The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-09
Eiterarp NOtiffs.
"SourHEv's CoMmos-PLAoE Book, edited by
his son-in-law, John Wood Warter, B. D., Part |.
New York. Harner and BROTHERS,

literary man must necessarily be devoid of that
stirring interest which faithful memoir Of the
man of active pursuits and ample worldly expert
ence may be expected to possess. But the infer
ence is faacious. Boswell has shown us what an
amount Of vitality the merest tribes in an authors
ordinary life may receive from truthful presenta-
ton; and how his commonest conversation may
engage U.S. when the personal peculiarities and the
relations of time, place, and company, that accom-
panied its utterance preserved mans acts
and adventures are interesting chiefly they illus
trate his character and mental history. We should
little for the hair-breadth escapes and expo
sures of an automaton. A mere barren journal of
incidents, let them be so surprising, lays no
strong hold upon our sympathies attention. II is
the relation of the human soul towards the mate
rial circumstance, let that circumstance be small or
momentous, that arrests concern 1t is by faith
in this principle, that the author of that admirable
scientific romance, " Picciola," has succeeded in
producing one of the most enduring literary works
Of the age. The processes in the growth of sim
Pile flower are the main incidents of his story, but
from the developments in the state of mind of the
hero who watches those processes, material is
drawn for narrative of more vital and engaging
power than if the plot had been laid among the tn
mults and intrigues of revolution
Southey's career was eminenty one almost ex-
clusiveIy literary He himself has said, with af-
fectionate reference to his library
"My days among the dead are passed;
Around me behold,
Where'er these casual eyes are cast,
The mighty minds Of DID,
My never-failing friends are they,
With whom converse day by day."
A complete biography of Southey would pos
sess, nevertheless, charm which we could not
find in narrative of the adventures of Capt John
Smith. Few authors have ever borne themselves
so heroicay as Southey throughout their lives of
intellectual effort. What profound moral, too,
in the close of his career How full Of instruction
and warning to those who would task the fac
ulties Of the brain at the expense Of functions
which may not be abused or neglected with impu-
nifty Look at Southey in his noble library, "brim-
full of literature" he was, and penning those
lines, sanza of which we have quoted above, and
then him as represented by Cottle in that same
library, hopelessly insane, taking down a book,
Qrom mechanical habit) turning over the pages,
without reading or the power Of reading!" The
spectacle of Marius amid the ruins of Carthage
cannot compare in sublime pathos with such
sight
As an avant-courier TO the promised Life Of
Southey by Mr.. Warter, we welcome the present
work. 1t exhibits the bent of Southey's studies,
and the extent and variety of the intellectual vigor
the fresh field and pastures new" through which
he strayed. There are few readers who will not
find in it much that they never met with before,
and the possession of which, even in this fragment
airy form, will be priced. We subjoin few ex-
tracts, the first two of which are not without
their applicability to own times and country:
"a foe who msquotes you," says Horace Wal
pole, Sought to be welcome antagonist. He is
30 humble to confess when he ccnsures what
you have not said, that he cannot confute what you
have said and he 80 kind as to furnish you with
an opportunity of proving him liar, as you may
refer to your book to detect him"
Nothing" says DR.. johnson, shut experience
could evince the frequency Of false information, or
enable any man TO conceive that so many ground
less reports should be propagated as every man of
emlnence may hear of himself. Some men relate
what they think as what they know some men Of
confused memories and habtual inaccuracy ascribe
to one man what belongs to another; and some talk
on without thought or care. few men are suffi-
Gent 10 breach falsehoods, which are afterwards
innocently diffused by successive relaters.'
"God has placed upon the earth,n says Saint
Pierre, ''two gates which lead to heaven. He has
placed them at the two extremtes Of lfe one at the
entrance, and the other at the point of exit The
first is that Of innocence the last is that of repent
ance."
alt peases Heaven, "says Serne, ito give us no
more light in our way than will leave virtue in
possession of its recompense. Grant me- gracious
God TO go cheerfuly on the road which Thou
hast marked out. | wish it neither more wide nor
more smooth-contInue the light of this dim taper
Thou hast put into my hands j will kneel
upon the ground seven times day TO seek the best
track can with it-and having done that, will
trust myself and the issue Of my journey to Thee,
who art the fountain Of joy-and will sing songs
Of comfort as go along"
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of July is peculiarly rich
number. IL is embellished with a portrait of its
very popular editor, engraved by Cheney, after
picture by Elliot, The editor appears to have
thrown double quantity of spirit into his monthly
gossip, which sparkes with pleasant stories charm
ingly told. The present number commences the
oath volume
LIrTELL's LIVING Ace has reached the 269th num-
Der. II contains well written and pleasantly con-
ceived article, entitled "A Word to the Yankees -
by M. F. Upper, author of Proverbial Philosophy
A young man named Trudeau, of New Orleans,
has recently exhibited an imitation of Garbelle's
charge Of Herr, which attracts much attention from
connoisseurs. Entirely untutored, young Trudeau
needs only master to entitle him to high posi-
ton artist. He will, it is said, soon exhibit
bust of distinguished citizen of Louisiana,
which promises yet more than the charge.
The Victoria Advocate of the 9Th instant states,
that few days previous party of between twenty
al. IL. ~