perious. On the ocean, whither the wind has driven the vessel which bears the destinies of humanity, the calms are rare, the tempests frequent.

times, to win the praises or the approval of his contemporaries; but ought to fix his thoughts on the future, and compose a history for posterity. It is The great events that have taken place in France from it he should demand the recompense of his laduring the last fifty years, have wrought much of this bor; that it may one day say: Without doubt this change. The peaceable have been torn from their historian was a free man, of honest and sincere dearest occupations, and in the whirlwind of change, speech; in him there is nothing of the flatterer, nothe obscure have been elevated to the highest digni- thing of the slave; in every thing he follows the truth." ties and honors, political passions have been awaked Grant that it is difficult to keep within the limits of in the most tranquil, and a feverish activity has seiz- impartiality, equally free from panegyrics and saed upon the most apathetic. A chosen few have been tires; difficult to speak without flattery, as without urged by other motives, and have sought means malignity, the good and the bad, difficult to trace of promoting the public weal. Not less active, nor less the way by which a people has passed, to link one's patriotic, but because they loved not notoriety, or self to its destiny, to follow it through the centuries; that a public life demanded sacrifices in opposition-No one will deny it. Yes, the knowledge of the to their principles, or that their thoughts required facts is not acquired without trouble; their relations the calm of retirement-they have not always follow- are not easily discovered; each period, each person ed the crowd to the forum. They have sometimes has its life, its local coloring; changes are wrought in gone aside from it to seek illumination in solitude; governments, in ideas, and in customs; many contrathey have preferred independence to power, and dictions are found in human institutions; all these like wise men, have sought a means of repose amidst things may outweary the patience and exhaust the the general agitation. This means has been found by strength of the boldest intelligence. And how many some in the severe study of history, yes-historical intellects have sensibility of soul and love of men studies have redoubled their interest as rapidly re- sufficient to speak of them, for any length of time, curring events have redoubled their grandeur. Ruins with sympathy and free from bitterness. were heaped up. It was asked-whence came they? These things considered, it is not astonishing that Who made them? What purpose can they be made to the people of France should be for a long time desserve? A thousand different views divided men's titute of a national history. Their career has been, minds. By what right? On what basis? To what more than that of others, bestrewn with diverse acend? And the volumes, depositories of the secrets of cidents-their fortune has been more inconstant. the past, were opened and consulted with avidity. Early did they find themselves involved in all great Soon curiosity, and the mere love of an opinion, be- events, but they were in nothing advantaged; their came a taste-a love of history for itself and for lot gained but little in the progress of civilization; the truth's sake. This is what has happened to one neither victory nor defeat long profited them; they of the greatest French historians. Engaged, like so destroyed the feudal power for the greater benefit of many others, in the struggles of political life, he ap- royalty; they seem even to be losers in the game. plied himself, the better to serve his cause, to his- King and lords are now united in the field against torical studies-bringing to them all the ardor of them. They have, however, always been animated youth, and the noble sentiments of a pure patriotism. by a lively spirit of independence; it is imprinted Such studies pleased him-they possessed a singular on every part they have taken in the contests of attraction for his mind, and he acquired for them a kings against internal or external enemies. Frepassion. But the pleasure he felt was not without quently has their voice been heard, demanding jusalloy, in perceiving how few of the books then es- tice. They obtain some immunities, and defend them teemed, contained the true history of his country. with their blood; by turns conquering and conquerOther writers and judicious critics noticed the same ed, they accept the yoke of a master, which gives thing at that time. There arose just complaints the unity necessary to their grandeur, they break against the usurpation of the prejudices of flattery it when it is about to decay, and arms in hand reand of error. Unanswerable proofs were produced assert their rights and liberties, and at last take of their justice, and he must have been very obsti- their place in history. nate, who did not perceive the absurdity of decora This people, full of energy and patriotism, certainting many works then in vogue with the ostentatiously deserve to have an historian; and one eminently title of National History. worthy has appeared. M. Amans Alexis Monteil has written the history of the French of diverse ranks.

In fact, there was not a single book, not one, which deserved this high honor, yet, to assert this, was to declare war against received opinions, and every cause, however bad it may be, finds defenders. Honor to those who broke the spell? Honor always to the reformers of opinion! Sublimi feriant sidera

vertice.

Now that the new doctrines have produced a harvest of chefs-d'oeuvre, there are no longer any in France who doubt their justness. True historic method has triumphed over old conventional formulas; if any of these still appear, they rather result from force of habit, than from any inherent strength in the old exclusive system, whose defeat is one of the most solid titles to glory of contemporary French historians.

We call this system exclusive, because it continnally and studiously excluded from history all mention of the people. Citizens, artisans, etc., found no more place in it, than the Turks or the Arabs. The interests of the country were the interests of the crown; the state was the king. The king before all, then the courtiers, and those whose names figure in the Almanac of Gotha. Those who did nothing, those who were paid, those who enjoyed, those who squandered, those who owned, those who held rank at court or in the army, had of right a place in history. Of those who labored, of those who suffered, of "those who tilled and gave value to the land, of those who were neither noble nor ennobled, not a word,or if one be found, it is to impress on them order, obedience and resignation! For forced-work and impost be thankful! This for the people. Would they go beyond this, let them beware of the cudgel and the arquebuse.

A child of the people, outside all coteries, free from prejudice, the friend of truth and man, especially the friend of the unfortunate, he has all the necessary qualities of mind and heart, sympathy enough everywhere to discern the good, courage enough everywhere to denounce the bad, sincerity enough to give the true account of all. He has written on the last five centuries, and, unless we greatly err in our judgment, has perfectly succeeded in the first attempt at the history of a people. The nation for which he has labored thus judges, and has gladly welcomed his work. It is therein represented from the life: its features, exquisitely delineated, appear striking in their resemblance to nature, and the talent of the artist tampers nowhere with the fidelity of the picture.. It serves on the contrary to enhance the effect, so life-like and natural is it in its freshness; its smiling simplicity by no means excludes the dig nity of art; there is just so much as is necessary to moderate, without constraint, the French vivacity of that charming family of beaux esprits to which he belongs; gay in his style and profound in his views; comprehending without confusion, and dividing with out destroying the unity; witty without malice and sad without bitterness; indefatigable and conscientious, he is worthy to execute the arduous task of the national historian.

particular one, M. Monteil reflected much, he knew how much success depended on it. Indeed, it is by no means all that is necessary, to bring forth old chronicles of curious and interesting facts, patriotic souvenirs of honor, energy and liberty. They must be told in such a manner as to strike the popular mind. There must be placed upon the scene the people of every epoch; each must recognize itself there, each must there perceive its fathers, brothers, and family. Individuals change, the occupations remain; the peasant quits not his plough, the artisan his trade, the merchant his desk, etc.; the distinct classes which constitute the nation have their peculiar characters; the needs of the future, the great interests of life draw them together, and confound their distinctions; the small interests, the circumstances of the moment, group and individualize them; there is a continual conflux and diffluence. From the culminating summit where the historian takes his stand, it may be that he can seize with a comprehensive glance the work that is wrought in community, and that which is achieved in isolation. He may embrace all things within his view; but, to descend from this height, is it the same thing? How shall he reproduce at once this unity of action, this diversity of opinion? How leave to each his individuality by the side of the broad features of national character! By what way, proceed in the arrangement of so many parts? There was the method of the philosophers of the last century; the manner of the chroniclers of the medieval period; or the plan pursued by the ancients. M. Monteil has taken none of these for his model. His work has no precedents. Its form is as novel as is its matter. chosen the most used, the most grave, or the most academic; he has given the preference to the most natural, the most true. For each century he has varied it. There are letters, statements of grievances, impressions of travel, memoirs, etc. If these are all full of life, if the times have preserved their physiognomy, if the recitals, whose tone changes as often as the narrators, are read and re-read with pleasure,it is not too much to claim for the author the glory of a deserved success.

He has not

The examination we purpose, hereafter, to make of each volume, and the extracts we intend to give, will, we have no doubt, be very interesting to our readers. It will give them that view of the domestic life of the French nation in by-gone years, which Macaulay has given us of the English in the time of James.

Lily, a Novel, by the Author of the "Busy Moments of an Idle Woman." New York: Harper & Brothers, 1855.

The authoress, speaking somewhere in the present volume of a mistake, and the one making it, says: Had she not misunderstood her cousin at that moment, probably this story would never have been written." This shows how important it is that we be careful. We trust the young of both sexes will duly consider so striking an instance of the terrible effects a hasty conclusion may have, and above all things be more circumspect hereafter. In a world where our eyes may do such work,-where glances are as safe as Congreve rockets in a blazing house, there is a certain virtue in blue spectacles, and blindness is above all praise. We have often thought that a dictionary of glances would be a great acquisition; that at present there is too much license in the lan guage of looks; the tender being sometimes mistaken for the silly, the jocose for the fiendish, the sleepy for the ecstatic, &c., the meaning depending in a greater degree upon the frame of mind ruling in the looked-upon, than upon the intention of the looker. Therefore, we say, we have thought that a work strictly defining the limits of each look would be an acquisition; we now see that it is absolutely necessary for the future well-being of the human

race.

He has reconstructed, as he says himself, five ancient worlds which were sinking deeper and deeper The main events of this story may very well be in the past, rebuilding them from their own ruins. real, as the authoress seems to desire they should He has reunited the scattered elements of their be- be considered. The moving principle is coquetry. ing; he has drawn the French of the olden times, We are of opinion that coquetry is a great evil, living, speaking, acting, from the dust of the four- and that it has much to answer for. It has done teenth century. Do you say, why has he gone back harm in the world, and we hold the European pono further! Why? Because, beyond, there was notentate who recently consigned a lady to a dungeon thing which has not been repeated later, nothing because her flirting had incited two noble gentlemen essentially different, nothing unusual. to a duel, in which one of them was killed, to be a We wish he would read Lily. "The fourteenth was the age of feudalism; the fif- just and good man. teenth, of independence; the sixteenth, the age of theo-For any labor it might cost him, he would have a noble recompense in the feeling of satisfaction that would inevitably follow upon considering it in connection with the act mentioned. Of that en passant. The moving principle is not unworthy. The events are in nowise extravagant, and follow sequentially, and, without any particular originality in their conception or conduct, are not offensively hackneyed.

In vain should we seek, in respect to the largest part of the nation, for something more characteristic more lifelike, more local in the histories of Velly, of Mézeray and of Anquetil. These gentlemen, we doubt not, wrote in good faith. They believed they were writing an exact, faithful and complete history.logy; the seventeenth of the arts; and the eighteenth It is possible. But, it was not possible, that one could take up with their opinion, or the opinion of others, who saw nothing beyond their interests and their vanity. To treat thus the mass of the nation, is to forget,too daringly, the duties of the historian who, says Lucien, "ought not to write for his own

of reforms. The previous centuries were, like the four-
teenth, feudal; and like the huge towers which surround
strong castles, they have seemed in our eyes, at least in
appearance, always immoveable and unchanged."

The form of the book is not the least novelty
that one perceives in it. Before adopting any

The opening is foggy, owing to the number of the heroine's relations, introduced at once and somewhat promiscuously. We never get them clearly placed, and finish the book without quite knowing their relative positions. Though the denouement is good, it is not perfect. As it is, a severe punishment falls upon those who do not deserve any, and a comparatively slight one upon those who deserve all that ingenuity could give. Our sense of justice is not satisfied. We naturally suppose that those who really love Lily, are heart-broken at her death, while Mr. Clarence Tracy, pictured as guilty of the highest crime in only loving her money, is only agonized at the loss of that -a loss not irreparable. Though to him it may be a great grief, it is one with which the reader is not satisfied, for it is one that he cannot feel. It does not come home to him in the magnitude it may really have to the other. In tales of fictitious passion, the reader is always good, and though he may see the grief or joy of unworthy causes, he cannot sym: pathize with it, from not being at the proper moral level. The poignancy, therefore, of that grief toward which the whole story tends, and in which it ends, should culminate in its cause; the more especially so if the cause be, as in the present instance, a guil ty one. This would give a completeness to the fic tion that it now lacks. This would be naturally accomplished by bringing Tracy to really, truly, and deeply love Lily for herself alone previous to the catastrophe. There is but little character, though Mr. Barclay is very ably laid in. It is evidently not upon any of these points that the authoress has bestowed her best skill.

such stimulants before he was equal to the exertion of
entering a ball-room. Being almost as rich as his bro-
ther, Edward Langdon had a great terror of falling into
some matrimonial net, and his New York life was a suc-
cession of attempts upon his liberty, which he labored
to ward off--in à faint sort of way. He was a great
flirt, liked to dance unlimited attendance upon some
demoiselle à marier, and then, when he saw the meshes
coming over him, dodge, and escape rather frightened,
but ready to start again with somebody else.
Does the authoress really suppose that there is any
truth in these silly iterations about Young New
York. We are willing to believe that there may be
six fools even in this city, and of that six, that there
may be one who affects this particular folly-this silly
caricaturing of the chief character in a well-known
Franco-English play: but when such a picture is
given as that of a "genuine specimen of young New
York," or of any other part of this country we must
be excused for remarking that the devil has no oc-
casion to blush. Does any one suppose that the fol-
lowing is a picture of conversation"in society:'
"Serves her right!" exclaimed Mrs. Hardcastle;
"what business has a married woman to interfere with
other people's lovers?"

Here a discussion ensued, which was learnedly taken up, Angelica insisting that for her part she objected to such interference simply because it was "such trouble." heaven should she undertake to battle with other wo"When a woman had a husband to manage, why under men for the direction and care of their property? Men were only useful and agreeable as whetstones on whom one sharpened one's legitimate powers of control. No reasonable creature could seriously think that there was any comfort to be gained in exchanging one man for But if the main events are real, much of the de- another. They were all alike; their envelopes only tail is unpleasantly artificial. Such, for instance, as differed. Yon were as likely to find contentment, or that of the May Queen. This particular festivity is rather strife, in one man's society as another's. Therean English institution, and the make-believe, sugar-whom the law gave you an unlimited right to govern fore satisfy yourself, if a married woman, with the man candy attempts of little boarding school misses over and to lead. Every thing else was a humbug." the country to naturalize it, are not sufficiently successful to justify its recognition on the part of one Artificial to the last degree, and if there are women who think thus, there are none who have the professedly writing an American story. Angelica, who, though drawn as the fille d'enfer, and at times effrontery to do more "in society." sustaining the character, is upon the whole the most sensible person introduced, has a few remarks upon this matter with which we are happy to agree: "You spoke very well, Lily. It was a very pretty sight. Quite theatrical, though. Do you think it was in good taste, dear?"

In relation to novel writing we hold some ideas in common with our authoress. At the opening of chapter X., being in a censorious humor, she writes, in not the very best grammar: "It is terribly the fashion nowadays to transport the higher regions of sentimental history, as well as all others, into the bosom and lives of children. Little people, who can scarcely talk, lisp Methodist sermons, and argue with their elders, an i show judgment, tact, and energy, which invariably throw into contempt the strongest efforts in the same line of all grown men and women." This thought occured to us several times while reading "Lily." The heroine is the identical juvenile wonder with whom we have all been acquainted for so long a time, and Mr. Clarence Tracy, the chief figure in boots, makes, and carries into execu

tion before he is twenty years of age, plans almost worthy of an Iago. Miss Angelica Purvis, this young gentleman's cousin, is described in a manner to suggest the epigram:

We are glad that the work contains much to com-
mend; if it had not, indeed, we should not have deem-
ed it worth while to consider it at such length.
There are whole chapters written with marked abili-
ty. We have mentioned before, both Mr. Barclay
and the filling up relative to him. It is admirably
thought and as admirably written. It displays
In
much power, and evinces the existence of more.
the interview between this gentleman and Lily, we
are carried well over uncomfortable, not to say dan-
gerous ground by sheer good writing. As a "piece"
this is exceedingly well done.

both easy and haughty; or else, while speaking, she

Sometimes she engaged me in conversation, to exhibit
my intellectual expression; then she encouraged a pen-
sive, down-cast seriousness to show my eyelashes, which
are rather long it was all in vain. No young man flew
to secure my hand for the "mazy dance."
"Stand up, my dear," she said, presently.
I timidly obeyed.

"Sit down again," she added, after a while, and sighed hopelessly. It was of no use.

Then she signalled a manager and whispered a few words. I felt my cheeks tingle, for I guessed what was coming.

him earnestly appeal to a dandified youth, who looked The manager bowed and hurried off. I could see at me through an eye-glass, and evidently bade his managerial friend "to go (playfully) to the

Then the gentleman in office collared a grave young man in spectacles, with frizzly hair, and lugged him song. My destined partner was too polite to struggle. He had large, projecting knees, and helpless hands. "MS-S Dr. Larned."

"Allow me the pleasure of dancing with you," he said, sepulchrally.

"No, I thank you," I answered, hurriedly. He was so unprepared for my reply that he held out his arm, and my chaperon nudged me.

"I'd rather not. Do, please, let him go," I said, imploringly, in a low voice.

The manager released his victim, and with another bow the large knees returned to their former position in the door-way.

That was my first and last ball.

I am not courageous and not over patient. From the beginning of that entertainment I wondered who was to take us to supper. The result showed me that a manager took my chaperon on one arm and me on the other. I could not hope for this luck at every ball, and, as I said before, the chairs are not cushioned, so I have never been to a second "St. Cecilia," and the truth is, has never urged me to my kind friend, Mrs.

do so.

66

The following phrases and sentences belong on that page of grammar which is devoted to examples of false syntax: "When I say charity, I speak in its broad Bible sense." "The horticulturists reluctantly left their periumed task and turned their attention to a more substantial repast." Mysteriously to gaze (without touching) at them." "After sixteen years of age, life ends instead of beginning." "There 66 'Her diamonds is not a Charlestonian at an hotel." sparkled in their wheat-ear setting, and her wickedly bright blue eyes followed suit." "But leave ourselves, and tell us about Mr. Clarendon and you." "Alicia's conduct was so circumspect during the next few weeks that Lily had great hopes about her."

BOOK NOTICES.

Blanche Dearwood; A Tale of Modern Life. New
York: Bunce & Brother, 1855.

Nothing could be finer than the mode in which Angelica's head was placed upon her shoulders. She and It gives a character to the plainest features, and elevates Lily equally possessed this distinctive and rare charm. the commonest figure; but whereas in Lily it was only things, the comparatively subdued and natural tone This novel is to be commended for, among other graceful and high-bred, in Angel it was predominating which pervades it. There is an interesting plot, and and imposing. It blended in Lily's tout ensemble; it was perfectly distinguishable in Angel's carriage, and it is well worked out. We shall not enter into an immediately called your attention. She had a way of analysis of the story nor of the style in which it is throwing back her head, and toying with the drooping written, further than to remark that it neither reaches ornaments that usually adorned her coiffure, which was any very high excellence nor exhibits any striking originality. Such works as these, however, dewould fix her eyes upon her companion, and smooth over and over the lustrous blackness of her bandeaux, serve favorable notice from those who may under as if through careless thought, while in reality she was take to pronounce upon the merits of popular literaconsidering how pretty must be her white fingers ture. The very great demand for light reading, inthreading these dark masses. To-day, long lappets of volves the necessity of a correspondingly large sup lace fell from her braids upon her shoulders, and as she ply, and while we should unhesitatingly condemn would twine the gossamer costliness about her hand, those which either inculcate bad principles or prethe jeweled butterfly, which, mounted on great pins, sent a corrupt style, we should not on the other We presume it is upon the pictures of society that fastened her head-dress, shook, and trembled, and flut-hand require each volume which may be issued to the authoress has laid out her strength. Of novels, tered like a living thing. I do not know if there was truth with such supposed pictures for their basis, we have in William Clarendon's conjecture, but certainly the sal-possess any very great powers. a great variety; they have been very generally fail-lowness of her cheek had given place to a faint color, which was infinitely becoming, while, though she could ures, and Lily is a comparative success. As far as not compare in fairness with Lily, there was nothing the little she has of New York society is concerned, disagreeable in the dead whiteness which alone rethere is only one thing wanting to her pictures: she mained of her once yellow tinge. should have seen the society. She seems to observe, closely, and we see, as in the instance of the parts including Mr. Barclay, that she can write felicitously what she has seen. She must not adopt current ideas, and suppose that because they are current they are therefore true. Consider the following description:

Mother Eve (whence cometh evil)
Spoke once 'tis written with the devil:
"Twould seem, however we regret it,
Her daughters never can forget it.

The following very admirable piece of sketching,
au naturel, makes us wish that the author would
leave novels and give us her autobiography:

That hall is the first battle-field of our young Amazons
Their success
who go forth to conquer the male sex.
or failure is determined within those walls. She is
perdestined to rule who finds herself engaged at least
"six deep" before she smooths out her skirts for her first
quadrille, and she is a wall-flower for life who passes
her evening on one of those very hard chairs planted
around the room.

Sully's portrait of Victoria dominates the crowd at
the upper end of the hall; a string of likenesses, repre-
ciety (to whom the hall belongs), line the walls, and a
carpet upon the floor gives a drawing-room look to this
festive spot.

The brother was a perfect specimen of Young New York. He was small and thin, slightly knock-kneed, and very carefully dressed. His hair was parted with unwavering regularity; his collars were so stiff that they never yielded a momentary turn-down; his face was pale, his eyes fatigued, his manner nicely divided between indifference and superciliousness, hissenting the series of Presidents of the St. Andrew's Sotone a drawl, and his air rather gentlemanly. He lived on dancing and a little opium. Wine had lost its power to arouse him; so, when he wished to be awake in society, he "brought himself up" with morphine, or red lavender, or ether, like a broken down actress. quite proud of this incapacity to enjoy life. It proved that he had lived "fast," and he used to boast of how many drops or tea spoonfuls he had taken of such or

He was

I went to one of these balls once. Alas! the seats are very uncomfortable, and I had no other experience. My chaperon was very kind, and not satisfied with the small effect that I produced. She varied my position as nuch as she could so as to bring out my best points.

There was a time when the novel was really novel. Now it is an old story, often literally as well as figuratively. The story books we read in the present generation have about as much chance of being read in the next as have the generality of newspaper leaders, and no more. It is necessary then to consi-, der their value in reference to the particular mission they have to fulfil-to furnish recreation for the reading public.

Blanche Dearwood in this view is rather superior to the average of novels, and its circulation will be a favorable indication of popular taste, and publie appreciation of the more natural school of fictitious literature.

Curious Stories about Fairies, and other Funny Peo-
ple. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1855.
The "Little Folks" are under obligations to Messrs.
Ticknor & Fields for this addition to their classics.
We hope no parent will be so extravagantly utili-
tarian as to deny to his children the innocent and
indeed profitable enjoyment of fairy literature. Pro-
fitable in that it lays up a stock of pleasant memo-
ries, of bright hours, to be recurred to in after days,
amid all the cares and anxieties that beset maturity.

certain sum, the author allows himself to be pelted the glorious bard could scarcely have beheld in his far New York and Brooklyn, at Six Cents per week.

Though the facts of history may be presented here, its dignity is entirely absent. Many people who are somewhat diffident to their grown fellows, are, we know, rather fond of an affected profundity, and a stern dogmatism to little folks, but we were somewhat surprised to find Mr. Bonner abusing his pre- care will be given to the collating of all such informa-/ Charles II., from an Original MS.," 1 vol.; "Life of

and Fascination," by Miss Beale; "Unconscious Influence," by Catherine D. Bell; a new edition of "Westward Ho!" a cheap edition of "Lewis Arundel," "The Adventures of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, recounted by the author of Mary Powell;'" "Everley, a Tale." An English translation of "Tolla." which appeared in the pages of the Revue des Deux Mondes, will shortly be published. A new historical romance of American life, by G. P. R. James-"The Old Dominion"-is also announced.

66

In TRAVELS, we have "The Wanderer in Arabia," by G. T. Lowth, 2 vols. with illustrations; "Greece and the Greeks of the Present Day," by M. About, in " Constable's Miscellany of Foreign Literature;" a second edition of Danby Seymour's "Sea of Azof and the Shores of the Black Sea ;" the third volume, containing Meccah, of Lieut. Burton's Pilgrimage to El-Medinah and Meccah:" a second edition of Huc's "Chinese Empire," 2 vols. Hurlbut's "Pictures from Cuba," and " Brazil, Viewed through a Naval Glass," by Edward Wilberforce, form two new parts of the " Traveller's Library." A fourth and cheaper edition of Mr. Gordon Cumming's "Five Years' Adventures in South Africa" is also announ"Lilliesleaf" is the title of the new story by the author of "Margaret Maitland."

ced.

A "Cyclopædia of Descriptive and Physical Geography," by James Bryce, M.A., post 8vo. with illustrations, is nearly ready.

66

In SCIENCE, are:-" Memoirs of Geological Survey of the United Kingdom," Decade 8, with seven plates; vol. 1 of " Arago's Popular Astronomy;" vol. 2 of De la Rive's Electricity;" a " Handbook of Zoology," by Dr. Van der Hoeven, 8vo. with plates; the first two parts of a new edition of Dr. Lardner's Handbook of Natural Philosophy," to be completed in eighteen parts; a new work in Entomology on "Small Moths," by H. T. Stanton, in English, French,

German and Latin.

MEDICAL WORKS.-A new edition of Sir G. Ballingall's "Outlines of Military Surgery;" Barlow's Practice of Medicine" is added to Churchill's "Popular Manuals," the aggregate sales of which are announced at 73,000 copies, Part 2 of Professor Miller's "Elements of Chemistry" is nearly ready: the third part will complete the work. Kesteven's "Manual of Domestic Practice of Medicine;" Bell's "Anatomy and Treatment of the Teeth;" Dr. Huss on "Typhus Fever;" and Dixon on the "Diseases of the Eye."

HISTORY.-Frounde's "History of England, from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth," is in the press. Massey's "History of England during the Reign of George the Third' will be completed in four vols. Vols. 2 and 3 of Palgrave's "History of Normandy and of England" are nearly ready. Vols. 4 and 5 of "Merival's "History of the Romans under the Empire" are announced for January. Le Quesne's "Constitutional History of Jersey." Pictorial Histories of Greece and Rome" are about to be published, the former in two, and the latter in three vols.

crown 8vo.

Birket Foster, who made a special tour to sketch
that exquisite scenery; and a companion volume to
"L'Allegro," published last year. Goldsmith's "Tra-
veller," with etchings by the same artist. A new
edition of Adams' "Sacred Allegories," with wood
engravings after Cope, Horsley, Palmer, and Birket
Foster. "Sabbath Bells chimed by the Poets,"
printed in the old style with colored initial letters,
and illustrated with sixteen engravings printed in
colors, after drawings by Birket Foster. A pictorial
edition of the Rev. Legh Richmond's "Dairyman's
Daughter." Keats' "Eve of St. Agnes," illustrated
by Edward Wehnert, of the same size as Gray's
Elegy,"
," "Pleasures of Hope," &c., &c. The "Ballads
of Ireland," collected by Edward Hayes, in 2 vols.
A new Poem, in seven parts, will appear in a few
days, by the author of "Ruins of Many lands," en-
titled "The Poetry of Creation." The British Classic
edition of the works of Pope will extend to eight
volumes. "Glasgow and its Clubs," by Dr. Strang.
The "Food of London," by George Dodd. "Art of
Perfumery," by G. W. O. Piesse. The "British Year
book for the Country, 1856," edited by C. M'Intosh
and Dr. Kemp. A new and important work on the
"Condition and Resources of Canada," which gained
the Government prize, will shortly appear. Advices
from Montreal speak in the highest terms of the re-
ception it is likely to meet with, as supplying infor-
mation so long required, especially in the home
country.
"The Lessons of the Church-What they Teach,"
Among the new serial publications, we may notice
edited by the Rev. Henry Newland. The first
monthly part is announced for publication to-day.
The " Engineer," a new weekly magazine, will ap-
pear on the 17th inst.

Among the Maps recently published, may be men-
tioned those of the Geological Survey of the United
Kingdom, colored under the superintendence of Sir
R. I. Murchison. A new and improved edition of
Sidney Hall's "General Atlas," corrected to the pre-
sent time, is announced at a greatly reduced price.
A Map of London, Westminster, and Southwark, as
in the Olden Times. A Map of Nicolaiev, showing
the keys of that naval building-port of Russia, Kin-
burn and Otchakov.

Prescott's "

LITERARY GOSSIP.

which we have already noticed as being in the press
History of the Reign of Philip II."
of Messrs. PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & Co., will bring down
the story to the execution of Count EGMONT and
HOORN in 1568, and to the imprisonment and death
of Don CARLOS, whose mysterious fate, so long the
subject of speculation, is now first explored by the
light of the authentic records of Simancas.

lectures, before the Mercantile Library Association
PROFESSOR SILLIMAN is to deliver a course of twelve
of Providence, this Fall. He lectures three evenings
in the week. For this service he is to receive $2,000,
the Society paying the expenses of himself, wife and
servant, and of transporting his specimens, &c.
is thought that the sale of tickets will remunerate the
Society for this large outlay-not less, probably,

than $2,600.

It

An article on "Publishers: their Past, Present, and Future in the U. S." in the American Publishers Circular states that

was

one

THEOLOGY."Sermons" are announced by the Rev. Charles P. Eden, M.A.; the late Rev. John Natt, B.D.; the late Rev. Thomas Nunn, of Leeds, with a Preface by the Rev. Dr. Hook; the Rev. H. Alfred; a Second Series by Professor Archer Butler. The Rev. J. S. Gelderdale's Denyer Theological Prize " Essay." A new work by the late Bishop of Lincoln is announced, on the "Church of Christ during the First Three Centuries." Marsden's Eighth and concluding part of "The History of Christian Churches and Sects from the Earliest Ages of Christianity." A new "The first book ever published by the HARPERS edition of Dr. Kitto's "Cyclopædia of Biblical Litera- mously. Another house had an edition of the same of Scott's Novels, then issued anonyture," in 2 vols. "The Christian Clergy of the First work in press; to 'head off' which, one of the brothers Ten Centuries," by Henry Mackenzie, B.A. "The James, we believe-visited, with an early copy, the Plant of Renown," by the Rev. Dr. Hamilton. "Heav- booksellers; and before his opponent was regularly in enly Thoughts for Evening Hours," by Lady Cathe- the field, he had disposed of his edition. The house rine Long. "Exeter Hall Lectures," in one volume. then purchased the opposition edition upon advantaPHILOSOPHY.-Dugald Stewart's "Philosophy of the geous terms, and sold it with surprising rapidity and Active and Moral Powers," in two vols., and his lec- the present time, would be to write a volume of no orTo follow the progress of this house down to tures on "Political Economy" (the latter now first dinary dimensions. What we have stated, however, published). Butler's "Lectures on the History of An- may indicate the nature and extent of their business cient Philosophy," 2 vols. 8vo. A translation of less than thirty-eight years ago; and in addition, it Schler's "Initiatory Treatise on Philosophy." The may suffice to say, that their present establishment is, twenty-first edition of Tupper's "Proverbial Philo- perhaps, the most spacious and extensive publishing sophy" is announced. house in the world; that they have in continual motion over thirty steam presses, propelled by a seventy-five literateurs, over six hundred persons; and have on horse-power engine; that they employ, exclusively of their trade list between one thousand and eleven hundred publications. The house of D. APPLETON & Co. is younger, by several years, than that of Harper & Brothers. It was founded by the late DANIEL APPLETON, and is conducted at present by his five sons. The first book ever published for the firm was a volume hardly one inch square, entitled, 'DAILY CRUMBS.'"

DICTIONARIES. A new edition of Richardson's English Dictionary," in 2 vols. 4to. is nearly ready; also an edition in 1 vol. 8vo., without the quotations. Pocket Dictionaries of English and Hindustani, and English and Persian. A "Chinese Manual," small folio. Two smaller editions of Webster's "English Dictionary."

OF ILLUSTRATED BOOKS for Christmas we are promised a pretty good supply. The new illustrated edition of "Moore's Irish Melodies" is nearly ready; likewise an illustrated edition of the "Poems of George Herbert," illustrated by Birket Foster, Noel Humphreys, and Clayton. "The Rhine," with engravings after

success.

The above contains a slight inaccuracy which might as well be corrected. Messrs. Harpers had been in active business about ten years when they issued the novel ("Anne of Geierstein") alluded to. |

The first volumes published by the Brothers Harper were "Locke on the Understanding" and "Blair's Lectures." We have received a long communication on the subject which may appear hereafter.

The N. Y. Times in a notice of "Poets and Poetry of America," having charged the Rev. Rufus Wilmot Griswold with having altered Poe's poem the "Raven," by printing it, not as Poe wrote it, but to suit some fancy of his own, or, it is yet more probable, to suit the double columns of the book;" is thus replied to.

The "Raven" was first printed in Poets and Poetry of America in the spring of 1845, (soon after its original publication in the Whig Review, from a manuscript copy furnished by the author. A proof was sent to hiin; on reading it he suggested that the poem would look better if the lines were divided, each upon the consisting already of three and a half feet of that kind, fourth trochee, except the last in each stanza, which needed no division for the purposes in view; the change was, therefore made, and on returning a second proof, he wrote me the letter which I enclose for your inspection, expressive of the satisfaction he felt at its improved appearance "in short metre." Thus you will perceive that you were mistaken in supposing I have taken to call "the actual identities of the poem." any unwarrantable liberties with what you are pleased

That Mr. PoE wished it always to be printed in short lines is evident from the facts that, in the several autograph copies of it which he made for his friends, and in a copy which he prepared very carefully for a London publisher, who proposed issuing an edition of his poems, disapproved of the change, or if the change had been he wrote it so. Beside, as he lived more than four years after I printed "The Raven" in this manner, if he had made without his authority, you may readily believe that he would have indicated his feelings on the subject in some altogether unmistakable way.

I make this correction of your error respecting "The Raven" lest your paragraph should lead others, not less acute, to similar criticisms of my book. Probably more than one hundred of the poems which it contains were printed from the autographs of their authors, or from case with all those by RICHARD HENRY WILDE, with two copies in which they had made alterations. This was the by JoHN QUINCY ADAMS, and with others by Judge HopKINSON, WASHINGTON ALLSTON, ANDREWS NORTON, BISHOP DOANE, OTWAY CURRY, JOHN NEAL, C. F. HOFFMAN, ARTHUR CLEVELAND COXE, CHARLES G. LELAND, HENRY W. PARKER, and, no doubt, many whose names I do not now remember.

Your obedient servant,
November, 15th, 1855. RUFUS W. GRISWOLD.
The literary papers we have received from Eng-
land contain but little in the way of gossip.

20,000 copies of Mr. Macaulay's forthcoming volumes have been subscribed for; the amount of these subscriptions is about £50,000.

Messrs. Routledge have sold already upwards of twenty thousand copies of the collected correspondence of W. H. Russell. "Our special correspondent," will receive by arrangement with the publishers Dorritt" will be laid in Paris, and that for purposes £1,000,being one shilling per copy. of observation, &c., Mr. Dickens intends passing the winter in the French capital. The proceeds of Mr.

It is rumored that some of the scenes of "Little

Bleak House" are understood to have fallen little short of £13,000. The sale is asthirty-five thousand per month, which at half the sumed to have varied from thirty to forty, averaging selling price, leaving the other half to defray expenses, would be in round numbers £10,000 for the twelvemonth on the monthly parts alone; and the parts extend to twenty.

The Dublin University Magazine is about to be sold in consequence of the ill health of the publisher, Mr. McGlashin.

The first Russian Translation of Schiller's poems, edited by MM. Gerbel and Michailov, has recently been published at Moscow.

The twelfth volume of "L'Histoire du Consulat

et de l'Empire," by M. Thiers has just appeared. The preface discusses the causes which produced the fall of the monarchy of Napoleon I.

Some unpublished letters of the witty Earl of Chesterfield have just turned up. In one he gives a lengthened criticism on Richardson's novels, and observes that when Richardson gets into high life he loses himself and is untrue to high life. He refers especially to "Sir Charles Grandison." The letters are in the possession of Lord Stanhope.

The King of the Belgians has presented a gold medal to M. J. De Geyters, of Antwerp, author of the Flemish poem read at the late celebration of the 25th anniversary of Belgian Independence.

Among obituary notices we find the names of Sir William Molesworth, Mr. Frederick Lucas, and Lord Wharncliffe, each having some reputation among men of letters. The Dutch poet, Spandaw, aged eighty years, died lately.

The writer of an article on "Paragraph Bibles" in the October number of the Edinburgh Review, sttaes

"that there is no such thing as a readable Bible," arising partly from "the superstitious notion that the Sacred Scriptures must all be brought together in a single volume." The reviewer further declares" that the demand for bibles printed in an improved form is felt by the public, and will doubtless be provided for by the booksellers."

The Austrian police has prohibited the circulation of General Klapka's work, "The War in the East during the Years 1853 and 1854."

The total number of periodical publications in Germany in 1854 was 2025, of which 403 were political. In the same year there were 2,000 book, music, and print sellers, and 1679 printing offices. The number of books printed exceeded 10,000.

The venerable Alexander Humboldt celebrated his eighty-sixth birthday on the 14th October, in Berlin, in the full enjoyment of his intellectual powers. The Duchess of Genoa has caused the library of her deceased husband, consisting almost entirely of military works, to be arranged. The library will be opened to the public at the commencement of next year. It contains more than 400 Italian and foreign manuscripts.

roots contain alcohol and sugar; nothing can be more true." M. Plée follows up his assertion by the ensuing curious details:-"Take a thick lump of freestone or quartzeous silex; reduce it to powder; mix this silex when pulverised with a sufficient quantity of alcali; fuse it-you will obtain a soluble glass that you can dissolve so as to precipitate the silicium it contains in the shape of a jelly. You then take this last product and have it filtered, then redissolved a second time in a cyanurated lixivium, so as to produce a compound cyanuret. This operation will give you a fluid, whence there then only remains to extract the metal called silicium. Plunge into this liquid your utensils, whether of copper, iron, zinc, tin, or lead; bring the electric process to bear upon them properly; and they will instantly be covered with the adherent plating of silicium, which is white as silver, and attains to the highest degree of lustre under the polisher's hand." M. Charles Junot is the name of the man who has invented this new metal, and has, according to the account given by M. Plée, spent years in indefatigable research; nor does the silicium appear to be the only substitute for silver he has discovered; two or three others are equally mentioned by M. Plée. The silicium, however, seems to be so hard to distinguish from silver, that a learned French chemist has already presented to the Academy of Sciences a report on the necessity of devising fresh methods of analysis, in order to distinguish between the two metals which is which. Other chemists," adds the writer of the Sicle, "have other processes for the reduction of silicium, and all are setting to work at it. It is, therefore, to be expected that a complete transmutation will be effected. We shall from clay draw aluminum; from ASTEROIDS.-The discoverers of the two Asteroids freestone, from silex, from sand we shall extractsilicium; these metals, given up to industry and fabrication, may replace silver for domestic purposes, and silver be thus entirely restored to monetary circulation.". Correspondent of Manchester Guardian.

Count Fiequelmont is engaged on a diplomatic History of Europe since the congress of Vienna. Jenny Lind has expressed an intention to visit London, for the special purpose of giving a concert in aid of the proposed Nightingale fund.

The German philologers held their annual meeting this year at Hamburg, on the 1st October: next year they will assemble at Stuttgart..

SCIENTIFIC.

referred to last week were M. Goldsmidt and M. Luther. It was "a strange coincidence" that both were discovered in the same day-the one by Mr. Goldsmidt at Paris, and the other by M. Luther at Bilk. The former has been named Atalante, the latter Fides. The interesting family of the Asteroids now numbers 37 individuals.

seem.

SILVER FROM PAVING STONES.-There is in the Sicle, under the head of "Transmutation," a highly interesting article upon the new discovery of turning paving-stones into silver. Do not start back in ineredulons astonishment; it is perfectly exact, perfectly authentic, perfectly practicable, as it would Paving-stones! that unworthy, ignoble, insurrectionary pavé, that first and worst element of barricades, is to be converted into plate, and, driven from the streets by M'Adam, is to figure on the table. It will be argued that there was no need for any further production of plate, since the electrotype gold and silver, invented and improved by Knolz, Elkington, Christofle, and so many others, and that the precious metals have, by these processes, been rendered quite common, and quite attainable enough. But that is not all the utility of silver and gold (of the former especially), and upon the feasibility of facilitating the circulation of silver moneys runs the chief part of M. Plée's long article in the Siècle. He starts from the necessity of producing an equilibrium between the two metals, gold and silver, and says that such an equilibrium, wanting totally at the present moment, since the influx of gold from California and Australia, is of the utmost importance for trade; and M. Plée remarks, justly enough, that the advanced state of science will assuredly not leave us in the impossibility of supplying the void left by the insufficient yield of silver; and that we shall end ether by extracting silver elsewhere than from silver mines, or by discovering new metals to take its place. "There are, for instance," observes M. Plée, “new metals, noble and beautiful as the old ones hitherto held to be not reducible, which are now perfectly reduced, and which, for the fabrication of every object till now fabricated in silver, would be a complete equivalent for it, and thus allow it to be exclusively consecrated to the monetary circulation." Aluminum has, as we already know, been the object of considerable attention to men of science, and, no doubt, its uses will be great and stand us in good stead; but there is just now another discovery that is more curious still, and the success whereof would appear likely to be established. The use of stone is growing less ever since asphalte, macadam, and iron have superseded it, and the hard, solid paving stone is being more neglected every day. Now," says M. Plée, "if one was to declare at once, and without any preamble, that paving-stones were productive of a metal scarcely in any way distinguishable from silver; that saucepans, plates, forks, and spoons were to be got out of a block of freestone, one should probably be unmercifully laughed at, yet such is the case, the pave does contain metal, as beet- |

BLOOD GLOBULES.-Some photographic views of blood globules taken by M. Duboseq, of Paris, have lately formed the subject of a microscopic exhibition at the Royal Polytechnic Institution. The globules of the human race, of animals, of birds, reptiles, and fishes, were shown upon the white curtain. The specimens all exhibited the same general features, varying only in size and shape. The subject is highly important, not only in a medical, but a judicial point of view, for all blood stains could thus be anaLyzed and be made to assist in eliciting the truth, affects the human economy could thus be scrutinised while, for medical purposes, every disturbance that and remedies suggested according to the appearances indicated. The great power of the microscope thus vies with the telescope in manifesting the wonders

of creation.

THE SCIENCE OF ENERGETICS.-Energy, or the capacity to effect changes, is the common characteristic of the various states of matter to which the several branches of physics relate; if, then, there be general laws respecting energy, such laws, must be applicable, mutatis mutandis, to every branch of physics, and must express a body of principles as to physical phenomena in general.

In a paper read to the Philosophical Society of Glasgow, on the 5th of January, 1853, a first at tempt was made to investigate such principles, by defining actual energy and potential energy, and by demonstrating, a general law of the mutual transformations of those kinds of energy, of which one particular case is a previously known law of the mechanical action of heat in elastic bodies, and another, a subsequently demonstrated law, which forms the basis of Professor William Thomson's theory of thermo-electricity.

Energy, Actual and Potential-The term ener gy comprehends every state of a substance which constitutes a capacity for performing work. Quantities of energy are measured by the quantities of work whicht hey constitute the means of performing.

"Actual Energy" comprehends those kinds of capacity for performing work which consist in particular states of each part of a substance, how small soever; that is, in an absolute accident, such as heat, light, electric current, visa visa. Actual energy is essentially positive.

"Potential Energy" comprehends those kinds of capacity for performing work which consists in relations between substances or parts of substances; that is, in relative accidents. To constitute potential energy there must be a passive accident, capable of variation, and an effort tending to produce such variation; the integral of this effort, with respect to the possible variation of the passive accident, is potential energy, which differs in work from this-that

in work the change has been effected, which, in potential energy, is capable of being effected. [W. J. M. Rankine, Proceedings of Philosophical Society of Glasgow, May, 1855.]

The

DR. H. BARTH.-It will be remembered that several years ago, the British Government determined to fit out an expedition for exploring the interior of Africa. Upon the recommendation of that famous geographer, Dr. Aug. Petermann, two young Germans, Dr. Barth and Dr. Overweg, were entrusted with this important mission, and a few years after, in 1853, an equally able and courageous German, Dr. Vegel, followed them. They were successful, and the reports of their discoveries reached their friends in Europe, from time to time. Dr. Overweg died of the fever on the 27th September, 1852, and in the early part of this year, the scientific public were alarmed by a rumor of Dr. Barth's death. greater was the joy. therefore, on the part of his nuadvancement of science, when, only a few weeks ago, merous personal friends, and those interested in the they heard of his safe return. Through France, Dr. Barth went to London, and arrived at Hamburg, his native city, on the 1st of October. He met there with the most hearty reception, all the learned societies conferred membership upon him, and the waited for him in Berlin, where Alexander Von city made him its honorary citizen; equal honors Humboldt introduced him to the king. He is now gone to Gotha, in order to publish, with the aid of Dr. Petermann, a detailed account of his travels and explorations, the results of which chiefly consist in the following:-Description of the true character of extension of the Mandif Group; proof that the eastthe Desert Sahara; ascertaining the situation and ern branch of the river Kewara, the Binue, is independent of the Lake Tsad and forms the natural commercial route into the interior of Africa; exploration of the rivers System, Baghermis, and Adamanas; and determination of the course of the Niger between Soccoto and Timbuctoo.

Relating to Drama and Music, there is but little to record. Mdlle. Rachel has left for the South. "The Dowager" has been produced at Wallack's with success, and the Academy of Music is continuing its series of operas. We shall hereafter devote more space to the consideration of Dramatic aud Musical topics.

MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.-M. Julien will commence his season of promenade concerts at Covent Garden on the 5th of November.-In a notice of a recent concert, the Shrewsbury Journal thus expresses its admiration of a lady vocalist: "In Mme. Gassier, however, we find fresh fields and pastures new."—Mr. Richard Turner, of Dublin, has lately contracted to fit up a wrought iron roof and all the upper machinery of a large theatre at Buenos Ayres, the cost of which will be upwards of 4,000l.—Mrs. Louisa Chatterly lately gave a dramatic reading at the Bristol Athenæum before a numerous and respectable audience. Shakspeare's comedy of Much Ado about Nothing was selected, and the Bristol Advertiser chars acterises Mrs. Chatterly's reading as "chaste, intelligent, and captivating." Meyerbeer is expected at Vienna on the 10th of next month, He is to direct in person, the rehearsals of the "Etoile du Nord," which wil be performed for the first time at Vienna on the fete-day of her Majesty the Empress. A license to open the theatre of Sebastopol has been accorded to MM. Devaux and Danterny, the managers of the French company at Constantinople.-A new Oratorio, by Herr Emil Naumann, of Berlin, entitled "Jerusalem's Zerstörung durch Titus," will be executed at Berlin (by the Royal Sing-Academie) in January, and at Dresden, in February next.-The receipts of the theatres, balls, and concerts of Paris in September last amounted to 1,558,997f., which were 96,500f. more than those of August, and double those of September, 1854.-At the close of the Paris Exposition on the 15th of next month, to add state to the distribution of the medals, music is to be performed under the direction of M. Berlioz, who is to marshal 1,500 orchestral and choral executants on the occasion.-The Turin correspondent of the Times gives the 1ollowing account of a new Italian cantatrice :-As