The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-10
consistencyof development We suspect the
authors own heart or memory was more in the
objects proposed to be depicted.

and that his writings NAV be interpreted the pOin
ofvIew of Hermeiic Philosophy, with Chapter Com
pairing swedenborg ami SpinOza By the Author o
Remarks OH Alchemy and the Alchemsis Ne"
| York: d. Appleton Il Company. 1859.
We have never seen the " Remarks on AL
chemy and the Alchemists,' of which this vol
ume is the sequel, nor do we recollect ever tC
have heard the name of the author. We con
TESS, too, we have less faith than many have In
the attempt to fix any one in some particular
position he has not himself avowed as his own
during long life, by occasional condolences
resemblance, or correspondence, that can be
gathered from detached portions of his volu
minous writings. No doubt, numerous such
relations may be thus made out, of which an
author himself never dreamed. We cannot
speak from any particular knowledge of Swe
denborgs writings, or examination Of the pas
| pages selected to confirm the authors ideas in
their own place; but we suspect that the theory
here preached is a somewhat fanciful one.
| The book, however, is curious, as presenting
a variety of information respecting writer's OF
olden times, and extract. from their works.
Alchemy was one of the subjects in which
many of the learned of former ages dabbled, and
no doubt there was often connected in their
minds an occult philosophy, by which their modes
of Interpretation were influenced. John Picus
Mirandula, the wonder of his age, was an ex-
ample among others of this and in his case il
was Joined with the science of the Cabbala, and
gave coloring to his Interpretation Of the
| IN
milton of the fact. The author of this volume
has not failed in proving his point, (if he has
done SOL for want of diligence. His collection
of writings on the subject, he states, is large,
and he seems to have entered upon his task
with zeal, and his heart is evidently in it. The
book, however, is sadly deficient in one par
ticular. Where so many authors are quoted,
there ought to have been good index pre-
pared, that the reader might at once turn to
the page under every name. Many readers
may take deeper interest in the attempt than
We do; but we have little hope Of ever seeing
Swedenborgs writings harmonized by any sim
liar theory. To show that man may be
tinctured with certain shades of sentiment is
one thing to prove that it is the secret by
which to interpret his writings, is quite another
The Atlantic Monthly foi February, 1859.
This number contains a piquant, sensible
readable article on the Wemans Question a
descriptive and historical account of Vene
zuela; Frenchy and ingenious story of the
Loss and Recovery of Diamond a Fantasy
of Love and Suicide, wrapped in a passionate
| flush of words, new instalnents of several un
finished articles, and some very good Poetry.
Arago's Biographies of Distinguished Scientific Men
Boston Ticknor & Co. For SAFE by r Philip, Pennsy J.
| vana avenue.
1t is said there was an irresistible magnetism
in the presence and appearance of Arago. He
certainly has conveyed great deal to the work
before us. 1t is not rechaNfe of Cyclopedias
and memoirs, many Of the so-called bio
graphical compilations are, but distinguished
mans opinion of distinguished men, delivered
in an eminently popular and attractive man
ner. The translator, by tn. way, thinks that
many of these opinions are to be taken with
qualification, and that NJ. Arago is sometimes
carried away by bis prejudices. BE it as it
may we doubt not that the book, from its
piquancy and freshness, embodying, too, as it
does, much instruction, will be widely read
| WaveTley Novels. Household Rdlion Count Robert
of Paris. vols. Boston: Tick.ror Co For ale by
Taylor Maury, Washington, u. c.
1t was the original design of the publishers
to complete this elegant edhion of the Waiver
ley Novels, in forty-eight volumes but the
work cannot be finished in less than fifty. The
two concluding volumes will appear on the st
of March.
Miss Bremer's New Work, Written IN Rome Printed
from the Advance Sheets. Father and Daughter a
Portraiture from the Life. BY Fredrika Bremen au
thor of" The Neighbors" " The Four Sisters Nina
The H Family NC. Translated by Mary How.
lit. Complete in one large volume, neatly bound in
cloth, for 81 PSI two volumes, paper cover, RI
Philadelphia: T b. Peterson 4 Brothers. For sale
by Franklin Philip, Washington, d. C.
Like the other productions of Miss Bremen,
this work is full of enthusiasm, sentiment, love
of nature, and deep sympathy with humanity
Her pictures of natural scenery and social life
are alike attractive and impressive.
The American publishers call the attention
of the Press throughout the country, to the an
erdmpied short space of time in which they
have stereotyped, printed, bound, and had ready
for sale, this new and last work written by Miss
Bremen; the whole book having been set up in
type, and afterwards stereotyped, over three tons
of paper made by the well-known paper house
of Charles Megargee d Co., to print it on,
and printed and bound ready for sale, in less
than .fortyeigM hours from the time the ad-
vance sheets were put in our hands. No work
of this shape and size they say has ever been
gotten out in such short space of time in
this country before.