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charm of our autumn woods and fields is totally unconnected, not only with all human interest, but also with any striking details. It is not felt only, nor most forcibly, in presence of wide or enriched prospects, of majestic mountains and waterfalls-but of some familiar scene, in which all the features are commonplace, but exalted by some happy effect of light. The scanty range of a lonely brush-pasture in an autumn afternoon-the echoing stillness of a hemlock grove in winter-a few junipers and barberrybushes, or the details of a mossy rock in the haze of spring-are sufficient for the highest enjoyment that can be derived from Nature. This enjoyment is distinct in kind from the admiration of remarkable natural objects, and their representation by the old painters; it is a veneration and love for the total spirit of Nature, and not for selected features. Our limits would not permit any satisfactory illustration or discussion of this novel and abstruse subject; we must refer those interested in the matter to our author's pages. We may remark, however, that this difference of feeling towards Nature between ancient and modern times, is not confined to Art, but is seen also in Science and Religion. The Greeks did not believe that the gods created the world, but only that they governed it; their power was a power over Nature, as something apart, and originally independent of them. And even after the Christian era, there was nothing like a science of nature. Natural Philosophy in the time of Leonardo da Vinci was either Mechanics, the art of managing the forces of Nature, or Alchemy, the art of juggling with them; Nature being looked upon as mere dead matter, or as the creation and kingdom of the devil.

"I know not," says our author, "that of the expressions of affection towards external nature to be found among Heathen writers, there are any of which the balance and leading thought cleaves not towards the sensual parts of her. Her beneficence they sought, and her power they shunned; her teaching through both, they understood never. The pleasant influences of soft winds, and ringing streamlets, and shady coverts; of the violet couch, and planetree shade, they received, perhaps, in a more noble way than we, but they found not any thing except fear, upon the bare mountain, or in the ghostly glen. The Hybla heather they loved more for its sweet hives than its purple hues. But the Christian spirit ... finds the object of its love everywhere, in what is harsh and peaceful, as well as what is kind; nay, even in all that seems coarse and commonplace, seizing that which is good, and delighting more sometimes at finding its table spread in strange places, and in the presence of its enemies, and its honey coming out of the rock, than if all were harmonized into a less wondrous pleasure."

If, then, there now exists a keener sense for Nature than formerly, it will follow that the aim of painters of landscape of the present day ought to be, and very naturally may be, higher than

that of their predecessors; and this, as already remarked, is the important point. Our author, however, goes further than this, and endeavours to show, in a detailed dissection of the landscape in Nature and in existing pictures, which occupies the principal part of his first volume, the actual superiority of the moderns. Whatever may be thought of this opinion, this part of the book will probably be the most popular, from the keen observation and appreciation of Nature which it displays. Should we undertake to quote here, it would be difficult to know when to stop, and we can only recommend every lover of the country to buy it and read for himself. The second volume contains discussions of general principles of Esthetics, which, though resting rather upon instinctive feeling than systematic knowledge, are yet in the highest degree interesting and valuable. In this volume also are many keen criticisms of particular works of art.

The American reprint is very neatly executed, and with tolerable correctness, but we hope the publishers do not intend to put us off with half the work instead of the whole. We are sorry to see no indications on the cover or title-page, that this is only the first volume.

12. De l'Esclavage et des Colonies. Par GUSTAVE DU PUYNODE, docteur en droit, avocat à la cour royale de Paris. Paris. 1847. 8vo. pp. XVI and 224.

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THIS is the third work of the author on the same or a similar subject. In 1845 he published a work on labor and the laboring classes. In the first two chapters he treats of slavery. He says, Liberty for all men, and in all departments of life, is the hope of the age. The two great problems of France are to found a new order of things in Algiers, and in the West Indies to restore the slaves to the condition of entire civil and social freedom. He will not "undertake to prove the iniquity of slavery. The time has gone by when it was necessary to demonstrate that the color of the skin, or the place of birth, ought not to determine a man's rank in society." It must be remembered he is writing at Paris. Slavery is a crime and a blunder. The solidarity of mankind was taught fully by the Stoics, and by Christianity, but has not been understood till now. France has taken the lead in developing the doctrine, and ought to abolish slavery, for she will thereby influence other nations, and slavery is at this day the greatest obstacle in the way of civilization. It perverts the master and debases the slave; it dishonors labor, renders it unproductive, corrupts the wealthy and promotes the vices of the poor. It is only possible on condition that the slaves are degraded, and the masters tyrants." To show that slavery prevents the increase

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of population, he cites Mr. Clay, "one of the most enlightened men of the Union, and one of the most ardent defenders of slavery.”

In 1315, Louis the Tenth made all men free who touched the soil of France, but Louis the Thirteenth introduced slavery into the French colonies. Formerly the Spanish slaves were better treated than others, but now, in point of cruelty, "Spanish slavery can only be compared to the American." He thinks the revolts and escapes show that the slaves are not happy, and quotes Mr. Humboldt, who says he has studied their condition where the laws and national habits tend to ameliorate their lot, but goes back with the same horror of slavery as when he first quitted Europe. It seems the American churches are not alone in their defence of the "patriarchal institution," for the seminary of Saint Esprit, in which most of the colonial clergy are educated for their functions, teaches the legitimacy of slavery and the slave-trade; "the religion of a nation seldom prevails over its interests," says Humboldt. "It is the philosophers, not the devotees, who agitate the question of slavery." He thinks emancipation works well in the British West Indies: the blacks have money in the savings bank; they join temperance societies, build churches, and fill them; they send money to the London Abolition Society, to promote their work; they send missionaries to Africa to preach Love and Liberty on their natal soil; crime decreases from year to year. He says there are three schemes of emancipation: 1. gradual and progressive; 2. general and graduated; 3. general and spontaneous. He recommends general and immediate emancipation.

In Chapter III. he gives a history of ancient colonization, by the Greeks, Romans, and Phoenicians; in Chapter IV. he proposes a reform of the French colonies; in Chapter V. he touches upon the condition of Algiers.

13.- Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie. By HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW. Third Edition. Boston: Wm. D. Ticknor & Co. 1848. 16mo. pp. 163.

THIS is a beautiful poem in Hexameter verse, and relates the adventures of a young French maiden - Evangeline a native of Acadie. The English destroy the French settlement of Grand Pré, and carry off the inhabitants, who are scattered over the continent. Evangeline gets separated from her lover, Gabriel, and after seeking him in all the French settlements, from the great lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, becomes a sister of charity in Philadelphia. She discovers him in a hospital, sick, and too feeble to speak. He dies in her arms, and she soon joins him in the world where there is no separation.

The poem is full of beauties now of description, or of senti

ment, and occasionally of thought. The rhythmic movement is generally slight, but sometimes more emphatic, and sometimes sinking almost to prose. The measure seems wholly congenial to the author's mind; the sound" an echo to the sense." We give a

few specimens.

"Many a farewell word and sweet goodnight on the door-step
Lingered long in Evangeline's heart, and filled it with gladness.

Carefully then were covered the embers that glowed on the hearthstone,
And on the oaken stairs resounded the tread of the farmer.

Soon with a soundless step the foot of Evangeline followed.
Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the darkness,

Lighted less by the lamp than the shining face [form?] of the maiden." - p. 46.

"Friends they sought and homes; and many despairing, heart-broken,
Asked of the earth but a grave, and no longer a friend or a fireside.
Written their history stands on tablets of stone in the churchyard,
Long among them was seen a maiden who waited and wandered,
Lowly and meek in spirit and patiently suffering all things.
Fair was she and young; but, alas! before her extended,
Dreary and vast and silent the desert of life, with its pathway
Marked by the graves of those who had sorrowed and fallen before her,
Passions long extinguished, and hopes long dead and abandoned,
As the emigrant's way o'er the Western desert is marked by
Camp-fires long consumed, and bones that bleach in the sunshine.
Something there was in her life incomplete, imperfect, unfinished;
As if a morning of June, with all its music and sunshine,
Suddenly paused in the sky, and, fading, slowly descended
Into the East again, from whence it late had arisen.

Sometimes she lingered in towns, till, urged by the fever within her,

Urged by a restless longing, the hunger and thirst of the spirit,

She would commence again her endless search and endeavour;

Sometimes in churchyards strayed and gazed on the crosses and tombstones, Sat by some nameless grave, and thought that perhaps in its bosom

He was already at rest, and she longed to slumber beside him.”—p. 84 – 86.

"STILL stands the forest primeval; but far away from its shadow, Side by side, in their nameless graves, the lovers are sleeping, Under the humble walls of the little Catholic churchyard,

In the heart of the city, they lie, unknown and unnoticed.
Daily the tides of life go ebbing and flowing beside them,

Thousands of throbbing hearts, where theirs are at rest and for ever,
Thousands of aching brains, where theirs no longer are busy,

Thousands of toiling hands, where theirs have ceased from their labors, Thousands of weary feet, where theirs have completed the journey." - pp. 161, 162.

We would only remind the author that the chestnut-tree does not grow in Acadie, that hoop-tire was not known among its inhabitants, and that no orchard is found "bending with golden fruit," in that region, in the month of November. American readers may well thank the author for a poem so wholly American in its incidents, its geography, and its scenery. We cannot but think it will add to the well-earned fame of its accomplished author. It has reached three editions in a few days, and we trust will soon reach many more.

14. Essays by R. W. Emerson. First Series. New Edition. Boston: James Munroe & Company. 1847. pp. vi and 333. 12mo.

THIS new edition contains some poetic matters not in the earlier impression.

15.- The Principles of Nature and her divine Revelations, and a Voice to Mankind by and through Andrew Jackson Davis, "the Poughkeepsie Seer" and "clairvoyant.” In three parts. New York. 1847. pp. xxiv and 782.

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THIS book consists of three parts. 1. "The Key," containing several remarks on the condition of society in past and present times. 2. "The Revelation," containing an account of the origin and nature of the Universe, including man, and 3. "The Application," which contains an analysis of society," a statement of its evils, and their remedy. The work treats of many important matters in physical, social, and theological science. If it had appeared as the production of some scholar, writing after much reading and careful study, it would be thought a remarkable production. Very remarkable, considering the variety of matters discussed, the boldness, largeness of mind, and general intelligence displayed therein. Many things in the book are fantastic, many statements incorrect. If it were the work of any man not twenty-one years of age, composed under the most favorable circumstances, it would still be an extraordinary book, perhaps the most extraordinary in the world. But the lectures of which the work is composed were delivered by Mr. Davis while in a state of mesmeric excitement, written down and published from his dictation while in that state. The only alterations made by the scribe were the omission of redundant words, and corrections of false syntax, for Mr. Davis is an uneducated man, who cannot speak his native tongue with common accuracy. What adds to the wonder is, that the author had no acquaintance with literature or science. The editors claim that he had access to the "second sphere of human existence," and there in part obtained his knowledge in a manner not possible except in this state of trance. We see no reason for doubting the integrity of the author or his editors; they may be mistaken. They can hardly be dishonest. Shall we suppose Mr. Davis had read Dr. Lardner's Lectures, the "Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation," the works of Swedenborg and Fourier, which have been circulated so extensively and in a form so cheap-and that in the intense excitement of the mesmeric state he reproduced what

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