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215, which we suppose is intended for Sichæus the former husband of Dido, is among his happiest fancies.

We would premise that our remarks on the exhibition are predicated solely on a fondness for paintings unconnected with any talent in discriminating the excellencies, or any acuteness in detecting defects. We have no science, little taste and less judgment in the matter. It is therefore with much diffidence that we hazard an opinion on any specimen of the art. The present collection, if unenriched by foreign talent, appears to us to have called forth more indigenous skill than any other exhibition which we have witnessed.

As a matter of convenience to the company who are daiby assembled to witness the exhibition we venture to suggest, that a reference to the catalogue for information in relation to the artist, owner, or design is frequently inconvenient. A label attached to each painting conveying this information, would be much better and would not detract from the appearance of the piece any more than the numbers on all, and the letters S, O, L, D, on a portion of them. If this should be found to diminish the profits arising from the sale of the catalogue, let the loss be made up by enhancing the fee for admission.

U. R.

The examination of the Bedford St. Infant School was attended on the 11th, at the Rev. Mr. Green's Church by a crowded audience. The scene might be easily described; but who could utter the emotions it awakened? Judging from the deep interest and enthusiasm displayed in the countenances of the people we should say but few, if any, left the house without wishing the benefits of Infant Schools could be enjoyed by every little child in our land. The members of the Legislature generally attended, and may we not hope they will carry to every section of the State an earnest resolution to exert themselves in improving the primary schools, and encouraging Infant education. The latter, however, must depend chiefly on the efforts of the ladies. Men may give their money to promote the object-women must give their hearts to the employment. We shall, next month, refer to this subject again, and more particularly.

LITERARY NOTICES.

EDGE HILL, OR THE FAMILY OF THE FITZROYALS-by a Virginian— Richmond. T. W. White, 1828.

The author of Waverly has surfeited us into an epicurean taste, and then fed us on dainties till he has rendered us dyspeptic. We have in a great measure lost our interest in the fictions of romance. Human nature has so often been painted, so often carricatured that but little is left for future writers but a servile imitation of their predecessors. The present age has done much towards filling up the measure of moral and fanciful description, and if we are not estimated by our successors as a solid or interesting, we shall surely pass for a voluminous age.

The work before us is not one by which either we or the author would desire that the literary reputation of our country should be iufluenced or rated. It is less pretending in its character; yet the plot is simple and has a good share of interest; and although enlivened by few incidents, those few possess an additional charm in their associations with scenes of national importance. There is one circumstance which will recommend it to a large class of readers ;-it is of domestic manufacture-and even those of a different political creed will more than half prefer it to many exotics of established fame. The scene is laid in the “old dominion" at the period of our revolutionary struggle when the British lion was roaring with a voice heard from the surge to the summit of the western hills. The story is natural, and the language generally pure and appropriate. The style, though not remarkable for any peculiarities, is easy, and sometimes animated; and the descriptions, although not sufficiently decided to give a tone to the work, are clear and correct. The dialogue is kept up with tolerable spirit, and on the whole we think the work interesting and creditable to the author.

SPECIMENS OF AMERICAN POETRY. By Samuel Kettell. Boston. S. G. Goodrich & Co. 3 vols. Nearly two years have elapsed since the public announcement that this work was in progress, and we had began to fear it would never be completed. The reasons for this delay are satisfactorily explained in the preface; and an examination of the contents will convince the reader of the difficulty of the task undertaken, as well as the ability with which it has been executed. The work is one of much interest and importance to the American community. Here the curious student may find the remains of our elder pocts in the quaint phraseology, enriched and embued

with the scriptural learning, of that primitive and peculiar people. The first volume will not be very attractive to the admirers of poetry, but to one who would study the character of those men who founded and freed our nation, it will be invaluable. The notices "Biographical and critical," are necessarily short; but some of them are very finely written. We allude particularly to those of Mather, Trumbull, Mrs. Sigourney, Pierpont, Percival, Neal, Bryant and Brainard. The slight notice taken of some poets whose names and rhymes have found admission, is not to be regretted-perhaps it would have been better, had a few been entirely omitted. But we acknowledge our disappointment that Mrs. Wells and her beautiful and pure poetry should be so cursorily dismissed. We think her one of our most gifted female writers; and the fact that she obtained the premium at the opening of the Chatham Theatre, New York, might have been alluded to. We must be watchful that our own sex suffer no injustice at the literary tribunal, and the more that we have never made any extravagant pretensions on their behalf.

To sum up our opinion of the work under consideration, we think it well done-that it will satisfy the expectations its announcement created; and that it should be purchased by every American who can afford it, and be borrowed by all who cannot.

AMIR KHAN, AND OTHER POEMS: the remains of Lucretia Maria Davidson. Samuel F. B. Morse. New York. G. & C. & H. Carvil. The writer of the above work was a native of Plattsburg, New York. At the age of four years she began to display her talent for poetry, though none of those early specimens are preserved. The earliest piece which the book contains was written at the age of eleven; the subject was Washington, and it was considered so extraordinary for a child, that it was, by her aunt, suggested she had copied it. The effect this had on her is a proof of the integrity and nobleness of her heart, and that inspiration which marks her for a child of genius. The moment she could check the tears which the unjust charge had called forth, she wrote a letter in rhyme to her aunt, which at once dispelled all suspicions. We cannot follow this interesting young creature even through her brief memoir; but we recommend the perusal of her Biography to every young lady. It is inserted in the same volume with her poems. The love of knowledge seemed the ruling passion of her soul, and yet she could and did sacrifice that darling wish at the shrine of duty, and affection. That should be a lesson to the poor. Then her watchful improvement of every opportunity presented should be a lesson to the rich.

By the generosity of a stranger she was at length placed in a situation to indulge her thirst for literature-her progress was as rapid as her talents had promised; but death was at hand.

"The flower of genius withers in its bloom."

She died before she was seventeen.

We preferred giving this slight sketch of Miss Davidson rather than an analysis of her poems. There is a sympathy, felt by every one who has a heart, with the posthumous productions of a young author which disarms criticism. We feel that the writer can never make another exertion, that the book of earthly fame is closed, and we are ready to grant the efforts already made more than justice. But justice must award high praise to this sweet girl; and yet we admire her character more than her poetry. We quote from the miscellaneous pieces, one which may be called a fair sample.

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL.

To Miss E. C.-Composed on a blank leaf of her Paley, during recitation.

WRITTEN IN HER SIXTEENTH YEAR.

I'm thy guardian angel, sweet maid, and I rest
In mine own chosen temple, thy innocent breast;
At midnight I steal from my sacred retreat,
When the chords of thy heart in soft unison beat.

When thy bright eye is closed, when thy dark tresses flow
In beautiful wreaths o'er thy pillow of snow;

O then I watch o'er thee, all pure as thou art,
And listen to music which steals from thy heart.

Thy smile is the sunshine which gladdens my soul,
My tempest the clouds, which around thee may roll;
I feast my light form on thy rapture-breathed sighs,
And drink at the fount of those beauitful eyes.

The thoughts of thy heart are recorded by me ;

There are some which, half-breathed, half-acknowledged by thee.
Steal sweetly and silently o'er thy pure breast,

Just ruffling its calmness, then murm'ring to rest.

Like a breeze o'er the lake, when it breathlessly lies,
With its own mimic mountains, and star-spangled skies;
I stretch my light pinions around thee when sleeping,
To guard thee from spirits of sorrow and weeping.

I breathe o'er thy slumbers sweet dreams of delight,
Till you wake but to sigh for the visions of night;
Then remember, wherever your pathway may lie,
Be it clouded with sorrow, or brilliant with joy;
My spirit shall watch thee, wherever thou art,
My incense shall rise from the throne of thy heart.
Farewell for the shadows of evening are fled,

And the young rays of morning are wreathed round my head.

THE HAPPY VALLEY: HAPPY DAYS: THE WARNING. Printed for the Boston Sunday School Society. Wait, Green & Co. 1829. pp. 40. 40 & 96. If no other good were effected by associations for the support of Sunday Schools, it would be sufficient proof of their usefulness to point out

the facilities afforded for moral instruction, conveyed in an engaging dress, which these institutions have in general engendered by their publications! The children of the poorer classes of society, whose moral principles are no less important than those whose example is destined for future precedent, have heretofore been destitute of such means of improvement as are the most efficacious because the most simple, the more permanent because more strongly associated with images which as easily captivate the memory as they entertain the imagination and improve the heart. It is a common remark that History is nothing less than Philosophy teaching by examples. It is no less true that a nobler, a refined species of morality is taught by those simple and natural stories which have been published by many institutions whose object has been to improve the character of the world, not by a useless expenditure of words or precepts on those who have been confirmed in their errors by obstinate and almost inflexible habit; but by mixing the salutary influences with the earliest flow of the current of life, and impregnating the fountain so strongly that the future streams which mingle with the waters cannot wholly subdue their control. Such must be the effect of the exertions of those benevolent individuals of whatever religious sect or party, who have for their object, the unpretending but important task of improving the morals of the young. The little books before us are of a description well calculated to promote the object for which they are intended. Their authors appear to be fully capable of writing for the improvement of more advanced minds; but in pursuing their object they have wisely remembered the close analogy between the mind and the body, that high seasoned viands are not for young appetites; but that the food for children must be simple, light and nutritious. Accordingly they have with considerable success, brought down a refined species of morality to the comprehension of the young; presenting it in an engaging dress, and associating it with interesting narratives that must indelibly impress it upon the memory.

THE GARLAND OF FLORA. Boston, Carter & Hendee. Those who love flowers and fine sentiments should forthwith acquaint themselves with the contents of this elegant volume. They will find descriptions, and very apposite ones too, of nearly all the race of Flora, which, by becoming identified with human passions and feelings, have a history independent of their vegetable character. A thorough Botanist would probably call the Garland a romance, and throw it disdainfully aside for Linneus, Persoon, Smith or Nuttall; preferring the awful nomenclature science has bestowed on the flowers to the poetry and pretty sayings these same children of the sun and the dew have called forth. But those who pursue the study of Botany more as a recreation than a profession will find the Garland a very interesting and useful manual. There is another class of readers and writers too, which will find it invaluable. We mean those who complain of a treacherous memory, and according

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