OF THE LIFE OF ANDREW HOFER; CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE TRANSACTIONS IN THE TYROL PREFACE. "THE History of Hofer" was first printed at Leipsig in the year 1817. It is an anonymous publication, but it has been conjectured, and not without reason, that it is the production either of Baron Hormayr, one of the most active leaders of the Tyrolese patriots, or of some person in his confidence, whom he supplied with materials for the work. It is evidently the production of a man, who, if not an actor himself in the scenes which he describes, was at least intimately connected with those who were. There can be no question about the authenticity of his facts, they are. supported throughout by the authority of original documents, and the minuteness of his details impresses upon them the character of truth, although they may be devoid of interest to the reader, when they relate to individuals of humble origin and station and unknown beyond the limits of their native mountains. It may perhaps appear extraordinary to the reader, that in a book which professes to be the History of Hofer, Hofer should play so subordinate a part. Whatever blame may be attached to this contradiction between the title and the subject of these few pages, must in justice be thrown on the original, as I could give no more than what my materials gave me, though I certainly was not without suspicion that in. more than one instance, the fame of Hofer had been sacrificed by the writer, to that of his more fortunate rival Hormayr. We have |