Historical and Miscellaneous Questions. By | RICHMAL MAGNALL. First American, from the eighty-fourth London edition, with large additions embracing the Elements of Mythology, Astronomy, Architecture, Heraldry, etc., etc. Adapted for schools in the United States, by Mrs. Julia Lawrence. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1848. This is an excellent edition of a standard school book. The improvements are judiciously made, and the work is in every respect admirably adapted to its purpose. Without going into an extended critique, for which with regard to books intended only for a particular class, and not interesting to general readers, our pages afford but little space, we desire to be understood as heartily recommending it to the attention of teachers. The Thousand and One Nights. Illustrated by six hundred beautiful designs on wood. Harper & Brothers, New York. 1848. [Part VIII., to be completed in 12 parts.] This is Lane's translation of the Arabian Nights. We greatly prefer it to all others. The present number contains a story that we do not remember to have seen-the story of the City of Brass, of the Battles of Solomon, in which were matured the evil spirits that rebelled against God, and of the wars of the birds, beasts and Genii, related by the Afrite Danhash, in his place of torture in the pillar of brass. It is by far the wildest of all these stories, and probably contains more of the supernatural and of the peculiar sentiment of the East, than any other of these wonderful fictions. Lane's translation is particularly valuable to critics and persons of taste, as it gives the spirit and style of the original, with all the quotations from the Arabic poets, &c. &c. The illustrations are in the best taste, correct in costume and architecture. Fairy Tales and Legends of many Nations. Selected, newly told and translated, by C. B. BURKHARDT. Illustrated by W. Walcut and J. H. Cafferty. New York: Baker & Scribner. 1849. This is as appropriate a gift-book for little readers as could be desired. The stories are mostly new and interesting, and the printing and illustrations are very neat. Mr. Burkhardt has been very happy in the selection of a motto from Wieland for his title-page "Believe me, there is ne'er so light a fairy tale, The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus, to which are added those of his companions. By WASHINGTON IRVING. Author's revised edition. Vol. I. Small 8vo. New York: George P. Putnam, 155 Broadway, and 142 Strand, London. 1848. It is only necessary here to announce the appearance of this elegant edition of Washington Irving's Columbus, revised by his own hand. After an interval of many years, we read it again with renewed delight, and thank the author for providing us a mental entertainment so elegant and so instructive as this history. The Iliad of Homer, translated into English prose, as literally as the different idioms of the Greek and English languages will allow. With Explanatory Notes. By a Graduate of the University of Oxford. First American from the fourth London edition. Thoroughly revised and corrected; with additional notes. Princeton Published by George Thompson. 1 vol. 8vo. The reading of this translation has renewed for us old enjoyment. It leaves the same impression upon the mind that is left by hearing Homer translated aloud by a good literal scholar. Readers who wish to renew their acquaintance with the greatest of poets, but who have no leisure to review their Greek, may rely upon this translation. It is of course a necessary addition to the library of the solitary student, whose means or opportunities do not afford him the aid of a private tutor. We value our own copy beyond all other translations. It is full, free, and spirited. Hobart's Analysis of Bishop Butler's Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to the Constitution and Course of Nature. With Notes. Also Crawford's Questions of Examination. Revised and adapted to the use of Schools. By CHARLES E. WEST, Principal of Rutgers Institute in the city of New York. New York: Harper & Brothers. A small, cheap edition of Butler's Analogy. A Treatise on the Diseases and the Hygiene of the Organs of the Voice. By COLUMBAT DE L'ISERE, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, &c., &c., &c. Translated by J. F. W. LANE, M.D. Boston: Otis, Broaders & Co. A work containing in a very small compass all the important facts concerning the mechanism of speaking and singing, and of the various diseases which affect these functions. The book is both curious and valuable. New Edi The Works of Washington Irving. The style of this celebrated collection of essays, seems rather to gain in vivacity and richness, like good wine, as it grows older. It is, perhaps, the most perfect example of a pure Addisonian English, produced by an American. Of the interest of the "Sketches," as works of fancy and feeling, the world is well informed already. The volumes of this series are elegant, but not expensively got up. Observations on the Pathology of Croup, with This little work is important for containing a description of the new method now in use of curing inflammation of the pharynx and throat generally, by the application of a solution of nitrate of silver, applied by the sponge : a great improvement. A plate of the instrument used is given. MUSIC AND THE DRAMA. The past month has brought the commencement of the opera season, and has also been fruitful in concerts. The merits of the principal vocalists of the opera company have been discussed and settled. Truffi, the prima donna, is a singer of much excellence, but is on the whole perhaps quite as much indebted for her success to her dramatic powers, as to those she possesses as a mere vocalist. The orchestra this season is admirably conducted by Mr. Maretzek, formerly chorus master, we believe, at the Queen's Theatre in London. They accompany with precision, but in general much too loudly for our taste. The donna seconda, Madame Laborde, is a vocalist of great merit-one of the best studied artists we have lately had among us; her voice is not large, but she manages it with so much skill that she is already a favorite with the opera audiences. We hear nothing but the most confident assurances of a successful season at this establishment-which if Mr. Fry accomplishes, he will achieve a task of so much difficulty that he will deserve to be decreed a triumph, or at least an ovation. Besides the opera, the city has produced many interesting concerts, and there has been an influx of foreign artists quite unparalleled in our musical history, and not a little alarming to our resident performers, who find themselves in prospect of being brought in competition with the first of their art in Europe. [Dec., Young Ikelheimer, a violinist of uncommon promise, gave a concert which did not attract in proportion to his merit. He was assisted by Miss, or Fraulein, Valesca Klietz, from Berlin, a very unassuming and unexceptionable singer; she has a pure quality of tone, and is well studied, but wants those striking qualities, sary to win the public. which, whether good or bad, seem to be neces The Germania band have continued to give concerts, all, with the exception of one got up for their benefit by many of the best artists and amateurs of the city, at a loss. At that they were assisted by our two pianists, Messrs. Scharfenberg and Timm, who played a bril liant duet by Chopin. Generally the music played by this company has not been either clasHad they boldly produced none but good music or popular, but dry German waltz music. sic from the first, and put themselves on that ground, we cannot but think they would have been more successful. As it has been, they have given so large a mixture of poor stuff that people would not go to hear it. Once or twice they gave the beautiful Midsummer Night's Dream of Mendelssohn, a piece in which the composer seems to have caught the very spirit of Shakspeare's poem. They gave also Beethoven's wonderful C minor symphony, in a style in which it was never before heard in this country. In private, at Mr. Pirsson's, a number of them played a quartet of Beethoven's, Op. 18, a quintet of Spohr's, a sextuor of Bertini's, and two movements of a septet of Hummel; they were assisted by Mr. Timm and Mr. Joseph Burke, who played Mendelssohn's unique violin concerto-why is it that artists are so very fearful of letting the public hear such music as most of this was? In addition to the Germania we have another similar band, of it is said equal merit, from Berlin, under Josef Gungl, and another from Dresden; the Distin horn family, (excellent performers, we are told,) from England, have their pictures in the music store windows; a brother and sister, violin and piano, also are there seen, and we hear of more soloists and infant prodigies on their way here than there is room to enumerate. Meantime our music dealers say that the best class, and indeed all classes of purchasers buy nothing but Ethiopian melodies. The prospects of the art are anything but encouraging. The Philharmonic have in rehearsal for their first concert, Mozart's Jupiter symphony, and a new symphony by Gardé, a protégé of Mendelssohn's, which showed more power of invention in the ideas than in their treatment. At the theatres nothing has transpired wor thy of special note since the departure of Mr. Macready. The Placides at the Park have drawn good houses, but their version of Dombey was very little to our taste. Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Compauy of Hartford. This Company, chartered by the Legislature of the State of Connecticut, with a Perpetúal Charter, and upon the purely Mutual plan, ranks among the soundest institutions of the country. There are many features in the operations of this Company not common to other institutions of the kind, among which are, first—a payment of all the dividends to the insured during the lifetime of the party insured; second-when the party insured prefers, he can pay one-half the annual premium by giving his note, which note may be renewed, from year to year, by paying the interest at 6 per cent. Thus far the dividends of the Company have been equal to the notes, thereby cancelling the notes, and thus saving to the insured one-half the premium taken by other companies. Persons insuring now will be entitled to the dividend, to be made on the first day of February next, which promises to be very large. NEW YORK OFFICE, No. 54 WALL STREET. N. D. MORGAN, Agent. J. W. JUDD, AGENT FOR APPLICATION. HARTFORD OFFICE, No. 158 Main Street. GUY R. PHELPS, SECRETARY. JAMES GOODWIN, PRESIDENT. NAUTILUS (MUTUAL) LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. Office No. 58 Wall street. THIS Company recently organized, upon the improved and deservedly popular principle of mutual assurance, will confine its business exclusively to Insurance on Lives. It commences with a capital of $50,000, which will be continually augmenting as its business increases. The rates of premium correspond with those of other American Companies. One of the peculiar advantages attending insurance with this company is, that all the assured share annually in its profits, and are interested in its success; for its charter provides "that each and every member shall be annually credited with his proportional share of the amount of premiums earned, after deducting losses and expenses. But in no case shall his share of loss exceed the amount of such premium." These earned premiums or profits will be safely invested by the company, constituting a permanent fund, annually augmenting for the benefit and security of all parties interested. The Rates of Insurance on One Hundred Dollars, on a Single Life, for One Year. Persons may effect insurance on their own lives or the lives of others. A man may effect insurance on his own life in the name of his wife for her benefit, and paya. ble to her-and in case of her death previous to the death of her husband, payable to her children for their use, and to their guardian if under age. LEWIS BENTON, Secretary. PLINT FREEMAN, Actuary. ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Jun., Attorney. J. D. P OGDEN, President. A. M. MERCHANT, Vice President. Medical Examiners.-George Wilkes, M.D., 28 Laight street, Cornelius R. Bogert, M. D.,5 St. Mark's Place. OF THE AMERICAN REVIEW: JAMES D. WHELPLEY, EDITOR: WITH THE ASSISTANCE, IN THE POLITICAL DEPARTMENT, OF THE HON. DANIEL D. BARNARD. In the original Prospectus of the AMERICAN REVIEW, issued at Washington by Mr. Colton, its former proprietor and Editor, a number of the leading Whig Members of the Twentyseventh Congress (1845-6,) subscribed their names to the following resolution: "Earnestly approving the plan of such a National organ, long needed and of manifest importance, the undersigned agree to contribute for its pages, from time to time, such communications as may be necessary to set forth and defend the doctrines held by the united Whig Party of the Union. Signed by Geo. P. Marsh, Daniel D. Barnard, J. McPherson Berrien, J. R. Ingersoll, E. Joy Morris, T. L. Clingman, Daniel Webster, R. C. Winthrop, Thos. Butler King, Hamilton Fish, J. P. Kennedy, J. Collamer, Wm. S. Archer, Rufus Choate, Alexander H. Stephens." By an agreement with the present Proprietors, Mr. Barnard continues his political connection with the Review as an adviser and regular contributor. An engraved portrait of some distinguished person will be found in every number of the Review. These will usually be portraits of living American Statesmen, and whenever that is possible, will be accompanied with an authentic Memoir of the person represented. The first objects of the Review are of course political: it is designed to set forth and defend the principles, the measures, and the men of the UNITED WHIG PARTY of the Union. It has been a matter of just reproach to that Farty, that, though it embraces in great part the intelligence and learning of the country, it has had no Quarterly or Monthly organ devoted to the expression and defence of its opinions and measures. The conductors of the American Review, have done what in them lies to remove this reproach by securing contributions from sources of undoubted ability and truth. It is their intention, if possible, that no Whig in the Nation shall want either Arguments to defend, or Authorities to support his opinions. The literary department of the Review will agree in spirit with the political. The conductors believe that there is learning and originality enough in this country to sustain their enterprise to the full. The Foreign Miscellany of each number will be as authentic as the best foreign papers can make it, and may be referred back to as an accurate Chronicle of the times. TERMS.-$5 00 a-year. Payment to be called for in advance, or early in the year. Agents for the Review. PHILIP D. WEBB, GENERAL AGENT. Mr. HENRY M. LEWIS is our traveling agent for Alabama and Tennessee. Mr. ISRAEL E. JAMES for the Southern and Southwestern States, assisted by James K. Whipple, William H. Weld, O. H. P. Stem, John B. Weld, T. S. Waterman, John Collins, James Deering, Isaac T. Guyer, and R. S. James. Mr. C. W. JAMES for the Western States, Iowa and Wisconsin, assisted by James R. Smith, J. T. Dent, T. Gardiner Smith and F. J. Hawes, John W. Armstrong, Jassen Tayler, E. M. Stevenson, and W. Ramsey. John W. Moore, D. M. Dewey, LOCAL AGENTS. 30 School st., Boston. Lowell, Mass. Rochester, 66 Utica, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. So. Middleton, N. Y: |
