opera and in the concert, she has earned an imperishable fame, at once worthy of her merits and creditable to the good taste that has awarded the palm.

Probably there never was a professional lady who, by uniform kindness and gentleness of manners to those around her, has won her way so rapidly and so permanently to their affections. Content with the share of approbation which the public has given her, she is a stranger to the jealousy which looks with suspicion on the fame of others.

It is worthy of remark, that Mrs. Wood sings equally before her audiences. If numerous, even her gratified feelings will not lead her to depart from the severe rules in which she has been disciplined. If few in numbers, she does not think it derogatory in her to do her best. She once said, I think professional persons bound to do their best, as well before an audience of one hundred as of ten hundred.' The claims of the hundred, to witness the representation, cannot be increased by the addition of the other nine hundred, although the addition may be flattering to the performer. Most professional persons seem to consider themselves disgraced by performing to a small audience. But the public know how to repay the feeling that induces a performer to dismiss the arrogant claim to constant crowds, and to respect an audience, though few in numbers.

There is another strong and decided characteristic in this lady, in reference to her friends, that deserves to be named. A principal point of her ambition seems to be, to satisfy the expectations of those she esteems, and she seems to make this the test of her success. If her intimate friends are satisfied, she is less anxious for others. The applause of the multitude is not enough for her, unless those whom she loves and regards approve her exertions. It is an enviable and lovely trait, as honorable to her heart as it is grateful to her friends. With such feelings, and with the rare talents that she possesses, it is not strange that she should be held by them in very high estimation. It is enough, perhaps, for the public to value Mrs. Wood for her musical powers; but it is to those only who see her in the enviable relation she holds in private life, that the accomplished lady and the amiable woman is fully known.

We have spoken of some of the leading qualities and characteristics of Mrs. Wood, as a vocalist. We intended nothing like musical analysis. We have only tendered our homage and respect to musical talent and genius.

The present engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Wood, at the Tremont theatre, affords to the lovers of their delightful art an opportunity to test the correctness of the view we have taken of their distinguished talents. Whether they will play another engagement in our city, is uncertain; but one thing we suppose to be definitely settled when they leave this country, at the expiration of the season, they will never return, as performers. No one, therefore, who has not heard them, should deny himself the gratification in store, or risk the possibility of being obliged to confess that he never witnessed the brilliant musical efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Wood.

TO THE READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS

OF THE

NEW-ENGLAND MAGAZINE.

THE present number closes the ninth volume of this Magazine. At the termination of the seventh volume, J. T. BUCKINGHAM, ESQ., one of the original proprietors, stated that he had transferred the work to DR. SAMUEL G. HOWE and Mr. JOHN O. SARGENT. This statement was acccompanied by a touching tribute to his son, for whom the journal had been established. After the death of that young man, so full of promise, so universally esteemed the father must have lost that lively interest, which, during his son's life, he had felt in the success of the Magazine. A decided improvement was, therefore, manifest in the numbers immediately succeeding its transfer. Its papers were less general and didactive. They exhibited great fervor and spirit, and attracted the public attention. The consequence was that, with no diminution in the number of its former friends, the journal increased in favor. The gentlemen, however, to whom it had passed, were almost wholly engaged in the arduous duties of other professions, and finding the labor of conducting it more onerous than they had anticipated, I became, at their request, associated with them in the charge-and, afterwards, sole editor of the Magazine.

The transfer to myself was made after the publication of the number for February last. For the volume which is now ended, and for the four last numbers in the former, I only am responsible. The errors of the work rest with me. Its chief merits are to be attributed to my correspondents. My plan has been to defer my own papers to those of contributors; the number of contributions has always been large; thus I have been able to impart a variety, which has at least been pleasing. It could not be expected that a journal, affording, like this, very limited means of compensation to authors, could attain a very high standard of excellence. It has presented, from month to month, to its readers the best papers from writers who were generously content with a very inadequate remuneration. Authors of celebrity, whose books are sure of popular reward, are vainly solicited to waste their efforts in the pages of a monthly magazine. Could the American publishers afford, like the English, to pay handsomely for articles, we should soon see our journals assuming a different character, and vieing successfully with the best transatlantic productions. As the case stands, it is unfair to make comparisons between the light literature of Great Britain and the United States. There are few educated men in this country who can yield themselves to the pursuits of literature and the liberal studies. With the exception of those whom Fortune has placed beyond the necessity of exertion, there are no authors by profession. The efforts of American

writers are, for the most part, made in hours of leisure, set aside from the time devoted to their regular business. When a poor man has attempted to live by authorship, he has been compelled to seek a resource from poverty as an instructor, or a lecturer, or in some such mind-wearing employment. I believe, however, that we shall soon see brighter days: The worth of literary labor is beginning to be appreciated. Political economists will not be suffered to rank literary men among the unproductive classes of society.' The author who furnishes learning for the inside of a Judge's head, will be regarded in as useful a light as the hatter who manufactures a cover for the outside. Authorship may soon be as much thought of as ownership; talents of mind may weigh against talents of silver; the figurative man be ranked with the man of figures; and the poet, who,

'Wrapt in imagination, hears
Celestial harmonies,'

be deemed quite as respectable as

"The churl who holds it heresy to think,
And loves no music but the dollar's clink.'

This Magazine will hercafter be conducted under better auspices. It will, on the first of January, be united with another work of a similar kind, in New-York, and be styled in future THE AMERICAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE. I have not thought that any objection could be made to a simple change of name; since the value of the work, to its readers, will, by this arrangement, be greatly enhanced. Its resources will be increased; and the names of new and popular writers added to the present highly-respectable list of contributors. I shall, moreover enjoy the estimable privilege of being connected, in the editorial duties, with gentlemen of talent and experience; and in the prospect of such valuable aid, it becomes my earnest expectation, as it shall be my strenuous endeavor, to render my humble abilities available in the task of elevating the character of our periodical literature. PARK BENJAMIN.

Boston, December 1, 1835.

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