could gently teach and control, without harshness, both mamma and the young ones. Very lively, spirited, and feminine; full of cheerfulness and good principle; and an admirable book for mothers that hardly know how to control their children, and for misses in their teens, or even somewhat younger, who would like to learn to be happy, both before and after marriage.

THE GLENNS. A Family History. By J. L. M'Connel. New York: Charles Scribner. 1851. 12mo. pp. 280. This is a Tale, by the author of "Talbot and Vernon," "Grahame," &c., in which the author endeavours to bend to practical and theoretical usefulness the flowery tracery of fictiona far less difficult task than to clothe a mass of physical or metaphysical truth in the garb of fiction. There is no vehicle more appropriate than the novel, for scattering among the busy crowd the most important practical truths; and the opposition of many correct thinkers to all novelreading, founded as it has been, upon the very general sacrifice of proper morals and the truth of history to mere effect and the perfection of a plot, has had an influence as injurious as that of any other species of unreasonable exclusiveness. This story is written in a subdued and chastened style, utterly free from exaggeration, and with a heartfulness of purpose that should recommend it to those who are so unfashionable as to mingle thought with their amusement. It professes to be a picture drawn from the really characteristic and general features of Western life and society, avoiding the most salient points and startling exceptions, which furnish the common materials of late writers. In the author's own words, the story was originally designed to illustrate certain mental and moral laws by which characteristics are transmitted from parent to offspring,-and thus to show how the sins of the father are visited upon the children, even unto the third and fourth generation.'" This is truly a rich and noble subject. How far the attempt has been successful, it would be impossible to say without a deliberate reading, and if, on further examination, we find the matter of sufficient importance, we may refer to it again in a future number.

TRAVELS IN AMERICA.-THE POETRY OF POPE. Two Lectures to the Leeds Mechanics' Institution and Literary Society. Dec. 5th and 6th, 1850. By the Right Honourable, The Earl of Carlisle (Lord Morpeth). New York: G. P. Putnam. 12mo. pp. 135.

The travels of Lord Morpeth in the United States, and the general tenor of his very cursory remarks upon our scenery, men, and institutions, as given in his lecture before the Leeds Institute, have been made generally known to American readers through the British and American press. But the truly accomplished European scholar, enjoying an unquestioned and unquestionable position in society-the English nobleman of high cast, who is the natural peer of the American gentleman of similar elevation-has so rarely traversed our territory with his eyes open, and his heart untrammelled by any embarrassment other than the beautifui prejudice of patriotism, that the first crude impressions of such a manand that Lord Morpeth was such a man, no one will attempt to dispute,-possess a value vastly superior to anything that can be uttered by book-making tourists or small diplomatists in their writings or speeches. The observations contained in that part of this little volume which relates to America,-for the portion which treats of the poetry of Pope is too completely occasional to demand especial notice-deserves not only to be read, and reperused, but even deliberately studied by every one who would wish to know how our national character, and the physical features of our country affect, at first glance, a representative of the best and most influential portion of the British mind. To expect of the Norman blood, with English training, a full appreciation of institutions so fundamentally different from those he has been taught to honour, would be folly; but the Earl of Carlisle certainly approaches more nearly to the genuine cosmopolitan, and displays less of the insular, in the spirit of his sketches, than any of his countrymen who have visited this country, and made known either their real or pretended impres sions. This book, small as it is, should find a place in the library of every thinking American.

MCSIC.-Song, "Let the Light of Other Days Depart." For the Piano. Words and music by Septimus Winner, 257 Cullowhill Street, Philadelphia.

PAMPHLETS, SERIALS, &c.-The Wife's Sister, or The Forbidden Marriage. By Mrs. Hubback, niece of Miss Austin, No. 155 of Harper's Library of select Novels. For sale by Zieber, price 25 cents.-London Labour and the London Poor. By Henry Mayhew, with engravings taken by Beard. Nos. 5 and 6. Harpers. In semi-monthly numbers. For sale by Zieber, price 12 cents. This will be more fully noticed when the series is complete.-The two Wives, or, Lost and Won; and The Ways of Providence, or "He doeth all Things well." Two stories in continuation of Arthur's Library for the Household. Published by Lippin

cott, Grambo & Co., No. 14 North Fourth Street, Philadelphia.-A Novel by E. L. Blanchard: The Heirs of Derwent water. New York, Dewitt and Davenport, Tribune Building; price 50 cents.-Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, for May. American reprint. New York, Leonard Scott & Co. For sale by W. B. Zieber. An interesting number with a critique on American poetry, which is worthy the attention of our contributors.-Dictionary of Mechanics, Engine work, and Engineering. 28th number. New York, D. Appleton & Co.-Indiana. A novel by Madame Duvenant (George Sand), prefaced by a biographical sketch of the authoress. Philadelphia, T. B. Peterson. Price 50 cents.-The Complete Kitchen and Fruit Gardener for Popular and General Use. Philadelphia, T. B. Peterson. 118 pp. 12mo. Price 25 cts; in paper. Short as is this little rade-mecum for the gardener, it contains, in a convenient shape, a great multitude of practical directions in a very condensed form, and will be valuable on this account, even for those who possess more ample works on the same subject. The Complete Cattle Doctor. A Treatise on the Diseases of Horn Cattle and Calres, written in plain language, de. By John C. Knowlson. Philadelphia, T. B. Peterson. 64 pp. 8vo. Price 25 cts. A pamphlet pharmacopia, by one who claims an extensive practice of seventy years. The Westminster Review for April. American reprint, New York, Leonard Scott & Co. From W. B. Zieber.

We are requested to announce that the publishers of the New York Mercury, a dollar weekly paper, office 109 Nassau Street, have made arrangements with Major Richardson, author of "Wacousta," &c., &c., to furnish that paper with an original story, a sequel to "Hardscrabble," the thrilling story which appeared last year in this Journal. There will be no connexion between the two novelettes, other than that which results from the identity of the actors. The theatre of action will be changed, and the incidents will be posterior in point of time. Those who have formed acquaintance with the dramatis persona of "Hardscrabble" will no doubt feel a decided interest in their after-fate.

Notices of several works received during the month are necessarily postponed until August.

THE COMMITTEE ON PRIZES.

THIS Committee have been most diligently and laboriously engaged in the execution of their onerous task, and the competitors may rest assured that the duty imposed upon them, though much heavier than was anticipated when they consented to act, will be faithfully and impartially completed. We append their first or preliminary report, for the information of the parties interested. As a considerable number of the best articles remain still in the hands of the committee, it will be impossible for the publishers or the editor to fulfil the requests of all the competitors, who have ordered their articles returned, if rejected, for some time to come. Even this task is not a light one, but it will be performed as speedily as is practicable.

PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PRIZES,

OFFERED BY THE PUBLISHERS OF SARTAIN'S UNION MAGAZINE.

The unexpected mass of material offered in competition for these prizes has necessarily delayed the conclusion of the labours of the committee greatly beyond the period originally designated; nor are those labours yet completed. But, as many of the competitors have expressed an anxiety to know what progress has been made in the business, the committee, at their meeting on Saturday, May 24, gave directions that the public should be informed of the titles of five articles, which have been already selected for prizes. The determination to deal faithfully with more than four hundred essays and tales, almost as various in subject as the variety of human taste and feeling, and covering probably eight thousand pages of manuscript, will be sufficient apology for the delay. The final Report cannot be prepared before the August number, but the publication of the Prize Articles will commence, as announced, with the July number. The order of publication will be no test of the relative merit of the successful articles, as the committee disapproved of any attempt to establish an invidious and unnecessary distinction. The articles absolutely rejected remain subject to the orders of the writers, which, if already expressed, will be attended to, at the earliest convenient moment. All have been examined, but a considerable number are still under dis

cussion.

The prizes already determined are as follows:
THE ESTRANGED HEARTS-Clara Moreton, (nom de plume)
Philadelphia.

THE LAME GIRL-J. M. Legare, Aiken, S. C.
OLD SUPERSTITIONS - Ernestine Brandon, Cincinnati,
Ohio.

THE OLD AND THE NEW-E. H. H. Worcester, Mass.
HANNIBAL COMPARED WITH NAPOLEON- William Henry
Herbert, Newark, N. J.

Many articles which, through errors of style or other defects, are foreclosed from the competition, have been referred to the proprietors of the Magazine as being possessed of sufficient merit, when compared with the best that have been offered, to render them, in certain respects, worthy of further consideration by the Editor, in connection with the Authors.

WE appear before our readers, in the present number, with new type and a page of altered appearance in other respects. Trusting that our efforts in perfecting the illustrations of the Magazine have been such as to merit and receive the approval of our subscribers, the proprietors have resolved to follow the general proclivity of the age, in relation to the penny loaf of mental provender, and to offer the public a quantity of matter largely in advance of that which has been tendered in former years. It will be remembered by those who have been long acquainted with this Journal, that occasional numbers enlarged by the addition of many extra pages have been issued, from time to time, which, like Sunday dinners and occasion "pie-nights" at a boarding-school, had the effect of alleviating with hope any disposition to complain of the real or imaginary deficiency of the ordinary fare. But it has been determined that, hereafter, our literary board shall be at all times supplied with the prodigality of our former feasts; and if an extra should ever be uttered in future, it will present something like a realization of the toast of a poor printer's boy in olden times, who offered as a sentiment, at one of our anniversary dinners, "three hundred and sixty-six Fourths of July to the year!"

The Union Magazine will be henceforth published in regular numbers of eighty pages each, and the page, which has been hitherto "leaded," will hereafter be printed "solid," so as to afford the reader a much larger amount of reading matter, without an increase of price. But, as these terms are technical, we will endeavour, for the benefit of those who have the good fortune not to be in immediate intercourse with that Caliban of the human mind, the printing press, to explain more clearly, and on the highest authority, the effect of this alteration of plan.

The proprietors having addressed a letter to the foreman of the printer of the Magazine, inquiring the exact amount of text added in consequence of the change, his reply, duly certified, informs us that each future number will contain an amount of reading matter equal to one hundred and four pages of the Journal as previously printed; the regular number of pages having been for merly sixty-four; so that the monthly addition now adopted is equivalent to forty pages.

Having thus disposed of the question of quantity, some changes in the interior management make it proper to add a few words on a subject quite as important, though, perhaps, not generally so regarded-the quality.

We read, occasionally, both private letters and articles appearing through the daily press, which are amusingly sarcastic upon the common or generic character of our monthly magazines. At hap-hazard, we select the following extract from a letter now lying open before us.

"I have been a reader of magazines for several years, and have failed to glean a single new idea in morals, physics, or spirituality,' from them; but I very frequently find morals clothed in beautiful languagethoughts exquisitely expressed: but style and language are about the sum total which I can speak favourably of, in the contents of magazines generally. The loves-the amours-the development of the tender passion' in Kitty, Betsy, Dolly, and others, present me with nothing practical."

Most candidly do we confess, with some grains of exception, the justice and wisdom of these remarks; and commend them to the serious consideration of our patrons and contributors. But while admitting the fact that our monthly literature presents too little that can be deemed of practical value in the regulation of life, or the emendation of manners, we need not look back beyond our present number to prove that the highest and most available lessons of morals are occasionally to be found in the

pages of a magazine. Who shall set bounds to the practical effect of the admirable Prize Tale of this month? As we write, it lies still in the sheets, unfolded; yet already, several persons, who by privilege or accident have perused the story, have warmly expressed their gratitude to the author for lifting the veil from the heart, and casting sunshine upon the vague shadows of old memories, which are the mirrors of experience; thus illuminating with a calm moral moonlight the rugged path of duty.

If instances of this practical utility are too seldom met with in our periodicals, the fault lies not wholly in the editors; and this conviction presses upon us with peculiar weight; for the station that brings a writer or a critic into constant communication with an audience of many thousand subscribers, and a scarcely calculable number of readers, is one of fearful responsibility, and unmeasured importance for good or evil. The most prominent purpose of the monthly magazines is to address the mass, without sinking in style or matter to the degree that would offend or prove repulsive to the few. The journal that attempts to exclude all that may seem trite or trivial to the highly educated, the deeply learned, and the peculiarly polished, would find its proper usefulness immediately and sadly curtailed, and would inevitably soon cease to exist; for a speaker without an audience in this great "logocracy" quickly follows his works into oblivion.

The editor that would improve the public taste and morals-that would elevate and ennoble the American mind-must reach the American heart: and the most fastidious will allow that "the developments of the tender passion in Kitty, Betsy, Dolly," &c., are of real, though perhaps unacknowledged interest, to Catharine, Elizabeth, and Lady Mary. It should not be forgotten that high place and title have a tendency to lead man to forget that he is but man. There is an ignorance of the schools, not less to be deplored than that of the mob; and the architect that strives to give still greater elevation to the structure of society must begin by enlarging the foundation. That magazine literature is, confessedly, not what it should be, results mainly from the deficiency of the pub lic taste; for publishers are peculiarly watchful of current opinion, and capital is extremely sensitive to temporary losses. But if the character of our periodical press tends to produce a still further vitiation of taste, that fault is fairly chargeable upon the Editorial department, and must result from the endeavour implicitly to follow the current of opinion, rather than gently to influence it for good. To aim too high for one's hearers, is madnessto strike below their capacities, for the sake of universal popularity, is folly. Wisdom must equally condemn the leaden stupidity of the clown, who plods through life at the plough, never pausing to listen to the wood-robin or look up to the sunny edge of the cloud, and the poetic madness of the hero of "Excelsior," rushing wildly aloft above all human sympathies, till he fades, like ancient Echo, into a far off voice,-sweet it may be, but earth-bound; for the sound of Fame is but the vibration of the earth's dull atmosphere.-The path to heaven lies not over mountain and glacier;-its portal is the grave!

But, off with our wings! We will endeavour to be what some will term more "practical," though we hold the imagination, when well trained, a more practical teacher of true excellence, than even the experience of daily life. There are certainly some fields of literature, and even science reduced to a literary standard, by being divested of the jargon of the schools and the strait-jacket of technicality, which have been scarcely touched upon by American magazine writers, although they present many appropriate subjects, trite perhaps to the learned, yet interesting to all, and intensely so to most. We will merely name a few, from among many; for instance, the manners and habits of animals; the popular explanation of familiar natural phenomena; hygienic facts and suggestions, calculated to promote domestic comfort; the influence of physical circumstances over the development of the intellect, &c. There is no legitimate reason why the monotony of too frequent disquisitions on matters of taste and the affections should not be occasionally broken by occasional articles on these prolific and beautiful subjects. This could certainly be accomplished without any msterial change of our well-tested, generally approved, and successful arrangement;-without any sudden revolution of plan;-for, like nature, we abhor revolutions. idea is thrown out for the consideration of correspondents, and if the novelty of the proposition should prevent any early and suitable response,-why, we shall even be tempted to draw the editorial chair within the circle of our contributors and patrons, and hold an occa sional chat with them on matters of fact as well as matters of art.

The

In conclusion, we return sincere thanks to those who criticise us. We beg that they will continue to do so; for we have ever found censure more valuable than praisebecause more suggestive-and sometimes, more difficult to win.

riband.

FIG. 1.

WALKING TOILETTE.

FIG. 1. Walking Toilette.-Capote of white satin, gathered and bouillonné even to the middle of the crown. On each side is a nœud of white satin The face is terminated for the breadth of somewhat more than two inches, with white crape mounted upon a latten, and trimmed above with four narrow blondes. The under part of the face is trimmed exclusively by eight or nine narrow gathered blondes. Brides of white riband.

Robe of pearl-gray silk, with high corsage, sleeves demi-large. The jupe is very full, and trimmed with three broad flounces very much gathered, and cut out in festoons and small rounded dents. The collar is of Brussels lace, rather less than two inches wide, mounted and gathered upon a pink band. The lace is continued, jabotlike, all along the front of the corsage. The shawl-mantelet is of the same material as the robe, and put on like a scarf, being entirely open in front. It is trimmed all round; above, over the shoulders, &c., with three rows of very narrow black lace, and around the lower edge with two

FIG. 2.

HOME TOILETTE.

very much gathered rows of very wide lace. A the place where the garment lies over the arm the lace is set upon a band, ten or twelve inches long, solidly sewn at the two ends, in such manner that the arm passes between the broad and narrow laces, and the wide lace falls always upon the skirt, even when the arm is raised.

FIG. 2. Home Toilette-Hair in undulating bandeaux, very much puffed, ornamented at the crossing of the bandeaux with round bows of black velvet riband with long ends falling behind.

Robe of silk, with green ground, chiné in large columns of pompadour designs; corsage flat, opening in a V; waist busked; sleeves rather wide below, but close above, and perfectly plain and destitute of gathers at the shoulders. The edge of the corsage is trimmed with a plaited riband, passing all round, and continuing from the junction of the corsage even to the point of the waist. The same trimming edges the sleeves. There is also a nœud of black riband crossing the lower part of the opening of the corsage, and there are five similar noeuds at regular intervals upon the front of the skirt. A chemisette, composed of many rows of narrow lace, falling one over the other, covers the breast above the nœud, and a narrow volant of lace, placed flat, appears from under the edge of the corsage all round the opening. The undersleeves are of lace, loose, and without gathers.

FIG. 3. Walking Dress.-Capote of lilac taffetas covered with white tulle, the tulle forming a little bouillon upon each hollow; brides of lilac riband edged with white. This bonnet is trimmed at each side with bunches of Parma violets; under

will influence women of good taste in favour of

this or that style. The Pompadour style is, how

ever, for the present at least, much more generally in favour than either of its rivals.

沃···

FIG. 3.

WALKING DRESS.

The passion for flowers which prevailed last season, is increasing with this. Much improvement has been made in their manufacture, and many of those now worn are almost marvellous fac-similes of the natural flower. Their variety is almost endless; among the most admired are camellias, ebony-trees, snowdrops, lilies, mimosas, and roses of different kinds, the multiflora, the tea, the moss, the royal, and the unique roses.

Drawn bonnets are decidedly more in favour than any others, though English, Italian, and ricestraws are much worn. The faces are more and more raised; they are shorter at the sides, and longer toward the chin, where in truth they almost join. They are all trimmed with a profusion of ornaments, volants, bouillons, &c.; for under-trim

FIG. 4, is an undersleeve of muslin of the duchess form, embroidered in designs of the Malta

cross.

the brides is very long, and very open. Ribands are extremely rich, bordered with fringes, or with very fine ringlets. Jupes are made extremely long, almost training behind, the plaits lie one over the other, as well behind as before; the corsages are open in front either in a V or square;

For full evening toilettes, three styles contest the dominion of the mode,-the Greek, the Lavallière, and the Pompadour. The first is simple, severe, and sparing of ornament, without being subject to the charge of harshness and rigidity. The second recalls to mind the noble and becoming grace of its poetic patroness. The third is completely charged with flowers and lace and marabouts, in short, with gewgaws after the manner of the olden time. It almost makes us fancy ourselves with our grandmothers; indeed, little is wanting to complete the illusion but the powder, the patches, and the knowledge of the minuet. The first of these styles is becoming to regular, and, if we may use the term, classic beauties; the second best accommodates the blondes; the last harmonizes remarkably well with fresh and coquettish faces, pliant and delicate waists, and the indescribable something which all recognise as the type of the Parisian lady. Besides these essential conditions, there are secondary ones which

cendency, and will probably maintain it for a season at least. Corsages are always trimmed over the breast. Very many sleeves are slit open on the outside entirely to the elbow, in such manner that the elegant luxuriancy of the undersleeves may appear in all their charming details. Sleeves are made nearly tight at the top, and large at the bottom; en entonnoir (like a funnel). They are considerably shorter than they were worn last summer. Many redingotes are trimmed from top to bottom with simple nœuds of riband. But lace is the grand constituent of the ornamental part of the toilette. It is, as one of the French journals remarks, the fashion in its use and in its abuse, it is placed wherever it ought to be, and often wherever it ought not to be. Light mantelets are more. worn than either pardessus or shawls; they are of all shapes, scarf mantelets, mantelets bonne femme, and shawl mantelets. The part of the stuff or material is extremely small, the deficiency being supplied by the trimming of very broad lace or fringe.

A. B. C.

Two men are thrown in contact with nature. One can find nothing to admire; he is oppressed with a feeling of loneliness; he enjoys not the prattle of the pretty brook that sparkles at his feet; its monotony wearies him, the flowers that adorn its banks have no beauty in his eye, he thinks only of the dampness that makes them flourish; the free breeze fans his cheek, but he would prefer the languid air of the drawing-room; the song of the wild bird has no charms for him, he loves better the rule-bound notes of the opera; a rough hillside affords him nought but annoyance, he wonders why in the name of common sense the earth was not made level and smooth like the pavement of a court-yard. Far different are the feelings of his companion. He delights to listen to the babbling of the stream; he loves the fragrant and beautiful flowers; not only the gentle zephyr, but even the rushing storm-wind gives him pleasure; the blue bird and the robin discourse in sweetest music; he dives with delight into the deepest dingle, and climbs with joyous excitement the roughest path to the highest hill-top.

These men are embodiments, one of the ideal of the landscape gardening of the present day, and the other of that of former times; this all formality, quaintness, and art; that, wild, irregular, and apparently accidental, the beauty of design opposed to that of expression. Both have merit, but both have been carried to injurious extremes. The old, by a system of clipping, shearing, pruning, &c., drove out nature altogether; the new will not alter, even to hide blemishes and remove superfluities. One decks nature in gewgaws and finery till she cannot be recognised, the other exhibits her untutored and naked. Here we have a rough unburnished gem, but of great intrinsic value; there, a diamond worn almost entirely away by the misdirected labours of an unskilful lapidary.

It is hardly more a violation of good taste to lay out grounds with squares and compass, setting trees in long parallel rows, or clumping them in geometric figures, circles, squares, &c., so that,

"Grove nods to grove, each alley has its brother,
And half the landscape just reflects the other,"

the trees left standing in a western "clearing." Art should never be permitted to hide or destroy nature, but it is very useful for pruning and correcting her. We should always remember that though the garden and the pleasure-ground have a higher office than that of serving as mere storing-room for sculpture and architectural designs, yet a wilderness is anything but an agree able dwelling-place.

The figure above is a tolerably correct representation of the old artificial style of gardening, in its least extravagant form, as it prevailed in Italy. It will be seen at a glance that art is the prime mover here. A number of terraces constitute its distinguishing characteristic. The parapet walls which support these, and the balustrades by which they are surmounted, afford convenience for a beautiful display of climbing plants, and thus make some compensation for the loss of the natural surface of the ground which they occasion. Statues, alcoves, summer-houses, and, when a supply of water can be had at a sufficient elevation, fountains are also introduced-all beautiful objects when in their proper places. This style is not now prevalent, though it is still to be seen in some old gardens, and even in this country, terraces are not uncommon in the immediate vicinity of the house. The gardens of Isola Bella, in Lombardy, of which the following is said to be a correct description, are of the extreme of this style. The garden occupies nearly the whole island. It consists of a pyramid, formed of ten terraces rising above each other and terminating in a square platform. The terraces have gravel walks the whole length, they are bordered with flowers and their walls covered with fruit trees. Rows of orange and citron trees shade their walks, and gigantic statues, which, when near, appear grotesque, crowd the corners and front of the palace. The parterres are watered by fountains that rise in different parts of the edifice, and fall in sheets from marble vases. The area of the pyramid covers a space of four hundred feet square; the platform on its summit is fifty feet square, and its whole elevation about one hundred and fifty feet. The terraces are supported by arcades, which form so many grand galleries or green houses, where the more tender plants and flowers are ranged during winter.