Gowrie; or, the King's Plot. A Whim and its Consequences. By G. P. R. JAMES. New York: Harper & Brothers.

ble thing of its kind. This number contains "The Kite-fliers," "The Seven Boys and the Monster," from the German; "The Guest," a Dalecarlian Legend;" "Leonora, a little Drama in two scenes,' &c. &c., all well written, and some excellent.

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

The season for novelties in these departments has set in with great promise of fertility, during the past month.

Which of these is the eldest, or whether they be both of twin birth, written (as some learned contrapuntists have had a faculty of writing music.) with both hands at once, we have neither leisure nor curiosity to inquire. To say that we have read either of them would be to confess a capacity for mental subjection, or self-compression, which ought to disqualify us in the opinion of most readers for the office of criticism. We do not feel required to admit anything which would thus criminate ourselves and interfere with our profession; it is enough to say: "Gentle Readers, here are two more novels by James, republished by the Harpers. You all know what this author can do, from what he has done during the last fifteen years. He has been writing all this while, and there is every probability that he will continue to do so during the term of his natural life. It is impossible to read all his productions and scan the particular merits of each of them. They possess a strong, or rather weak, family like-puted, among the best judges. His perform

Dess. The first of these last two commences:

'On the 15th of August, 1599, a young man was seen standing on one of the little bridges in the town of Padua.'

The second opens thus:

"A solitary room at midnight; a close, single wax candle lighted on the table; the stiff, dull, crimson silken curtains of the bed close drawn; half a dozen vials, and two or three glasses."

So far as we have read, our opinion inclines to the first. The title sounds more romantic, and the sentence is short. In the second, when we come to the "stiff, dull, crimson silken," we feel that the author is going to draw the wire this time to the utmost degree of tenuity. It would require considerable courage to attempt a novel beginning with such a sentence; one need to be sure of several days to allow the mind to recover a healthy tone.

Still, we have all been indebted to Mr. James for many pleasant hours; and while we smile at some of his defects, it would be unbecoming not to speak of him with respect, as a writer who enjoys an unsullied reputation in a department where bad qualities most readily manifest themselves. It is a pity habit or necessity should compel him to write so much, he loses he art of writing well.

The Playmate, a pleasant Companion for spare hours. (No. 12.) New York: Berford & Co., 1848.

The masterly sketches that serve to illustrate this excellent child's book, together with the tales, some of which are translated from the German, make it, together, the most desira

At the Park Theatre, Madame Bishop has drawn very full houses, by appearing in unsupported scenas, bravura songs, and a not very elaborate or tasteful dramatic piece, got up to exhibit her fine powers.

At the Astor Place Opera House, Mr. Macready has also drawn good audiences, but has not, in general, been so successful as was anticipated on his arrival. He is not thought to have lost any of his ability, and his reputation as the first living actor is not, we believe, dis

ance of Hamlet alone should secure him this pre-eminence. We hope to find room during his visit to speak of his merits more minutely.

Maurice Strakosh, a pianist of great skill in the De Meyer school, gave a grand “festival” at the Tabernacle, on which occasion that building was lighted with a thousand extra candles, much to the inconvenience of the audience, both on account of the glare and the dripping. The great feature of the evening to lovers of good music, was the performance of Beethoven's Egmont, by a well-proportioned orchestra, numbering thirty-two violins. This overture is, perhaps, the greatest piece of musical tragedy ever written in that form, and its performance on this occasion was highly effective.

We have also had concerts by an excellent band recently arrived, the Germania Society. It is not too much to say that this is the best orchestral playing ever given in the city. At Mr. Pirsson's, the piano forte maker, they played some quartets of Beethoven, in a manner which few amateurs in this country have ever had a chance of hearing. But in public their bills are mostly made up of German waltzes-injudiciously, we think. Such music is not popular here and ought not to be anywhere. The most exquisite playing in the world could not make whole evenings of it attractive to our citizens.

A new young violinist named Ikelheimer, has just arrived from Paris. He is we believe a pupil of Vieuxtemps, and he gives promise of becoming a very great artist. But upon the only occasion when we have had an opportunity of hearing him, the instrument be used was so very unpleasant and screaming, we should have preferred lending him a better one to endeavoring to form an opinion of his merits.

Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Compauy of Hartford.

This Company, chartered by the Legislature of the State of Connecticut, with a Perpetual 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.

JAMES GOODWIN, PRESIDENT.

GUY R. PHELPS, SECRETARY.

NAUTILUS (MUTUAL) LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

Office No. 58 Wall street.

THIS Company recently organized, upon the improved and deservedly popular principle of mu tual 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:
A Whig Journal, Devoted to Politics and Literature.

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 connec tion 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 Party, 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.

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PHILIP D. WEBB, GENERAL AGENT.

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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.

Postage on this Review (five ounces) to all parts of the Union, 7 1-2 cents.

THE

AMERICAN REVIEW:

A WHIG JOURNAL,

DEVOTED TO

POLITICS AND LITERATURE

"TO STAND BY THE CONSTITUTION."

NEW SERIES. NO. VI.- WHOLE NUMBER XLVIII.

DECEMBER, 1848.

NEW-YORK:

PUBLISHED AT 118 NASSAU STREET.

TERMS.—$5 00 A-YEAR. PAYMENT LIABLE TO BE CALLED FOR IN ADVANCE, OR EARLY IN THE YEAR.

Edward O. Jenkins, Printer, No. 114 Nassau Street.

PROSPECTUS OF THE SECOND SERIES OF THE
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS,

TO BE CONDUCTED BY

PROFESSOR SILLIMAN, B. SILLIMAN, JUN., AND JAMES D. DANA,

AT NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

THIS Series commenced on the first of January, 1846, and will be published in six numbers annually, namely, in January, March, May, July, September and November, of each year.

Each number will contain from 140 to 150 pages, making annually two volumes of 420 to 450 pages each, fully illustrated by engravings, as the subjects may require. The price will be Five Dollars a-year, in advance.

This Journal is intended to be a faithful record of American and Foreign science. The "Scientific Intelligence" will contain a summary of the progress of Physical Science at home and abroad. The aid of the most able collaborators has been secured in carrying out the plan, and we trust the "Journal" will commend itself to a large class of readers.

A greatly increased subscription (over that which the First Series of 50 volumes could number) is required to sustain the expense of a more frequent issue and the reduction of price.

The most liberal discounts will be made to those who will act efficiently as agents in procuring new subscribers.

The New Series will afford a fresh starting point for those who have not been subscribers to the First Series, and the aid of all such is invited as a tribute to the cause of useful knowledge, and to the rising reputation of our country.

It is our design to make this Journal as popular and valuable as possible. The present system of reduced postage will take it to any part of the continent for ten cents per number.

Remittances and communications may be made by mail, addressed to the Editors of the American Journal of Science and Arts, New Haven, Conn.

Complete copies of the First Series of fifty volumes, with a General Index, may be had of B. Silliman, New Haven. The American Journal first appeared in July, 1818. Forty-nine volumes have been published, and the fiftieth volume, to consist of a General Index of the entire Series, is in the course of preparation, and will be printed as soon as possible. These fifty volumes, coeval with nearly a generation of men, cover a very important period in the history of Science and the arts of this country and the world, and must ever remain an important work of reference.

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