Memoirs of the life of Andrew Hofer; containing an account of the transactions in the Tyrol during the year 1909.

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

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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

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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-

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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

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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.