The Nevada journal., 1853-09-30
Notices Of New Books,

PUrNAM's MONTHLY is q magazine de-
voted to literature, science and art. The
August number before US is well-hlled with
interesting matter. The opening article
Our Crystal Palace" contains fine par
allel between Westminster Abbey, and the
English crystal palace, the prototype of
the American. The Abbey black with the
stains of time, its pavements worn with
many footballs, the dust Of ages covering
its heavy walls, rising like huge spectre
of former day, sullen and gloomy with
the remembrance of glories passed away,
containing within, the tombs of poets,
warriors and statesmen, the banners of a
perished nobility, once the pride Of Eng
land, has seen the vast, innumerable chan
ges of English civilization, its battles, its
success, its agonies, its intrigues, its tolls,
its splendors, its woes, and now, of all the
busy workers of those scenes only the mar
bic effigies, or the dust of their coffins re-
mains. The Abbey with its contents, the
writer contrasts with the palace few min
utes walk distant, rising like an exhala-
ton, light, graceful, transparent. It looked
not at first as Of the earth, earthy-but as
Of air etherial-only separated from it by
the thinest film OF materiality ,and yet on
closer view it was found substantial vast
and endurable The firm iron pillars,
compact riveted joints, supporting immeas-
able facades of glass, were the marriage of
power with beauty. The structure seemed
the work of at once fairies and giants, as
delicate as the web Of the spider yet mass
i've as the cave where the Cyclops forged
the bolts of Zeus. The crystal palace is
the only original piece of architecture of
modern times-new in its materials and
mode of construction. The parallel with
the Abbey is not complete without refer
ence to the uses of the palace. 1t embra-
ces the apotheosis of labor-tbe inaugura-
ton of art. 1t exhibits the treasures of civ
ilization, and throws halo Of glory over
the whole The writer concludes with a
minute and interesting account of the crys-
tai palace and its arrangements In New
York. Putnam also containing an article
on the "Curiosities of Puritan Literature, "
" Russian Despotism," "Keeping School
in Texas" Virginia, its past and present"
and other admirable matter.
HARPER's for September is well-hlled
and illustrated. 1t opens with an illustra-
ted sketch of Washington, his residence,
&c. A sprightly writer furnishes sketch
of"a cruise after and among theCannibals.' .
With its usual eclective skill Harper has
seized upon and illustrated " scenes in the
life of Louis sixteenth" Napoleon's life
is brought to his march upon Vienna, to
to destroy the 7th coalition. The Bleak
House is still continued with sustained
interest. The interstices are filled in with
light literature, poetry, &c.
GRAHAM has varied little in the last two
years. The present number has its usual
number of tales, poetry, illustrations, &C..
but with little of the force Of Putnam, OIL
Harper.
From PoTTER's Miners Bookstore.
L1rrELLs LIVING AGE, Nos Is, 10, 20
2l. This valuable miscellany, we learn,with
pleasure from Mr. Potter, he will hereafter
regularly receive. 1t is work of many
years standing, having reached before it;
present new series, to 462 numbers. 1t Is
eclective in its character, embracing selec-
tions from the current apd standard Eng
lish, European and American works. L
is in fact liuing age. 1t is made up o.
the elaborate and stately essays OF the
Scotch and London reviews, and Black
woods keen, though colored, political com
mentaries, its interesting tales, and vivid
descriptions, and of the whole range Of
works that mark the present era of litera-
ture as the most useful and comprehensive
the world has ever seen Ii the volumns