rits and the spirit of unpleasant egotism-though this is perhaps more pardonable-which forms a marked feature in his character. Consequently, we heartily deprecate the publication of a "Letter," which embodies all these unamiable characteristics. We must indulge the hope, that the author of The Pilot and The Pioneers, notwithstanding his public declaration, will yet add many more works to those which have conferred high honor upon the literary reputation of his country; and that, forgetting the imaginary injustice of the past, and adopting the mild course of Sir Walter Scott, with his critics, he will yet add greener laurels to the chaplet which he has won for his brow. THE AMERICAN QUARTERLY REVIEW. Vol. XV. March and June. Philadelphia: KEY AND Biddle. We have derived great pleasure in the perusal of the two leading papers in the last number of the American Quarterly. They are reviews of Sparks's Life of Washington, and the Life of Alexander Hamilton. The Life of Washington has reached three volumes; and the reviewer enters upon their discussion with the warm, patriotic feeling of a true American. A clear synopsis of their contents is given, and the extracts embrace facts and incidents of great interest, which have not hitherto transpired. The Life of Hamilton is from the pen of his son, John C. Hamilton, Esq. of this city. Owing to a want of confidence in the state of trade, a delay has arisen in the publication of this valuable work. It embraces a most complete history of the life and acts of its distinguished subject—a history, the materials for which the author possessed in ample abundance. The reviewer lauds the newness of its details-its great value, as a contribution to American history-its filial piety-and the easy, graceful flow of its style. The article upon "Italian Tragedy" is an ornament to the Review. It evinces a refined taste, deep feeling, a full knowledge of the subject; and is clothed in language unaffected and pure. We take pleasure in saying, that the author is a valued contributor to the pages of this magazine. The succeeding paper, "Cox on Quakerism," is a review of a work by the Reverend Doctor Cox, entitled, “Quakerism not Christianity, or reasons for renouncing the doctrine of Friends." It could scarcely have been penned by a Friend. There are manifested far too much asperity and bitterness, to warrant the belief. The author under review is hung, drawn, and quartered. There is no quality of mercy in his executioner. There are allusions to pecuniary, and one or two other irrelevant matters, which would seem to evince a spirit of personal revenge or retort, which may detract from the apparent candor and good faith of the review. We were much pleased, on the whole, with the article on the "Life and Writings of ROBERT C. SANDS." It does a kind justice to the memory of that gifted author, which agreeably surprised us. We say surprised, because we feared that a spirit of retaliation-not, we regret to say, altogether uncommon in that quarter-might induce a different course. It is not forgotten, that Sands was unsparing in his public expressions against some of the worst writers for the Review; and the sketch of Mr. Green-Bice, in the Tales of Glauber Spa, evinces how completely he was enabled to embody Disdain in the Burlesque. Mr. Green-Bice is a personification of the poetical critic of the Quarterly; and ludicrous as he seems, is drawn to the life. The article on the "Decline of Poetry," in the present number, is from the pen of the original of this Mr. Green-Bice-a person qualified, by his own melancholy experience, to speak both of the Decline and Fall of Poetry-and whose exploits in plagiarism, and failures in criticism, are perhaps equally well known. Having been galled for a great number of years by the condemnation of all the recognized literary authorities of the country, he became desperate, and turned critic himself. He seems destined, if we may judge from the ridicule that his efforts in this department have uniformly excited, to be therein as ludicrously unsuccessful, as he has been in Poetry, Novel-writing, and the Drama. One thing is certain-no one can expect consideration in literature, who does not escape his praise. "Paris and the Anniversary," and "The Public Distress," are the closing papers. The first is an interesting, but not over-racy review of a work upon the scenery and manners in France and Spain; and the second, as its title indicates, is a consideration of much-agitated, public topics, and political opinions. The worthy publishers do ample justice to the mechanical execution of the work. PHRENOLOGY. The Constitution of Man, considered in relation to external objects. By GEORGE COMBE. Third American Edition. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 223. Boston: ALLEN AND TICKNOR. LECTURES ON PHRENOLOGY; delivered before the Young Men's Association for Mutual Improvement in the city of Albany. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 252. Albany: OLIVER STEELE, AND HOFFMAN AND WHite. THE author of the first of the above-named works, George Combe, of Edinburgh, is well known in America as an eminent writer on Phrenology, and as a distinguished pupil of the lamented Spurzheim. His essays upon Craniology have been distinguished for clearness of reasoning, and great force of argument. In the "Constitution of Man," he endeavors to show that the science of Phrenology has its foundation in nature; "that it will aid the study and progress of intellectual philosophy; that for want of its aids, this philosophy has hitherto necessarily been imperfect;" that, in short, Phrenology is susceptible of a wide and useful application, and is destined to exert an important influence over the whole circle of human interests. The work is characterized throughout by the ability to which SPURZHEIM often adverted during his brief career in this country, as distinguishing the author. The Lectures by Mr. DEAN, are based upon Mr. Combe's original work upon Phrenology-and an experience of four years in comparing cerebral development with mental manifestation, together with an intimate acquaintance with the most approved works upon Phrenology, have given to the author ample means of coming to authentic conclusions; and he declares his belief" that the doctrine of Phrenologists, in some of its applications, is true; that certain faculties of the mind are more particularly resident in certain parts of the brain." The author apologizes for the hasty preparation of the Lectures, amid the cares and perplexities of his profession; but indulges the belief--induced by the flattering reception which they have already met-that they will not be unacceptable to the public, as an elementary work upon a science, which, however "caviare to the general," is numbering among its advocates many distinguished and powerful minds, both in Europe and America. THE BACHELOR RECLAIMED, or Celibacy Vanquished. From the French. By TIMOTHY FLINT. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 288. Philadelphia: KEY AND Biddle. MR. FLINT has performed a most acceptable service, in presenting the American reader with a good translation of this interesting work. The interest does not flag for a moment. The incidents of the tale are admirably managed; the plot is excellent, and brought about with fine dramatic effect—and the moral is capital. It is a work which will be sought and read with avidity-in an especial manner by the ladies. It has no mawkish sentiment in its pages, and yet it treats much of the tender passion. The translator well observes: "True, it turns chiefly upon love. I admit it disgusts me to hear a heartless dandy, with his bristled face, curl the lip, and designate such a work as a puling, lovesick tale. A tragedy has its catastrophe, an epic its hero; and on what should a novel turn, but love? Our country swarms with bachelors, the most useless of all bipeds, and apparently only born to eat up the corn. This book shows how to bring the race of drones upon their knees, while they are glad to put on the wreath of wedlock. Let ladies look to it, how they smile upon those who would gain their suffrage by affecting contempt of love. It is to encourage female suicide." We have seldom perused a work with more interest. The style is admirably terse and sententious. NEW-YORK AS IT IS IN 1834; and Citizen's Advertising Directory, with Maps. Edited by EDWIN WILLIAMS. New-York: J. DISTURnell. WE have before had occasion to speak of the utility and excellence of the maps which accompany this neat and useful little volume-a work comprising more necessary information, for the citizen and the stranger, than any with which we are acquainted. It contains a general description of the city and its environs, a list of officers, public institutions, and other useful intelligence. To the citizen it is invaluable, as a book of reference, as it records the numerous changes and alterations which are constantly taking place in the varied concerns of this great and increasing metropolis; and to the stranger it is particularly essential, as a correct and authentic guide. It is embellished with a finely engraved view of the Battery and Castle Garden. MONTHLY COMPENDIUM. UNITED STATES. CONGRESS.-Congress has been much occupied, during the last month, in discussing two reports, from the majority and minority of a committee upon the Post Office Department. Thirty thousand copies of both were ordered to be printed. The leading features of the two reports are annexed: when it was $73,854,437. The value of all exports, foreign and domestic, was never before so great, except in 1818, when it was $93,281,133; 1801, when it was $94,115,925; 1805, when it was $99,535,388; 1806, when it was $101,536,963; and 1807, when it was $101,343,546. In a summary statement of the value of the exports of the growth, produce, and manufacture of the U. States, the following aggregates are put down : Products of the sea, $2,402,469 Do. of the forest-skins & furs, 841,933 ginseng, 183,194 "wood, lumber, &c. 3,961,212 13,396,348 The Majority represent the balance against the Department, on final settlement of all its accounts, to be $803,625. The Minority, on the other hand, consider that the actual insolvency of the Department does not exceed $300,000. The Report of the Majority animadverts upon the increased expenditures of Do. of agriculture, the Department, which it considers entirely disproportioned to the increase of mail transportation. The Report of the Minority has a different view of the case. The amount of mail transportation is stated by the Department as follows: On the first day of July, 1829, 13,700,000 miles. 66 1833, 26,854,485 " 66 tobacco, Do. of manufactures, 5,755,968 36,191,105 7,256,571 AMERICAN TONNGAE.-From the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury recently made to Congress, the Registered, Enrolled and Licensed Tonnage of the United States amounts to 1,439,450 tons, divided among the States and Territories as follows: REVENUE FOR THE CURRENT TEAR On Registers of 11 Boys' } The duties which accrued from the customs in the first quarter of the present 1834, amounted to $6.344,540 40. The amount which accrued in the corresponding quarter of last year, 1833, was $5,798 70. The actual receipts for the first quarter of 1834, were $4,435,386 13, and for the corresponding quarter of last year, 1833, $6,966,437 07. The revenue from customs for the year 1834, will be equal to that of last year, and will exceed the estimates by more than one million. The nett income for the two first quarters of 1834 will be about $7,500,000. The receipts from lands during the first quarter of the present year, were $1,398,204 10; for the first quarter of last year, $668,526 66. From the two first quarters of the present year, the receipts for lands will not fall short of two million dollars. | Schools, 3354 2795 Do. 3 Boys & Girls' Schools, 450 227 Boys, 1412 1412 745 870 5961 Girls, 5304 Showing a total of 11,255 children now belonging to the public schools in this city. There are at this time in the employ of the public School Society, 49 teachers, 28 assistant teachers, and 75 monitorsthe aggregate of whose salaries for a year amount to 35,650 dollars. The following is an account of the employment and improvement of the children during the past year: 2d to 3d " 3d to 4th " The first class learn the alphabet, and SPECIE. The importations of specie the ninth is the highest reading class. and bullion during the year ending Sep-2259 have been promoted from 1st to 2d cl. tember 30th, 1833, beyond the export, 2343 amounted to about From Oct. 1, 1833, to June, 11, 1834, over Brought by emigrants, not less than Gold produced in the U. S. Increase of specie and bul do $5,000,000 2546 do do do 2525 do do 4th to 5th " 10,000,000 1557 do do 5th to 6th " |