seen, however, in some famous poems and popular novels, that the hero scarcely shows his face till the last page, where he is either killed or married; and here we have a history of real facts, in which the appointed hero does little more than his imaginary brethren. I fear that the character of Hofer would have stood higher in our eyes, if this translation of his memoirs had never appeared; but as the discovery of truth is of much more importance than the excitement of fictitious interest, perhaps I may not be totally undeserving of thanks for having attempted to make the true character of the Tyrolese Chief familiar to the English public.

In point of composition the original is materially defective, it wants that which is the first and greatest merit in all compositions lucid arrangement. The order of time is not observed, and the atten

tion is distracted by a variety of collateral and adventitious circumstances which impede the progress of the main story. I have therefore thought myself at liberty to deviate in several instances from the course of the original, for the sake of maintaining the consistency and uniformity of the narrative.

Some apology I also think it necessary to make for the paraphrastic character of the translation. The truth is, the style of the German author is so perplexed and intricate, so loaded with metaphor and poetical imagery, and in many places so very harsh and obscure, that a literal English translation would be perfectly unintelligible. I am however persuaded, that if I have been compelled to desert my author in his language, I have faithfully adhered to him in his sense and meaning; and that, without having made any essential alteration in his

character, I have endeavoured to present him to the public in a more pleasing dress, and a form more likely to engage attention.

It may perhaps be said that the time for such a publication is gone by, and that the achievements of Hofer and his companions are forgotten, but this is not so. It will be long indeed before the events of the revolutionary war, in which every power in Europe was more or less engaged, have ceased to excite a lively interest in our minds; although the storm is passed, we still listen with anxious solicitude to a recital of its ravages; and at all events it is impossible to contemplate the period, however remote, when the struggles of a virtuous and patriotic nation to recover its ancient and legitimate rights, shall cease to interest a free, loyal, and generous people.

INTRODUCTION.

In every age, the passions of mankind-attempts to resist what cannot be avoided-unforeseen events-a distress, whether real or imaginary-have produced Political Revolutions. To whatever cause such convulsions are to be attributed, when the impulse is once given, thousands feel, think, and act as one man. With passions, perhaps, raging and tumultuous as the ocean in a storm, they become calm and silent when they hear the voice of their leader. They follow blindly when he calls.-It appears then as if a whole people had but one will, and one power, one head, one heart, and one arm. And if no private ends of ambition or avarice are to be gratified, it is immaterial what may have been the origin or the circumstances of the person whom they choose for their guide. Birth, high station, or opulence, are not necessary to procure him adherents; the recollection

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