MINNA VON BARNHELM, A COMEDY, IN FIVE ACTS. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF G. E. LESSING. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. MAJOR VON TELLHEIM, a Discharged Officer. | PAUL WERNER, former Sergeant to the Major. MINNA VON BARNHELM. COUNT VON BRUSCHSAL, her Uncle. FRANCISCA, her Maid. JOCELYN, Servant to the Major. THE LANDLORD. A LADY IN MOURNING. A MESSENGER FROM THE ARMY. RICANT DE LA MARLINIERE. The scene is alternately in the Hall of the Inn, and in one of the adjoining rooms. ACT I.-SCENE I. SCENE--The Hall of the Inn. Jocelyn. (Sits in a corner, talking in his sleep.) Knave of a landlord! You, to us?-Briskly, comrade!-Strike hard, comrade!(He reaches forward, and is awakened by the motion.) Ho, there! again, already? I cannot shut my eyes lest I am fighting him. If he had but received half the blows!-But see, it is daylight! I must seek my poor master without delay. He shall never set foot in this house again, with my consent. Where can he have passed the night? SCENE II. THE LANDLORD, JOCELYN. Landlord. Good morning, Herr Jocelyn; good morning. Ah! up so early as this? Or shall I say, still so late up? Jocelyn. Say what you please. Landlord. I only said good morning; and this deserved that Herr Jocelyn should have replied—“Thank you!" Did it not? Jocelyn. Thank you! Landlord. It makes one rather peevish not to have his usual rest. How happens it that the Major has not returned, and you have watched here for him? Jocelyn. What cannot the man discover? Landlord. I surmise; only surmise. Jocelyn (turning to go out.) Your servant! Landlord (detains him.) Not yet, Herr Jocelyn! Jocelyn. Well, then; not your servant! Landlord. Ah, Herr Jocelyn, I will hope, however, that you have not been vexed, Herr Jocelyn, ever since yesterday? Who would keep his anger over night? Jocelyn. I would, and through all following nights. Landlord. Is that Christian? Jocelyn. As Christian as it is to thrust an honorable man from your house into the street, because he cannot pay immediately. Landlord. Fie! who could be so wicked? Jocelyn. A most Christian inn-keeper!-My master! such a man! such an officer! Landlord. Have I thrust him from my house into the street? I have far too mch regard for an officer, and too much pity for one who has been discharged, to do anything like this. I as compelled by necessity to remove him to another chamber. Think no more of it, Herr Jocelyn. (He calls to some one behind the scene.) Holla!-I will make it good in some other way. (A boy enters.) Bring a glass; Herr Jocelyn will have a glass; and something good! Jocelyn. Do not trouble yourself, landlord. Might the drops become poison, but I will not swear, however; I am sober yet! Landlord (to the lad, who brings a flask of liquor and a glass.) Give it here; now, go!-Now, Herr Jocelyn; something very excellent; strong, delicious and wholesome. (He fills and presents to him.) This can restore the stomach when exhausted by watching. Jocelyn. Really, I ought not. Still, why should my health suffer on account of his rudeness? (Takes it and drinks.) Landlord. How is that, Herr Jocelyn? Jocelyn (giving back the glass.) Not bad!-But, Herr landlord, you are still a clown!. Landlord. Not yet! not yet!-Quickly, another; it is not well to stand on one foot. Jocelyn (after he has drank.) This I must say good, very good!Made by yourself, landlord? Landlord. Save me! Real Dantzic! Genuine double distilled! Jocelyn. Look you, Herr landlord; if I could play the hypocrite, I would do it for such as this; but I cannot; you are stili a clown, Herr landlord! Landlord. In all my life, no one ever said this to me before.-One more, however, Herr Jocelyn; all good things are three. Jocelyn. On my own account! (drinks.) Good thing! truly a good thing!-But, truth also is a good thing. Herr landlord, you are still a clown! Landlord. If this were true, would I listen to it so peaceably? Landlord. Not one more, Herr Jocelyn? A fourfold cord holds so much the better. Jocelyn. No! too much is too much! And what will it avail you, Herr landlord? Even to the last drop in the flask, I should remain of the same opinion. Fie, Herr landlord; to have such good Dantzic and such bad manners!-Such a man as my master, who has been with you so long, from whom you have received so many fair thalers; who, in all his life, never remained in debt to the amount of a farthing; because, for a few months past he has not paid promptly-because he no longer allows himself to spend so much-to clear his room during his absence! Landlord. But did I not need the room? I saw beforehand that the Major would have willingly given it up himself, if we could only have waited until his return. Should I then allow such a lady, a stranger, too,, to turn from my door? Would I willingly throw such a good chance into the hands of another inn-keeper? And, besides, at this time, I do not think she could have found admittance anywhere else. The inns are all entirely filled. Should so young, so fair, so lovely a lady remain in the street? Your master would be too gallant to allow this. And what has he lost thereby? Have I not prepared for him another room? Jocelyn. Behind the dove-cot; the view between the neighbor's chimnies. Landlord. The view was very fine, before that mischievous neighbor built. Still, in other respects, the room is genteel, and it is papered. Jocelyn. Has been! Landlord. Is it not now? one wall is, at least. And the small room adjoining, Herr Jocelyn, what is wanting there? It has a fire-place, which smokes a little in winter, it is true. Jocelyn. But in summer it is very convenient.-Herr, I really believe you would vex us still more and more. Landlord. Well, well. Her Jocelyn, Herr Jocelyn- Jocelyn. An officer like my master! Or think you a dismissed officer is, therefore, one who cannot break your head for you? Why were you inn-keepers so very pliant during the war? Why was every officer then a worthy man, and every soldier an honorable brave fellow? Does a short peace make you so insolent? Landlord. Why are you so angry now, Herr Jocelyn? SCENE III-MAJOR VON TELLHEIM, LANDLORD, JOCELYN. Major (ent ring) Jocelyn! Jocelyn (supposing that the landlord spake to him.) Are we so very intimate? Major. Jocelyn! Jocelyn. I thought I might be Herr Jocelyn for you. Landlord (perceiving the Major.) St-! st-! Herr, Herr Jocelyn,— look, your master! Major. Jocelyn, I believe you are quarrelling; what have I commanded you? Landlord. O, your honor, quarrelling? Before heaven! Your most humble servant would not presume to quarrel with any one who had the honor to belong to you. Jocelyn. If I could only give him one on that humpback of his! Landlord. It is true, Herr Jocelyn speaks for his master, and rather warmly. But therein he does right; I esteem him so much the more, highly; I love him for it. Jocelyn. If I could but knock out some of his teeth for him! Landlord. Only it is a pity he should get so angry for nothing! for I am sure, your honor will not take offence at what I have done, because -necessity-compelled me Major. Too much already, sir! I am in debt to you; you have cleared the room during my absence; you must be paid; I must seek lodgings elsewhere. All very natural ! Landlord. Where else? Will you leave us, kind sir? Unhappy, unJucky man that I am!-No, never! Rather must the lady relinquish her lodgings. Herr Major cannot, will not give up the room to her; the room is his; she must leave it; I cannot help it.-I go, kind sir Major. Friend, not two foolish acts for one! The lady must remain in possession of the room. Landlord. And your honor will believe that I was distrustful, anxious about my pay? As if I did not know your honor could pay whenever you wished. The sealed purse-five hundred thalers in louis d'ors is marked upon it—which your honor had placed in the writing-desk-is in good keeping. Major. This will I hope; so as to my remaining business-Jocelyn will take a receipt as soon as he has settled our account with you. Landlord. Truly, I was much astonished when I found the purse.I have always considered you an orderly, prudent man, who would never allow himself to be wholly out of cash. But still, if I had supposed that you possessed so much ready money— Major. You would have treated me with greater courtesy. I understand you. But go now, sir, leave me; I have something to say to my servant. Landlord. But, kind sir Major. Come, Jocelyn, the gentleman will not allow me to tell you, in his house, what I wish you to do. Landlord. I go immediately, kind sir!-My whole house is at your service. SCENE IV.-MAJOR VON TELLHEIM, JOCELYN. Jocelyn (stamping his foot and spitting at the landlord.) Fie! Jocelyn. I am choking with rage! Major. This would be as bad as a plethory. Jocelyn. And you, I no longer know you, my master. Let me die before your eyes, if you are not the guardian angel of this knavish, merciless villian! In spite of gallows, sword and wheel, I would-I would have strangled him with these hands, I would have tore him with these teeth! Major. Brute ! Jocelyn. Better a brute than such a man I Major. But what do you wish? Jocelyn. That you may be sensible how much the man has injured Jocelyn. That you avenge yourself!—No, the fellow is too contempti ble for you! (TO BE CONTINUED.) FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW. MONEY has become exceedingly abundant under the influence of those causes which, in former numbers, we indicated as in operation to produce it. It is now with some difficulty that money can be placed on good securities at all, and many brokers, accustomed to take in money at call, have, during the month, turned away considerable sums at any price. This is the case, notwithstanding that much speculation exists in many articles of produce at advancing prices, naturally requiring more money; and also, though large imports for the three first weeks in January, and the pressure of goods upon the market creates a demand for cash to pay duties on the part of importers, prior to the realization of cash for the spring sales. Hence a demand for short loans springs up, and this demand the banks seek to resist, in order to seize every opportunity that offers to manufacture opinion against the Independent Treasury. The importers, however, understand the matter, and the amount of capital in private hands enables them to set the banks at defiance. The lapse of a few months now will so justify the operation of the present system of finances, as to make a reversion to Bank rule impossible. As, however, the amount of outstanding obligations, both on the part of individuals and corporations, is quite small, the process of expanding these credits, as the spirit of enterprise developes itself, supplies means. It is not until a considerable amount of paper matures that an enhanced demand for means is felt. The prospects of the foreign trade continue very fair; and the industrial sections of England, as well as of western Europe, give promise of a season of great prosperity, which has already produced an influence upon raw materials. Cotton particularly, which, although it has advanced much within a few weeks, is yet quite low. The latest advices from abroad continue to evince indications of returning industry, restored confidence, and reviving trade. Raw materials were more in demand, intercourse more active, and stocks advancing, as the general effect of the 'peaceful election of Louis Napoleon. In Great Britain, affairs are also promising. The accumulation of specie in the Bank of England was great, having been progressively as follows: SPECIE IN THE BANK OF ENGLAND, AND NOTES ON HAND. The dividends on the national debt are payable quarterly at the bank, and the amount of notes on hand fluctuates with the payments. The accumulation of coin has been steady and large during the three months, notwithstanding a large importation of produce, including 3,000,000 qrs. of grain. A considerable portion of |