run away with somebody's daughter, or from somebody's wife - or something wonderful or other, that entitles him to the veneration and dinners of an indulgent public. With such a card in hand, our friends grow ungrateful; forget how many a stupid party of theirs one's efforts had redeemed from the yawns; and invite one to a family dinner! I must do as poor Lady Cork used, when her popularity was flagging; viz. send an account to the newspapers of my own death, and next day, the contradiction. Something to this effect:

'We learn, with the liveliest regret, the death of that amiable man, and charming companion, ALFRED PRATTLES, Esq. Few persons could be so ill spared from the symposia of social life! Mr. Prattles has been for many years past recognized as one of the most distinguished members of the literary and fashionable world; and no party was considered perfect without the addition of his brilliant and highly piquant conversation. He was, perhaps, on the whole, the liveliest talker of the day.'

Followed by: 'It is with the most unfeigned satisfaction we learn that there is not the slightest foundation for the rumor of the premature decease of that highly-popular individual, Mr. Prattles. We had ourselves the satisfaction of seeing him yesterday in St. James's-street, walking arm-in-arm with the Duke of Wellington; nor can we sufficiently despise the callous and wanton levity with which certain persons, for the furtherance of private pique, presume to harrow up the feelings of anxious friends by the circulation of reports of this cruel nature. We cannot sufficiently apologize to our subscribers for our insertion of so ill-advised a fabrication.'

'I foresee from hence the compunctious visiting brightening up the damped affectious of my friends and acquaintance, on perusing such an announcement! 'Poor Prattles!' they will exclaim, 'I do n't know how it was I had not seen so much of him lately: yet he is one whose company is always an acquisition -a most amusing little fellow - a man who knows every thing - a man whom every body knows. Heartily glad to find he is still extant! By Jove! I'll call on him to-morrow, and ask him to dinner!''

But after all, the diner-out's career is not the most pleasant in the world. Eat and drink he may, but to be really merry, is impossible. Viands and generous wines pass through his lips, without making the least impression on his palate. His attention is preengrossed. By venturing to dwell upon some dainty dish, he is sure to lose the opportunity of introducing some striking remark, or hazarding some neat little pun. His appetite is continually on thorns; and his rich stories spoil all his rich dishes.

'THE SETTLERS AT HOME.'-This, as we learn, is the first of a series of small volumes by Miss MARTINEAU, to be published by Messrs. APPLETON AND COMPANY. 'It is an entertaining tale, written in the clear, vigorous style for which the authoress is distinguished: the incidents are connected with the condition of the Isle of Axholme in England, as it was two hundred years ago, when the most deadly enmity existed between the tenants of the isle and the dwellers in the neighborhood. The settlement of a Dutch family there, their manner of life, their troubles with a neighboring family, the misfortunes which befel them by the sudden submersion of the island by a flood, and the manner of their escape from death and the spirit manifested by the different individuals of their little group, as well as the effect of these calamities on their minds and hearts, furnish the materials out of which Miss Martineau has made a very delightful and instructive tale. Written as it is for children, there is no effort at fine or elegant writing: the whole is told in an easy, graceful style.'

MINIATURE PAINTING. - We must ask our citizens, who may desire a 'counterfeit presentment' of themselves or friends-father or mother, husband or wife, brother or sister, lover or friend to glance over the frame of miniatures by Madame ISIDORE GUILLET, at the Apollo Exhibition. They will find them not only superior, as speci mens of beautiful art, but what is far from being always the case, excellent likenesses, if we may judge from those which we recognized. Madame GUILLET's apartments are at the popular Institute of her husband, in Broadway, near Park-Place.

PARK THEATRE. — An antique, and to our thinking extremely discreet proverb, which according to the best information had its origin in Spain, thus oracularly speaketh: 'When there is nothing to say, it is best to say nothing.' Deeply impressed with the incontrovertible truth of this pithy maxim, we have for months been silent upon theatrical matters. Many opinions having been given as to the cause of the Decline and Fall of the Drama,' we respectfully beg leave to differ from the most of them, while we modestly offer our own. The Park has ever been held as the metropolitan theatre, par excellence, and why! Not only because it is the oldest in the city, but that it has through good and through evil report, under a popular management, held the first place. It has been always at the 'head of the class.' Its importations of talent have heretofore exceeded those of all other theatrical establishments; and as it has been, and still is, necessary to look abroad for the higher order of dramatic capacity, this theatre has generally presented the greatest attractions to the lovers of the legitimate drama. But of late years, a change has come o'er the spirit of the Park; and instead of those liberal exertions which in times past have been used in successful catering for the public amusement, a dull and lethargic state of indifference seems the ruling condition of things now. The causes of this melancholy torpor are not to be ascribed to the apathy of the public alone, which, superinduced by the scarcity of the circulating medium,' is said to have made them shy of the theatres. The cry that a true taste for the drama has ceased to exist among us, is a humbug! All the taste for the drama that we ever have had, we have now; and moreover, the opportunities which within the last twenty years have been given us to enjoy its truths, through the medium of its greatest masters, have purified, if they have not increased, that taste. As for the first assertion, it is without the shadow of truth. Has there been any diminution, we would ask, in the expenditures of the public for amusements during the past three years! Have not balls, routs, parties, soirées, and other fashionable gatherings, been more the rage than ever? And will any one presume to say that the expense requisite for even a proper attendance upon any of these is not ten times greater than the mere price of a ticket to the theatre? Lectures too have been 'the agony,' upon all sorts of subjects, from the 'sublime and beautiful' to the ridiculous and disgusting. Concerts, vocal and instrumental, have emptied pockets, turned heads, and made night hideous with their harmony. In short, other attractions, greater than those which the only legitimate theatre that we have among us has seen fit to offer, have been the means of estranging the former frequenters of the Park from their first love. The causes which have induced the managers to be thus chary of their attractions are best known to themselves; but if they despond under the belief that there no longer exists a taste for the drama, they are destroying themselves with a false fear. The public are not, and cannot be any longer, satisfied with mediocrity. The managers of the Park themselves have unfitted them for that. The odious star system has created an extravagant and unhealthy taste; unwholesome to the public, as it is unjust to all worthy and respectable members of the profession; and no less unjust to them than it is ruinous to managers, with its present exorbitant demands. But this taste has been created, and a craving for novelty exists; and however false the appetite may be, it must for the present at least be appeased. Is it to be supposed that after being feasted for years upon the 'honey of Hybla,' we can now be fed upon treacle?

Far be it from us, as honest censors of the stage, to utter aught derogatory to the just merits of any one of the Park performers, either stock or star. Many of them are of a grade of excellence as far above our power, as they are beyond our wish, to injure. It is as much in justice to them as to the public, that these remarks are written. The star system has created an inordinate craving for novelty not the novelty which consists in exchanging a new penny for an old one-which must be gratified, or there is no balm in Gilead that can save theatricals from the destiny of things that were. The true cause of the decline of the drama,' as it is falsely called, lies in a nut-shell: its future rise and progress will depend upon the liberality as well as the prudence of managers; and if fair encouragement does not follow on the part of the public, it will be because true intellectual enjoyment has no corresponding impulse in the mind of man.

The engagement effected with Messrs. GIUBELEI AND COMPANY, some weeks since, has not, we fear, resulted as profitably as was anticipated. The operas of 'Zampa,' 'Don Giovanni,' and 'The Gipsey's Warning,' have had the advantage of the talents of GIUBElei, Seguin, Manvers, Jones, MRS. SEGUIN, and Miss POOLE, with chorusses rendered more effective under the personal superintendence of Mr. GIUBELEI, than they have been since the days of old Garcia. Mrs. SUTTON in the opera of Norma' has gained great applause for her finished execution of the music of this piece. This lady has acquired many of the beauties of the Italian school, and is certainly very much improved in all things necessary to constitute a great singer; but we must confess our inability to enter

into the spirit which has produced the enthusiastic praise lavished upon her by many of her admirers. To our thinking, her art is too palpable; there seems an exertion to accomplish many of her great points, which takes away from the pleasure of her performance. We would make no unfair comparisons; but to exemply the meaning which we wish to convey, we would contrast the execution of Miss SUTTON with that of Miss POOLE: the one appears grand and labored, the other simple and natural. There is something to wonder at in the one, but there is a pathos which moves the heart, in the other. Mrs. SEGUIN has added to the high reputation which she enjoyed at the National, by her performance of the heroines in these operas. There is a perfection in this lady's singing, both as regards her knowledge of music and her power of exhibiting it, well worthy of the honors which she has received in Europe, and the commendations of musical critics here. Mr. SEGUIN still maintains his high popularity; and if he wishes to add to it, especially as a buffo, he has only to sustain as often as possible, with the power that he has lately done, such a character as Olifour in the Bayadére. Mr. GIUBELEI deserves the highest praise, not only for his execution of the music and the role of those operas in which he has been engaged, but especially for the superior drilling which he has bestowed upon the chorusses. Mr. MANVERS, in the extremely arduous character of 'Zampa,' gained new laurels, despite the quibblings of those astute critics, who will admit of no hero whose stature is under seven feet, or the gentle warblings of whose voice are of less compass than the condensed roarings of a dozen thunder-claps. To the exertions of Mr. THOMAS, the leader of the orchestra, too much praise cannot be awarded. His part of the work has been done in a manner which places him far above any of his predecessors in the musical chair at the Park. The encores of his overtures, and the reiterated applause bestowed upon the instrumentation of Zampa,' especially, must assure him of the high opinion which is entertained of his efforts.

c.

THE NATIONAL, having sunk below nothing under its sometime manager, has been temporarily reopened by a kindred spirit, in whose hands it is speedily destined to a similar fate. A melo-dramatic spectacle has been produced, for the main purpose, as we have been informed, of showing off some fifty or sixty naked women, in a large bath. It was however found necessary, here as elsewhere, to hide this scene to such an extent, that the lookers-on complain loudly that the delectable sight is not scen, and that they do not get their money's worth, little as it is. The Albion, speaking of the audiences, remarks: 'We do not recognize many countenances that we are in the habit of seeing at NewYork theatres.' Of course not.

THE BOWERY is again under the charge of its old and capable chief, HAMBLIN. The prices have been made to correspond with the times, and with the aid of attractive spectacle, the house has been well filled. The melo-drama of Ivanhoe' was a gorgeous and spirited representation, and elicited deserved applause. The enterprising manager has our cordial good wishes for his continued success.

THE CHATHAM, into which we sometimes drop for a short sitting, seems to enjoy its wonted popularity. Mr. KIRBY is a principal favorite. This young gentleman has many fine points about him, and some bad ones. He is too melo dramatic in his effects,' too affectedly husky and guttural, occasionally, in his voice, and oftentimes quite too stormful in his energies. We should not mention these blemishes, but that we consider Mr. KIRBY a young man of decided histrionic talent and promise.

MITCHELL'S OLYMPIC continues its career of success. With its burlesque of 'Sam Parr' and 'The Sleeping Beauty,' it has nightly filled its money and audience-boxes. MITCHELL is a man of talent, tact, and dramatic skill, and understands the science of humbuggery.

SCOTT'S POETRY AND LIFE. We are gratified to learn that Mr. C. S. FRANCIS, publisher, Broadway, has made arrangements to continue the publication of all of SCOTT's poetry, and LOCKHART's Life of SIR WALTER, in the same form of the Waverley series, just completed by Mr. PARKER, in Boston. The edition, save that it will be printed upon new types, and a finer and whiter paper, will be uniform with that of Mr. PARKER, and will be furnished at the same low price; namely, twenty-five cents per Part-with two 'parts' each month. The whole will be included in twenty additional parts, or ten bound volumes of the series. No one who possesses the Boston edition, should fail to possess himself of the complete series, as finished by Mr. FRANCIS.

WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AMERICA. We ventured to predict in our last number that there would be no war between England and America, and to express the belief, in opposition to several contemporaries, that in case there should be, there would be an even chance that all the cities on the Atlantic coast would hardly be destroyed in a week by British projectiles. It would seem that the doughty projects which some of our journals have foreseen as ready to be carried into execution the moment a war should be declared, are deemed rather difficult of execution by the most loyal of Her Majesty's subjects on the other side of the water. Hear the tory editor of FRAZER'S Magazine:

'Let us consider the ordinary notions which we are daily hearing, of levying war in the old fashioned style; getting up expeditions; embarking ten thousand men, supported by sixteen sail of the line; and effecting a landing near New-York; in short, just a repetition of the last war, with its burning of Washington; its unsuccessful attempt on Baltimore; and its general failure to do more than excite a lasting hatred to England throughout the Union.

'Now, the fashion at present seems to be, to speak of the power of England and the weakness of America; of our armaments, and their unpreparedness, in a vaunting and exulting tone, which we must confess is to us absolutely alarming.

'But it is more; it is absolutely foolish. The men who talk of our making war upon a nation of fourteen millions of freemen, unencumbered with debt or taxation; well accustomed to the use of arms; and to be attacked on their own ground, and by their own firesides; the men we say, who think it an easy thing for us, by sending out an expedition and burning a few sea-coast towns, to bring such a nation on its knees, are just about the wildest, the most irrational calculators of the chances of war that ever helped a nation into an inextricable difficulty. Were this indeed the prospect before us, were the only course open to us the making a naval and military war, with horse and foot, and ships and steam-boats, upon one of the most powerful nations of the earth, then sad indeed would be our prognostics for the future; melancholy, in the extremest degree, would be our anticipations of the ultimate termination of such conduct.

For it is useless to shut our eyes to certain collateral issues and necessary contingencies which would speedily mix themselves with the main question. The first mariume power in Europe, with about twenty-five millions, but encumbered with debt, goes to war with its only rival on the seas, a nation of fourteen millions, proud, uplitted, and far too strong to be easily overwhelmed by a coup de main. And as the more powerful of the two proposes to attack the other by sending expeditions across the Atlantic, the inequality of their forces becomes considerably diminished, and the probability of a protracted struggle grows still more apparent.

'Now supposing this to be the state of things, must we not remember that our nextdoor neighbor, the great and warlike nation of France, is burning for an opportunity of wiping off the disgraces of the last war; and has given many most significant tokens of late, of her eagerness to seize the first favorable opportunity of striking a blow at her ancient enemy! And farther, can we avoid hearing, by each mail from Ireland, the plainest threats that ever were couched in language, that so soon as England shall be fairly entangled in a foreign war, the Romish faction in that country will claim, and if necessary will seize upon, the sovereignty of that portion of the empire?

'Nor is this all. Do we not know, by abundant proofs, that the Russian emissaries are unceasingly employed in fomenting mischief in the East; and that the very moment which saw England fully occupied in other directions, would see a Russian force on its way to Northern India? On all these grounds, then, and on others which might be added, we should look upon our entanglement in a protracted warfare with America as the too probable commencement of our national humiliation, dismemberment, and ruin.'

There, Sir Alarmist, cease your idle fears, while you lay this unction to your soul, that war is not an easy game for any nation to play; and that England, least of all, is just now prepared for a round.

DEFERRED NOTICES. - Notices of the following publications are reluctantly but unavoidably postponed: 'Report of the Directors of the New-York Deaf and Dumb Asylum;' 'A Brief History of the Mormons ;' 'Historical Discourse in Commemoration of the Original Settlement of Farmington, (Conn.,) in 1640, by NOAH PORTER, Jr.;' The Albion Engraving; 'Insubordination;' 'The Patapsco, and other Poems;' 'Carle. ton;' and CARLYLE'S 'Heroes and Hero-Worship.'

OUR ENGRAVING. You will perceive, reader, as you open the present number, a representation of a scene in the olden time of our goodly city, which has been preserved by Mr. L. P. CLOVER, Jr., in an etching — a novel and life-like species of engraving, in which there is more merit and art than in the finer-looking productions of the burin. Observe, that this style preserves the 'keeping' of the picture to a charm. Here is nothing like SAM WELLER in a dress-coat, white satin waistcoat, and pale kid gloves. On the contrary, unadorned nature, as it was, is before you; and looking at it a moment, you say: 'Give us the good old snug picturesque public house, with a great tree before it, a bench, and the old swinging sign, that sings or creaks in the wind on winter nights, and the landlord not above nor below his calling, and hearty and rotund as his capacious punch-bowl!' Very dear will this picture be to all genuine KNICKERBOCKERS. Many of them will recognize it to be the last tribute which the New-Netherlands paid to Time, and they will lament accordingly. Before a great while, we hope when our army of delinquents march honorably up to head-quarters—our readers will be favored with a beautiful transcript of a scene in Manahatta, in the golden age of WOUTER VAN TWILLER, from the pencil of Mr. T. B. THORPE. But yet another engraving will supervene, of a more modern scene, which we may aver cannot fail to attract the admiration of our subscribers.

CATHOLIC EXPOSITOR. -The 'Catholic Expositor and Literary Magazine' is the title of a monthly periodical, the first number of which has just been issued, under the editorial supervision of the Very Rev. FELIX VARELA, and Rev. CHARLES CONSTANTINE PISE, D. D. The work is carefully prepared, and we have read several of its papers with pleasure. Mr. PISE is not unknown to our readers, as an original correspondent; and we find from his hand, in the 'Expositor,' the following remarks upon an article copied from our pages:

'SIMILARITY OF THE SPANISH AND LATIN LANGUAGES. - While perusing the interesting article from the KNICKERBOCKER, which is found in our pages, under the title, 'Is the Latin a Living Language?' it occurred to us to present to our readers some specimens of the similarity which exists between the Spanish and the Latin Languages; and with this view, we have selected such words from the Spanish as may form Latin sentences without the least alteration in either language; and have written a few lines which a Spaniard, unacquainted with the Latin, will understand as being written in his own language, and will never suspect that they can be Latin. On the contrary, a person acquainted with Latin and not with Spanish, will read them and understand them perfectly, without ever suspecting that they can be any thing but Latin. The grammatical rules of both languages are strictly preserved, and the words are pure Latin and pure Spanish. So also is the construction; although, as to the Latin, it cannot be eloquent, because of the hyperbaton, or transposition, which makes the beauty of the Latin language, and destroys that of the Spanish. In our composition, we ima gine Jesus appealing to a sinner, and the sinner's answer to the divine inspiration:

'Observa tantos dolores! tantas augustias! tantas horas tremendas! observa virgines puras amando, confesores felices orando, martires gloriosos imitando anteriores triumfos inauditos. Considera. ora... ama... O cara memoria! tu excitas sublimes ideas! tu me elevas! Observo honores unicos permanentes, noto rictorias gloriosas, considero tantos triumfos legitimos, tantos martires Victima amorosa! presona divina! te amo te adoro.

"The reader will perceive that the accent is not exactly the same in some words in both languages; for instance, elevas; in Latin the accent is in the first, and in the Spanish in the second syllable; however, it is evident that this cannot constitute any great difference, and we may properly say that the above paragragh answers for both languages.'

The 'Expositor' is neatly executed, upon a large, clear type, and published by Messrs. MONAHAN AND SMITH, 168 Fulton-street.