whelming interest excited by these exquisite pictures of the greatest poet, and the greatest novelist of this age. Washington Irving visited Abbotsford many years before the death of its illustrious owner. He was received with Scott's characteristic kindness, and with the cordial greeting which his own genius richly merited. The incidents and impressions of a few days' residence under the same roof with Walter Scott, are related with singular beauty and grace. The family of the great author, and all the persons that surrounded him, appear in Irving's pages in the most graphic colors. The impression of Scott's character, which our countryman's description leaves on the mind, is in harmony with all that has been previously known from other sources. Its rare beauty comes out the brighter, the more it is scrutinized. With what eager impatience will the Life and Correspondence of Walter Scott' be hailed by the world.

The visit to Newstead Abbey was after Lord Byron had sold the seat of his ancestors to Colonel Wildman. The anecdotes of Byron, and the sketches of scenes which possess a melancholy interest from their connection with the early but abiding feelings of the poet, are given in Mr. Irving's happiest style. It is interesting, to know that Colonel Wildman has repaired the old abbey, with a most judicious regard to its former character and the memory of his predecessor. The story of "The White Lady' is singularly interesting, and wild enough to belong to the veriest romance. It is told with the eloquence of a lively sympathy, and the narrative is varied with extracts from the writings of that strange being, both in prose and verse, which shed a mournful but interesting light on her unhappy character.

What a rich glow of imagination and poetry does Irving throw over all the productions of his pen! How humane and gentle the spirit that breathes from every page! How pure, graphic, and musical, the flow of his superb language! How delicate the turn of his thoughts! How magical the effect of his fitly-chosen epithets! It is honorable to the good taste of our age and country, that the beautiful creations of his genius are hailed with universal enthusiasm, and read with unbounded delight. Long may he continue to hold the high place assigned him in the world of letters, and to sway his mighty influence for the beneficent purpose of exalting the taste, enlivening the imagination, and awakening all the kindly sympathies of his countrymen.

Helon's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem: a Picture of Judaism in the century which preceded the Advent of our Saviour. From the German of Frederick Strauss. Boston: W. D. Ticknor.

pp. 293. 12mo.

The edition of this work now before us has been issued under the editorial care of the Rev. Baron Stow, of this city. It seems that the work appeared ten years since, in two volumes, and then enjoyed considerable popularity. The present editor has judiciously omitted many uninteresting portions of the work and the body of notes, which swells the bulk of the English copy, published in 1824, to an inconvenient size. The story is interesting, although perfectly artless-being, in fact, little more than a thread of narrative, whereon hang a series of descriptive sketches, many of which are uncommonly excellent, and all valuable for their accuracy. The view of Judaism, its imposing rites and ceremonies, its solemnity and splendor, is

at once comprehensive and impressive. The manner in which the various scenes are introduced, is very ingenious. Helon, a young Jew of Alexandria, whose opinions have been for a long time fluctuating, turns at length from the unsatisfactory study of other creeds, and from the Platonism of the Greek, to the observance of the law of his own nation. He resolves to accompany his uncle Elisama on a pilgrimage to the Holy City, and to visit, in his course, the tomb of his father, who, having died upon a similar journey, has been buried in the valley of Jehosaphat. The pilgrims set forth with a caravan, and on the way are joined by Myron, a young Greek, in whose company Helon had formerly pursued his theological researches. At the request of the Greek, Elisama relates the history of the Jewish nation, in a clear and interesting manner. The journey into the Holy Land is ful! of interest. The pilgrims arrive at Jerusalem. Helon is admitted into the.priesthood, and marries Sulamith, the beautiful daughter of Selumiel. The description of the latter is a good specimen of the style of the translation: -"The mother, though advanced in years, was active, and still handsome: but Sulamith, her daughter, who stood by her side, was glowing in all the freshness of youthful beauty, and united in herself every charm by which a daughter of Israel could fix the attention of the beholder. From beneath the large eyebrows, colored of a brilliant black, dark eyes, like those of a gazelle, sent forth their quiet brilliance, through the transparent veil which descended from the turban. Her tall and stately form was clad in a robe of fine cotton, which flowed down in folds, like a wide mantle; the sleeves hung loose, except where they were fastened with costly bracelets; the ears and the nose were adorned with rings of gold, in which rubies, emeralds, and topazes were set.' This alliance gives the author an opportunity to describe at length the ceremonies of the betrothment and the nuptials. Helon is happy, until, one fatal day, returning after a brief absence, he finds Myron at the door of his Armon, or house of the women. The indiscreet Greek, unused to the customs of the Jews, had sought the apartment of Sulamith, who, with horror in her countenance, had compelled him instantly to withdraw. But Helon arrived in time to meet him, and to become inflamed with a wild jealousy. Myron is driven forth with blows, and Sulamith shunned as a shameless adultress, when she solemnly proclaimed her innocence. She is brought to the ordeal of the water of jealousy.' The scene in which this is administered, Sulamith's innocence proved, and Helon made to experience all the horrors of remorse, is absolutely thrilling, because there is no attempt at fine writing, but a chaste simplicity, throughout, which seems to bear the impress of truth. Then follow the Day of Atonement' and the Feast of the Tabernacles;' after which, Helon, his wife and family, with Myron, who has espoused the true religion, embark in a Phœnician vessel, to return for a season to Alexandria. They encounter a terrific storm, against which they vainly struggle. After an hour, the storm ceased. And the storms of this world, too, had ceased for those who had found death in the wave, and life in the bosom of their God.'

The editor recommends readers to peruse this work with the Bible before them, turning to the Scripture passages which are referred to in almost every page. Of the utility of this production, there can be no doubt. The author concludes a few modest remarks upon it, in the following words, which may throw some light upon his design: It is well known, that the want of a lively and distinct picture of those local and national peculiarities which are presented in the Bible, revolts many

from a perusal of it, and exposes others to very erroneous conceptions. It is the author's prayer to him, from whom these precious records have proceeded, that the present work may serve, under his blessing, to make the perusal of the Scriptures more attractive and edifying; and he hopes those who shall drink with pleasure from his humble rill, will not be satisfied without going to the fountain of living waters.'

Blackbeard. A Page from the Colonial History of Philadelphia. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 2 vols. 12mo.

This is one of those unfortunate books which make the duty of the critic a seHere and there we find in it

vere one.

'a dash of purity and brightness,

Which speaks the man of taste and of politeness."

But, alas! these occasional gleams of light only serve to reveal the obscurity and darkness with which they are surrounded, and make us regret sincerely, for the author's sake, that the work was given to the world or rather, to that small portion of it which will be likely to peruse his pages. We ourselves labored through it, with a desperate benevolence, in the forlorn hope of finding an excuse for a tolerably favorable notice of the volumes. The author is doubtless a very clever fellow, and we have no doubt could write much better; and for this reason, we have no hesitation in condemning his present production, which is, in fact, rather the worst of the last batch of bad novels.

In the first chapter, we are introduced to the passengers on board the ship Santaclaus, a Dutch vessel, which left the port of Amsterdam July 4, 1732, bound for Philadelphia. Major Scheveiing and his niece, Barbara, the heroine of the tale, are thus brought upon the scene, together with one Jeptha Dobbs, a nondescript, whom the author appears to have intended for a Yankee, although we find nothing in his phraseology or conduct, to warrant the supposition. As a specimen of the wit of this character, take the following:

This here calm is not so remarkable agreeable, though I shouldn't like to bet that, as being a female, you might n't naterally prefer squally weather.'

'Nay, Mr. Dobbs, I am well nigh tired of this part of the ocean: pray, when do you expect to see land?'

Some time before we touch it,' answered Mr. Dobbs, breaking into a low chuckle, partly repressed through respect for the lady, yet sufficiently indicative of the delight he experienced from his own quaint jest.

*

All snug, Mr. Dobbs?' inquired the captain, as a matter of course. Mr. Dobbs leisurely inserted a long, slim portion of pigtail into his nether jaw, ere he answered, in his usual shrill and monotonous manner. Everything but the little brown pig, that Flemish Peter has been catching all the morning.'

At length, the Santaclaus approaches land, to the delight of Barbara. 'Her uncle stood near her, regarding the new world with a melancholy gaze. Years had passed since his only son, a youth of twelve years, had fled the paternal home; certain particulars were gathered, which, added to the knowledge of his roving disposition, left no doubt that he had embarked for some distant country, and every inquiry had been set on foot, but in vain. Long abandoned as lost, and by others long forgotten, intrusive memory would oft times sadden the fath

er's heart; and still lingered that faint hope, that, year after year, yet awaited tidings from his long-lost child.'

The Major and Barbara establish themselves at Philadelphia, where, among other characters, they become acquainted with one Oxensteirn, a gentleman given to alchemy, who is reputed to be several centuries old, and is considered a magician, because he shows a magic lanthorn and a skeleton. Next we are told all about Blackbeard, or Teach, the pirate, who has committed such depredations, that captain Solgard, of his Britanic majesty's man-of-war Greyhound, has been sent with orders to take him, dead or alive. The gallant captain, 'wi' a drappie in his ee,' stumbles upon Blackbeard and his crew one evening, at a house in the suburbs. He was drunk when he came among them, and found lying intoxicated after he had left them, having received no ill-treatment from the rovers. One of the pirates, Bill Jones, sings a song, in the carousing scene, which, to any admirer of Dibdin, or of common sense, will seem stupid enough:

'I am none of your fresh-water sailors,
But I am a real sea-dog;
And all that I ask of my betters,

Is plenty of 'bacco and grog.
If it comes to a fight, why, I'm ready
To handle a pike or a gun;

For, whether they 're cruisers or quakers,
To old Billy Jones it's all one.
So pass on the bottle, my hearties -
Dick Jenkins has got it, I 'spy;
For, as for you flummux of poetry,
That ere thing is all in my eye.'

Marx Scheveling, the long-lost son of major Scheveling, appears upon the scene in the person of a hunter, and is introduced to Barbara and her uncle, as Mr. Sylvan. In a scuffle with the buccaniers, this gallant gentleman gets wounded, and is affectionately nursed by Barbara, who falls in love with him—of course. He relates a tissue of improbabilities, called his adventures, to Oxensteirn. Having run away from his father, he finds himself, at eighteen, master's mate, on board the Spanish brig Lealdad, but leaves her for a lieutenancy, offered by captain Teach, then commander of the Spitfire, an armed brig, with a royal commission, cruising against the West-Indian pirates. After cruising for some time, Teach proposes to hoist the black flag, and Marx consents, provided the lives of all captives shall be spared. They had a very pleasant time,' as Marx seriously observes — plundering vessels of all nations on the high seas, until Teach gets sanguinary, and Marx, refusing to obey orders, is cast adrift in an open boat, and carried upon the shores of Yucatan. Here he surprises one Senora Serafine, and her attendant Spanish maidens, much after the fashion that Acteon surprised Diana; and he has the effrontery to dwell upon the accident with great complacency. Marx is hospitably received by the old gentleman, Don Raymon Vieyra, and the daughter falls in love with him - of course. But she is so proud, that she will not show her love-not she; she would sooner die first; and, in fact, she does die: but, in her last hour, confesses that she has bestowed her heart on Marx. The old gentleman soon followed his daughter to the grave, and left the whole of his property to young Scheveling. The monied youth now returns to Europe, over which he travels hastily, admiring all the lions, until he arrives in London, where he loses every sous to a certain lord George.

'Much to the surprise of the party, I believe, I politely congratulated lord George on his good fortune, took a parting glass of wine with him, requested a pinch of snuff, and set out for my own lodgings. Here I dressed myself in a most superb suit, perfumed and curled my iocks, until my glass assured me that I never looked so irresistible; and getting into a sedan-chair, was briefly conveyed to the presence of lord George's mistress. More favored by fortune than by love, his lordship had despoiled me of my estate; but, as if to compensate for my late disaster, the charming maid of honor' looked upon me with a kinder and more tender gaze than she had ever done before. Before morning, lord George and I were quits.'

There's a fine moral youth for a hero! But he has not finished exhibiting himself yet. After recovering from his wound, he takes an extra bottle of Madeira, insults his pretty little cousin, and then marches off with Oxensteirn, and takes Blackbeard. In the end, he discovers himself to his father, and marries the pretty Barbara -a reward for his manifold rascalities.

The tale is not without underplot there are the loves of Madam Markham, Dr. Eastlake, and Bob Asterly; the villainies of Blackbeard — murder — moonlight — burglary — aud a variety of other queer things, 'too numerous to mention.' Some of the subordinate personages exhibit a little spirit, and there are a few detached scenes in the book really worth reading; but, for the author's sake, we are very sorry that he was ever betrayed into print.

Indian Nullification.

Two years ago, the Rev. William Apes paid a visit to the Marshpee tribe of Indians, in Barnstable county, and preached to them. He is himself a full-blooded Indian, one of the last of the Pequots, and makes his direct descent from one of the daughters of the heroic Metacom, a matter of boast. He had, consequently, a natural claim on the sympathies of the people he addressed, and they invited him to settle among and preach to them, which he has since done, with great effect — receiving nothing for his clerical services, but supporting himself by the labor of his hands, and by vending books. Shortly after Mr. Apes settled at Marshpee, discontents prevailed among the tribe, which were attributed, by the newspapers, to the influence of Mr. Apes. It was also published concerning him, that he was a knave, and a gambler in lottery tickets. About this time, the Indians thought fit to throw off the authority of their white overseers, by public proclamation, and to prevent them from carrying wood off the Marshpee plantation, by direct force. Whereupon, a criminal process was instituted against Mr. Apes, and a commissioner was sent to investigate the affairs of the tribe by the executive, who also intimated that, if necessary, a military force would be sent to quell the alleged sedition. But the Marshpees agreed to rescind their proclamation, and contented themselves with a petition for redress of grievances to the General Court, which, at its next session, granted all their demands.

The book before us contains a full though concise history of all these matters. All the statements, therein made, are supported by documentary evidence. There is much interesting matter, which we have not room to notice. It is written far better than could have been expected from an Indian, and is well worth reading. The only fault we find is, that the author has suffered himself to be exasperated by the persecution he has endured.