the rights of man. Let those noble lessons be again restored, and our youth be indoctrinated with those same old generous impulses. This is bravely, yet not obtrusively done in this choice volume by its judicious compiler, furnishing a book that is a book, by a man that is a man. There are in this volume, from the lips and pens of American orators, prose writers, and poets, some of the finest specimens of talent in the English language. Of the earlier writers Edwards, Ledyard, Franklin, Hamilton, Ames, and Dwight appear, not in the hackneyed selections which have become trite by repetition, but in draughts freshly drawn from the original fountains. Of late authors Brainard, Sands, Hillhouse, Cooper, Poe, and Percival. Of living writers, Irving, Everett, Bryant, Wayland, Prescott, Bethune, Willis, Longfellow, Whittier, Mrs. Stowe, and Lowell, are alone sufficient to show that we have a brilliant living literature. And the topics are worthy of the minds that treat them. Patriotism, peace, temperance, education, religion, are among the subjects that, inculcated by such minds, are leading on the age in the path of a glorious future. (18.) "The Age; a Colloquial Satire. By JAMES PHILIP BAILEY, author of 'Festus.'" (12mo., pp. 208. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1858.) Ebenezer Elliot said of Mr. Bailey's "Festus,” that "it contains poetry enough to set up fifty poets." It was, indeed, set to a high, bold strain, such as a true poet in the exuberance of a powerful young imagination could maintain. The present is the sport of his easier hours, very much in the tone of irony attributed to the Lucifer of his "Festus." It is in the form of a dialogue between the author, a critic, and a friend, in which the leading topics of the day are discussed. The author reads Britain a lecture upon her crimes and her consequent unfitness to rebuke the sins of other nations, and in the following couplet ingeniously presents the opposite poles of our American social system: "Can we who once a good example gave The following passage expounds the compendious mode of criticising a book: CRITIC. But now I think of it,— AUTHOR. Why yes; I've brought CRITIC. Thank ye. I've seen so many in my day; And manuscript, I must say, least of all, That what his pupils proved might be expected. AUTHOR. I thought you read what you reviewed? CRITIC. Sometimes, When our opinion with the author's chimes.-Pp. 48, 49. (19.) "Electron; or, the Pranks of the Modern Puck. A Telegraphic Epic for the Times. By WILLIAM C. RICHARDS." (12mo., pp. 84. New-York: Appleton & Co. 1858.) A work of considerable frolic, fancy, and graceful versification, founded upon a scientific subject. It is a gem of typographic beauty, and very suitably adorned upon its cover with a beautiful electrotypic design. V.-Miscellaneous. (20.) "Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South." (New York: James M. Edney. 1858.) This is a lithograph of all the bishops of the Church, South, since the separation. The venerable Soule occupies the center, with Early and Andrew on either side. Pierce, Kavanagh, and Paine occupy the summit, and the deceased Bascom and Capers, the base. This will be an acceptable piece to all interested in the annals and magnates of universal Methodism, or specially of the Church, South. (21.) Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Lithographed by Grozelier. (Boston: Franklin Rand. 1858.) Mr. Rand's handsome sheet presents the best collective "counterfeit presentment" of our venerated bishops yet extant. It is done in the finest style of lithograph, the likenesses are mostly excellent, and the whole is a very acceptable presentation to the friends of our honored Pastors General. (22.) A full notice of Buckle's "History of Civilization" is postponed to the next number. Also of Minturn's "From New York to Delhi," Dunlap's "Spirit-History of Man," and Professor Gesner Harrison's work on the "Greek Particles." THE following works have also been received, for notices of which we have not room: (23.) "Memoir of Joseph Curtis, a Model Man. By Miss C. M. SEDGWICK.” (18mo., pp. 200. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1858.) (24.) "Christian Hope. By JOHN ANGELL JAMES." (18mo., pp. 333. New-York: Carter & Brother. 1858.) VI.-Periodicals. (25.) "The Knickerbocker; or, New York Magazine." (New York: John A. Gray. 1858.) The accession to the editorial chair of Dr. J. O. Noyes, a name familiar and attractive to the readers of our National Magazine, furnishes us occasion to introduce this magazine to the notice of our readers. The Knickerbocker has now arrived at its fifty-second volume; and amid the rises, falls, and various mutations of countless ephemeral and changeable monthlies, it has held its onward way, preserving a certain willful individuality, as well as a characteristic physiognomy, giving token of a vitality and pertinacity quite its own. Its literature is pure, elevated, indigenous. It is not only a permanent, but nigh unto being a venerable institution-almost a Knickerbocker antiquity in our Knickerbocker city. We trust that the freshness, ambition, scholarship, and talent which will be brought to its pages by our young friend will in time make it not only almost but quite. ART. XIII.-MISCELLANEA. THE Doctrine of the Atonement deduced from Scripture and vindicated from Misrepresentation. Six Discourses, preached before the University of Dublin, being the Donnellan Lectures for 1857. By John Cotter Macdonnell. These lectures are said to be unsurpassed by any publication on the subject since the issue of Archbishop Magee's work. The author's purpose is to relate the doctrine of the Atonement, with its evidences, in such a mode as to neutralize the objections of Maurice and Jowett, yet without noticing their objection in detail. Zaphnath-Paaneah; or, the History of Joseph, viewed in connection with Egyptian Antiquities. By Rev. Thornley Smith, is commended as a work of no ordinary excellence. A new edition of Shuckford's Connection, with notes by J. Talboys Wheeler, to be followed by an edition of Russell's Connection, in uniform series, is in process of publication, by Tegg & Co., London. Since Cardinal Wiseman has published his "Personal Recollections of the Four Last Popes," Gavazzi proposes to publish "My Recollections of the Four Last Popes. A Biography and a Reply." The Life of Dr. Adam Clarke, by J. W. Etheridge, is noticed with high commendation by the British Quarterly. At Paris, Hachette has published La Philosophie Saint Thomas d'Aquin, per Charles Jourdain; a work in two volumes octavo, which has received the prize of the Imperial Institute of France for an essay on the celebrated Thomas Aquinas. The writer is said to have invested a presumably dry subject with unexpected interest. A third edition of Cours de Droit Natural, by the late Professor Joouffroy, (whose valuable Introduction to Ethics was translated by George Ripley, and published some years since in this coun try,) has also been issued by Hachette. Joouffroy was one of the earnest thinkers of his day, less brilliant than Cousin, yet in spite of his being repelled by the absurdities of Romanism into a rationalistic state of mind, to be valued for the impressiveness of his moral teachings. A valuable work on Comparative Philology had been issued by M. Durand, entitled Aporçu Général de la Science, Comparative des Langues, pour servir d'Introduction à un Traite Comparè des Langues Indo-Europécenes. Par Louis Benlow, Professor à la Faculté des Lettres de Dijon. 8vo. The most masterly work on Church history that Protestant France has produced for many years, is noticed by critics, namely: Histoire de Trois Premiers Siécles de l'Eglise Chretienne. E. de Pressensé. 8vo., vol. 1. Paris. Pressensé has availed himself of the latest productions of German research. Par One of the most brilliant historical writers of France is Arséne Houssayé. His Galerie du Dix-huiteme Siécles, is in fact, criticized as too brilliant; as so wanting in repose as to appear sacrificing truth and nature to point. The London Eclectic Review has the following notice of "The Harmony of the Divine Dispensations," etc., by George Smith, LL.D., F.A.S., etc. London: Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans. This is one of the most valuable works on theology we have met with for a long time. The views of the author are, many of them, strikingly original. The work abounds with new ideas on the most important and vital parts of Divine truth, and is adapted to shed light on some of the most difficult passages of Scripture. The author works out all his points with great sobriety of judgment, and a constant appeal to the most learned and competent authorities. His object is to show that one uniform system of revelation has prevailed from the beginning to the end, from the narrative of Genesis to the visions of the Apocalypse." The Atlantic Telegraph, the topic of all pens, tongues, and minds, creates an epoch so marked, that its inauguration must not pass unnoticed in our Quarterly. So powerful yet so silent a revolution! Like the printing-press, the telegraph is one of those achievements in material mechanism that mount into the sphere of moral interests, and work rare results in the realms of thought and the sphere of society. We delight little in external shows and excitements; we have an overpowering tendency to sheer the huzzaing crowd; but for once we profess a sterling sympathy with banners, illuminations, and cheers, to celebrate a victory, not of one foraying army over another, but a victory of our common humanity over the obstacles of crude nature. There is something so simple and unpretending in the personal presence of Oersted, of Morse, and of Field, that it is hard for the popular mind to hail them as heroes; yet heroes they are of purer triumphs than the sword can ever win. The genius of BRADY has brought to an unrivalled practical perfection the kindred art of PHOTOGRAPHY. Stop, visitor of our metropolis, at his magnificent gallery on Broadway, which you will find courteously open to your inspection, enriched with the most perfect specimens of his amazing art. Likenesses the most accurate, taken from the living original, you will there find, of our statesmen, merchants, literati, and clergy. It is a compendious mode of making magnificent acquaintances. Of the desiderata yet remaining in this beautiful art, the North British Review thus subjectively speaks: "Upon looking into the past history of photography, it would be hazardous to predict its future. But though we dare not venture to shorten the arm of science, or limit its grasp, there are certain steps in advance which we may reasonably anticipate. Optical instruments are yet required to represent on a plane the human face, without deforming its lines and magnifying its imperfections. We still require & more sensitive tablet to perpetuate the tender expressions of domestic life, and to fix the bolder lines of intellect and of passion which are displayed in the forum and in the senate. But above all, we long to preserve the life-tints of those we love; to give to the ringlet its auburn, and to the eye its azure; to perpetuate the maiden blush, and to rescue from oblivion even the hectic flush from which we are so soon to part." Continue your course down Broadway, and a few steps (there is but a step from the aesthetical to the economical) will bring you to WHEELER & WILSON's exhibition of the wonders of the magic needle. Nor let it be for one moment supposed that an exploit so apparently humble as the solution of the problem of the lock-stitch, or the rotary loop-hook, is unworthy to be mentioned on the same page with the Atlantic telegraph. These simpler inventions may present no oceanwide sublimity; they may occasion no international celebrations; but more gently and tenderly, they spread a unique delight through a million of happy homes. So beautiful, so cunning, so working its rapid exploits with a delicate witchcraft, the SEWING MACHINE does not indeed leave a step between the aesthetical and economical; for in form it may be a parlor ornament, and, in fact, it makes needlework one of the fine arts. Our fair ones say that there is a fascination about the thing that transforms task to amusement. Men might as well peal huzzas and light up illuminations over this invention too, which makes happy the hearts that are to men most dear. |