Behold proud man, in all his prime, Behold the meek and thoughtful sage, The parting breath of the dying storm, In infant smiles or boyish plays, In pleasure's paths, or wisdom's ways, There's something starts to every eye, Editor's Cable. will be rewarded with the most abundant patronage of the lovers of Christian literature. From the Virginia sculptor, Mr. Barbee, (whose beautiful statue of the Coquette we had the pleasure to see while in Florence in October last) we have received the following letter which the reader will find of interest, as giving the impressions made upon the mind of an artist when first he treads the classic soil of Italy FLORENCE, December 30, 1854. Dear Sir-A moment of relaxation from the studies which have engrossed my attention during my sojourn in Italy, enables me at last to redeem, partially, my prom ise of writing to you. But my occupation being other than that of a letter writer, at present, and having no ambition, apart from the beautiful art which now absorbs me, I hope you will be content to know that I make no further effort in this, than a mere friendly letter would exert. You desire to hear of Florence, and of our countrymen here. Both have been the subjects of frequent communications, which you have doubtless seen. Indeed, who has not seen Florence through the columns of some newspaper? Yet, how imperfect the medium, and how unsatisfactory the idea! To see it properly, one must look with his own eyes. He must walk through her labyrinth of narrow streets, and gaze upward at her lofty palaces, as they reach out their heavy heads to kiss each other above him. He must place his foot upon his mosaic floors, and wander through her galleries, and hear the silent voices of her statues and her pictures tell their own tale of the genius of departed ages. He must do this, else half the tale of this great old city will never be told to him. But let no one imagine that Florence, because it is in the land of the "blue sky and the bright sun," is an enchanted city-that her streets are paved In venturing to lay before our readers entire the address of Dr. Samuel Henry Dicksor, of Charleston, S. C., before the New England Society of that city, we are aware that we have taken with gold and her towers and domes blaze in dazzling a liberty with a published work, which though beauty upon the beholder's eye. It is a city built of such not defended by copyright, might yet be regard-rough materials as stone, brick and mortar- with the ed as the property of the accomplished author. But marking the address in pencil for the purpose of quotation we found that the extracts we desired to select were so copious as almost to amount to a republication of it, and we therefore determined to present it complete, feeling assured that the author will pardon us for the wish to give as extended a circulation as possible to sentiments breathing such enlarged patriotism and expressed with such genuine eloquence. Yet mould and dust of centuries blackening and darkening her whole exterior. Nay, indeed, I must say that many of our American cities will present to the eye of the stranger quite as prepossessing an appearance. there is grandeur in her dusky bosom. But it is a foreign, gloomy, melancholy grandeur, which leaves the mind to hesitate, whether to express more of awe or admiration. It is a vast storehouse, wherein are garnered up the relics of mind, whose enlightening influence is no longer felt. It is a great mirror, through which we see what Italy was, and what she is. The comparison is sad. All we behold in the camera of the past bespeaks mind educated to the highest degree of refinement. But in her present condition, much of political, moral and inental degeneracy may be apparent. My sympathies, The Family Christian Album is the title of however, are with the Italian people. A vampyre is new monthly periodical from the press of Clem-sucking their hearts' blood, and without power to remove mitt & Fore of this city, the first number of which it, they live in patient consciousness of departing vitalihas been kindly sent to us by the editress, Mrs. ty. The home of the great, is the land of the beggar. E. P. Elam. It is a work addressed especially to The same bright sun that added splendour to her day of glory, now points us to the gloomy contrast of the joythe young, and its high aim is to be instrumental ous heavens, and the head bowed on the sufferer's bosom. in the Christian Education of children by afford-But it is Italy still-lovely in all the vestiges of her naing them something to relieve the severer studies tive beauty. Her flowers seem to bloom evermore. Her Her music still fills the air with of the school room. We trust it will be univer-earth is ever green. sweet sounds, as her flowers with fragrance. Her elisally welcomed into the family circle, and that the mate is mild, healthy and lovely. But let it be rememgifted lady who has undertaken its management bered that he who visits Italy expecting to see an un a clouded sky, and an ever unvarying, warm and genial atmosphere, may perhaps become a suffererer by experiencing a contrary state of facts. Vicissitudes there are, of climate here, in winter, both frequent and trying. And whilst it is not so cold as southern Virginia, yet there is a searching, penetrating chilliness that finds its way through every fibre. Florence is a delightful place to live in. The market supplies the table with every luxury of our own country, and at prices more moderate. Almost every article of clothing may be purchased at little more than half the expense. Rents are low, and the society accomplished and elegant. Our countrymen here we have much reason to be proud of. Those of them who have come as travellers and temporary sojourners, I am happy to say, bear with them the polish, the intelligence, the chivalry of our proud and honoured nation, and reflect credit upon her as her sons and daughters. Our artist brethren are too well known already to require any additional tribute from me. Power's studio abounds in works of interest which never to elicit the admiration of his many visiters, and furnish abundant proof of his great ability. Hart, in addition to the beautiful works of his chisel, has now nearly in a state of completion, a most extraordinary instrument, designed to facilitate the labours of the sculptor, and give mathematical accuracy to his work. Its utility has been most satisfactorily tested, and reflected great credit on his mechanical genius. Through its agency he thinks he will be able to produce a more perfect work for the ladies of Virginia, in the staThe of Clay, which he is preparing to execute. Read's studio is the resort of the lovers of poetry. They find apon his canvass a portion of the beautiful mind that gave existence to his late pastoral poem, and his other exquisite verses. He has a double fame. I can only hope my own State will evince her appreciation of his genius, by an extensive circulation of his poetical works, which will be found, I believe, second to none, from the poet pen of America. Gould, Kellogg, Tait, are alike using their pencils to the credit of themselves and their country. I trust they will continue to receive such patronage, as may be commensurate with their abilities. Recently we have had an accession to our department of Art, in the person of Mr. Ball of Boston. We are glad to find in him existing assurances of genius in his line of art. We are all, I believe, doing whatever we can to elevate the character of our common country, and add consequence to her name among the nations of the earth. As for myself, I will only say that, I have modelled a little mischievous "Coquette," which I wish to send over some time next summer, and will leave her to tell, both her tale of herself, and of me. Thus I have fulfilled my promise. I am sorry I have not time to devote in such a way as to enable me to give you a letter of greater interest. As it is, you will excuse the homely style and unaffected manner in which I have referred to the matters herein contained, and believe me, Yours truly, B..... Among the on dits of the literary world we may mention, as likely to interest our local readers, that two new works are looked for from two lady authors of Richmond. One of these is from Mr. Barbee alludes, with the modesty always the pen of the gifted Miss SUSAN ARCHER TALLEY, associated with true genius, to his own work many of the graceful utterances of whose genius which has been highly applauded by some of the have adorned the pages of the Messenger, and the best judges of art. We confidently prediet for other will bear the name of Mrs. ANNA CORA him a brilliant success in his vocation, and when RITCHIE, which, though changed since she last Galt shall have reinstated himself in his old quar-appeared in authorship, will give assurance everyters on the Arno, to bring out from marble his where of a delightful volume. What these books statue of Jefferson (the bust of which in plaster will be, whether fiction or essay or poems, has not now finished is a triumph) we may not be asham- yet transpired, but we feel a gratifying certainty ed of Virginia's representatives in the city of of an intellectual treat when either of them apsculpture. pears. Notices of New Works. THE NEW PASTORAL. By Thomas Buchanan Read. Mr. Buchanan Read, as most of our readers are aware, is by profession an artist and one of the most honored representatives of American genius in that delightful city of studios-the capital of Tuscany. The Muse of Painting not of Poesy is his mistress by adoption, but we very much fear young Miss Calliope is the sweet custodian of his dearest affections, for the manifestations of his regard for her are more frequent if not more eloquent than those he has made for her severer sister. Every volume of verse Mr. Read has published has increased an already fair reputation as a poet and he will have to give us some maguificent creations from his easel to prevent his literary from overshadowing his artistic fame. them-have been already published in the pages of the Knickerbocker and other magazines, but we are grateful to Mr. Irving for having rescued them from the pos sible oblivion of the anonymous, and given them to the world in a form for library preservation. They bear the indubitable evidences of their authorship, and are mark ed with that peculiar charm of style which has made Irving a classic name in English literature. We need say nothing more. AVILLION AND OTHER TALES. By the author of “the Ogilvies," &c. New York: Harper & Brothers. [From A. Morris, 97 Main Street. A lady, whose opinion we hold in great respect, as sures us that we may commend this collection of novellettes very warmly to public favor. We have read but one or two of them, but these impressed us so favorably that we did not hesitate to adopt our fair critic's opinion, and we therefore advise any one who would enjoy seatiment in story to procure the book and read it. CONDENSED LAW REPORTS.-Not long ago, we noticed favorably a condensation of the Virginia Reports, com menced by a Lawyer of the State, and to be published by A. Morris, of Richinond. A similar work is in progress, and has been so for sev eral years, upon the Law Reports of Pennsylvania. The condenser is TH. J. Fox ALDEN, Esq., of the Pittsburg Bar. The publisher (Robert H. Small, of Philadelphia) sends forth a circular, containing very strong commendation from every lawyer of that commonwealth. The fullest of these, from Thomas A. Williams, Esq., of Pittsburg, well sets forth the merits and the need of such condensations. He says to Mr. Alden: "The New Pastoral" is a work of some six thousand lines of blank verse, relieved here and there with snatches of rhyme, all as smooth in its flow as a river of honey. The best feature it has is its American individuality, the whole being informed with the distinctive spirit of our native land and breathing the very air of our hillsides and meadows. The story is extremely simple. A Pennsylvanian family emigrate from the banks of the Susquehannah to the far west and, after some years spent in that distant region, return to the natale solum. The old story of "love's young dream" is interwoven with the narrative which embraces spirited descriptions of many things peculiar to our civilization and our country-election daya camp meeting-the Fourth of July-a flat boat launched, is one which, I think, will not fail to secure the a, prothe prairie on fire &c., &c. But as it is our design to review this poem more at length with the view of laying some of its beauties before our readers, we forbear to say anything more of it at present. We are again indebted to Messrs. Bangs Bros, & Co. of New York, for several of the latest publications of Mr. Bohn, received through J. W. Randolph of this city. A Hand-book of Proverbs is the title of a new volume of the Antiquarian Library which would have been of infinite service to Mr. Tupper in the preparation of Proverbial Philosophy," and which any one curious in such interesting lore will find a pleasant and useful work of reference. The Standard Library has been further enriched by a new edition in two volumes of the Life of Richard Cœur de Lion, by G. P. R. James. This work has been commended by critics as one of the best of Mr. James' historical studies, and may be considered as the only authority worth consulting on the subject of the great crusader. The cheap form in which it is now issued will render it easily procurable by every body. The Decameron of Boccaccio makes another of the Bohn series of Extra Volumes. The translation is a good one, and the typography, like that of all Mr. Bohn's issues, is excel lent. WOLFERT'S ROOST and Other Papers Now First collect- "The plan you have announced and partially execut bation of the profession in this State. It has been foreshadowed by the frightful fecundity of our Reports, which, encouraged as it has been by the occasional redundancy of the Bench, has, by embarrassing the unexperienced, and placing our decisions beyond the reach of the begin ner, created a necessity for such a reduction, as will bring the whole mass within a reasonable compass. "The latter volumes of our reports are luxuriant to a fault; and the adjudications which they embody may be also invariably abridged, without prejudice, by compress. ing the statements, and perhaps still more by lopping off the innumerable dicta interspersed throughout, which, like false lights, only serve to dazzle or mislead. You have not stated whether your plan extends to the latter. It would involve a bold operation, and would require a dexterous and delicate hand; but I doubt not its practicability, if you should think proper to essay it," There are 75 volumes of Pennsylvania Reports; of which Mr. Alden proposes to condense 37: the State's copyright, perhaps, preventing his action upon the rest. Of the Virginia Reports, there are 52 volumes, of which, for the like reason, our Lawyer's plan embraces but 27, or 29. The latter does propose what Mr Williams desires Mr. Alden to essay, a compression of the Judge's opinions, as well as of the Reporter's statements. And the Virginia plan has another feature, which (with submission) we think Mr Alden would do well to adopt; the appending to each case, of clear references to subsequent enactments and decisions on the same subject. "The frightful fecundity of our reports!" How appliMost of the papers composing this volume-if not all cable the phrase, to the Law-factories of all the States! PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM-JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR. VOL. XXI. RICHMOND, APRIL, 1855. The History of the Working Classes. NO. 4. and railroads have been supposed to have been both known to the ancient Egyptians. Our own investigations in this direction have To trace the current of human industry been pursued to only a very inconsiderable from its faint beginnings to its modern tri- extent, but they have enabled us to gather umphs; to detect the successive stages of up a cento of curious facts, well calculated progress, and decline, and renewed energy, to surprise the conceit and presumption of by which it has at length arrived at the va- our own times. Carpets, perhaps originally riety and perfection of its present results-brought from the borders of India or China, would be an inquiry full of curious informa- were unknown apparently to the Romans, tion, and rich in unsuspected suggestions. until discovered in the Fifth Century of the It would afford, indeed, only a partial outline Christian era, by a Byzantine ambassador, of the course of human advancement, but in the camp of Attila.* So ancient is this that outline would be a sketch of its most luxury, which was a stranger even in the significant lineaments, and its most practical royal palaces of England in the reign of achievements, and would give to the other Queen Elizabeth. Book-binding of some lessons of history a novel aspect and a larger sort was practised at Athens in the early interest than they naturally possess in their part of the Fifth Century,† and, in the same ordinary mode of exposition. How many age, Artesian Wells were in habitual use in forgotten arts would be brought to light! the Theban Oasis. Clocks were also then How much ingenuity, which we consider manufactured,§ though there is nothing to the peculiar distinction of our own day, vindicate that they were not set in motion would be discovered dimly developing con- by water, like those attributed to Boethius trivances similar to our modern devices, un- and Cassiodorus. Newspapers were first der more arduous circumstances, in ages established by Julius Cæsar, but were soon complacently regarded by the multitude as suppressed by Augustus, to be revived again rude and barbarous! The very names of apparently by later Emperors of Rome. In many of our fabrics suggest the remote ori- the early part of the Seventeenth Century, gin from which they sprung. Our damasks Submarine Vessels, Diving Bells, Cork-Jackand muslins speak of Damascus and Mous-ets, Smoke-Jacks, Spirit-Lamps, Cookingsoul; our Cashmeres and China point to the Stoves, corresponding with Soyer's portadistant East; our bayonets tell us of a pe- ble apparatus, and sundry other useful or riod when arts throve at Bayonne, and in- curious inventions, are described as having vention was active in Spain. What a fund been devised by Rosius, the founder of the of interest is contained in even such limited Rosian College, not of the Rosicrucians, who and imperfect treatises as Beckmann's His- lived shortly before that time.** Some of tory of Inventions! What a variety of these inventions may have been earlier known strange and unimagined lore is to be found or must have been rapidly disseminated, for in Panciroli, De Rebus Deperditis?"-or in the diving bell is described by Lord Bacon, the too conjectural work of Duteris, Recher- and an instance of its use, as early as 1538, ches sur l'origine des découvertes attribuées is cited by Beckmann.* Examples of the which we can scarcely ever enter but as earlier anticipation of inventions, usually re-partisans and competitors. garded as recent, are endless; but this is not the place to enumerate the long list of such as have casually come to our knowledge. Such a study, if diligently pursued, or its results, if candidly and skilfully exhibited, might teach to those, whose destiny it is to Each of these and similar discoveries has labour, cheerfulness, contentment, and perits own history, and its own chapter of acci- severing endeavour; and to those who live dents. In every case there were difficulties principally by the fruits of others' labour, a to be encountered and overcome, vain dreams larger charity and benevolence, and a juster that could never be realized, hopes deferred, sense of the onerous and continual duties and crushing disappointments, gradual suc- which their greater prosperity imposes. To cesses and sudden triumphs, and all those all it would render evident and familiar the alternations of poverty and plenty, misery necessity, which we often vainly strive to and rejoicing, in the career of the discover-ignore, that the large majority of human ers, which form the constant accompaniment kind must always live by the sweat of their of the efforts of human ingenuity. There brow and the daily labour of their hands. is scarcely any important advancement in It would impress ineradicably the conviction the history of art or science, which does not enclose its own volume of untold or obscure romance. There is none which does not serve to illustrate the times in which it occurred, and the general story of the human race. that the condition thus prescribed, being inevitable, can only be rendered more irksome and galling by the entertainment of Utopian dreams, and by futile efforts to throw off the yoke, and seek an imaginary equality, or an unattainable ease. Thus the delusions of But, though such details might be wel- the Socialists and similar reformers would comed with the liveliest interest, they form become innocuous, as their fatuity would be but a small and subordinate portion of the promptly apparent to those who are now so history of industry and the industrial class- readily beguiled by their treacherous imagies. They constitute the poetry of the nar- nations. "The poor ye have always with rative, not its prose :-the occasional epi- you :" and such must be the case while the sodes, not the staple of the tale. There is a nature of man remains the same, and the much broader, more comprehensive and so- earth still retains her bounties as the rewards ber view to be taken of the fortunes of hu- of sagacity, enterprise, perseverance and man industry. Independent of such details industry. It is vain to contend with a neor enlivened by their exposition, the history cessity: it is madness to ignore it when it of labour requires to be treated in connec- exists. All that can be prudently or proption with the changes in the condition and erly done is to submit with fortitude to the characteristics of life, which befell the large destiny, and lighten its burthen by such subbodies of men engaged in its ordinary mission. When the inevitable difficulties of avocations, as well as of the few occupied life are encountered in this temper, their with its extraordinary achievements. To magnitude is wonderfully diminished, and delineate the varying fate-too often only the their severity strangely reduced. Adversity modifications of misery-of the classes ac- is hard to be borne; but its bitterest hardtively and continuously employed in indus- ships are invariably those conjured up by trial pursuits; to follow them through suc- our own imaginations, or evolved in the cessive ages, in the sunshine and in the fumes of morbid feelings and malignant passhade, in the trial and in the triumph, in the sions. It is ridiculous to fancy that the obhope and in the agony; should teach to both ligation of daily labour, as the daily price poor and wealthy, to the successful and to required for the procurement of the daily the despondent, a more genial and liberal bread, can be transmuted by any theoretical wisdom than can be readily derived from or practical alchemy of ideal politics into a the hasty and enforced experience, and the pure gratification: but it may be made to interested observation of that daily life into generate a satisfaction of its own, neither * Hist. Inventions. Vol. i. p. 114. small in amount, nor mean in degree, and it |