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most." This narrative of a Whaling Cruise, by a young man of the West, appears to us very nearly as clever a book as that of Mr. Dana. It is not in any respect modeled after it, and does not treat of any similar scenes, except those in which the ill-treatment of sailors is painfully exhibited. But it has nearly the same simplicity of style, directness of remark and earnest spirit of humanity, with a decided though never boisterous vein of humor, of which the "Two Years before the Mast" possesses very little. It is, unquestionably, one of the best books of the season, and deserves, as it can hardly fail to have, a wide circulation. It is published in the most elegant style of paper and typography, and embellished with a large number of engravings.

There is a great deal in the book that is really interesting. The writer tells his narrative not merely for amusement but for a purpose. He has, throughout the pleasantries of his wandering descriptions, like Dana, a design to show up the abuses of authority on the sea to which sailors are subject. Some of his censures are perhaps not quite reasonable, but in the main he teaches some noteworthy and painful lessons. The part of his adventures occupied by his whaling experience is amusing, and presents a good many clever scenes. After arriving on the eastern coast of Africa, comparatively unfrequented by vessels of commerce, the adventurer, whose whaling ambition had been quite tryed out of him, bought off his discharge, and remained several months at the Island of Zanzibar. His descriptions of the possessions, government and character of the Imaum of Muscat are of decided interest. He tells us many things that are new, and our stock of knowledge of the whole eastern coast of Africa is increased. Our readers will recollect that portions of these chapters were published some months since in the Review. He afterwards visited the Island of

St. Helena. The volume concludes with a very full history of the Whale Fisheries, abounding in novel and interesting matter. The book is a thoroughly readable one.

Engraving of the Capture of Major Andre, from a painting by A. B. DURAND, in the possession of the Hon. James K. Paulding. Figures engraved by ALFRED JONES; landscape by SMILLIE and HINSHELWOOD. Published by the American Art Union, exclusively for the members. 1945. (Size of Plate 18 in. by 13.)

Engraving in this country has not failed to keep pace with other arts: our best line engravings would compare well with the best of Italy and Germany. The excellent work before us, if it be taken as a measure of the public and artistic taste, shows nothing of the weak and superficial handling

of the late English school. There is more of Woollet and of Kilian than of Finden or Bartalozzi in the landscape and figures. The style of its execution leans more to strength and feature than to softness and smoothness: an inclination which speaks well for the rising spirit of the art. The shadows are profound and simple, the distances bosky and varied: the whole has a firm and clear effect, and produces an agreeable impression on the eye; but for its effect on the deeper sense we could find some fault with it. Only one thing strikes us, in the graver's part, as amendable, and that is that the accidental shadows on the figures are hard and patchy. The artist, in his effort after clearness, has fallen naturally enough into hardness-a fault in the present state of engraving which we incline rather to praise than to blame.

A word on the design of this excellent picture, (which we are compelled to judge of through the engraving only.) It strikes our fancy, or our understanding, or both, that the action of the soldier refusing Major Andre's offer of a bribe, is too theatrical. The honest man seems to be acting, in the worldly eye, not as an honest, bluff soldier of Washington's army, but as a very honest piece in one of Mr. Coleman's tragi. comedies. The Andre looks finished and elegant, has a Washington-like, i. e., firstrate gentleman-like, air, which is pleasing enough; but the sitting figure pleased our fancy best. By the by, are the " lights" of the flesh and draperies strong enough?

The Complete Poetical Works of ROBERT SOUTHEY, LL.D., (late Poet Laureate.) Collected by himself. New York: Appleton & Co.

This is a volume of eight hundred and forty pages, printed in clear and handsome type, on paper of the finest quality, and illustrated with engravings from a variety of celebrated pictures. The publishers deserve much credit for introducing the poetry of this distinguished author to the American public in so beautiful a form. The fact is, the time has now arrived when, in the mechanical execution of a book, our best Houses are getting to feel that they ought not to be eclipsed by the noted Houses of London. This is as it should be: many valuable works published within a few years have been remarkably cheap, but utterly unfit to put into any permanent library.

As an intellectual man, Robert Southey belongs to the race of giants. Very few are the men who, on the whole, have done more to enrich the treasures of polite literature; but on the present occasion we shall only express our opinion of him as a poet. Like all the master-minstrels of the past, e stands alone, and cannot with propriety

be compared with any of his brother poets. In his poetry, we find a most strong yet delicate imagination married to plain practical common sense; and the results of this union are of peculiar value to the lovers of what is true and beautiful in nature and humanity. The prominent feature of Southey's poetry is its versatility. The lover of heroic and historical poetry will find in Joan of Arc and Madoc in Wales the love of Freedom recorded in the most faithful style. The reader who would have glimpses into the inner being of the unfortunate, need only turn to his English and Botany Bay Eclogues, and his occasional pieces, where the pauper's funeral

and the sorrows of the bereaved are so truthfully described. He who would enjoy a hearty laugh, can turn to the Nondescripts and the Devil's Walk If one would participate in the wild and fascinating delirium of an imagination at once grotesque and chastened, he must read the marvelous legends of Thalaba and Kehama, which are enough in themselves to perpetuate an eminent reputation. No library can be considered complete without his poetical works, and no person can understand the full power of a virtuous minstrel without reading the poetry of Southey, whose morality is as eminent as his poetic faculty. Southey is not only a fine poet-he is an impulsive yet most rational philosopher; and neither his most charming prose, and almost as charming poetry, have been sufficiently read in this country.

The Jerusalem Delivered of TORQUATO TASSO. Translated into English Spenserian verse, with a life of the author, by J. H. WIFFIN. New York: Appleton & Co.

2. Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, translated by FAIRFAX. New York: Wiley

& Putnam.

"IN Venice, Tasso's echoes are no more," (unless you hire the gondolier to sing him;) but the chief effort of the second great poet of Italy will not easily die.

The Jerusalem" is, still, more popular among the Italians, as it has been for the last two centuries, than the "Divina Commedia" of Dante, though not placed by their critics in so lofty a rank, as an original work. It has also been translated into every cultivated language of modern Europe. This has spread widely the knowledge of it, though not, perhaps, its just reputation. If a translation be not very excellent, it inevitably lowers the idea of the original in the mind of the new reader of taste. Whether it is a favor, then, to an author, especially a poet, to melt his fine creations over again in a foreign crucible, depends entirely on the skill of the alche mist. Byron was glad to buy off some am

bitious Italian from turning his strong English into lame Tuscan; Milton, on the other hand, would very probably be gratified and proud if he could see the version of "Paradise Lost" made, some years since, into bold and sublime Icelandic. Tasso has not been unfortunate in obtaining an English dress. He is by no means so difficult an original as Dante. Not to be measurably successful would be a disgrace. Fairfax's version, of which Wiley & Putnam published some time since an elegant edition, was very rich and felicitous, possessing a fecundity and flow of expression almost Shakespearean. Fairfax, indeed, belonged truly to the Elizabethan age. Dr. Johnson put the wretched translation of Hoole before it; but the Doctor was a follower of Dryden and Pope, and had no appreciation of the riches of that earlier period. We never could get a great way into Hoole ; it is very smooth and very dull. The present version, by Wiffin, is infinitely superior to it. In some respects it is better than Fairfax's. It is as flowing and eloquent, but not so richly simple and picturesque has not so much of the quaint old splendor of adornment, like the illuminations of the Missal and the Gothic window. It has, however, the very great excellence of being more literal; it possesses also about equal strength. written in the Spenserian measure. We are not certain but the original octave stanza would have been better. An objection to taking it was, doubtless, that Fairfax had also chosen it. The octave is less monotonous. It is the same with that of Berni and Pulci and Ariosto, and which Whistecraft first imitated, and after him Lord Byron, in “ Don Juan." It is ridiculous, by the way, to call it the Don Juan measure, as if Byron invented it. The volume is executed in the same beautiful style with the Dante of the publishers. There is in the front the finest head of the poet we have seen a high forehead, crowned with laurel, and eyes strangely soul-full, but filled with profound melancholy. Poor Tasso! his whole face is as unnaturally sad as that with which "the woe-worn Dante smiled."

It is

Rudimental Lessons in Music, and Pri

mary Note Reader: 1 vol. 18mo., pp. 252, and 1 vol. 12mo., pp. 72, by J. F. WARNER, translator of Weber's Theory of Musical Composition, &c., &c. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

The former of these two works, namely, Rudimental Lessons in Music, contains the intellectual information which is properly concerned with the primary elements of Music, regarded either as an art or as a science, either in its relationship to vocal performance or to instrumental; and it is

intended alike for all persons taking their first steps in musical studies, of whatever description. Its distinguishing properties are completeness, valuable accession of new matter, late improvements in the method of teaching, naturally consecutive order of topics, clear and intelligible style, simplification of musical terms, extended and minute lists of questions, (adapted the more easily and thoroughly to impress the mind of the learner with the material points of the subject, and to facilitate the use of the book by teachers,) equal adaptation to both teachers and learners-to both vocal and instrumental students, and a peculiarly exact and methodical arrangement for the purposes of schools. The work bears obvious marks of proceeding from a master's hand, and of being admirably adapted to its object.

the

The Primary Note Reader, or, First Steps in Singing at Sight, consists of a series of note exercises fitted to beginners in vocal music. These exercises commence with the simplest rudiments of the vocal art, namely, with the mere scale, and proceed onward by a gradually ascending course of drills, through all the principal varieties of rhythm, the more common melodic or interval progressions, all the leading keys, both major and minor, more usual modulations, chromatic progressions, exercises in two, three and four parts, (including pleasant little songs, with words, passages with ornamental notes, exercises in the c-clefs, and vocalizations for the discipline and improvement of the voice. The characteristic peculiarities of these exercises are brevity, gradual progressiveness, intrinsic agreeableness, methodical classification, variety and completeness.

The two works, taken together, constitute a complete set of books for persons taking their first steps in the study of vocal music, and seem very finely adapted to lead the pupil, by a plain path, to thorough attainments.

Combined with the very great simplicity of those works, there is, withal, an elevation of character which entitles them to more than ordinary regard. They hold a marked distinction above most books of the kind which have heretofore been thrown into the market..

The Philosophy of History, in a Course of Lectures, delivered at Vienna, by

FREDERICK VON SCHLEGEL. Translated

from the German, with a memoir of the Author, by JAMES BURTON ROBERTSON, Esq. Fourth edition, revised. London: Henry G. Bohn. 1846.

A fourth English edition of a very famous book, which has furnished a whole generation of historic dreamers with plastic

notions. The author, one of the most learned and speculative of the conjectural school, entered upon the field of ancient and primeval history, as, in a dream, fancying ourselves kings, we enter and take possession of fairy land. Of all men that ever wrote or speculated on history, he is the most skillful in the use of facts, and out of two or three, will easily build a world, and carry it through a century of events. Particular institutions, the growth of ignorance and necessity, such as that of caste, of monarchy, of hierarchy, &c., have with him the force of divine ideas, and seem to be presiding like demons, or world spirits, over human destiny. The individuality of man is lost; his only merit is obedience; his only wisdom a tradition; all divine knowledge is the precious relict of a primeval communication to first created man. Dreaming happily amid these plastic topics, he seems to delight in the very tenuity and shapeless darkness of the past. He is eloquent amid his phantoms; and, by a copious and powerful style, and a free discursiveness, whirls his reader along with him through the wastes of his dream land. From such writers, as guides and instructors, we pray to be delivered. Let them delight us, and open our intelligence, but we need not too much admire them. Speculative intelligence is cheap enough now. adays: we have a deal too much of it. Meanwhile this writer has the praise of firing many a good intellect into a grander activity. While we deny and doubt him, he exercises us in an admirable manner; but the well-informed will read him with more profit than tyros in history. He stands first among his class.

Scenes in the Rocky Mountains, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Texas and Grand Prairies. By A NEW ENGLANDER. Carey & Hart.

On the whole, a very poor book ;-loose observations, loosely put together, intended witty parts utterly flat, and pathetic incidents set forth, often in the worst kind of lymphatic sentiment-a plentiful mixture of bombast and lack of sense. The simple and picturesque language of the Indian, where he attempts to give it—and the attempt is, unfortunately, frequent-is in general thoroughly spoiled by the stilted anglicising of our book-making traveler. tle new information-" two grains of wheat What is worse, the volume gives us very litin a bushel of chaff." He claims, in his preface, to add greatly to our stock of knowledge of these regions; but we have seen nearly the whole of it before. Then the writer must needs take up the idea, that great vigor and rapidity of style is to be gained by mincing the whole up in small paragraphs. More than half the book

is in paragraphs of single sentences. Still, hardly any volume can be written about the wilderness of prairies and mountains in the west, without containing some passages of interest; and it may be affirmed with reasonable safety, that a portion of the book is -worth reading. Several pages together are sometimes narrated with tolerable simplicity-and here and there a new fact may be gleaned. Something good is occasionally said of some animal or bit of natural scenery, when he does not attempt fine writing. For instance, a passage about the mountain sheep; the fine writing we have "pounded" in brackets.

"The flesh of this animal is equal in flavor to that of the buffalo. It is generally in good order, tender and sweet, and slightly assimilates our common mutton in taste.

"The habits and appearance of mountain sheep resemble those of no other animal.

They select for their favorite habitation the rugged fastnesses of ragged and inaccessible mountains. In the cold of winter, they descend to some of the numerous valleys that so beautifully diversify the scenery of these regions, where the verdure of spring so rarely fades; and, as the warm season advances, they commence their return towards the lofty snow-peaks, keeping even progress with spring and fresh flowers along the mountainside.

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[Theirs is a life of unbroken springbeauty and grandeur are their dwelling place and 'mid the awe-inspiring sublimity of nature's works, is their home. They gambol upon the fearful verge of the steep cliff, or climb its perpendicular sides, bidding defiance to all pursuers. There, secure from enemies, they rear their young, and teach them to leap from crag to crag, in mirthful gaiety, or traverse the dizzy heights in quest of the varied sweets of changeful spring. ]

"These animals are remarkably acute of sight, and quick of scent and hearing. The least noise or tajuture of the air excites their attention, and places them instantly upon the alert. Mounting upon some high rock, they will stand for hours in the same posture, gazing in the direction of the fancied danger. If fully satisfied of its reality, they abandon their position for another and a safer one, high among more rugged peaks, and often beyond the possibility of offensive approach. Their hue is so near akin to that of the rocks which

grace their range, they are with difficulty identified when standing motionless, and the hunter is constantly liable to mistake the one for the other.

"In size the mountain sheep is larger than the domestic animal of that name, and its general appearance is in every respect dissimilar-excepting the head and horns. The latter appendage, however, alike belongs to the male and female. The horns of the female are about six inches long, small, pointed and somewhat flat-but those of the male grow to an enormous size. I have frequently killed them having horns that measured two feet and a half or three feet in length, and from eighteen to nineteen inches in circumference at

the base.

"These ponderous members are of great

service to their owner in descending the abrupt precipices, which his habits so often render necessary. In leaping from an elevation, he uniformly strikes upon the curve of his horns, and thus saves himself from the shock of a sudden and violent concussion.

"The color of these animals varies from a

yellowish white, to a dark brown, or even black. A strip of snowy whiteness extends from ham to ham, including the tail, which is short and tipped with black.

"Instead of wool, they are covered with hair, which is shed annually. Their cry is much like that of the domestic sheep, and the same natural odor is common to both.

"It is extremely difficult to capture any of them alive, even while young-and it is next to impossible to make them live and thrive in any other climate than their own. Hence, the mountain sheep has never yet found a place among our most extensive zoological

collections."

He tells us some things which we never heard of before;-we doubt if any one else:

"While winding among the ravines and aspen groves, we obtained an indistinct view that my companions pronounced a 'carcague. of a strange-looking, dark-colored animal,

"Of the character, or even the existence of such a creature, I cannot speak from positive knowledge-this, if one, not being sufficiently near for a scrutinizing observation, and no other of the kind ever came in my way-but, in answer to inquiries, I am enabled to give the following description, for the correctness of which, however, I will not vouch, though, for my own part, inclined to accredit it.

"The carcague' is a native of the Rocky Mountains, and of a family and species found in no other part of the world as yet known. He seems a distinct genus, partaking the mixed nature of the wolf and bear, but is far more ferocious than either.

"His color is a jet black, hair long and coarse, and body trim and slender. His head and neck are like those of a wolf, but his wil and feet assimilate to the bear, and his body presents the marked qualities and appearance of both.

"In size, he is considerably larger than the common cur-dog, and is more agile in his movements. Unlike the bear, he will not run from the presence or scent of man, and regards the lord of creation' with neither fear nor favor. Hence, he is looked upon as a creature much to be dreaded by all who are anywise conversant with his character and

existence.

"The representatives of his family are seldom met with, which affords the principal reason why so little, comparatively, is known of his nature and habits."

He afterwards makes some ridiculous efforts to show that the Sioux had intercourse with the Romans. Thus-Bestia, (Latin,) a wild beast; Beta, (Sioux,) a buffalo; (!) Tepor, (Latin,) warmth; Tepe, (Sioux,) a lodge; (!!) Pater, Latin,) father; Pater, (Sionx,) fire; (!!!) Mena, (Latin,) a narrow sharp fish; Mena, (Sioux,) a knife; (!!!!) -a kind of reasoning by which Fuellen

showed Monmouth to be like Macedon; and Adair and Boudinot, that the Cherokees were the lost tribes of Israel.

He, again, p. 199, informs us of the existence, among the mountains, of a colony of white aborigines:

"By information derived from various sources, I am enabled to present the following statement relative to this interesting people:

"The Munchies are a nation of white aborigines, actually existing in a valley among the Sierra de los Mimbros chain, upon one of the affluents of the Gila, in the extreme northwestern part of the Province of Sonora.

"They number about eight hundred in all. Their country is surrounded by lofty mountains at nearly every point, and is well watered and very fertile, though of limited extent. Their dwellings are spacious apartments, nicely excavated in the hill-sides, and are frequently cut in the solid rock.

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They subsist by agriculture, and raise cattle, horses and sheep. Their features correspond with those of Europeans, though with a complexion, perhaps, somewhat fairer, and a form equally if not more graceful.

"Among them are many of the arts and comforts of civilized life. They spin and weave, and manufacture butter and cheese, with many of the luxuries known to more enlightened nations.

Their political economy, though much after the patriarchal order, is purely republican in its character. The old men exercise the supreme control in the enactment and execution of the laws. These laws are usually of the most simple form, and tend to promote the general welfare of the community. They are made by a concurrent majority of the seniors in council-each male individual, over a specified age, being allowed a voice and a

vote.

"Questions of right and wrong are heard and adjudged by a committee selected from the council of seniors, who are likewise empowered to redress the injured, and pass sentence upon the criminal.

"In morals, they are represented as honest and virtuous. In religion, they differ but little from other Indians.

"They are strictly men of peace, and never go to war, nor even, as a common thing, op pose resistance to the hostile incursions of surrounding nations. On the appearance of an enemy, they immediately retreat, with their cattle, horses, sheep and other valuables, to mountain caverns, fitted at all times for their reception-where, by barricading the entrances, they are at once secure, without a resort to arms."

Of course, our philosophic traveler considers them a colony of Romans ;-some persons might doubt if the people described exist at all.

The book is, perhaps, worth purchasing; but, with several others that have lately been written about these regions, it quite sinks out of sight in comparison with Fremont's Narrative, some parts of which are almost as admirable as Cæsar's Commentaries.

Light in the Dwelling; or A Harmony of the Four Gospels. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

This is a large and finely printed volume of nearly six hundred pages, intended to supply a short homily, to be read at the family altar, for every day in the year. For those who live not in the present, it is a most valuable work.

Chambers's Information for the People. A popular Encyclopædia. First American edition, with numerous additions, and more than five hundred engravings. Philadelphia: G. B. Zeiber & Co.

The name of "Chambers"-so long connected with one of the most unaffectedly useful and intelligent journals published in the language-is sufficient to insure for this into the work itself, we find it in every compilation a general regard. Looking way admirable, full of interesting information on a thousand topics, and, what is more, information to be relied on. The articles are, of course, by different hands, as is evident enough by differences in style; but the language employed is generally lucid and flowing, and marked with a simplicity suited to the subject.

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We have before commended this work, as undoubtedly affording more accurate information respecting the early ages of England, especially of the customs and manners of the people, with local annals, incidents, individual characteristics and gleams of biography, than any other history in the language. It has not the originality and polish of Hume, or perhaps the fullness of political changes to be found in Turner; but it is in general respects superior to them both, and is full of interest on every page. It is issued by the publishers with much elegance-quite equal in the main to the English copy, of which it is designed to be a close transcript.

A Text Book of Chemistry; for the use of Schools and Colleges. By JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, M.D. New York: Harper & Brothers.

This volume contains the substance of, the lectures which Mr. Draper has been accustomed for some years to deliver in the University of New York. It is much fuller than any school book on Chemistry yet published, containing, in a popular form, and lucidly arranged, all the modern discoveries in this interesting and important field of knowledge. The illustrations are ample.

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