Extraordinary Popular Delusions. By Charles Mackey. | Poe, to your own satisfaction, I hope; for ignorant people 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blackiston. This is a readable book, especially at this crisis, when Rochester knockings, Clairvoyance, and other wonders fill the public mind. The author has compiled a history of all the popular delusions, with which different generations have been misled; nor has he confined himself merely to mysteries like the knockings, but has discussed the South Sea Bubble, the Mississippi Scheme, and other vagaries of a similar character. Echoes of the Universe; or the World of Matter, and the World of Spirit. By the Rev. H. A. Christmas, M. A. 1 vol. Philadelphia: A. Hart. The publisher characterizes this work as a companion to the "Vestiges of Creation;" but he might, more justly, have described it as an antidote to that skeptical volume. We cordially recommend the book. A Modern History, from the Time of Luther to the Fall of The author of this work is well known as an accomplished lecturer on history in the principal cities of the Northern and Middle States. The present work shows great power of compression as well as wealth of information. Though the work is designed for colleges and schools, it will be found of much value to the general reader as a guide to historical studies. History of the Polk Administration. By Lucian B. Chase, a Member of the 29th and 30th Congresses. New York: Geo. P. Putnam. 1 vol. 8vo. The author of this volume, though a political supporter of the late President, has written an interesting account of the important events which occurred in his administration. The partisan character of the work prevents it from coming properly under the name of "history," but it contains a well arranged statement of a vast mess of facts, valuable both to the intelligent Whig and Democrat. The American Quarterly Register and Magazine. Con- EDITORIAL. TO REV. RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD. MY DEAR PARSON,-I knew you would be gratified with my friendly notice of you in the March number of "Graham"-and your pleasant start of surprise, to express your ignorance of the writer, was well conceived— you wicked wag. People who do not know your ways might almost think you were honest for once in your life, -but I, who have seen you in your happy moods, understand what an exquisite point to your wit a falsehood imparts, and what a choice bit of clerical drollery you consider it, to offer to swear to an untruth. You have adjusted, now, your long score with poor will say, that this settlement of accounts after the death of your friend may be honest-and-may not be. You see it lays you open to suspicion, and may soil the surplice you wear. Your clerical mantle, like Charity, may cover a multitude of sins, but you should not wear it too unguardedly. Charity for the errors of the dead, you know, is allowable in funeral sermons, even over the cold remains of those the world scorned and spurned as its veriest reprobates. Even you will not class your friendwho you say was reconciled to you before he died—with outcasts who forfeit even the last offices of humanity. You would give even him a Christian burial. "Dust to dust-ashes to ashes," methinks, should bury all animosities. You would not pursue your victim beyond the grave, and in the same hour pray, "Forgive us our tres passes, as we forgive those who trespass against us." This would be horrible. Now it will not do, my dear parson, to attempt to carry off this departure from Christian practice, with an affectation of great equity, in the performance of duty. "Give the devil his due" may be a very orthodox maxim, but you seem, in adopting it, to have started with the hypothesis that you had a devil to deal with; yet in the exercise of justice thus liberally, it would seem but fair to meet even this Personage face to face, that he might dispute the account if he felt aggrieved at your estimate. This last point, I think, you have a fair chance of attaining. Nor will it do to affect courage and great devotion to truth. It is very well to say, that vice should be held up that its deformity may be seen, so as to startle and deter others. You should be sure that the vice of your brother is not his misfortune, and that the sin which taints your rown fingers, may not turn crimson in contrast before the eyes of the gazers. Courage, my dear parson, is a relative term. You may think it great courage, and a duty you owe to truth, to assail your friend for wishing to evade a matrimonial engagement, yet it would be the veriest weakness and wickedness-if you had set the worse example of evading your marital duties after the solemnization. He who sacrifices at the altar should have clean hands. The jewels which sometimes ornament the remains of beauty or worth have tempted, before now, gentlemen of hardy nerve, but I do not remember that these have ever taken rank in the annals of knight-errantry. And, my dear parson-I am talking somewhat freely with you, but you must pardon me-the feat that you have performed with so much unction, the despoiling of the fame of a man who intrusted it to you as a jewel of inestimable value to him, has not received the applause of a single man of honor. Your claqueurs themselves, feel that your performance is damned. I have no doubt that some faint glimpses of the truth have reached even your mind. I would have you pray over this subject, my dear sir, for your feet stand upon slippery places. In all sincerity, I would have you revise your creed and reform your practice; for you do not seem to get even the poor applause of the world, for wrong-doing. Philadelphia, Sept. 20, 1850. GEO. R. GRAHAM. ERRATA. Our first form having been worked off previous to the reception of the final proof of the leading article, the following errors will be found :— On page 266, 1st column, 17th line from bottom, for "with" read wrote. Page 266, 2d col., 2d line from bottom, for "region" rend reign. Page 267, 2d col., 30th line from top, for "physical" read psychical. Page 269, 1st col., 9th line from bottom for "profession" read possession. GREAT VOLUME OF "GRAHAM!” THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNION!! PREPARATIONS FOR 1851. 80,000 COPIES. GRAHAM'S MAGAZINE, unrivaled in splendor and excellence, will commence a new volume with a MAGNIFICENT JANUARY NUMBER. Specimen copies of which will be ready December 1st, and will be furnished to all who desire to make up Clubs for the coming volume. The original publisher of the work returns his sincere thanks for the hearty welcome with which his return to this favorite periodical has been hailed by the press and the public, and promises his readers that the past six numbers have afforded but a slight foretaste of the excellence and beauty of what is in store for the new volume. Of the early numbers we shall print EIGHTY THOUSAND copies, and stereotype the work for further increase. STERLING ORIGINAL LITERATURE. G. P. R. JAMES, the celebrated novelist, has been regularly engaged, and will furnish several brilliant romances during the year. GEO. D. PRENTICE will write his exquisite poems exclusively for this Magazine. HENRY W. LONGFELLOW, J. R. LOWELL, S. A. GODMAN, E. P. WHIPPLÉ, WILL BE EXCLUSIVE CONTRIBUTORS. GRACE GREENWOOD, W. CULLEN BRYANT, A GALLERY OF LITERARY NAMES OF AMERICA. GRAHAM'S UNRIVALED WRITERS are re-engaged, and arrangements are perfected for a series of most splendid articles, from such writers as the following: W. GILMORE SIMMS, GEORGE D. PRENTICE, ALFRED B. STREET, WM. CULLEN BRYANT, T. BUCHANAN READ, MRS. LYDIA SIGOURNEY, MRS. E. C. KINNEY, MRS. E. J. EAMES, MRS. ELIZABETH OAKES SMITH, MRS. JOSEPH C. NEAL, AMELIA B. WELBY, MRS. JULIET H. CAMPBELL, H. C. MOORHEAD, MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS, MISS GRACE GREENWOOD, with many more, well known to the readers of the work, making this Magazine in every department of Mind. THE ORGAN OF AMERICAN TALENT SPLENDID DEPARTMENT OF ART. Our readers know well that Graham is never beaten in spirited designs and elegant engravings. THE JANUARY NUMBER will contain some of the most exquisite productions of artistic skill, and the series then begun will be continued through the year. Our artists in London, Paris, Italy and the United States, to whom WE PAY CASH for the best and freshest, promise us that GRAHAM SHALL NOT BE BEATEN! however others may boast. In the department of Fashion we shall excel all that has ever been attempted either in the United States or Paris. The ARTISTS OF MONITEUR DE LA MODE engage to furnish us with the most splendid drawings-December and January numbers will contain specimens. In a word, wait for the January number-then compare and decide-it will eclipse all others, or we shall submit that we have not learned how a magazine of the most brilliant description can be produced. It will be worth $3 of itself. TERMS-Single Copies $3. PRICE OF CLUBS FOR 1851. All orders for Graham's Magazine, commencing with 1851, will be supplied at the following rates: Single subscribers, $3: Two copies, $5; Five copies, $10; and Ten copies for $20, and an extra copy to the person sending the club of ten subscribers. These terms will not be departed from by any of the Philadelphia three dollar magazines. All orders to be addressed to GEORGE R. GRAHAM, No. 134 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. |