Page:Diary, reminiscences, and correspondence of Henry Crabb Robinson, Volume 1.djvu/167

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at Jena.
135

providence (whichever name we give to the originating cause), for the fit cultivation of the spheres of nature, physical and moral, lies in the infinite varieties of human character. All the faculties which man has are found, generally speaking, in all men; but with infinite degrees of strength and quantity, and with varieties in combination.

Chap. vi.

1802

The Monthly Register.

One of my employments during a part of 1802-3 was that of a contributor to a magazine entitled the Monthly Register, and edited by my friend Collier. The subjects on which I wrote were German literature, the philosophy of Kant, &c. I also gave many translations from Goethe, Schiller, and others, in order to exemplify the German theory of versification. As an apology for my being so much attracted to this subject, I quote on the epic hexameter,—

"Giddy it bears thee away, on the waves ever restless and rolling;
And thou, behind and before, seest but ocean and sky."

I sent one really wise paper—a translation of an essay by Herr von Savigny on German Universities; for the rest, I unaffectedly declare that they attracted no notice, and did not deserve any.

[This will be the best place for a letter from Savigny, though written somewhat later, on the subject of University teaching.—Ed.]


Savigny to H. C. R. (Translated.)

Marburg, Jan. 9th, 1803.

Dear Robinson,

If you saw what a tremendous deal I have to do this winter, you would forgive me that I have not written to you before. Nevertheless I do not forgive