is composed; but, since it comprises "Letters already purchased for distribution in December from under a Bridge," "Open air Musings in next, includes pictures of great merit, by our first the City," &c., it must be a most agreeable col- American artists. The payment of five dollars lection. I regret to see that Mr. Willis, in his constitutes any one a member of this excellent title-page, adopts the fashionable affectation of institution, which has already done so much for calling himself by his middle name, thus-N. the encouragement and growth of the Fine Arts Parker Willis. Why not give the whole-be- in the United States. The funds of the Instituginning with the good gospel Nathaniel, or sim- tion, which may now be estimated at an averply the initials? This affected mode always puts age of $50,000 a year, are, after paying necesme in mind of the motto on the United States sary expenses, applied to the purchase of paintcoat-of-arms—“ E Pluribus Unum”-as if a Mr. ings, statues and engravings the work of Amer Unum has been christened E. Pluribus. cans, or of those who have become naturalizedcitizens.

There has been a very amusing, though by no means unprofitable, controversy going on in "The George P. Putnam, who deserves sincere com Literary World" about the orthographical ques-mendation, on account of the careful, neat and tion, between "Websterian" and "Q." "Web-elegant style, in which his books are always pubsterian" is Professor Goodrich-Professor of rhe-lished, has issued a specimen of Mr. Robert Dale toric and the belles lettres-of Yale University Owen's "Hints on Public Architecture, containin New Haven, and "Q" is Edward S. Gould, ing among other illustrations, Views and Plans of a merchant of this city, a gentleman of fine tal- the Smithsonian Institution; together with an ents and scholarship. The merchant has deci- appendix relative to building materials-prepardedly the better of the argument. He most ed on behalf of the Building Committee of the adroitly overthrows the Professor. Had the lat-Smithsonian Institution." The work is to con ter known how "valiant" and "cunning in fence" tain one hundred and thirteen engravings, and was his antagonist, he would, like Sir Andrew promises to be of much value and importance. Aguecheek, "have seen him damned ere he'd The specimen presents four designs on wood, exhave challenged him." This discussion seems quisitely executed, and printed on paper of fine to me to set the question at rest. Henceforth quality, besides a tinted lithograph of the Church people will have one Johnson and Walker on of the Holy Communion in this city. The wood. their tables, instead of the seven editions of Web-cuts are of the house of Jacques Cœur at Bourges, ster, with their diverse and ever-changing ortho- in which the celebrated Condé spent his early graphy. school-days, of the Hotel de Ville at St. QuerLongfellow's new book, "Kavanagh," (is it tin, France, the diagram of a church ground Irish?) is looked for with high-wrought ex-floor, and of a Moorish Interior in a Mosque pectation. The author has of late published Cordova. As an example of Mr. Owen's pleas two exquisite poems in Sartain's Union Maga- ant style and correct views, I make this extract: zine. Let those who are disposed to deny him the title of TonTns, the Greek word for creator,

read these admirable verses. They breathe the

true afflatus.

"A little habit not only reconciles the eye to the irregular variety of Gothic, but causes it to be sought for and esteemed, far beyond the rigidly formal. Even in street architecture, its effecs Two editions of Lamartine's "Les Confiden- are happy and striking. Take an example from ces" have been issued by rival publishers-the the ancient provincial city of Bourges-the manone translated here, and the other in England. sion of Jacques Cœur, on the old Gothic balasThe former is said to be the better; but the work trade of which the great Captain, (Condé,) as 3 itself falls far below the standard claimed for it modern essayist has suggested, may have read by the French announcements. and adopted as his own, the inspiriting mottoIt contains a A vaillants cœurs rien impossible. But it is not pathetic story-a beautiful episode, called Gra- the attractive exterior, striking as it is; not the ziella;" but is, in parts, extremely puerile. Noth- picturesque beauty, which characterizes alike its ing but a want of money, or an egregious vanity, boldest outlines, and its most delicate details, not could have induced any author of celebrity to yet the pictorial effects, varying with every give the world such a production. Is it not changeful aspect, which the rich variety of its strange, that since Lamartine's political ascent, these, which chiefly influence my preference for irregular masses successively present; it is not since his brilliant spoken improvisations as a Arch-Architecture. That preference is mainlegislative orator, he has written nothing at all ly founded on considerations more prosaic and comparable with his early poems and essays? practical. That same picturesque irregularity, Under the able direction and management of which pleases the eye and charms the fancy, Prosper M. Wetmore as President, the AMERIan important feature in an Architecture that is t CAN ART UNION has culminated to its present un-Norman and Gothic manners possess; the facili satisfy modern wants. The flexibility which the precedented prosperity. The List of Paintings ty with which they assume whatever external

forms may be suggested by internal purpose; it cannot excuse, may serve to explain the manthe easy freedom with which they lend them-ner in which the actors are hurried off the scene. selves, as occasion arises, to amendment or ad- "A great change has come over the country, dition; all these are essential conditions in an since this book was originally written. The naArchitecture, that is to secure lasting freedom tion is passing from the gristle into the bone, and among us all these are essential characteristics the common mind is beginning to keep even pace in an Architecture that is to attain, in our utili-with the growth of the body politic. The march tarian age and in our matter-of-fact country, to from Vera Cruz to Mexico was made under the the character of national.” orders of that gallant soldier, who, a quarter of a century before, was mentioned with honor, in The same publisher, likewise, announces "The the last chapter of this very book. Glorious as Works of Fennimore Cooper." From the re- in a military point of view, a stride was then was that march, and brilliant as were its results marks made at the beginning of this letter, you will infer my reason for doubting, whether a republication of the entire romances of this writer would be a profitable speculation. But I have no doubt that the best part of them-a faithful selection-would be well received. I have on my table the first pages of "The Spy." It is preceded by an original introduction. It is also revised, corrected, and illustrated with notes. The introduction, after the fashion of Sir Walter Scott in his last edition, (Cadell's,) of the Waverly series, gives an account of the origin of the story, and of the incidents on which it is founded. It concludes with certain reflections, which are given in so much milder a mood than Mr. Cooper's usual comments, that, considering they have not yet elsewhere appeared, I am tempted to present them, for the sake of imparting a better opinion of their author to your readers than most

made by the nation, in a moral sense, that has hastened it, by an age, in its progress toward real independence and high political influence. The guns that filled the valley of the Aztecs with their thunder, have been heard in echoes on the other side of the Atlantic, producing equally hope or apprehension.

persons now entertain.

"There is now no enemy to fear, but the one that resides within. By accustoming ourselves to regard even the people as erring beings, and by using the restraints that wisdom has educed from experience, there is much reason to hope aided us in our infancy, may continue to smile that the same Providence, which has so well

on our manhood."

But the greatest book of the season-of which, though published at a high price, a large edition (1,500 copies) has already been sold-is "NINEVEH AND ITS REMAINS," and for this splendid publication, the more cultivated minds of our country have also to thank MR. PUTNAM. It richly deserves an extended review in your pa"The style of the book has been revised by ges, but as I have not at present the leisure, and the author in this edition. In this respect, he has endeavored to make it more worthy of the favor perhaps lack the ability and learning, requisite with which it has been received; though he is for the due preparation of a careful article, I must compelled to admit, there are faults so interwo- content myself with a description of the book; ven with the structure of the tale that, as in the first advising all men, who desire to gratify their case of a decayed edifice, it would cost perhaps curiosity, feast their imaginations, enrich their ess to reconstruct than to repair. Five-and-understandings, and arouse the noblest and best wenty years have been as ages, with most things connected with America. Among other advan- of associations, to stop not at an expenditure, comces, that of her literature has not been the least. paratively trifling, but possess themselves of this So little was expected from the publication of an treasury of great wonders. It is written, as such original work of this description, at the time it a work-a work which must be standard-ought was written, that the first volume of The Spy' to be, with the utmost care and correctness, with was actually printed several months, before the author felt a sufficient inducement to write a line great clearness and directness of style, with litof the second. The efforts expended on a hope- tle attempt at expatiation, no self-glorification, less task are rarely worthy of him who makes but rather with a modest deference, which wins hem, however low it may be necessary to rate your confidence, while it assures your respect. the standard of his general merit. "One other anecdote. connected with the his- royal octavo-the first containing 320 pages of It is printed with large type, in two volumes, ory of this book, may give the reader some idea of the hopes of an American author, in the first letter press, and eighteen illustrations, and the quarter of the present century. As the second second 373 pages, including a copious index, and olume was slowly printing, from manuscript that no less than 85 plates, woodcuts and plans-all was barely dry when it went into the composi- very well executed. The learned Dr. Robinson, or's hands, the publisher intimated that the work of the Union Theological Seminary in New night grow to a length that would consume the York, furnishes an interesting Introductory Note, rofits. To set his mind at rest, the last chap- which is followed by a brief and modest preface er was actually written, printed and paged, sevral weeks before the chapters, which precede it, and Introduction, by the author; in the latter of vere even thought of. This circumstance, while which he gives a slight sketch of what has

NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

been done in the field of Assyrian Antiquities," previous to his own researches. The whole work is divided into two parts-the first of which, to the 94th page of Vol. 2, is occupied with faithful and accurate accounts of Mr. Layard's exca- ZOOLOGICAL RECREATIONS: by W. J. Broderip Esq. vations in the buried city, of his adventures F. R. S., &c, &c. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard. 1849. among the inhabitants, and excursions into vaOne of the most readable books of the day. It is just rious parts of the region round about. The lat-what its title imports: not a scientific treatise, fall of ter comprehend his visit to the Chaldean Chris-genera and species, and hard names in Latin and Greek: bat tians of Kurdistan, and the Yezidis or Devil-a popular, pleasant, little book of anecdotes and gossip-a desultory series of sketches, suitable for easy, after-dinner, Worshippers. The second part comprises an reading. It treats of singing birds, cuckoos, owls, swans, Inquiry into the manners and arts of the ancient turkeys, and parrots: of dogs, cats, apes, elephants, and Assyrians, and in this he treats of the materials dragons. We find, condensed in a few words, the latest for their history, lately disclosed, of their mon- and most authentic views of the learned, concerning the uments, their writing, their arts, embroideries, origin and habits of these, our natural born subjects: refurniture, knowledge of mechanics, their armour, and short stories, which are told with much naiveté and lieved and illustrated by frequent quotations from books, ship-building, wealth, domestic habits, and nu-humor. We have not had time to read it through—a pleamerous other matters, calculated to inspire the sure yet in store for us: but, while glancing at other pordeepest interest. Mr. Layard considers the manners and customs of the descendants of the Assyrians, as much the remains of Nineveh and Assyria, as are the rude heaps and buried palaces. He therefore describes both with equal pains, and thus shows himself to be a true philosopher, no less than an indefatigable explorer.

I should have mentioned that the book is strongly and handsomely bound in cloth, with golden stamp of "the winged bull.”

a

tions, we could not resist the temptation of the Chapter on Dogs. In respect of these almost human companions, we are not a whit behind the author, in point of affectionate regard. Our earliest recollections of fun and frolic, m less than our first ideas of faithful and tender friendship, are bound up with the memories of two or three of the race, who were our playmates, guides, and guardians, in infancy. Poor old Milo! We see him now, keeping patient watch by our coat and hat, while we-that little urchin in gray breeches-are racing up and down the green, and making tired the echoes with shouts of merriment. And now old Milo is relieved-a hat is put in his mouth—and he is turned loose to be hunted. Twenty pursuers are in chate

of him-he is headed off, surrounded, hemmed in on all sides-but he is not to be taken. Never for a moment

The bookseller's price is $4 50. Butler & Co. of Philadelphia have just issued, in handsome octavo, (fac-similes of the London overrunning the prescribed bounds (Milo, like Mrs. Hanedition) by far the best, neatest, and most cor- nah Battles, always played the rigor of the game), he nes rectly spelled edition of Macaulay, which has ap-ertheless winds, doubles, dodges, with matchless dexter peared. It is sold at a price which cannot be ity-and when, hard pressed, spies out some unwary anmore than its cost, namely $1 a volume. Ac-tagonist, darts between his legs, and overthrows him in a cordingly, Harper & Brothers immediately low- twinkling. But we grow garrulous-Mr. Broderip suas ered the charge for their best (Websterian) edi- up the merits of our favorites thus-"Yes! dogs are honest tion to 60 cents a volume! This is the very same which was first, and, till rival publishers appeared, constantly sold for $2. What kind of justice is this to the first purchasers? I do not pretend to understand book-selling ethics, but were I a considerable purchaser, I should wait hereafter till a book had been published three months at least.

creatures, and the most delightful of four-footed being The brain and nervous system may be more highly desel oped in the Anthropoid Apes, and even in some of the monkeys; but, for affectionate, though humble companies ship, nay friendship; for the amiable spirit that is on the devoted attachment to him, in prosperity and adversity, in watch to anticipate every wish of his master-for the most health and sickness, an attachment al ways continued unto death, and frequently failing not, even when the once warm hand that patted him is clay cold; what-we had almost

I take much pleasure in sending you, for pub-said—who can equal these charming familiars! Hungy lication in the Messenger, an exquisite transla-though he be, he will leave his food for you; he will quis the strongest temptation for you; he will lay down his life tion from the German by Stoddard, one of our for you. Truly spake he who said, 'man is the God of most graceful and accomplished, though young- the dog."" est poets. I presume it will be too late for May; We have no doubt this little volume of near 400 pages in but let your readers expect a most delicate and equally entertaining throughout; and we commend it to all beautiful poem in the June number. Mr. Stod-of our readers who have any taste for chance gleanings în the field of Natural History.

dard has a fine original genius, and he is self-instructed. An artizan, by profession, while his hands shape the homeliest of metals, his brain produces the most beautiful of thoughts.

Yours ever,

B.

NINEVEH AND ITS REMAINS: By Austen Henry Layani,
Esq. George P. Putnam: New York. 1849.

For a notice of this splendid work, we refer our readers to the letter of our New York correspondent, which tas anticipated what we designed to say.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM—JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

VOL. XV.

RICHMOND, JUNE, 1849.

NO. 6.

officer boards her and patiently has she to wait

GLIMPSES AT EUROPE DURING 1848. for Denmark's pleasure. A Frenchman follows,

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.

several Swedish schooners running down before the wind are close upon his heels and a clumsy, old-fashioned Dane comes slowly, majestically to join the crowd. But all, the moment they reach the ominous passage, haul up their fore course and let their top-sails settle on the caps, until they also are boarded. A fleet is

Far up in the north of Europe stands the grim, old castle of Cronenberg. Its lofty, elegant towers rise high above the massive buildings at their feet and the white cross of Denmark looks proudly down upon land and sea.. It is a assembled; the flags of all nations are run up to strange, mysterious castle, the palace of Cronen- salute the Danebrog, and without murmur, they berg, and a thousand dark stories hover around heave to and let go their anchors. But what are its drawbridges, its gloomy archways and silent, those sharp, low clipper-built vessels that come deserted walls. Here mourned for a long, dreary coursing down from the north-west, the jibboom winter the unhappy queen, Carolina Matilda of of the second almost touching the stern boat of England, whose only fault was that none could the first? How they dash the foam from their behold her without admiration, none know her sharp sides; how gallantly they come on under and not love her. And poor, brilliant Struensee a cloud of canvass with studding sails alow and who, from a low-born, humble physician, rose to aloft! But see, they have reached the first gunbe a king's master and Denmark's true sove- boat lying across the passage and they dart past reign, Struensee, whose lofty ambition soared it, unmindful of the stern command with which higher yet, knew her and loved her. A woman's they are ordered to heave to. Not a sound jealousy-all queen that she was-betrayed their is heard on board the bold vessels. A white secret, and the same day saw the fair queen hum-cloud rises on the ramparts of the old castle, a bled, disgraced, a prisoner in the dark, old castle, strange whizzing noise is heard and a heavy and the young count lay his head on the block cannon ball falls a few fathoms beyond the foreand breathe her name even under the execution-most. Still no sign of life. A second shot nearly touches the bowsprit. The strangers see Across a dreary common, close to the palace, the firing is in earnest and, as if by magic, a large there is an old, deserted garden; a house stands, flag is run up, the breeze quickly unfolds it and tenantless, in the centre; a few broken defaced the star-spangled banner floats proudly over statues lie in utter desolation about, whilst the Denmark's waters. Almost at the same time soft moss oozes in patches from the broken ter- the second schooner comes up, nearly abreast of race-steps, and on a high bank there smile a few the bark, and as their ensign greets the eyes of the stray flowers, entwined with graceful vines. A crew, three cheers rise in the clear air until the willow stands there alone; its delicate leaves walls of the fortress echo the sound and send it tremble in the evening breeze and the long, weep- across to the Swedish coast.

er'e axe.

ing branches gently kiss the humble grave which And they do not heave to; they pass the Engthey tenderly shroud. Beneath it lies Hamlet. lish and the French vessels; they pass the fortiThere are the ramparts, too, which he paced fications of the Danes, bristling with cannon, and to and fro, musing or waiting for him whom he the low, black man of war that lies threatening alone not feared. There are the proud walls of on the opposite side; they sail down towards the Elsinoer, there also the dark-blue waters of the city of Copenhagen and, with wonder in their Sound, and in the distance the dim line of the eyes, the astonished Danes turn around and ask Swedish coast with the huge fortress of Helsing- who the bold strangers can be, that dare pass the borg in the background. A breeze has sprung Sound when Denmark has closed the Baltic to up and sail after sail rises above the horizon, and the nations of the earth? But before an answer vessel after vessel passes close under the guns of is given, a small but beautiful yacht glides gracethe old castle. A gigantic full-rigged ship, the fully out from a narrow bay under the very ramcross of England flying from its mizzen-mast, parts of the castle; her white sides glisten brilbears down through the narrow passage; sud- liantly in the golden light of the setting sun and denly, her head off shore, she heaves to with her with her sails loosened and her ensign streaming fore-topsail aback, a small cutter approaches, an she skims over the waves and hastens to rejoin

VOL. XV-40

the strange vessels. They know her, however, | successively her German provinces, Sweden, and the good Danes, they recognize now the stars finally even her much beloved daughter, rugged, and stripes that have so often covered the fine, stern, but affectionate Norway-if England has spacious deck of the hospitable yacht, when, under America's flag, her generous owner drank the health of Denmark, whose fair daughters loved to dance as their fathers loved to sail on board the fastest vessel that ever passed the Sound.

And how were such most precious privileges obtained? Not by the tortuous policy, the cunning devices, the skilful negotiations of European diplomats, but by the plain, straight forward, but determined declarations of a representative of the Great Republic. A simple citizen of the Union, her minister, had represented to the Danish Cabinet the injustice of imposing the same restrictions upon the continental powers of Europe and the far-distant republic, who by her ships and her intercourse could but benefit the small islands, and who had no interest in the struggle with the rebellious provinces. And such had been the force of his arguments-such the influence which the name of his country and the respect entertained for his personal character had brought to bear on the subject, that the proud flag of the Union alone of all the maritime nations of the earth passed unmolested through the waters of Denmark.

burned her fleet and Sweden robbed her of her commerce, her children at least have lost none of their virtues, and a brave and noble race, they have proved themselves worthy of their timehonored name and the proud renown of their fathers.

This war, it is true, is not one of mere national pride, or of unimportant interests; they have given their fortunes and laid down their lives not merely for the recovery of one or two fertile provinces: the Danes fight for their very existence. They cannot exist without the socalled duchies of Schleswig and Holstein; the crown of Denmark loses its brightest jewels in those rich, fair lands, that have been to Denmark what Java has been to Holland; one half of her inhabitants, nearly three-fourths of her revenue, are at stake, and with the loss of those rebellious provinces falls the great wall which alone has prevented the German element from invading the peninsula and from destroying forever the nationality of the Danes.

For here also, in this fearless struggle of a small, but bold and determined people against the great Empire, we see the question of na They were closed to all others, for Denmark, tionality mixed up with the desire of freedom. small, insular Denmark, was at war with great, Here also, the rights of the race and the rights powerful Germany. A noble sight, indeed they of the individual have been joined in a common were, these bold islanders, as, few in numbers, cause, and the principle that Germany ought to unsupported by friends or allies, trusting alone in extend wherever the German tongue is spoken, the God of their forefathers and the sacred right has proved itself as strong as the loudest clamer of their cause, they hesitated not to risk their for Liberty and Independence. Here also, we lives and their fortunes in a war against the forty- must not forget, the conflict is not of yesterday, four millions of Germans, who spoke of crush-rising with the first gusts of the revolutionary ing them in a few months and threatened to blot tempest and subsiding as its last dying sighs pass their kingdom from the maps of Europe. But over the fearful traces it has left on Europe. It they are a bold and stubborn race; the undaunt- is not a new movement; it is one of long duraed courage of the Northman animates even now tion, sedulously fanned by ambitious politicians, the bold Dane, and the hot blood and the fear-carefully nursed by the interested sympathy and less spirit of the Viking of old has been proved well-calculated cooperation of Germany, which even in our day by many a bold exploit and dates as far back as the earliest, ever ready ammany a bravely fought battle. Can we withhold bition of her great Emperors to extend her limour admiration when we see a kingdom, the its to the uttermost boundaries of the firm land. smallest of the small, poor in soil, but thinly in- What else was it that eight hundred years ago habited. cursed with a cruel climate and fearful brought the great Emperor with his most restorms, and strong only in faith and in courage, nowned knights, his most famous warriors, their occupied at the same time with the consolida-lances in rest and their hands on their swords, tion of its national liberty and engaged with all across the Dannevirke, there to display their lofty its might in the defence of its right, its territo-valor in vain and to leave their bright renown ries, its own children,—struggling hard, but ever on that great bulwark of Scandinavia? What honorably in sustaining a foreign war abroad and else was it that carried the proud Otho, one of subduing reckless insurrection at home? If Den-Germany's greatest sons, with his swarm of mark is no longer, as she has been for centuries, priests and monks, singing their holy chants in the powerful state of the North, giving kings to the shade of a thousand crosses and Christian England, holding half of Germany in subjection, banners, across the small stream that, a second ruling all Sweden and Norway-if she has lost Rubicon, has for a thousand years divided the