We have had various peeps and snatches of the Student-life
of Gennany, from time to time^ in our periodicals, but we have
nothing like a complete, and faithful account of it. Some of
those accounts too, are by English writers, who had at beat but
a partial and passing view of this singular state of existence,
and could not, however much they might have seen of it, enter
into it and comprehend it with the fulness of apprehension and
feeling which a native possesses. When I, therefore, was
thrown, on my first visit tof Germany, into the midst ot its
students, I began to inquire for a volume written by a German,
which should lay open the whole interior of that, whose surface
was so strange and so picturesque. J was told that no such
thing, of any value or completeness existed, and thatf indeed,
the students themselves were jealous of the laws and customs
of their ancient Burschendom being laid open to the public.
Yet, finding myself amongst those whose knowledge and
talents most entirely qualified them for making this exposdtion,
jl did not cease till I had prevailed on one of the most gifted tp
undertake the task, assisted by the experience of firieods, who,
like himself, had passed through the mysteries of this singuliM^
life. The present voI^me is the result ; and I presept it to the



Till



PREFACE.
public with the confident assurance, that whatever they may
think of the portraiture, they may depend upon its faithfulness.
