The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-02 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Sekctwits frosts the Spsclator, Thaw, Guardian, and Irte-
/solar. 2 vols. Meson, 49.
Mrs. Barbauld's charming Preliminary Essay would
alone suffice to give value to this selection. That
periodicult even of the greatest vogue and talent are
henceforth to be only known through selections is
quite evident. Even the light volumes of the " Spec-
tator" already fill too large a apace upon a library
shelf, where room must be economised, as well as the
time of the reader. In the mass, even these classic
works deter, whilst a judicious selection renders them
palateable and useful. Without such a sifting as hes
taken place in these volumes, the young students
of either sex would lose sight even of Addison. It is
to be doubted if already the chief acquaintance with
him is not derived from scrape and extracts published
in colleAions. Now it is not good that such a writer
as Addison should be slighted, or should not be
brought home, and rendered facile to light and to
youthful study.
We have abundance of works destined to amuse,
as well as works devoted to instruction, to morals,
and to piety; but these qualities are no longer to be
found united in a cleric mind and a classic style like
that of Addison. The., two email volumes supply a
great want, and a wholesome recreation.

DZATH or DCNCAN, rut AYRICAN TRAVELLJII.—
We have already recorded the death (on Dee. 3) of Mr.
JONI Damao, the Atnoaa traveller. The Liverpool Albion
aye; " Ilr. Dolma was the asset • mall brow is Wig.
itaskire, North Brunie. At as early age he enlisted in the
lit Regieneat or Lifeguards, is whisk he Moved with audit
he 18 yews, and discharged Lineal( with a high Asians,
foe good contact about the you 1840. 1a the voyage to the
Niritr, in 1842, Mr. Drama was • WA arsiourer, sad
daring ten prep, of that ill.ratsd expedition Ise held a
eonspctous pLice za all the treaties made by the contatie.
Gioia rs with the &alive chiefs. lie retuned to England, oa•
of the reanaat at the expedition, with • frightlel wound in
kis leg sad a shattered body, tarn which be keg suffered.
With a return 01 health, however weer, a mewed dears
to enphore Atria, sad, audit the %mph= st the Council
of the Omgraphisal Book% ha seemed ia the summer
of ISM, tee without sobsteatial pooh from mu' of the
mushose of the kunst took fa ha perilous &
rainer* The peitisalari hls is
the %ma
steal his arrival at Dahomey was siskiled to so his
shoodo, sad published in the ' Cleegnighied Modeers Isa
aor or gist poled. !rem I:Ezalte seek relmood to
VW past. Is wing traversed & of essolly hitherto
antraggig be Ewropeea, but dees Malik sad le
el truss euffering tree the oil irsoad Is his kg. Fearful
that micietjasidasi tea 60118M0114, he at one Nam awls pre-
p:Lunen. ape tiagaig al A1..,. limb—a fast 'WM displays
pas rosaderfally two: reselatisa of the sem. AU those
Poolrols woos eadertalseo oa a very demise, husisbed
WO whisk ea his areival at Whydsh, was am oily tots/ly
salads& has ap woo &walled Se plass lima( la 'pawa,'
a he saposesed it, for se name Wash woad take years at
labour se the Melt te liquidate. Teas that disegrseside ,
pukka his Moods of the fkoomoddesi amity sem relieved •
him by as ample saharipeasa, MIA whisk ho Irorood W
Sake a =teen C Gest a: Mobutu ma the
Male of him or maw' le Ms -
oft lately eppoimed vise.ssosel es LAMM= widish
glom be am ea his wag what he AWL Mr. bass
a lON Mwe Mae, Wpm* tinkled kr.