New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE MEMOIR AND WRITINGS or JAMES HAN
Nichols Sold BY sFrsncis ( Co.
The sudden decease of the subject Of this me-
NOR, which took place about year since, in the
city Of Cincinnati, his adopted residence was re-
ceved with a universal expression of grief, such
as is rarely called forth by the loss Of an individual
from numerous and active population. II any
knew him" says one of the leading journals OF
that city, Except TO love him, or named him
except to praise, they are of those who are them
selves unknown and unloved. To all, therefore,
the announcement of his untimely death came
with a shock, and to every heart brought most
poignant sorrow. 1t is not transcending the truth
to say, that not Of the hundred thousand souls
comprising our population could have been taken
away, who would have been so generally missed
or so deeply mourned." The strong impression
thus made by Mr.. Perkins on large circle OF so
ciety, was the result of certain rare elements of
character, harmonized in = peculiarly fecitous
combination. In spite Of the singular modesty
and reserve of his bearing, be was always recog-
nized at once as q marked man. The stranger
who met him in a casual interview could not fail
to recognize the presence Of vigorous and origi-
nal individuality, which both stimulated his Curl
osity and awakened his reverence. In the more
intimate relations of life in the bosom of the do
mestic circle, and in the confding sphere Of
friendship, he was regarded with an admiration
and love, we may even say an enthusiastic hom-
age, which nothing but the genuine nobleness and
purity of his nature could redeem from the charge
of afectionate extravaganza. brief sketch OF
his biography, with an impartial estimate Of his
character and genius, is grateful tribute. on our
part to his memory, and will make known to our
readers a beautiful specimen of manly loneliness
and worth.
BIOGRAPHY or MR.. PERKINS.
JAMES HANDAsYD PERKINS was born in Bos-
ton, July 81, 1910. His childhood andiearly youth
were passed in scenes favorable to free mental
development. Left, in great degree, to his own
exuberaDt impulses at several country schools
he soon found himself at home amid the wild
freedom and joyousness Of nature. While a
member of the celebrated Round Hill School, at
Northampton, Mass, although he secured the ap-
proval of his teachers by his devotion to study
bis intercourse with his companions was marked
by an almost Indian-like love of independence.
BE was never playful or mirthful boy, except
with his especial cronies, whom he was wont to
divert with all sorts of freakish incidents, pithy
anecdotes and fanciful inventions, often bordering
on most Munehausen.like exaggerations. The
contagiousness of his fan was increased by the
gravity of bis expressive face, which, with the
chiseled chin, frm-set lips, high thin nose, and
black eyes glancing under straight brows, gave
an irresistible effect to his half comic, half serious
narratives But more frequently, while others
were engaged in their sports he sought his recre'
alton in solitary walks generally in the beautiful
surrounding forests, collecting flowers and mine
rails Heloved to start off upon pedestrian tour
in the midst of hard storm, or at its close with
the snow up to bis knees; and at such times,
when others were covering over the fire, it was
his favorite pastime to take tramp of several
miles over the fields and through the woods His
desire for q rowing, adventurous life amounted to
a passion. The thought of the wilderness, and
the genial activity of the hunter and backwoods.
man always excited his Imagination. The rest.
less energy Of his temperament sought vent in
continued muscular exertion, and his poetic enthu
siasm was gratifed by the exquisite beauty that
hung arouug Mount Holyoke and Mount Tom, or
overspreed the wooded hills and grassy meade VS.
of the Connecticut
Still the zest Of out door life did not interfere
with the Indulgence of his passionate fondness
for reading, which was among the tastes that
strongly marked the progress of his boyhood. In
the frank and delightful companionship, which he
cherished from the earliest years with the congo
NAL relative, who was his bosom.friend for life,
l. 1 -. -.
communed with Robinson CruSoe en- his lone
island, sailed with snbad on his perous voyages,
wandered with Guliver as Lilliputians aud Brob.
dienags, glowed with heroic ardOr Mentor
coursged Telemachus, followed Christian and
Christiana through the perils and pains Of their
pilgrimage, or enjoyed more home-ke pleasures
while they read aloud Sanford and Merton, the
ChdreR of the Abbey, Evenings at Home, the
Parents Assistant, Popular Tales, and Berquins
Chidrens Friend, and together peopled the
world of fancy with Olympic Deities, Geni and
Fairies built airy castles for their future lives,
looked abroad over the wide prsiries of romance
end exchanged in unstinted measure a boys full
life OF hope and enterprise" At a subsequent
period, when the winter nights came on with
out exhsusting the crystal store. house OF the
clouds, and rays from fire and candle flashed out
in 1sme.like splendor on the scud, and icicles
hung thick and long from half blocked up
windows, they made the walls resound with
Campbelrs Ode to Winter, read aloud apt pas
ssees from Thomson's Seasons, Cowpers Task,
or Hogs Glen Alvin" The earlier English poets
and ancient bards in TRANSACTIONS, though not
passed over in their rambes among I" fresh fields
and pastures new" held but secondary place in
their regard. Thomson, Goldsmith, Cowper,
came nearer home. Scott was read again and
again, and rected with boyish enthusiasm. Camp
bell was q familiar household minstrel, while
Soutbey threw around them the spell of his fluent