ness are
exhibited with vast power, but more than their native undisguised
colours.--But this wide and interesting subject must be reserved for a
future occasion.

A FEW WORDS FOR BETTINA.

There seems a very general belief among sensible people that we have had
enough of the Germans. What with barons, and princes, and geheimraths, and
consistorialraths, and poets, and philosophers, burying their profundity
in tobacco smoke, and other "reek" more impervious still, we certainly
have had enough in book and essay, for the last few years, of the German
Man. And, latterly, the German women have come in for their share. If the
men have been puffed and praised till their very names are ridiculous and
offensive, it is not so with the gracious and high-born ladies. All the
old dowagers that flourish a goose-quill make a simultaneous assault on
the unfortunate "frau," or "fraulein;" pedantic old bachelors are
horrified at the wildness of some of the female Godwin's observations, and
fall to, in the general _melee_, tugging and tearing at the miserable
damsel till not a shred is left to cover her; and starched old maids, who
have been wondering for twenty years if Woman can etherealize society,
rejoice to see the punishment of such a presuming minx, and encourage the
performers with all their might. The attack may be very spirited, and the
culprit properly trounced in most cases--so we are contented to leave the
fantastic and philosophic heroines--so bepraised by their countrymen--to
the tender mercies of our Amazons at home; but we couch the lance, in
Maga's lists, on behalf of one whose name is known very widely, but whose
character is little understood, and constitute ourselves champion _a
l'outrance_ of Bettina Brentano. Yes, we are in love--over head and
ears--with Bettina Brentano. But we must guard ourselves a little in
making this confession. It is towards the nice, clever, black-eyed,
light-figured little houri of that name, in the pleasant years 1807-8-9,
and 10, that we own the soft impeachment, or rather make proud profession
of our feelings. With regard to the present bearer of the denomination,
who has gone, in despite of our affection, and married a man of the name
of Arnini, we confess we are utterly indifferent to her; and shall
maintain till our dying day, that the authoress of the _Letters to Goethe_
died in the early part of the year 1811, universally lamented, and giving
promise of a mind, when mature