JOHANN HEINRICH DANIEL, an industrious German writer, was born at Magdeburg on the 22d of March 1771. After spending some time as play-wright to a troop of strolling players, he went to the university of Frankfort-on-Oder, where he studied all kinds of subjects, but could settle himself down to none. Philosophy, theology, the fine arts, history, finance, all were taken up in eagerness and laid down in disgust by Zschokke. He next tried his hand at writing for the stage, but his dramatic productions failed. After various fortune, Zschokke at last found his talents and his political opinions appreciated by the Swiss. At Aarau he exerted himself greatly in behalf of liberty, and was chosen a government commissioner, and chief of the department of education by the Helvetic republic. He was appointed inspector of forests, and of the Church; he was made member of the council, and of the school directory; and was chosen president of the directory of the school of education for artisans. For nearly fifty years his hand seldom slackened in maintaining the independence and freedom of the Swiss people. His pen was as busy as his hand. He edited with much discretion the Swiss Messenger and the Miscellany of the most Recent Events. He wrote historical memoirs of Swiss struggles and triumphs, of which the best is his History of Switzerland for the Swiss People, 1822. He, besides, published a valuable History of the Bavarian People and their Princes in 1813-18. Zschokke likewise wrote an endless number of graceful tales and stories, of which Goldenthal, The Goldmaker's Village, Lover's Stratagem, &c., are considered the best. Perhaps the most popular work he has produced is his Hours of Devotion, a Sunday periodical of questionable orthodoxy, which has gone through upwards of forty editions. The fervid eloquence of it, and the wise practical duties which it inculcates, have endeared the volume to many pious hearts, who thought little and cared less for the rationalism which the book contains. The Autobiography of Zschokke completes his works, which consisted in 1825 of forty volumes. Many of his books have been translated into French and English. He died on the 27th of June 1848.