- portant, and can be taught in no work so effectually as in one which commemorates the character and services of Washington. It is the example of high purpose, disinterested patriotism-honor - bright honor-such as the poet and novelist have ascribed to the dazzling heroes, the chivalric hosts of fictitious story, and self-sustainment such as bard and romancer never dreamt of till the annals of republican America showed that devotion to a principle was as ennobling a motive of action as loyalty to a prince. It is this last quality, this all-glorious self-sustainment which gives its godlike halo to the character of Washington. The successful leader of party may kindle our enthusiasm in classic literature the upholder of ancestral aristocracy stir our blood in feudal story -- we are dazzled by the Roman devotion of the one to the tenets of his political school, and fired by the knightly loyalty of the other to the prescriptive rights of his order; but each is, after all, nothing but the creature of circumstance—a being that takes his form and pressure from the opinions or the prejudices around him a man- - the breath of whose nostrils is the atmosphere that upholds him. Washington, however, lived in an atmosphere of his own; his free thoughts were generated in his own bosom, and the elements which sustained his soul were born and nursed into power within itself. Napoleon even, as compared with him, was but the skilful mechanic that works with the tools provided to his hand; a builder that carried his art perhaps beyond his age, but was, in the end, compelled to strengthen the fabric he had reared by materials drawn from the ruins around him; a patcher up of greatness, who, when he had reared the edifice of empire upon the popular will, had the meanness to resort to the trumpery of past ages to furnish the frieze and capitals of his mongrel structure; a climber that raised himself nobly indeed above the heads of others, but stooped to lean upon their shoulders the moment he had attained the highest rung of the ladder. But Washington stood alone; not only among men, but among the nations. He grafted himself upon no nurturing stock, but flourished from his own inherent vigor. He did not attempt to "make might right," but right itself was the vivifying principle which gave him might; and the moral grandeur of his character places him so far above earth's proudest conquerors, that in their loftiest visions of greatness they probably never conceived of glory like his. And yet the humble and the lowly-hearted are not the less able to appreciate it on that account. Unlike its vulgar counterfeit, the greatness that springs from virtue shines like Religion herself upon the soul, and sheds its cheering rays like hers, as benignantly and as fully into the most simple mind as into the understanding that is most richly cultivated. We eschew all man-worship, even of the mighty dead; but we think it well for our race that there have been some great characters, who were as good as they were great, whose souls were moulded with every lineament in just proportion; the perfect fabric of whose fame stands like some Doric temple, in severe and simple majesty, amid the more dazzling structures which Time may rear around them - monuments of what great minds have been, models of what aspiring minds may yet become. Their memory is a watch-tower on the Sea of Change, to guide the barque of human hope, and bid it never despair of the best interests of mankind. It is therefore that we would unite with the author of the book before us, in commending the character of WASHINGTON "to the mothers of the United States," as the noblest study they can ever offer to their children. Mr. Paulding's biography is written in a style of unaffected and manly simplicity, which admirably adapts it to the class of readers for whom it was chiefly intended. Corinne, or Italy.-By Madame de Staël.-2 vols. C. E. L. Carey & A. Hart, Philadelphia. We have here a beautiful reprint of one of the most brilliant novels that was ever written. It is a copyright edition, being an American revise of a new translation recently prepared for the London Library of Standard Novels; and must at once supersede the old copies of this standard work were any of them to be found upon the shelves of the booksellers. The poetic pieces interspersed through the narrative, have been translated anew by Miss Landon, more celebrated as L. E. L.; and besides the innumerable errors in the old English edition, which are corrected in this, some notes are added, which add much to the value of the present publication. Among them we find the following notice of what can only be called a direct plagiarism upon the part of Lord Byron, and which, from the popularity of the passage, it is surprising was not detected before. The third paragraph of the fourth chapter of Corinne concludes with the following glowing sentence the sea, on which man never left his trace. He may plough the earth, and cut his way through mountains, or contract rivers into canals for the transport of his merchandize; but his fleets for a moment furrow the ocean, its waves as instantly efface the slight mark of servitude, and it again appears such as it was on the first day of its creation." Byron, in the fourth canto of Childe Harold, without acknowledging whence the ideas were borrowed, translated this passage as follows Time writes no wrinkle on thine azure brow; Such as creation's dawn beheld, thou rollest now." The Professional Years of John Henry Hobart, D. D.-By John Mc Vickar, D. D.-1 vol. N. Y. Episcopal Press. THE style of Dr. Mc Vickar-one of the most practised writers in this country-would impart a charm to the most barren subject. In the work before us he has happily exercised his pen upon one which must interest wherever the name of the distinguished prelate, whose life he has illustrated, is known. A history of the professional career of Bishop Hobart by no means addresses itself to churchmen exclusively, although they perhaps, of whatever persuasion, may derive the greatest benefit from its perusal. The unfolding of an efficient, high-toned, and most useful character-the memorial of talent and worth struggling with difficulties the most arduous; and, after elevating themselves into a sphere of ceaseless action, sustaining themselves with an unshrinking spirit against every assault, whether from within or without; conveys an invaluable lesson to every member of society who has a character to form or a reputation to uphold. And such is this history of "The Professional years of Hobart." Of one so zealous it would be impossible to say "that he never had an enemy"— (the worst thing, by the by, that can be said of any man,) —but those who read the memoir of Dr. Mc Vickar, however sharp may have been their prejudices against a character which was uncompromising when it believed itself engaged in the assertion of truth, though they may still differ in their views from the departed prelate, will at least now acknowledge that, in whatever controversies he was engaged — and whatever course of conduct he adopted the noblest integrity of purpose was ever his operating motive. They too, who, passing over the more genial productions of his mind - his holy teachings as a pastor - have hitherto only known him through the medium of his vigorous polemic writings, and regarded him rather as the energetic champion of a sect than as the obedient soldier of Christ's church at large cannot but be touched by the gentle and endearing traits of character which are here proved to have shone forth throughout all of his professional career; The softest, kindest, and most winning elements appeared to have entered as largely into the composition of his nature as did those which always command the respect, however they may awaken the hostility, of a distinguished man's contemporaries. In this union indeed — to use the eloquent language of his biographer — " In this union lay the peculiar force and attractiveness of Dr. Hobart's character. It was the lion and the lamb dwelling together: woman's warmth and gentleness -- man's energetic will; without the latter he would have been the creature of impulse and the slave of his affections - without the former he would have been the stern ruler, whom all would have feared and none loved. But how beautiful was the combination! while his spirit was as that of the war-horse, that saith among the trumpets, 'Ha! Ha!' his heart was that of the peaceful child, so full of tearful emotions, that a drop would at any time make it to overflow." We take pleasure in recommending this volume to those of our readers, whether lay or clerical, who are lovers of biography. We have still a number of new works on hand, which shall be duly noticed, but we have already exceeded the limits assigned to this department the present month. MONTHLY COMMENTARY. THE AMERICAN LYCEUM. The Sixth Annual Meeting is to commence in NewYork on the 5th of May, and there is a prospect of a larger attendance than usual, and of more varied exercises. There surely is no reason why an anniversary of this kind may not in future prove the source of much gratification, as well as subserve the cause of popular knowledge in the country. With the extensive correspondence which the American Lyceum maintains, it is easy for them to afford a large amount of information from the popular literary societies as well as of the schools, and the state of education in different states of our Union and several foreign countries. Essays on a variety of interesting subjects have been secured for the ap proaching Annual Meeting, and the following questions have been circulated widely among the friends of education in all parts of the country. These paragraphs we copy from the Circular issued by the Executive Committee, to societies from which delegates are invited, as well as to individual friends of their operation. "Written or verbal communications are invited, concerning the Literary Associations, Schools, the state of Education, and the means of intellectual improvement, in your Town, County, or State. "The following Questions will be proposed for discussion: "1. Ought Monitors to be employed in Common Schools? "2. How should the Bible be used in Common Schools? "3. How can popular co-operation be best sccured in favour of American Schools? "4. What measures should be taken in forming a new settlement, to provide for progressive intellectual improvement? "6. By what means may Vocal Music be generally introduced into Common Schools? "[A supply of small cabinets of minerals, of 75 or 100 specimens each, is expected from the Pennsylvania Lyceum, for exchange with members of the American Lyceum at its Sixth Annual Meeting.]" It is probable that some exercises of the Society will be held in the evening, and that some of the Essays will then be read, and perhaps an exhibition made of particular branches of instruction or their results. One of the most interesting exercises of the American Lyceum, has ever been that of communicating reports from Lyceums, schools of education, from different places and districts in the order of the states; and the numerous societies formed within a few months, in different parts of the Union, as well as the flourishing condition of others, afford reason to anticipate more than usual interest this season. The New-York City Lyceum, the Brooklyn and Naval Lyceums, all flourishing and most respectable associations, will doubtless, as heretofore, be fully represented on the occasion; and in the reports to be expected from them, our citizens must feel particular interest. The exercises will be open to the public as usual, and the meetings will probably be held, as heretofore, either in the U. S. District Court room, or in the City Hall. EAST BOSTON. The elder inhabitants of New-York remember vividly the appearance of Brooklyn forty years ago. Where now is a large population and a rapidly rising city, there were seen green pastures and uncultivated fields. The good people of Boston, forty years hence, when they look upon the streets, and houses, and stores, and wharves of EAST BOSTON, will tell their children that they can remember when the project of settling this highly-favored spot was thought chimerical and a plan of wild speculation. We are surprised, in examining the improvements now going on-and which are well described in a small pamphlet recently printed-that "Noddle's Island," as it was somewhat facetiously designated, should have been so long neglected by the enterprising spirit of Yankee capitalists. To give to the friends of enterprise, both abroad and at home, some idea of the embryo city of East Boston, we reduce from the small pamphlet before us an ac. count of the rapid improvements which have already been made there; and from these may be argued the fulfilment of a prophecy which we unhesitatingly make of its ultimate splendid fortune as a commercial mart, scarcely inferior to the city near which it lies. But, so near is it to the city proper, being separated only by an arm of water which can be crossed in three minutes, that it is now included within the chartered limits of Boston itself. It is an extensive tract of land, of upland and marsh, of about 660 acres independent of the adjoining flats. It now belongs, with the exception of certain parts, which have been sold, to an incorporated company. Subordinate to this are several other companies, whose operations all materially tend to the extension of the place and the acceleration of its prosperity. A fine wharf has been built (by a company whose capital is five hundred thousand dollars), the sides of which are of solid granite-which comprises a surface of over eight acres. Another company have established a line of Ferryboats, running from East Boston to one of the largest commercial depôts in the city. The distance across the Ferry is 600 yards, being 120 yards less than the Fulton Ferry at New-York. Con. nected with this ferry is a fine level road to the smaller Eastern cities of Salem, Portsmouth, &c., and there is now every probability that a rail-road will be constructed whose depôt shall be in East Boston. This, however, we do not regard as absolutely material to its success. Its vicinity to Boston will constitute its security. One important fact has been established by the experience of the late severe winter-that intercommunication can never be arrested by the obstruction of ice. The boats can ply during the severest cold. The confluence of two rivers at this comparatively narrow spot produces so rapid a current as to prevent the ice from making there, even when the harbor, both above and below, is completely frozen. The Boston_Sugar Refinery is an establishment of great value there located. Besides these incorporated companies, there are several others with large capitals-such as the Boyden Malleable Cast Iron and Steel Company, whose buildings are large and numerous; the East Boston Timber Maverick House, affords to strangers a delightful place of resort during the summer months; and the attractive situations for country houses will be improved by the wealthy residents of Boston. Streets, squares, and avenues have been laid out, upon which, we predict, that in less than forty years as elegant rows of stores and dwelling-houses as those of Brooklyn will be seen, tenanted by as busy, thriving, and constantly increasing a population. NEW PUBLICATIONS. Rev. Wm. Kirby (M. A. F. R. S. &c.) on the Power and Goodness of God as manifested in the Creation of Animals, and in their History, Habits, and Instincts. Philadelphia, Carey, Lea, and Blanchard, 1 vol. Life and Times of Rienzi, Philadelphia; Carey & Hart. In 1 vol. The Early Called, the Stoic, and the Landsby of Landsby Hall; 1 vol. Carey, Lea & Blanchard. The Structure of the Eye, with reference to Natural Theology; 1 vol. 18mo. by Wm. Clay Wallace, Oculist to the New-York Institute for the Blind; Wiley & Long, New-York. Thomas Dick (L. L. D.) on the Mental Illumination and Moral Improvement of Mankind; or an Inquiry into the means by which a general diffusion of Knowledge and Moral Principle may be promoted. Illustrated with Engravings; 1 vol. Key & Biddle, Philadelphia. Works announced as being in Press. The Life of Thomas Jefferson, with a part of his Correspondence never before published, by George Tucker, Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Virginia; in 2 vols. 8vo. Dunglison's General Therapeutics, or Principles of Medicinal Administration, with Tables of the chief remedial Agents, and their Preparations, employed in the Treatment of Diseases; in 1 vol. 8vo. The Heavens, a Popular view of the Celestial Bodies, by Robert Mudie; in I vol. 18mo. Also, The Earth, The Sea, The Air, by the same Author. Flora and Thalia, or Gems of Flowers and Poetry; with twenty-four colored Engravings-bound in embossed Morocco. The Moral of Flowers-beautifully illustrated. A Lady's Gift, or Woman as she ought to be; by Mrs. Stanford. The Young Husband's Book. Nimrod's Hunting Tours; in 2 vols. 12mo. The Encyclopædia of Geography; illustrated by upwards of one thousand Cuts and Maps-to be in three volumes super royal 8vo. My Manual, or Short Rules and Reflections for Conduct in Society, by a Gentleman. Elliotson's Human Physiology, with numerous Wood Cuts. Agnes de Mansfeldt, a Novel, by Grattan; in 2 vols. 12mo. The Early Called, and other Tales; in 1 vol. 12mo. Peter Snook, and other Strange Tales; in 2 vols. 12mo. My Aunt Pontypool; in 2 vols. 12mo. Margaret Ravenscroft, or Second Love; in 2 vols. 12mo. The Adventures of a Gentleman in Search of a Horse. Didactics-Moral, Philosophical, and Political, by Robert Walsh, Esq; in 2 vols. demi 8vo. |