Page images
PDF
EPUB

marked weaknesses; but they are at the same time among the most suggestive books of the day,-genial, beneficent, large-minded, often subtile, and always lifting the reader up to an elevated, purified atmosphere of thought, and that too without the consciousness of constraint or effort on his part. They are most companionable books.

Hugh Miller, the self-taught geologist, lectured some time ago before the London Young Men's Christian Association on Moses and Geology, assuming that the Biblical cosmogony and that taught by geology can be reconciled only by the interpretation of the word "day," in Moses, to mean period-and a long period too. His lecture has been published by Gould & Lincoln, Boston, in a small, mailable volume, entitled The Two Records. It is lucid, and makes out a "strong case" for the geological hypothesis, and an equally strong one for the Bible. Hugh Miller is always sensible and always vividly interesting; there is a rare combination of the sobriety of science and the sensibility of the poet about him.

Lucy Herbert is the title of a juvenile volume issued by Munroe & Co., Boston. It is a capital little sketch of a "little girl who would have an education;" but we refer to it the more particularly, to commend its exceedingly beautiful mechanical execution. The engravings, eight in number, are unusually fine, and the typography and binding correspond. We believe that the appearance of a book-its artist and artizan style-is no small source of its influence on the tastes and culture of childhood. Munroe & Co. show that they understand how to appreciate the fact.

Carlton & Phillips, New-York, have issued a new work which we commend, with no little emphasis, to such of our readers as like close and luminous thinking. It is entitled, Natural Goodness; or, Honor to whom Honor is due, by Rev. T. F. R. Mercein. It is summarily an essay on the distinction between morality and religion, with "suggestions toward an appreciative view of moral men, the philosophy of the present system of morality, and the relation of natural virtue to religion." The volume teems with good thoughts, it abounds in striking passages, and is written in a style of much vigor, though at times it bears evidence of the verbal elaborateness which is usual to able minds while yet unpracticed in writing. No man who reads this book will close it without feeling that he has been communing with a mind of rare acuteness and power, and has been advanced in his appreciation of a most important subject.

Several of the productions of Rev. Dr. Tweedie -a Scotch author of some ability-have been published in this country. They are all characterized by a rare power to prepossess and carry along the reader-impressing him as well by their subtile, moral vitality, as by the clearness and force of their thoughts. Gould & Lincoln, Boston, have issued another of his works, entitled, A Lamp to the Path. It illustrates the uses of the Bible-the aids and comforts of religion-in "the heart, the home, and the market-place." Illustrations from the per

sonal history of noted men are abundantly used. The book is quite popular in its adaptations.

Messrs. Carters have added to their "Fireside Series" two new and attractive little volumes: one is entitled, The Woodcutters of Lebanon, and the Exiles of Lucerna-by the author of "Morning and Night Watches"-a Jewish story, written with much ability, and avoiding skillfully the liabilities of a close imitation of oriental style. The other is entitled Mabel Grant, by Randall H. Ballantyne. It is a well-written story, with the best religious tone.

One of the most prolific presses of our city is that of Redfield, Nassau-street. Among other recent publications bearing its imprint, we have received a very interesting volume giving the of America in the years 1811-14, by Gabriel Narrative of a Voyage to the North-west Coast Franchere, translated by J. V. Huntington. Franchere was one of the employees of Astor, and narrates the interesting scenes of the voyage of the Tonquin, (sent out by that prince of merchants,) the founding of Astoria, and his personal adventures in Oregon and the Northwest generally. The book is of no small value for its historical data, and for its entertaining sketches.

Peterson, Philadelphia, has issued Miss Leslie's New Receipts for Cooking. We editors have stomachs like other men, it is to be presumed; but it can hardly be expected of us to be au fait in this kind of literature; an excellent authority at hand assures us, however, that Miss Leslie's books (notwithstanding "Mrs." would be more authoritative than "Miss," in such a case,) are among the very best manuals of the kind extant. The present one professes to contain everything valuable that is new or recent in the gastronomic art, and abounds in general counsels about good housewifery, that will strike all sensible men, at least, as exceedingly pertinent for their better halves.

Carlton & Phillips, New-York, have published a new edition of Mattison's Doctrine of the Trinity, a very comprehensive and yet minute dissection of the whole subject of Arianism. It meets the special objections of Unitarians, Hicksites, Universalists, Mormons, "Christians," " Newlights," &c. The work is of course designed to be popular in its style, both of language and of logic; but it displays throughout careful study and acute powers of analysis.

The Knout and the Russians is the title of another volume, called forth-in the American market at least by the excitement of the "Eastern Question." It is a translation, by Mr. John Bridgeman, from the French of Germain de Lagny. De Lagny gives abundance of information respecting the Muscovites and their Czar, but his pen distills the very venom of prejudice. There are bad enough things, in all conscience, to be said against Nicholas and his bears; but this Frenchman begins, continues and ends, in one almost unmitigated strain of passionate abuse. The engravings are numerous, but poorly printed. Some of them, as the reader will notice, are taken from the same sources as those we give in our articles on St. Petersburgh. Harper & Brothers, New-York.

[ocr errors]

Literary Record.

The Book Season in England-Silvio Pellico-Robert Owen-Confessions of a Converted Infidel-Bulwer's Works-Education in Turkey-United Association of Schoolmasters - British Museum-Villemain's New Work-Life of Jefferson-Count GurowskiLever-New-York Historical Society-Lady Bulwer-A New Mormon Alphabet - Periodicals in Egypt-Autobiography of Lamennais--Autobiography of Talleyrand-Guizot's Life of Cromwell-History of the Salons of the Seventeenth Century-The Potiphar Papers-Theodore Parker-LamartineLiterature in Liverpool

"Confessions of a Converted Infidel, with Incidents of Travel," is the title of a forthcoming work, from the pen of Rev. John Bayley, of Virginia. It will contain an outline of his own life-the progress of his mind through infidel difficulties to faith and a life of Christian usefulness. Such works are the very best appeals to skeptics.

A collected edition of Sir Edward Bulwer

Lytton's Poetical and Dramatic Works is in the press in London.

It is stated, on the authority of a work re

a law of the Turkish empire requires every citizen, as soon as his children have reached their sixth year, to inscribe their names in the books of one of the public schools, unless he can prove his ability to educate them at home. At Constantinople, it is reported that there are now 396 free schools, frequented by 22,700 children of both sexes. There are likewise six secondary schools with about 1,000 pupils. In order to gain an entrance into these, five years must have been spent in the free schools. There is also a high school for young men, who are intended for public employments, a college for the same object, a normal school for the education of professors, an imperial college of medicine, a military, a naval, and an agricultural school. Of these schools the Sultan is superintendent, and he attends their examinations. The public libraries of Constantinople contain 70,000 volumes.

We learn from The London Athenæum, that notwithstanding the excitement attending on war -excitements which are commonly supposed to supersede more peaceful interests-the prom-cently published in England, that, since 1846, ise of the book season in England is little, if at all, below the corresponding period in other years. Among the works announced for early publication, we find Dr. Waagen's "Treasures of Art in Great Britain ;" General Nott's "Memoirs and Correspondence;" Mrs. Jameson's "Common-place Book ;" and a "Hand-book for Turkey;" the last mentioned being one of Mr. Murray's series of Continental Hand-books; "The Life and Correspondence of Charles, Lord Metcalfe, late Governor-General of India, Governor of Jamaica, and Governor-General of Canada," by Mr. Kaye; the third volume of the "Memorials and Correspondence of Charles James Fox," edited by Lord John Russell, is in preparation; as are also the seventh and eighth volumes of "Moore's Memoirs." The Dean of Hereford has a volume in the press, "Lessons on the Phenomena of Industrial Life." A volame of "Original Letters," by James Boswell, is promised. A "Life of Amelia Opie" is announced as in course of preparation, from her own diaries, by Mrs. Brightwell. The third volume of Mr. Forster's "One Primeval Language;" "A History of the Papacy," by the Rev. J. E. Riddle, the "Latin Lexicographer;" "The Institutes of Metaphysics, or the Theory of Knowing and Being," by Professor Ferrier,

of St. Andrews. The second volume of Mr. Finlay's "History of the Byzantine Empire, including the Last Days of Constantinople under the Greeks ;" and the third volume of Sir A. Alison's " History of Europe," are shortly to appear. Among the novels which are being prepared by lady-caterers for public amusement, are works by Miss Jewsbury, Mrs. Marsh, Mrs. Trollope, and the Author of "Margaret Maitland." To these promises we may add "The American at Home," by Judge Haliburton, and Colonel Landmann's "Military Memoirs."

Silvio Pellico has left behind him a number of manuscripts. They are in course of preparation for the press. A brother of the deceased poet has been left his literary executor. Among the manuscripts left there is an autobiography of Pellico, entitled "My Life before and after my Imprisonment."

"The Future of the Human Race," is the name of a pamphlet published by Robert Owen. It is based upon table-rapping and spiritual letter-writing. The old man, from being a downright unbeliever, has become a credulous fanatic.

in London by the United Association of SchoolA permanent Exhibition is about to be opened masters of Great Britain, containing specimens of educational books, maps, diagrams, models, in the pursuit of their profession. Several eduand apparatus, and intended to assist teachers cational Societies, publishers and authors of various works, it is said, have given their aid to the undertaking.

A large portion of the manuscript of The Sentimental Journey, in Sterne's own holograph, has been purchased for the autograph department of the British Museum, which has also obtained between sixty and seventy letters from Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, including the last he ever wrote to any one.

The first volume of M. Villemain's Souvenirs Contemporains d'Histoir et de Litterature has been published. It is occupied principally with a Memoir of M. de Narbonne, Minister of War under Louis XVI. He is not of much individual importance, but was intimate with de Stael, Napoleon, Fox, Lafayette, and others. Napoleon talked much and unreservedly with him, the records of which were given by Narbonne to Villemain.

Mr. Randall, our late Secretary of State, is engaged on a Life of Jefferson; the first volume of which, it is expected, will be published this month. It is understood that he writes with the full approbation of the Jefferson family, and that all its members have favored him to

the utmost with their recollections, and with the private family manuscripts of every kind in their possession. The memoir will contain a large amount of entirely new and interesting matter, especially in relation to the earlier portions of Mr. Jefferson's life, before he passed from Virginia into the wider sphere of national politics. Mr. Randall has also availed himself of Jefferson's papers in Congress, and of all other accessible authorities, which he has searched with diligence.

Count Gurowski's book on Russia has passed to a second edition. This work ought to be universally read, for it contains quite the fullest and most reliable account of the present condition of the Russian empire in print.

In the preface to "The Dodd Family Abroad," just completed, Lever holds out hopes of a run through the United States.

At a late meeting of the New-York Historical Socisty, the president announced, that he had received from the Rev. Mr. Chauncey a very interesting document connected with the history of the country. It was the original letter written by Commodore Perry to Commodore Chauncey, announcing his victory on Lake Erie over the British squadron. The president presented the letter to the society in the name of Mr. Chauncey, who is the son of the commodore.

Lady Bulwer has written a new novel, "Behind the Scenes," which is one of the termagant kind she delights in. There is a great deal of free portraiture in the work. Not content with using her nails upon Sir Edward, she exercises that prerogative upon his friends, and we have, accordingly, some sharply-scratched sketches of several literary celebrities. raeli comes in for his share of the angry woman's tongue; and Dickens receives an uncalled-for castigation, under the euphonious title of "Carlo Dials."

Dis

A new Mormon Alphabet has been invented, consisting of thirty-eight characters. The orthography will be so abridged that an ordinary writer can probably write one hundred words in a minute with ease, and consequently report the speech of an ordinary speaker without much difficulty. In the new alphabet every letter has a fixed and unalterable sound; and every word is spelt with reference to given sounds. So say the Mormons.

There is only one paper in Egypt-a small monthly sheet in the Arabic language, at four dollars a year. It is mainly devoted to "the powers that be," and every one in the employ of the Pacha is obliged to subscribe to it.

Before long, we shall probably have the autobiography which Prince Talleyrand left behind. It was his wish that fifty years should pass between his death (which took place in 1838) and the publication of this work. But, as he did not expressly prescribe this delay, his family are understood to be disposed to diminish it, and Talleyrand's Autobiography will soon see the light. Of course, the old fox has not told the truth of himself and others. An apology for his political life is what we may expect.

The greater part of Guizot's Life of Cromwell is written with a reference to Louis Napoleon.

Cousin is writing a History of the Salons of the Seventeenth Century—which, if well handled, cannot fail to be interesting, as well as instructive. He commences with the Marchioness de Sablé, in the Revue des Deux Mondes.

The London Athenæum says: "Those Potiphar Papers, which mean to be droll, are to our eyes only dreary.”

The first volume of a German translation of Theodore Parker's has appeared, containing his Critical and Miscellaneous Essays. A second edition of a former translation of his Ten Sermons on Religious Subjects is in preparation.

The Paris correspondent of a Washington paper having paid a recent visit to Lamartine, gives the following account of the poet-states

man:

"I spent part of last evening with Lamartine. He lives in a pretty, but humble residence; and we found him surrounded by men of letters and distinguished persons of liberal views from every land. He is still a fine-looking man-his appearance and manner both remind one of Henry Clay-frank, bold, and fearless. We were happy to learn that his estate, which was deeply involved by the sacrifices he made for his country, is now, by his own extraordinary industry and perseverance, nearly relieved from debt. Besides many other literary occupations, he is engaged on a life of Washington, which will be published within this year."

Liverpool has published an index to its literary tastes in the shape of a Report on the reading and readers at its various Free Libraries for the first quarter of a year. From this report we are glad to learn that the free readers of the great commercial emporium of England are not wholly given over to light literature. The books most in demand are biographies and histories :of these, 8,576 volumes have been issued in the

quarter. Novels come next in the list:-of these, 4,203 volumes have been issued. When it is borne in mind that novels are generally of solid over amusing reading in the Liverpool in three volumes, it will appear that the excess libraries has been noticeably great. In miscelThe Abbe Lamennais has left behind him a re- laneous literature, the issues have been 868,markable work, which is not to be published in geography and travels, 579,-in poetry and for ten years. It is a sort of autobiography-drama, 254,-in theology, morality, and metaon the plan of Rousseau's famous Confessions, physics, 218,-in natural history, 181. In but eminently religious. In this, Lamennais is commerce and political economy only 18 volsaid to have faithfully recorded the story of his umes have been called for in the great commind, ever since he entered manhood. Its mercial port, the second city of the great ecopolitical views are ultra-democratic. The manu- nomical county,-while in science and art there script has been bequeathed, with other property, have been no less than 215 readers. This is a to the writer's nephew, and the delay, in ac- curious fact. Among the novels, those most cordance with Lamennais's expressed desire, is sought for-as was to be expected in a seathe subject of regret in the literary circles of port-have been nautical novels. Marryatt has Europe. had more readers than Scott.

Fine Arts.

Egyptian Decorative Art-Benedetti Negri-Solography-Baron Von Humboldt-Westminster PalaceLeutze's Painting of Washington-Donizetti-The Mattau-phone-Collection of Models-Sir Isaac Newton-Roman Art-Portrait of Seward.

ME. WORNUM, a gentleman well known in the art and scientific world, recently delivered a lecture in London, on Egyptian Decorative Art. He considered the peculiar nature of Egyptian decoration as symbolical rather than estheticthe latter element being either received by them as secondary or forgotten. Mr. Wornum held that like all nations, and like the Greeks, they never separated form and color. Every inch of their walls was covered with colored intaglios, ingeniously cut into the stone, and not raised from its surface as in the Greek reliefs. Their favorite ornaments were the zigzag, the fret, (or lozenge,) the wave scroll, the cartouche, and the winged globe, all symbolical, and nearly all copied by the Greeks. It was, indeed, one peculiarity of Egyptian art that all nations seem to have drawn from it their types. The Jew in his seven-branched candlestick took the lotus cups and their mystic numbers; the Greek his zigzag honeysuckle pattern and fret. The zigzag was the Egyptian's emblem of the Nile-of water generally; the wave scroll of the sea in motion; the fret of the Labyrinth of Maris, itself emblematical of the transmigration of the soul and its numerous stages of progression; the cartouche was a mere panel to separate hieroglyphics; and the winged globe was an emblem of the Divine Providence that overshadowed the world. Mr. Wornum finally proceeded to enumerate the Egyptian skill in all useful arts. Their vases and jugs anticipated all our excellences and even our defects; their easy chairs were easier than ours; their thrones of gold and ivory inlaid with choice woods; their seats of leather and cane were of all variety of graceful and of necessary shapes. It had been said that the Egyptians possessed locomotives; but though he could not go quite so far, it had been found that they had used our latest artifices in dying cottons.

Benedetti Negri, once a distinguished professor of singing, died lately, in his seventy-first year, having been born at Turin on the 5th of January, 1784. He was the favorite pupil of Bonifazio Asioli, and, at the age of twenty-two was appointed professor of the Conservatoire of Milan, on its foundation by Napoleon.

The advance made, of late years, in the beautiful art of Solography has been truly wonderful. Mr. Hawkins, of Cincinnati, has succeeded, after the most assiduous application, in perfect ing the art of transferring to paper likenesses, and landscapes from nature, with all the accuracy of a daguerreotype and the fine effects of a steel engraving.

Baron Von Humboldt has nearly finished the fourth volume of the Cosmos, which will be illustrated with numerous plates got up under his direction. It is to be desired that the venerable savant would furnish illustrations also to the other volumes, to make this great work

complete. There exists an atlas to the first volumes of the Cosmos, got up by a bookmaker of Germany, who had the audacity to illustrate what the great savant himself would be scarcely able to accomplish.

From a return recently made to the House of Commons, it appears that $148,000 have already been expended on the art decorations of the new palace of Westminster, and that $125,000 more will be required to complete them.

Leutze, the artist, has finished the painting upon which he has been engaged for the last two years. The subject of it is: "Washington rallying his troops at the battle of Monmouth." This painting was enthusiastically admired at Berlin, where it had been exhibited; it was lately on exhibition at Brussels, and we may soon expect to see it in the United States.

A statue-monument, representing the Spirit of Harmony mourning, is about being placed in the chapel of Bergamo, in Italy, over the grave of Donizetti, the composer.

A musical iustrument recently invented by Mr. Mattau, of Brussels, is creating some curiosity among the musical world at Paris. It takes its name from the inventor, and is called the Mattau-phone. It is said to be the result of fifteen years of labor. It consists of fiftyfour glasses of different sizes, fastened firmly into a sort of wooden table, and played on by being struck with a sort of small mallet. The sounds thus produced are said to be at once clear and decided, and the Mattau-phone is declared to be particularly well-adapted for accompanying other musical instruments. It has been played upon, in public, by M. Michotte, a young Belgian, who has acquired great facility of execution, and gives rapid passages, as well as chromatic, with much success.

There is at present submitted to public inspection in the Museum of Art at Marlborough House, London, a small but exceedingly curious collection of models in clay and wax, said to have been found in a house at Florence, and believed to be original studies by Michael Angelo, Raffaelle, Donatello, and other celebrated Italian sculptors.

It is proposed to erect a monument to the memory of Sir Isaac Newton, at Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, where he was educated, and near to which he was born.

The Giornale di Roma gives a statistical account of the exportation of works of art from Rome during 1853. The modern paintings exported were 290, valued at about 550,000 francs. The works of sculpture exported were 229, value about 740,000 francs. The old paintings exported were 107, value 53,000 francs; old works of sculpture 28, value 7,500 francs. Total 654 works, valued at 1,350,000 francs.

Elliott's fine full-length portrait of the Hon. W. H. Seward has been purchased for the sum of $500, by Mr. Morgan, of Aurora, Cayuga Lake.

Scientific Items.

Geological Museum-Effects of Brimstone on Iron-origin of the aboriginal inhabitants of America.
Optical Telegraph-Physiological Investigations-
Mineral Treasures of Tuscany-Electricity-A New
Style of Enameling.

SIR RODERICK MURCHISON and Mr. Greenough, the Father of Geology in England, have presented their valuable collections of minerals and fossils to the London University College, with a view of assisting in the completion of a Geological Museum there, of which the nucleus already exists. It is stated that several other eminent geologists have also intimated their intention of adding to the collection.

A bar of iron of almost any size, may be instantly sundered while hot, by the simple application of a piece of common roll brimstone. A knowledge of this fact will be useful, when some piece of iron work is required to be severed, but which, as is sometimes the case, is so constructed and situated that no ordinary chisel or cutting tool can be brought to apply. Holes may be instantly perforated through bars or plates of heated iron, by the application of pointed pieces of brimstone. This phenomenon is curious, although it seldom affords much practical utility.

A Polish physician at Kalefat has made a curious and important discovery of a species of camera, or optical telegraph, by which a perfect reconnoisance could be effected at an incredible distance. It could be used on horseback, and the Turks had as many as four hundred persons employed in this way about them.

Mr. Peter Browne, whose physiological investigations of the hair of the American pretender to the Bourbon crown was the subject of much scientific discussion, a short time since, has арplied his theory to the question, whether the people whose remains are found in the mounds are identical with the existing race of American Indians. His conclusion is that they are, which he founds upon the identity of form be

Provided the hair theory be true, the favorite doctrine with many, that the Indians of this continent are descended from the Egyptians, must be false. The autochthonous origin of the aborigines of America is held by many on various grounds, which the theory of Mr. Browne would seem to confirm.

The Grand Duke of Tuscany has recently conferred an order upon Dr. Charles Jackson, of New-England, for services in relation to the mines and mineralogy of the Island of Elba which belongs to his realm. The mineral treasures of Tuscany are once more attracting attention. Several old copper mines, which have been unworked for centuries, have been recently opened, and are yielding large rewards. There is also a quicksilver mine near Serravezza, and several iron mines produce abundantly. Salt is also produced in great quan

tities.

In the original experiments by Professor Wheatstone to ascertain the rapidity with which electricity is transmitted along copper wire, it was found that an electric spark passed through a space of 280,000 miles in a second. It has been determined that the rapidity of transmission through iron wire is 18,000 miles a second, while it does not exceed 2,700 in the same space of time in the telegraph wire between London and Brussels, a great portion of which is submerged in the German Ocean. The retardation of the force in its passage through insulated wire immersed in water is calculated to have an important practical bearing in effecting a telegraphic communication between England and America; for it is stated by Professor Faraday that, in the length of 2,000 miles, three or more waves of electric force might be transmitting at the same time; and that if the current be reversed, a signal sent through the wire might be recalled before it arrived at this side

of the ocean.

Science may, indeed, be said to be but in its infancy. Every day brings forth its strange discovery, with its still stranger name. A peculiar style of enameling, called the Galvano-plastic Niello has been introduced. It consists in engraving or stamping figures on a plate of silver or gold, and then filling the incised lines, or impressed pattern, with a sort of enamel, differ

tween the horizontal section of the hair of the former, and that of hundreds of specimens of the latter. Mr. Browne divides the hair of the human family into the cylindrical, the oval, and the eccentrically elliptical, as characterizes the various races. He has examined the hair of the mummy of a young American Indian, supposed to be a female of about ten years old, from Pachacarnack, Temple of the Sun, five leagues from Lima, South America. This cem-ing, however, from true enamel, which is a kind etery has not been used since the Spanish conquest, previously to which (according to Herrera) it was kept sacred for the nobles and other dignitaries of Peru. The hair of this Indian, which is in good preservation, is cylindrical, diameter 1-364 of an inch. He has also examined eight other ancient specimens of Indian pile, and finds similar results. On the other hand, he has submitted to the most critical inves-ready been made in the above, in which the tigations the hairs found upon the mummies of Egypt and Thebes, and has found them to be oval, without a solitary exception. These observations of Mr. Browne bear upon the very interesting question in ethnology, as to the

of glass, by being formed of a mixture of the sulphurets of lead, silver, and copper. This mixture is of a black color-hence the name niello from nigellum, derived from niger, blackand when melted into the intaglio parts of a plate, gives it somewhat the appearance of an inked engraved copper plate. It is stated in scientific circles, that an improvement has al

figures are not produced by an enamel of sulphuret of silver, as in the original, but by a different colored metal: thus on a plate of gold may be produced fine engravings, the lines of which are in silver, and so on.

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »