Carlyle; it contains excellent criticisms and I like much
what he says about Stein; he is, however, mistaken in some
points. For instance, he talks of the Danube as being slow
and crouching, and compares it with Austrian politics, whereas
at Vienna, as well as throughout Germany, it is a very rapid
river, quite Alpine and therefore quite unlike Austrian
politics. He declines to accuse either Alexander or Metternich of telling an untruth, forgetting that Metternich was
already at Rastadt, called "muscadin, poltron, menteur,"
therefore his explanation is unfounded; I take my facts from
Stein's journal, But altogether it is very entertaining, and
gives a lively picture, in a small space, of the different
characters and objects treated. :c: * *
.
I am now occupied in studies preparatory to writing
Gneisenau's Life. The subject is highly interesting, and
although I never was personally acquainted with him, I" take
a very lively interest in his elevated character, his great
military views, and his merits as a Captain; the first among
the German Generals of our age, and a worthy opponent of
Napoleon, besides a very amiable .husband, father and friend.
The mass of letters and documents which I am going through
is very considerable, and it will take time to arrange them,
but it is highly gratifying to get, day by day, more deeply
acquainted with the subject. \Vhat a contrast with the
160
LETTERS
OF
dealings of our present politicians and statesmen! One likes
to forget their systems and manoeuverings, and eyen their
existence, and devote oneself to the study of the great
characters who deserve to stand as models to all genera,
tions.
To Ms wife.
In der Blauen Traube, Munich," September 28th, 1858.
Last night, my dearest Leonora, I arrived here at ten
o'clock, at the end of long journey, which began at five in
the morning and lasted the whole day. >r ~, * I first
.called on Herr von Sybel, who now inhabits his new house,
and talked with him about our business. I was there joined
by Herr Stälin, from Stuttgart, whom you remember visiting
us two years ago, with whom I spent the rest of the day,
calling on Mr. Thiersch.] secretary of the Munich Academy,
and on several other persons, and visiting the new picture
gallery and the library. After dinner we went by rail to a
very pretty place up the river Isar, which is there crossed by
a high bridge, and then walked towards a spot on the high
banks of the river, from which you enjoy an extensive view
of the valley down to Munich. \¥ e were accompanied by
crowds of people, who partook of the usual enjoyment of
Bavarian beer and bread, which is after all very solid and
nourishing. On our return we crossed a wooden bridge, like
the bridges in Switzerland, with only a guard on one side,
the flood rushing under our feet, and reached home towards
eight o'clock. All the streets were filled with the crowds who
thought it proper to celebrate for three days without intermission the foundation of their town, which happened 700
years ago, and was the act of Duke Henry the Lion, the
a
• Dr. Pertz had been summoned to Munich, along with other historians
by the King of Bavaria, Maximilian 11., to attend a meeting of Germ~
. historians.
t Fred Wilhelm Thiersch, born 1784. Privy Councillor and Professor of
Ancient Literature in the University of Munich.
.
G. H. PBR':"Z.
161
ancestor of the Houses of Brunswick and Hanover. * * .;<
To-morrow we shall hold our first meeting in the afternoon
~ * * Dr. Böhmer is travelling, so won't be here, which
I sincerely regret.
. To tke same,
Munich, October rst, 1858.
Our meetings have been successful as far as preparations
and good intentions go, experience will show how the plans .
.which are here formed will develop. The day before yesterday the King received us all in the Palace.. He is a kind
and well-meaning man, with an earnest wish for information
and for the advancement of literature, and he does all in his
power to promote these objects. It is therefore right that
those whom he chooses to consult should give him their. best
advice. He spoke to everyone separately; to me only concerning the" Monurnenta," about which, as he had been
told, I had the chief merit, and about some particulars regarding his literary treasures in the archives and libraries,
which I mentioned to him.
The President of the Academy, Herr Thiersch, and his
wife and daughter received me exceedingly kindly, and told
me a great deal about the impression my book * has made
here, amongst both ladies and gentlemen. * * .* The
general impression seems to be that for the first time a
German character has been portrayed which deserves the
admiration and attachment of the nation.
'.
To-morrow I shall go through a collection of manuscripts,
. which might be important for the present volume of the
"Monumenta," and I have decided to fix my departure
according to the results of my researches. I beg you therefore not to send any more letters to Munich. As to the
general result of our meeting, I am more satisfie~ than I ex• Stein's Life.
L
LETTERS' OF
pected would be' the case. and some good may be derived
from our personal intercourse and the exchange of ideas ..
To
SIR
CHARLES
LVELL.
Royal Library, Berlin, October gth, 1858.
I have had the great pleasure of hearing from you after
. your return from your expedition, and immediately forwarded
the letter to Dr. Roth, who I understand is now in town, and .
will not therefore delay answering your questions.' I congratulate you upon the reception of the Copley Medal, which
can neither add to your renown nor your merits, but must be
pleasing to you and your friends, as a mark that your learned
countrymen, know how to appreciate and are willing to
acknowledge superior eminence. * * * Our political state
is undergoing a great change just now. The Prince· of
Prussia having become Regent,* has changed the ministry
and chosen men of talent as well as Liberal opinions, The
sway of the Kn~uzzeitung party is over, and we are '.looking
forward to brighter days. Herr van Bethman Holweg (Mr.
Horner's friend) is Minister of Public Instruction; he, as well
as Herr von Patow and Herr von Auerswald, the new
Ministers of Finance and State, are with me on the committee
for erecting the monument to Baron Stein, so you see that
business will at last get on.
To MR.
HORNER.
Berlin, October 24th, 1858.
Baron Bunsen, who arrived here last Sunday, spoke with
. great admiration about your treatises upon 'Egypt,t which he
received just in time -to take advantage of them for the
preface to his new English edition Of" Egypt." I congratulate
• During the illness of Fred; William IV.
t An account of the Alluvial Land of Egypt," written by Mr. Leonard
Horner, Phil. Tran.
.
"
G. H. PERTZ.
you heartily upon the important results attained by your
sound reasoning, and your perseverance in the arduous task
that you have undertaken for many years, amidst occupations
which would only allow you a few leisure' hours to devote to
your favourite pursuit. I should like to know what scientific
object you are now pursuing. Baron Humboldt, who is now
in his ninetieth year, was very ill last' Sunday, but recovered
the next day, and enjoys, as I am told, his usual good health.
I have not seen him since my return from Munich, as I have
my hands full of business, and did not even assist at the last
, public meeting of our Academy. * * * I suppose my
stay at Munich effected some good. You know that I had
been invited by the King (Maximilian 11. of Bavaria) to meet
some German historians, with the object to consult about
the means for promoting the study of German history.
There were three Munich gentlemen, and one from each of
the towns of Stuttgart, Heidelberg,' Jena, Würzberg, and
Erlangen, as well as ,Mr. Ranke; the rest of the historians
from Frankfort, Lucerne, Vienna, and Göttingen had been
prevented from attending by indisposition, or being on
journeys. Amongst the plans proposed, the one I brought
forward to publish the chronicles of German towns in the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries was adopted unanimously,
and the King having granted us the means, we set at once
about the work, which will, I trust, get on in time. Another
proposal adopted was the publication of the German historical
ballads, of which our Library here possesses the greatest
number, and will form a highly interesting volume. After
finishing the discussion we received the King's invitation to
tea and supper. "Ve met a few distinguished men, Mr.
Thiersch, Liebig, and the King's aides-de-camps. The King
was very gracious and amiable, without any gene, and we had
four hours' conversation and discussion, historical and political,
in which he joined, and shewed good judgment, and his
desire for the development of historical literature. He was,
so well entertained that he made an exception to his rule of
r
LETTERS
OF
retiring always at ten o'clock, and remained for supper, stay·ing till midnight, which he is said not to have done for the last
ten years. When he took leave, he thanked us for accepting:
his invitation, and repeated it for next year. Our number
being limited to ten made everything easier, and although we
·often differed in our opinions we always came at last to an
understanding.
The King is certainly very far from being a
bigoted Catholic, we talked before and with him exactly as
if he had been of our confession of faith.
I am now about finishing the sixteenth volume of the
" Monumenta," and hope to see it published in the course of
this year, when the seventeenth will be immediately begun.
To his wife.
Berlin, February aöth, 1859.
On the evening after receiving your first letter I went t~
Prince Radziwill's party, where I met several acquaintances,
the Kielmansegge's, Abeken, Lord and Lady Bloomfield, &c.
It was not a very numerous party, about fifty or sixty people,
who easily circulated in those large rooms; most of the
foreign Ministers were there. * * *. The Minister of
Foreign Affairs has sent me a diploma, arrived from Lucca,
by which I am elected a Member of their learned Academy.
* * * Thursday the great military funeral of Field
· Marshall Count Dohna took place; a good deal of rain and
wind prevailed during the procession, which moved from the
Cathedral along the Linden to the cemetery of the Invalids,
where he is buried, next his father-in-law, Schamhorst. * *
I met a brilliant and large party at the Minister of War's,
the Prince and Princess of Prussia, Princess Charles, the
foreign Ministers, and a great many military men and
Government officials.
* * I had a good deal of talk in
the course of the evening with our friend Homeyer, and with
Baron Thie1e, Prussian Minister at Rome, who is giving up
that place, on account of his only child's ill-health ; he is a
friend of Bunsen, and takes a great interest in the-" Monu-
*
G. H. PERTZ.
menta Germanica;" with Count Fürstenberg, whom I met
also at the Radziwill's, and with, other members of the Stein
Committee; with the deputy von Vincke, who was very
pleasing, and told me anecdotes from his own experience
about Baron Stein; with Count Kielmansegge and Lieutenant-Colonel Hartmann, whose wife is just arrived, and who
seems,much to regret his being obliged to give up his very
pleasant situation in the country. Lastly, I had a long con-'
versation with the Sardinian Minister about the political
situation of his country and of Italy, and about .the part
Germany ~ay take in the cause, My impression, however, is
that there will be no war at present. To-night I am invited'
to a concert at the Prince of Prussia's, and shall very likely'
come home late again, the guests are to appear in uniform.
To the same.
March rzth, I859.
The political barometer seems to promise peace at this
moment, but nobody can know twenty-four hours before what
Louis Napoleon may do to-morrow. He seems to be much
disappointed in not finding Europe ready to dance to his
tune. * * * Prussia is ready to act in behalf of a general
peace, and will be the last to begin hostilities, as she does
not want anything from her neighbours, but to let us enjoy
the blessings we have got, nor will she follow Austria, nor
second her in upholding treaties which are instrumental in
keeping back necessary improvements in the governments of
Italy, but she cannot suffer Germany to be attacked by any
foreign power, and will oppose it with all her power, supported
by the whole nation.' Two days ago the Minister. of Foreign
,Affairs made a communication to this effect to the House of
,Deputies, and was received with unanimous 'applause, and I
am sure the whole country would rise for the support of such
just, wise and vigorous policy.
166
LETTERS
To
OF
MR. HORNER.
Berlin. March 30th. 1859.
I am happy to learn that the Superannuation Bill has at
last been brought into Parliament, and is likely to be carried;
it would be a great satisfaction to know that your wishes and
expectations are at last to be fulfilled, and that you will then
be able to follow your own taste in scientific occupations, to
which you have been devoted for so many years, and which
have been your delight in the midst of practical business. 1
hope particularly that the free disposal ,of your time may
allow you, in future oftener to visit your German friends, and
to make a longer stay with us, where you would see so many
of your scientific friends. Baron van Humboldt still continues
studying and writing as in former times, though his strength
seems sometimes to fail. I saw him last in the Academy a
fortnight ago, when he appeared a good deal weaker than
before. Last week he sent a notice to the newspapers that
he is overwhelmed with letters, presents, questions, and kind
offers to nurse him, and even to close his eyes-so much so
that his correspondence amounts yearly to 1800-2000 letters,
in answering which, he feels unable to continue his own
studies, and therefore implores his friends to abstain from
writing to him. I have, notwithstanding, sent him my last
essay about the earliest attempt to discover the sea road to
the East Indies in the year 1291, which interests him because
. relating to an epoch in the history of geography hitherto
quite unsettled, and which I have thus been enabled to establish by my researches among manuscripts. Hoping that you',
will also take an interest in it, I shall send you a CO?y.
To his wife.
Berlin. March 31St. 1859.
Last night I went to a large party at Lord Bloomfield's*
of about 250 people. We had good music, mostly instru• English Ambassador.
-G. H. PERTZ.
mental, some vocal. * * * The music room, that is to
say, the ball-room, was crowded. The Prince Regent, Prince
Frederic William, Prince Adalbert and the rest of the Court
were present. The Princess Royal looked very well, as I
could judge, being for some moments near her. Her husband
inquired how far I was on in Gneisemu, and seemed surprised
-when I replied that I was constantly occupied with it, and
hoped to publish the first volume towards the end of this
year or in the course of the next. I had a long talk with
Count Dönhoff(member of the Upper House) about political \
and financial business, and with the Sardinian Minister about .
Italy.
To tlte same.
April 4th, 1859.
When I had sent my last I drove to the Nothomb's,* where
I met a party of twenty-four gentlemen. * * :I< I was .
placed at supper between our friend Brüggemann and Baron
Nothomb's son-in-law, Baron Zedlitz, a pleasing young.
cavalry officer, more cultivated and entering more into various
subjects than is usual with young officers. He belongs to a
regiment placed at Potsdam.
There were besides Lord
Bloomfield, the Austrian Minister, the Ministers of several
German and foreign Courts, our Ministers of Finance and
Justice, Baron H umboldt, &c. The latter thanked me for
the essay which I sent him, and discussed its details. Mi.
Bethman Holweg was also present, and I talked with him
about the development of the Italian cities in the Middle
Ages, the Pope's present attitude, and subjects connected
with it.
To tlu same.
Berlin. April loth, 1859.
Last Thursday at Prince Radzivill's we had the beautiful,
music composed by his late father to accompany the" Faust'
- • Belgian Minister
168
LETTERS
OF
of Goethe, which I heard in the same palace some ten or
twelve years ago. Both the reading and the music were very
well performed.
I know no music which makes such an
impression. It is a combination of poetry and music which
enhance each other and charm by their union. . * * * The
music lasted till after midnight, when supper was placed in
three or four rooms, every one sitting down to table.
* * Monday. This morning Mr. Ehrenberg called
after his return from Munich, where he was present' at
a' great many speeches and solemnities in honour of the
centenary of the Academy.
* * * The political excitement in Bavaria seems to be
great; they are afraid of a French invasion, and ·anxious to
.be supported by the whole of Germany, which of course they
will be,' since there cannot be any doubt as to its necessity.
In Hanover, too, where Dr. Johannes Brandis* was some
days ago, the public are most anxious to see Prussia arming.
The true .reason is that the governments of both countries
are so very bad that people cannot' place the least trust in
them.
April 13th. Political news are .rather better; there is some
hope of preserving peace, at least the fear of an imminent
outbreak of war has yielded for the moment, perhaps in order
to return again in a few days. It would seem as if these
changes were brought on by Parisian maneeuvres, and
intended to enrich those great speculators in the Tuileries
and the Hotel des Affaires etrangeres and the Bourse, ~nd I
daresay nobody can exactly know or say whether L. N.
wishes in his heart for peace or war, or what is to be the end
of the' present state of suspense.
What you write about, the respect paid by the galley slaves
to Poerio+ and his companions is a proof of the goodness of
*
• Jobannes Brandis, son of the Professor at Bonn, and Secretary to the
Queen,
'
t Poerio and his companions had arrived in England after their escape
from a Neapolitan Prison.
,
G. H. PERTZ.
69
1
human nature, which fortunately survives under the roughest
coat as well, and not seldom more, than under silks and satins ..
I hope those unhappy exiles may find a quiet and safe retreat
and suitable occupations until the state of their countryallows
them a safe return home. The Archduke Albert, Viceroy
of Hungary, has arrived here on a special mission, and will,
stay' about a week; yesterday it was believed that o~ders
wereready for completing our army in the event of an attack
on the German frontier, where French camps have been
forming for some time past; to-day nothing more is said,
except that .all parties have agreed to disband their armies in
order to afford security for their peaceable intentions at the
congress which is soon to assemble.
To the same.
Berlin. April 19th. 1859.
. The last meeting of the Holstein States has been very
moderate; they have tried to lay the foundation for a peaceable and just treatment of the different parts which compose
the states of H. 1\1. Frederick VII.~ which project, however,
has been most violently assailed from all parts of Denmark;
until now, when the most distinguished financier, Count
Sponeck, has written a political pamphlet; in which he
acknowledges that this project is the onl~ just and able
foundation which ought to be generally adopted, unless the
Danes wish to see the European powers interfere and dictate
the law to Denmark. It remains to be seen whether at last
reason and equity will predominate at Copenhagen, or passion
and folly drive them on to destruction and war. In general
politics there has been some change during the week, in so
-far as it seems to appear more and more evident that Louis
Napoleon is really intent upon war, for h~ is constantly arming and trying to postpone conciliation, urging Sardinia to
'resist all offers of accommodation, and refusing himself to
disarm, under the pretext that France has no more men o~
LETTERS OP
foot than is necessary for their usual service. Consequently a
general conviction is more and more gaining ground that
Europe ought, with united forces, to put an end to a state of
things which cannot be suffered for any length of time.
Austria and all the other European nations are obliged -to
keep armies on foot at an immense expense; Austria is paying each day 500,000 thalers or £75,000, and as many men
are kept from useful employment and enlisted into the service;
it was mentioned that Prussia will require one million of
guineas every month in war-time, and a loan of 7,000,000
guineas was talked of as necessary; the danger, however,
seems not quite asurg~nt as wethought, since the Government has prorogued Parliament till Thursday in next week,
without proposing a loan. The proceedings _of the Government these four months have been generally very satisfactory,
and confidence has taken the place of discontent, with the
exception of the ultra-aristocratic and tiltra-orthodox party,
who give vent to their feelings of impotence and rage in
different ways, trying to arouse the populace, and even the
revolutionary party, and under the mask of loyalty excite the
army against the Regent and his government, but luckily
without effect, and to the general indignation of impartial
people.
To the same.
April 23rd. I859. ,
The political aspects are becoming more and more dark.
It has been officially said that the Regent considered it
advisable to call three corps of the army under arms, in
order in all events to be ready. This is not yet calling out
the Landwehr, but the next step to it, and since then we
hear that the Artillery and Cavalry are to purchase horses.
The consequence of this step has been, that Hermann .was
obliged to leave us and return immediately to Cologne, where
he must have arrived yesterday morning. It was a separation which we had not expected so soon, nor so suddenly, and
G. H. PERTZ~
-
I was very sorry to see him go, but could not advise him a
different course, since his chief will of course, under such
circumstances, have expected him to return without special
orders. * * * I have had much satisfaction in his visit, he is
unchanged in heart and mind, more developed in consequence
of his military life, thoroughly honourable and anxious to do
right, and his general state of health much improved, which
even his chief here, General Prittwitz, remarked.
Although arming for defence, if such should be necessary,
Prussia is still remaining neutral and continuing her endeavours for the preservation of peace together with England,
but will be ready to defend Germany if attacked. The
debates in Parliament will have shown you that your
Ministry are expecting the worst ; their tone towards France
is remarkably changed from the. experience made of late,
that L.N. is wantonly playing with negotiations and seems _
to protract them, only in order to gain the necessary time for
completing his armaments. No doubt the truth has become
evident to those entrusted with the care of public affairs, that
probably the present complications will begin with an Italian
war, but as soon as that is well engaged and successful for
the French, turn into a fulfilment of the last "idee Napoleonienne, the attack upon England and Germany at once, The
prospect of succeeding at last, in what the first Napoleon
was frustrated in at Waterloo, would be a: powerful incentive
to the Emperor, who walks in his footsteps, while the rieh
booty to be gained would excite the French army, and some
of the younger men, who are ready for any enterprise. There
can therefore be only one policy for all Europe, union against
the disturber of peace, and every State ought to prepare for
the event. I see your Ministry are arming actively, and.
sending larger garrisons to the Channel Islands, and to the
Mediterranean, and your people. begin to form meetings in
order to discuss the defence of the country. And though
some of the newspapers (whose ignorance of past and present
events is sometimes astonishing) will plead for what they call
LETTERS. OF.
,
.non-interference, but which, under present circumstances,
would lead to giving the country to the future conqueror of
Europe, I trust that the mass of the well-informed people will
soon come to the conviction that one must fight, in time, in
order finally to be saved.
VIe have been very quiet all these days, I working at the
Cl Monurnenta"
and in the Archives at the Life of Gneisenau,
where I had occasion to go through several letters of Colonel
Bunbury's to Count Gneisenau* and to the Prussian Minister
in London, Baron Jakobi, 1813'
Gneisenau remarks that Lord Bathurst and Colonel Bunbury
. were the most energetic and effective members of the British
Cabinet and War Office at that time.
To the same.
Berlin, April 27th, 1859.
The Austrian message to Sardinia is thought by some
people bold and hazardous, perhaps preposterous, hut all agree
that it is better policy to anticipate the French invasion, than
to be guided by it. * * * You will have seen in the
newspapers that the French Government has ordered all
houses, walls, and solid constructions without the line of fortifications round Paris to be demolished at once, which shews
that they think it not unlikely that a foreign army may penetrate into France. and besiege Paris. At the same time
Marshal Pelissier has been ordered to take the command of
the army of observation forming at Nancy against Germany.
* * * As to Italy, the great majority in Germany wish
the Italians the enjoyment of nationality and civil and political liberty, but in that point I share Mazzini's conviction,
that a French army will not bring those lasting benefits, and
that ,Sardinia, by throwing herself into the tiger's paws, is
crushing the fond hopes of a better future, which had been
raised and centred in her. The King surrenders his crown
• Later Gen. Sir Henry Bunbury ..
G. H. PERTZ.
173
to a merciless protector, when he lets him have possession of
Genoa and Alessandria.
* * * Prussia: will of course keep
quiet as long as it avails, but any day may now bring
tidings of immense importance.
Under all this excitement I continue doing my business in
the Library, "Monumenta It and Gneisenau.
For the Life I
have collected nearly 150 letters from the Archives, mostly
written by Gneisenau
himself, and highly interesting.
Eighteen sheets of the seventeenth volume of the "Monumenta " have been printed, and we are going on rapidly,
because I want to proceed so far, as not to.stop the printing
by my absence.
.174
-, LETTKRS
OF
CHAPTER
X.
1859-1862.
To
MISS
HORNER.
Berlin, May rst, 1859,
I am very much obliged for your kind and interesting letter,
, which I received this morning, just after returning from a
public celebration of the fifty years' anniversary of _selfgovernment introduced into, or rather restored, to the cities of
Prussia by the late king, through the agency of Stein; a
political act which has been so beneficial in its results, that
the whole country will be always grateful for it. * * *
At the same time as your's, -I received a letter from Asher,
the publisher, which informs me that in consequence of the
warlike appearances, a historical publication has been given
up; . he concludes, "What injury will the ambition of a
single man, who said, 'L'Empire c'est la paix,' bring over
us and over all Europe."
, I trust the Neapolitan exiles will get back to their country
at a happier time, and without feeling obliged then to introduce the foreigner. Your conversation with Poerio must have
been very interesting.
What he relates about the King's*
expression concerning him shews how exactly the character
of the Italian Prince and politician of the sixteenth and the
nineteenth century is the same. Just so Macchiavelli would
have reasoned and advised his Prince to reason, perhaps not
to act quite as badly. I suppose we shall now soon see war
break out in Italy, since the French have begun to enter
Savoy and Piedmont, and the Austrians 'are following the
* Ferdinand Il.
G. H. PERTZ.
175
example. Just at the commencement we may hear' something
about liberty and the independence of Italy, but I am afraid
those -sounds which are pleasant to the heart will soon be
drowned in the tumult of war. * * * Leonora has told
you how much we both have been interested in "Colletta,"
and I long to read the remaining part, when my present
urgent business will be off my hands.
To his wife.
Berlin, May 9th, 1859.
I have been arranging the geographical department of the
Library, which is to receive the Scharnhorst collection in a
few days. I am also purchasing a very large collection of
musical books, theoretical as well as practical, left by a distinguished collector at Vienna, and which is exactly what we
wanted, because it' contains very little of what we already
possess, and fills up our gaps. Although our finances do not
for the present allow us to indulge in such acquisitions more
than absolutely necessary, I shall still be able to arrange it
in such a way that we may get over this present time without
embarrassment, and pay next year or the following. Since
,I wrote the above Mr. Billermann, who was formerly for ~
good many years Protestant clergyman of the Prussian
embassies at Madrid, Lisbon, and Naples, 'has offered me for
the Royal Library his valuable collection of rare Spanish,
.Portuguese and Italian books, about goo in number. It is
greatly to be lamented that I have not a million or two at my
disposal, when I could easily collect a first-rate ,library. At
this very moment I could make an excellent acquisition for
about 50,000 thalers in' manuscripts and books.
But the
necessity of arming against' L. Napoleon takes so' much
money, that we are left without the extraordinary means
which in former times the King's interest in the Library
granted whenever I had to apply for it. The King is
expected in a few days. He will have heard on his road
LETTERS
OF
that Alexander von Humboldt is no longer here to wel~ome
him on his arrival. He died on Friday afternoon, after having lost strength from day to day, but retained his consciousness till just before his death, when he fell asleep, and
breathed his last without apparent suffering. For several
past weeks he was perfectly aware his strength was declining ,
The day before Shrove Tuesday he dined at Mr. Alex.
Mendelssohn's; after dinner he looked at a bust of himself,
criticising it, as if it were of another person; "the nose is too
large," etc., after which he declined Mr. ]oseph Mendelssohn's invitation for next Saturday, feeling too unwell. Tomorrow morning, at 8 o'clock, the funeral is to take place. I
shall attend, together with the members of the Royal
Academy. There will be an immense attendance.
The
Regent and the other Princes will receive the coffin in the
Cathedral, to which the procession is to go from Humboldt's
house. In to-night's paper there is an article about him by
Mr. Ehrenberg, which I will send you. Humboldt has left
his manuscripts to his relations, Wilhelm von Humboldt's
daughters and sons, all the rest ?f his property, namely, his
library and maps, to his servant, who has attended him for
thirty years, and it is said, is to keep the rooms in their present state for the visits of strangers. * * *
Tuesday,
loth.
This morning at half-past seven I set out for the Academy,
where we assembled and moved on in a body to the University, from whence we proceeded to Humboldt's house. A great
number of people were already assembled and more flocked in
from all parts of the town. We were of course obliged to stand
in the street, as his apartment was too small to receive more
than the family, Wilhelm von Humboldt's daughters, grandchildren, &c. Luckily the weather was fine, and at half-past
eight the procession set out, following the coffin down the
Oranienburger Strasse, the Friedrich Strasse, the Linden,
passing the Academy, University, Opern Platz on' to the
G. H. PERTZ.
Cathedral, where the body' was received by the Regent
and the Princes, and we entered the church. The coffin was'
placed on a catafalque" surrounded by chandeliers i the
Royal family stood in front, the Members of the Academy
and University on the left, the Ministry and Councillors on
the right. After the hymns and liturgy, Hofmann* gave us
a discourse, in which he made a very appropriate sketch of
Humboldt's character, education, development and life, which
J hear has been criticized by different persons from opposite
motives i I must, however, confess, it was clear, modest,
true, and charitable, as a Christian sermon ought to be. All
the streets we passed through were crowded with people i
mourning colours were hung out of many windows; it is certainly very seldom that a scholar or nobleman has been conducted to the place of his repose with such universal marks
of affection.
"Returning from the Library, I found a letter from Hermann
, from Coblentz, telling me that there, as everywhere, they are
preparing to 'meet an enemy if any should approach the
Rhine. All through the country of the Rhine great enthusiasm prevails, the Landwehr arrive gladly and speedily and
are welcomed everywhere in the towns and villages by the
people with music and refreshments. From other sources I
hear that even at Metz, once the most French town on the
Rhine, the greatest change in that respect has taken place
and is openly expressed. So we are justified in the expecta.
'tlon that with unity, Germany will get through these
dangers safely and gloriously, although many a warm" and
kind heart may be doomed to suffer for the country. May
God preserve us from so hard a trial.
To the same.
Munich, October 3rd. 1859-
I have been much occupied in business of different kinds i
first in our principal, object which has been brought to a
·Court Preacher.
M
LETTERS
OF
happy conclusion, as we have learnt to-day from his Majesty
himself.
The King of Bavaria· received us very graciously
and seemed satisfied with the manner in which we had done
our work.
Yesterday. I was with J acob Grimm and
Dr. Lappenberg
at the great popular festival on the
-Theresien Wiese, where some 50,000 people from all parts of
the country were assembled.
This morning I have
been at the Archives and begun my· work in the Royal
Library, where I shall return after an expedition into the
mountains which Grimm, Lappenberg and I have been invited
to undertake to-morrow morning to the Kochel See, in the
finest part of the Bavarian Alps. We are to visit the celebrated botanist, Professor von Martius, whom you know as
author of the great botanical work on Brazilian plants.
Professor Ritter's" death was known here on Friday and
much lamented.
* *
* *
* ,~
To the same.
In the Bavarian Alps, October 5th, 1859,
Here I am, my dearest Leonora, in the hospitable house of
Herr and Frau von Martins, where, together with Jacob
Grimm and Lappenberg. I have met with the most friendly
and pleasant reception,
Yesterday morning wewere
wakened
at four o'clock, and
wentto the railroad station at Munich, where we met Martius
with his son, a very pleasing young man, a student of Chemistry, who had just returned from Göttingen in order to spend
his holidays with his parents.
We left Munich at half-past
five, went by railway to the Stahrenberg
lake, which we
reached in an hour, and embarked in the steamboat, but the
lake was entirely hidden by a white mist. We had the
pleasure as we proceeded to see the mist rising, the shores
appearing by degrees, and at last the Bavarian and Tyrolese
Alps showing their bold heads above the green hills at their
feet.
On reaching the shore we took a little walk and
·Celebrated
geographer,
G. H. PERTZ.
179
Iuncheon, while a carriage was getting ready, and then proceeded for about four hours, through woods and meadows,
along lakes and moors commanded by the Alps, whose
craggy tops, rising on all sides, surrounded the whole theatre
like a wall of from 6-8-IO thousand feet high, some of them
covered with snow. At last we reached Schleedorf, which was
.an old convent, but rebuilt in the last century, and is the
present summer residence of our kind host, beautifully situated at the foot and at the entrance of the Alps. The family,
consisting of the lady of the house, three daughters, and an
aunt of eighty, received us together with some more guests at
the entrance, which was adorned wirh garlands of flowers,
We at once crossed the beautiful lake in two boats. The
Kachel See extends from the house to the nearest hills,
During the crossing the young ladies sang songs of the country, and a long and distant echo replied to the calls of the
mountain. The rocks round the Lake are steep and high,
falling precipitately into the lake, which, in consequence, is
in this part very deep, green coloured and transparent.
On
the opposite shore we took coffee in a peasant's house, who
received us in a very friendly manner; they are rich people,
owners of a great deal of wood, which they send to Munich.
We then set out on an expedition across the nearest' mountain, that is to say, Dr. Lappenberg and I, accompanied by
Mr. Thomas and young Martius, his brother-in-law and two
other young men. \Ve first came on a cataract falling from
a rock, very like though smaller than the Giessbach and
Terni Falls. After that we proceeded across the mountain
up a steep road, and discovered on the other side the
Wallen See, a beautiful dark green lake, surrounded by
grassy hills and overhung by a circle of Tyrolese and
Bavarian high Alps, some with snowy caps. .On the shore
there was an old woman who promised us fish for to-day. The
greatest solitude prevailed everywhere, not a bird was chirping, nor a deer in sight; but at no great distance there were
a great number of gemsen (chamois) who range over these
180
'LETTERS
OF
)
grassy cliffs. It is near the high valley of the Isar river,
which from thence descends to Munich. We enjoyed the
beautiful spectacle much, and the evening approaching, ~e
returned to the Kachel See, where we met the young ladies;
their parents and Jacob Grimm had already returned home.
The water was perfectly smooth, the evening breeze very
soft, and the full moon appeared above the Alpine amphitheatre and illuminated the dark starlight evening.
After dressing for dinner we all assembled in the old
refectory, where we were glad to find a good repast. Our
host very kindly gave a toast upon our arrival, which we
returned.
To
MR.
HORNER.
Berlin, January 15th, 1860.
I was very much pleased to hear that you are satisfied with
the change in your life, * and hope it will turn out a real
blessing to you and a source of much pleasure to us all, since it
will enable you to pursue the objects of scientific research·
which you have been pursuing with such devotion for so many
years, and which cannot fail to afford you the purest gratification at all times, and under all circumstances.
* * *
May a gracious Providence fulfil the unanimous wish of
all who have the privilege of being loved by you, by adding
many years of health, energy and happiness to your days.
How much we should like to offer you our wishes and congratulations in person, but since that is out of our power, let'
us indulge in the hope that we may enjoy the happiness of
meeting in the course of the year. I am sure you will be
agreeably surprised by the progress which our little children
have made since last summer.
I am much occupied with Library business, also in preparing several new volumes of the" Monumenta Germanica," and
by writing the L'ife of Count Gneisenau. Having for many
.Mr. Homer had resigned the post of Inspector
had occupied 27 years..
of Factories,
."
which he
G. H. PERTZ.
,
181
. years collected the valuable materials which form the faun.
dation of the biography, I am now busy with the far more
satisfactory task of reducing it in due form and composing a
work which will be of'great i~terest to our nation, and to all
those who care for modern history. Gneisenau was the
most distinguished character amongst Napoleon's adversaries
in the field, in point of military genius, perseverance and
boldness of conception; he was a thoroughly amiable man,
modest, although quite conscious of his own merits, and
beloved by those near his person; but he has not had the
good fortune of the Duke of Wellington, who, belonging to
the English aristocracy, retained after his campaigns were over
and his victories won, a foremost place in the counsels of his ,
country; whereas Gneisenau, who rose from the lower ranks
of the army, was ,not allowed to fill that place in person,
which he could have adorned with so much advantage to
his country. *
To tke same.
Berlin, June 8th, 1860.
The peculiar and dangerous situation of Prussia and
Germany in the midst of such powers as France and Russia,
makes it a matter of highest importance for us all to be ~ost
watchful of every change likely to happen in the general
state of Europe, and to keep ourselves always ready for the.
defence of our country and liberties. A great deal for the
union of Germany has. certainly been done, in consequence
of these threatening dangers, but on the other hand, the
menacing power of France has been so much increased by
the avowed subserviency of the Cavour Government, and the
reckless intrigues of the. Bonaparte propaganda in France
and everywhere, that we must look forward with the utmost
jealousy to any new step of the wily Dutchman in the
-The v. Neithardts came originally from Austria, where they had a castle
called Gneisenau near Lembach. Being Protestants they left the country
during the religious persecutions, lost their property and were reduced' to
poverty. They afterwards took the name of Neithardt von Gneisenau.
182
LETTERS
OF
Tuilleries. For it"is through the blindness of the European
Governments that every change, hitherto, has been made' a
source of new intrigues and new addition of power, and
instead of Bright's perennial peace, we shall very likely live
to see our battle-fields of Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, Borcdino,
Leipsic and Paris, all for the sake of "des idees," natural
limits, nationalities, and other fair pretexts for the name of
power. May it be so, if necessary, provided nations improve
by it, and that the end may be the triumph of the just,
cause.
To his wife.
Hanover, August 29th, 1860.
I arrived here last' night at half-past ten, after a long but.
prosperous journey. * * * Nearly every step in this
town reminds me of some part of my former life, scarcely a
stone which does not recall a history from my earliest
infancy down to my 47th year. My kind friends were very
much pleased at my sudden appearance amongst them; I
had to give repeated accounts of you and my SODS arid
daughters, and received many heartfelt messages for you. I
wish very much it may be one day possible for us to see
, Hanover together. ~: *.
The next hours will be employed in seeing some more friends, and perhaps the Royal
, Library and Archives, my ancient domain.
*
[From I860 Dr. Pertz attended the annual historical
meetings at Munich, almost regularly up to the day of his
death.]
To his wife.
Munich, September 28th. 1860.
You will be surprised to receive already a second letter,
which, however, I write in order to tell you that Karl* and
• His eldest son, Karl, married a daughter
merchant.
of HerrPhllippi.
a Bremen
G. H. PER'!'Z.
Louise arriv~d last night after ten o'clock, and were visited
by me on my return from an evening meeting with my colleagues, Messrs. Lappenberg, Sybel, Waitz, Hegel, and
Wegele. We intend to-morrow to make an expedition to
the Ober Ammergau, in order to be present at a Mystery,
which means a theatrical representation of sacred history by
the inhabitants of that place in the mountains, representations which are hereditary in certain families and only given
every-tenth year. * * * \Ve shall arrive in the evening,
sleep, as we hope, at the clergyman's house, whose friend, the
librarian, Mr. Forringer, has engaged places for us and taken
tickets, which seems indispensable, since the last time more
than 10,000 persons arrived, and many had to be refused
admission as the building only accommodates 5,000. On
-Sunday we shall be obliged to be there at six o'clock in the
morning ; the play begins at eight and lasts till four in the
after~oon with only one interruption, from one to two.
To the same.
Munich,
Octoberznd,
1860..
. Our expedition to the Alps has turned out very successful,
although begun and ended under pouring rain. We left on,
Saturday at ten o'clock, by railroad.
On our arrival at the
Stahrenberg Lake the rain ceased, the sun began to pierce
the clouds, and we enjoyed crossing the lake in a steamboat.
At last the Alps unveiled their charms, one by one, and on
arriving at the head of the lake, nearly the whole chain of
mountains was visible. As we found no horses there, we
were obliged to proceed on foot; we engaged porters for our,
luggage, and proceeded, for several hours, through a hilly,
wooded country, full of meadows, lakes and marshes. Ranke
and another of our companions, remaining behind, were lost
for nearly two hours, but joined us again near a village, where
we took a peasant's wagon, on which rustic vehicle we
reached the higher mountains, and entered the valleys pro-
LETTBRS
OF
ceeding along the river Loisach, which flows between the
two high ridges of steep wooded hills. At nine in the evening we arrived at Obernau. Lappenberg, Stählen, Wegele
and I proceeded on foot towards our goal, leaving Ranke;
Waitz and Hegel behind in the inn.
, yve four, under a beautiful moonlight, ascended a high and
steep hill to the ancient convent of Etthal, and then descended
through a very picturesque valley to Ober Ammergau, where
the good clergyman's doors were opened at midnight to
receive us in very comfortable beds. At four o'clock in the
morning I was awakened by the sound of melodious bells,
ringing in honour of the approaching festival. Soon afterwards drums sounded, and at five guns were fired and
re-echoed in all the mountains round. At seven we entered
an amphitheatre built for the purpose, and already filled with
thousands of people anxious to get good places. We had
paid three shillings apiece for our seats in the centre, and
just in front, at a convenient distance from the stage, under
the .clear light of heaven and surrounded by scaffoldings. *
At eight" The Passion," as it is called, began, and it lasted
till four o'clock in the afternoon. You will appreciate its
interest, if I tell you that I did not for a moment feel fatigued.
It was the representation of the Passion of Christ, interwoven
with scenes out of the Old Testament, which foretell the
events of the Gospel. The actors were peasants, but they
thoroughly entered into the feeling of the religious duty which
they performed in grateful remembrance of their village having been saved from the scourge of a pestilence in 1633. The
excellent arrangement of thewhole, and of nearly all the scenes,
, the combination of choruses with acting, and tableaux vivants,
exceeded all my expectations. The tableaux were in part representations of the masterpieces of RaffaelIe and Rubens. They
were composed of a variety and number of appropriately
dresse'd persons, in the most striking, picturesque and richest
oriental costumes; also most lovely groups of pretty children,
of
, men, women, boys and girls, and of kings and warriors
*:
,
18S
G. H. PERTZ.
from sacred history, splendidly attired, succeeding each other
in such order and rapidity, that no theatre could have surpassed them.
All. this was composed and planned and executed by the
country people, under the direction of the priest, the sexton
and the drawing-master of the parish. I shall bring you
. some drawings and the text, which may give you a slight
idea of the whole, but cannot convey the solemn effect produced in the hearts of the spectators. It was a worthy representation of the greatest drama in the history of mankind.
We dined at half-past four, set out for Obernau, were met
by the King, who addressed us, and. took Ranke into his
carriage, telling me he intended to come to town to-morrow,
.and hoped to see me there.
\Ve spent the evening at
Obernau, were present at a merry dance of the people, and
_returned here in the course of yesterday, satisfied and pleased
with our expedition.
To
MR.
HORNER.
Berlin, January
15th, 1861.
We are here absorbed in the events which accompany the
beginning of a new reign. * The late King only now appears,
\ when repentance is too late, in his true light to many of those
who during his reign misconstrued his acts, and misinterpreted his intentions, which certainly were always for the
welfare of his people and country, but were partly misunderstood or badly executed by his subordinates, Since the night
of the rßth of March, 1848, his mind has been suffering from
the effects of the impressions made upon him by rebellion
and misdeeds, and by the downfall of his best hopes. Our
present excellent King William has had a fair trial during ,
. the last two years; he has learnt a great deal during his visit
to England, his character, intentions.and principles are gener- ,
ally fully appreciated, and we hope and trust to possess in
,
'\
.
• A.cCessionof King William I., later Emperor.
186
LETTERS OF
him a clear-headed, firm, loyal and decided supportof what. ,
ever he consider's right and necessary for the benefit of
Prussia and all Germany.
Leonora and I are reading in the evenings the cc Memoir of
Charles James Fox," we find a great deal to admire and love
in him, and I am particularly struck by his clear views about
foreign politics, not less than home politics. An admirable
letter' written by him to Frederick the Great, applies particularly to the present situation of England. I wish it could
be generally appreciated and known in your country. There
can be no greater contrast with Mr. Fox's judgment than
the course of politics pursued by Lord John Russell in his
foreign relations.
To MH,S
HORN ER.
Berlin, May 4th. 1861.
My
DEAR
SUSAN,
Many many thanks for your kind note which brought me
your affectionate wishes at the return of your dear little god.
child's* and my own birthday.
We both nave entered our
new year in good health and spirits, and amidst plenty of
occupation, with dolls and books, reading and writing, each
in our own department, but happily surrounded by the same
loving hearts and smiling faces, which' of late have been
increased by dear Katharine] and her boys. Your account
.of your dear mother's health is very satisfactory, and now on
the approach of spring we are justified in hoping that she
may really quite recover and be able to undergo the fatigues
of the proposed journey and the enjoyments of a visit' to
Italy.
Our attention here has been of late occupied by the debates
in our Parliament, and I rejoice to say that this year they
have at last been conducive to, or I suppose I ough~ to say'
• His second daughter Elizabeth's fourth birthday.
t His sister-in-law. wife of Col. LyeU.
G. H. PERTZ.
productive of, a good and positive result. The great cause
of dispute between different orders and the different provinces
which compose Prussia, has for fifty years beenthe land tax,
which has remained unchanged in the eastern provinces,
where the owners of freehold were exempted, while the great
majority of the inhabitants and the whole of the western
provinces were exclusively burdened with it. Each successive government in Prussia since 1810 has acknowledged the
necessity of a change in this essential point of public law;
this change has been often attempted, but always failed, in
consequence of the opposition it met with from the privileged
order, whose influence could only be overcome at last, by
the evident necessity of opening new sources of income, in
order to meet the expenses of a necessary augmentation of
the army. The present government, therefore, considered it
incumbent on them to carry a measure, which, from a financial as well as political point of view, could no longer be
deferred; and after the measure had been again passed, as
in former years, through the House of Representatives, they
ha ve succeeded at last to see it accepted in the Upper House. '
It is confidently expected that next Thursday the whole law
will be carried, in consequence of which the owners of feudal
lands are to be subject to the payment of a moderate land
tax, like the rest of the landed proprietors, in consideration
of an equitable compensation which they are to receive.
This, in my eyes, is the essential point, which is removing
the bone of contention in the country. Besides, a general
equalization is to take place between the eastern and western
provinces. So we shall unanimously meet the coming events,
and the strength of a nation of eighteen millions wil,lbe added
in close alliance to the rest of Germany.
In the meanwhile we are preparing an exhibition of Goethe's
writings, drawings, portraits and all connected with his life.
family and friends, which I trust dear Katharine will also
, enjoy.
188
LETTER.S OF
To
LADY LYELL.'
,
Berlin, May 6th, 1861.
Yesterday we had a meeting of the central committee
formed for the erection of Stein's monument, and I had the
satisfaction to announce to the members, amongst whom were
four of our present Ministers, Graf Schwerin, Bethman
Holweg, Auerswald and Patow, that in the course of one
year we have got the sum necessary for the erection of a
monument similar to that of Prince Blücher; we shall therefore try to accelerate the progress of the work. *
)le
To his wife.
Berlin, July 15th, 1861.
Yesterday, soon after dinner, young Prince Radzivil called,
in company with M. de Montalembert, the head of the. Roman .
'Catholic party in France. * * * He wished to make my'
personal acquaintance in order to thank me for the instruction
, he had derived from the "Monumenta"
and Stein's Life.
This morning he called again at the library and studied some
historical books. * * *
. Yesterday evening, when, after, spending the day at home,
I was going to take my walk in, the Thiergarten, Krause
arrived with the horrible news of an attack 'having been
made upon the King at Baden, by a student, who fortunately
missed his aim. An extra sheet of the newspaper which
appeared this morning confirmed the truth of the news.
Oscar Bekker, one of a German family of merchants settled
for several generations in Odessa, and born in Dresden,' is
quite a young fellow, a student of Leipzic. About nine
o'clock yesterday morning he attacked the King in one of the
'public avenues at Baden, aimed at him with a double revolver, but directed his aim so badly that the ball only
perforated the collar of the King's coat and slightly touched
his ear. The Prussian Envoy at Carlsruhe, Count Flemming,
*
.
• Headporter of the Library.
G. H. PERTZ.
189
'who happened to be beside the King, caught the criminal
and. delivered him up to the Baden Court of Justice, where
he immediately underwent an interrogatory. He confessed
that he had attacked the King with the intention of killing ,
him, ~'because the King was the only obstacle to the union
, of Germany."
This foolish mad answer shows that the
fellow, if sincere, must belong to the Austrian or Republican
party, either of which might in their way consider the King'
an' obstacle in carrying out their .plans. By Austrian party,
I mean those who from hatred to Prussia wouid be ready to
unite even with France against their own country,' a theory
openly professed by the King of Würtemberg, uncle of Prince
Napoleon, by Borries, Minister of Hanover, Pforten, Bavarian
Minister, Beust, Saxon Minister. A republican party existed
in Germany in 1848-49, but they behaved so foolishly that
they lost the ground they had gained by the rebellions in
1848, and never possessed the confidence of the nation;
That the remainder of that party, connected with republican
parties in France, Italy, and other countries, should try to
form again a nucleus for new undertakings, seems to me
not at all unlikely, and the Orsinis show by what means they.
try to attain their ends, But to whatever party he ~ay
belong, or whatever may be his motive, he has acted like a
madman, and deserves the universal detestation which he
will certainly meet with, and the punishment worthy of his
act. I hope this crime will have no influence on the King's
mind, or upon his political views.
To
MISS
HORNER.
Berlin, July soth, 1861.
I thank you much for sending me such a nice picture of
my 'three little girls enjoying themselves in the Zoological
Gardens during their stay with you, and I am glad to hear
i that they appear to you more and more developing. I miss
. them and their dear mother much, and become every day
LETTERS
I90
OF
mare desirous of meeting them again, which will now be on'
the green turf and the white cliffs of Kent. My business here
is diminishing quickly, and I see my way to you all. You~
mother's improving health is a great comfort and blessing,
and we may hope to see her perfectly recovered before setting
out on your delightful journey.
To
MISS
HORNER
in Flormce;"
Berlin, January 8th, 1862.
Allow me from this distance to send you my best wishes for
the New Year you are now entering upon, may it be rich in
fulfilling your hopes and desires, and above all, may it keep
you in continued, undiminished enjoyment of the happiness_
you possess. * ~, * I am particularly glad that you have
succeeded in getting into the circle of the most distinguished
individuals of the Italian Athens, whose society and personal
intercourse must be exceedingly interesting, particularly at
this period of a great political crisis in the country.
The
reputation which Ricasoli enjoys of perfect political and personal honesty and straightforwardness, seems to be a guarantee for a happy result, if he can succeed in getting rid of
the influence of the great author] of troubles and discord,
who is equally dangerous to Italy as to the rest of Europe ..
Fortunately the war which threatened to arise between
America and England seems less likely to take place than
eight days ago. It would be the greatest misfortune which
could happen to both countries, and to the rest of Europe,
which would become, if England's forces were turned against
America, a still easier prey to Napoleon.
I hope soon to publish the first volume of Field Marshall
Count Gneisenau's Life, and to advance the new arrangement of the Royal Library, which. will, I expect, ~e a great
improvement.
• Mr. and Mrs. Horner went to Florence with their two unmarried
daughters in the autumn of 1861.
t Louis Napoleon.
G. H•• PERTZ.
191
[In the spring of 1862, to the' inexpressible grief of her
parents, his little daughter Elizabeth died, just after cornpleting her fifth year, and shortly afterwards the sad news came
from Florence of the death of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Homer.
In the summer Dr. Pertz, with his wife and two remaining
daughters, spent several weeks in England with his wife's
relations, after their return from Italy, and he visited Edinburgh and Glasgow, in order to examine manuscripts.]
To his wife.
York Place, Edinburgh, August 24th, I862.
Yesterday evening, at nine, we left York, passed Newcastle,
enveloped in smoke, and crossed the celebrated bridge over the
Tweed at Berwick, where we approached the sea. At halfpast three the train suddenly stopped below Holyrood Palace.
I took a cab and drove to Mr. Gibson Craig's*, who met me
at the door of his house, and received me in the most friendly
manner.
After luncheon I was conducted by Mr. Craig
through the town, and to the principal points of view. The
general impression was very striking, the view is most magnificent, those heights with their tall buildings extending on
all sides, up to the foot of Arthur's Seat, and down to the
sea; those monuments,
public institutions,
academies,
churches with their spires, the Castle, the' public gardens, all
appearing bathed in sunlight, although for some time past it
had been raining. We returned after six, when I dressed
for dinner, at seven we sat down, and spent a very entertaining evening till ten o'clock; Mr. Craig shewed me a great
many very rare and beautiful books, belonging to his valuable
library, and many of them very finely bound.
August 25th, 1862.
This morning, after breakfast, Mr. Craig took me out in his
brough.un.
* * * We drove over the North bridge,
* James Gibson Craig, son of the late Sir James Gibson Craig of
Ricarton, Edinburgh, Writer to the Signet.
The possessor of a tine
library and a collection of works of art.
• LETTERS
OF
round the Calton Hill, to Holyrood, visited the Palace, and
saw the apartments in which Queen Mary lived, and the
room in which Rizzio was assassinated by her husband.
Also the remains of the ancient chapel of the kings of Scotland, which was built in. the twelfth century, but is now a
ruin. * * * Then we drove along the Queen's drive to
the Hunter's Bog, and returned the same road towards the
old town, where we saw the College and your father's School"
of Arts,* which was, however, closed. *
*
. At half-past two Mr. Craig took me to see Mr. Hutchinson,
_ a. young sculptor . We drove to the College, and saw the
library; a good many interestingrare books and some manuscripts; everything seemed to be in good order. * * *
We then proceeded to the Courts of Law, visited the halls
adorned with portraits and statues of eminent lawyers.
Afterwards Mr. Craig shewed me the exhibition of pictures;
we saw an excellent portrait of your uncle, Francis Homer,
painted for Lord Murray and left by his widow to the institution; I prefer it even to the one in your father's possession,
as it has not the same expression of sadness; it is on the
contrary very bright and expressive of health, and very like
your father. Next to it is his marble bust by Chantrey.
There are some other remarkable pictures in the collection,
and the whole arrangement is good; the light from above.
-r-
To the same.
York Place, Edinburgh, August 27th,
1862,
The day before yesterday we dined with Mr. Constable]
and Mr. Douglas. The latter' is a painter of considerable
merit and a pleasing man. Yesterday Mr. Craig introduced
me to the Antiquarian Museum, where I saw a very fine and
interesting collection of antiquities. * * * The guardian
sho~ed and explained to me the more ancient part, containing
by Mr. Homer
t Son of Sir Waiter Scott's publisher.
• The School of Arts was founded
in
1821.
G. H. PERTZ.
the instruments belonging to' the age of stone and brass.
They are very well arranged, Scotch, Irish, English, or
rather Anglo-Saxon, Danish, and foreign, e.g., Mexican,
, Egyptian' and South Sea, between which there is a' very
striking similarity. They show that human requirements
and the means to supply them in the primitive state of our
race are very much alike everywhere. There is a considerable collection of arms, arrowheads, lances, spearheads,
daggers, swords, and household furniture.
Afterwards we went to the Library of the Writers of the
Signet, whose Librarian, Mr. David Laing, is a very clever
and intelligent well informed man, with whom I had been
for severa.l years in correspondence.
He introduced me also
to the Advocates' Library, which is in possession of a number
of manuscripts, some of which I consulted and made ex- ,
tracts from. At dinner we had Mr. and Mrs. Edgeworth,
Mr. Robertson, Head of the Department of Rolls' College, Mr.
D. Laing, Mr. Small, the College Librarian, and Mr
Stewart, another officer of the Rolls' department.
*' ~;
Yesterday, Mr. Craig heard that the Duke of Hamilton was
expected at Harnilton T'alace, in consequence of which I
wrote to him, expressing my anxiety to see his manuscripts,
whose celebrity, together with his kind promise, had induced
me to undertake the journey from Berlin to this country.
* * * To-morrow an answer must come, if he is really .
arrived, and then I shall immediately set out for Hamilton
and for Glasgow, where there is a very important collection
of manuscripts in the Hunterian library. * * * To-day
I have been again visiting the College library and arranged
business with Mr. Small, from thence I proceeded to the
Advocates" library and worked on manuscripts till 'three
o'clock, when Mr. Craig called for me, and drove me through
part of the town I had not yet seen, towards the two great
Hospitals and the meadows south of the Castle.
*
N
194
LETTERS
OF
To the same.* ,:'
;,'r"
I
,,'J .."':
,;{r~
, Edinburgh, August 29th, 1862~T
Yesterday I visited the Antiquarian Museum for' the
second time, where Mr. McCulloch gave me a very clear
account of everything remarkable in it.", From thence' we
proceeded to the Archives of Scotland.
~, *, *: ':Mr:
Stewart, the second Warden, accompanied me through the
whole building, and we had a pleasant talk about different
matters of antiquarian lore and history. He is a very active
man, and has lately discovered in one of the Orkneys a remarkable monument, with a great many inscriptions,'. After
luncheon I went with Mr. Pillans" to the Botanic Garden,
which is in excellent order, full of beautiful specimens of rare
and ornamental plants, shrubs and trees, and is exceedingly
well arranged and kept. The new Palmhouse is 72 feet high,
100 long, and 62 broad, and has cost only £6,500, it contains
beautiful specimens.
To the same.
../
:.'
"
Queen's Hotel, Glasgow, August 3ISt, I862'-
After writing my last letter, I left Edinburgh Friday afternoon at four o'clock and arrived here by the express at
twenty minutes. past five. After securing this room near the
railway station, I called on Mr. Barclay, the Principal of the
University, to whom I delivered a letter of introduction from
Mr. Craig.~'
* * He proposed at once to show me the
manuscripts of the Library and the Hunterian Museum the
next morning, when the Librarian would be there. * *.l *
I went through the catalogue of the manuscripts" then
examined all those amongst them which seemed to be of any
interest, but finding scarcely any of them remarkable, and
none of use for my object, we left the Uni versity and proceeded
to the Hunterian Museum. This is a large handsome building, containing a very valuable collection left by the celebrated
·Mr. Pillans, Professor of Humanity and formerly Rector of the High
School, Edinburgh.
G.
H.
PERTZ.
195
Dr. Hunter, brother of the physician of the same name, who
founded the London Anatomical Museum. This Glasgow
Museum contains treasures in different branches of literature
and science. First, some beautiful pictures, an old copy of
Raffaelle's "Descent from the Cross,"the original of which isin
the Borghese collection in Rome, a pretty Guido, a landscape
by Rembrandt, and, a good many portraits of distinguished
University men. Below there is a large number of stuffed
animals, which I only looked at in passing, and on the upper
floor a very rich collection of coins, kept under two or three
locks, whose keys are in the hands of: different professors,
and which I had not therefore any hope of seeing. Fine
specimens of minerals are in cases, under glass, as well as
beautifully painted manuscripts, ~hich belong to a collection'
of-several hundred left by Dr. Hunter, and kept in a separate
room. ; Of 'these I went through a' good number, and I discovered that the Principal of the Museum is very learned in
old and modern languages, and has studied Egyptian, Sanscrit,and
Runic writings.
He spoke with indignation of
Lepsius' "depradations
in Egypt, particularly blaming the
inscription placed by him 'over the entrance to' the great
Pyramid of Gizeh, in hieroglyphic characters, commemorating
his own journey and the protection afforded to it by the King
and Queen of Prussia. Mr. Barc1ay, during his sojourn in
Egypt, from a feeling of indignation destroyed part of that
inscription, and his example having been followed by others,
he assures me that now no trace of it is remaining.
It
;
;
To the same.
Berlin, September 28th, 1862.
I spent Wednesday'evening
with Professor Sybel at the
Ranke's., *' ..*' * The conversation turned of course mostly
upon our politics, no one could tell what turn things might
take. Since the King has appointed Bismark President of
the Cabine~ and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Bernstorff
LETTERS OF
196
as well as van der Heydt have resigned. Count Bernstorff
wiII go as ambassador either to London or to Paris. Bismark
was formerly a decided ultra-aristocrat, but is said to have
improved since, and turned more to the Liberal side after the
experience which he had at Frankfort, where he often' got
into decided opposition and quarrels with the over-bearing
Austrian Ministers. Time alone will show what the country
will have in him. He is thought to be very bold and determined, which is a quality of doubtful value. Minister van der
Heydt has been made a Baron, which will not raise him in
the opinion of the public.
To the same.
Berlin, September 30th, 1862.
The first public exhibition has appeared of the produce of
photo-lithography, viz., prints from stone reproducing photography, an object which I always considered necessary to
attain in order to preserve photographic representations from
the effects of time, causing their gradual disappearance. As'
I supposed, this discovery make it possible to spread photo- .
graphic representations by making them a great deal cheaper
than was hitherto possible, and objects of art will now be
distributed and become generally accessible in the same proportion as printed books. The first work published (at
Amslers' in the Behren Strasse) is Albrecht Dürer's Crucifixion," a set of thirty-eight woodcuts, some of which are excessively rare, and in this way have come generally within
the means of everyone.
'
v
To
PROFESSOR
WAlTZ.
Berlin, December 31st, 1862.
I will not allow the passing year to depart without thanking
you much, respected friend, for your letter, which I was delighted to receive, and did not at once reply to, because I
G. H. PERTZ.
197
expected soon to be able to comment on the learned information which it contained.
The unexpected loss of a beloved and respected father is
hard to bear, even when we have long enjoyed the happiness
(which cannot be replaced) of having him beside us, and
seeing him live to a good old age, in mental and physical
vigour ; and it is a singular feeling to be our own master in
our relations to the world, and to anticipate without any
intermediate link, the moment of our own departure, though in
reality it may be distant ever so many years. You have .now
. the consolation of reflecting upon your last visit with your
dear wife to your parental home, and of the fatherly blessing
which you both received.
We have painfully missed this Christmas our darling
daughter and my mother-in-law.
* *,~, I hear that
Charles * has acquitted himself meritoriously in the Library;
he has prepared new catalogues for the whole department of
history, and continues to do the same with the other departments. He has also delivered his first lecture, although, as is
usual in Griefswald, with the least possible number of listeners,
yet with the same diligence as if he were lecturing to a large
number. * * *
During this last month I have proceeded with the life of
Gneisenau, and hope soon to print either one or two volumes;
but I should like to be so far advanced in my work, that the
rest might be printed without further delay. The subject is
remarkably attractive, and it is a pleasure to progress in it;
only I have so many other occupations, and just at present
I have again to fill up vacancies in the library and to make
other arrangements.
* * * I hope we are now advancing
with the monument to Stein. To-day I haye been occupied
in remodelling and designing a project for it.
,
I
•
• Dr. Karl Pertz had been appointed Sub-Librarian
Greifswald.
in the University of
, LETTERS
198
OF
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"Coblentz,
v,·\
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September2nd.;I863::
:
* '* "My 'tour has::been' very successful.; Passing:
'thr~ugh th~'interestingscenery bet~~en Coblentz and Binger:'
,
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brück, I arrived about noon in the valley of the Lahnewhich
I found rieh in natural beauty and cultivation, principally of
wine., T4e .road runs through' verypictur~squ~, sceneryypar,
ticularly ara place called "Oberstein, sevleral'miles beyond
:Kreuznach.",'
:Daily torre~t~, wer~ached th~ country
s
the' Saat river, which is'exceedingly 'rich in co~l 'and iron,
some places; reminded me of .Manchester byth~ir' '~~6keand
activity," After a long journeywe entered," at Saarburg, 'the
vall~y"of' the Moselle; which river ;r~ceives the Saar:;~nd'at
five it)' the afternoon ~e' e~ter~d Treves, by a long bridg<tover
,
"
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, the Moselle" under heavy showers, of rain accompanied .bY
thu~der:; Aft~r securing ~y~6o~ in;'th~ Rot:h~'Hau~~l~j~~ry
;goodinn,' I prbb~eded to the:poaaNigdl;:a'reitiärk~bl);'f~ig~
an'd "strong buitding. of' RoIhafi constiu'di~ri',"lief6r~\vht~h;
'I',5~o'ye~'rs ago, th'~ Huris, F~aAk's;a~d N~rri1an;"fo~ght, kriJ
1·~·1'
'where they gained possession of the capital of ancient Gaul,
Her~the Roman Emperorsc~ri'sta:ntirie and Valentine re'sidJd,
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whose palace, now in ruins, is 'seen 6n the northeast side' of
rI, , .
the town:' 'There are, besides, remains of the Roman Amphi~
-'f.\
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:,
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;
theatre, in which thousands· of German' warriors were' thrown
to the wild beasts' by order of Constantine.
A great' many
traces 'bf Röm'~n settlements here are daily disco~ered and
collected in a museum, which is besides remarkabl~' fo; its
collection of fossils from the volcanic part of the Eife! and
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199
G. H. PERTZ•.
the. deep coal pits of the Saarcountry, visited some. time ago
by :M.. Desarges from Paris.. ~.i *,:: *:: There is besides a ~
large collection of Roman coins found at Treves, and which.'
is .increasing every, week. Beautiful statues andjnosaics
have been dug up lately, forinstance, a tor.soof an Amazon of
great beauty. A gentleman to whom Iwas introduced, Mr•.
Holzer, provost of the Cathedral, shewed me his collection
of excellent drawings of these different remains of Roman life,
which ought to be published in order to become known in.
wider, circles. Mr: Holzer introduced me besides to the,
Iibrariany-Mr.
Schömann, ,who with the greatest kindness;
showed me whatever the rich library contains of remarkable
books and manuscripts and· objects of art. ,I began my·
researches in the field of Merovingian literature, the charters
of King Dagobert and other manuscripts, and paid a visit to ,
the Dean of the Cathedral, with whom I saw some valuable
manuscripts, .a~d : who treated us with the most delicious
wine from grapes growing on the borders of the Moselle
He'made us .compare his Schwarzhofberger of 1857 with hit;
Grimberger of 1762, and we were obliged to give the prefer-.
ence to the young produce of 1857. Sunday I visited the
Cathedral, the Liebfrauen Kirche and the Basilica, certainly
the most -magnificent Protestant .church . in, existence in.
Germany, which has been restored by Frederic William IV.,
according to its ancient form, and adorned by most beautiful
Iargecolumns of black marble. ;! In _theafternoon Mr. Holzer
tookmeto see the southern environs ofthe town, where from
the high banks ' of, the Moselle, you overlook the beautiful
valley, in the midst of which the interesting town of Treves
is situated ... I, _:.'.t: .
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I left Coblentz Tuesday evening at eight, was accompanied
by dear Hermann to the station, passed by Cologne at ten,
and arrived at Hanover on Wednesday morning at six.
·20Q'
LETTERS
OF
* ~, *
I spent the day with old 'Hanoverian friends, and
I found a pressing invitation to dinner from Mr. Hahn*.
We were a very pleasant party. I was received with great
warmth, made the acquaintance of several people, saw others
who had been fifty years ago sitting with me on the same
school benches, and had a great deal of talk about old and
new times. I endeavoured to dispel the prejudices in favour
of Austria and Austrian politics. We spent part of the time
in a tastefully-arranged garden, exactly opposite my own old
possession, into which I looked with feelings of happy. and
sad recollections. The trees I planted are full grown, the
shrubs and flowers have fulfilled my expectations, but a new
race of people, perfectly unknown to me, are now walking in
their midst-a confirmation of the old saying, you are not
building for yourself and yours, but for others.
The next morning I saw Mr. Culemann, and spent the
greater part of the day with my former pupils.
Ernst
Malortie, the eldest of them, is now Minister of the Royal
Household, Hermann, the younger, attached to the court of
, the Queen. Both received me with great cordiality, invited
me to dinner, and drove with me through the royal gardens,
which are under the Minister's superintendence and full of
beautiful plants and flowers. The Palace of Herrenhausen
is as celebrated from old times as Kew is in England, but of
course on a smaller scale. On Friday morning they intro-:
duced me to the Guelphic Museum, a new institution, which
contains a great many interesting arid precious monuments
of art and recollections of old and modern times, beginning
with a beautiful Gospel which belonged to Henry the Lion,
which I procured from Prague, and which you admired
. when Mr. Culemann brought it to Berlin, three sears ago.
There is also the prayer book of the Electress Sophia, in which
there is a hymn written by her in her eighty-third year.
I
• The publisher of the" Monumenta."
C. H. PERTZ.
201
To the same.
Berlin, September 24th, 1863.
I
, I am just now returning from the funeral of our dear friend
Jacob Grimm. * * * Both of 'his nephews, Hermann
with his wife and Rudolf, had returned some days before this
melancholy event, and had a good deal of conversation with
their uncle. * * * Jacob had got up to t~e word fromm
(pious) in his dictionary, a becoming end for such a life, as
Professor Nitzsch* remarked in the funeral sermon. ,We
went there at nine o'clock. The coffin, covered with flowers
and garlands, was placed in the corner room, and we old
friends and others assembled round it. Mrs. Grimm was not
able to be present, she was in the next room, and some ladies
with her. After Mr. Nitzsch had ended 'weJollowed to the
cemetery on the road to Schöneberg. There, on a height,
next to Wilhelm's grave, whence you look down upon the
town and the Thiergarten, the coffin was committed to the
ground, Mr. Butlmann, an old friend of the family, adding
some words. I drove there with Mr. Gerhard, and came
home at half past eleven. There is general affliction at his
loss, at the same time we must consider him happy, for his
life has been a blessing to his country, and an enjoyment to all
who ever knew him. \Ve shall never see his like again.
To the same.
I
Berlin, September 28th, 1863.
. This morning the King visited the exhibition of relics of
the time of Frederick the Great, and the wars of 1813-18lS.
: He seemed to be much pleased and thanked us for the trouble
we had taken" for this patriotic work." We accompanied
him through the whole: he expressed a wish that it might
continue open, in order to give the Queen an opportunity of
seeing it also. She is returning on October 15th. He shook
• The clergyman.
202
LE-:t:TERS
OF
hands with me coming and going, expressing his pleasure at
seeing me. ,
~ This morning the new Börse (Exchange) was also opened.
Th~ King.'told the assembled bankers ~nd~erchant~ that he
hopedto be abie to confer the best benefit upon their 'a~~emblyr
which was in his power, viz., th~ preservation 'of peace.'Upon'"
whichthey cheered him unanimously,
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, Berlin~,Dece,mber 6th, ~8~3',)','r
f, I had some time ago the pleasure of receivingsome
lines,
from you, announcing the arrivalof some copies of Hekekyan
Bey's book ;00 the chronology of Syriacmunuments,
one 'Of,
which was to be presented to the Royal Library •. Having
received these. copies, I sent, them to Professors Lepsius.,
Ehrenberg, Brugsch, etc., and having waited some' days ,I:
will not any longer, delay to present you at Ieast my own,
acknowledgment for the Royal Library, begging you to convey.
my own 'and my ,countrymen's expression of thanks to the
meritorious author.; * '" '" '"
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,'"I am happy
to
hear
that
your
own
health
a~d
that
of all,
.
.
our, dear, friendsvcontinues
good,' and. that, you ha ye {gqt;
through: the-dark, .and dreary-month of .November .without
suffering, and are continuing your interesting literary and
scientific occupations, more particularly the new arrangement
of the valuable collections of the' Geological Society under
your care.: Only those who have undertaken a similar task
are sensible of the satisfaction you enjoy at the success of
such awork of careful learned examination, and the result
it: leads to •.:' It is very like the arrangement of a valuable,
library, which is my task, and is .now .leading by degrees to
a satisfactory conclusion •. -;I hope by the end of next summer
to have finished this work; I have made space for 150,000
more volumes and have arranged them all in order, ready for
every day's use, and I should very much like you to see it
again.
"(':"
'
J
G. H. PERTZ.
203
Besides my officialbusiness I am constantly engaged in my
two literary undertakings. A remarkable advance has been
made in the" Monumenta Germanica," eighteen volumes in
foliostand on my shelves in-respectable array, and two more are
in active process of printing, so that I hope to arrive towards
'next autumn (after a lapse of four years) at a goal which the
French historians reached after a century. They have shewn
me of ·late' distinguished' attention, the - members .of the
Institute, Class 'Of Inscriptions' and Belles Lettres electing
me one of their eight" Associes etrangers," an honourwhich
I was little prepared for, asI had scarcely expected thatfhe
author of Stein's Life would merit so much impartiality and
acknowledgment. However, I am sensible of their favourable attention, and have always given every praise to the
many distinguished works executed by Frenchmen' in [our
common vocation: . My particular friend 'amongst [them was
M. Guerard, but he has been cut off ten years=ago by a
premature' death.' Other: affairs having prevented me: for
'several' months from continuing Gneisenau's' Life; I have not
-yet begun printing' the' first, volume, 'which' however has
enabled me to 'collect at tCoblentz, Frankfort;' and Munich
interesting contributions to the history of his early life,' and I
expect to get my hands soon free for the continuation.
\ .....!.:.~,~~r,\ ,-. -,
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[In the ,ye~r 1864' bi.' Perit' began printing his" Life of
CÖ1{rit'Gnels~nau/'of which three volumes· were ultimately
'published, but he did not livd to' complete the' work:~l'The
fourth and fifth volumes were added later by Hans!hei.
brück.] ,_j" ,.
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a meeting of, the ,Berlin Committee .for
Stein's monument j the result of our collection, amounting to
between 12,000 and 13,000 Thalers, was made over to our
LETTERS
OF .
Central Committee, and the whole sum now amounts to between 36,000 and 37,000 Thalers. As Professor Schievelbein
has finished his sketch for the monument entrusted to his
care, we hope the whole business will be completed next
Sunday, for which purpose a general meeting of deputies from
all the provinces of the country is to take place. The execution of the monument will take about three or four years, so
we may hope to see it finished in the year 1868. I have taken :
a good deal of trouble about it, but I am satisfied, that not
only the main object, the monument itself, but more even the
feelings out of which it has arisen and grown, have been
spreading in the German nation, and are strengthening more
and more.
[In February, 1864, Mrs. Pertz, having received notice
from England of the serious illness of Mr. Homer, went with
her two daughters to London, but only in time to be with her
dear father the last days of his life, as he died on the 5th
March, surrounded by his six daughters. Dr. Pertz followed
her to London to attend the funeral at Waking, and they returned together to Berlin, spending some days on the road
with her aunts in Paris.]
To his wife in England.
,
Berlin, March 6th, 1864.
,
When yesterday morning I did not receive the letter you
pro~ised, I was in hopes that your father's health had been
improving, and I therefore went to Charlottenburg* at two
o'clock. On my return home I found the telegram, which
conveyed the sad message of your dear father's death, which
had arrived during my absence .. Prepared as we were by his
long illness and constant weakness, and by a letter from
Hermann, who conveyed to me Dr. Wilkinson's opinion, still
• Dr. Pertz dined once a month with some literary friends at Charlottenburg.
G. H. PERTZ.
205
I felt deeply the great loss which we have sustained by being
deprived for' this life of the blessed intercourse of such a
noble, generous, highmind~d and ,loving father as he has
proved through a long, laborious and most useful life .
•
[In 1865 Dr. Pertz, accompanied by his wife and two
daughters and his sister-in-law, Miss Joanna Homer, spent
the summer at Bodenbach, near Dresden.
In 1866, subsequent to the war with Denmark, when the
combined armies of Prussia and Austria had taken SchleswigHolstein, war again broke out between Austria and Prussia.]
To his wife in England.
July loth, 1866.
We have had frequent and very favourable news from the
army, the headquarters advancing to Pardubitz and still
further without any resistance from the Austrian .arrny, who
seem, for the moment, to be utterly disorganised and powerless. We are constantly occupied in providing for the army
'in the field, and for the wounded and prisoners, and in forming new regimeats who are to support the fighting divisions.
It is expected that Frankfort, too, will be taken in the next
days and the southern armies dispersed. The bad success of
the great Austrian army seems to have discouraged the
Bavarians, and the Darmstadt and Nassau people, who as
well as the Würtemburgers dreamt hitherto of ruining
Prussia and dividing its spoils among themselves.
The
Bavarians also have been beaten and driven back in
the neighbourhood of Fulda and Eisenach.
Our forces in
that direction, under General Beyer, have been strengthened
by several new regiments of sharp shooters just formed here,
and are setting out· to-day. Everyone is in good spirits, and
we trust that no attempt will be made by foreign powers to
interfere.
LETTERS
206
'~ :f
i'~
, , "
OF
Be~lin, July r'2th, 1866~' [,
,
The Cro~n P~iricess*' must be pleased' with the general
satisfaction e:icpn~ssedat the heroic and modest behaviour of
the Crown Prince,t whose excellent qualities have been
brought out by the wonderful events of these days; -she must
be happy to find, him so worthy of his position., and so .
promising for the course of his future reign. You will, soon
hear that the King and his armies are advancing steadily on
the road to Vienna, being just now near Brünn, the capital
of Moravia; may Providence continue to bless their patriotic
efforts, while their enemy is appealing to the French Emperor
to interfere in the affairs of Germany. The real nature of the
politics of the' Austrian Government 'unfolds itself daily
more.·*
*'.'*
',li
July 17th, 1866.
,
j'
,
r: i The Queen, with her ladies and the other Princesses,
and the' Princesses Radzivil are setting a good example, in
visiting the hospitals, comforting the sick and wounded, a~d
everyone is willing to contribute according to his and her
power by devoting themselves to works of charity. It is to
be hoped that these noble exertions will do a great deal to
relieve the misery connected with war, but which will be
more easily endured with the conviction that it is borne for
the good of the country.
")'
To the same.
"
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I
,.
,:
Berlin, July 24th, 1866. ;
i: The war seems to approach its termination.
Our' army
has reached the Danube,· which alone separates' it from
Vienna. The Emperor of Austria has yielded to necessity,
first giving up Venice to France, and now consenting to
'belong no longer to the German confederation, of which
.* .The Empress Frederick.
t
The late Emperor Frederick.
207
G. H. PERTZ.
Prussia is the head." Schleswig Holstein,' part of Hanover,
Hesse and Brunswick are to be united to Prussia, which will
be the leader of the German' army. It appears, however,
uncertain whether the South German States, Baden; Würtemberg, Bavaria, Hesse-Darrnstadt, and Lichtenstein (which
has 'only got an army of fifty men), will separate themselves
from the great mass, north of the Maine. .'Very likely the
voice of the whole nation and necessity will oblige them
sooner or later to unite with the north. * *
-_:.I have just received a letter from Dr. Pabst, my assistant
for the " Monurnenta," who has been attached to the· first
army, under Prince Frederick Karl, and has taken part in
the whole campaign from the beginning j he writes from the
'camp in Hungary, he was in the battle of Königgrätz on
the 3rd of July, where he has distinguished himself, and in
consequence he has been proposed as entitled to receive the
medal for bravery, and to be named lieutenant i he has
been hitherto fortunate enough to pass throngh all dangers
and fatigues without being wounded.
His regiment' was
most active and decisive at Gitschein j they had to march
six hours in the morning of the jrd, in order to reach Königgrätz at half-past nine j at noon they joined the rest of 'the
, army, and had to stand exposed to the fire till half-past two
without moving, when the grenades burst, before, behind,
and beside them i the very worst situation. possible in a
battle. . * * .* But the worst was to follow-the incessant,
most fatiguing march through Bohemia and Moravia in
. pursuit of the enemy, till they entered Brünn, the capital of
Moravia, where they were kindly received by the inhabitants
and remained a few days. He is full of courage, believing
that 'one
battle like Königgrätz will settle .the business.
'I had written to his mother at Burg, near Magdeburg, two
'days' ago i she writes happily, thanking God for his preservation and success i he is her only child, and she isa widow.
The general exertions here to assist the armies and the
wounded, the widows and orphans, continue, unceasingly.
i
~ore
~,
208
LETTERS
OF
The Queen ~isits the public and private hospitals every day,
consoling and comforting, examining and assisting; contributions are collecting throughout Germany, and in every
place private persons and associations vie with each other in
works of kindness and charity. "
July 3Is,t.
You will very likely know that we are now approaching it
state of peace; during a five days' truce the conditions of
peace between Austria, Prussia and Italy have been agreed
upon. * * * Vie have some hopes of seeing all the
German States, with the single exception of Austria, reunited
in a German union. The King having been detained by this
important business on the Danube, has delayed his return till
all the principal negotiations have been brought to a good
end, and is to open Parliament himself next. Sunday. He is
expected here on Saturday. All the internal questions have
now been settled, and nobody, I 'suppose, can deny that the
King was right in his opinion about the formation of our
army and i~ his politics. The financial question even will
be settled, the war contributions paying the expenses in: curred.
Count Bismark, whose name has been for
years an object of hatred and terror to foreigners and Germans,
because he professed in Parliament that the union of Germany could only be brought about by blood and iron, not by
words alone, is at once recognised as a great statesman, as
well in our country as in Italy, France and England, and
Germany occupies a different place in public opinion.
. .To the same.
August 5th. I866.
Yesterday we have been preparing for the King's reception. * * * As the King was expected at eleven o'clock
at night, the illumination began about nine j the streets were
• crowded, the air warm and pleasant, without rain. At a
quarter to eleven I went up to the corner room 'of the library
G. H. PERTZ.
209
next the Queen's drawing-room jthe whole place Unter den
Linden and between the library and the opera house was
thickly crowded with many thousands all along the Linden
- up to the Schloss. Frederick the Great's monument was lit
up, and so was the whole square between the Palace and the
University and Academy. The crowds collected there, and,'
. waiting for about two hours, became noisy, but there being
no police, order was kept pretty well by the people themselves. Occasionally fireworks were let off and balls of light,
Bengal fire and detonations relieved the dulness of expectation. After eleven the King arrived at the Frankfort
railway station, accompanied by the Crown Prince, Prince
Charles, the Ministers Bismark and Roon, General Moltke,
&c. The Queen met her husband at the railway station,
where the King received several deputations; after which the
royal party got into open carriages, the King and Crown
Prince in the first, the Queen in the second, and drove slowly
through the streets, which were filled with people, loudly and
constantly cheering the royal party, till they arrived at the
palace. Here the reception was enthusiastic, as you will
easily fancy; the King showed himself several times on the
balcony, and was always tremendously cheered, the whole
crowd joining in patriotic songs, till midnight separated them.
This morning the Parliament met after divine service in the
Weisse Saal * of the Schloss. * * *
It is expected that after peace is concluded with the rest
of the South German States, the King will reward his.
principal assistants, military and political; Count Bismark
is to be created a prince, which he fully d~serves.
To
PROFESSOR
WAlTZ.
October 24th, 1866
Your friendly and affectionate letter was the first of many
kind ont;s which commemorated the 50th anniversary of my
• The white hall.
o
2JO
LETTERS
'
OF
receiving a Doctor's degree, and I feel sure that I owe this
altogether to your faithful memory, since I had not mentioned
the approaching period even to my family; the officials of the
Academy and University have probably had their attention
drawn to it by enquiries you addressed
to Pinder, who
informed Minister von M ühler late the evening before.
I
have already sent my thanks to your philosophical
Faculty
for the beautiful and very kind Diploma and the congratulations of the philological Seminary.
*
*
, While I was in England I spent about sixteen days in the
country
with my brother-in-law,
Sir Charles
Bunbury,
at Barton Hall, the rest of the time at Sir Charles
'Lyell's,
the husband
of my eldest sister-in-law;
I have
examined the manuscripts
in the British Museum acquired
since I~64, and afterwards
visited Sir Thomas Philipps at
Cheltenham,
and made use of his last acquisitions;
we returned by Antwerp, Cologne and Hanover, where we remained one day, and I saw some of myoid friends; I found
Kohlrausch indisposed for the first time in his long and prosperous life; the Generalin
Hartmann
was in the country.
The town is a good deal changed, but by the desire of my
wife I visited with her and the children spots connected with
*
old recollections;
To
MISS
our garden is grown into a wilderness.
HORNER
aud
MISS
JOANNA HORNER
in-Florence.
Berlin, 21St November, 1866,
I had the pleasure of receiving your kind congratulations
, on 'the celebration of my fifty years' Doctorship, which has
come surprisingly quickly through a long life of many vicissitudes, alternately mournful and happy, but altogether
I may
consider myself blessed with many happy days and years,
surrounded by the greatest treasures
any man can possess,
true loving hearts, excellent, relations and friends, a cheerful
home; a great, prospering, happy country, in whose behalf I
ha~e tried to work, not without success; and' good' health,'
...
G. H. PERTZ.
211
which enables me to fulfil my duties. As I have no wish to
,bring myself forward, there was hardly anyone who knew
that my jubilee was approaching; nevertheless, my friends
and colleagues here, as well as abroad, at Göttingen, Munich,
Inspruck, and other places, sent me their kind wishes, or
came in person to express them.
It is a great satisfaction to know that you are happy in the
enjoyment of the autumn in Florence, surrounded byagreeable friends, who share your attachment to Italy and its
people. The great events of last summer have enlarged the
circle of the friends of Italy, as the acquisition of Venice
enables Italy now to act independently of France, and to
keep clear of the dangerous interference which that power
might probably have attempted to undertake against the.
will of the Italians. It is now to be wished that Ricasoli
may succeed likewise in arranging the Roman question, and
enable you to pay a visit to St. Peter's in the course of
these next months.
[In the summer of 1867, Dr. Pertz accompanied his wife
and little girls to Nordeney, a very small island on the north
coast of Germany (the Hanoverian Bathing Establishment). They spent a month there breathing the fresh sea
breezes of the North Sea, and returned home by the HartzIn 1869 they spent part of the summer with relations at
Tenby, and in the same year passed a few, weeks at Erdmansdorf in Silesia, at one time the residence of Field Marshal Gneisenau. That year being the fifty years' jubilee of
the Society of German History founded by Stein, Herr
Hahn, the publisher of the" Monumenta " in Hanover, sent
Dr. Pertz a beautiful silver goblet, which together with the
gold snuff-box presented by Frederick William IV., is preserved in the family as an heirloom. The Franco-German
war forms the subject of the following letters. His wife and
daughters being in England during the commencement of the
war.] ,
LETTERS OF
212
To his wIfe in England.
" Berlin, July 17th, 1870.
All political divisions disappear in the general conviction
of united strength and united action against the common
enemy, who has at last openly acknowledged his aim to obtain
the Rhine provinces, and the German fortresses of Mainz
and Luxemburg.
It now ~omes out, that already, a month
ago, the French Emperor sounded Sweden what part it
would take in case of a war with Germany, as to
their obligations towards North Germany, hoping in vain to
detach them. The whole army of North Germany has in
consequence of the Fr~nch proclamation of war, been yester-'
day mobilized. This moment I receive ~he order for Dr.
Pabst, who is a lieutenant on leave of absence, to return at
once, and I am writing to him to Arezzo in Tuscany. The
South German governments, Bavaria, Wurtemberg and
Baden, 'have" also promised their alliance, 'and call in their
armies to act under the King's command, and in a few days
the North German Bundesrath * is to assemble here, in order
openly to declare in parliament, under the presidency of the
Chancellor Bismark, the decision for war, and to pass necessary measures preparatory to the royal proclamation.
.
For the last forty-eight hours the whole appearance of Berlin
has been changed, every action of the Government is directed
towards a vigorous and speedy defence ~f the ~ountry; all
the heads of public offices on leave of absence are recalled,
and the military put on active service. * * * The inauguration of the monument to King Fred William Ill.,t intended to be uncovered on August 3rd, is postponed to
quieter times, and nobody knows what may be his, own
destination. The Departments of Foreign Affairs, of War,
the Army and Navy, are in full activity. Abeken is returned
with the King and Bismark, but he is so deeply engaged
that he could not spare ten minutes for me.
t
• Federal Council.
In the Thiergarten, Berlin.
G. H. PER'!'Z.
213
July 19th•
I was returning home at eight o'clock, when quietly walk •.
ing in front: of the King of the Netherlands' Palace, I was
suddenly addressed by our good neighbour Krause;" who told
me to return home at once because" der Herr Hauptmann"
(the Captain) was there waiting to see me, and ready to be
off to Hanover!
Of course the few steps were soon made,
and I met dear Hermann, who on his return to Cüstrin] had
found an order to take the command of a company of the
pi~neers (two hundred men and three officers) in the district
of Hanover, probably to erect fortifications on the Weser at
Minden. He will get his instructions concerning the details
of his duties on his' arrival at Hanover, and will there also
learn his future destination.
To tlu same.
Berlin,August
6th, 1870.
The all-absorbing interest is the great national struggle
against the wanton criminal aggressor, who, thank God, has
already been brought to the brink of his well-deserved ruin.
A few days after our armies had arrived, and been disposed
along the frontier, our soldiers, in a number of skirmishes,
became convinced of their superiority in arms, judgment,
coolness, and perseverance, and proved their valour in the
defence of Saarbrücken, where three Prussian' companies
kept the field for two and a half hours against three French
divisions, with a loss of only seventy men, dead, wounded, or
.'taken prisoners.
After the King's arrival at Mainz the Crown Prince, from
his headquarters at Speyer, began the attack of the French
Second Corps, commanded by Marshal MacMahon, Duke of
Magenta, stationed in the northern part of Elsass, in the
town of Weifsenburg, 'on the river Lauter, which was
defended by a division under General Douay; the allied
t
• Head porter of the Library.
Where he had been stationed.
214
LETTERS
OF
Prussians and Bavaria ns storm ed the town and the hill
above it, the whole French division was destroyed, General
Douay killed on the spot, and their camp and eight hundred
prisoners taken. -This victory, announced by the King's telegram to the Queen, excited the greatest enthusiasmin Berlin.
The second army, commanded by Prince Frederick Charles,
has retaken the town of Saarbrück, and hoth armies are now
in communication, and can act in combination.
To the same.
Berlin, August 13th, 1870.
Accept my best congratulations on the happy return of
your approaching birthday, which I am sorry not to be able to
offer in person, and even doubt whether thes~ line~ will reach
you on the röth, In consequence of the violent commotions
which rule the once peaceful world, and disturh all calcula,
tion".How happy I should have been to share the pleasure
which you feel in' your family circle, and to meet all our dear
friends at a period which excites the undivided sympathy of
all friends of liberty and justice. Every day now adds to the
glorious accounts we live to see and be thankful for, and we
depend upon the final fulfilment of our just wishes for the firm
, consolidation of our national peace and safety, which ought
to be for ever secured against French invasion.
To the same.
August aoth, 1870. .
You ' will have been informed of the brilliant victories
which the German armies have gained during the last week,
and which carried them from the Vosges mountains through
'the plains of Lorraine, over the Moselle beyond Metz, the
strong fortress, which was defended by the French .army on
'the high road to Verdun and Chalons. Our two great armies,
led by the King, Prince Friedrich Karl, and General Steinmetz, combined their operations in order to beat the French
G.
H.
215
PERTZ.
concentrated in the country near Metz.and surrounding them,
succeeded in gaining three great victories. They have cornpletely beaten them, and cut off all their .lines of retreat to
Chalons and Paris, and thus opened the road to further suecess, You will have learnt that Napoleon and his followers
are defeated and in despair, the Parisians alarmed, and'
expecting the .German armies before their walls. . * * *,'
The King has in the meantime abolished the conscription
and organised the conquered provinces, placed German
Governors at the head of Lorraine and Elsass, and ordered
the siege of Strasburg, which is already attacked by the .
Baden and Wurtemberg troops, who are joining the Prussian
Corps stationed hitherto in Hanover, but arriving to-day at
Rastadt on the Rhine, and are to cross that river to-morrow.
Hermann has been organising and drilling his two hundred
pioneers and pontoniers; he is very well and glad to assist in
active operations, and dear Emma* left him after having provided him with all necessary and useful provisions for the
active campaign. As Captain he is provided with two strong
horses, a servant, surgeon, etc. May God bless him and preserve him. Strasburg is very likely feebly garrisoned, their
spirits broken by the French losses and the German successes,
and the enlightened and Protestant part of the German
population will be easily gained over to the cause of the
great Fatherland. * * *
To the same.
Berlin, August 29th, 1870.
I am just receiving your letter dated August 25th, and I am
most agreeably surprised by the contents, which gives me the
happy prospect of being so soon reunited to you and our
sweet girls. * * * Hermann has led his two hundred
pioneers from Hanover through Minden, Cologne, Bingenbrück, Karlsruhe, Rastadt, and across the Rhine to Hagerrau in
Alsace, and joined the besieging army round Strasburg, where
• Wife of Captain Pertz.
2!6
LETTERS
OF
he has met a great many friends and brother officers. * * *
Forty engineer officers form the besieging party,' who have
the rare opportunity of distinguishing themselves in their
military profession. He thinks that the surrender of Strasburg will be their _first object, and that attained, will be
followed by their being ordered to the siege of Paris. God
,bless dear Hermann, and preserve him safe and unhurt.
[After the conclusion of the war in I87!, Dr. Pertz
attended, as usual, in the autumn the historical meeting at
Munich, and went on to Inspruck, where he and his wife and
daughters met his sisters-in-law, the Miss Homers, and
accompanied them for a visit
Florence, where the Miss
Homers resided. In Flore~ce he made the acquaintance of
Signor Parlatore, the Head of the Botanical Museum, of
Marchese Gino Capponi, and other distinguished Florentines.
In 1872 he went to Nassau to be present at the erection of a
statue of Stein. Ever since his marriage in 1854 Dr. Pertz
had made it a point that he and his wife should meet her
family every summer either in England or somewhere in
Germany, which they nearly always carried out. Therefore
in the course of these years they visited Folkestone, Whitby,
Tenby, and Barmouth, in England and Wales, and the
Hartz, Zwingenberg, Rudolstadt, Bodenbach, and Inspruck
in Germany.
.
In 1873, being seventy-eight years old and with enfeebled
health, on the advice of his friends he most unwillingly
resigned his situation in the Library, and left with regret the
house in the Behren Strasse, which he had inhabited for thirtyone years, and took an apartment in the Genthiner Strasse.
He-continued occasionally working at the Life of Gneisenau, .
and completed three volumes, but he did not live to finish the
.task j the fourth and fifth volumes were eventually brought
out by Herr Delbrüch.
In, 1875 he was gratified by seeing his great wish fulfilled,
to
G. H. PERTZ.
7
21
and a monument erected to Stein on the Dönhofs Platz in
Berlin. His name is inscribed on the pedestal along with the
title of the great work which he edited, the "Monumenta
Germanica." In 1876he went with his family to the Tegern
See to meet the Miss Homers; though very feeble he was
extremely anxious to attend the annual historical meeting in
Munich, so after a few weeks' enjoyment of the lovely scenery
about the lake, they all returned to Munich, but the day
after their arrival Dr. 'Pertz was seized with a stroke of
paralysis, from which he never recovered. His son, Major
Pertz, was sent for, and it gave him great happiness to see
his beloved son Hermann once more. His death occurred on
October 7th, 1876. His remains were transported to Berlin,
and laid in his own burial ground, in a cemetery near the
town, beside his first wife and his little daughter, whose
death caused so much sorrow in 1862.]
Extracts /,om tk« Obitua,)' u"itltfl by HERR VON GIESEBRECHT,.
Secretasy Of tlze Historicod Class, Munich.
ON the 7th October, 1876, there died at Munich, Dr. Georg
Heinrich Pertz, Prussian Geheimer Regierungs' Rath, and
late Head Librarian of the Royal Library in Berlin. Since
the year 1836, when he was elected a foreign member of the
Munich Academy, his eager participation in the work of the
historical Committee and the active personal support he gave
to our efforts entitle us truly to say that he was completely
,
one of us. * * *
Pertz was born at Hanover on the 28th of March, 1795,
and was the son of a bookbinder. At the University of
Göttingen he devoted his time to philological and especially
historical studies i his first literary production was the " History ofthe Merovingian Hausmeier,"*which appeared in 1819,
and showed not only a thorough knowledge of the original'
documents and a sound criticism, hut also commended itself
hy its simple but vigorous style. * * *
The young historian soon attracted the attention of Baron'
von Stein, the great German statesman, and an acquaintance:
was soon made, which determined the whole future life of
Pertz,
It is well known that Stein at that period meditated form. ing an extensive collection of documents relating to early
.Gerrnan history. by which means he indulged the hope of
restoring a patriotic feeling in Germany; and in order' to
carry out this plan, which at first was traced in the broadest
outlines, he founded- a society for the purpose of spreading a
• .. Geschichte der Merovingischen Hausmeier."
220
APPENDIX.
knowledge of early German history. Pertz was invited to participate in this great work, and immediately and readily undertook the publication of the important documents of the Carlovingian period. In the years 1820-1823 he undertook his first
journey for collecting materials; when he examined most',
especially the Libraries and Archives -of Austria and Italy.
This' journey nrst showed what could be' performed, and at
the same time it designated the man who was most capable
of fulfilling what was required.
After his return, Pertz (who in the meantime had been
" appointed Secretary to the Archives in Hanover) was charged
by Stein with the editorship of the documents themselves, as
well as the journal of the Archives of the Society for Early
German History. As early as 1824 the definite plan for the
" Monumenta Germanica " was drawn up by Pertz. Niebuhr
wrote in reference to this plan: "Pertz is quite an exceptionally distinguished man, for whom I have the truest
respect."
The first volume of the" Monumenta .. appeared in 1826,
and after Pertz had made several journeys, he brought out the,
second volume, in which he concluded the historians of the
Carlovingian Period. The great work could not have begun
in a more brilliant way. \Vhat Pertz accomplished in these
first volumes, became not only a type for all later editions
of the" Monurnenta," but for all works of a similar kind
which have since been undertaken in Germany or abroad.
Pertz was editor of the" Menumenta " for more than fifty
years, twenty-five volumes of the documents and seven volumes
'of the Archives, appeared in his name; he has besides left
very extensive preparatory work to be continued by' his
successors. * '* *
Whatever Pertz undertook to do for the" Menumenta '~,it
was with the intention of carrying out the views of Stein, as
he also considered the work itself to be a personal legacy of
Stein's to him. He adhered strictly to the patriotic idea from
which the undertaking proceeded; but it was evid,ent that the
,
APPENDIX.
221
documents of the Middle Ages written in Latin, could only be
made accessible to the majority of the nation by: a German
translation.
Therefore Pertz was long occupied with the fulfilment of an idea already contemplated
by Stein, of having
translations made from the most important documents of our,
early history, and published in a cheap and convenient form.
It was only in the year 18H that the necessary money was
obtained for such an undertaking,
when King' Frederick
\Villiam IV. was persuaded to take an interest in it, and in
1849 the first volume cif the "Geschieht·schreiber
der
, Deutschen Vorzeit" appeared, which was afterwards followed
by many more volumes.
The translations,
which Pertz gave
to young men to execute, are unequal in merit, but on the
whole give a faithful reproduction of the original, and there
is no doubt that they have spread a knowledge of the historical works of the Middle Ages, whieh formerly were only
accessible to a small number of our learned men.
Pertz's work for the" Menumenta Germaniea," for which he
undertook almost every year longer or shorter journeys, ,deserves all the more acknowledgment,
as along with it he had
considerable official business to attend to.
Soon after the appearance of the first volume of the" Monumenta," George IV. appointed him Libraria~
andArchivist
in Hanover, and he also belonged to the Board for Higher
Schools, and was Historiographer
for the joint houses of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
Thus in many respects Pertz became a
successor of Leibnitz, * and to this circumstance
the learned
world are indebted for the collection of Leibnitz's wri tings whieh
he made, which also became of great interestto our historieal
literature
since Leibnitz's
incomplete,
yet most important
work, ".Annales imperii occidentalis," which had been hidden
for a hundred years, was now for the first time published. ' In
the year 1842 Pertz was called to' Berlin, with the title of
Geheimer Regierung's
Rath, and Head Librarian,
and he
,
• Leibnitz was appointed by the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Librarian in Hanover.
"
Ducal
APPENDIX.
,occupied this place more than thirty years. With exemplary
conscientiousness he took a deep interest in everything that
concerned the great Institution under his guidance, and did
important work by the additions he made to theLibrary, and
by the order he introduced into the catalogue; how inuch he
- facilitated its use, those know best who can remember former
difficulties.'
When Pertz accepted the call to Berlin, he was greatly
induced to do so from political motives. He had entered too
closely into the ideas of Baron von Stein not to sympathise
and take the liveliest interest in the political movements of
the time, and to partake in restoring the political condition of
Germany in accordance with the wishes of .the nation. He
had already, in Hanover, taken a part, in politics. In 1832
he belonged to the Second Chamber of the Hanover Parlialiament; he had no 'especia,l gift of eloquence, but spoke
"openly, simply, clearly, and in a true German spirit." That
same year he founded the Hanover newspaper. They were
Stein's ideas, which he and his friends endeavoured to spread
and enforce in this paper, which in a short time gained consideration far beyond the boundary of Hanover, by its frank
and manly tone. Some years afterwards, when Pertz despaired of a worthy sup~ort, he gave up the editorship.
• Soon after circumstances in Hanover changed, so that a
man with Pertz's opinions was no longer in his right place.
He therefore left his- home and allied himself to Prussia, as
.the State on which Stein also had rested his hopes for the
regeneration of Germany.' When Pertz came to Berlin his
advice was asked on many political questionsvespecially in
the affairs of the Press. In many projects which proceeded,
partly from the Government and partly from the party favourable to the Government, his opinion was asked, and he
. willingly gave his support as far as he was able. But all
these projects were frustrated, first, by the uncertainty of the
state ofthings at that period, and afterwards by 'the outbreak
of the Rev~lution of 1848. 1£ Pertz in the succeeding.years,
.
APPENDIX.
223
when parliamentary life was fully developed in Germany, had
been called upon to participate in it, he would not have
shrunk from the political struggle. But he was not the' man
to seek the favour of the multitude, and amidst the excited
parties of that time he would hardly have found much sym-'
pathy for his opinions. Still he exercised no' inappreciable
influence on the political life of after years. It was just in
those years of the greatest political excitement that he published the memoirs of the Minister Baron v. Stein on the'
German, and more especially the Prussian Constitution,
(l8.t.8), and prepared his great work of the" Life 6f the
Minister Baron v. Stein," which appeared in six volumes,
184-9-1855."The Life of Field-Marshal Count Neithardt von
Gneisenau," which should be a counterpart to Stein's life,
he was never able to finish, and only three volumes appeared
in the years 1864-1867.
.
Though several censures, partly well founded, have been
made on Pertz's biographies, it is undeniable, that through the'
ample and thoroughly trustworthy material which they disclose for the history of the regeneration of Prussia, and the
German war for freedom, and by the lively representation of '
Stein's reforms and plans, with a just respect, for Prussian
politics, our historical literature has certainly been turned in
a direction which has brought good results. The recent
elevation of Prussia, and the formation of a new German
Empire, which Pertz lived to see, was greeted heartily by
him, as the fulfilment of hopes which he had borne through
life, and which had determined his career.
Pertz received many and great distinctions abundantly
from princes and from learned societies i perhaps no German
historian of our time has been more known and considered
abroad than the publisher of the" Menumenta Germanica."
It was destined that Pertz should end his life in Munich,
which he so often and so gladly visited, where he found great
materials for his literary work, and at the same time much
enjoyment in works of art and in society.. Maximilian
224
APPENDIX •
. I I., who considered the promotion of historical studies in
Germany as the task of his life, had bestowed his attention
and favour on the celebrated founder of the" Monumenta
Germanica."
Pertz was created.a
knight of the Maximilian Order, and
he was one of the German historians
whom the late king
invited to Munich in 1858, in order to create the historical
council in our -Academy.
It was intended that our council
should be principally occupied with the discovery and publi- '
cation of valuable documents for German history, and for this
end it was necessary that Pertz's work should be regarded as
a prototype,
the interest which he constantly
took in the
business was of the greatest use.
Up to the year 1870 he
was present at all the plenary meetings, and always took the
liveliest interest in the transactions.
In latter years he was
prevented, partly by official business, partly by the infirmities
of old age, from undertaking the journey. But last year, with
wonderful 'energy, he made all the preparations
months
, before, in order to be present at the plenary meeting.
After having passed the summer months with his family at
the Tegern See, he hastened to .come here, several days
before the meeting
began, and his thoughts
on the work of the council.
But
were all directed
soon after his arrival
he
had a stroke of paralysis,
which ended
As it was thought
possibly it would do him good if I
assured
council
that
him that
were not
his presence at the consultations
of the.
necessary,
I visited his sick bed, but I
found him paralysed
and speechless,
friendly countenance
with which
promised
his life in a few days.
though it was the same
he had so often met me.
as soon as the meeting
the result, but it had hardly ended
I
was over I would tell him
before
he passed
away.
Shortly after he had breathed his last I stood again beside
his bed.
His features were so little altered, and had such a
, . peaceful expression, that one might have thought
he was' .
asleep.
I have
enjoyed
his favour
and his friendship
more
than
225
APPENDIX.
thirty years, and have to thank him, not only for the most
successful incitement which he gave to my studies, but also
for his manifold proofs of cordial kindness. * * *
In our Academy the name of Pertz can never be forgotten,
and will be inseparably connected with the renovation of
German historical inquiry and history.
DR. \V AITZ writes:Twenty volumes of the "Monumenta Germanica" bear
the name of Pertz, and a considerable portion of them was
executed by him. The 'great national undertaking, which was
. originated by Baron von Stein, first acquired through him a
definite form, and as his name is also engraved upon the
monument (in Berlin) to the great statesman, he will be
named and honoured as long as research into German
history continues. :;. * *
Without any special preparation at the University he
acquired great accuracy in criti~al examinations, and the
reading of the Codices manuscripts: he was equally conver-'
sant with the manuscripts of different centuries and countries, .
and both his transcripts and his collations are certainly the
best which have ever been done, they surpass in correctness
and accuracy most of the works of those who afterwards set
themselves up as his censors.
The following
words were written
by his sister-in-law,
MISS
SUSAN HORNER:-
Dr. Pertz's learning and unusual powers of organisation
which enabled him to carry through t~e great work initiated
by Baron von Stein, the" Menumenta Germanica," belong
to the public, and more especially the German 'public. His
family and friends esteemed him on higher grounds than mere
intellectual capacity. He was a man of strong affections, of
a keen, even enthusiastic-nature, although he had obtained so
p
226
APPENDIX.
complete a mastery over himself that, except upon occasions,
few would suspect the warmth which lay beneath his calm
exterior. A patriotic sentiment, the call of friendship, or a
touch of tenderness towards his ownfamily alone betraying
the impetuosity of his feelings.
.
In his honesty and truth he endeavoured to be fair and just
.in all his dealings, but his early experience of many years of
oppressive foreign domination in his native city and country
had left an impression which made him, with perhaps insufficient reason, after the Peace, dread the possible encroachment of France on Germany, while his deeply rooted
patriotism, his habit of respect for the powers that be, his
historical studies, his reverence for law and order (the very
gift allied to his capacity for organisation) led him, where he
himself alone was concerned, to submit to rather than resist
authority. Though singularly modest, he was however conscious of his own powers, and never lost the dignity ;f self.
respect, and when those in high places ventured to infringe .
the laws and to persecute, he had the courage to step forward and defend the cause of right 'and justice.
To his friends, however opposed in their opinions to his,
this never made the slightest difference in his friendship. He
wished to give others the same liberty he claimed for himself.
No difference of opinion altered the warmth of his affectionBut it was in the circle of his home where his domestic
virtues made him most beloved. His complete unselfishness,
.his indulgence towards the young, and his devoted attach.
ment to his wife, to whom, as well as to all his relations, he
never allowed or made claim to superiority for himself; his
patience and the sweetness of his temper, seldom even ruffled,
have left memories for those who survive to strive to 'follow
loyally in the steps of such a husband an I father.
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