to become the standard volume of any library where intelligence, good taste, sound judgment, liberal policy, and the proprieties of language are entirely disregarded. We congratulate Messrs. Stringer & Townsend on the popularity which this work has achieved. It well sustains the reputation they have established as publishers of the most excited light literature. Pride and Prejudice. By Miss Austen. 12mo. cloth. New-York: Bunce & Brother, 134 Nassau street. WE entertain the profoundest respect for female genius, and are well assured that, when confined to its proper sphere, its productions are not only ornamental, but requisite to the completeness of any national literature. We would not see our wives or sisters plunge into the arena of politics or meddle with pursuits unsuited to them; but in the walks of fiction or romance, in song, and in all those branches of intellectual culture where sensibility and tenderness are required, the finer and more delicate mind of woman might greatly aid the full development of human nature. Miss Edgeworth, Miss Porter, Mrs. Sigourney, Mrs. Hemans, and Miss Landon might well be pointed out as exemplars of female genius working steadily in its true direction; and to this catalogue, so illustrious, Miss Austen's name may well be added. Her novels are life-portraitures of society, neither exaggerated above belief nor falling down into commonplace detail. The genial vivacity and sparkling wit of her conversational pages have rarely, if ever, been equalled; and a perusal of "Pride and Prejudice" would form a valuable lesson to all aspirants for a ready and fluent utterance of their ideas. The dull conventionalities of life become instinct with interest in her hands. The Life and Beauties of Fanny Fern. New-York: H. Long & Brother. 1855. We have an indistinct recollection of having heard or read the name of "Fanny Fern" in some newspaper or literary journal at some former but forgotten time. We are therefore the more pleased to find in a compendious volume, the "Beauties" of the lady whose voluminous writings have doubtless engrossed the laborious hours of her eulogist for many months. And here we may remark, that the anonymous compiler has selected a strangely bad device: he professes to give the "Life and Beauties" of his authoress, and yet represents himself upon the embossed cover as a viper biting a file. We have not read "Ruth Hall," we are happy to inform the public; and therefore can not venture an opinion as to whether this volume be the ebullition of the rage of "Mr. Tibbetts," or the real admiration of a distracted adorer. We learn from it, however, that the fair anonymity whose perfections pretend to be here chronicled, was a most undutiful daughter to a most indulgent father, a most reckless critic of the faults and foibles of a ringletted and super-exquisite brother. If these are to be esteemed the "Beauties" of a female character, we (not belonging to the school of Lucy Stone) can not properly appreciate them. On the whole, the book is very readable, and would make a good accompaniment to Mr. P. T. Barnum's exhibition of the "Happy Family." Wolfert's Roost and other Papers, now first collected. By Washington Irving. New-York: Putnam. THE name of Irving almost renders any notice unnecessary. We do not seek to paint the lily or gild refined gold: and any further notice of the author of the "Sketch Book," his quaint peculiarities and ever-genial style, might seem a work of supererogation-more especially within such limits as our literary table is confined to. This volume is a revised and judicious collection of those inimitable stories which have, from time to time, been contributed by Mr. Irving to the periodicals of the day. They form a most delightful melange, neither so long as to be considered tedious, nor too brief to arouse our interest. The stories possess the most diversified character, and are laid in every age and clime: we cordially commend the book to the attention of all readers of standard romance as the most valuable contribution that has been made of late to the light literature of our day. We owe to the author's genius a debt which posterity must in part repay; nevertheless, we cheerfully acknowledge the further obligation of this volume. We are indebted to the respective publishers for copies of the following books, notices of which will appear in our next : Russia As It Is. By Count Adam De Gurowski. D. Appleton & Co. NewYork: 1854. A Year of the War. By Adam De Gurowski. D. Appleton & Co. New-York: 1855. Annual of Scientific Discovery; or, Year Book of Facts in Science and Art for 1855. Edited by David A. Wells, A. M. Boston: Gould & Lincoln, 59 Washington street. 1855. Notes on Duels and Duelling, alphabetically arranged, with a preliminary historical essay. By Lorenzo Sabine. Boston: Crosby, Nichols & Co., 111 Washington street. 1855. The Virginia Comedians; or, Old Days in the Old Dominion. Edited from the MSS. of C. Effingham, Esq. In 2 vols. New-York: D. Appleton & Co., 346 and 348 Broadway. London: 16 Little-Britain. 1855. A Complete Treatise on Artificial Fish-Breeding. Including the Reports on the Subject made to the French Academy and the French Government; and Particulars of the Discovery as pursued in England. Translated and edited by W. H. Fry. Illustrated with engravings. New-York: Appleton & Co., 346 and 348 Broadway. 1855. The Battles of the Crimea. Including an Historical Summary of the Russian War, from the Commencement to the Present Time, giving a graphic Picture of the great Drama of the War, and embracing a new Plan of Sebastopol. New-York: G. S. Wells, 140 Nassau street. 1855. A South-Side View of Slavery; or, Three Months at the South. NEHEMIAH ADAMS, D.D. Boston: T. R. Marvin, and Mussey & Co. 1854. My Courtship, and its Consequences. By HENRY WYKOFF. New-York: J. C. Derby. 1855. |