lished in 1861, containing astronomical determinations of latitudes and longitudes and magnetic observations.—F. E.
SCHLEGEL, August Wilhelm von, an eminent German poet, critic, and orientalist, a son of Johann Adolf, was born at Hanover, on 8th September, 1767, and received a most careful education. From the study of theology, upon which he entered at Göttingen, he soon turned to that of classical learning and literature. He became a member of the philological seminary under Heyne, and was honoured with the friendship of Bürger. After completing his academical course he became private tutor to the family of a rich banker at Amsterdam, whence after a stay of three years he returned to Germany and settled at Jena. Here he began lecturing, and writing for the press. He soon distinguished himself as an active and prominent contributor to the Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung and to the Horen; through his connection with which latter journal he became acquainted with Schiller. Not content, however, with the part of a mere contributor, he conjointly with his brother Frederick originated a periodical of his own, the Athenæum. The two brothers in the conduct of this journal, adopted the severest code of æsthetics and the highest standard for literary production. Even the most renowned and most popular geniuses of the nation were here called to account, and fearlessly criticized. Both in these criticisms, and in the original productions of the two brothers, the germs of the so-called romantic school may be found. A circle of striving young authors assembled around them, among whom we only mention Tieck and Hardenberg (Novalis). It was a period of great literary excitement, of high aspirations, but at the same time, of literary feuds and petulance; of which latter Schlegel's "Triumphal Arch for Kotzebue" (written in answer to the Hyperborean Ass of Kotzebue) may serve as the most brilliant specimen. It was also at Jena that Schlegel began his immortal translation of Shakspeare, by which he gave Germany a new classic poet, and the poet a second country. With Schlegel's consent, it was afterwards completed and revised by his friend Tieck. In 1802 he successfully lectured at Berlin, and in 1803 produced his tragedy of "Ion," which, however classic in its form, could never get hold of either the reading or the playgoing public. So much the greater was the success and influence of his translation of Calderon's Select Plays (Spanisches Theater), 2 vols., 1803-9, and of his Anthology of Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese Poetry, Berlin, 1804. By these masterpieces of translation Schlegel introduced the chivalric and religious spirit and the artificial metres of the Romance languages into German poetry, and proved himself an admirable linguist and unrivalled master of his mother tongue. In 1805 Schlegel formed a friendship with Madame de Staël, whom he accompanied for years in her travels and residences in Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. However we may judge of this liaison in other respects, this much is certain, that from a literary point of view it was beneficial for Schlegel, and introduced him into the highest circles of social and literary life. For Madame de Staël he composed his grand elegy of "Rome," and it was owing to her influence that he began to make use of the French language in his critical writings. In 1808 he delivered at Vienna those celebrated lectures on dramatic art and literature, which not only conferred a great celebrity on him in his own country, but also won for him the respect and sympathy of the English public. During the war of liberation Schlegel acted as secretary to the crown prince of Sweden, to whom he had become known at Stockholm in 1812, and who among other favours also conferred a patent of nobility on him. After the downfall of Napoleon he returned to Madams de Staël, with whom he remained at Coppet till her death. He then obtained a chair at Bonn, and married (in second marriage) a daughter of the celebrated Professor Paulus at Heidelberg, but as in the former case was speedily divorced. At Bonn Schlegel with unwearied ardour turned to the study of Indic literature, and to his fame as a poet and critic added that of one of the earliest Sanscrit scholars in Germany. His "Indische Bibliothek," 2 vols., 1820-26; his editions of Bhagavad gîtâ and of Râmâjana; and his "Réflexions sur l'étude des Langues Asiatiques," addressed to Sir James Mackintosh—show with what strength of purpose, and with what wide grasp of thought he succeeded, even in mature years, in penetrating into these hitherto undiscovered regions of linguistic learning. It is a subject of deepest sorrow for the student of human nature that such splendid faculties were coupled with, and indeed marred by an almost inconceivable vainglory and arrogance, which only increased as Schlegel advanced in years. Several poems published from his remains contain the most unworthy abuse of eminent men, with whom he had enjoyed friendly and respectful intercourse during his life. Schlegel died at Bonn, 12th May, 1845. His complete works, both in the German and French languages, have been edited with rare critical accuracy by Professor Böcking, 13 vols., Leipsic, 1845-46.—K. E.
SCHLEGEL, Johann Elias, a German dramatic poet, was born at Meissen, 28th January, 1718. His first attempts at dramatic poetry were made while he was a pupil at the renowned gymnasium of Schulpforte, near Naumburg. At Leipsic, where he devoted himself to the study of the law, he formed an acquaintance with Gottsched, and began his literary career. He then went to Copenhagen as private secretary to the Saxon ambassador, and in 1748 obtained a professorship in the academy of Soroe, where he died prematurely, August 13, 1749. Both by his dramatic productions and his periodical Der Fremde he did good service to German literature, and his name marks the transition from Gottschedism to the national and classic period of German poetry. A share of the same merit is due to his two younger brothers, Johann Adolf and Johann Heinrich.—Johann Adolf Schlegel was born at Meissen, 18th September, 1721; studied theology at Leipsic; and died as superintendent at Hanover, 16th September, 1793. He was a prominent contributor to the Bremische Beiträge, and translator of the celebrated work of Batteux, Les Beaux Arts reduits à un même Principe.—Johann Heinrich Schlegel, born in 1724, was professor and Danish historiographer at Copenhagen, where he died 18th October, 1780. He translated several dramas from the English, and among other historical works published a "History of the Danish Kings of the House of Oldenburg."—K. E.
SCHLEGEL, Karl Friedrich, the brother of August Wilhelm, and like him a poet and eminent writer, was born at Hanover, on 10th March, 1772. He was intended for the mercantile profession, but soon conceived such a dislike to it, that at his earnest request he was entered at the university of Göttingen, where he devoted himself to classical learning with such unwavering steadiness, that on leaving the university he could boast of having perused all the Greek and Roman classics of importance. He had the less occasion to hesitate as to what was his proper vocation that his first work, the "Greeks and Romans," Neustrelitz, 1797, was favourably received even by Heyne. It was followed by a "History of Greek and Roman Poetry," 1798, which, however, like the former, was never completed. The same fate was luckily shared by his famous "Lucinde," 1799, to which he soon owed a universal, but by no means enviable notoriety. It speaks little for the morals of the time that such an open glorification of sensuality and voluptuousness should have met with applause, and applause too from such high quarters as Schleiermacher, whose letters on Lucinde first appeared anonymously in the Athenæum, and have recently been republished by Gutzkow, Schleiermacher was indeed an intimate friend of Schlegel, conjointly with whom he had projected his translation of Plato; Schlegel, however, withdrew from the arduous task. But even Schleiermacher could not approve of the connection which his friend had formed with Madame Veit, a daughter of Moses Mendelssohn, who for Schlegel's sake had left her husband, and after procuring a divorce married to Schlegel some years afterwards. Schlegel in the meantime had settled at Jena as lecturer on philosophy; in 1802 he lectured at Dresden, and thence proceeded to Paris, where he stayed for several years. On his return home he with his wife embraced the catholic faith at Cologne, and then fixed his home at Vienna, where the services of such an able writer and enthusiastic convert were warmly welcomed. He gradually gained the confidence of Prince Metternich, by whom he was variously employed, and in 1809 acted as secretary to the Archduke Charles. In this capacity he penned those patriotic proclamations that contributed so much to rouse the German nation against the French. At the same time he continued to deliver and publish courses of lectures on modern history, on ancient and modern literature, on the philosophy of history, &c. He also edited the Concordia, a journal in which he vainly endeavoured to unite the different opinions on church and state. In the winter of 1828 he went to Dresden in order to lecture there, but died suddenly, 12th January, 1829. Friedrich Schlegel was undoubtedly a writer of
