Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-10-12
NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. LITERATURE, AND
THE FINE ARTS IN NEW YORK.


The death Of LOUIS PHrrrrE rendered much more
interesting and striking from the fact Of its happening in the
solitude and exile of Cremont instead of the hereditary
plendos of the Tueres revves great many "reminiscences
anecdotes and traits connected with his life of strange
STUDIES, and his snguary compounded character After ALL
his preemnent shrewdness and tact qualities which rise in
the scale Of general estimation according TO the field upon
which they exercised the conspicuous Of
racteslics These he reduced to SYSTEM equally
mand in the greatest political emergencies and in the routine
of daily Court life and in his Of them he
fault An instance Of that species Of quiet for which he
remarkable, exhibiting on small scale
the profounder elements Of sagaiy and fare which
eIemped in the Montpenser marriage or the conquest
Of Agie and worth recording along with notable SOU
venrs of the sagacous old monarch as an Indication Of his
ready tactics in the smallest affairs
Mr. Healy the portrait painter on leaving America for
Paris with number Of portraits of our more Distinguished
statesmen painted at the request Of Louis Philippe for the
Galleries at Versailles, requested by brother artist to
take out with him production Of his pencil executed in the
most elaborate sye and intended present for the King
the French and which the artist intended should be
introduced to the notice Of his Majesty along with Heay
portraits The latter in something Of quandary. He
had eye to the popees Of the relative positions Of Louis
Philippe and himso and at the time did wish 70
be regarded monopozer Of the royal favor stand in
the OF one Of his profession. Accordingly the pre-
sentation picture packed with the Others when the
painter admitted to audience, hung with the
for the inspection of the King Heay remarking that
tribute of respect from an American artist &C. &c.
Knowing very well that Kings receive presents GRATIS
but must Of course make regal returns and knowing
over that Louis Philippe the very last incur an
unnecessary obligation, spend except er necessae
the painter puzzled to conjecture how the King
would escape the nctonof the present than he had been
even with regard to his duty in incing it, The dem-
ma all on his sde however the King made reply
amined the portraits and prouse in his praises Of their
style and execution he ordered all the Presidents painted
rather ordered Healy paint them ALL for Versailles and
finished the audience by calling adde-camp and giving
him special instructions how and where hang portraits
that picture" said the King pointing TO the fatal g with
the blandest Of smiles. Mr.. Heay wishes carry away
with him." and saying, without another word, withdrew
with gracious bow a# a li& ANa3
The Memoirs Of the Ex-King, if there memoirs which
constitute the manuscripts he said to have left to his family
under the title Of Conseils anile," will be curous
and interesting and definite announcements in regard
to them are looked for with anxiety.
The latest literary novelty in this city has been of dra
matte character the production of American tragedy
written by ISAAC G. PRAr, Esq, of this city, for Mr.
Buchanan, an actor Of rising reputation. The play is called
PGTUs CGcISsA very hard name, and which conveys
sort of idea, except vague suggestion Of classical dcto
aries and Adamss Latin Antiquities. 1t brought last
evening the Asor Place Opera House, under the direction
of Mr. Max Marezek and proved to be tragedy Of five acts
which the laid in the latter days Of the Roman
Empire and the characters and plot entirely and scrupu
ousy historical The hero Petus Cacinna, is patriot and
Roman though fallen degenerate times, and rebel
against the tyranny Of the Emperor Candius His wife Ar
ria the herone anticipating the gnominous death Of her
husband traitor and determined survive disgrace
stabs herself in his dungeon This and the death Of Peus
himself by his own hand, according TO the old principles Of
Roman vrue the main points of the play. The tragic
fate Of Aria has been immortalzed in Of the epigms Of
Martial act of heroism and of love stronger than
DEATH As this fine epgram is emphatcaly in play just
NOW, and has yet been revived in connexon with Mr.
Pray's drama, will venture upon a psraphrase
ARRrA PGrUs, FROM THE LATIN OF MARITAL.
When the chase Ania from her vtss drew,
And to her Petus gave the reeking knife,
"Trust me-" she cried, " the pains feel are few,
only weep the wound that takes thy life."
The heroes and heoines of ancient Rome are however
poor material for American tragedy. Smooth poetry, striking
ableaux and effective acting, may carry eff play like this
with ecat for few nights, but it really seems like
waste Of time and talent to bestow them upon the musty
themes Of old Laiinty.
= 1he heccIH ITOSreSS 81 astronomy, eSpcctGHy IN the
United States, is the title Of work of great interest," from
the pen of Professor Loos of the University this city,
just published by HARPER & BRorHERs. It is one of those
popular scientific treatses which Of late years becoming
than formerly, and which form the best
Of communicating to the world the results and prospects
Of natural science The public in general that part Of
it which best informed knows but little of the movements
and progress of astronomical enterprise within the last few
years. Astronomy itself has always been popular study
Hardly who acquired any thing in the shape Of
nformaton has failed at period Of his life to devote
himself with less assduity discoveries of consea
tons and brght particular stars, other than the Dppe
Chat uurper of the honors due the Great Bear which
it is only small party and the North Star. Usually, in the
experience of every there has been period of enhus
asm for celestial globes telescopes and midnight observations
period when all the pursuits of terrestrial science have
ed tame and dull compared with those which embrace the
marvels of the heavenly systems Whether permanent or,
in most cases. only TRANSIENT this interest in astronomy
prepares thepopular mind for practical woske the present
volume Of Professor Looms which designed exhibit in
familiar form the important discoveries Of the last
years Amongst the most striking of these is the discovery
Of the planet Neptune the particulars of which, given
Professor Loomis parake of the exciting character of the
marvels Of necromancy asroogy. II appears that the
planet Uranus discovered by Hereche in l7sl exhibited
to the researches of astronomers such unaccotabe dev
atoms and Irregularities in its movements testing them by
the asceraned laws Of the planetary system, compel
the belief that be controlled by the force other
undiscovered body, probably planet The discovery Of this