federacy) assigns the reasons why he de-stored, if it should become necessary; but sired the election of General McClellan. In it would not become neccessary." that event, he assumed that an armistice would take place, and a convention of the States be held. If that body failed to come to an amicable agreement to acknowledge the independence of the South, and " General McClellan should renew the war, with the avowed object of restoring the Union with the old Constitution and all its guarantees,"—which by his letter of acceptance he was pledged to do,"At that moment," says Mr. Stephens, " or as soon as possible, our recognition abroad would come. The silent sympathy of England, France, and other European powers, at present, with Lincoln, arises entirely from their mania on the subject of slavery.' Here follows an omission in Mr. Stephen's letter, made as he himself intimates from public considerations. The passage omitted no doubt enforced the idea that if the North continued the war in order to restore the Constitution with guarantees of slavery, Europe would instantly recognize the Confederacy as an independent power. Mr. Stephens then proceeds as follows: "Lincoln had either to witness our recognition abroad, the moral power of which alone he saw would break down the war, or to make it an emancipation war. In these explicit terms, the second officer of the rebel goverment, speaking no doubt on the strength of communications from their agents abroad, and holding back what he deemed it not prudent to divulge, not only treats the emancipation policy of the President as a necessary military measure, but maintains that that alone had prevented the great powers of Europe from recognizing the independence of the South, and if necessary throwing their swords into the scale to secure its establishment! May we not reasonably hope, in view of such opinions and disclosures, from such a quarter, that this policy will cease to divide opinion at the North, and that we shall again, as in 1861, present an undivided front in defence of the integrity of the Union. Heavy, I know, is the burden, costly the sacrifice, grievous the trial imposed upon us by the war. Heaven is my witness that I would willingly have laid down the poor remnant of my life to avert it. But it is plain that Providence has laid upon our generation the solemn duty of maintaining this august nationality, and we have now to choose between allowing the Union, like medieval Germany and Italy, to be broken up into scores, I might say hundreds, of petty States, involved in eternal border He chose the latter alternative, and the wars, wasting, desolating, and barbarizing more readily, because it chimed in so accord- each other, and ending at last in the estabantly with the feelings and views of his par- lishment of half a dozen military despotisms, ty. This, in my opinion, is the plain English or maintaining, at whatever cost and by whatof this whole matter, and just so soon as ever sacrifice, this admirable framework of McClellan should renew the war to restore government, the rich legacy of our Fathers, the Union and the old Constitution with slav- the priceless heritage of our children, and ery, would England, France, and the other which, till this cruel rebellion, had shown itEuropean powers throw all the moral power self the happiest device of human wisdom, and influence of their recogniation on our by which the home-bred blessings of local side. I am not certain that they would not administration can be combined with the go further rather than see the old Union re-safety and power of a great empire. VERY SHOCKING, IF TRUE.-At a dinner-party when at the dinner-table, to our great horror, he the plebeian habits of one of the guests had at- suddenly took up the knife, and Good tracted very general attention. Amongst other heavens!" interposed one of the ladies; “and mistakes he used his knife improperly in eating. did he cut his throat?" " Why no, "answered At length a wag asked aloud, "Have you heard the relator, "he did not cut his throat with his of poor L-'s sad affair? I met him at a knife; but we all expected he would, for he acparty yesterday, apparently well and cheerful:tually put it up to his mouth." THE MERMAID. "O FISHER, standing by thy wherry, Hast won by power of line and net?" "My helm and rudder, for the last time, "Hold, hold, thou villain! for she liveth, Panting with snowy bosom bare! And mark, how piteously the water Is moaning through her sea-green hair! Her ivory arms and gleaming shoulders Bleeding already from thy knife, Pallid upon the strand she trembles, And quickly yieldeth up her life. "Come, man! I am thy master's lady! Push out thy wherry from the shore, And quickly-for the tempest gathersGrasp firm in either hand an oar. "Come! and the ocean's hapless daughter We twain will take across the foam, And bear her till in deeper water We sink her to her weedy home!" Over the billows rowed the fisher, And blacker grew the sea the while, Stormier grew the clouds of heaven Casting their shade on sea and isle. Back unto land they rowed in safety; But now, within her castle gates, The lady, trembling for her husband, Who wanders out on ocean, waits. The darkness came. The tempest gathered, “Ah, is it thou, my love, my Erik? "Dead faces in my vision floated, And, Thora dear, I thought of you, What time my arms dropt spent beside me, Stiffened with swimming, cold and blue. "But lo! there gripped me round the bosom Two hands that white as crystal shone, Two bloody arms my head uplifted, And held me up, and pushed me on. "Then, by the faint cold gleam of heaven, I saw a mermaid's breast beneath, And through the blackness of the waters The glimmering of her pearly teeth. "I saw her coldly glistening shoulder, Her face that glimmered strangely sweetHer hands relaxed not, till with rapture I felt the ground beneath my feet. "Come! now forgot be storm and terror! He quenched the lamp's uncertain glare. Pale Thora clasped him, and the tempest Moved further off from that glad pair! -From the Danish. RETROSPECTION. I TRACE the long line of my bygone years, T. POETRY.-A Little Goose, 674. The Vanishers, 674. Of Moods, 690. A Seasonable Glee, 690. SHORT ARTICLES.-John O'Groat, 689. Tunnel under the Apennines, 689. Preservation of Felled Timber, 706. NEW BOOKS. PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE OF THE LIVING AGE. THE NARRATIVE OF PRIVATIONS AND SUFFERINGS OF UNITED STATES OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS, WHILE PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE HANDS OF THE REBEL AUTHORITIES, is published at this office in a pamphlet of 96 pp., price 20 cents each, $15 a hundred, $125 a thousand. This will be read with great interest by every family which has, or has had, a father, brother, son, or friend in the military or naval service of the United States. A knowledge of the facts so calmly and clearly stated herein, is indispensable to every man who wishes to form a true opinion of the Rebels and the Rebellion. It contains photographs from the yet living forms of some of the victims, showing the effects of starvation. Orders for this work have come in at the rate of one thousand a day. The delay in filling them was caused by the breaking of the water power at Lawrence, where the paper is made. That has been repaired, and we are now sending the new edition to all parts of the country. THE SEER; OR, COMMON PLACES REFRESHED. By Leigh Hunt. "Love adds a precious seeing to the Eye."-Shakspeare. In two volumes. Boston: Roberts Brothers. We are thankful to Messrs. Roberts for so handsome an edition of pieces by an old favorite. When it is worth while to publish a book, it is worth while to do it well. HOLLOWAY'S MUSICAL MONTHLY. The only periodical published from engraved plates, on sheet music paper, and with title-pages, etc., to correspond. $4 a year. Philadelphia: J. Starr HolloWe beg leave to recommend this work to musical families, and are very glad to get it for the young folk at home. way. "THE LIVING AGE FOR 1865. The Publishers have resisted as long as they could the growing necessity of advancing the price of this work. But when paper costs three times as much as before, and a remittance to London more than twelve dollars for a pound, and every other expense of manufacture is greatly increased (saying nothing of the expense of living), it is evident that sooner or later the Proprietors must follow the course of The Trade. The change is made only after every other resource has been exhausted; and we confidently appeal to the kindness and justice of our old friends, asking them, not only to continue their own subscriptions, but to add the names of their friends to our list. Our Terms now are $8 a Year, free of postage. 18 Cents a number. Bound Volumes, $2.75. Complete sets, or sets of First, Second, or Third Series, $2.50 a volume, in Cloth. BINDING. The price of Binding is 75 Cents a Volume. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY LITTELL, SON, & Co., A LITTLE GOOSE. BY ELIZA S. TURNER. THE Chill November day was done, The working-world home-faring; The wind came roaring through the streets, The scared old leaves were flying; When, mingled with the soughless wind, And shivering on the corner stood A child of four or over; No cloak nor hat her small, soft arms And wind-blown curls to cover. And, one hand round her treasure, while "Oh, please, I want my mother." "He came and played at Millers' step; I followed down the street, because I've walked about a hundred hours From one street to another; The monkey's gone, I've spoiled my flowers; -Oh, please, I want my mother!" "But what's your mother's name, and what The street? Now think a minute." "My mother's name is Mother Dear; The street-I can't begin it." "But what is strange about the house, Or new, not like the others?" "I guess you mean my trundle-bed,Mine and my little brother's. "Oh, dear, I ought to be at home To help him say his prayers; He's such a baby, he forgets; And we are both such players; And there's a bar between, to keep From pitching on each other, For Harry rolls when he's asleep; -Oh, dear, I want my mother! And so I wear a little thing That tells you all about it; For mother says she's very sure I would get lost without it." THE VANISHERS. Of the Elves who flit before. And the hunter on the moss, See their hands the birch-leaves toss. Wishful, longing, through the green Twilight of the clustered pines, In their faces rarely seen, Beauty more than mortal shines. Fringed with gold their mantles flow On the slopes of westering knolls; In the wind they whisper low Of the sunset land of souls. Doubt who may, O friend of mine! Still they glide, and we pursue Gleams and glories seen and lost. Far-heard voices sweet with truth As the tongues of Pentecost Beauty that eludes our grasp, Sweetness that transcends our taste, Loving hands we may not clasp, Shining feet that mock our haste Gentle eyes we closed below, Tender voices heard once more, Smile and call us, as they go On and onward, still before. Guided thus, oh, friend of mine! From Fraser's Magazine. MR. FORSTER ON THE REIGN OF I., and their parliaments were, so to speak, the second act of the Reformation. They are the political applications of the principles which were then applied to religion on a wider and less definite scale. THE reign of Charles 1. and the Reformation are the two critical points in English history; and it is far easier both to underThis consideration would amply justify the stand and to study the first than the second. labor which Mr. Forster has bestowed upon In order to trace the gradual changes of opin- the illustration of the reign of Charles I., if ion which come over the temper of a nation any justification of it were required; but his and change its views upon almost every sub- books are, in fact, their own justification. ject, it is necessary to call up a world which They belong to a class of works which, after is past and gone, and to create anew a whole a certain interruption, are again becoming mental atmosphere. Before we can know popular. They aim at making the original how and why England passed from Popery materials of history accessible and interesting to Protestantism, we must know how men to those who have not the power to consult felt, how they argued, what were their meth- the originals for themselves. In former times ods of acquiring knowledge, what their tests such books were by no means uncommon. of truth before and after the change; we For instance, Madox's " History of the Exmust enter into that subtile influence which chequer " is in substance a collection of exevery one feels in his own time, and which tracts from the records, classified in reference no one can define, called the spirit of the age, to certain subjects. Fleury's " Ecclesiastical --that strange but most real influence which History" reproduces verbatim, or in a commakes the difference between Shakspeare and pressed form, the statements of all the most Milton, between Milton and Dryden, Dryden remarkable original ecclesiastical writers. and Pope, Pope and Cowper, Cowper and Barnes's" Edward III." is a book of the same Scott or Wordsworth, Scott or Wordsworth sort. Carte and Rapin tried to write, and to and Tennyson. The difficulty of doing this some extent succeeded, in writing the history is almost insurmountable. Hardly any one of England more or less on the same sort of can hope to unite the comprehensive knowlscale. In edge, the quick sympathy, and the judicial tem of composition came to be considered teprogress of time, however, this syscalmness and clearness, which are indispensa-dious, as, indeed, it undoubtedly is, unless bly and almost equally necessary to the per- the interest of the reader is very strong, and formance of such a task. tories like those of Hume and Robertson the judgment of the author very great. Hiscame into fashion, and were considered a marvellous improvement. These books made up, in elegance of style and in their superior absence of learning itself; and, no doubt, conception of the uses of learning, for the they were as much superior in interest and the old-fashioned collections of materials the kind of ability which they displayed to advocate is to the brief from which it is made. called histories, as the speech of a first-rate In time, however, their great deficiencies became sufficiently obvious. Hume, in particuwould think of taking his opinion upon any lar, has been so far discredited that no one historical question which required careful examination. Of late years a new school of history has been growing up which aims at combining thought and learning,-at selecting and arranging what is really instructive in original documents, and combining them with a certain amount both of philosophy To estimate the merits of a political contest is another thing. The differences between the combatants no doubt go deep, and the influences by which they were produced are subtile; but the questions at issue are broad and comparatively definite. Every one can form a judgment about them. They gather up into definite shapes differences of sentiment and opinion to which it is hardly possible to do full justice; and thus enable us to arrive at proximate solutions of the wider questions on which they depend, and from which they really spring. The struggle between the Stuarts, especially Charles * 1. “Sir John Eliot; a Biography: 1590-1632." By John Forster. Two Volumes. London: Longman & Co. 1864. 2. "The Debates on the Grand Remonstrance, November and December, 1641; with an introduc! tory Essay on English Freedom under Plantagenet and Tudor Sovereigns." By John Forster, LL.D. London Murray. 1860. 3. "Arrest of the Five Members by Charles I.: Chapter of English History rewritten." By John Forster. London: Murray. 1860. |