Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-08
ALEXANDRIA,:
MONDAY MORNING, SEPT. 8, 1884
LITERARY NOTICES.

of several works shortly to be pupllsheo.
"Among the American works shortly forthco-
ming or in a forward state OF preparation, are
several in the hands Of Carey g. Lea, winch we
are quite impatient to obtain. First OF these
may be noted volume, or volumes, from the
Rev. Charles S. Stewart, Chaplain of the Unit
ed States Navy, giving the result of his obserVa-
tons during a visit to England, in 1925 Mr..
Stewart is one of the best descriptive writers in
our language-as well of men and manners, as
Of natural scenery. Miss Fanny kemble's (now
Mrs. Butler's) work, upon our country and Its
manners, is in forwardness and will be publish
ed in the course of the autumn The author OF
" Swallow Barn." who can place himself at the
head of American novelists if he chooses to do
so. has another work in hand, which Carey d
Co. will soon publish; and Miss Leslie is prepar-
inc another volume Of her agreeable Pencil
Sketchesn The author of Jeremy Lewis" has
written new book-free, as we are assured;
and as we hope, from the blemlshes and lmmo-
ralites of the former. Professor Dunglison's
new work on Hygiene, will also shortly appear
and friend who has seen it, writes that Z" as it
is calculated for all such nervous people as your.
SELF it is to be hoped that much good may be
done by it." Now, we should like to know whe-
Their DR.. Dungson has ever had the dyspepsia, or
whether he was not born before nerves came in
fashion? If aye--he is not competent to write
upon the subject. The same publishers have
likewise in preparation the notes Of German
Traveller upon things in general in the United
States. The writer, as we learn, must be a cou-
sin German to Prince Puckler Muskau-or per-
hans the rcdoubtable Pickle and Mustard him
self-who knows? DR.. Bird, the able and po-
pular dramatis has likewise new novel in the
hands of Carey, which may be looked for soon.
II is entitled Calavar, and the scene is laid in
Mexico, at the time Of the conquest. Thus it
will be seen that the trade Of authorship is hriv
ing amongst us Notwithstanding the distress
and difficulties of the times"
BEcKroRD's New WoRK-The extraordinary
being who built Fonthill Abbey, and lived in Its
glorious apartments, surrounded by all the ele-
gancies and luXurles of monarch, who had the
taste not only of prince, but OF an artist and
an author, has at length been induced to pub
lish his gorgeous descriptions OF Italy, Spain
and Portugal, as they existed under the old re-
gimes before Bonaparte overran and conquer
ed those countries, and more surprising lite
rary effort it has not fallen to our lot to read of
this many day. Lord Byron, who designated
Becklord as " Englands wealthest son." has
described the palace of Cintra in Portugal,
where our author first began to exhibit his tastes
for luxury and the fine arts, by collecting round
him all the elegancies and expensive toys which
money could purchase.
Here Beckford enjoyed the society Of the
royal family, and the highest digntaries Of the
church. and hired the best musicians of the
continent to minister to his pleasures. In his
book he has given an account OF this residence
as well as curious anecdotes Of the royal fami-
lies ofboth Spain and Portugal. This work which
has lain unpublished for fly gears, is now given
to the world to vindcate the authors claim to
certain original ideas which Lord Byron, Moore
and Rogers, who had read it in the confidence
Of friendship, had hlched and turned into poe
try The work has excited OF course, a very
great sensation in England, and from the cX.
tracts furnished by the July number Of the Lon
don Quarterly Review, we We're led to expect
the highest qualification from the contents; We
need scarcely say that having been favored
with the proofs as they came from the American
press we have derived that species of pleasure
from the perusa which attends the reading of
the works of the master minds OF romance, but
here all is reality-gorgeous splendid, nervous
poetry dressed IN the garb of prose. Well may
the Quarterly Review remark, that they "risk
nothing in predicting that Mr.. Beckford's Ira
wells will henceforth be classed among the most
elegant productions Of modern literature;" the
reviewer adds "they will he forthwith transla
ted into every language Of the continent, and
will keep his name alive centuries after all the
brass and marble he ever piled together"
A HrsToRY OF THE CHURCH, FROM THE EARL
EST AGES TO THE GEOGRAPHICALLY the Rev.
George Washington, NJ. A. Fellow Of Trinity
College, Cambridge. / VOL New York: Har-
per & Brothers. We have here, by Protest
ant Episcopal clergyman, history that strikes .
us, from the perlsaI of mary Of its chapters, as
eloquent, learned, and Notwithstanding .
can be attained by any one who has strong and .
honest convictions, that amid contending sects
his own is clearly right.
The history of the Church is. in some sense
the history Of the errors and wanderngs, Of the |
vices and virtues, of our common nature. II is, |
therefore, of more universal interest than any |
mere profane history. 1t is, too, addressed to
our eternal as well as temporal interests. We
think that Mr.. Washington has impaired to
this volume, large as it is-for it contains near
Iv 600 DID, Of double coumns-such degree of