Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-01-28
ie-'r'spsa4sass cfths Delaware Inquircrl
Letter from Philadelphia.

\ PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23d, 1860.
Ma. BDlroa verify we are having first class
a No | gilt-edgcd weather Just now, in tho
very midst Of what we used to call, according
to the almanac, the depth of winter. The sun
shines out with all the feryorof Septcmbcr;the
frost is coming upward through the chinks in
the brick pavemenls-a consummaiion gener-
ally deferred in this latitude to somewhere
about April there is not enough ice to DO seen
to Brighten blue jay, and, along the sunny
I side of the streets, windows are lifted, and me-
tropolitan bellies are smiling out at you like so
many baskets of chips or punches of butter
cups. Nobody can help approaching snch
weather, but the question arises whether II the
proper equilibrium were Sustained just now
the consumption Of anthracite would not be
lessencd in May and June, Overcoats on the
fourth Of July, you know, are harder to bear
than in January.
lively scene was presenteda at our wharves
on Saturday, on the occasion of the departure
of the fine steamship yigo, for Liverpool. She
took out large cargo, and her trip both in
ward and outward, is great pecuniary success.
But our city wants a full equipped line of
foreign steamships of her own and it would be
good time to find bargain in some of those
lying at the wharyes in New York, rotting for
want of use. The Randall project of steamers
built or to be built, in this city--on new
plan--is not yet abandoned, and its practical
bility is every day becoming more obvious A
little more nerve, Messrs. merchants.
The magnificent hotel "The CONTINENTAL at
the corner of Ninth and Chestnut streets, is
rapidly approaching completion, and will be
thrown open TO the public on Washingtons
birth day Many of the rooms are already in
order, the furniture and appurtcnances thus
far being deliberately beautiful. The whole
building, with its appointments, is metropoli-
tan in its proportions and finish, and nothing
else on this continent, of like character, can
approach it. This is as it should be. 1t is ct
that the largest city in the United States, or on
the continent, should have the largest hotel,
and also the richest in finish The Continental
is well named.
From the West---a region whose literature is
only about becoming thing In fact--the read
ing public hail, this month"; n fine new novel,
Mabel, or Heart Histories a Tale of Truth. A
lady contributor to the magazines is the author,
and Messrs. Toilet, Foster h Co., OF Columbus,
Ohio, are the publishers. To say that it is
most readable and interesting work is not Civ
ing il one half its due. 1t is full OF incident
and character and in style il is simple and ell
egant 1t exposes the heartlessness of fash
ionable life, and warns the young of the gcntler
sex against tho vices of dress and fashionable
dissipation; snares that have ruined as many
women ms drink has men, We cannot doubt
that the influence of the book will be widely
felt for good, but, apart from its moral, the
reader will find il an intensely interesting
story.
The same publishers, Ohio, and Mr.. George |
g. Evans, Philadelphia, (who by the way sent |
Il thousand dollars to the Lawrence sufferers |
last week. have also issued new edition. 1.-THE |
seventy of that highly interesting book of ad- |
venture, A Buckeye Abroad or Wanderings in |
Europe and the Orient, by Samuel s. Cox. The |
author views places and things with an intcli- |
gent eye, and narratcs his travelling experiences
with considerable graphic power. The volume
is handsomely illustrated and cannot but pass
through many more editions.
The new Christmas story of Dickens and his
confreres is issued this week in neat pam
phlet OF hundred pages by Messrs. 4. Is.
Peterson L Brothers, of this city, the sole pub
fishers of Dickens, in this country. The new
story is called The Haunted House. 1t Is COM
prised in nine chapters, the first sixth and last,
being from the pen of Boz himself; the re-
maindcr by Wilkie Coling, G. Augustus Sala,
Mrs Gaskell, and others of Dickens associates
in All the Year Round Of course, every
reader will want to read the fine collection of
great stories.
The last of the Mcssrs Petersons' favorite
publications is Tale of Louisiana, entitled
TIE Planters Daughter. The reader, tired of the
never ending quarrel between the North and
south, will be glad TO learn that this is neither
IN ant-slavery nor pro-slaycry novel. It is
imply very well written and very natural
tory of southern life, with admirably managed
POINTS of character aud description, and with
nough incident and g life to please any read
u who loves to be kept awake to the last page
# what he is reading. A conscientious critic
# this city commends the book to novel read
RS as one above the average in interest and
merit. The sorrow felt at some of its distress
III complications, is at last dispelled by finding
be whole web agreeably unwoyen.
we are glad, once more, TO meet the name of j,
lessrs. g. 5. Francis Il Co., New York, on the
tile page of new book. The volume in ques- I
ion is, 4 Guide 70 the Rnowiedge Of Life, Ktgetd-
te and Animal; being comprehensive manual
f Physiology, viewed in relation to the main !
nnance of health. By Robert James Mann, M.
}. This is volume of practical usefulness for /
very household, treating of vitality in the t
roadest and most philosophic sense. Without a
ny unntelligibe heading, the reader brings i
is subject directly to the reason and inteli- e
encc of his readers, pointing out the broad
rnciples upon which life is based, and apply
ig them to sanitary regulations and consider
tions for the promotion Of bodily and mental
igor Humorous cuts aid the text and in .
ord, the book is crowded with information
hich every reader would do well to have
tored away in his knowledge-box. Unlike
nc majority of works of this kind, ii is written
18th clearness and yigor, and is easy of COM
rchension to readers unlearned in the terms.
Messrs. Gould & Lincoln, Boston, have nearly
lady the Annual of Scientific Discovery for
lie past year. Also, the Life and Corresnon-
ence of the late Bishop of Calcutta in two L
iperb volumes, and the continuation Of HON.
ms splendid history Of the Puritans. u. 1