And in this he has done wisely. He possesses, more perhaps than any American author, the sympathies of his readers. He mingles with them, instead of lifting himself above them. By being willing to make them his confidants, he gains their confidence. The very faults which criticism would decry, only knit him closer to the public. Here, they say, we have a man who is playing no game to win our respect by speaking to us from a transient elevation, and, though we don't approve of all he says, we like the sincerity of his utterance. The fine essays that appear weekly in the New Mirror, in which his fancy often creates a world of amusement out of nothing, are examples of this genial quality. We trust that he will make a selection from these, and publish them in a separate volume. Such a book would contain some of the most pleasing essays in the language. Indeed a collection of his best prose writings would be almost as certain of as large a circulation as the present edition of his poems, if issued in a style of similar elegance.

A New Spirit of the Age. Edited by R. H. Horne. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1 vol., 12mo.

This book is to be praised for the difficulties it has mastered, as well as for its merit as a literary production. It contains critical, biographical, and, in some cases, personal notices of the eminent English men and English women of the present day, all of whom have their own set of admirers, their own codes of criticism, their own cliques of friends, and their own whims, bigotries, and vanities. The obstacles in the way of a successful treatment of such a design, by one who lives among the authors of whom he treats, and participates in many of their prejudices, is obvious at the first glance. In England, the animosities of party, the jealousy of cliques, personal hostility, social bickerings, wounded pride, offended vanity, all affect the opinions which writers express for each other, and which critics express for writers. The authors noticed in Mr. Horne's book are still living, most of them subject to public and private prejudices, and each of them possessing some traits of character which require fairness and acumen in the critic to be rightly analyzed and estimated. It is useless in such a book to expect strictly impartial criticism. Mr. Horne is a spiritualist, and must necessarily look at literature, to a great extent, from his own point of view. He must, at times, sink the judge in the advocate. But, estimating the work with reference to the difficulties of the undertaking, it would be unjust to deny its great merit. There may be exceptions taken to separate criticisms, some of the authors may be thought to be placed too high and others too low in the sliding scale of fame, but the general character of the whole work is tolerant, catholic, and acute.

The critism on Dickens, though it has at times a patronizing air, and in one or two instances suggests the "Memoirs of P. P., Clerk of the Parish," is the best account of his genius we have ever seen. The source of his popularity, and the high mental and moral qualities exercised in his writings, are accurately distinguished. The notice of Bulwer has some faults, springing, as we should think, from personal prejudice. A high station is awarded him as a novelist, but too low an estimate is taken on his dramas. "Zanoni" is praised very warmly as "a truly original work; a finished design; embodying a great principle, and pervaded by a leading idea." *** "A certain peculiarity of style has laid it open to the charge of imitation, and many of the ideas and sentiments gathered from Plato, from Schiller, Richter, and Goethe, have induced superficial readers to deem it a compilation. Sir Lytton Bulwer has been heard to declare his opinion that it was quite

| fair to take any thing from an older author-if you could improve it." When Bulwer took the character of Madeline, in "Eugene Aram," from Scott's Minna Troil, did he improve it? The notices of Macaulay and Talfourd are principally valuable as biographies. We are told that the article on Milton, which obtained Macaulay so much reputation, hardly contains a single paragraph which his mature judgment approves. Thomas Ingolsby is treated with considerable sharpness, in a criticism of much truth and vigor of composition. The conclusion of this verbal flagellation is pithy and to the purpose. "The present age is bad enough without such assistance. Wherefore an iron hand is now laid upon the shoulder of Thomas Ingolsby, and a voice murmurs in his ear, 'Brother!-no more of this.'" Harriet Martineau and Mrs. Jameson are well contrasted and felicitously drawn. The yoking together of Wordsworth and Leigh Hunt, may not please the lovers of either. The latter we think is too much praised, or rather puffed. Carlyle, Henry Taylor, Sheridan Knowles, Macready, Landor, the Howitts, Hood, Hook, Mrs. Shelley, Ainsworth, are treated with various degrees of fairness and ability, and afford abundant materials for meditation.

The criticism on Tennyson is perhaps the most labored and subtle which the book contains. A very elevated rank is claimed for him. A theory of poetry is invented for his convenience, and some poets are sacrificed to his manes. We commend it to the sober attention of all who have been in the habit of laughing at Tennyson as a senseless mystic and professor of unreason; and particularly to our pleasant friend who "does" the damning for the Southern Literary Messenger. It is, altogether, the most sympathizing and most analytical review of Tennyson which has apeared, and, with some abatements for exaggeration, the most searching and correct. The writer evolves from the writings of the poet the laws by which he judges of them. Where a poet is a truly original man of genius, and possesses such a combination of qualities as necessarily leads him away from common modes of expression and common codes of criticism, this course is evidently more proper than to apply to him laws deduced from other works, illustrative of other points of character and conditions of feeling, and intended to serve quite another purpose. A critic who would judge of Tennyson's "Enone" as he would judge of Macaulay's "Lays of Rome," would act about as wisely as if he condemned Wordsworth out of Pope and Shakspeare out of Sophocles.

Those who desire to know a great deal about living English authors, not easily learned from their writings, should obtain Mr. Horne's book. It not only contains much just and philosophic criticism, expressed with considerable force and felicity, but gives anecdotes and traits of character which are not elsewhere to be obtained.

Religion in America; or an Account of the Origin, Progress, Relation to the State, and Present Condition of the Evangelical Churches in the United States. With Notices of the Unevangelical Denominations, by Robert Baird, Author of L'unio de léglise avec l'etat dans la Novelle Angleterre. Harper & Brothers, New York.

This work has been before us for some time, and would have received an earlier notice, but that its grave and elaborate character required a careful perusal. It is a reprint from an English edition, which has received very great favor on the other side of the water. Indeed, it is evident that the work was written to answer the inquiries of European Christians and moral economists, and we are grateful to the author for the calm, convincing and determined manner in which he has vindicated the character

of American Christianity under the working of the voluntary principle, which is its peculiar glory. Dr. Baird is very well known to the learned and pious of this country as a getleman of high attainments, and great philanthropic zeal, who has devoted himself, for many years past, to enterprises of extensive good, on the continent of Europe, especially in connection with the Foreign Evangelical Society. The name of Dr. Baird is, therefore, itself a sufficient security for the value and correctness of the work, but when those of the Rev. Drs. De Witt, Hodge, Goodrich, Bacon, Anderson, Durbin, Schmucker, and Berg, and of Dr. Howe, (of the Institute for the Blind, at Boston,) the Rev. Mr. Weld, (Principal of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at Hartford,) Dr. Woodward, (of the Asylum for the Insane, at Worcester,) who have kindly assisted the editor, by documents or the communication of facts, are added, our readers will readily perceive that it deserves a careful study.

The earlier chapters are filled with most curious and interesting historical researches into the religious character of the early colonists, the relation of the church with the civil power, and the state of religion generally during

the colonial era. He then examines into the effects of the Revolution upon religion, and the proper bearing of the government in this country upon Christianity. This brings him to an elucidation and defence of the Voluntary Principle, with all its train of religious charities. He afterward enters into a very distinct description of the present condition in which the various religious denominations now are, their methods of discipline, the character of American preaching, the relations which the evangelical sects bear to each other, and, having taken brief notice of the unevangelical denominations, concludes with some very shrewd remarks upon the present state of theological opinion in America. The eighth and last book appears to us rather an appendix to the rest, and gives an account of the various efforts the American churches have made, and are making, in the cause of foreign Christian missions.

That American must be extremely well read who can examine the pages of this work without receiving much new and valuable information, and we can safely say that its historical and statistical statements are of such a character that no student of his country's institutions ought to be without them. Dr. Baird is what is termed evangelical in his religious views, very decidedly so, we would infer from many passages, yet the work appears to us as impartial as could be expected, and certainly the author has nowhere designed to mislead. We see that he acknowledges his obligations to the Hon. Mr. Wheaton, now at the court of Prussia, and to our fellow citizen, Mr. Walsh, now residing in Paris, for much valuable assistance. We heartily commend the book to our readers.

The Curiosities of Literature, and the Literary Character Illustrated, by I. D'Israeli; with the Curiosities of American Literature, by Rev. Rufus W. Griswold. New York and Philadelphia: Appletons.

This is a very large and beautifully printed octavo, embracing an amount of matter equal to the contents of about twenty fashionable London duodecimos. Of the character of D'Israeli's work but little need be said; its reputation is established, permanent, and everywhere familiar. It embraces more of the really curious and entertaining details of literary history and experience than any dozen other works ever written-the fruits of the most extensive reading, and the nicest judgment and taste, all marked by an air of authenticity which makes them as valuable as they are remarkable. D'Israeli is not an author to be read in course; the Curiosities of Literature, like the Essays

of Montaigne, are to be taken up in odd hours, when business relaxes its claims, and no companion of another sort demands attention, in a dull evening, or a rainy day, and at such times it has among other "silent friends," who talk so well yet pause so readily, no rival. Mr. Griswold's addenda to the work add much to its interest and value. They relate principally to the ante-revolutionary period of our own history, when the Mathers, and Wigglesworths, and Wolcotts, made verses, and burned bewitching maidens, and performed other remarkable feats in religion, literature, or legislation. The chapter on "Elliott, the Apostle of the Indians," "The Minstrelsy of the Revolution," etc., will have to the majority the freshness of a newly discovered manuscript from Pompeii.

OUR BOOK TABLE.-The multitude of books now issued from the press renders it impossible to give more than a passing notice to some. The plan we have adopted is, to review at length such as may be deemed important to the American reader, and particularly such as emanate from the pens of American writers; hence the space devoted to the poems of Mr. Willis and others in recent numbers.

Thomas, Cowperthwait & Co. have sent us "Poems by W. M. Praed. Edited by R. W. Griswold. Published in one volume by Henry G. Langley, Astor House, New York." Also, "The Irish Girl and other Poems," and "The Brother and Sister, by Mrs. Ellis. Published by James Langley, New York." These works are of a good class, and we have no doubt will command a wide sale. We have seen it stated that over twenty thousand volumes of the works of Mrs. Ellis have been sold by the New York publisher. We are glad to learn this, as the healthful tone which pervades the writings of this lady renders the circulation of them desirable, particularly at a time when the country is flooded with trash of the worst sort. Harper & Brothers have sent us "The Young Sailor, by Mrs. S. B. Dana," and "Neal's History of the Puritans," Part V. Also, Bangs' Life of Armenius," with a portrait. "The Velvet Cushion" is the title of a neat little volume

published by J. K. Simon, Philadelphia.

"Tales and Sketches," translated from the Italian, French and German, by Nathaniel Green, a beautifully printed little volume, from Little & Brown, Boston.

OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY, BATTLE-GROUNDS, ETC.-In our next we shall give the likeness of James Fenimore Cooper, engraved in capital style by Dodson, with a full biographical sketch by one of his most intimate friends. Mr. Cooper certainly stands at the very head of the list of American novelists, and it is a matter of pride to us that "Graham" is the only three-dollar magazine for which he has written, and, in fact, the only magazine to which he contributes now.

In our next we shall also give the first of our Indian Sketches A Buffalo Hunt"-with an excellent accompanying paper, from the pen of Charles Fenno Hoffman. This style of illustration we have no doubt will be highly popular.

Our "Battle-Grounds, No. 3," will be given in September; a glorious picture of "Yorktown," from an origina! picture by Chapman, by Smillie.

CONTRIBUTORS.-The contributions of Henry W. Longfellow, W. C. Bryant, J. K. Paulding, James Fenimore Cooper, and of a host more of the best American writers, may now be found, almost all of them, in "Graham" exclusively.

Under this head the London Foreign Quarterly Review contains a vulgar and abusive article, not so much on American literature as on American laws and institutions. The Foreign Quarterly has, for several years back, and ever since the fraudulent bankruptcy of Mr. Richter, to whom it is indebted for its existence, exhibited such manifest symptoms of decay, that it became necessary for its conductors to truckle to the worst feelings of the parlor readers of England to drag out a weak and sickly existence. When the Foreign Quarterly confined itself strictly to foreign literature, it was sufficiently poor to be laid aside; for, while the more educated classes of England always looked upon it as an exceedingly doubtful authority, it commanded neither the respect nor the attention of the literati on the continent. But now that it has opened its pages to that particular portion of partisan warfare which is spurned by the Quarterly and Blackwood's, as inadmissible in good company, it has justly fallen into contempt. While Blackwood's and the Quarterly speak the views of the party, and, in a measure, set the fashions of the day, the Foreign Quarterly is content with acting the part of a toady to its powerful colleagues. The criticism of the former assumes in the latter the more congenial form of low-bred abuse.

The conductors of the Foreign Quarterly are probably convinced that there must be as many different grades of literature as of society; and, with that peculiar modesty for which the English have always been distinguished, selected for themselves that which most suited their condition in life, and their standing in the world of letters. No one who has read the article of

the fact that it was written by a person as little qualified to pronounce judgment on the national literature of a country, as he is capable of seizing the national characteristics of a people. He lacks for either a proper standard of comparison; for, in all his remarks about America and her literature, he does not even once, by accident, refer to aught but what is English; and, even where he obtrudes on the reader his wearisome English comparisons, his remarks are trivial as his style, and the whole current of his predominant ideas. The English critic of American poetry has just talent enough to be a genre painter; his perceptive faculties are sufficiently strong to seize on individual qualities; but his mind is not of that philosophical cast which is necessary to a proper appreciation of national characteristics, either in the manners and customs of a people, or in their literature. He never, for a single moment, carries his investigations below the mere surface of things; he gives the reader no insight into the causes of phenomena; he does not even classify these phenomena, in order to arrive at some general conclusion, but appears content with flinging a term of reproach at each, without being particularly nice in his selection; for, to judge from the elegance of his diction, he has never been in a habit of mixing with that class of English society which makes a certain degree of attention to form a necessary condition of its intercourse. Were the unsparing critic of American poets and poetry a dealer in calicoes, he could not be more zealous, nor more ill-bred in disparaging the manufactures of a rival establishment than he has shown himself in his paper, in the Foreign Quarterly, in reference to our literature. His whole essay, the very animus of his critique, partakes of this commercial spirit, and we shrewdly susspect that his castigation of American authors was "done to order," and paid for by the London publishers.