The Arkansas advocate., 1831-08-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
IVES TERN LITERATURE


 1t is rather remarkable that tic best monthly Magazine now published in the United States-we do not make any ill., Yldlous omparlson-should come as . the voice of one crying in the wilder hess; but suehin our opinion, is the fact. Judge Halls Illinois Magazine, coming from the midst of almost traekless prai- ries, published in the borders of forests where there are single trees whose trn nks are nearly orqaite large enough for the printing office, may certainly look with critical if not a contemptuous sheer, upon it's literary competitors in the Atlantic cities. This, however. we believe is not the disposition of the accomplished editor, and if it were, pro- bablY he has "other fish to fry.' for scrihbiers and scholars are not more plenty in tine fog towns of that country. fhan the oysters which furnished the fig sre in the article below.
 Previous to giving Judge Halls no. tions of periodicals, we shall take the liberty to olfera paragraph from the let ter of friend who has settled ill four ishing place west of the mountains, and who, although not a very aged man. yet may perhaps be considered one of the fathers of the country in which lie has locotcd himself, as the phrase Is, anu therefore qualified to pronounce oracu- larly upon the matter he has taken in hand. He did not write for publication, but what ne writes is worth reading. and therefore being safe from his wrath, we appropriate his matter to the service of the public here, and leave him to settle the account which we fear this wifi open between him aud . portion otf tie p5.s,- lie where he resides. He says"A word CT two for expiring iiterature:- is dis tinguished by thirst for useless infor- nation; hy thirst which, if not check ed in due time, will prove more fatally Injurious to true literary taste and prac- tical knowledge, than deep and frequent draughts to the incorporate. /. iitera- y intoxication it may, indeed. be called when flimsy, poetical trash, and bad tales told in bad language, are preferred to the sterling bullion of the British line.' Thirty years sgo-alas! mer read Shakespeare, and BoIingbroke and Burke, crest and bless their memories! as BailIie Jarvie says History, philo, sophy and the Muses are now looked upon with disgust n consequence of the too frequent indul gence ia intellectual sensualiiies."
 Periodicals.-The Last mails brcught me new assortmes1t of Reviews anc Magazines. Some Of these arc old ac auaiiitances, ,and SO ne are strangers new ly arisen in the Ia md; few are clever and many appear to be destined to ; brief existene ,e. All, however, art equally walco 7me-some for their merit some fornove Ity,some for auld lang syne Hove perio iicals, for the same reasoi that like rsters, because they palata ble, aad eas ' of digestion. They ma, not satisfy he cravings of the studen whohuneer. ;and thirsts after knowledge and prowl es through libraries like gaunt wolf seeking whom he may de vour. The , philosopher may set then down as na nght, because they are no apt to conta in any thing very abtruse, 0 unintellieibl e. But for one who, lilS myself. is b lessed with very moderat propensities, never indifferent, yet neye