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RIESBECK’S TRAVELS THROUGH GERMANY. 203
His converfation is fingularly interefting, as he is poflefled of a fund of anecdotes of
German writers, which, if they were to be publifhed, would furpals every chronicle
that has hitherto been called f{candalous *. He knows all their clubs, and the fecrets of
their private houfes.
_ Madam Karfchin is an amiable poetefs. Her tales breathe innocence, foft fenfibiltiy,
and peace of mind. She is likewife very good company, and the more admirable for
having made herfelf what the is. ,
You meet with many women in this place who are well acquainted with the polite
arts, and elles lettres. Madame Rechlan, among many others [ could mention, is an
excellent German poetefs.._ I was in feveral focieties where all the young women took
a part in literary converfations.
There is no country in which you meet with minifters fo enlightened as you do here.
All the minifters and effeCtive counfellors are chofen men, among{t whom there is hard-
ly one but would be a wonderful writer in his own line. ‘The prefent Attorney General
has done more in clearing up the fubject of criminal legiflation, in a fhort pamphlet on
the fubjeét, than all the folios and quartos in the Beccaria talte put together. The
minifter Hertfberg, to whom the King’s Eflay on German Literature is addrefled, and
who takes the part of his countrymen with great warmth, has been diftinguifhed by the
writing of many, and the publication of ftill more excellent ftate-papers. He is an
excellent minifter, and muft be known to you by his condué& of the difpute on the
Bavarian inheritance, and the peace of Tefchen. The Chief Jultice Zedlitz has pub-
lifhed fome very exellent remarks on education; and many of the Kiag’s counfellors
are good writers. If, according to the old proverb, a man is known by his fervants,
every one mutt think highly of the King of Pruffia.
What principally diftinguifhes the literati of the northern parts of Germany, is their
acquaintance with the literature of the more cultivated European nations. 1 did not
meet, either here or in Saxony, with a fingle character of eminence, who was not well
acquainted with the beft French, Englifh, and Italian writers. They are true cof
mopolites in literature, and totally void of prejudice, either in favour of the produc-
tions of their own country, or againft thofe of a foreign growth. I have no where
met with fuch univerfal and impartial knowledge of the world as there is here.
This is an advantage which neither the Englifh, French, or Italians, can difpute with
them.
LETTER LIV;
Berlin,
OF all the amufements of this town, that which delights me moft at this feafon, is
the walk in the park on the fouth fide of the Sprey. I have never feen a finer public
walk. The varied beauties of the woods, alleys, groves, and wildernefs, beggar all
imagination. It is above three miles round, and has water fufficient to give it more
life than there is in the waliss of much larger cities. -A part of it commands the Sprey.
It is a pity that they have not carried it over the parade and the royal wood market as
far as the river, from both banks of which you have very beautiful profpetts,
In this park on a Sunday you fee Berlin in all its glory. It is to the people of this
place what the Thuilleries are to Paris, only the mixture of the company is much
more ftriking, as you find all the populace and all the fine world kere. You ride or
* Mr, Nicolai, greatly to his honour, has declared that they never fhall.
DD 2 walk
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