The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-16
LITERARY NOTICES


2 Cupid and the Wasp;
5. Rambles over the Realms of Verbs and
Substantives
4. Israel Potter;
5. Count Stedink;
6. Plurality of Worlds
I. American Wines
g. Story of an Opera Singer;
9. Casas de Espana
TO- American Despotisms
IL. Bathing and Bodies;
y. Vespers;
b. The Three Garments;
a. Causes and Consequences of the Russian
War;
10. At Last;
l6. Voluntary Placeberrics;
II. Editorial Notices
The Richmond (Va.) Enquirer thus speaks of
this Independent, Outspoken monthly:
Mr.. G.. p. Putnam is industriously writing
down his Magazine at the South. In the last
number, he characterizes Slavery in these
words From its very nature it is a despotism
OF force, of law, and of opinion, combined--par-
tally mitigated in practice by humane personal
considerations, but in theory absolute. 1t is
administered, for the most part, by the whip (;
1t Is sanctioned by legislation and it admits of
no scrutiny or discussion. All that can be said
of it, in the regions where it prevails, even by
those most deeply interested in its results, must
be said in its favor, on pain of peremptory ban
lshment or assassination If all Northern pc
riodicals would speak in this spirit, there would
be some hope of a Southern literature. We are
glad TO learn from the booksellers here, that
Putnam is rapidly vanishing from the market
The void should be supplied by the Southern
quarterly Reciew, the ablest periodical in the
country"
What pertinent illustration of the despo-
tism of Slavery is furnished in this very para
graph Putnams Monthly presents a varied
table Of contents. Its literature is credit TO
the country. 1t is not a repository of tales for
young misses, and fashion plates, but a vehicle
of live thoughts, on live subjects, for thinking
men and women. Accordingly it discusses, with
manly frankness, political questions uppermost
in the thoughts of the People, and this it does
without being arraigned and prescribed by
those who may differ from its views-in every
case, but one Let it avow sentiments unfriend-
y to Slavery, and that intolerant interest, which
has usurped the reins of Government, and
aspires to tyrannize over Public Opinion, pro-
scribes, and would Danish it from at least one
half of our country. Many months ago. it con-
tanned a severe article on the President and his
policy, which provoked retort from Administra-
ton journals, but we do not think the faith
full were called upon to q stop it." But sim
gle article on Parties, dealing plainly with Sla-
very, and rejecting the real sentiment of the
North on the subject, appears, and 10! the
Magazine is no longer fit to be read-banish it
from the South, and punish the man who thus
abuses the freedom of an American citizen!
Question whatever else you please-denounce
free trade, or protection, land monopoly or land
reform-arraign and dscredit modern civiliZa
ton itself-but breathe not word against Sla
very. On this point we tolerate no dissent, no
difference of opinion, no freedom of speech.
Think and speak as We do, or be silent On
this condition alone can you have our federation
and patronage. The literature of the world
may be against US, but we have a Southern
Literature, baptized in the spirit and for the
defence of Slavery. Down, then, with Putnam,
and up with 81 the Southern Quarterly,' "the
abest periodical in the country!"
APRAJA or, Life and Manners in Norway From the
German OF Theodore Mugge BY Edward Joy Morris
Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakston. For sale by Tav-
Tor * Maury. Washington, D. C.
A young Danish nobleman, named Mar
strand, gallant, generous, honorable, intelli-
gent, but inexperienced, reduced in fortune,
but disdaining the life of parasite, obtains
from the King grant of so much wild land
unoccupied, on the rigorous coast of Norway,
as he may choose to appropriate Visiting the
region to which he is selfexiled he falls in
with Helgestad, famous old fish trader rich,
greedy, hard, and crafty. The royal charter
stimulates his avarice. He entertains the
young man at his house, becomes his counsel
Tor and guide, selects his land, advances him
large sums of money, reserving to himself the
right to reclaim them at any moment-thus OBJ
tanning the absolute control of the unwary ad-
venturer
Meantime, to consummate his purposes, he
associates with himself Paulsen, the unscrupu-
lous rOigt of Tromsoe, and his secretary and
nephew, Paul Petersen, the very impersona-
ton of craft, greed, and malignity. Petersen is
to be the heir and successor of the roiqht, and
the arrangement is, that he shall marry Ida,
the daughter of Helgestad, maiden endowed
with rare attributes of heart and mind, har.
monized and chastened by a controlling reli-
gious sentiment, but trained, after the customs
of the country to habits of absolute submis
sion to parental authority. The young stran-
ger, so superior in all respects to the coarse
beings by whom she is surrounded, moves her
to love but, obeying stern sense Of duty, she