grace,

One luckless day last week the poet met
A maid of such perfection, such a face,
Such form, such limbs, such more than mortal
Such dark expressive eyes, such curls of jet,
Arched brows, straight nose, round chin, and lips a Prince
Might sue to kiss-in brief, so many beauties,
Such hands, such waist, such ankles-O such tooties!
He really has not been his own man since:
Rum-punch will not restore his appetite,

Nor rarebits even make him sleep at night!--Am. Rev.
July, 1848.

There are two words, or rather applications of words, which we rather wonder should have escaped the author. One is" moderate," pronounced mordrit, which is much used in New England to express any amount of diminution either directly in bulk or quality, or metaphorically in mind or character. After hearing old Deacon X., for instance, declare that the new minister was "ruther m-o-r-drit," we should feel positive that a few months would witness a change of dynasty. The other is the Pennsylvania "ordinary," pronounced ornary, and applied in much the same way as the Yankee "moderate." That young lady in a backwoods village would not be a very desirable acquaintance, respecting whom the neighbors should unite in saying "she is ornary."

Every reader will probably call to mind similar examples which this collection does not contain; still it is as complete, perhaps, as could be expected for such a work, and may serve a good purpose in separating the language of coarseness from that of elegance.

Literary Sketches and Letters: being the Final Memorials of Charles Lamb, never before Published. By THOMAS NOON TALFOURD, one of his Executors. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1848.

It is almost superfluous to promise an extended notice of this welcome book as soon as time and space permit; we hope there are not many readers who would readily forgive the omission of one. At present it is sufficient to say that the volume is mostly composed of Lamb's letters, not before published, to Coleridge, Southey, Wordsworth, and others of his friends, and that they are quite as delightful as those which have already embalmed his memory. They authenticate the report of his own early insanity, and the story, which, before, we had resolutely believed to be the sport of some horror-loving invention, about poor Mary Lamb's having murdered her mother in a fit of frenzy, and the subsequent recurrence of her disease at intervals through life. They also place Lamb's character in a new light, and enable us better to do justice to his excellence. They show him as a religious person as well as a humorist, as a resolute, self-sacrificing man as well as the most genial of wits, and the most acute of critics.

The portrait in this volume is much more like him, that is, as we see him through his letters, than the one which was given in Talfourd's former life of him, published several years ago. The reprint is as it should be, a very neat one, and cannot be long in finding its way to the admirers of Elia.

A Manual of Grecian and Roman Antiquities. By Dr. E. F. BOJESEN, Professor, &c. Translated from the German and edited by the Rev. THOMAS KERCHEVER ARNOLD, M.A. rector of Lyndon, and late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Revised, with additions and corrections. New York: Appleton & Co. 1848.

This is no doubt the best school work of the kind we have. It is clearly arranged, and conveys all or nearly all that is known of the laws, manners, religion, &c., of those ancient namemory. This edition is supplied with occations, in a form that is well designed to aid the sional notes, and a complete series of questions. It is so compact and well arranged as to form a book interesting not only to students, but to general readers.

The Life of Jesus Christ in its Historical Connection and Historical Development. By AUGUSTUS NEANDER. Translated from the fourth German edition, by CHARLES M'CLINTOCK and CHARLES E. BLUMENTHAL, Professors in Dickinson College. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1848.

"The immediate occasion of this work," say the translators, "was the publication, in 1845, of Strauss's Life of Christ, a work which, as every one knows, created a great sensation, not merely in the theological circles of Germany, but also throughout Europe." "Notwithstanding the dread with which German theology is regarded by many English and some American divines, it was not in German soil that the first seeds of infidelity took root. It was by the Deistical writers of England, in the early part of the last century, that the authenticity of the sacred writers was first openly assailed. The attacks of Toland, Chubb, Morgan, &c., &c., were directed mainly against the credibility and sincerity of the sacred writers, and their blows were aimed avowedly against the whole fabric of Christianity."

English skepticism passed over into Germany. Among the various sects or classes of unbelievers, the most learned and numerous are the Rationalists, who endeavor to interpret Scripture by mere logic and science. They seek to free it from everything supernatural. Strauss

conceived the bold idea of regarding the whole New Testament history as a mythical narrative, like the story of Prometheus, or of Osiris. "All Germany became infected with the mythomania." Strauss, however, gave a deadly blow to that dry and ignorant rationalism which treats the Scripture as a common book of morals and anecdotes. The views of Neander, on the contrary, unite the learning and profound spiritualism of the best school of interpreters, with the evangelism of modern enthusiastic Christianity, as it appears in the orthodox churches of New England and Germany. His work has become indispensable to theological students, and all who wish to understand the doctrines of orthodox Protestantism.

ing a record of the observations of General Hull himself, on numerous public events in which he took a part, or with which he was personally acquainted. *** I have also read with a lively interest, the chapters on the Campaign of 1812. The narrative is clear and full, and whatever

judgment may be formed of the result, the particulars here set forth give evidence of having been drawn from the highest sources, and they are exhibited in such a manner as to present the controverted points in a just light."

This work of Mr. Clarke's must of course find a place in every historical library, and is necessary to complete one's reading on the later periods of our history.

The Life of Oliver Cromwell. By. J. T. HEADLEY, author of Napoleon and his Marshals, &c. &c. New York: Baker & Scribner. 1848.

The history of Cromwell and his times, so often handled and with such various success, must continue to interest the world while the

excite

spirit of liberty remains in it. Mr. Headley's successes as a historical writer have tempted him to try his hand upon this inexhaustible topic. His design seems to have been to give a rapid and brilliant sketch, such as may and interest the uninformed upon these topics. He has made it a popular history, in which all those qualities appear that have made his previous works among the most profitable literary enterprises of the day. The style is rapid, fluent, and exciting to the fancy; the action, we need hardly say, well sustained. It will doubtless be extensively read. The work is in one volume, small octavo, with an excellent portrait of Cromwell.

Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, comprising the results of extensive Original Surveys and Explorations. By E. G. SQUIER, A.M. and E. H. DAVIS, M.D. New York : Bartlett & Welford. Cincinnati: J. A. & U. P. James.

This long expected work, which constitutes the first volume of the "Smithsonian Con

tributions to Knowledge," published by the Smithsonian Institution, is announced for publication on the first of September. Imperial quarto, size and style of quarto Exploring and two hundred and ten engravings on wood. Expedition," illustrated by fifty quarto plates, Furnished only to subscribers. Price $10.

Modern French Literature. By L. RAYMOND DE VERICOUR, formerly lecturer in the Royal Athenæum, Paris, &c., &c. Revised, with Notes, alluding particularly to writers prominent in late Political Events in Paris. By WILLIAM STAUGHTON CHASE, A.M. Boston: Gould, Kendall, & Lincoln. 1848.

To those who do not read French, this work will supply a very clear and fair view of Modern French literature. It was prepared some time since for the Messrs. Chambers of Edinburgh, to whom the public are indebted for many books calculated to interest readers and spread the love of knowledge. The author has for many years resided in England, and writes in English. The notes, which refer particularly to writers more talked of since the revolution, appear to have beer judiciously made. Without assenting to all that is said respecting the character and tendency of many writings which are noticed, we think the author writes in a candid spirit, and is entitled to general credence. It is to be hoped the portrait of Lamartine prefixed to the title is a more correct one than that in the shop win

as

self-taught men," for their own purposes. But that is not the fault of the books. All writing, according to the Chinese doctrine, is sacred; so we may consider that all popular and entertaining histories are good-if people only make a right use of them.

Memoirs of the Reign of George the Second, from his Accession to the death of Queen Caroline. By JOHN LORD HERVEY. Edited from the original manuscript at Ickworth, by the Right Hon. JOHN WILSON CROKER, LL.D., F.R.S. In two vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard. 1848.

To readers of English history this will prove one of the most acceptable reprints of the day. Lord Hervey was one of the wits of a not very rigid or refined court, and his memoirs present a curiously diversified scene of politics and intrigue, like the letters of Walpole and others. Fancy a Senator, any of the most gallant and accomplished of those who adorn the halls of Polk the First, secretly penning day by day a narrative of the plots, schemes, and occurrences he is mixed up with, to be given to the next generation, and we can imagine the interest which such a work must have for antiquaries -those who live a century behind their time, and are the spiritual cotemporaries of their great-great-grandfathers. Books like this let us more completely into the Past than the after record of History.

CHARLES WILLIAM VANE, Marquess of
Londonderry, G.C.B., G.C.H., Colonel of
the Second Regiment of Life Guards. New
Edition, revised, with considerable additions.
New York: Harper & Brothers. 1848.

This is a very neat reprint of a standard work which was lately republished in England with many additions. Lord Londonderry was unable to bring down his work to the close of the war, having been compelled by ill-health to return to England after the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo. The additions to the present edition supply that deficiency, and bring down the history to the Peace of 1814. In this work the narrative of movements, &c., has the advantage of coming from an eye-witness; the latter half of the volume, from the battle of Corunna and the death of Sir John Moore, our readers need not be reminded, includes many of the Duke, then Lord, Wellington's most celebrated military triumphs.

CORRECTION.

The following correction is important. The writer of the article alluded to was misled by a newspaper report.

Indianapolis, Ind., July 26th, 1846. ican Review," on the 6th page, I find the followDEAR SIR:-In the July number of the "Amering paragraph:

"Six names were offered to be voted for, namely, those of Messrs. McLean, Clayton, Webster, Scott, Clay, and Taylor. The whole number of votes cast was 279. Of these Judge McLean had two votes, one from Ohio, and one from Iowa."

MCLEAN and his friends. His name was not beThis paragraph does great injustice to Judge fore the Convention to be "voted for." As a delegate from Indiana, I presented his name, but it was immediately withdrawn by Mr. GALLOWAY, of Ohio, who was authorized by the Judge thus to act.

May I ask you to give this note in the September number of the Review? Were yours a mere newspaper paragraph, it would not, probably, be worth the trouble to correct it; but it is a

different matter when found in a magazine of the character sustained by the Review. Yours, &c.

JOHN D. DEFREES. James D. Whelpley, Esq., editor of the Am. Rev.