The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-02-05


prove highly acceptable to the many readers OF
the Magazine. The Monthly Record of Cur
rent Events, Literary Notices, Editors Table,
&C., with the plate of Fashions, as usual, al
the close, with all the preceding, thus make
up full dish, on which to feed and regale till
another month spreads out a similar banquet
anew.
PuTNAMs MONTHLY. February, 1857 New York: Dix
Edwards &c Co.
This is, we believe, almost the only one OF
our present monthly journals, which began and
has continued on without having recourse to
engravings or illustrations. Yet it has been
well supported, and there has been no lack OF
interest in it for its readers-a proof that it
possesses intrinsic merits ON account of its
original articles, which are generally found to
combine variety, raciness, and vigor, as we'll
as much well-digested thought. Indeed, the
prose and poetical papers of Putnam (many
of them, at least) stand high in the literary
world, and no one of our monthly journals is
so strongly commended abroad for its ability,
and as making it's mark on the literature of
our country. The present number is good
one. We have had only time, it is true, to ex.
anime its contents less thoroughly than we
could wish, but the list of articles, if not nu-
merous one, is fraught with instruction, and
affords fine examples of their kind. The New
England sketch of Miles Standish, the war
hero Of the Plymouth men, worthy indeed of
olden time, will fix the attention of its readers.
Many have been arrested with the portrait of
the stern old captain, and Rose his wife, with
her spiritual beauty, as if an emblem of her
early death, and fingered on the strange con-
trast of his manly vigor and her sweet lowell
ness, in Weir's picture of the Embarkation of
the Pilgrims, in the rotunda of the Capitol
That face Of shadowy grace has haunted their
memory, and they have felt as if they would
gladly learn more Of her, and whether, after all,
it be only painters embodiment, or something
like semblance of herself But all we find
here is, that she died, and soon her place was
supplied by another. OF the hero We learn
much, and the writer of the article has gone to
the early historians and different sources, to
present a truthful portraiture of New highlands
earliest captain and hero, and in his sketch he
has interviewer much varied and curious Incl
dent, and at the close given us the bold fac
smile of an autograph, characteristic of the
man.
GA Lazzis," the title of the next article,
hardly suggests to the general reader any very
distinct idea but under this name lies hid a
story, the scene of which is Venice, a promi.
nent actor being painter love story, told
in rafting style, at times humorous, full of
lively dialogues, with the usual concomitants
of diff culties and surprises, an escape, run
off, and union. 1t is graphically sketched,.
and exciting.
A short article, called "a National Drama"
a poem, "The Rhine Castle" founded on a Ger
man legend, wild and fearful, and we come to
a longer paper, headed, 60 The Boston Ladies'
Reception Of Washington" which is full of pic.
lures Of the manners and customs of the dav,
and portraits of men and women then we'll
known. The writer has cleaned ont numerous in.
teresting facts of the time, and wrought up his
description with good effect, and this we think
will be considered one of the best things in the
magazine, and appears to be written by some
one who has taken pains to acquaint himself
with his subject.
The Old Adobe; a Romance, Perha, -
is a tale Of San Francisco, of a sprightly char
acter. The next article, " Memoirs of George
Sand" is founded on the recently published HIS
toire de Ma Vie of that celebrated author, and
may be regarded as sort of resume of her
book, on the whole, fair, with perhaps some
what greater leaning to the favorable side than
all would approve. 1t is, however, well written,
and deserves to be read. Witching Times: 4"
a Novel in 30 Chapters" AS it plunges us into
the midst of story, of which we have not much
knowledge in its beginning, we cannot judge of
it to any advantage. 1t is written forcibly, and,
we doubt not, those who have traced the out.
lines with the author from the first, will be glad
Of this new enstalment Of story in which thew
have become interested, relating, as it does. to
that strange period of the history of Massachu.
sets when witchcraft was so piously believed
in, and the belief went forth into wild and ter
-ible action. The jeu desprt after this, emit
tied Southern Literature" is full of irony, hu
nor, and scathing rebuke, all under the guise
Of describing the action of the late Southern
Convention at Savannah &c Pickwickian gath
sring. Those who wish to see ridicule of the
attempt to create literature by resolutions and
'peechifying, will find themselves gratfied with
he keen adaptation of Boz TO that celebrated gath
sring. We should like to quote some of the most
effective passages, if We had room. No one.
after having read it, will be able to think of
hat Convention without smile, as he finds
Using from his memory some Of the graphic
ouches Of this writer's pencil. A few editorial
notices of recent publications ends the number
IN which we have dwet somewhat longer than
We should have done, because it is the first one
Of new volume of publication which deserves
what it will, we doubt not receive, liberal nat
-onage for its high merit as magazine of ORIG.
NAL American literature.
The BRrI.H EssAvIsrs with Preface. Historical and
Biographical. BY A. Chalmers, F. s. A. In ~ vols
16mo. Boston: Little, Brown, 4 Co. For sale bv VIM
Morrison, Washington, D. C..
In previous number we directed special ut.
'ention to this admirable republication. The
volumes are peculiarly convenient in size, neat.
y and handsomely printed, on clear, white,
strong paper, at seventy-fve cents a volume.
Completed, they will number SO volumes, and
contain body of classic English Literature,
without which no library can be complete.
We are under obligations to the publishers
Tor the later volumes, down to the larger, vols.
30 and 81. Il
AMY IN her GRAVE Song. Words by William NJ BY.
nrs, NJ D. Music by w. Smith Price IS cents. Pub
lished by Horace Waters, 3,3 Broadway, New York