Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-01

squeezed in, and kicked and cuffed into SO
many of the books and sermons that come
from the North. Even the Rev. BEECHER, the
other day at the opening of the Burns festi-
val' at New York, was forced to incorporate
into bis Grafton fling at '.nigger-driving.'
3rd. The pro-slave philanthropy which many
of our well-meaning Southern authors seem
to think must be interpolated into books hav-
ing not the remotest connexion with the sub
ject, as an appropriate Offset to those of the
North. The whole thing is extra-Eiterary
and out of the question. II these matters are
persisted in, we respectfully demand that the
authors will notify us by marginal or foot note
when they are about to begin and where they
leave off, so that we aud those who think like
US, may skip it entirely. Good friends, book
makers, reform it altogether.''
PnEY wooDs TAVERN; or, sam Silk in Texas. Bv the
Author Of "a Stray Yankee in Texas etc. Phil
adelphia: T. B. Peterson Il Brothers.
This is another of that class of books that
disfgure the literature and corrupt the taste
of the young, and absorb the time of the old
which could and should be better applied
The "Sam Slick of Judge HALIBURToN is
famous; and is quite sufficient to illustrate
that phase of life for which it was designed.
We have no use for STRAY Yankees or
'.Piney Woods Tavernsi for that purpose
We heartily commend this book to all who
have taste for poor wit, and whose habits of
thought and reading have become so vitiated
as that they cannot sit down to anything
better, with good stomach.
META GRAY; or What makes Home Happy. ByM. J.
Mcintosh, Author of "Aunt Kitty's Tales, p; &c.
New York: d. Appleton x Co. 1859
A handsome little volume, interesting in
incidents, elevated in tone, and worthy a
general reading. We commend it.
Either or all of the above works may lie
obtained frcm Messrs. W. T. BERRY & Co.
Public Square; through whom we are indebted
to the respective Publishers for copies.l
HEART WHISPERS Or, A peep behind the Family
Curtain interspersed with Sketches Of Tour through
nine Southern States. Contained in a Series of
Letters to his wife. By William Atson Memphis ::
Cleaves Walden. 1852.
The author of this book, to whose kindness
we are indebted for copy, is a man of excel
lent capacity for some things; but quite
moderate capacity for book-making He is
an enthusiast, whose early life, we should
judge, did not want for the means of physical
and intellectual culture, but whose adven-
lures in manhood did not supply the means of
gratifying the taste and inclinations imbbcd
T., IL. l..
proud, with doubtless a lovely wife and some
precious little ones, whom he frequently and
affectionately styles "brats,' to "scuffie" and
provide for. As the most promising opening
he turned his attention to and obtained a
situation a travelling collecting agent for
mercantile firm. This business carried him
into nine of the Southern States,a gave him
an opportunity to write frequent letters to
his wife. These letters comprise the volume
They appear to have been written while
! his mind was crowded with business and the
various confusing incidents of rapid travel.
Under such circumstances they cannot be
expected to be polished and finished in style
or matter-aDd are not. Throughout them
the heart predominates entirely over the
brain. Now and then we have an eloquent
Outgush of feeling, that, when read ''behind
the family curtain is refreshing. Again
we have some broken essays on theology and
politics that are scarcely appropriate in mis-
sives of love from an absent husband to a wife.
In these his logic is often at fault, but his
heart appears always to be in the right place.
The sclf-esteem which gurgles in every letter,
from the fountain of self-conscous rectitude
of purpose, is not positively offensve-was
perhaps proper as between husband and
wife-but does not add to the interest which
the public will take in the book. Upon the
whole the book is readable.