The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-01
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CURRENT LITERATURE.

STANLEY, OR HE RECoLLEe'TloNs OF MAN OF THE
WORLD. 2vols. l2mo. Philadelphia Lea & Blanch-
ard. For sale at Taylors.
new novel by an anonymous American writer;
unique at least, will venture say, in the
logue of American novels. 1t purports 10 be written
by gentleman, who enjoys the tranquility of "senes
cence." From the bosom Of retirement" he says,
in the introduction, with mind yet clear and a
memory retentive beyond the common, while age
has shed around me its Stiffness but not its sluggish
ness, and ere the Of preparing Tor greater
Journey 10 be undertaken, have driven from my
thoughts the remembrance of the lesser one have
completed, take up my pen to trace the record of
some of the scenes that have Witnessed and some
OF the acts that have done"
| We have perused several chapters with much in
terest and instruction There seems to be much
calm philosophy in it; but apparently production
of great study and labor perhaps occasionally over
strained There is great deal of literary and phi
osophical criticism in it, generally should think
of very wholesome and Conservative character
Indeed it strikes US as being of an elevated tone
rich in thought, graphic, and many imese eloquent
and powerful in description, and containing many
beautiful and original illustrations drawn from the
treasured stores of mind, well tempered if moi pro-
| foundly cultivated. The author whoever he u.s.
must be man Of extensive requirement experience
and study, and may rival the elaborate of "lhe
Doctor We never saw an American novel, that
struck us SO favorably AT the opening We have
been delighted, as far as we have gone and predict
a sensation and sale. Meanwhile we make few
quotations.
| FRIENDSHIP
~ would not contradict either the many wise
saws, or the few modern instances which may be
found recorded in praise of this sacred tie; but the
| ordinary attachments OF young men, which pass, in
these days, under that honored name are the sources
| Of more mischief than dozen enmites The best
that one can expect of friend, in these degenerate
times, is that he will be person who will ones
| time, rutfle ones temper beray ones secrets and
assist in spending ones money.
Alter all, TO all men and at all times, the best
friend is virtue, and the best com panons are high
endeavoEs and honorable sentiments"
MORNING.
Gray, always happy in epithets never applied
one more expressive or appropriate than when he
called the morning DEMONSTRATING.
" As light which contains all colors is colorlesS,
and as the perfection and completeness Of sound,
according TO Pythagoras is silence, so the primary,
single and undefective perfume, is the inodorous
breath OF day"
"The infinite little distractions of quiet employ
ment the hourly greetings in the street, the momen-
tary expectation OF an incident the sowing oftoday
for the reaping OF tomorrow, the constant of
an eXtcFnal feallon all form, as II were, luteRe
music to the heart of the dweer in the highway of
life, which charms the passions 10 Sleep and harno-
niZes the opposing nnities Of the soul into he
that lies between and man envelopng within him
capacities for good that might dwarf angel, and
energies of evil that might sare demon, goes
through the world a harmless, worthless being as
little conscious of what lies within him the hr-
suite rind of the oyster knows of the jewel that it
houses"
This sketch is graphical sublmity:
at is a glad and glorous pasme 10 the spirit to
look upon this type and token of Almighty power
TO wrestle with the living thoughts which dwell like
things amid the stir and strife of these eternal waters
TO encounter the strong breathlessness of awe which
is dashed upon the soul as we inbale at glance the
vaSness OF the Upon the face Of the deep The
spirit of eternity still is broodng: pause be-
fore this wide unbarrered space, and our naked
mind stands bold against the unveiled, eternal uni
verse, silent thought of homage swes through the
endless space; and that thought is God. The ocean
is the material image of The Almighty: what attr-
butte OF Deity is not here substantiall Power, Of an
infinite inness beauty, OF that particular per-
Willingness OF essence that rain and tempest and the
bcaks OF winds evolve and not eface il life, alb
strac and indcsructible that wearies and that
never wastes-whose d Us know not repose, and up
on whose bosom the cloud OF nightly slumber never
weighs If the dancing water brook should cease 10
chant his praises who inspired its gladnes>,-or if
the iniuriate stormblast as il crashes through the
forest should burst through its bands, and disown
ITS Maker;-i men should ever gaze upon the west
ern sun, and forget whose countenances its bright
ness mirrors or rest upon the mountain turf nor own
from whose omuipotence the strength ofthe hills has
sprung If the knowledge OF the Infinite One shall
ever pass away from the earth the Of the
will thunder II back. Il was the sublime intention
Of Nicholas Ferrar that a perpetual liant or solemn
service OF music should be established at Little Gid
ding, 10 be sustained by generation aiier generation,
and continued TO The end OF time without The inter-
rupton Of a moment He wished that, whatever
might b. the condition Of men or the character Of the
times, the voice OF praise might ever BIZ ascending;
that il should rise amid the roar Of contest like a
smiling lotus through tangled ruin, and be the
blended harmony Of all the thoughts of peace that