The important influence which German literature has exercised on American culture and literature extends from the early part of the nineteenth century. This influence was, in a measure, a continuation of the interest and activity that had existed in England during the last quarter of the eighteenth century. Prior to 1790, numerous translations from Gellert, Wieland, Klopstock, Lessing, Goethe and Schiller appeared from time to time, but it was not until William Taylor of Norwich began to write, that the movement, which culminated in the works of Coleridge, Carlyle and others, assumed definite form.[1] [Footnote 1: John L. Haney, _German Literature in England before 1790_, in the _Americana Germanica_, IV, No. 2. Cf. also, Dr. Haney's monograph, _The German Influence on Samuel Taylor Coleridge_, Philadelphia, 1902. Georg Herzfeld, _William Taylor von Norwich_, Halle a. S. 1897.] American literature at this time was still subservient to that of England and it is not surprising that the new literary impulse from Germany should have found reflection on this side of the Atlantic. This foreign influence was further aided by direct contact with Europe. By the second or third decade of the last century the studies of American scholars abroad became an important factor in our intellectual development. In 1819 Edward Everett returned from Europe to become professor of Greek at Harvard University. He had studied at the University of Göttingen, where he had become enthusiastic for the methods of German scholarship. While in Europe he secured for Harvard College a large number of German books, which soon proved to be a stimulus to the students of the institution. In 1823 W. E. Channing in his _Remarks on National Literature_ advocated the study of French and German authors, so that our literature might attain a position of independence from that of England.[2] Two years later, in 1825, Karl Follen entered upon his duties at Harvard College as instructor in German.[3] [Footnote 2: _The Works of William E. Channing_, Boston, 1849. Geo. D. Channing. Vol. I-277. Cf. also, the remark of Francis Hopkinson, p. 194.] [Footnote 3: As early as 1754 William Creamer (or Cramer) was appointed Professor of the French and German Languages, at the University of Pennsylvania, which position he held for twenty-one years. In 1780 a German Professorship of Philology was established in the same institution. J. C. Kunze, the first appointee, lectured in German on Latin and Greek. After 1784, his successor, J. H. C. Helmuth, carried out the same policy. Cf. M. D. Learned, _Address at the Opening of the Bechstein Library_, University of Pennsylvania, March 21, 1896.]