New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-13
Neto'2lcrk Gribrl,re
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A MAID OF HONOR IN AMERICA.


LETTERS FROM THE UNITED STATES. CUBA, AVID
CANADA: BY the Hon. AMELIA n. MURRAY. limo,
Up H2 &. Z. Putnam Co.
We are not accurately informed - to the pre-
else functions of maid of honor " 10 Queen
Victoria-from which exalted sphere the Hon.
Miss Murray vouchsafes 10 make avitar into the
benigLted regions of democratic Amerca-but
they certainly require no remarkable intellectual
endowments nor even the degree Of cultivation
requisite to the composition Of lively, agreeable
letter Most schoolgirls would be ashamed 70
write down such tissue OF trivial garrulities as
forms large portion of The of this volume.
They show an equal want Of sense, observation,
and good grammar. Were their astounding pld'i-
tudes not relieved by certain show of amiable
feeling and an apparent air of candor, they would
inevitably be taken as the scspe-goat or which u
visit the sins Of the host of foreign travellers who
consult their own vanity, rather than the demands
of the public, in giving currency to the record OF
their private experience. But the work is stamped
with such an almost rustic simplicity, such child
sh belplessness in regard to eyeD thing out OF the
familiar English circle, in addition 20 the qualities
already alluded to, that we cannot but take her
sbsurdties in good part and even thank her FOR
the amusement which she furnishes al her own
expense
The prominent objects which appear to have
attracted Miss Murroys attention during her rapid
tour in this country, are botany, Slavery and Gov
Seymour. On the first point, sbe il evidently at
home; on the second, superficial; and on the third
ridiculous The Ex-Governor had better have
fallen into the hands of the most mcrcless political
Philistnes than into those Of this infatuated, To-
0uaciOus admrer. II is never safe TO take
strange women" into our cOnfdence-much less
if ,hey are afflicted with the mania for writing
books. Every lady tourist in America from Hir-
riet Martineau to Frederick Bremen, contrives 10
inaueurate an idol; and il is usually q harmless
illusion; but il is really too bad 10 hold Up ons Of
our grave and potent official dgnitares in the lu-
dcrous light which is always reflected from over
strained personal en,husiasm.
Our heroine arrived in this country in the month
Of August, 1854. Landing at Boston, she was at
once charmed with the cleanliness Of the whsryes
and the comparative fragrance which gave them
decided advantage over those Of Dover and FOlke.
stone The enchantment was increased by the
"boiled maize" and other yiands which awaited
her at fremont House, forming '.ple4sant cool
! diet to person suddenly plunged into the trop-
cal heat of the Boston midsummer. Without loss
of time, she drives Off as soon as dinner dis
patched to visit Mount Auburn Cemetery, and Mr.
CusLiDg's gardens in the vicinity. These latter are
considered the finest in New England, but they
were DO more than third or fifth rate, compared
with those she had seen in 1.-The old country"
Mount Auburn suited her better In feeling and
taste" she pronounces it perfect" The next
day-we are grateful for the information-she was
'too tired to get to breakfast much before 10
O'Clock" and was not dressed " when a we'll
known Boston merchant sent up his card he
e1tr Gated himself from the dilemma BY promising
10 "cal later" but be seems TO have proved per
f6ous, as we bear no more of him for that day.
Her acquaintance with M Longfellow was more
satisfactory. She found him at bis summer cottage
at Nahsnt. The poet gave her cordial reception,
though her advent was unexpected. After short
stay within doors, " he was so kind as TO walk
with her" and while the fair amateur was sketch
ing the rocks and the bay, held an umbrella over
her book in heavy rain. This was TOO much fcr
the tender hearted enthusiast. She was suddenly
struck with sense Of her responsibility TO the world
in case the author Of Eyangeline should " catch
bis death in her behalf; especially he insisted
on going "in his wet clothes TO dine with them at
the hotel" He treasured her BY some myth of
brother who would let him take measures OF
prevention" and so she went on with her sketch
until "her thin muslin dress was fairly soaked.
Thanks to an old Welsh nurse, however, whom she
found at the hotel, she obtained the means of
becoming tolerably dry before diuner," and her
mind was in some measure relieved of her fea'
that she might b answerable for Mr.. Lolgfei!ow's
death /" BY seeing thst he had changG his coat.
4 new zest was given to her happiness by beirg
introduced TO ebowder, a most psaisewoI.hy