all the situations in which it was his fortune to be placed,-whether in camp or court, in field or senate, in diplomatic council, or in the assembly of mere state and ceremonial, he proved himself invariably a leader of men, the master-spirit, the directing will,-controlling, informing, moving,-even when surrounded by those, who, in single departments, might well have claimed the palm over all competitors. This mastery was due to his genius, and not to his passions. No mere passion, however eager and impetuous,-no mere will, however profound-ever subdues the world. It was due, in the case of Jackson, to that rare and well-balanced combination of moral and physical qualities of mind and temperament, of judgment and impulse-of singular good sense, with just so much of the imaginative spirit, as could wing and give elevation to the thought, carrying it forward, with a direct, unfaltering courage, under the guidance of a clear, bright and unsealed vision. Take him, all in all, Andrew Jackson was one of the greatest spirits that America has ever given to the world. It should be the lasting boast of Carolina, that he was one of her gifts to America!

EDITORIAL BUREAU.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY-1941.

WE rejoice in the daily proofs given us of the vitality and energy with which this excellent institution pursues its operations. It promises to be quite worthy of the great State whose history it more particularly undertakes to illustrate and represent. It is not the least grateful fact, after this, that, from all appearances, the people of New-York are prepared to appreciate the advantages of such a society, and yield heartily to its requisitions. It is to be wished that the example should be followed in all the States, particularly those of the South. Virginia, for example, the Carolinas, Georgia and Louisiana, are more immediately and impressively called upon to make the necessary movement, for recovering and putting on enduring records, all their early chronicles—chronicles, at once so honorable to their histories, and so interesting and instructive to their children. These old States of the South have it in their power, still to rescue from the moth and the worm, much, even now, of the most valuable material. Old chests may be explored with profit, upon which the insect riots, and which, in the natural course of things, he must in very few seasons more destroy. The work is one for individuals first, and we call upon the intelligent and the patriotic in the South-upon the professions-upon the planters-to take the necessary steps in the prosecution of this sacred duty-a duty the neglect of which will occasion their own repinings hereafter, and which future generations will denounce and curse, as the fruit of that basest sort of selfishness, which betrays indifference to all considerations, those only of the passing moment excepted. Virginia and Carolina history needs, and may yet find in neglected store-houses, vast bodies of fact, original papers, records, diaries, letters and memoranda, relating to the proprietary ascendancy-relating to Huguenot affairs-to the domestic conflicts here of the dissenters and the established church-the affairs of the Indians-the initial proceedings of the Revolution, and to other and equally important periods of which we have, at present, glimpses only. Louisiana should possess abundant materials for her early history of the most delightful and instructive character. Let her look them up. Let her societies and citizens address themselves to the work, and rake from the decaying heaps, whatever may remain of the chronicles of her ancient settlers-French, Spanish and American. No State in the Union, will be found to possess, in its history, if properly developed, the substance of a more charming and romantic narrative. For Heaven's sake, let us no longer continue insensible to the moral of the age and our own position. Our responsibilities to the race and to the world, are in due proportion to the degree of civilization which we claim,-and this should not be suffered to provoke question or disparagement, when the means are in our hands, and the lack is in our will alone, to silence and to satisfy the world. As we have said before, it is an individual concern,-your concern, brother, and mine;-shall we not then agree to work together in the common cause? Maryland and Georgia have given us good examples. The latter State-our younger sister-has gone rapidly ahead

VOL. II.-NO. I.

6

in this matter, and has done rare service to her people. The government of the State, under the impulse of the Historical Society, has contributed to the good work, and several volumes of valuable material have been rescued from destruction. These men of Savannah, Berrien, Charlton, Tefft, and many more, deserve, and will enjoy, the highest awards, which a conscientious people must bestow, upon a sleepless and honorable patriotism. They have worked,—as we should work here,-in spite of the dogged doubting, the narrowly selfish, the drowsy, doting, ever sneering, never doing set, that ride, like the old man of the sea on the shoulders of Sinbad, and keep down all the honorable effort which they have not soul or sense to share. The young men of the South must take up the work, since it is too much for their seniors. Let Carolina follow the lead of Georgia-since, so long untrue to herself, she did not make the initial movement. Establish a historical society in Charleston, with branches in Columbia, Camden, Georgetown, Hamburg, and every village in the State where half a dozen clever men can be got together in the name of literature and patriotism. Let Alabama do likewise. Her parent society may be either in Mobile or Tuscaloosa. Montgomery, Huntsville, etc. should raise branch societies, and with such men as MANLY, BRUMBY, PORTER, BERNARD and MEEK, in Tuscaloosa; LEWIS, DELLETT, HAYNE, Lesesne, Phillips, and OLIVER, in Mobile and elsewhere, there could be no doubt that the impulse given to the work would carry the society forward with benefit. New-Orleans has a host of capable men, who should suffer no delay; and the flourishing towns of Mississippi, beginning with Natchez and Columbus, have in them enough of talent and energy, to enable them to keep pace with States of greater wealth and population. The interior States of Tennessee and Kentucky may well seek to rescue from oblivion biographies of their early pioneers, those strange, strong, adventurous spirits, who traversed the forest depths, alone, with no material for their help or security but their courage, their skill, their dexterity, and the reliance which they had in Heaven. What volumes of treasure might we possess, if these several communities would only engage in honorable emulation in this most interesting of all departments of social inquiry.

The progress of other States should stimulate our efforts, if only through our feelings of shame. Massachusetts has published numerous volumes. Several of the New-England States have done, in proportion, quite as well; and the new impetus, which a new set of working men have given to the New-York Historical Soeiety, is sending it ahead to the provocation and the admiration of all. The proceedings of the year 1844 are now before us in a handsomely printed volume of 200 pages. These report the most encouraging progress. The daily accumulations of library and cabinet, and the frequent discussions and lectures which its regular meetings occasion, render it of daily increasing importance, not only in the eye of the metropolis, but of the ten thousand strangers that daily flow into that city from afar. We have examined this volume with warm interest, and have read with great satisfaction the papers which it contains. The report by WETMORE is clear, ample and encouraging. He is one of those diligent and industrious members to whom such institutions are particularly indebted. JAY, SCHOOLCRAFT, FOLSOM, HOFFMAN, etc. are men to be included in the same category. The appendix to this volume contains an interesting paper on "New Netherland," by Rev. Dr. DE WITT; one, by Mr. SCHOOLCRAFT, on the aboriginal names and geographical terminology of the State of New-York; one, by Mr.

EDWARDS, on the life of Governor Tompkins; one, by Mr. HODGSON, (of Savannah,) on the history and condition of Morocco, Algiers, and the Barbary Regencies; and sundry other smaller papers, on subjects of less interest, but of pleasing character. These are followed by a supplement of more than a hundred pages, containing the address, on the fortieth anniversary, by Mr. BRODHEAD, the Historiographer of the State. This gentleman, under recent and liberal appropriations of New-York, has been ransacking the archives of the several States of Europe, wherever they might be supposed to contain documents relating to the early history of the State. His discourse gives a history of his progress in this search, and embodies an interesting narrative of the prominent material which it developes. His report to the Legislature of New-York, descriptive of the results following his labors, will elsewhere receive our attention. Following this address, is an account of the farther celebration, by the society, of its anniversary-with what pleasure its dinner was eaten, its wines drunk-what flattering toasts were given, and what eloquent speeches made. It is a sign not wanting in significance, that, at this dinner, so disgustingly did the New-England orators dilate upon the glories and the greatness of New-Bngland, to the utter exclusion of all other subjects, as to provoke a very manly and spirited speech from Mr. CHARLES F. HOFFMAN, in which, while he seeks to repair the slight and injustice, he adroitly reflects on the vanity and the indecency of these selfcomplacent Yankees, who, as has been shown, have come really to consider the United States as their exclusive possession, to fancy that they have founded it wholly, achieved all its successes, reared up and established its liberties, and, voting themselves the saints, have concluded to take possession of the spoils. Enough;-this impudence and insanity will provoke resistance, and finally cure itself.

NEW ORLEANS AS I FOUND IT. HARPER & BROTHERS.

OUR author is a man of talents, without question, but he is also a person of vagaries. This book certainly contains something which relates to New-Orleans, but he who shall open it, expecting anything to enlighten him in regard to that flourishing city,—its statistics, civil, topographical, social,-its aspects, morals, or history-its people or its practices,-its qualities or conditions—will turn its pages and scratch his head in vain. The book, with a world of extravagance, has much good writing;—seemingly without a purpose, it yet arrests the attention in frequent places, and leads us to large expectations, if nothing more. The volume is full of snatches at good things, and we are vexed at the frequent conviction that a very clever man is trifling with his own talents and opportunities. It is a book, equally to provoke and to weary. It will weary all before they are done with it; yet, in flinging it aside, they will feel that the writer, had he chosen, might probably have secured their most favoring voices. He has set out without a plan, yet has set forth ambitiously. His objects do not harmonizehis elements will not assimilate. He aims to combine the fruits of his travelling experience, with the occasional interest of sketch and story. To do this well, requires the nicest artistical management. To blend the fact and the philosophy, with the picturesque and dramatic, and to do this in that seemingly effortless manner, which is the rare charm in such performances, demands the happiest faculties of the writer. To unite these requisites, to blend their several charac

teristics in one symmetrical and becoming narrative, needs a talent at once distinguished by the liveliest fancy and the most delicate tact. Our author, if such has been his object, has failed in it very completely. In his sketches and stories, which are awkwardly introduced, he totally forgets his description. New-Orleans escapes from the page of Mr. DIDIMUS. We see neither the town nor the houses, and are carried hither and thither, in a manner quite too arbitrary for a rational republican people like ours. His book is just some such imposition as it would be in the agent of a steam-boat to take passengers up at Norfolk for Boston, and carry them to Mobile instead. Our contractor offers to take us to New-Orleans, and before we know where we are, he has us in Paris. He has taken little pains to do as he promised, and nothing can well be more inartistical than the manner in which his rambling progress is maintained. The crude narrative of Oceanus is one, which, showing considerable talent, is offensive to good taste from its erratic course and extravagant developments. The writer either too little respects his reader, or has happened upon a wrong track He has talentthat is certain-reading,—thought—and considerable powers of expression. Let him take the back track, and start anew. If his object has been, as we are partly led to believe, to enliven his narrative of travel, by incorporating his facts with a lively tissue of fiction, the secret of his success was to be found in so devising the scheme of his story, as that it should, step by step, and without obtrusiveness, absorb and assimilate all the materials of his observation, which the traveller desires to put on record, gradually, and by a systematic distribution of his facts over the surface, so as not to make them stand out to the exclusion of any of his necessary fictitious elements. It must not be seen that the story is merely a book on which to hang the discoveries of the writer, nor yet shall the story itself be so utterly absorbing as to withdraw the attention of the reader from the facts which he desires to present. This sort of writing requires caution rather than genius, nice tact and considerate attention; a hand of grace, and that readiness of fancy which can skilfully and easily blend the fact with the probable, and both of these with the picturesque. A fine specimen of this class of composition is to be found in the Corinne of Mad. de Stael,-a work, however, which possesses the additional fascinations which are only to be received from a genius and "imagination all compact." Some of the writings of Dumas possess these characteristles, and recently, an attempt, more ambitious than successful, has been given us in the "Bennett's abroad"-a clever book by Mrs. Ellis. The author of "New-Orleans as I found it," promises us a continuation of the work. We trust, for his own sake, he will amend the faults and errors of the past.

GOURAUD'S PHRENO-MNEMOTECHNY. WILEY & PUTNAM.

THIS is a mammoth volume, to do justice to which requires more time than we can possibly bestow upon it just now. A hurried and superficial examination is all that we have given it. We have glanced here and there at the introductory portions, we have read two of the lectures, and looked with some curiosity at the tables. Professor GOURAUD is a man of more ability than taste. He is evidently master of his subject, and that subject is one of rare interest and usefulness. To supply the defects of a natural, by means of an artificial memory, is an art not