THE NOVELS OF JANE AUSTEN; WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR. To Volumes in one. Carey, Lea, and Blanchard. " It is needless to pronounce any eulogium upon works so well known and universally admired as Miss Austen's productions; and the somewhat vaunted quotation, in the advertisement, of Sir Walter Scott's favorable opinion of various of her novels is turning a natural and commonplace remark into an act of supererogation. The present edition, the only one by the way, that is procurable by the American reader, contains Pride and Prejudice," "Mansfield Park," "Persuasion," "Sense and Sensibility," " Emma,” and “ Northanger Abbey;" and the warmest thanks of the public are, in our opinion, due to the publishers, for placing before them a full and handsome copy of these inimitable productions They are worthy a place in every library that contains the works of Scott, and other master minds, who have revelled in the development of habits and manners, and the secret movements of the human heart. We have been favored with a view of an early copy of Messrs. Carey and Hart's splendid annual for 1839, THE GIFT, which, we see by the advertisements, is announced for publication in the course of the ensuing month. The plates, all of them of American production, tell mightily of the rapid progress of the arts amongst us, and deserve unqualified approval. We would especially instance the "Goldfinch," which is engraved by J. B. Forrest, in a style of surpassing delicacy and felicitous execution. This young man is rapidly making unto himself a name pre-eminent in the scale of merit, and the prowess of his burin may challenge competition with men of mark in other lands. He has another engraving, Brother and Sister, from a painting by Sully— a production of superior worth. The frontispiece, "Helen," and the vignette title page are from the graver of Cheney, who has never been more successful than in the execution of these plates; the latter, the subject of which is a head of surpassing beauty, by Sully, is a gem of inestimable value, and Helen, although a modern Miss in a low dress and lace mantilla, is lovely enough to fire another Troy. Rustic Civility" represent a group of cottage children opening a gate in a country lane, with a bit of the most exquisite woodland in the back ground. Pease has contrived in his engraving of this well conceived design, to give the due affect of light and shade to Collins' able picture-we have never seen a more effective print. Chapman's well known picture of "The Snare," exhibiting a country boy fixing his rabbit noose, has been well engraved by Lawson; and another rustic subject, "The Farmer's Boy," exhibits the well known abi lities of Tucker in a favorable light. We are partial to the vignette style, and the simple but effective appearance of the print before us, confirms our predisposition. There is something wrong in the position of the left eye of the prin cipal figure a fault to be regretted, as it somewhat detracts from the merit of one of the best plates in the volume. We have largely but honestly indulged in the laudatory style, and regret that we have any cause to spoil our "winding off," by deprecating the introduction of such a print as "Miranda" amongst a group of worthies seldom congregated. If we had not seen the original picture, we should have imagined that the letter engraver had made a mistake in the painter's name ; and if we were not intimate with the usual excellence of the engraver's works, we should have at once denounced him as unable to compete with the master hands who have given us fresh instances of their abilities and skill in the delightful volume before us. We intend, next month, to devote some portion of our contents to a full notice of the literary portion of this handsome volume, which rather exceeds in merit the standard of its predecessors, and therefore deserves a progressional award of popularity. “The Violet,” an Annual for Young People, but under the same able supervision as the Gift, that of Miss Leslie, contains seven exquisite plates and appropriate matter for the edification and amusement of the youthful literaries. It is announced for publication, and will receive due notice at our hands. INDIAN SUMMER.-A late writer, describing the properties of the American climate, regards the Indian summer as a peculiarity belonging exclusively to the northern and middle States of this continent. This notion is incorrect. The indefatigable Hone, in one of his volumes of The Every Day Book, asserts that the few fine days which occur (in England) about the beginning of November, from All Hallows to Martinmass, have been denominated "St. Martin's Little Summer." Shakspeare refers to this period in the first part of King Henry the Sixth, Act I. Scene 2; where Joan of Arc says Assigned am I to be the English scourge- And Prince Henry bids adieu to Falstaff, see the first part of King Henry the Fourth, Act I, Scene 2, in these words Farewell, thou latter spring! farewell, all-hallowen summer. LEAF No. III. THE CLOSE OF THE VOYAGE-BALIZE-A FLEET-A CHANGE-FINE SPECTACLE-WEST INDIAMAN-PORTUGUESE POLACRE-LAND HO!-ADVENTUROUS MEN -A MODERN SANCHO-THE LAND-ITS FORMATION -PILOT, OR "LITTLE BRIEF AUTHORITY"-LIGHTHOUSE REVENUE CUTTER-NEWSPAPERS." THE MEETING OF THE WATERS"-A SINGULAR APPEAR⚫ANCE-A MORNING OFF THE BALIZE THE TOW BOAT. WE are at last at the termination of our voyage upon the sea. In three days, at the farthest, we expect to land in New Orleans. But three days upon the waveless Mississippi, to those who have been riding a month upon the ocean, is but a trifle. After an uncommonly long, but unusually pleasant passage of thirty-one days, we anchored off the Balize,* last evening at sunset. The tedious monotony of our passage since leaving Cuba, was more than cancelled by the scenes and variety of yesterday. We had not seen a sail for four or five days, when, on ascending to the deck at sunrise yesterday morning, judge of my surprise at be. holding a fleet of nearly fifty vessels surrounding us on every side, all standing to one common centre; in the midst of which our own gallant ship dashed proudly on, like a high-mettled courser contending for the victory. To one imprisoned in a companionless ship, on the broad and lonely ocean, so many days, this was a scene, from its vivid contrast, calculated to awaken in my bosom, emotions of the liveliest gratification and pleasure. In a few moments, on announcing the circumstance, the state-rooms were minus their occupants, who considering their little toilet arrangements as a matter of comparatively small moment, rushed" en déshabille" to the deck, and springing into the rigging and on to the traffrail, amused themselves in gazing upon the novel scene; while our quizzing jack tars amused themselves in gazing upon them. Faces, which the day before would almost have made the heavens weep if turned upward, were now so miraculously luminous with delight that every one exhibited an admirable personification of Momus. Every spy glass on board was in requisition, and more than half the morning was consumed in gazing upon the interesting sight. The morning was clear and cloudless. The breeze was light and steady; wafting us along at about four knots an hour; and the sea was as waveless as a mountain lake. Every thing contributed both in nature and our own feelings to render the morning's enjoyment as perfect as could be wished. A point or two abaft our beam, within pistol shot distance, slowly and majestically moved a huge British West-Indiaman, her black, gloomy hull wholly unrelieved by brighter colors, with her red ensign heavily unfolding to the breeze, in recognition of the stars and stripes, floating gracefully at our peak. Farther astern, a taunt-rigged, rakish-looking Portuguese polacre, (polaque) carrying even in so light a breeze, a "bone in her teeth," glided swiftly along, every thing set from deck to truck. We could distinctly see the red woollen caps and dark red faces of her crew, peering over the bows, as they pointed to, and made remarks upon our ship. We distinctly heard one voice say in Spanish, “El Ame ricano es mejor que el Inglis," in reference to our | in a short time, a sediment nearly equal to one twelfth respective rates of sailing. Early in the morning, of its bulk. The matter discharged by the river, conabout a league ahead of us, we had observed a heavy densed and strengthened by logs, trees, grass, and sailing Dutch ship, as indeed Dutch ships all are; other gross substances, is raised above the ordinary about eleven o'clock we came up with, and passed tide waters, upon which a soil is formed of mingled her, with the same facility as if she had been at anchor. sand and marl, capable of producing the long grass On all sides of us, vessels of nearly every maritime which not only lines the coast in the vicinity of this nation were in sight; and in conjectures respecting river, but extends many miles into the interior, where them, and in admiring their variety of constructionit unites with the cypress swamps, which cover the and appearance, we passed most of the day, elated with the prospect of a speedy termination to our voy. age. greater part of the unreclaimed lowlands of Louisiana. We coasted along this shore till about three in the evening, when the light-house, at the south-east pasBefore we had completed dinner, to which many sage, the chief embouchure of the Mississippi, appeared of us descended half-unwillingly, reluctant to deprive in sight, but a few miles ahead; passing this, we reourselves, even for the short time requisite to discuss ceived a pilot from a fairy-like pilot-boat, which on that meal, of the pleasant prospect around us, the cry delivering him, bounded away from us like a swiftof "Land ho!" was heard from the main top. Down winged albatross. About four o'clock, the light-house went knife and fork, over went chair and camp stool, at the south west passage, lifted its solitary head above and up rushed passengers, one and all, to the deck, the horizon. The breeze freshening, we approached Every eye was instantly running along the northern it rapidly, under the guidance of the pilot, who had horizon, with a rapid glance. Long and perseveringly suivant l'usage, taken command of our ship, and during they scanned the hazy boundary with a steady, search- the brief but pompous reign of this personage, the ing, intense gaze; had a travelling gnat passed within captain always sinks into an acquiescing subject. their range, he could not have escaped their scrutiny; When nearly abreast of the light-house, a fierce, little how then could land escape their vision! Had there warlike looking revenue cutter, ran along side of us, been any above their horizon, it most unquestionably and lowering her boat, sent her lieutenant on board, could not have eluded it. Glasses were tried, but glasses to see that "all was straight." He cracked a bottle would not bring the land. At last, two of the most of wine with the captain, and leaving some late New adventurous of the passengers assayed to mount aloft, Orleans papers, took his departure. The time passed that they might even at so great a risk, feast their long- at sea is almost a blank in existence, under any ciring eyes on the "promised land." When at length after cumstances. And those who have never suffered the most marvellous efforts and hair-breadth escapes, one privation of being at sea a month, without hearing a of the adventurous two gained the "futtock shrouds:" word from the busy, bustling, moving world from and, delaying a few minutes, to recover his recollections, which they seem to be shut out, can form no idea of and his breath, he cautiously peered through the rig- the avidity with which we seized and devoured those ging, and took a long, lingering look, while twenty papers. There were but three of them; and the long, lengthening faces were peering up to his. Sud- lucky or rather unlucky holders of them were comdenly when we had begun to imagine our " land" was pelled "nolens volens," to read every article aloud, but another "El Dorado," our Columbus aloft, sending for the satisfaction of the impatient passengers. For > forth an outlandish whoop, and clapping his hands, the next half hour the quarter deck appeared like a cried out, "I see it!" But alas! the poor fellow, in school room; buzz, buzz! buzz! till the papers were the ecstasy of the moment, deprived himself of the read and re-read, advertisements and all, and all were only means of support, and when his hands relin-satisfied. About six o'clock in the evening, we cast quished their hold to assist, by clapping, in expressing anchor at the mouth of the south west pass, in comhis joy, his body, in obedience to the laws of gravita-pany not only with the fleet in which we had sailed tion, which "obtain" at sea as well as on land, relinquished its position, and fell ineontinent-fortunately not into the yawning deep-but into the awning spread over the quarter-deck, and, after rebounding a few times, from the vibration of its chords, like honest Sancho in the blanket, he was safely delivered from his durance, unhurt, "having," as a wag on board expressed it, "not only discovered land, but safely landed after the discovery." And in the course of half an hour, we saw from the deck, not exactly land, but an apology for it, in the form and substance of an immense marsh, of tall, wild grass, which stretched along the horizon from west to east, ad infinitum. This soil, if you may term it such, is formed by the accumulation and deposition of ochreous matter discharged by the Mississippi, whose turbid waters are more or less charged with terrene particles, so much so, that a glass filled with its water appears to deposit during the day, but with a large fleet already at anchor, waiting for tide, pilots, wind, or tow-boats. In approaching the mouth of the river, we witnessed, to us, a novel and remarkable appearance—the meeting of the milky, turbid waters of the Mississippi, with the pale green of the ocean. The waters of the former being lighter than the latter, and not readily mingling with it, are thrown upon the surface, floating like oil to the depth of only two or three feet. A ship passing through this water, leaves a long, dark wake, which is slowly covered by the uniting of the parted waters. The line of demarkation between the yellowish-brown water of the river and the clear green water of the sea, is so distinctly defined that a cane could be laid along the mark of junction. When we first discovered the long white line about two miles distant, it presented the appearance of a low sand beach. As we reached it, I went aloft, not having the fear of my predecessor's fate before my eyes, and | ing the rays of the morning sun, while the rapid dashand seating myself in the top-gallant cross-trees, behelding of the airy pilot-boats about us, and the slower one of the most singular appearance of which I had movements of ships getting under weigh, to cross the ever formed any conception. When within a few bar, and work their own way up to the city, together fathoms of the discolored water, we appeared to be with the mingling sounds of stern commands, and the rushing on to certain destruction, and when our sharp sonorous heave ho yeo!" of the laboring seaman, keel cut and turned up the sluggish surface, I invo- borne upon the breeze, give an almost unparalleled luntarily shuddered-the next instant we seemed sus- charm and novelty to the scene. Our whale is now pended between two seas. Another moment, and we in sight, spouting, not jets d'eau of salt water, but had passed the line of division, ploughing the lazy volumes of dense black smoke. We shall soon be and muddy waves, and leaving a dark, transparent under weigh, and every countenance is bright with wake far astern. We are hourly expecting our tow-anticipation. Within an hour, we shall be floating boat-the Whale. When she arrives, we shall, immediately, in the company of some other ships, move up for New Orleans. The morning is delightful, and we have the prospect of a pleasant sail, or rather tow, up the river. A hundred snow white sails are reflect upon the great artery of North America," prisoners of hope" and of steam, on our way to add our little number to the countless thousands, who throng the streets of the Key of the Great Valley through which it flows. THE LOTTERY TICKET. "By this good light, this is a very shallow monster-a very weak monster-the man in the moon? a most poor credulous monster-well drawn, monster, in good sooth."-Shakspeare." occasions, and as Peter had no means of proving the facts, he usually wound up his anathema with a positive threat to inform the whole firm of Messrs. Foggs, Boggs, and Co. of his conduct, and have him immediately discharged-a threat, however, which he univer PETER SWAGGS was head clerk and book-keeper in | Mr. Swaggs should have been the butt of all the the mercantile house of Foggs, Boggs, and Co. He was young witlings who infest stores and offices, and play a man of about middle age, with a clayey complexion, off their pranks upon every strange creature that which, when agitated, assumed a dolphin-like ap- comes in their way. Jack Williams was an apt mempearance, and became flushed and streaked with a ber of this clan, and as he happened also to be an diversity of colors. His features were heavy and apprentice to the gentlemen whose names we have thick-he had a light gray eye-and his hair, which mentioned at the commencement of this article, he was about the color of a hog's back, was cropped had ample opportunity of indulging his propensity for close to his cranium, and presented a kind of bristly, mischief, at the expense of the pale faced head clerk spotted aspect, as odd as it was ugly. His dress was in the broad-tailed blue coat and metal buttons. as remarkable as his countenance, and was made up Many a day witnessed Peter's desk thrown into of a short-tailed blue coat with metal buttons, with a "most admired disorder," being piled with odd bits close vest and pantaloons of the same material. The of lumber from all parts of the counting house-or 1 atter were made somewhat capacious, and below the the dainty tricks of oil poured into his inkstand, or a knees were thrust into a pair of enormous boots, dead mouse impaled on his paper file-at all these which again at the feet were deposited in a huge pair interferences with his established rights, our hero of over-shoes, giving to the whole pediment an am- waxed exceeding wroth, denouncing Jack Williams plitude assimilating to that of the elephant. A smooth-in no gentle terms, and swearing vengeance against ly brushed black hat, the companion of some years, him in no delicate phraseology-but as Jack generalcovered his head, and in the cold season his entirely contrived to wear a smooth and sober face on these form was enveloped in a dark-colored wrapper or great coat, which hung loosely around him. When behind the desk the blue coat, with its brass buttons, was usually laid aside, and superseded by a large roundabout with standing collar, out of the pocket of which might be seen protruding a white muslin hand-sally failed to put in execution. kerchief, of material recommended partly by its ap parent gentility, and partly by its cheapness. Engaged about the business of the counting house, his great boast was accuracy and attention-and he even claimed to examine his work thirteen times, in order to be sure of its correctness. "Mr. Foggs" he would sometimes say to the younger partner," Mr. Foggs is a man of a very neat and comprehensive mind, and he entirely perceives the propriety of my plancare, my dear, care is every thing in a counting house." "But, Mr. Swaggs," would the Co. in pure waggery object, "Mr. Boggs does not like your system-he thinks it wastes too much time about what" Peter Swaggs, Esq." is utterly useless-if you ar'n't sure you're right in two or three examinations, you can't be sure in twenty." "Understand me," would Peter reply-" understand me, my dear, I mean no disrespect to you, but you're a fool, and you know nothing at all about business-you've no more idea of it than a mere baby. I know my plan is the only proper one that was ever adopted, and if Mr. Boggs don't like it, he may go to he devil! Excuse me, my dear, I merely make the remark." Such was Peter Swaggs, head clerk to the house of Foggs, Boggs, and Co. With the warm temper, odd appearance, and pecuiar habits indicated above, it is not surprising that One morning on entering the counting house, considerably before Peter's arrival, Jack found on his (the head clerk's) desk, a letter, which, as it was freshly sealed with only a wafer, he could not resist the temptation to open. Its contents were as follows— "SIR, "Your ticket No. 389, in the Grand Conglomeration Lottery, has drawn a prize of $100, which we shall be happy to advance you at our office, on the usual discount. "Your obedient servants, "JONES & JENKINS. The mischievous apprentice chuckled internally as he read the billet, at the beautiful prospect of amusement which it presented. It was but the work of a moment, and an easy matter withal, as the amount occurred at the end of a line, to add two ciphers, making it read $10,000 instead of 100 dollars-after which he carefully resealed it, and placed it as before on the book-keeper's desk. After some time, Peter arrived, and while Jack appeared to be utterly inattentive to his motions, he was watching with a sidelong glance, to see the effect his supposed good fortune would produce upon him. He began with rather a |