been." And tamely to ponder upon times gone by is not to meet the exigencies of times present or to come. Memory will not help us. The recollection of our former high estate will not benefit us. Let us act. While we have a resource let us make it of avail. Let us proceed, at once, to the establishment throughout the country, of district schools, upon a plan of organization similar to that of our New England friends. If then, in time, Virginia shall be regenerated-if she shall, hereafter, assume, as is just, that proud station from which her own supine and over-weening selfesteem has been the means of precipitating her, "it will all be owing," (we take pleasure in repeating the noble and prophetic words of Mr. Minor,) "it will all be owing, under Providence, to the hearkening to that voice-not loud, but solemn and earnest-which from the shrine of Reason and the tombs of buried commonwealths, reiterates and enforces the momentous precept ' ENLIGHTEN THE PEOPLE.'” LEGENDS OF A LOG CABIN. The Wyandot's Story is also good (this too has appeared in the American Monthly Magazine)—but we have fault to find, likewise, with the phraseology in this instance. No Indian, let Chateaubriand and others say what they please, ever indulged, for a half hour at a time, in the disjointed and hyperbolical humbug here attributed to the Wyandot. The Minute Men is the last of the series, and from its being told by the author himself, is, we suppose, considered by him the best. It is a tale of the year seventy-five-but, although interesting, we do not think it equal to either The Frenchman's Story or The Hunter's Vow. We recommend the volume to the attention of our readers. It is excellently gotten up. TRAITS OF AMERICAN LIFE. Traits of American Life. By Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, Editor of "The American Ladies' Magazine," and Author of "Northwood," ""Flora's Interpreter," &c. &c. Philadel phia: E. L. Carey, and A. Hart. This volume is beautifully printed-and we are happy in being able to say, conscientiously, that its neat ex Legends of a Log Cabin. By a Western Man. New ternal appearance is its very least recommendation. York: George Dearborn, Publisher. We have been much interested in this book in spite of some very glaring faults and absurdities with which to plead in their favor-but the author trusts that the We are, however, at a loss to understand the PrefaceSketches and Stories here offered to the public❞—says can it be that its ambiguity is intentional? "The it is besprinkled. The work is dedicated to Charles F. Mrs. Hale-"have not entirely the attraction of novelty Hoffman, Esq. the author of A Winter in the West, (why sentiments inculcated, and principles illustrated, are will our writers persist in this piece of starched and such as will bear a reiteration." Does Mrs. H. mean antique affectation ?) and consists of seven Tales, viz. to say that these stories have been published in any The Hunter's Vow, The Heiress of Brandsby, The French-form before? (if so, she should have said it more exman's Story, The Englishman's Story, The Yankee's Story, The Wyandot's Story, and the Minute Men. The plot will be readily conceived. A heterogeneous company are assembled by accident, on a snowy night, in the Log Cabin of a Western hunter, and, pour passer le temps, amuse themselves in telling Stories. plicitly)—or does she allude merely to novelty of man ner or of matter? We think that some of these sketches are old acquaintances of ours. The volume consists of fourteen different articles. The Lloyds-The Catholic Convert-The Silver Mine -Political Parties-A New Year's Story-Captain Glover's Daughter-The Fate of a Favorite-The RoThe Lottery Ticket-An Old Maid-Ladies' Fairs mance of Travelling-The Thanksgiving of the Heart The Mode-and The Mysterious Box. The Silver Mine is, perhaps, the best of the whole-but they are all written with grace and spirit, and form a volume of exceeding interest. Mrs. Hale has already attained a high rank among the female writers of America, and bids fair to attain a far higher. WESTERN SKETCHES. Sketches of History, Life, and Manners in the West. By James Hall. Philadelphia: Harrison Hall. The Hunter's Vow is, we think, the best of the series. A dreamy student who can never be induced to forsake his books for the more appropriate toils of a backwoods' existence, is suddenly aroused from his apathy by the murder of his old father by an Indian-a murder which takes place under the scholar's own eyes, and which might have been prevented but for his ignorance in the art of handling and loading a rifle. The entire change wrought in the boy's character is well managed. The Heiress of Brandsby is a tale neither so verisimilar, nor so well told. It details the love of a Virginian heiress for a Methodist of no very enticing character; and concludes by the utter subversion, through the means of all powerful love, of the lady's long cherished notions of aristocracy. The Frenchman's Story has appeared before in the American Monthly Magazine. It is a well imagined and well executed tale of the French Revolution. The fate of M. Girond "who left town suddenly," is related with that air of naked and unvarnished truth so apt to render even a silly narrative interesting. The Englishman's Story is a failure-full of such palpable folly that we have a difficulty in ascribing it to the same pen which wrote the other portions of the volume. The whole tale betrays a gross ignorance of law in general-life in the West, prior to the close of the late war. To and of English law in especial. The Yankee's Story is much better-but not very good. We have our doubts as to the genuine Yankeeism of the narrator. His language, at all events, savors but little of Down East. Mr. Hall has made himself extensively known by his Tales and Legends, as well as by his labors in the editorship of the Western Monthly Magazine. From his long residence in the West, and from his undoubted abilities as a writer, we should suppose he would be excellently qualified to write precisely such a book as he has written. His object in the present publication seems to be not so much the furnishing of topographical or statistical details, as the sketching of character and those who are at all acquainted with Mr. Hall, or with Mr. Hall's writings, it is superfluous to say that the book is well written. Wild romance and exciting adventure form its staple. The policy of our government in regard to the Aborigines is detailed in the commencement of the first volume-the latter portion is occupied with the manners and customs of the French in the great valley of the Mississippi, and with the adventures of the white settlers on the Ohio. The second volume is more varied, and, we think, by far more interesting. It treats, among other things, of Burr's conspiracy-of the difficulties experienced in Mississippi navigation, and of the various military operations carried on in the wilderness of the North West. An Appendix, at the end of the book, embraces some papers relative to the first settlement of Kentucky-none of which have hitherto been published. We confidently recommend to our readers the Western Sketches of Mr. Hall, in the full anticipation of their finding in the book a fund both of information and amusement. AMERICAN ALMANAC. The American Almanac, and Repository of Useful Knowledge, for the year 1836. Boston: Published by Charles Bowen. CLINTON BRADSHAW. Clinton Bradshaw; or The Adventures of a Lawyer. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard. 66 We have no doubt this book will be a favorite with many readers-but for our own parts we do not like it. While the author aims at originality, and evidently fancies himself the pioneer of a new region in fictitious literature, he has, we think, unwittingly stumbled upon that very worst species of imitation, the paraphrasical. Clinton Bradshaw, or the Adventures of a Lawyer, is intended, we humbly conceive, as a pendant, in America, to Henry Pelham, or the Adventures of a Gentleman, in England. There are, however, some little awkward discrepancies. When Pelham luxuriates in the drawing-room, and Bradshaw is obstreperous in the tavern, no ingenuity can sustain a parallel. The polished manners of the one are not equalled by even the selfpolished pumps of the other. When the British hero is witty and recherché, the American fails to rival him by merely trying to be both. The exquisite's conversation is sentiment itself, and we have no stomach afterwards for the lawyer's sentiment and water. This is the seventh number of this invaluable work. The plan of this novel," says a correspondent of a Its editor, from the first year of its publication, is un-contemporary Magazine, for whose editorial opinions derstood to have been J. E. Worcester, Esq. the inde- we have the highest respect, "is exceedingly simple, fatigable author and compiler of a number of works and the moral it unfolds, if not of the most elevated requiring great industry, perseverance, and talent. kind, is still useful and highly applicable to our existNearly twenty years ago he became known to the ing state of society. It is the story of a young lawyer public by his Universal Gazetteer, a second edition of of limited means, and popular talents, whose ambition which, at the present time, we agree with the North urges him to elevate himself by all the honorable meAmerican Review in thinking would be highly accepta-thods in his power. His professional pursuits lead him ble to the public. Mr. Worcester has also published a Gazetteer of the United States-The Elements of Geography-the Elements of History-The Historical Atlas-an Edition of Johnson's Dictionary, as improved by Todd and abridged by Chalmers-an Abridgment of the American Dictionary of Dr. Webster-and, lastly, A Comprehensive Pronouncing and Explanatory Dictionary of the English Language, with Fronouncing Vocabularies of Classical, Scripture, and Modern Geographical Names-all of them works of intrinsic merit. The American Almanac has long had a well-estab-cellence of the book consists in a certain Flemish carilished reputation, and Mr. Worcester is understood to have prepared, invariably, all of its valuable contents with the exception of the astronomical department. When we consider the great variety of topics treated of, and the extreme difficulty of procuring accurate information in relation to many of them, we must all admire the energy of the editor in having brought the work to its present high state of perfection and utility. We know of no publication of the kind more fully entitled to be called "A Repository of Useful Knowledge." among the coarsest criminals, while his political career brings him in contact with the venal and corrupt of all parties. But true alike to himself and the community of which he is a member, the stern principles of a republican, and the uncompromising spirit of a gentleman, are operative under all circumstances." These words we quote as affording, in a brief space, some idea of the plot of Clinton Bradshaw. We repeat, however, that we dislike the novel, considered as a novel. Some detached passages are very good. The chief ex caturing of vulgar habitudes and action. The whole puts us irresistibly in mind of High Life below Stairs. Its author is, we understand, a gentleman of Cincinnati. ENGLISH ANNUALS. Friendship's Offering and Winter's Wreath for 1836a beautiful souvenir. The literary portion unusually good. The tale of The Countess, by Mrs. Norton, is the best article in the book. The embellishments are mostly of a high order. Plate No. 7-The Countess, engraved by H. T. Ryall, from an original painting by E. T. Parris, is exquisite indeed-unsurpassed by any plate within our knowledge. The Almanac for 1836 contains the usual Register of the General and State Governments, together with a vast amount of statistical and miscellaneous matter; but "it is more particularly characterized by an account of the principal Benevolent Institutions in the United States, and a view of the Ecclesiastical Statis-gravings here are admirable. tics of the Religious Denominations." We believe that no work of an equal extent in America contains as much important statistical information as the seven volumes of the American Almanac. We are happy to learn that complete sets of the publication can still be obtained. The Forget Me Not for 1836, edited by Shoberl, is, perhaps, superior to the Winter's Wreath in pictorial, although slightly inferior in literary merit. All the en Fisher's Drawing-Room Scrap-Book for 1836, edited by L. E. L. is, in typographical beauty, unrivalled.The literary portion of the work is but so so, although written nearly altogether by L. E. L. These Annuals may all be obtained, in Richmond, at the bookstore of Mr. C. Hall. ber in detail. All we can do is to speak of them as a whole, and this we can do in few words-they are goodvery good; if our readers doubt, let them subscribe for it and judge for themselves. If they think with us, let them subscribe-they will get the worth of their money. [Camden (S. C.) Journal. splendid “Dissertation on the Characteristic Differences | we can spare, to notice the articles in the present num between the Sexes," worth alone a full year's subscription; "Another Visit to the Virginia Springs," and the contributions of many writers who have already attained a high celebrity. In every point of view, this work is unsurpassed by any in the country, whether we take the quality or quantity of matter, the style of execution, or the variety and interest of the subjects discussed. The literary pride of our country surely will not suffer it to languish. Before closing this notice, we must allude to an article in the last number, which gave us unalloyed amusement, and which we esteem one of the most admirable specimens of brilliant fancy, and apt description which we have ever read. It is "KING PEST THE FIRST," containing an Allegory. There can be no mistake in attributing it to the prolific pen of Edgar A. Poe, whose talent in imaginative productions, is not excelled by any writer of his age in this country. We say this from no motive of interest or partiality, for we have scarcely an acquaintance with the author, but from the sincere opinion that he posseses talents and attainments of the first order, which he should persevere in using for the public benefit, regardless alike of the detractions of the envious, or the sneers of the critic race, who "hate the excellence they cannot reach."—[Compiler. Southern Literary Messenger.-We have received the 13th number of this beautiful and able periodical, which is the last of the first volume, and is accompanied by a handsome title page and copious index. Its contents, (the table of which will be found, as usual, in our advertising columns,) are delightfully varied and interesting, and fully sustain the high character of the work. We have neither time nor room to refer to them more particularly at present, but may perhaps do so hereafter. The following flattering notice is from the able editors of the National Intelligencer; and we are gratified to perceive that the work has elicited the highest encomiums from many of the first journals in the country. The Southern people ought to be proud of it, and encourage every possible improvement of it, by the most liberal patronage. "We received a few days ago the thirteenth number (being the closing number of the first volume) of Mr. White's Southern Literary Messenger.-From a cursory The Southern Literary Messenger.-The 13th number, perusal of its contents, it strikes us as one of the best, which closes the first volume of this excellent publica- if not the best, of the whole series. This is honorable tion, is before us, and we are happy to see that a full to the spirit of the contributors who have so far sucindex of the contents of the volume accompanies it. The cessfully sustained the work, as the work itself is crediMessenger is now no longer an experiment. Its course table to the literature of the South. This elegant and is onward, and, if we do not deceive ourselves, it is entertaining periodical may now be considered as havdestined to assume a high rank among the periodicals ing established its claims to the public support, and we of the present day. But the editor must look to the ar- cannot doubt that it will be supported with increased ticles which receive his imprimatur. He must endea-liberality. Many of the best pens in the country are vor to excite a fondness for the really good in litera- regularly employed in imparting interest and instruction ture-seck to obtain from able men essays on popular to its pages."-[Augusta Chronicle. topics, to be written with due preparation-and especially must he give the go-by to a host of little squibbers, who glory in nothing but the noise and smoke of their own crackers. The editor of a literary Journal may do what the editor of a daily paper never can-he may shape each number of his work, in some measure according to the abstract idea of excellence-but an editor of a daily paper might offend half of his subscribers by publishing an article of intrinsic worth merely. A trifling essay, too, always injures a literary work-albeit it may boast a distinguished paternity in the fashionable world. Indeed it requires an almost infinite degree of talent to trifle handsomely-we pray to be defended from any thing like the reverse. The Messenger has done much already, and is calculated to accomplish a great deal of good in the Southern country. The exertions of Mr. White will greatly tend to cherish a taste for elegant literature-and he has only to go forward availing himself freely of his growing experience in the conduct of a literary journal, and he will not only reap pecuniary profit, but entitle himself to the reputation of a public benefactor. We have not read the present number with sufficient care to justify us in speak-mulate its titles to public regard, and to increase the ing freely concerning it.-[Norfolk Beacon. The Southern Literary Messenger.-We mentioned last week that we had only time to acknowledge the receipt of the 13th number, being the last of the first volume, of this valuable work. Accompanying this number is a title page and index to the whole. Southern Literary Messenger.-The first volume of this admirable periodical is now completed with the publication of the 13th number, which came to hand a few days since. We often feel called upon—sometimes by our particular partialities and sometimes by the necessities of the case, to speak a good word for the publications of the day. But really here is a periodical which requires no adventitious aid from partial friends, and cannot fail to stand firm upon its own positive and obvious merits. Mr. White, the publisher, has laid some very able pens under contribution, to enrich his work; and so far as literary merit is involved, we do not think it need fear a comparison with any similar publication in the country. In all that relates to mechanical execution, we place it decidedly at the head of the list. It is a periodical exhibiting in various departments striking intellectual ability, and master minds, and withal beautifully printed, on good white paper. It has passed the ordeal-It has undergone the 'year's probation,' with honor, and is now an established work. As such we hail it, and trust that it may go on to accu sphere of its usefulness-both " consummations devoutly to be wished" by its friends, and not unlikely to be realized, since the last number issued is one among the best of the series.-[Balt. Patriot. Southern Literary Messenger.-The 13th number of this work just published, completes the first volume of Neither our time, nor our limits will now permit us this publication, the success of which is a sure proof of to do justice to this elegant Magazine. The number its merits as a literary periodical. It contains a number before us, is inferior to none of its predecessors, and of well-written and interesting articles, among which, when we say that it is among the best, if not the very we may mention the Sketches of Tripoli, the Essay on best of the literary publications of the day, we do not Education, Stories of General Warren, and Mr. Poe's think we exaggerate. When we get hold of it too, we Tale of " Loss of Breath." The poetry is in general exfeel assured that we are not only going to find some-cellent, and the critical notices are distinguished by canthing good, but something new-original, not hacknied articles which have been going the rounds, since the days of Nebuchadnezzar. It would require more space, than dor and liberality. Altogether this periodical reflects notice other articles which deserve examination. In the Magazines in America.-The "New England" is in a confidently. We were exceedingly amused with Poe's galloping consumption: it should have lived longer for story, à la Blackwood, entitled "Loss of Breath," and the credit of its name, but "no man can serve two have been delighted with several of the poetical scraps, masters"—and politics do not chime euphoniously with one of which will be given to-morrow. The first part of belles lettres. The "American Monthly," is a sober," Another Visit to the Virginia Springs," will afford unclever, and perhaps a heavy rival. Dearborn of New alloyed pleasure and interest, and will sharpen the appeYork has taken it up. Hoffman is its editor. It has tite of the reader for its continuance. The writer well kept its own from the commencement, and will keep its knows how to group the ludicrous incidents of a watering own to the end, it is to be hoped. The "Knicker-place-and take off the imaginary ills and fancied combocker," was catchpennyish on a small scale, in the out-forts of fashionable life. set of its career, and under the charge of its talented We may have occasion to revert to this work, and editors, the Clarkes, it is still catchpennyish, though on a larger scale. It is making too much of a mint of its English contributors. It is a shame that a Magazine should owe any thing of success to such a clap-trap.— The "Southern" is the best Magazine in the country. It is printed at Richmond and comes out monthly, in a beautiful type, and full of entertaining matter. One Poe ("Phoebus! what a name!") is its chief contributor, perhaps its editor. The (Bangor) "Eastern" is a young, and we are inclined to think is destined to be a short lived, bantling of this numerous family, and so will be "The Portland," unless the people of our City and State come forward to its support more warmly. Its editress writes too much-no one can write well, who is always writing,―cacoethes scribendi is not literary aspiration, and words are not always literature. Such is a rapid glance at the Magazines of America. [Portland Advertiser. mine to sustain it. If they would sustain Virtue and Morality on a broad scale, let them support the LITERATURE of the Commonwealth. Southern Literary Messenger.-We have long had it in contemplation to notice this capital work and should have done so long since, had it been sent to us. Upon its first appearance we felt proud that our State had at length produced a literary periodical that bid fair to do full honor to its birth place. But now, when it has gone forth in its strength, has brilliantly realized the warmest and fondest anticipations of its friends, and has taken its place in the foremost rank of the periodicals of the Union, and thus reflected enviable honor upon the State, we cannot avoid expressing our earnest congratulations to the proprietor, while we wonder at the slender support for which we believe it is indebted to Western Virginia! Every citizen who pretends to read at all, and The Southern Literary Messenger.-This work, issued who takes delight in the prosperity and welfare of the at Richmond in Virginia, is, we believe, the first Maga-"Old Dominion" ought to take the work, and deterzine that has appeared south of the famous line, so often mentioned in the speeches of the justly celebrated John Randolph, of Roanoke. It is a little singular that a portion of our Union, so rich in talent, and learning, and leisure, as the Ancient Dominion, did not long ago contribute in this way to enlarge and illustrate our republic of letters. Material for biographical and historical notices must be abundant in Virginia, whilst essays on various topics of permanent and passing interest, scientific and moral, could easily have been furnished by her ready writers, if a medium for their diffusion had been before established. About a year since, the Messenger made its appearance, and it has certainly been well sustained thus far, having reached the thirteenth number. Southern Literary Messenger.—We have heartily reThe intelligent and worthy proprietor, 'T. W. White, commended this work upon the strength of two numhas shown great zeal and industry in his department, bers. Having now seen the whole, instead of seeing which not only included the duties of editor to a certain reason to qualify what we then said, we are rather inextent, but also those of printer, to which honorable clined to say more-much more in its favor. It is a profession he belongs. The mechanical execution of work which the South may well be proud of-let the the work is entitled to much commendation, and we North say what it will. And by this we mean, as evethink it highly deserving of the patronage of our coun-ry body who knows our opinion of the South, and of trymen, in every view we can take of its various merits. [American Sentinel. We think the proprietor of the Messenger has not taken as much pains as he might have done to secure patronage in the Western section of the State, and we feel as anxious that the West should have it, as that the work should be supported. There is no agency in this place, and we believe (and are ashamed to own it) that but a single copy comes to our post office, and that is taken by a gentleman formerly of Eastern Virginia.—[Parkersburg Republican. the men of the South, may well believe, a compliment worth having. Still-it depends upon them whether the Southern Literary Messenger, (hang the title!), be or be not fifty times better than it is now. [New England Galaxy. We received a few days ago, the Southern Literary Messenger, for September, which completes the first volume of that excellent periodical. We are gratified to learn from the publisher's notice that the pecuniary We publish this morning from the Southern Literary have equalled the acknowledged merits of the literary Messenger, the tale entitled "King Pest the First," contributions to the Messenger, and that his endeavors which we spoke of a few days since in noticing the last to please, which to our knowledge have been arduous | number of the Messenger. The article, seems generaland unremitting, have been crowned with success. The ly, and we believe justly attributed to the pen of Mr. Messenger has now acquired a reputation upon which | Edgar A. Poe, our townsman, whose productions have the publisher may fairly rest his claim to the continued patronage of the public for the forthcoming volume, which, he promises "shall in no respect be behind, if it does not greatly outstrip its predecessor." [Norfolk Herald. met almost universal approbation from the critical press. In King Pest, the evils and maladies attendant upon intemperance are well portrayed in the allegorical personages who group around the drinking table of the monarch "Tim Hurlygurly." Indeed few of Mr. P's tales are without an aim or a moral: "Hans Phaal" The 13th number of the Southern Literary Messenger, was a burlesque upon the mani for ballooning—“Liwhich completes the first volume, has just been issued onizing," upon the rage for making a Lion of every from the press, and teems with its usual quantum of rich contemptible pretender to fashion, or small authorship— and delightful literature. We have relieved the languor "Loss of Breath" is evidently a burlesque on the exof a sick couch by poring busily over its contents; but travagant and rigmarole species of writing so prevalent we have not had sufficient time to read each article within the pages of Blackwood.-[Compiler. the care and attention necessary to pronounce opinions | |