Colonel Rawlinson, it is said, has opened out the entire place of sepulture of the kings and queens of Assyria. There they lie in huge stones sarcophagi, with ponderous lids decorated with the royal ornaments and costume, just as they were deposited more than three thousand years

It is certain that we shall have in New-York a Great Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations, though it will not be open before next spring. The delay has arisen principally from the difficulty of securing the requisite capital. It will cost about two hundred thousand dollars to construct the Crystal Palace and to set the ago. exhibition going, of which sum a hundred It has been proposed that on the and fifty thousand dollars have been sub-day of the Presidential election in the sevescribed. Neither difficulty nor delay is ral States, at every poll throughout the anticipated in obtaining the remaining fifty United States, a box should be placed, thousand. Contracts for the erection of the building are in progress. It will be constructed of iron and glass. It will be one hundred feet high, and four hundred and fifty feet long. The exhibition will be particularly rich in works of art. The proWe are happy to announce a candijectors have already secured the "Ama- date for Thackeray's laurels. The talented zon," a celebrated group, by Kiss; a colos- author of " Jeames's Diary" and "The sal statue of Washington, by Marochetti; Yellowplush Papers" must "knock under" statues of Washington and Webster, by to the following specimen of orthography, Carew; paintings by Hurlstone, Hering, which we copy literatim (omitting the name Foley, Varley and Goodall. Monti has and address) from the New-York Herald, engaged to furnish some specimens of his of Saturday, May 22, 1852. It may be "veiled statuary," which attracted so much

attention at the London Exhibition. There will also be porcelain from Sèvres, and tapestry from the Gobelins looms.

having inscribed upon it "Washington Monument Box," and underneath, "One Dime to the Memory of Washington." With the funds thus collected it proposes to complete the Monument.

found among the other advertisements:

"Clairavaince examination Prof 7 of the 7 Sun and Dr has the most Celebrated Clairavoiance mow in the Uinte -The following is the valedictory arti- Statees 1000g Cases Can Be Refired 2 cle of an editor out West :- -"The under- aplied to diseses &c all orders at the ofice signed retires from the editorial chair with will Be atended 2 No

-

Avinew Bethe complete conviction that all is vanity. tween-and-St Rheumatism hedakes vanity.tween From the hour he started his paper to the &c Satisfactian given or Charge Ofice present time, he has been solicited to lie ours 8 to 11 from 2-5" upon every given subject, and can't rememA traveller, just arrived from a trip ber ever having told a wholesome truth, without diminishing his subscription list, or up the Missouri as high as St. Joseph, remaking an enemy. Under these circum- presents that the whole country is like an encampment. stances of trial, and having a thorough every town, the vacant grounds are whitencontempt for himself, he retires, in ordered with tents, and alive with the mass of

to recruit his moral constitution."

extended

In and around

men, women, children, horses, and cattle, all preparing for the start upon that long journey over plain, mountain, and desert, which has to be performed to reach the land of golden hopes and golden disappointments.

-Sir Charles Eastlake the President, and Sir Edward Landseer, contribute nothing this year to the exhibition of the Royal Academy. Stanfield has a highlypraised landscape. "The Bay of Baix," and Creswick shows three landscape, in The publishers of New-York appear different styles, but all called admirable. to be prosperous. The Harpers print a Mulready exhibits a Paul Potter-ish pic- hundred thousand monthly of their maga ture, Roberts one of his finest architectural zine, including the demand for back numworks, the interior of st. Stephens, at Vi-bers. The Appletons have moved into a enna. Messrs. Lee and Cooper exhibit splendid freestone store in Broadway, of some faint landscapes and cattle of the old which they occupy the basement and first style.

The Sculpture is poor; only a "pure and manly 'David,' " by Westmacott, attracts attention.

stories. They were offered, it is said, $6,000 rent for them, and could now get $7,000. Putnam has moved to Parkplace, and has given up his retail business

to attend to publishing. Redfield has pub-ing been favored with an examination of lished some very choice books of late, the pressman's file-book.

"free

A satire on the French President, entitled "Louis Napoleon's Poetical Works," has been published by Bogue, of London.

which have sold very well. Scribner has also made a hit with many of his publications. Our authors have been for the last two or three years building themselves substantial edifices at a very encouraging British Museum the original covenant beThe poet Rogers has presented to the rate. Bancroft, besides buying a stone" house in the city, has built a fine Symons, printer," for the sale of Paradise tween "John Milton, gent., and Samuel country-seat at Newport. Headley has built a splendid mansion at Newburgh. terms of the covenant, Milton was to reLost, dated 27th April, 1667. By the Melville has bought a farm at Stockbridge.ceive five pounds at once, and five pounds Irving and Paulding have splendid seats on

than

Al

exists.

the Hudson. Prescott has received from more after the sale of thirteen hundred the Harpers not less than $40,000 for his copies of each of the first three editions! books. Morse has been paid more The sum actually received by Milton was $20,000 from the sale of his books. eighteen pounds, for which the receipt still bert Barnes has received from his Commentaries over $20,000. Prof. Anthon Mary Howitt has lately issued a has made over $60,000-Stephens over work upon the Literature of Northern $40,000—the Abbots over $15,000, etc., Europe, which is regarded as a unique and etc., etc. Ik Marvel has received not less needed addition to the common stock of than $20,000 profits on his books, although valuable knowledge. The work is volit is only a few years since he began to uminous, containing biographical sketches write. Headley's profits must have already of all the northern authors of any emiexceeded $30,000. Prof. Davies has re-nence, together with specimens of their ceived more than $50,000 as the proceeds writings.

of the sale of his books. The Tribune One of the literary papers of London lately mentioned that Mrs. Harriet Beecher contains a paragraph about that most inStowe had refused $10,000 for the copy-teresting of all subjects, ourselves :-"The right of a single novel.

A lady of Toronto, connected with a family of the highest official rank, is said to have received from Jenny Lind, while there, the compliment that she had two notes in her voice which it took her (Jenny) a long time to acquire. The flattered lady lost no time in making a pilgrimage to Philadelphia, where she hoped to become transformed into a second nightingale. This virtuoso returned, and a few nights ago sang at a concert there, and although her vocal powers were duly appreciated, she did not succeed in creating a terrible enthusiasm.

The three-penny weekly newspapers of England are entirely displacing the sixpenny. The Weekly Times, for example, has a circulation of 60,000 per week, and Lloyd's Paper at least 50,000. Douglas Jerrold is the editor of the latter.

Americans are becoming a race of bookthe literature of the period between Gower buyers. Every purchaser of old booksand Milton-has found, by experience, how much the demand which has sprung lantic for such works has tended to enup within these dozen years across the Athance their value in this country. Every few days, too, we hear of some famous library, museum, or historical collection be week supplies two notable examples: the ing swept off to the New World.' This

Prince of Canino's valuable museum of

natural history, his library, and his gallery of art, have all been purchased by a private American gentleman; and the library of Neander has been bought by the Senate of Rochester University, in the State of New-York."

Calcutta, in 1811, and he is, therefore, Thackeray, it appears, was born at forty-one years old. His father was an -The penny (two cent) weekly litera- official of high rank in the East India ry papers also attain terrific circulations. Company's service. Thackeray went to The London Journal, conducted by Mr. school and to college in England, inherited George Stiff, a gentleman of much enter- and sqandered a property yielding a thous prise and taste, has a weekly circulation of and pounds a year; subsequently became 170,000 copies. This will scarcely be a student of law, editor, "bookseller's credited, yet it is strictly correct, we hav-hack," and, at length, a successful author.

He first met his wife, an Irish lady, at magistrates for a special license. This was Paris, and married her there. Next to opposed on behalf of the lessee and the Dickens, he is at present the most popular proprietors of the Theatre Royal; but, author in England. He is superior to after a two hours' hearing, the magistrates Dickens in age, knowledge and mental unanimously agreed to grant the license. stamina; and, though less admired, will leave a deeper mark upon his time, than his rival. Thackeray's new novel will appear, it is announced in the papers, about the first of June.

-Douglas Jerrold, according to the author of "What I Saw in London," is "making a sad wreck of himself through the excessive use of intoxicating liquors." This is not true. Jerrold was never a more laborious man than at present. He has just assumed the editorship of Lloyd's newspaper, and is supposed still to be the conductor of Punch, and is writing a new. novel, to be issued in numbers. This does not look like being a "wreck."

Nicolas Gogol, one of the most distinguished of the modern authors of

In the third act of the new play of Benvenuto Cellini, Melingue, who is as good a sculptor as he is a comedian, makes a plaster statuette of one of the female characters. This he does under the eye of the spectators, and while carrying on his share of the action and the dialogue. Such has become the demand for these specimens of this favorite actor's skill, that they are sold after the performance, by auction, in the saloon of the theatre, and bring much higher prices than they are worth as mere works of art.

Sir Edward Belcher's ships have gone on their hazardous cruise well provided. Among other curious things, the ladies of Woolwich sent a contribution of twelve

Rus-dozen dressed dolls, which are expected to sia, died a few weeks ago at Moscow. He do wonders in winning the hearts of Exwas excessively poor, but that was his own quimaux dames and damsels. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean contributed a quantity fault, as he repeatedly refused to accept of theatrical dresses for the furtherance of the liberal offers of publishers for a new and complete edition of his writings. His reason for thus refusing was that he had fallen into religious mysticism, and fancied that his publications constituted a deadly sin. His works throw great light on Russian manners, and he has been called the Russian Dickens.

the officers' private theatre, which, in previous expeditions, has proved to be an unequalled time-killer. The Admiralty also provided a daguerreotype machine, which will serve the double purpose of whiling away time and recording some of the beautiful phenomena of the icy world.

The San Francisco Herald says: At the Dublin meeting for the erec- For a number of years past, several cities tion of a monument to Moore, the follow- in the old States have discussed the quesing resolution was passed: "That altion as to which could lay claim to the title though the duty properly devolves on Irish- of the "City of Churches." By general men to initiate this undertaking, we con- consent the palm was given to Brooklyn, sider it due to the universality of the fame in the State of New-York, which has a of Thomas Moore, that his admirers, with larger number of edifices devoted to pubout distinction of country, should be af-lie worship than any other place of its size forded the privilege of testifying, by their along the Atlantic shore. We fear that contributions, their appreciation of his we must deprive Brooklyn of the honor, genius and their veneration for his memo- for we claim that San Francisco has more ry. We have many monumental enterchurches than Brooklyn, or any other city prises of our own just now in progress, yet in America, in proportion to its population. it is to be hoped that America will make It is not necessary to enumerate them, but some response to the above invitation.

It is stated that a writer at the South is getting up a counterpart to Mrs. Stowe's work, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," to counteract its influence. It is to be entitled "Uncle Tom's Cabin, as it is.'

Charles Dickens and his colleagues being about to perform in behalf of the new Guild of Literature, in the Town Hall at Birmingham, application was made to the

we have fourteen churches of various denominations in our city, or one to every 2,857 of our population. If we are not very much mistaken, therefore, this takes the lead, and San Francisco can, in justice, claim to be the "City of Churches."

-The Academy of Sciences of France, at their last session, unanimously voted to give the Cuvier prize to Professor Agassiz for his "Recherches fossiles..

A Journey to Iceland, and Travels in
Sweden and Norway. Translated from
the German of IDA PFEIFFER, by CHAR-
LOTTE FENIMORE COOPER.

The above is one of the last volumes of Putnam's Semi-Monthly Library for Travellers and the Fireside, the reputation of

which is now so well established.

The travels of Ida Pfeiffer have already attracted much attention, and though parts of them display an unduly self-defensive tone, there is so much of originality and freshness of observation, as well as independence about them, as to be truly acceptable in this age of "Travellers' Notes and "First Impressions."

We venture a rather long extract from the present work, descriptive of Hecla, which is a fair specimen of the author's style and the faithfulness of the translator to the original:

HECLA.

"Hecla itself is inclosed in a circle of lava-hills, and towers high above them all. It is surrounded by several glaciers, whose dazzling snow-fields extend to a great distance, and have never been trod by a human foot. Several of the side-walls are also covered with snow. On the left of the valley near Sälsun, and at the foot of a hill, is a pretty lake, on whose shores reposed a flock of sheep. Not far from thence is a fine hill, perfectly solitary and severed from the rest, as if it were banished and discarded by its neighbors. The whole of this landscape is completely Icelandic, and so peculiar and striking that it will be impressed for ever upon my recollection.

"The whole region at the foot of Hecla, and especially at this place, appears to be undermined, and the heavy footsteps of the peasants were echoed in hollow, menacing tones, such as I had never heard at Vesuvius or anywhere else. These sounds appeared very awful to me when I was alone at night, shut up in my dark retreat. My Hecla guide-I call him so to distinguish him from the one who had accompanied me from Reikjavick-announced to me that we must be off by two o'clock. I readily agreed, though I felt very certain that it would be five before we were on our way; and so it proved. In fact it was past six when we were completely ready to set out. Besides a store of bread and

cheese, a bottle of water for myself and one of brandy for the guide, we also provided ourselves with long sticks, ending in a sharp iron point, which we were to lean upon and use to sound the snow before we ventured to tread on it.

we galloped gaily over the meadows and the "It was a beautiful warm morning, and adjacent sand plains. This fine weather was considered a very favorable omen by my guide, who told me that Mr. Geimard, had been delayed three days by a storm the French naturalist already mentioned, before he could ascend the mountain; this was nine years ago, and no one had made the attempt since that time. A Danish prince who travelled through Iceland a few years since, had been here indeed, but for some unexplained reason he had left the place without undertaking to visit Hecla.

"The road led at first, as I have already said, through rich fields, and then across the patches of black sand which are surrounded on all sides by streams, hills and hillocks of lava, whose fearful masses gradually approach each other, and frequently afford no other passage than a narrow defile, where we scrambled over the blocks and piles with scarcely a spot to rest our feet. The lava rolled around and behind us, and it was necessary to be constantly on the watch to prevent ourselves from stumbling, or to avoid coming in contact with the rolling rocks. But the danger was even greater in the gorges filled with snow already softened by the heat of the season; where we frequently broke through, or what was worse, slid backwards at every step almost as far as we had advanced. I do not believe there is another mountain in the world whose ascent offers as many difficulties as this one.

"After a toilsome struggle of three hours and a half we reached the place where it became necessary to leave the horses behind; which I should have done long before, as I felt compassion for the poor animals, if my Hecla guide would have allowed it; but he maintained that there were still spots where we might need them, and advised me, moreover, to ride as long as possible in order to reserve my strength for what was still before me. And he was right; I hardly think I could have completed the whole distance on foot; for when I thought I had attained the last peak, I still found streams and hillocks be

tween me and my goal, which seemed constantly more remote than ever. My guide assured me that he had never led any one so far on horseback, and I readily believe it. The walking was already horrible but to ride was fearful!

"From every height new scenes of the most melancholy desolation appeared in sight; the whole prospect was rigid and inanimate, and burnt, black lava was spread around us wherever we looked. It was not without a painful sensation that I gazed about me, and saw nothing but the immeasurable chaos of this stony desert.

"We had still three heights to climb; they were the last, but also the most perilous. The road led abruptly over the rocks by which the whole summit of the mountain was covered; I had more falls than I could count, and frequently tore my hands on the sharp points of lava. It was, to be sure, a terrible expedition.

"The dazzling whiteness of the snow was almost blinding contrasted with the shining black lava alongside of it. When I had to cross a field of snow I did not venture to look at the lava, for I had tried it once and could hardly see in consequence. I was snow blind.

"At last the summit was attained, after two more hours of laborious climbing, and I stood upon the highest peak of Hecla; but I looked in vain for a crater-there was no trace of any to be found; at which I was all the more astonished, as I had read minute accounts of it in several books of travels.

"Gradually the clear and inimitable blue of the heavens reappeared, and the sun once more rejoiced us with his presence. I remained on the top of the mountain till the clouds had opened in the distance and afforded a welcome and extensive view, which I fear my pen is much too feeble to describe. I despair of conveying to my readers a distinct idea of the immense waste which lay displayed before me, with its accumulated masses of lava, and its culiar appearance of lifeless desolation.` I seemed to stand in the midst of an exhausted fire. The blocks were piled in heaps above each other, till they formed high hills; the valleys were choked by vast streams of rock, whose length and breadth I was not able to distinguish, although the course of the last eruption could be plainly traced among them.

pe

"I was surrounded by the most dreadful ravines, caves, streams, hills and valleys; I could hardly understand how I had reached this point, and was seized with a feeling of horror at the thought which forced itself upon me, that perhaps I might never be able to find my way out of this terrible labyrinth of ruin.

"Here on the highest peak of Hecla, I could look down far and wide upon the uninhabited land,-the image of a torpid nature, passionless, inanimate,--and yet sublime; an image which, once seen, can never be forgotten, and the remembrance of which will prove an ample compensation for all the toils and difficulties I had endured. A whole world of glaciers, moun"I walked around the whole summit of tains of lava, fields of snow and ice, rivers the mountain, and clambered to the jokul and miniature lakes, were included in that which lies next to it, but still I saw no magnificent prospect; and the foot of man opening or crevice, no sunken wall, or any had never yet ventured within those sign whatever, in fact, of a crater. Much lower down on the sides of the mountain I found some wide rents and chinks, from whence the streams of lava must have flowed. The height of this mountain is said to be 4,300 feet.

regions of gloom and solitude. What must have been the fury of the resistless element which has produced all these effects! And is its rage now silenced for ever--will it be satisfied with the ruin it has worked--or does it only slumber like the hundred-headed Hydra, to burst forth anew with redoubled strength, and lay

"The sun had been obscured during the last hour of our ascent, and thick clouds now rushed down upon us from the neigh-waste those few cultivated spots which are boring glaciers, which concealed the whole prospect from our sight, and prevented our distinguishing anything for more than ten paces before us. After awhile they dissolved, fortunately not in rain, but in snow, which soon covered the dark, crisp lava with large and innumerable flakes; they did not melt, and the thermometer showed 30 degrees.

already scattered so sparingly throughout the land? I thank my God that he has allowed me to see this chaos of his creation; and I doubly thank him that my lot was cast in those fair plains where the sun does more than divide the day from the night; where it warms and animates plants and animals, and excites the heart of man to happiness and gratitude towards his Maker.