A neatly-printed volume of Poetical and Moral Pieces, by Lydia Huntley, a young lady of Connecticut, has just made its appearance from the press of Sheldon and Goodwin, Hartford. These little productions, though perhaps not calculated to attract great attention, are nevertheless very pretty specimens of the good sense, ingenuity, and taste of the author, and are capable of imparting both entertainment and instruction; especially to youth. The pieces in verse are, in general, smooth and melodious; and the style of the prose is distinguished for its peculiar neatness, not to say, elegant simplicity. "The destruction of the Inquisition at Goa," " Malta," and "The giving the Bible to the Esquimaux," contain many lines of very good poetry, and some that are entitled to still higher praise. The prose compositions, consisting chiefly of addresses to youth on education and morals, and of meditations on worldly vanity, do great credit, not only to the pen, but to the heart and understanding of the author. The meditation on the 119th Psalm," the end of all perfection," ought particularly to be mentioned as possessing great beauty and simplicity, both of thought and language. With a heart full of tenderness, benevolence, and friendship, and a mind purified and warmed by religion, her effusions all appear to be tinctured with these virtues; and though not perhaps aspiring to gain a wreathe of lasting renown, yet we think she has succeeded in weaving for herself "A garland of domestic flowers," that will win affection, though it may not command applause. The Digest of the Law of Maritime Captures and Prizes, by Henry Wheaton, Esq. announced for publication in our December number, will be immediately put to press by Messrs. M'Dermut & Arden, of New-York. The publication has been delayed in order to embrace all the decisions which have taken place during the war just terminated, upon questions of prizes in the courts of the United States. It is conceived that this will enhance the value of the work, whilst the intervention of peace will not materially diminish its utility, since the principles of public law which are developed in it are of permanent importance, and will serve to illustrate various questions of municipal law, in which the merchant, as well as lawyer, is deeply interested; and, at the same time, to fix with accuracy the relative rights of war and of neutrality-a difficult and doubtful subject, on which the talents of statesmen have been long exercised. Lately published in Boston, "A Concise View of the principal Point of Difference between the Baptists and Pedobaptists," by the late Rev. Caleb Blood, of Portland, to which is prefixed a memoir of his life. Horatio G. Spafford, of Albany, has lately published a pamphlet entitled," Cursory Observations on the Construction of Wheel Car riages, with an Attempt to point out their Defects, and to show how they may be Improved." This little tract is designed to suggest a mode of combining the acknowledged advantages of high carriage wheels with the security of those commonly used, and at the same time to obviate the inconveniences arising from too high a line of draught. This Mr. S. proposes to do by using high wheels (seven feet) with a crooked or cranked axle, on which the load may rest, below the direct line of the axes of the wheel. Miss Thompson, of Albany, has translated" The History of Tekeli," from the French of Le Brun. It will shortly be published in one vol. 12mo. of about 200 pages. In the press," A Cursory View of the Peace lately concluded between Great Britain and the United States," by a citizen of Philadelphia, in which will be examined the manner this event will operate on the commerce of America; in what manner it is likely to produce benefits or evils to merchants, manufacturers, agriculturalists, and distillers; how it will affect the tonnage interest, embracing generally the various influence it may have on the destinies of the United States in their future connexions, political and commercial, with the rest of the civilized world. The Rev. Dr. Romeyn, of New-York, is preparing for the press two volumes of Sermons. The Rev. Thomas Y. How, D. D. of New-York, has ready for publication “A Vindication of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in reply to some late writings of the Rev. Dr. S. Miller." It will be published in one royal 12mo. vol. of about 400 pages. T. & J. Swords, of New-York, have in the press, a volume of Sermons, on Regeneration and Renovation, in which the Doctrine of the Protestant Episcopal Church on these subjects is explained, vindicated, and enforced, by J. H. Hobart, D. D. Assistant Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the state of New-York. FOREIGN LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. A humorous work has been lately published in England, entitled The School for Good Living; or, A Literary and Historical Essay on the European Kitchen, beginning with Cadmus, the cook and king, and ending with the union of cookery and chemistry. In August was published, Part I. of the Dictionary of the English Language; by Samuel Johnson, LL. D.; with numerous corrections, and with the addition of many thousand words, by the Rev. Henry J. Todd, M. A. F. S. A. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty, and Keeper of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Records. "The attention of the present Editor has been long employed upon this work. His object has been to select from the writings of our best and well-known authors, and of others who have escaped, but highly deserve notice, a mass of useful and impressive words, which prove the wealth of our language, and demand their place in a Dictionary of it and to correct numerous etymologies, which are found in the Dictionary of Dr. Johnson. Other evidences of his attention will appear in a rectification of some mistaken references, or imperfect citations, which Dr. Johnson has given, and in the production of examples to many words which have wanted even a single instance of illustration, as well as to others which require additional authority. In these labours he has derived assistance from some communications of importance, which have been made to him with liberality, and without solicitation; and which have enabled him, though indeed they are not very numerous, to admit into his volumes emendations and additions, as well by antagonists as by friends of Dr. Johnson; by Mr. Malone, Mr. Horne Tooke, and others: of all which the introduction to this work will give a more explicit account. In these labours, also, it may not here be omitted, the " PLAN" of Dr. Johnson has been followed. The second volume of M. Blumenbach's work, entitled, Beitrage sur Naturgeschichte, &c. or Memoirs of Natural History, occupies 144 pages in 8vo. It contains two very important articles; the first on the homo sapiens ferus of Linnæus, the Wild Man of Hameln. The author shows, by very ingenious arguments, that the greater part of these wild men, cited by Linnæus, were individuals born deaf and dumb, and absolutely imbeciles. The second memoir is devoted to the investigation of the human mummies of Egypt. It is a repetition, with additions of a former discourse, occasioned by the recep tion of a mummy in perfect preservation, sent to the author by the Duke of Saxe Gotha. The biennial Exhibition of Works of Art took place in Amsterdam in October last. It included 142 pictures; among the authors of which thirty-two were painters of the City of Amsterdam only. Beside these were miniatures, drawings, engravings, &c. Sculpture ap pears to be in a languishing state. The last Exhibition of Works of Art took place in Zurich, at the close of last summer. In this collection were remarked a great number of picturesque views in Switzerland, of landscapes and portraits. The landscapes were mostly after nature. The whole number of articles exhibited was about 150. Among the sculptures were only four subjects in marble; but there were several in terra cotta. In a separate apartment was exhibited by M. Muller, of Engelberg, a model in relief of the highest mountains of Switzerland. This subject included the southern part of the canton of Zurich, thecantons of Zug, Schwytz, Ury, Unterwalden, and part of the cantons of Lucerne and Berne. |