Come now, your weary steps beguile, Hence we return. One wondrous spot Irreverent men! No longer call Breaks through the gloom a grander thing- June 26th, 1849. NOTICES OF NEW WORKS. ADDRESS delivered at the Dedication of the HOLLY-WOOD CEMETERY, on Monday the 25th June, 1849. By OLIVER P. BALDWIN, Esq., of Richmond, Virginia. Published at the request of the Board of Directors. Richmond. Macfarlane & Fergusson, Printers. 1849. The quiet beauty of rural cemeteries has always appeared to us in touching contrast with the rectangular walks and mournful cypresses of the city grave-yards. There is something, to us we confess, inexpressibly soothing in the greeu turf enamelled with blossoms, the song of birds in the interlacing branches of the trees above and the play of light and shade upon the mounds beneath, as the sun in his setting shines lovingly through the crevices of foliage. Around us is diffused a "dim religious light" more subduing than any ever shed through painted window on cathedral aisle, and we are apt to think, after lingering, for a time, among such sacred haunts, that death itself wears a less terrible aspect than before. We would represent him, at such an hour, not as the horrific skeleton with the scythe, but rather as he is imaged in the ancient genii, a fair winged boy, his weeping eyes covered with his left arm, and trailing a torch reversed in his right hand. In Holbein's Dance of Death, of all the modes in which the Destroyer is made to approach, there is none perhaps so striking as that, where he enters a group of little children seated around the fireside of a cottage, and taking one of them by the hand, leads it out of the door. "Quiet and unresisting," says the author of Hyperion, "goes the little child, and in its countenance no grief, but wonder only; while the other children are weeping and stretching forth their hands in vain towards their departing brother. It is a beautiful design, in all save the skeleton. An angel had been better, with folded wings and torch inverted." Such images of death as these are in harmony with the feelings inspired by rural burying-grounds. We would, therefore, have our depositories of the dead made attractive places of resort for the living, that while they derive from the frequent contemplation of the grave, affecting monitions of the shortness of life, they may come to consider the last call as one to a more peaceful state of existence. We would not attract them by gaudy parterres or the vulNo exhibition of public taste of late years has been so ening influences of the place upon the feelings and the heart, gar pretension of monumental fripperies, but by the softgratifying to the sensibilities, as the decoration of the bu-inducing to a more sober walk among the pomps and pa rial grounds of our country. To linger around the spot where we have deposited the remains of our dearly-loved, to deck it with the flowers of early spring, to carve upon the stone which sets it apart some simple expression of our affectionate remembrance, seems an office in unison with the best feelings of humanity. It has been too long the custom to bury the dead within the narrow limits of crowded grave-yards, amid the noise and glare of cities, where the mourning relatives cannot visit undisturbed the tomb of the departed, and where it often happens that the sanctuary of one sleeper is invaded to provide for the last restingplace of another. Far more seemly is it to select some rural retreat, upon whose breezy hill-tops and verdant declivities the mute but significant marbles may gleam out from the shade of primeval forest-trees, surrounded by the rose and the violet, affecting evidences of filial or parental love. geantries of the world. The new Cemetery of Holly-Wood near Richmond is a spot of rare beauty, in the gentle undulations of its hills and the soft murmurs of its brooks and rustling foliage. A high mound at the farthest extremity commands a view of the city, at the distance of a mile and a half, the spires and cupolas of its churches and public buildings standing in relief against the sky. At the base of this mound flows the James over the rocks of its obstructed bed, singing a perpetual requiem to the departed who rest upon its banks. In this Cemetery will soon be deposited the forms of the young and the old-beauty bursting into womanhood, manly strength just entered upon the active duties of life, age with the silvery locks and the decrepid limbs. Here let affection rear the simple tablets of fond remembrance and plant the flower that shall typify its unavailing regrets. We know there are those who argue that when the in- Let no "flattering false insculptions" be graven upon the forming spirit has left its tenement of clay, it is a matter of tombs that shall here be erected, to record of some lost little moment what becomes of the inanimate mass. We brother "not what he was, but what he should have been." do not envy the disciples of so cold and cheerless a phi-But let all be done "decently and in order," so that to the losophy. Speculate upon the topic as they may, there comes at length a negative to the repulsive sentiment from the inward consciousness of each of them. We feel that it is not so; we recognise the desire that we should repose, after the great change that awaits us, "in some sheltered nook," as the Address before us so beautifully expresses it, "where the voices of those we love, hastening from the broad sunlight of the world, may oft be heard in sighs and prayers, and like the nightingale, singing her sweet song in darkness, pour out the plaintive notes of affection and sorrow, amidst the consecrated shadows of the tomb." thousands who in after years shall thread the avenues and paths of Holly-Wood, it shall seem the resting-place of a Christian people, and the dust that moulders in its bosom be regarded by them, in the language of the German poet, Klopstock, as "seed sown by God to be ripened for the harvest." The Address of Mr. Baldwin, delivered at the dedication of Holly-Wood Cemetery, was a most eloquent and affecting effort. Its author is one of the most graceful and accomplished writers with whom we are acquainted, and would soon reach the highest literary distinction, were his studies devoted to that walk of life rather than to the strife and excitement of politics. We should like to lay before our readers some extracts which we had marked out for quotation in the present Address, but we have not room for them. The pamphlet is very handsomely printed by our own publishers, Macfarlane & Fergusson. this, as the best school-edition of Tacitus which has come under our observation. A FIRST BOOK IN GREEK, Containing a full view of the forms of Words with Vocabularies and copious exercises. On the method of constant imitation and repetition. By John McClintock, D. D., Professor of Languages, and George R. Crooks, A. M., Adjunct Professor of Languages, Dickinson College. Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 82 Cliff street. 1848. THE HISTORIES OF CAIUS CORNELIUS TACITUS. With Notes for Colleges. By W. S. Tyler, Professor of Languages in Amherst College. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 200 Broadway. Philadelphia: Geo. S. Apple-sical scholars, it certainly will not be for want of books ton: 168 Chesnut street. 1849. We very recently noticed an edition of the Germania and Agricola by Mr. Tyler, and now we have one of the "Histories of Tacitus" from the same hand. From our examination of the latter publication, we are convinced that Mr. T. is improving, as an editor, not only by experience, but by great care and evidently enthusiastic industry. He is certainly a man of no ordinary talents, and his essay on the characteristics of Tacitus would be an ornament to any of our best reviews. Appearing as it does in a school-book, it will of course meet the eye of few literary men whose attention is not specially turned to the classics, but we trust will inspire students, who use this edition, with that enthusiasm, tempered by sound judgment and good taste, which marks the editor himself. We should be pleased, however, to see this admirable, although somewhat eulogistic criticism of Tacitus, published as a separate article. If the students at our schools do not become good clas prepared to afford them facilities. It has been well said that we are "overwhelmed" with them; we have before us a dubia coena, from which it requires no little consideration to choose the best of so many tempting viands. The plan of teaching languages, adopted in this volume, seems now to be preferred by common consent to every other. According to this scheme, we learn other languages, as we do our own, with the additional advantage of having an intelligent friend perfectly acquainted with the language that we are acquiring constantly at our elbow, talking and writing correctly himself, pointing out all the rules and idioms as he proceeds, selecting examples to illustrate new usages, and finally requiring us to make sentences, involving the same principles and idioms, until they are indelibly stamped on the memory. The method in fine is an admirable combination of the practical and scientific, by which teacher and pupil are both kept incessantly at work, not however too difficult for the latter, who is conscious of easy progress at every moment. The two gentlemen who have prepared this book seem to understand this system becoming so deservedly popular, and to have carried out very successfully. The translation of Döderlein's essay on the diction of Tacitus, in which that German commentator illustrates his author's peculiarities of language by many examples from the original, gives us a clearer conception of those peculiarities, than any thing which we have before seen, and must One excellent peculiarity in their book, is that a knowlead all who read it to a more intelligent and habitual ob-ledge of quantity and accents is imparted from the very servation of the remarkable expedients, by which Tacitus first in connexion with each lesson. This is applying the endeavored to combine his three favorite and not easily resame general principle to pronunciation, and we have no conciled objects-excessive brevity, rapidity and brilliant, doubt of its being the only method, by which good habits of dignified impressiveness. pronunciation can be immediately acquired and bad ones effectually prevented. These two essays swell the bulk of the volume a little, but, in our opinion, are fully worth the price of the book. Mr. T. seems anxious to profit by all criticisms, and, from the glance which we have been enabled to give his notes, has evidently presented the scholastic public with an edition which leaves little to be desired in the way of explanation. He says that the notes "have been made somewhat more grammatical," and that "their value has been increased by more copious references to the excellent grammar of Zumpt, in addition to that of Andrews and Stoddard. It is chiefly by way of such references, that the general principles of grammar have been illustrated. Sometimes, however, a concise statement of the principle referred to has been added." Now we would prefer to have this method reversed, and the "concise statement" precede the reference, which may be, and often is, to a book, not within reach of the student. He will certainly read the "concise statement," when uninterrupted by references and quotations, and may afterwards look at a book referred to, if it be accessible; but, when he encounters a long note bristling with strange names and symbols, he will often pass it over in indolent disgust. References are principally valuable to teachers, who indeed usually make notes valuable or worthless to their pupils by their mode of examination. This mistake, as we think it, is however common to most, if not all the commentators, and might be easily corrected in a new edition. We do not hesitate to recommend An application of prosodial rules to poetry, after mispronunciation has from habit become incurable, is like attempting to convert a clown into a gentleman, by arraying him once a week in his Sunday finery. We approve very highly of summing up, as is done in this book, of the rules which are at first scattered; but we cannot say as much for the written questions. The editors promise a second book shortly, and, if they go on as they have commenced, they will be entitled to the thanks of all classical teachers in the United States, unless perhaps those who may be rival publishers. LOYOLA AND JESUITISM IN ITS RUDIMENTS. By Isaac This is in many respects a remarkable work. Indeed from so philosophic a writer as Isaac Taylor, we could not expect one of a different character. His manner of treating the attractive subject he had selected differs very essentially from all the recent publications with reference to the order of Jesus. Perhaps the article, written a few years ago for the Edinburgh Review, which was at first attributed to Macaulay, but afterwards known to be the production of Stephen, has been more universally read than any other treatise on Jesuitism. Mr. Taylor's book is in remarkable contrast with the antithetical sentences and highly-colored pictures of the Reviewer. His style is the highest degree spiritual | success was very great is shewn in the reforms which were and meditative, rich with the eloquence of a loftier inspira- brought about by the Venetian stage,-how gambling was tion and pure in the exercise of a more refined simplicity. checked,-how the rage for pic-nics was in some degree mitThe present volume will be cordially welcomed by a large igated, (by the way, we are sadly in want of a new Goldoni class of readers, to whom Isaac Taylor's books afford con- to satirize our own "Smanie per la Villegiatura,")—how the stant solace and delight. cavalier servente was brought into disrepute. In none of the It has reached us through Messrs. Nash & Woodhouse. comedies here given do we recognize the brilliant fence of wit that distinguishes the dramatic compositions of Sheridan, nor can any of them sustain a comparison, for interest of dia THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE BEAUTIFUL, BY VICTOR Cou- logue, with the plays of Moliére. It would require indeed SIN. New York. Daniel Bigby-1849. a consummate hand to come up to these masters of the art, So many frivolous and immoral works have been given of all forms of mediocrity. In tragedy or in sentimental but he who falls short of them sinks into the least tolerable to the American public in the form of translations, that we are slow to commend such works to their favour. Two failure may be escaped by the musical flow of the language plays where the accessory of verse is admissible, positive striking exceptions claim our notice, however, in the pub- or the finish of single passages, as in the Bianca Visconti lications of Mr. Bigby of New York. Cousin is chiefly and Tortesa of Mr. Willis, which, though not successful as known to English readers by bis Philosophy of History. dramatic compositions, are so studded with gems of imagiThe volume named above is conceived in the same vein of native beauty as to be worthy of long preservation. But in comprehensive and subtle analysis. Without the elegant prose comedy, there is wanting the help of versification, rhetoric of Burke, it unfolds the subject more definitely, and if the dialogue flags, the play is very certain to be and abounds in vigor and clearness of statement and feli- damned. We say, then, considering the entire lack of piquancity of illustration. It is well translated by Mr. Daniel of cy in frequent passages of these plays, that it would seem Cheshunt College. and very neatly printed. The same remarkable to an English reader that they occupied so high publisher has given us a translation of "The Village Doc-a rank in the literature of their age. tor," a most pathetic, unexceptionable and interesting little story by Madame D'Arbouville. LADY ALICE OR THE NEW UNA. A Novel. New York: If we were to attempt the discussion of the problem which this book unfolds, considered in the abstract, an essay would be requisite, and on a subject scarcely appropriate to our secular pages. Its scope is like that of several works of fiction that recently have become popular, such as "Hawkstone," "Father Clement," and one, the title of which we forget, by Mr. Brownson. It is, indeed, a new and interesting feature in this class of writings to develope theological, ethical and religions questions; and without expressing any opinion as to the doctrine enforced in the present work, we advise all interested in the existent controversy between the advocates of what are called high and low Church principles, to read “Lady Alice." In a literary point of view it is a peculiar work, inasmuch as, if we are not misinformed, it is an American production, first published in England. The author is said to be Mr. Huntington, a brother of the artist of that name, and the vivid descriptions of Italian scenery and manners, with which it is interspersed, confirm the report, as Mr. H. passed many years in Italy. ITALIAN COMEDIES. Select Comedies; Translated from the Italian of Goldoni, Giraud, and Nota. New York: D. Appleton & Company. 1849. In this volume the English reader is introduced to a new and most interesting range of dramatic literature. The Italian Comedy of the last century, so effective in its results on society, has been fully discussed by Sismondi in his Literature of Europe, but we are not aware that any English version of the plays even of Goldoni, the most famous dramatist of his country, has before appeared. The present volume, indeed, gives us but two comedies of Goldoni, and these, by no means, the most striking of his productions. It cannot be denied, however, that these comedies furnish very agreeable reading, and are remarkable for the ingenuity of their plots and the naturalness of their incidents. The book is for sale by A. Morris. Edited by his Son- SOUTHEY'S COMMON-PLACE BOOK. "How happily the days Of Thalaba went by." The very excellent paper and fair typography of the present work do great credit to the Messrs. Harper. It may be found at the book store of A. Morris. KALOOLAH, or Journeyings to the Djebel Kumri: An Au- The only fault we can find with Kaloolah is one which we venture to say nobody else but ourselves will ever express,-it is too long. We arrive at this conclusion not by reason of any impatience or fatigue experienced in reading One who reads Italian comedy for the first time in these it-for it is easy labor to cut its leaves-but by estimating pages, after making large allowance for the unavoidable it, as Macaulay once suggested of a dull biography, by defects of translation, will he at some loss to account for avordupois; there seems to be too much of lively and grathe success, which attended its representations. That this phic narrative, too much of ink and paper for the purchase money. A punning New York auctioneer—no other than | Hampden as the noblest exemplar of manly independenc Keese-once said when Bacon's Essays sold for twelve and which history records before the days of Washington, we a half cents, that it was "too much pork for a shilling," and are sorry to observe that Dr. Green falls into the common so we think of "Kaloolah." Nevertheless it is the book of error which supposes him to have embarked with Cromthe month, and will furnish enjoyment to a vast number of well for America and to have been stopped in the Thames readers, during the listlessness of the dog-days. We could by an Order in Council,—thus representing him as ready to wish for no more delightful task, under the reign of Siri- abandon the great principle of civil freedom for which he us, than a dozen such volumes, in Mr. Putnam's choice afterwards laid down his life. The fact has been establishstyle of publication, to be read supinely beneath a large ed by Miss Aikin and fortified by Mr. Rives that such could shade tree in the country. not have been the case,—that the order in council to armst the vessels was revoked almost as soon as it was made; so that if they had really embarked for the purpose of going to America there was nothing to prevent the execution of their design-and that the order itself was dated 43 days before the final judgment of the Court of Exchequer in the matter of the ship-money. To believe the story of the enbarkation, therefore, would be to impute to Hampden a ungraceful retreat from a controversy which was still pending and undetermined-"a hypothesis," says Mr. Rives. to which the whole tenor of his life and character stands Messrs. Nash and Woodhouse have it for sale. SERMONS BY THE LATE THOS. CHALMERS, D.D., LL. D., Illustrative of Different Stages in his Ministry. 1798. 1847. New York: Harper & Brothers. This is the sixth volume of the series of Dr. Channing's Posthumous Works simultaneously published by the editor at home and by the Harpers in this country. It comprises a period of half a century in the dates of the sermons which it contains, the concluding discourse being the last ever written by the gifted and lamented author. Apart from the doctrinal character and moral teachings of Dr. Channing's Pulpit Essays, there is a certain attraction in the style that cannot fail to win the attention of the reader. It presents a happy medium between the severe and the ornate, the stream of eloquent thought flowing on ever brilliantly and forcibly. As specimens of rhetorical beauty, the sermons of the present volume are by no means the best that might have been selected, but the design of the compilation seems to have been rather an illustration of his ministry under different aspects than a monument of his literary merit. Those who are familiar with Washington Irving's graphic delineations of scenery and incident (and what educated American is not ?) will readily believe that the present work is a delightful one. It forms the tenth volume of the new edition of the “Complete Works" which is now nearly finished. The sale of these charming books, we learn, has been beyond the expectation of the publisher, so that those who would secure the best and only complete edition of Irving, should not delay purchasing any longer. It may soon be difficult to procure the volumes. This book may be obtained of A. Morris. in contradiction." The style of Dr. Green, as exhibited in this Address, though condensed, is neither simple nor pleasing. We are reluctant, however, to base an opinion upon a pamphlet which the author has had the bad taste to place for publica tion in the hands of a printer in another state, for we know not what allowances to make for blunders of the press. We have marked no less than twenty-three awkward typographi cal errors, which are apparent to every reader-how many mistakes may be latent, it is impossible to say. Certainly there must be something wrong in the following passage in allusion to Patrick Henry : "Tutored in such a school, we need not wonder that the earliest efforts of his genius were directed against that clerical denomination he had witnessed only to abbor; and when in after years, he spoke amidst cries of 'Treason Treason!' those words of fire, which caused the ears of those who heard to tingle, till all men woke up, at once, as from a trance, and catching up the sound, sent it onward, and onward still, in louder and yet louder peals of reverberating thunder." We trust this is an error of the types, if for no other reason than to teach Virginia professors how ridiculous it is to employ Pennsylvania workmen to do what can be so much better done at home; as all will acknowledge who will compare the bold, clear typography of Mr. Rives' Discourse, printed by Shepherd & Colin of this city, with the deformed pages of this Pittsburgh pamphlet. * See "Discourse on the Character and Services of John Hampden, &c. By W. C. Rives, Esq." INAUGURAL ADDRESS, delivered before the Board of Trustees of Hampden Sidney College, January 10th, 1849. By L. W. GREEN, D. D., President. Printed by Johnston and Stockton-Market Street-Pittsburgh. 1849. AN APOLOGY.-We have recently discovered with unfeigned regret that a poem published as original in the We rejoice to see the efforts that the friends of Hamp-March number of this magazine for the present year, enti den Sidney College are now making to revivify that vene-tled "Song, Translated from Jacobi," is a plagiarism from an rable institution of learning, for many years past in a de- English author. The person from whom we received it, clining state. The new President, Dr. Green, will doubt-most shamelessly stated it to be his own, and as our confiless effect much in this good work. He enjoys an enviable dence in his integrity was unwavering, we were induced to reputation as a profound scholar and accurate thinker, and publish it. As his design was rather to win the credit of the Address before us furnishes abundant and gratifying so beautiful a translation, than to play off a trick upon our evidence that he is no unworthy successor of those great selves, we forbear to give his name. Comment is quite names in the annals of Virginia, which are associated with unnecessary upon so discreditable a performance, but we may the earliest and best instructions of these halls of science. say, in general, with reference to borrowed articles that are In the exordium of this Address, Dr. Green alludes in imposed upon Editors as original, that the practice of such effective language to the foundation of the college and pays tricks argues a small mind, and has always received the rea passing tribute to the memory of that great man, whose probation of gentlemen. We are secure from such imposi name stands first, conjoined with one scarcely less illustri-tions, in all doubtful cases, by requiring a responsible name ous, in the title which it bears. Accustomed to regard John' with the article. |