red-faced, panting Irish woman, with a bonnet of contrasting colors, and-some people remain disappointed on shore, looking with an angry face, after the boat, because a single second costs them twelve hours, perhaps twenty-four. The shrill steam ceases the boat moves on.Some bundles and valises are yet thrown from the wharf; one falls into the water-never mind, the boat cannot stop. Presently a second boat darts from between two other piers, the dangerous race begins, and now the American feels comfortable.-Another bell! "Passengers who have not paid their fare, please step to the Captain's office!' Another rush-another squeeze. Our author's remarks respecting the "Land of Silly Names" in New-York State, deserve attention among us in the West, who have to give names to so many new townships. Our last extracts will be examples of a class of remarks to be met with in this volume, in which he traces traits of character in little things. He finds on a sign board, indications of respect for Law, and on the back of a turtle, a utilitarian turn of mind. He may be right in this-straws show how the wind is blowing. With these extracts we bid him farewell, but should like to see him among us, to make observations on the Western character. RESPECT FOR LAW. "Keep to the right, as the Law directs' you will often find on sign boards on bridges, in this country. It expresses the authority which the Law here possesses. I doubt very much whether the Romans, noted for their obedience to the Law, held it in higher respect than the Americans." "The following may, perhaps, serve as another instance of the American practical turn of mind. I found, one day, in a street in Boston, a turtle walking with the step which Cicero recommends to philosophers, before the door of a restaurant, with the words "Tomorrow Soup" written on the back of the poor creature, which thus was doomed to invite man's all-exploring appetite to partake of its flesh." AUGUST. "The quiet August noon has come; A slumberous silence fills the sky; The winds are still--the trees are dumb- In glassy sleep the waters lie."--BRYANT-A Noon Scene. Against the hazy sky, Motionless rests the thin and fleecy cloud. LEE,* such have met thine eye, And such thy canvass crowd! And, Painter, ere it from thy easel goes, With the sky's light, and shade, and warmth, it glows. Thy pencil, too, can give Form to the glowing images that throng The Poet's brain, and live Forever, in his song. Glory awaits thee, gifted one! and Fame Soberly, in the shade, Repose the patient cow, and toil-worn ox; Sheltered by jutting rocks; The fleecy flock, fly-scourged and restless, rush Slow, now, along the plain, Creeps the cool shade, and on the meadow's edge; The bird flits in the hedge: Now in the molten west sinks the hot sun. Pleasantly comest thou, Dew of the evening, to the crisped grass; As the light breezes pass, That their parched lips may feel thee, and expand, So, to the thirsting soul, Cometh the dew of the Almighty's love; To where the spirit freely may expand, W. D. G. S. M. Lee, Portrait and Landscape Painter, of Cincinnati. CRITICAL NOTICES. JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, by J. M. REYNOLDS. This book contains an account of the voyage of the frigate Potomac, under the command of Commodore John Downes, during the circumnavigation of the Globe, in the years 1831, 1832, 1833, and 1834, including a particular account of the engagement at Quollah Battoo on the coast of Sumatra ; with all the official documents relating to the same; and its motto is "naval power is national glory." It is accordingly dedicated "to the Honorable the SECRETARY AND OFFICERS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY." We believe the officers of the navy are not styled "Honorable," but this is no matter. Nor is it worth while to stop to inquire whether national glory consists of "naval power." Let us not be deterred by these mistakes in the beginning, but examine the book. The introduction, of ten pages, is taken up with stating that a great part of the journal is made up of the notes of others. Mr. Reynolds not having been himself with the Potomac, until "some twenty months" before her return to the United States. The attack on QuallahBattoo seems to be uppermost in the author's mind; and the apparent object of writing the book, is to correct public sentiment on this subject. Be this as it may, the volume is an interesting and valuable one. But it is written with rather too much diffuseness, and ambition of style, for a plain narrative. All that is valuable in it, might have been embraced in half the size. It is a vice of the age to spread out books to an absurd length. In the 1st chapter, we have a history of the city of Washington-a description of Mount Vernon, where rest the ashes of the Father of his country, "together with those of his connubial partner"--and an account of La Fayette's visit to the spot. "The subject of which digression," he queerly observes, will naturally plead its excuse." Next, a description of Norfolk. The fact is next stated that the Potomac was instructed to recieve on board the "Honorable Martin Van Buren and suite, the recently appointed Minister to the Court of St. James. It is next stated that "James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States, died on the fourth of July 1831," which he calls "a third point to a coincidence of a remarkable character." Then follows an indignant and most patriotic curse against the Malays, for murdering some of the crew of the Friendship. At last, at the 23d page, or rather the 33d, the ship begins her voyage! "We do really believe," says he "no one can thus depart without experiencing emotions which do credit to the human heart." When in sight of the Cape de Verd Islands, he says rather verbosely, "The voyage of the Potomac thus far, had not been very favorable, as her course had not been facilitated by any winds which were entitled to the appellation of trade." We think such a style is entitled to the appellation of "spread," His description of Rio Janeiro, aided by a handsome engraving, is interesting, however, though unnecessarily spread over twenty-five large octavo pages. While we condemn this, we may be condemned ourselves, by readers who perhaps will not find it a line too long. Mr. Reynolds, as we said before, has certainly spun some interesting yarns, though not a sailor, and his book will be read with pleasure, as all books are, which minutely describe voyages. We recollect with what interest we followed Captain Morrel, and we hope to hear from many a literary Tar before we die. The account of the Cape of Good Hope, again, is too long--twenty-eight pages. The Cape has been so often described, that this was not necessary, particularly as Mr. R. is by no means original or striking in his descriptions. Next follows the pith and manner of the book; the account of the frigate's operations at the unfortunate Quallah-Battoo. Some of the natives of this place had attacked and robbed the Friendship, 9th February 1831; killing three men. And the conspiracy, Mr. Reynolds charges, was that of the whole town, though only a dozen or two took part in it. The truth of this charge has never been investigated; for the Friendship left the island immediately, returning to Salem, without prosecuting her voyage, and the Potomac landed her forces there, on the 6th February 1832, (a year afterwards). The Potomac had 500 men on board, and they all landed, completely armed, except such as could not possibly be spared from the ship, about two o'clock in the morning, on the beach near Quallah-Battoo. While in this situation "they presented" as Mr. Reydolds says, "a picture that was by no means deficient in those exquisite touches which constitute the "moral sublime!" The Malays defended themselves as well as they could, but their forts and houses were easily taken, with the loss of two of the Potomac's men, one of whom killed himself in getting over a parapet. A great many were killed on shore, and all the property was destroyed, (page 116). The number of natives killed, is afterwards stated to be 150.He apologises most earnestly for this act of severity, and dwells upon its good effects, at much length. He then describes Sumatra, (114 pages,) which description, though not showing much talent, is interesting. The writers use of language is sometimes odd. Speaking of rice, he says, "It is probable that not less than fifty millions of the human family depend for their sustenance, almost exclusively upon this farinaceous and esculent article of food." The ears of rice, he calls "Sweet bashful pledges of delicious harvest, wafting their influence to the ripening sun," (page 147). On page 148, he makes out the palm, to be a species of turpentine. On page 155, he thus sums up a chapter. tra "We have thus taken a hasty and excursive view of the Island of SumaWe have seen the capacities of its soil and the varied richness of its vegitable and animal kingdom. How rich, in point of external appearance and grandeur, is the inheritance of the Malay! On the soft and rich teints of its mountains, the velvet covering of its hills, its velvet cascades, placid lakes, rapid streams,-Sumatra may challenge comparison with the world! Why has nature been so extravagant? Why be |