The Portland daily press., 1867-03-27
CHARLES WESLEY SEEN In HIS FINER AND
LESS FAMILIAR POEMS, New York: Hurd
& Houohton -.t''

LESS FAMILIAR POEMS, New York: Hurd
81 Houghton.
The published poems of Charles Wesley oc-
cupy over three thousand closely printed pages
OF this mass not more than one fifth, and that
in an altered and fragmentary shape, is before
the world, chiefly in the Methodist hymn-books
of this country and of England, yet it is from
this comparatively imperfect source that our
ideas of his merits are mainly derived. 1t fol-
lows that as a hymnist he is widely known, but
as poet he is scarcely heard of The present
volume consists of a careful compilation of sucl
of his writings as deserve to rank as the best
but are yet not familiar to the public. Manv
perhaps most of them will be wholly new to
the general reader-we confess that they are so
to us-and they will nearly all be found to pos
sess a large degree of geographic as well as po-
etic interest. 1t was Wesley's habit in all the
experiences of life to pour out his soul in fer
vid strains before the Author of his being. Even
where there is no direct devotional purpose in
his verse, the idea of God and His immediate
presence is never wanting. To the numerous
friends of Wesley, and especially to his core.
ligionists, this book will have an especial value
To compilers of hymn books. also, it offers a
mine of useful material
\ Received of A. Williams & Co., Boston; for
sale by Davis Brothers
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY for April presents
the usual excellent variety. The chapters of
Holmes Guardian Angel are short, but the
story loses nothing of it's interest. The lost
girl is restored to her home, and the present
xlo
ment "If Myrtle Hazard was in charge Of any
angelic guardian, the time was at hand when
she would need all celestial influences, for the
Rev. Joseph Bellamy Stoker was abont to take
/. a deep interest in her spiritual welfare" The
authors presentation of some points touching
the moralities of the medical profession is re-
spectfully commended to the attention of its
members. Katherine Morne' still goes on
The author somewhat naiuety remarks that in
they seem to her monotonous" Her readers
may possibly find themselves wishing that she
had made that discovery at an earlier day.
An appreciative notice of adelaide Ris-
tori" in this number is by Miss Kate Field ;
Pioneering" by Mrs. Dali, is sketch of
William Herndon, Mr.. Lincoln's law partner,
and contains many anecdotes of Lincoln him
self. An extract will be found on our fourth
page. "Travel in the United States" is by
Bayard Taylor and contains a great deal of
sound sense upon topic on which we have yet
only begun to think sensibly; Rev. E. e. Hale
writes pleasantly of the "United States Sani-
tary Commission" Mr. John Fisk offers some
Considerations on University Reforms" and
Theodore Bacon, in an interesting paper enti-
tied "The Claudian Emissary," describes the
process by which Prince Torlonia, Roman
banker, has renewed the achievement of the
Emperor Claudius, and pierced tunnel three
miles and half long, from Lake Fucino to
the valley beneath. A sketch of Chester Har-
ding, the artist, ''The Haunted Window" by
I. w. Higginson, "A Winter Adventure on
the Prairie" and the usual Reviews and Lit
erary Notices complete the prose articles in
this number. Thepoetry consists of "A Fa.
miliar Epistle to Friend" by Lowell, 1.-THE
Restless" a fine ballad by Hiram Rich, and
"Timon's Soliloquy," by T. Buchanan Read.
THE RIVERSIDE MAGAZINE for April is re.
ceived from the publishers, Messrs. Hurd &
HougntOn, new lork III is nuUDer OF unus-
uaI excellence, both in its reading matter and
in it's illustrations. The spirited frontispece
illustrating the nursery rhyme
s'The King in his parlor
Counting out his money, &c. ..
is one of the artist Stephens best cuts. The
story of ''The Little Rid Him." will delight all
the children, who will also receive with favor
two lively stories about squirrels. The first
part of the famous ballad of Chevy Chase
follows. DIR. Hayes, the Arctic explorer, con-
tinues his story of Philip, the Greenland hunt
er Vieux Moustache's article is upon Spring
Sports" There is capital story about sin
gular fish, the Garpike, and another concern
ing new way of flying kites, while the coming
of Spring is announced by an Easter Hymn
with music. -..s.