Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels, Vol. I (of 2)

Whether it be that the quantity of genius among ourselves and the French, and the number of works more lasting than brass produced by it, have of late been so considerable as to make us independent of additional supplies; or that, in our ancient aristocracy of intellect, we disdain to be assisted by the Germans, whom, by a species of second sight, we have discovered, before knowing any thing about them, to be a tumid, dreaming, extravagant, insane race of mortals, -certain it is, that hitherto our literary intercourse with that nation has been very slight and precarious