of Estonia. Arduous as was the task he had now undertaken, and unwearied as was his attention to the duties imposed upon him, he, nevertheless, found time to pursue his literary studies, and published several of his most esteemed plays. It was during his residence here that he was in the autumn of 1787 seized with a most dangerous fever, in the very height of which he wrote his Stranger, and Indian Exiles. Both these pieces were begun and finished in about nine weeks. His disorder then became a settled melancholy, which preyed upon him for more than two years, during which pe riod he devoted scarcely any part of his time to literature.

Being told that the waters of Pyrmont were likely to be of service to him, he went thither, but was, in 1790, summoned from that place, to be the melancholy witness of his wife's death at Weimar. His grief on this occasion had so violent an effect upon his frame, that his friends saw no prospect of his surviving the shock, unless he was removed from every object which reminded him of his unhappy loss. He was, therefore, conveyed from Weimar to Paris in a state bordering upon insanity. The account of this journey, and of his

résidence at the French metropolis, has been treated with much unmerited obloquy. No person of sensibility can agree with the marble-hearted wretch, who ridicules the agony of a man almost driven to distraction by domestic calamity.

Kotzebue was persuaded, after a short time, to visit Maury

Mentz, where he wrote the account of his journey just spoken

of, several dramatic pieces, &c. He soon, however, thought it proper that he should return, to execute the duties of the honourable station which he held. To these he chiefly attended, till the lenient hand of time had healed the wounds inflicted by unerring heaven. He then began to feel how much his infant children needed the fostering attentions and instruction of another parent, and, four years after the death of his former wife, married another Russian lady, Mademoiselle von Kruhenstern, who is still alive. In 1795, his weak state of health obliged him to resign the exalted offices he held, and retire to his country-house near Narva, which bears a name exa&ly promising what he was in search of, Friedenthal, or the vale of peace.

But Fate had resolved that a man with a mind so active

should be as actively employed. Two years had not elapsed before our author was summoned from his retirement by the Emperor of Germany. On his arrival at Vienna, he was created a Baron of the Holy Roman Empire, and appointed Director of the Imperial Theatre. In this situation he again had an opportunity of devoting his mind to dramatic literature, and wrote several plays, which were performed, like his former productions, with unbounded applause. In 1799, unpleasant disputes having taken place between Baron Kotzebüe and the performers, he requested leave to retire from the direction of the theatre. The Emperor acceded to his petition, and settled a pension upon him, accompanied by several other marks of favour.

The Baron now returned to his native place, Weimar, purchased a house there, and had almost spent a year among the friends of his youth, when affection for his wife, vho much wished to see her relations in Russia, induced him to accompany her thither. Their intention was to be absent

only a few months; but no sooner had they reached the bar-.

C

ders of Russia, than Kotzebue found himself involved, by mistake, in circumstances of a most disagreeable and delicate nature, which were, however, settled highly to his honour and advantage. His innocence was, in every respect, so apparent to the Emperor Paul, that he made the Baron a counsellor of state, and gave him the direction of his imperial theatre, with an annual salary of four thousand rubles. At Saint Petersburg, therefore, he now resides, and, according to present appearances, is likely to remain there.

"All places that the eye of Heaven visits,
"Are to a wise man ports and happy havens.”

Kotzebue's various employments allow him at present scarcely any leisure to attend to literary pursuits. He has no wish but that he may at length be allowed to enjoy repose, for, though not yet forty years of age, the strange vicissitudes of his life, and his incessant application to various studies, have had a serious effect upon his health. He is, however, much happier than he, at one period of his life, ever expected to be, in this world; for, surrounded by an

amiable wife and six hopeful children, he again enjoys the domestic felicity which he then despaired of knowing. I shall finish this brief account of his life, by stating, that, since the commencement of this year, his Imperial patron, the late Paul, signified his complete satisfaction by a magnificent present.

To this biographical sketch it may not be amiss to add a brief account of Kotzebüe's dramatic efforts.

Mr. T. Dibdin very properly observes, in his dedication to Mr. Harris, which precedes the Birth-Day, that, as it was at first," the rage to applaud, it is now become the fashion to decry, the introduction of the German drama to our

theatres."

That Kotzebie's plays, however, have considerable merit, cannot be better proved than by their favourable reception throughtut Europe. Many of them have been translated into the English, French, Dutch, Danish, Polish, Russian, and Italian languages. No fewer than eleven of them have appeared on our stages, several of which still continue to