The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-17
GRs 8sbish.

y
Emerson & Co.
The September number of this monthly /.
issued in a handsome manner, and contains
much interesting reading matter. Next month.
PItnam's Monthly is to be united with Il.
The Christian Examiner Boston: Crosby q Niylos
An able, courteous, and elsgantly-is51ed J..
monthly, devoted to the interests Of Unitarian.
ism and Literature. The number for Sep,en.
Der is rich in good things, and the beautiful
print and paper will certainly constitute It a
popular number. 1t contains, among other
things, review of Bishop Hopkins Oh SlI.
Oery," worthy of special notice.
The London Quarterly Review. New York Lsorar4
Scott & Co. For sale by Taylor & Maury Washing.
ton, C.
The July number of this quarterly has been
received. 1t presents table of contents ~,
quite as enticing as usual. TIE new divorce
law of England comes in for a severe attack
the reviewer taking the ground that a divorce
is Hecer to be granted, for any cause whstever,
believing that the New Testament condemns
all divorces. To this, an advocate of the bill
may justly reply" Parliament has steadily
granted divorces to those who have a fortune
to spend in attaining their wishes and the only
question open is, shall legislation be impartial
granting to the poor man as we'll as the arts,
tocrat this privilege2" There are articles
upon Chins, Ireland, Electioneering, Church
Decoration, and the Manchester Exhibition, in
this number.
PrOnOunclng Reading Book ofthe French Language +,
E. Arnault. Boston: Kicking, swan x Brewer For
sale by w. Ballantyne, Washington, ID. c.
The object Of this volume is to render the
speaking of the French easy to the American
student, and the plan adopted seems to be d
new one. The book contains tables comparing
the entire range of French sounds with those
of the English language, including consousnts,
&c. To all students we commend the book, its
peculiar merits being such as we canIot we'll
explain in a newspaper notice. It is published
in strong, durable manner, and the print is
clear and the paper white School books are
too apt to lack in these qualities.
Essays in Biography and Criticism By Peter Bayue,
NJ A. Boston: Gould & Lincoln.
This is the first series of essay by an ortho-
dox Scotchman. That he is young. we should
gather from the essay as well as the preface
for they show, here and there, a use of language
common to young men of twenty, when enthu.
siastic. But, with few faults, Mr.. Bayue has
made an excellent volume, and one that will
be widely read and approved. His estimate Of
Mrs. Browning we think is just. She is the
greatest female poet of this or any other age.
Her Aurora Leigh " is a failure in many re-
spects, but not 80 are her minor poems. There
are hundred opinions expressed in this book
to which we cannot subscribe, but these do not
detrsct from the interest of the volume. Occa,
sionally there is an egotism, which is anything
but pleasant. In one of his essays, he expresses
tho opinion that he has shown capacity for the
enjoyment of Tennyson's poetry" We don't
dispute the fact; but why tell the reader Of il?
The author has also shown that he has decided
talents, but it would not have looked well to
have intimated as much to his readers.
The Life Of James Montgomery. By Mr.. Helen G..
Knight Boston Gould & Lincoln. For sale by w.
Ballantyne, IN this city.
This neatly published volume Is made mp
from life of James Montgomery, recently
published in London, consisting Of seven vol
umes. Mrs. Knight gives the American reader
the principal facts in the life of the Christian
Poet in a more convenient space. She selects
judiciously and with ease, is evidently thor
oughly interested in the subject Of the memoir,
and has succeeded in writing an excellent
book, and one worthy of general circulation
We think she has not exactly the genius for
narrative composition, and in the early Por-
tons of the book there is too great tendency
to poetical quotations; but we have been ex-
ceedingly interested in the volume, and the
American public owe the compiler many
thanks.
James Montgomery was a man Of lovely
Christian character, conscientious in the high
est degree, and we think no bigot he was an
earnest anti-slavery man, friend to the poor
everywhere, and, aside from his poetcal fame,
was widely known and beloved. He will not,
of course, rank with Coleridge, Scott, and By
ron, as a poet; but, if not possessed of the
higher order of pOetical genius, he was gen
uine poet, and has written songs which are
upon Christian lips from the Ganges to the
Mississippi. The character of such man
cannot be contemplated too often, for it is wor-
thy of imitation.
MI 4 Il