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ESSAYIST ROOM.

FIRST BOOK OF THE FINE AND USEFUL ARTS, for the use of Schools and Lyceums-compiled by Marshall S. Perry, M. D. Boston, Carter and Hendee. 12mo. pp. 126.

We think a work of this character is called for at the present time. Besides the valuable information it affords to the young student, it is well calculated to incite a deep interest in the study of the fine and useful arts, and thereby lead to the perusal of more elaborate treatises. It also meets the wants of those classes of the community who have not time to read, or are not able to purchase, expensive books on the various arts, as the series will probably furnish all the information that is absolutely necessary in the common walks of life. It seems to be compiled with good judgment; and we do not hesitate to recommend it as affording, at a cheap rate, an amount of knowledge of the arts which every citizen ought to possess.

AN ADDRESS delivered before the Teachers of the Hancock Sunday School, March, 1832. By the Superintendent. Boston, 1832, 12mo. pp. 24.

We always feel gratified in having an opportunity to peruse a production, of any description, written by a business man. Though it may not bear the marks of extensive scholarship, yet it may contain practical truths far more valuable than the mere speculations of the man of learning, who has had comparatively little experience in the active concerns of life. A studious mind in the business world, is not only fitted for active duties which no other mind can perform, but possesses pre-eminent advantages for becoming well disciplined, and qualified to decide upon the practicability of the theories of the learned. It is difficult for a business student to become a finished writer; but whatever his qualifications in this respect may be, his practical knowledge cannot fail to fit him for extensive usefulness, both in the intellectual and moral world.

These remarks apply, in a particular manner, to religious knowledge. Who is so well qualified to ascertain the truth or falsehood of a religious principle, as the man who mingles with the world, and watches its effects on different minds under the various circumstances which affect the actions of men? and who possesses so many advantages for learning the best method of communicating religious information to the human understanding? The divine may point to the sun of religious

knowledge, which shines upon this portion of the universe of God, feeling and believing that it is a luminary of heaven; but who is so well able to judge of its efficiency in dispelling those clouds which darken the intellect, and occasion the corruption of the heart, as the man to whose feet it has been a light and to whose path it has been a lamp, amid the thousand shifting scenes of active life?

The writer of the pamphlet before us, is well known as a bookseller and publisher in this city. It seems to have been written somewhat in haste, as there are several trifling faults in style, which the author might doubtless have avoided if he had devoted a little more attention to this department of his composition. But, as a whole, the Address exhibits a well informed mind, and a feeling of benevolence which could spring only from a heart imbued with the spirit of christianity. We rejoice to see such young men volunteer their efforts to guide the youth of our country in the green paths of wisdom. It bespeaks a noble spirit, which we trust will continue to awaken in the bosoms of our young men, until the present popular standard of excellence among a large portion of them, shall be universally looked upon as being what it is in reality -a narrow, degraded standard, unworthy of the aspirations of a mortal, to say nothing of an immortal mind.

The following passage shows a practical knowledge of the results of a serious study of the Bible:

But in that preparation, that study and investigation which the teacher gives to Holy Writ, we discover gradually the mind developing itself; the faculties are called into exercise, the sentiment and taste become refined and elevated, and the character assumes a new aspect. He is breaking through the mist that had gathered around him, and his mind, though it had become dimmed, now starts forth afresh. The book of revealed truth leads him to other studies, and science and natural religion claim his attention, and he soon becomes interested in his researches, and enjoys that mental happiness which raises him in the scale of being, and enables him to dispense more readily to others that knowledge which is becoming so precious to himself. How many who began in these institutions with minds no way distinguished, have found their capacities enlarged, and developed important traits of character by the simple preparation of their Sunday lesson. Thus nourished and strengthened, the mind gradually gains in mental and moral power.'

It may be thought that we have wandered from our sphere, in thus noticing a religious pamphlet. If any apology is necessary, we need only to say, that we deem the circumstance of the writer's being a respectable business as well as a young man, sufficient to render the foregoing remarks appropriate to our Magazine.

POEMS of Miss Hannah F. Gould. Boston, Hilliard, Gray, Little & Wilkins, 1832. pp. 174.

THE poetry of Miss Gould is so well known to the public. that we deem it unnecessary to offer any mere general remarks on the work before us; especially as we intend soon to give a particular notice of all our female writers in the poetical department. Still we cannot but express the gratification we received from the perusal of many of these poems, together with our hope that the book will meet with an extensive sale. We shall extract one of her imitations of the Scottish.

THE SILLER PEN.

I tell ye what! twixt frien' and frien',

I dinna like the siller pen.

An', sin my reason ye wad ken,
Tho' odd enough, I'll gie it.
It is too perfect-ilka part
It does, is wi' sic care an' art,
There's nae a particle o' heart
Or feelin' gangin wi' it!

'T is nae the siller I despise ;
For poortith loud an' daily cries;
An', if I had but mair supplies,
I'd then feel a' the better.
But, tho' 't wad truly glad my een
To see its bright an' cheerfu' sheen,
My purse's hollow sides between,
Ise shun it in the letter!

I wad na see the new-born thought,
Laid on the sheet, sae stiff an' straught,
As if 't were dead, an' cauld; an' braught
Before me for interment.

I like the gracefu', yieldin nib,
To gang sae careless an' sae glib,
An' shoot my fancies, like a squib,

Just while they 're in the ferment!

An', whiles (ye 've, aiblins, felt the pain,)
I wait upon the tardy brain

For something I can ne'er obtain,

An' founder'd a' thegether;

I like, if I can do nae mair,

To hae the quill to scrape an' pare,
An' find the faut o' dullness there,

In honest goosie's feather.

For nature's laws maun be obey'd,
An' this is ane she strictly laid
On ilka saul she ever made,

Down frae our earliest mither:
Be sel your first an' greatest care-
Frae a' reproach the darlin' spare,
An', ony blame, that she should bear,
Pit off upon anither!'

Had nature ta'en a second thought,
A better precept she had taught;
An' guid instead o' evil wrought

By those the power possessin'!
For, sel had been pit out o' sight,
The love o' ithers brought to light:
In short, the wrang had a' been right,
An' man to man a blessin' !

ACCOUNT OF THE TRIAL OF EUGENE ARAM.

First American, from the eleventh London edition. Boston, B. Franklin Edmands, 1832.

THE lovers of stories about murderous catastrophes, will no doubt meet with uncommon gratification in the perusal of this narrative. It is said to be genuine, and the groundwork of Bulwer's Eugene Aram. At the end of the pamphlet is the famous poetical piece entitled, 'Dream of Eugene Aram,' by Thomas Hood, Esq.

BOSTON LITERARY MAGAZINE. Edited by an Association of Gentlemen. Boston, Clapp & Hull, 1832. pp. 48.

THE second number of this Magazine is more interesting and promising than the first. It has the ascendency over several of the periodicals of the day, from the fact that it is calculated to exert a good moral influence wherever it is circulated, as well as to instruct and amuse. We may notice it more particularly when its editors shall have had more opportunity to establish its literary character.

NEW ENGLAND MUSEUM.-This establishment has undergone a thorough repair since it was partially burnt, and the new arrangements which have been made, render it better fitted for the reception of visitors than it was previous to the fire. The Paintings, alone, with which the Museum is now embellished, will constitute a rich entertainment to all who are disposed to patronize it.

ASSOCIATIONS OF YOUNG MEN.-Being desirous of publishing a list of the Associations of Young Men in our country, for religious, moral, intellectual or political purposes, we shall esteem it a favor to be furnished with the names of any Associations of this class, with which our friends may be acquainted, together with a brief statement of their objects.

VOL. I.

THE ESSAYIST.

JULY, 1832.

No. VII.

FEMALE AMERICAN LITERature.

SOME of our readers may perhaps feel disposed to quarrel with us at the threshold of our present essay, for undertaking to discuss a matter not in existence. There is no such thing, say they, as a feinale literature in this country-meaning, of course, a body of original productions from the pens of the gentle sex, of such quality and such quantity, as both to bear a character, and to give pledge to the public that such character is settled and sincere, and may be maintained hereafter. Now, we shall waive an argument on this point. If there is indeed no such thing, we can have no better apology than that very fact. It is at least a singular phenomenon; for it must be acknowledged, there are not many countries in christendom where a similar remark can be justly applied. France is as highly distinguished by her Sevigné and De Stael, as by her Voltaire and Rousseau, and far more honorably withal. Mrs. Montagu's Letters are read with more than the admiration of Gray's. The names of Opie, Moore, Baillie, Howitt, and Edgeworth, are scarcely less prevalent that those of Campbell and Scott; while that of Mrs. Hemans-alone sufficient to illustrate the land and the age of her birth-how many myriads of tongues has it dwelt upon; how many hearts has it cheered, in city and country, in hut and hall, from our own 'stern and rock-bound shore' to the green hills of Scotland and the far-off banks of the Ganges. No such influence has been exerted-it must be confessed-no such reputation has been acquired, by an American female. No essay-writer, no letter-writer, no dramatist-and scarcely a novelist or a poet, we had almost said-has arisen to maintain the dignity of the sex, or promote the literary character of their native land.

VOL. I....NO. VII.

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