Dryasdust, species.

Among these Books, touching on Friedrich's childhood, and treating
of his Father's Court, there is hardly above one that we can
characterize as fairly human: the Book written by his little
Sister Wilhelmina, when she grew to size and knowledge of good and
evil; [ Memoires de Frederique Sophie Wilhelmine de
Prusse, Margrave de Bareith (Brunswick, Paris et
Londres, l8l2), 2 vols. 8vo.]--and this, of what flighty uncertain
nature it is, the world partly knows. A human Book, however, not a
pedant one: there is a most shrill female soul busy with intense
earnestness here; looking, and teaching us to look. We find it a
VERACIOUS Book, done with heart, and from eyesight and insight;
of a veracity deeper than the superficial sort. It is full of
mistakes, indeed; and exaggerates dreadfully, in its shrill female
way; but is above intending to deceive: deduct the due subtrahend,
--say perhaps twenty-five per cent, or in extreme cases as high as
seventy-five,--you will get some human image of credible
actualities from Wilhelmina. Practically she is our one resource
on this matter. Of the strange King Friedrich Wilhelm and his
strange Court, with such an Heir-Apparent growing up in it, there
is no real light to be had, except what Wilhelmina gives,--or
kindles dark Books of others into giving. For that, too, on long
study, is the result of her, here and there. With so flickery a
wax-taper held over Friedrich's childhood,--and the other dirty
tallow-dips all going out in intolerable odor,--judge if our
success can be very triumphant!

We perceive the little creature has got much from Nature; not the
big arena only, but fine inward gifts, for he is well-born in more