examine the ground, not designing to mine it himself, but to let it out
to other capitalists in return for a royalty, should the investigation
justify his hopes. The necessary funds were put at Raspe's disposal,
and masses of bright, heavy material were brought to Thurso Castle as a
foretaste of what was coming. But when the time came for the fruition
of this golden promise, Raspe disappeared, and subsequent inquiries
revealed the deplorable fact that these opulent ores had been carefully
imported by the mining expert from Cornwall, and planted in the places
where they were found. Sir Walter Scott must have had the incident
(though not Raspe) in his mind when he created the Dousterswivel of his
"Antiquary." As for Raspe, he betook himself to a remote part of the
United Kingdom, and had commenced some mining operations in country
Donegal, when he was carried off by scarlet fever at Muckross in 1794.
Such in brief outline was the career of Rudolph Erich Raspe, scholar,
swindler, and undoubted creator of Baron Munchausen.

The merit of Munchausen, as the adult reader will readily perceive, does
not reside in its literary style, for Raspe is no exception to the rule
that a man never has a style worthy of the name in a language that he
did not prattle in. But it is equally obvious that the real and original
Munchausen, as Raspe conceived and doubtless intended at one time to
develop him, was a delightful personage whom it would be the height of
absurdity to designate a mere liar. Unfortunately the task was taken
out of his hand and a good character spoiled, like many another, by mere
sequel-mongers. Raspe was an impudent scoundrel, and fortunately so; his
impudence relieves us of any difficulty in resolving the question,--to
whom (if any one) did he owe the original conception of the character
whose fame is now so universal.

When Raspe was resident in Göttingen he obtained, in all probability