The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-05

writing that has appeared for some tims. The
opening sentence ID characteristic: "He who waits
beside the folded gates Of mystery, over which float
forever the impurpled vspors Of the past" We are
informed, "should stand with girded loins, and
white, unshodden feet" To wash ones fsst d
doubtless . frequent duty, but 1t was not especially
necessary TO the revelation Of all the mystery hat
has existed about this novel. It has been NO secret
for half . century, that It was written by Mrs.
Hannah Foster, wife Of the Rev. John Foster, D. D.,
Of Brighton, Massachusetts,; that the real name Of
the heroine was Elizabeth Whitman, daughter Of Q
clergyman Of Hartford, Connecticut, and that the
devil Of the piece was the celebrated Pierrepopt
Edwards, Q son Of the great metaphysisia7, and
cousin OF Aaron Burr. The editor Of this ne Y edi.
ton gives us little further information Of any i'm
portance on the subject. A portrait is preAxed to
the volume, purporting to be . veritabls likeness Of
Eliza Wharton, though in the historical preface
it is referred to as engraved from an original paint.
ing Of her mother, who WAS born In 1705, while the
veiiest tyro can perceive from its styls that the pic
sure IVES painted since 1880. 1t is perhaps an old an
Lual plate. The editor says al ancestor Of ElizaW mar
ton " removed to, and died In, Hadley, January 80,
l662." Is it meant that he removed and died the
same day? She says, also, that " the Ooquetse took
precedence, in time, Of all American romances;"
but i" The Fosesters," by DR.. Bslkuap, "Ths Alge-
rhe Captive" by Royal Tyler, "Cdarlotte Temple"
by Mrs. R0wson, and half O. dozen others, had been
previously published. The greater part Of the "his.
toricsl preface" Is rigmarole, but the story Itself OF
hibits considerable cleverness in its way. and 10
decidedly superior to the larger portion Of tho popa.
lar novels by women which have been written in the
last few years.
James Russell LoweI's lectures on the British
poets, now being delivered in Boston, before the
Lowell Institute, are deservedly praised IS tho finest
things he has done In prose. Taey viii probably
soon be published in q volume.
Tie Poems Of Alice Carey, which form the last
volume issued Of Tloknor's American Poets, 10 i'm
measurably superior TO any collection Of poems ever
before published by an American woman. II Miss
Carey is not the finest poet Of her sex now living
in the world, the OILY one deserving q compsri-
son with her ia Mrs. Barrett. B:Owning. The
Westminster Rtuie,o says: an, other American
woman has evinced as much genius, In prose or
verse, as Alice Carey;' the North Americas Re.
rieo admits that her works display "no ordinary
powers OF Imagination II sbe we're not our country
woman, it is likely that this would be the common de
cision of persons among us pretending to criticism.
Certsjply il wonld be difficult for any one to point
out In sll the literature Of the English language for
The last half dozen years, as much genuine po,try as
is contained in Miss Casey's maiden Of Tlascals,"
"a piece about as long as Alexander Smiths Life
Drama, " which appears for the fisss time in this
new collection Of her works. That the readers Of
poetry generally appreciate justly Miss Carey's
merits, Is evident from the large sale Of her works
The Misses Warner, one OF whom Is 30 veil Known
az the authorizes Of 1.-The Wide Wide Work." aud
the other as the writer Of Dollars and Cents, y have
ca h q new novel in press.
Miss Maria Cummings, Of Massachusetts,, whose
"Lsmplighter'' has had q larger popularity than
any novel Of modern times except "Uncle Toms
Cabin" has q new work 10 preparation. She is
passing the winter in New York.
Considerable inter est has been excited by the IN.
nouncemento Of the early publication by tho Rev. d..
Msgoon, Of the work upon which he has been 30 long
engaged, on Christian art, and many valuable materi.
ais for which were collected by him during his recent
visit to the Old World. The illustrations Of the book
will be taken from original water color drAwings,tro
the pencils Of some Of the most Distinguished living
artists, as well % from copies Of the old masters.
With these aids, and the fruits Of The vast historical
research which DR.. Magoon has brought to bear ON
the subject, he will be ensbled to present the public
with ore of the most complete and v susble works
in connection with Christian at, tina. has emanated
from the pen Of any writer. The subject merits
being rsated independently, and not as merely col
lateral to others, and the Doctor will have the merit
of being the first in this country to give it the i'm
portance to which It Is entitled.
Literature as well As society has sustained . loss
in the death Of the late amlable and accomplished
Tchn VI Evarnfo t. a1Iook - - Az ~-n-
bic and distinguished DR.. Francis of this city. Mr.
Francis was only twenty-five years Of age, but had
the appearance Of a man of thirty. He had 90.
quired Q thorough mastery Of five languages, with
On inferior knowledge Of others, and was largely &C
q~uainted with good literature and the nne arts. HIS
few contributions to our periodical literature were
marked by excellent sense and by refinement OF
feeling. In two weeks he was to have been admit
ted o Doctor of Medicine, and his severe application
to professional studies, and exposure to the weather
In visiting the sick poor, brought on q typhus fever,
which ended fatally ina few days. 1t was character
istic OF him that he secretly expended q large por.
ton Of his liberal allowance Of money In alterations
OF the mfierings OF the poor. Ithas been ascertained
that on receiving ; considerable sum just before the
last Christmas, he filled q carriage with turkeys,
and passed an evening in distributing them among
the poor and deserving families with whom he hal
become acquainted in the course Of his benevolent
medical practice.
NKws FROM LIBKRIA.--We have recsived our
files Of Monrovia papers to the 18th Of November.
We perceive that Liberia is making due progress in
at least one Of the arts Of civilization. The Monrovia
Herald informs us that at no period in the history Of
the colony has there been manifested 50 strong a ten.
dency among the people to discuss politics, and to form
party combinations, as at the present time. An oppo-
sition has been raised to the reelection Of President
Roberts, who is o whig; but the opposition party seem
TO have assumed no definite form or name, and to have
laid down no distinctive platform of principles. II Is in.
timated that President Roberts viii not 30 q candidate
for q fifth re election.
called 'sTrinity, !" was laid at Monrovia on the 30th Of
October, by Rev. Alexander UrumRell, b. s. The ex-
ercises are described ~ being very interesting, and the
address Of Rev. Mr.. Crummell as being able and impress
.E.a rla .Iurch 4. IN ha NJ staca hi r.. n n -.