The native American., 1838-12-01
THE PERIODICALS OF THE PRESS.


more of the useful in their pages, than Magazines
and Reviews. The information they condense
improves the polite scholar by enlarging his ideas,
or widening the range of his studies-while to
those engrossed by the busy occupations of life,
they are invaluable as short cut to that know
ledge which other opportunities seldom offer for
obtaining. Indeed Magazines and Reviews may
aptly be termed the ''royal road to learning"
Every age, it is said, employs the means of
instruction adapted to its stage of improvement
Greece, in her palmy days of greatness, had her
schools, her portico, and gardens, whence the
voice Of philosophy at times was heard to issue
forth in the sublime eloquence of a Plato-or to
instruct in the severe moral Of Zeno-while,
anon, borrowing the state of the Graces, she
laid open the mysteries Of science and the beau
ties of art, and in the benign accents of the
Gragettan sage, taught man to seek happiness IN
exertion, and to enjoy pleasure through the vir-
tues of moderation. Such were the lessons which,
with the influence of bright example, inspired
much that was noble and useful-and while
''passing away has been the motto of all things,
these have remained as if to impress upon us
the secret of that happy alchymy Of mind,
which can convert even the dross of life into
metal Of the purest kind. But this is not an age
Of poetry-the beautiful simplicity Of the Athe-
mans doctrine can scarcely be relshed by the
restless, en- auant spirit, which distinguishes the
moderns; they prefer infinitely the advice of the
prophet, to 'try all things" though their mobile
character will not allow them always to hold fast
to that which is best.
1t was, however, for worthier aim than that
Of catering for the appetite Of variety, that
Magazines and Reviews were first established; it
was for the higher and moral purpose of real
izing in the intellectual sphere the usefulness of
Swift's Husbandman in ''making two blades of
grass grow, where only one grew before" The
world owes debt of gratitude to that great
pioneer in literature, the Edinburgh Review,
which, by first clearing the path, excited host
of competitors to follow. In our own hems-
phere none have accomplished this with more
success than the North American and Quarterly
Reviews: the high character Of these works scarce
needs the feeble testimony of our pen to their
merits-but the improvement we have CLEANED,
and the stores of knowledge they have unlocked
to our mind, make the expression of this tribute
la matter of personal qualification to ourselves
The critque on Italian literature, in preceding
number of the North American Review, is alone
la gem "worthy of the best writers;" not in the
ironical sense in which Voltaire wrote the COM
pliment, but in the true feeling that any might be
proud to claim; piece SO rich in beautiful
thoughts, and abounding with such choice selec-
tions from the writings Of modern Italy, that it
might be called tiara of mental brilliants fit to
adorn the brows even of the great Aristarchus.
This is only one of many examples that might be
adduced to prove the high claims of that periodi-
cal to the patronage it receives-and when such
works follow out their ends and restrict them
selves wholly and imspartiaAy, to the paths of
learning, their reward is always sure and proita-
BILE. There is class, however, of pseudo ma
gaznes, whose authors venally lend themselves
to party politics, and as pensioned scribblers be-
come the tools Of factions, and abuse that power
over the public mind which their opportunities
give them; when the veil is rent and their mer-
cenary motives are exposed, their least punish
ment should be the contumely and neglect of the
credulous, whose willing ears they SO much mis-
| led. ....
The lofty genius of Sir Walter Scott could
not protect one work of his from this mered fate;
if then the prejudice and iberality which obscure
..the life Of Bonaparte" could diminish the lustre
of even his great name, what are they to expect
who do not possess the mantle Of reputation to
"cover their multitude Of faults!'' The writers
who bend truth for party purposes, should re-
member that justice has her punishments as well
as rewards.
| We have been drawn into this DEPRESSION by
the appearance of late publication by Brooks
and Snodgrass of Baltimore, entitled the "Museum
of American Literature and the Arts" We hail
with satisfaction this new competitor in the in
tellectal arena, and from the elevated stand il
seems to take, prophecy successful career II
s clear, at least of the euds Of party, and belongs
entirely to literature. "The Comparison of the
II ,c;ert Monuments Of North and South Ameri-