Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

9.-FRANK FORRESTER'S FISH AND FISHING OF THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH PROVINCES OF NORTH AMERICA, Illustrated. By W. H. Herbert, author of Field Sports, &c. Stringer & Townsend, New-York.

This is a very elegant volume, from the press of Messrs. Stringer & Townsend, and does great credit in its appearance to those enterprising publishers. We, however, regard with small respect that perfection of idleness called fishing, and more particularly that frivolous wisdom and laborious indolence called "scientific fishing." It is the miserable resource of a roué and decayed English gentry, brought up to regard with contempt every useful employment, to eschew every means of advancing the human race, or promoting the general welfare. It would seem that these persons try every employment by one test only, viz.:" is it useful? does it in any degree tend to profitable results, mental or physical?" If it is convicted of any such tendency it is promptly voted a bore, decidedly vulgar, and not what can be called "scientific." Fortunately there are in this country but very few persons who take an interest in such unmeaning and idle pursuits; nor does there exist a class of aristocracy who are privileged for their idle amusement to set at nought the rights and interests of the people. Thus, the author of the compilation before us cooly laments, that in the northern and eastern states, "the jealousy of the farmers in regard to trespass on their lands, and the breaking of their fences, combine to render it (fox hunting) impracticable." The English of which is, that, in this damned democratic" country, a gentleman may not ride down a field of grain, destroy fences, and ruin property with impunity in the pursuit of his pleasure. Several attempts have been made to apply English notions of scientific fishing and gunning" to American streams and fields, but without any success. There are very many gentlemen, who, in the relaxation of the summer months, both gun' and fish ; but we have ever found that the most successful of these regard with unmitigated contempt the barren "science" of English books upon the subject-more particularly when those books are but impudent compilations from irrelevant works.

64

[ocr errors]

10.-WORDSWORTH'S POEMS.-The Excursion. By William Wordsworth. C. 8. Francis & Co.

The influence of the genius of Wordsworth, in correcting the poetic taste of the age by weaning it from the pompous inanities that marked the close of the last century, and enlisting the sympathies, feelings and tastes in favor of nature and that kindly philanthropy which does honor to human nature, has been immense. While the influence of nature upon man was his theme, he was frequently as just as profound. In a late number of Blackwood, Christopher North (Professor Wilson) remarks of Wordsworth's poetry, that "it stands distinct in the world. That which to other men, is an occasional pleasure, or possible delight, and to other parts an occasional transport, the seeing this visible universe is to him a life-one individual human life-viz., his own -travelling its whole journey from the cradle to the grave; and that life-for what else could be do with it? he has verified, sung, and there is no other such song." The Excursion," by far the noblest production of the author, was first printed in 1814, and contains passages of sentiment, description and pure eloquence, not excelled by any living poet. The principal character is a poor Scottish pedlar, who traverses the mountains in company with the poet, and is made to discourse with profound philosophy of the beauty and grandeur of nature. The edition of Messrs. Francis & Co. is a very beautiful one, and we doubt not but that the taste of the public will encourage the reproduction of others of the sterling writers of the language.

[ocr errors]

11. SHAKSPEARE'S DRAMATIC WORKS; with introduction, remarks and notes, original and selected-Illustrated. Phillips, Sampson & Co., Boston.

46

The first number of this magnificent edition has come to hand, containing the Tempest" complete, embellished with a beautiful steel engraving of Miranda. The edition is based on the text of that of 1623, with the notes of Mr. Singer, abridged in some respects, and extended and improved in others. The typographical appearance is very fine, and the large size of the type is very acceptable to readers of Shakspeare. The project of the edition is to publish semi-monthly numbers, each adorned with a steel engraving, and containing a play, complete, at 25 cents per number, an incredibly low price for the expensive and beautiful style in which they are produced.

12.-COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES; with a Synopsis of the Laws regulating the Foreign and Coasting Trade of the United States. John B. Satterthwaite, Wm. R. Brown, New-York Custom House.

This little work is most valuable-that gives at a glance a view of the laws regulat ing our intercourse with all nations. It is indispensable to the ship-master and merchant. The work is compiled by Joseph T. Talman, Esq., Deputy collector.

13—The HistorY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, from the discovery of the Continent to the Organization of Government under the Federal Constitution. By Richard Hildreth. 3 vols. Harper Brothers.

The history by Mr. Hildreth has already acquired deserved reputation for the comprehensiveness of its facts, and the clear and attractive style in which the narrative is given. So comprehensive and accurate are the details of the story, accompanied by a complete analytical index, as to make a complete book of reference to all matters, facts and incidents, connected with the subject. This feature, of itself, would be an immense acquisition to any library, did not its literary merits and attractive style interest the general reader. The mere series of events does not alone occupy the author, but collateral subjects of more general interest are treated in an able, philosophic manner, while a romantic interest is thrown around them. The fullest information in respect to the aboriginal occupants of the soil is given with the various origin and character of the first colonists from Europe, and the ideas and modes of organization which they brought with them; the administrative, legislative, judicial, and ecclesiastical systems of the several Colonies and States; the origin and gradual developement of our existing codes of laws; slavery; indented service; religious sects; freedom of conscience and religious equality; education; arts; manufactures; navigation; trade; the paper money system in all its forms and modifications; civil divisions, especially the boundaries of the States, when and how they became fixed as they are; the rela tions of the English Colonies to the mother country, to each other, to the Indian tribes, and to the neighboring Spanish and French settlements; the breach with the mother country; the Continental Congress; the Continental army and navy; the articles of confederation; the national administrative departments; the public debt; foreign and Indian relations; the State Governments; the Federal Constitution; including a full analysis of the debates of the Convention by which that famous instrument was framed. The table of authorities given at the close of the volumes, presents a broad field for enquiries for those who wish to pursue the extensive research which characterises Mr. Hildreth's work. The three volumes which compose the history are admirably got up, and do credit even to the world-renowned typography of the Messrs. Harper.

14.-MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM WIRT, Attorney General of the United States. By John P. Kennedy. Lea & Blanchard.

This is one of the most valuable books of the season-certainly one of the most intertaining books ever published in this country.

Although Mr. Wirt was by no means a politician, his memoirs have peculiar attractions for young men, from the hints in which they abound concerning public life and public men, aud the interesting personal incidents, anecdotes, &c. &c., which have been interwoven with the narrative. The editor, the Hon. J. P. Kennedy, has evidently had access to a very great variety of useful material, and has well performed the compilation and selection of the very agreeable letters of Mr. Wirt. If he had omitted his own, far from opportune or profound remarks upon those party organizations to which Mr. Wirt was a stranger, the interest and value of the work would in no degree have been lessened. The work is, notwithstanding, one which should be in the hands of every young man in the country. Its intrinsic interest will insure it a very general popularity.

Want of space in the present number excludes several extracts which have been reserved for the next number. They will be found highly entertaining.

15.-POSTHUMOUS WORKS of the Rev. Thomas Chalmers, D. D., LL. D. Edited by Rev. William Hanna, LL. D.

16.-INSTITUTES OF THEOLOGY. Vol. vii. Harper Brothers.

These two volumes of the Institutes of Theology, comprise vols. 7 and 8 of the edition of the Posthumous Works of Dr. Chalmers, and they are probably of most interest to the general reader. The rare energy of his mind, and the singular power of multiplying views of the ideas he presents, are well illustrated in these volumes.

17.-SUCCESS IN LIFE. A series of books, six in number-each complete in itself. The Successful Merchant, Lawyer, Mechanic, Artist, Physician, Farmer. To consist of biography, anecdotes, &c. By Mrs. L. C. Tuthill. G. P. Putnam.

This little volume illustrates by examples from real life, the means by which the eminent of all professions have reached superiority in the paths they have chosen, and is designed to point the way to the young mind, and to stimulate energy in pursuing it.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

AMIDST its sweeping march to victory, in all quarters, the Democratic party has had to sustain an unexpected defeat in the great State of New-York. The disappointment naturally felt at this result, was vastly increased by the extraordinary contrast exhibited in almost all other elections throughout the Union. The results of these had equally surprised both parties, exhibiting so much earlier than was expected, by the most sanguine, a complete recovery from the popular delusion, which induced many of the Democratic states to abandon the party nominee, allured by the false glare of a meretricious military reputation inciting even our southern neighbours to elect a vice President, whose abolitionism was veiled in the delirium of Taylorism. This recovery we had, even in the darkest hour, regarded as certain and inevitable. The reasonless clamor in favor of an isolated individual, who had no sympathies with any of the cliques, which agreed in nothing but to wriggle into office under the wing of General Taylor, could not last. For this motley crowd of mercenary partizans, the moment of success was the moment of mutual disgust. The elevation of the instrument of their cupidity, only served to show in bolder relief to the mass of his adherents, the nothingness of his pretensions. Those who aided directly in such a triumph have not been slow to make amends, by electing a democratic congress in both branches. Without enumerating all the states, the elections of which afford the strongest condemnation of the administration, if Pennsylvania, Georgia, Louisiana, and Maryland, came round of their own accord, to manifest their disappointment and chagrin at the administration of General Taylor in one overwhelming vote for the opposition, what might not have been expected of New-York! The results of the election, as it is, show that the undivided strength of the democracy presents a majority of some 25,000 votes in the state; that is to say-if the votes of all those who adhere to the democratic policy, in the state and federal administrations, were brought out unitedly in support of a single ticket, there is no manner of doubt but their strength exceeds that of their federal opponents by at least 25,000. Yet with this power at its command, we find a federal vote diminished by mutual disgusts between its several sections,

« ZurückWeiter »