fectation of vitality and intensity. Redfield has issued an excellent American edition. A very entertaining story has been published by Carter & Brothers, bearing the title of Fitzherald; or, the Temptation. It is a translation from the German with emendations, and its lesson, most impressively presented, is that neither innate principle, nor careful training, can enable the heart to withstand temptation without the observance of the Scripture precept, "Watch and pray." This house is deservedly noted for the substantial worth and elegance of its publications. Its juvenile books especially appeal, as all such works should, to the eye of the reader; the present volume is really beautiful in all respects. Gould & Lincoln, Boston, have published a work entitled The Better Land; or, The Believer's Journey and Future Home-a tribute from the pen of Rev. Mr. Thompson, of Roxbury, Mass., to his people, on leaving them for Europe. After some delightful essays on the "passage," "way-marks," &c., of the way, the mass of the volume is made up of dissertations on the recognition of friends in heaven, children in heaven, beauty of angels, activity in heaven, the resurrection body, &c. The book is replete with good and consoling thoughts. The same publishers have issued a translation of Rev. Mr. Grandpierre's Glance at America. Mr. Grandpierre is a distinguished French Protestant clergyman: he traveled in this country lately, and writes in these pages the impressions of his visit: they relate mostly to our religious and educational interests, and are very complimentary, though somewhat meager. He writes for his own countrymen, not for us, and his book has little interest for American readers. One of the very best Sunday School Hymn Books which has come under our eye is a compilation edited by Rev. Dr. Kidder, and recently published by Carlton & Phillips. The hymns are numerous and well classified; they are not too long; there is little or none of that pettyism with which children's books are often and wretchedly spoiled, and which in poetry begets a taste for doggerel. It provides for all possible occasions, and is a fine model book of the kind. Fowlers & Wells are already out with their Almanacs-Hydropathic and Phrenologicalfor 1855. These annuals are always replete with valuable information on various subjects, as well as peculiar information on their special topics. The Living World, is the title of a monthly periodical, edited by E. D. Babbitt and C. T. Morse, and published in New-York, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. It is arranged on a new and comprehensive plan, consisting of the very cream of the news and statistics of commerce, education, religion, literature, the fine arts, inventions, and discoveries. Each number contains sixteen long pages, or forty-eight columns, being of the size of the usual dollar works, while its terms are only fifty cents a year. It is cheap enough for the million, and elegant enough for the choice few. Potter, Philadelphia, has issued a large octavo of more than a thousand pages, entitled The Religious Denominations in the United States, from the pen of Rev. Dr. Belcher. It gives the usual outlines of denominational government and creeds, and also a preliminary sketch of large portion of the work is made up of such Judaism, Paganism, and Mohammedanism. A anecdotes and general and miscellaneous matter as will render it readable among the people, while detracting perhaps from the favorable estimate of critical readers. It is interspersed with a superabundance of pictures. Redfield, New-York, continues the series of Simms's works. The last volume laid upon our table is The Scout. We have heretofore given our estimate of Simms's writings. The mechanical style of this edition is, like all Redfield's publications, substantial and elegant. Griffiths & Bates, 79 John-street, have started a new magazine, to be devoted to nautical affairs: it is entitled the Nautical Magazine and Commercial Review. The first number is filled with valuable articles on its peculiar topics. The whole number makes a fine appearance, and begins bravely for these hard times, when so many periodicals are disappearing from the literary ranks. Carlton & Phillips, New-York, have issued a really elegant reprint of Mrs. Owen's Heroines of History. It is an able defense of woman against those Voltarian satirists of the sex, who accuse it of possessing neither of the masculine attributes, "ideas nor beards;" and consists of some of the most striking examples of female heroism in history. These examples are classified under the heads of "Jewish," "Classical," and "Modern Eras." They extend from Jael to Marie Antoinette. The engravings, eight in number, are exceedingly fine. No house in the United States excels Carlton & Phillips in wood illustrations. Glorious John Milton would be only worthily bound in solid gold and precious gems; but as these decorations, however befitting, would make him inaccessible to ourself, and the rest of mankind, in these present hard times, we are glad to see Phillips & Sampson's beautiful edition of the blind old bard. The liberal type and fair paper of the present volumes will do much to prevent the poet's misfortune in any of his, we hope numerous, readers. The poems, including his great works, the miscellaneous ones and the sonnets, are prefaced by "Mitford's Life of Milton," with copious notes and addenda. A fine steel engraving of the poet ornaments the volumes. The same publishers have also issued, in similar style, Goldsmith's Poems and Essays, with "Aiken's Memoirs and Critical Dissertation on his Poetry," and an "Introductory Essay" by Tuckerman. Those of our readers who are about to purchase copies of these English classics, cannot supply themselves with more admirable editions at the same expense. There are now several rival editions of the series of British poets issuing in both this country and England -none of them excel that of Phillips & Sampson in mechanical excellence. Literary Record. English copyright and American Authors-De Quincey -Gray's Elegy-Rev. Mr. Rule's Historical WorksAcademy of Inscriptions-Thiers-Dr. Akers-Cardinal Wiseman on the Corruptions of Popular Literature Madame George Sand-Ancient Price of Books-Literary Labor-Wisconsin School FundPopular Education in the United States. THE decision of the House of Lords on foreign copy-right, giving to American works in England only the same advantages which English writers have in this country, and establishing the same rule in regard to all countries, has had noticeable effect on the London trade. We learn from the London Literary Gazette, that in regard to foreign music, on which the question latterly arose, a reduction of price by one-half is announced. Messrs. Boosey and Sons have issued a catalogue of the principal works affected by the decision, including some of the most popular operas of the day. In general literature, the activity of republishers is chiefly shown in regard to American books. Mrs. Stowe's "Sunny Memories" had recently appeared in two formidable volumes, Messrs. Low and Co. counting on the absence of rival editions, as sole possessors of the copyright in England. As soon as it was known that the exclusive property could not be validly held, the publishers had to announce an edition at eighteenpence, with sixty illustrations, to meet the rivalry of Messrs. Routledge, who announced a cheap edition of the book. Other publishers have since printed still cheaper copies, and we observe an issue commenced, to be completed in six penny numbers. Of more important American works, such as those of Prescott and Bancroft, the removal of the restrictions on reprinting involves more serious injury to the publishers who had made arrangements with the authors. Mr. Bentley is the chief holder of the now valueless English copyright of this higher class of American literature. Thus, then, for want of an honest copyright law, our authors are to suffer both at home and abroad -the genius of the country is to be sacrificed to the cupidity of its publishers. The veteran De Quincey, after being neglected by his own country for years, finding consolation meanwhile in "feeding on the daintiness of his own thought," and albeit on opium too, is fast becoming a "living classic"-thanks to the appreciation of American publishers. The English monthlies and quarterlies begin to abound in critiques upon him. He seems yet to be in good vigor. A late writer describes him as one of the smallest-legged, smallestbodied, most attenuated effigies of the human form divine that one could meet in a crowded city during a day's walk; and if one adds to this figure clothes neither fashionably cut nor fastidiously adjusted, he will have a tolerable idea of De Quincey's outer man. But his brow, that pushes his obtrusive hat to the back of his head, and his light gray eyes, that do not seem to look out, but to be turned inward, sounding the depths of his imagination, and searching out the mysteries of the most abstruse logic, are something that you would search a week to find the mates to, and then you would be disappointed. De Quincey now resides at Lasswade, a romantic rural village, once the residence of Sir Walter Scott. The original MS. of Gray's exquisite "Elegy ferred in our last number, has since been sold in a Country Church-yard," to which we refor one hundred and thirty-one pounds-thirtyone pounds more than Mr. Penn, of Stoke Pogis, gave for it, some ten years ago. The purchaser was not an autograph collector, not a dealer, not even a Yankee, not even an English nobleman. Will the reader believe it?-the purchaser was a poet, Mr. Robert Charles Wrightson, writer of the Fine Arts' contributions in Aris's Birmingham Gazette, and author of a volume of poems, entitled "The Trance." For Gray's poetical notes Mr. Wrightson paid down, says a London paper, proudly and at once, new and crisp Bank of England notes, with an air of well-justified delight, that he had become the possessor of the original MS. of one of the bestknown poems in the world; in short, that he was a person to be envied. The Rev. William H. Rule, one of the editors of the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, and author of the "Brand of Dominic," has just got out a new work bearing the title of "The Third Crusade: Richard I., Cœur de Lion, King of England." This is said to be the first volume of a series of historical subjects, which will comprehend many of the most eminent personages, and nearly all the leading events from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries down to the present time. Each volume will be a distinct original history; and the volumes, when completed, are intended to represent, consecutively ligious progress from the barbaric age of the and fully, the principal phases of social and reCrusades to that in which we live. The French Academy of Inscriptions et Belles Lettres has printed an account of its literary operations during the first half of the present the second part of the twentieth volume of the year. Among other things, it has brought out dite subjects; it has published another volume, collection of writings of foreign savans on eruthe third, of the account of national antiquities; and it has made progress with the literary history of France, the collection of French hisCrusades, &c. torians, and the collection of historians of the M. Thiers is occupying the leisure which ejection from political affairs affords him, in writing his book on Italy and the Fine Arts in the Sixteenth Century. M. Villemain is completing the second volume of his "Souvenirs Contemporains," the first of which created great sensation in Europe. As to the less distinguished portion of the literary fraternity in Paris it is still doing nothing, and in consequence is still in frightful distress; but some of its more energetic members are trying to establish three or four partly literary partly satirical periodicals. The Rev. Peter Akers, D. D., has completed a work on Scripture Chronology, which is about to be published by Swormstedt & Poe, Cincinnati. It will make an octavo volume, and is said by those who have examined the manuscript to throw some new light on the important subject of which it treats. Dr. Akers contends, with some European critics, that the Christian Sunday is the day of the original Sabbath. His work has employed his studies for years. We have lately referred to the Educational Exhibition, got up in England, under the auspices of Prince Albert. It was attended with a course of lectures, among which was an extraordinary one by Cardinal Wiseman, on "The Home Education of the Poor." Taking his illustration from France, he gave an account of the recent proceedings of the government of France in reference to the popular literature of that country. He explained (according to the reporter of the Times) how it had been carried on for three hundred years by colportage-how annually from eight to nine million volumes, varying in price from one cent to twenty, had been thus distributed-how little, in the lapse of ages, this literature had changed or been improved-and how, at length, the government of the present emperor had resolved to inquire into the character of the works thus circulated, with the view of prohibiting such as it considered noxious or foolish. On the 30th of November, 1852, a commission had been appointed, and, in consequence, the colporteur was required to have a stamp of permission on every book that he sold. The publishers had also been invited to send in their publications to be examined, and approved or rejected. The number of works in consequence submitted had been seven thousand five hundred; and of them three-fourths had been refused permission to be put in circulation. He asked the meeting to imagine, with such a result, the state of the literature infecting every cottage in France, not for five, ten, or twenty, but for the last three hundred years. Many of these books were filled with superstitions, and the exploded fallacies of astrology were still preserved in them as scientific truths. A great void had been created by the withdrawal of these works,-and the question had arisen, how that was to be filled up? The government had at first trusted to the exigency of the demand for a supply; and subsequently, finding that it did not come, had entertained the proposition of instigating men of real genius to prepare works on history, on agriculture, on elementary chemistry, and on other suitable subjects; but it had been considered dangerous thus to enter on a competition with the ordinary book trade, and the matter was still under consideration. This disclosure of the extent of colportage in France is quite surprising. Our own country is fast imitating the example. Madame George Sand's "History of her Life" is about to be published in one of the principal Paris newspapers. It is to fill altogether five volumes. It is of course expected with the liveliest interest, and if it imitate the frankness of Rousseau's "Confessions," will, from the genius and the adventurous career of the authoress, be one of the most extraordinary works in existence. The newspaper proprietors esteem its popularity so highly, that they have paid Madame Sand $20,000 for the copyright. Price of Books among the Ancients.—What an immense reduction has been made in the price of books by the invention of the art of printing! It is recorded of Plato, that although his paternal inheritance was small, he bought three books of Philolaus the Pythagorean for ten thousand denarii, nearly $1500. We are also informed that Aristotle bought a few books belonging to Speucippus, the philosopher, for three Attic talents, a sum equivalent to about $2800. St. Jerome also ruined himself by purchasing the works of Origen. Literary Labor.-The American author, Alcott, has written one hundred volumes, Wesley wrote thirty octavo volumes, Baxter wrote several hundred volumes, and Lopez de Vega, the Spanish poet, published twenty-one million three hundred thousand lines, which are equal to more than two thousand six hundred and sixty volumes as large as Milton's Paradise Lost! LoBut it is not the quantity so much as the qualpez de Vega was the most voluminous of writers. ity of literary matter that insures immortality; for long after the millions of Lopez de Vega's lines are buried in oblivion, the few simple verses of Gray's Elegy will live to delight mankind. Wisconsin has a school fund of one million. dollars, and lands which, when sold, will increase it to five million dollars. There are three thousand school districts in the state; one hundred and five thousand and eighty-two dollars were expended last year for teachers' wages. During 1853, the number of children in the state between the ages of five and twenty years, was one hundred and thirty-five thousand five hundred, of whom one hundred and eight thousand three hundred, or nearly four-fifths, attended school. Five years ago, of seventy thousand five hundred and sixty-seven children, only thirtytwo thousand one hundred and seventy-four, or less than one-half, attended school. Alabama.-The legislature of this state has recently passed an act "to establish and maintain a system of free public schools," and has appropriated two hundred and forty thousand dollars annually for that purpose. Texas has established a permanent school fund of two million of dollars. There are in the United States about sixty thousand common schools, which are supported at an annual expense of nearly six million dollars; more than half of which is expended by the states of New-York and Massachusetts. By a recent vote of the House of Commons, sixty-one, Dissenters are admitted to study at two hundred and fifty-one to one hundred and the University of Oxford. The motion was merely to the effect that no oaths or subscriptions be necessary, except the oath of allegiance, to any person matriculated at the University. The difficulties in the way of graduating, however, are not yet entirely removed, as the oaths and subscriptions to the thirty-nine articles are not dispensed with. Arts and Sciences. Great Invention in Printing-The Telegraph-Ericsson's Caloric Engine-Flowers-New Reaping Machine-Didron-Artificial Quinine. ONE of the most important announcements since our last bulletin of scientific news, is far as Alexandria, in order from that point to reach India and Australia; and thus shall Shakspeare's Ariel fulfill his promised feats. While announcing these important movements onward, we regret to say that the sanfrom Paris. It promises a revolution in print-guine announcements of the New-York press reing. This marvelous discovery, as our Eu- specting Mr. Ericsson's caloric engine have failed. ropean papers pronounce it, is nothing less than The apparatus has been finally abandoned, and the power of producing, instantaneously, copies is to be taken out of the ship bearing his name, of engravings, lithographs, and printed pages, steam-boilers being substituted. From the be ginning this result has been foreseen by practical and scientific men, notwithstanding the alleged complete success of the experiment. with such minute exactitude that the most searching investigation, even by a microscope, cannot distinguish them from the originals. The modus operandi is not described, and is, in fact, it is stated, kept a profound secret by the inventor, who is a M. Boyer, of Nismes; but it seems to resemble the operation of lithography. As a specimen of his art, M. Boyer is represented to have produced, in less than a quarter of an hour, a reproduction of a sheet containing, first, a page of a Latin book, published in 1625; second, a design from the "Illustrated London News," of April, 1854; third, a page from a recently printed biography; fourth, a page of a book printed in 1503; fifth, an engraving of the façade of a palace; sixth, a specimen of gothic characters. All these were, it is alleged, imitated with such extraordinary minuteness, that neither the eye nor the microscope could detect the difference of a letter, a line, or a spot, between them and the originals. A great number of copies can, we are told, be struck off from the stone employed, and the expense is alleged to be extremely small, fifty per cent. at least for printed works, and more for engravings. If there be no exaggeration in what is stated, M. Boyer's discovery will effect an extraordinary revolution in the printing and engraving professions: with it neither print nor book can possibly be protected from piracy. It is not denied that he has already produced fac-similes of rare old engravings and books. We have heretofore referred to the prospect of a submarine telegraph from this country to Europe. This great instrument is to be still further extended in the old world. It has lately been announced in one of the leading French papers, that after a serious study of the matter, a convention, in which the different powers interested have taken part, has been concluded for the establishment of an electrical communi cation which will unite the European continent with Algeria by crossing the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. The submarine telegraph from England to France is to be continued by land, and after crossing Nice and Genoa, will reach Spezzia, at the bottom of the gulf of that name. The new line will start from that point, and after crossing the island of Corsica, will pass by Sardinia to the coast of Algeria, near Bona. From that place, if it be thought necessary, it will be continued as far as the Regency of Tunis. The works necessary for the accomplishment of the first part of this plan will be completed in two years from the date of the promulgation of the law. At that time the line will be prolonged by the shore of the Mediterranean in Africa as Our transatlantic papers report an interesting discovery-interesting not only to our fair readers, but to men of science-by a distinguished artiste in flower-painting, Madame Leprince de Beaufort, for preserving flowers. By her art, not only flowers, but trees, can be embalmed; the tree remains always green, and the flower retains its color and brilliancy: the process is instantaneous. Thanks to this discovery, the ladies can always have real flowers for their bonnets and coiffeurs, and also for the vases in their appartements; but what will become of the poor artistes in artificial flowers? It is claimed, with a great flourish of trumpets, that a Frenchman has recently succeeded in perfecting what the English and Americans have so long sought to perfect, and failed-a reaping-machine. In two hours and a quarter this machine, it is said, cut two acres of wheat, with only one horse and three servants; it did not leave a straw behind; it gathered them all in bundles, and left them on the ground ready to be tied. With a relay horse they can cut ten acres per day-the work of ten cradlers and a multitude of reapers! It is also said that eight other reapers of French invention, and a quantity of thrashers, will figure at the Paris Exhibition in competition with those which may be brought from abroad. Harvest hands were scarce, this year, in France, on account of the extensive recruitments for the war, and the preparations for war, and an impetus has therefore been given to labor-saving inventions, which it is to be hoped will not be subject to reaction. M. Didron, the author of the "Iconographie Chrétienne," has been authorized by the French Minister of Public Instruction to proceed to Italy, in order to study the ancient Christian monuments of that country which have relation to his subject. He is to visit Rome, Florence, Ravenna, Venice, and Milan. Two draughtsmen have been appointed to accompany him. Two manufacturing chemists have presented to the French Academy of Science sealed papers, each containing a specimen of artificial quinine, which they had made by different processes. The pathological qualities of the substance are to be tested, and if they are found satisfactory, the discovery is certainly important. It will obviate the necessity of importing the bark of the cinchona-trees, from which alone has the great tonic, thus far, been extracted. 66 "HOW OW palpable," says a late writer, (Rev. H. W. Bellows,) "the profound design entertained by Providence, of awakening and educating man's soul through the necessity under which he lies of subduing and regulating the material world." And in this adaptation of the outer world to the inner and higher wants of man, he well remarks, "we behold the grandest and most glorious proof of the being of that God, that wonderful designer, whose plan, as it opens, shows an infinite forecast-and of the VOL. V.-36 patience, wisdom, benevolence of that Providence, which keeps his own gifts half hidden, half revealed, that they may be received with the best advantage of his creatures, while he strictly subordinates the natural world to the spiritual discipline and moral victory of his rational offspring." The same divine mind has also provided the proper stimulants for the culture of the imagination and the taste. As al the concealed capabilities of the natural world to add to the comforts of the race are so many heavenly invitations and even |
