The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-08-27

Destiny of the American Union -, "TRa
Testimony of the Rocks -, NAPLES and
Diplomatic Intervention -, "The Life O..
George Stephenson -" Contemporary I.:.ers
ture."
The article upon American Politics vii! a,
tract much attention in this country; the orc
upon George Stephenson is the most interesting
in the number, while that upon "Saicids IN
Life and Literature is able, and fall of q ter.
rible interest.
The CyclOpeda of Wit and Humor Edited by W.l.a
f. Burton. New York d Appleton a Co
We have received three numbers ofthe Adore.
and learn from prospectus enclosed that it
to be issued in "a numbers-two numbers ina
month. Each number contains a fine ssa'
portrait and innumerable wood engrayinpg ey.
ecuted in the highest style Of the art. The q.
itor-Burton, the comedian is peculiar
fitted for his work, and he will, if the numbers
before US are fair sample, make unique ard
indispensable collection of the wit and humorci
America, England, Ireland, and Scotland.
The work is not sold by the booksellers. bo,
through agents only. j. B. Ford is the general
agent in New York.
Marryau'. Novels New York: Derby 4 Jack.o.
Jacob Faithful
Snarey-yow.
Japhet in Search of a Father
The Phantom Ship.
The Poacher
Percival Keene
The above-named novels, together with iho.a
noticed last week, constitute all Of Capt. Mar
ryatt's works, or rather stories. The gsper,
remarks made last week will of course app'y
to these volumes. They are issued in TIE sama
style, written in the same style, and have the
average faults and merits of the others.
Jacob Faithful is an excellent story. hp
of interest, Astounding in lively scenes fun. and
cheerfulness.
"Snarley-yow is singular book Several
of its characters are Dutch, and lour in the bar
gain. The interest of this story is pretty well
kept up to the end, though there is a grotesooe-
ness in it at times, which is blot upon the
story.
"Japhet in Search of Father is an aver
age story, but not equal to Peter Simple or
Midshipman Easy"
"The Phantom Ship" is a wild. STRANGE.
dramatic novel, and, though portions Of it aye
well written as a whole it is a failure. Marry.
att is not himself in attempting the dramaticor
upon shore. The comic was his vein, and hs
was probably aware Of it, for he worked the
vein perseveringly. But a man cannot alway.
write funny sea.novels. He must either stop
writing when the rich vein is exhausted. or
strike another. Captain Marryatt, after mining
silver-producing the genuine shining ore
condescended to dig for copper. If he had been
content with writing lees, it would have been
better for his reputation. But whoever reads
one of his best tales will wish TO read all the
rest, and judge for himself of their worth
"The Poacher is, like sailor on land. lnb.
berly in its movements and developments. II
has not the charm Of the sea.tales Indeed. Il
is an ordinary story for a common sort Of q
writer-and Captain Marryatt was one among
the thousand Of story.tellers.
"Percival Keene," though one of the ver7
last of his stories, is also one of bis best It's
a story of the sea, and sparkles with fun an
jollity.
Nothing 10 Do: Tilt AT Best Society. Illustrated
Boston James French Il Co. 1851
This, as will be perceived By the title, is
parody of Mr.. Buffers clever .jeu TesprH, which
has made so much noise lately, and of the hon
ors Of which in part so singular an attempt has
been made to deprive him. Of course. paro-
dy cannot have the freshness of an original,
and comparison must ever be drawn between
it and that which it initiates. In the present
case, though respectable hit, and the lines
flow on very easily, it wants the keenness Of
humor of the original. 1t contains, however,
some good things, and we'll sets forth tie con
tempGble folly of an upstart pride, on the part
of the possessor of inherited wealth, in whom
often may centre ignorance and meanneas, and
exposes the shifts to which would.be tip top
people of fashion sometimes resort to secure
their ends. The incidents are but few. The
one of the portrait of failing spectators "a
Their, in modern costume, bought 81 auction
and hung up as representative of knight Of
England's best days Of chivalry, aud a pretend
ed ancestor, is we'll imagined; and more than
one similar incident, no doubt, has happened
in fact among the upper ten. The item, too,
from the journal of the tourist at Athens, has
point, as fairly descriptive of such class Of
men as make the grand tour because it is fash
ionable. They have money, and must be able
to say they have been abroad though they re-
turn no wiser, only more concerted, than when
they started from home. We should like to
quote page or two of this, but prefer to give
the close of the poem, which embraces the
moral, and which is good specimen Of the
style of the whole, but in some respects more
serious in its satire:
"Oye who in life content to be droncs,
And stand idly by while your fellows bear sioncs
To rear the great temple which Adam began,
Whereof the All-Father has given each man
part in the buildng-prsy look the world through,
And say, If you can, YOU have nothing 10 do,
Were man sent here solely 10 eat drink and sleep
And sow only that which he himself hoped 10 reap
II, provided hi. toll served to gain his subsistence
He had answered in full the whole end of his exiseac
Where then would be poets, philanthropists sacrs.
no nave written their names high Hisiorys pages
They stood not aloof from the battle ofhfe
But, placing themselves in the van of the strife
Marching manfully forward, with banner unfurled
Leh their deeds and their 4 bequesI to the word
Have you ever forgive me the bold mproprieiyl
Reckoned up your outstanding account, with society
Or considered how far should your life close tomorrow
fou would merit her real and genuine sorrow
IT. in dying the world be wiser or better
FOR your having lived there then you her debtor
And IL, as Faith, Reason, and Scripture NIL show,
God rewards US IN heaven for the good done below.
pray you take heed, idle wording lest vou
With that better world should have nothing 10 do
PuinamS Monthly New Nork Mil