EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY COMPANY, DECEMBER 15TH. 1849.

Resolved, That the Directors of the Mercantile Library Company of Philadelphia recommend to the business community the Merchants' Magazine, published in the city of New York, and edited by FREEMAN HUNT, Esq., as a valuable vehicle of mercantile facts, replete with statistics of Commerce, Agriculture, and Manufactures, and diversified with literary and varied matter highly interesting to the man of business, and to the general reader.

Resolved, That this Board, appreciating the prominence which the Editor has uniformly given in the pages of the Magazine to the history and proceedings of the various Mercantile Library Associations of the country, do hereby elect him an honorary

member of this institution.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Mr. Hunt by the Secretary.

JOHN J. THOMPSON,

Secretary of the Board of Directors.

MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK.

We have received an early copy of the twenty-ninth annual report of the Board of Direction of this association. It is more elaborate than any that have preceded, embracing, besides the usual statement of its affairs during the past year, many interesting remeniscences of the early history and progress of the association. It is well remarked in the introduction of the report that the salutary benefits which the association have conferred upon the masses who have been brought within the sphere of its influence, can be attested by many thousands who have profitted by it in former years, and are now among the most respectable and prosperous of our merchants.

As it is our intention to refer to the report more particularly in a future number of the Merchants' Magazine, we shall merely present a condensed account of its statistical progress during the year which has just closed. It appears from the report that the actual number of members, on the first day of January, 1849, instead of being 3,004, as stated in the report made up at the close of 1848, on the authori y of the Librarian, was only 2,707, of which 101 were accounts on suspense, awaiting their constitutional limitation, with no hope that they could be collected. It further appears that there have joined this year 1,013 new members, while 346 have voluntarily withdrawn, and the accounts of 400 closed in conformity with the constitution, showing a net gain in 1849 of 267, and a total number of members on the 1st of January, 1850, of 2,974Of these, 2,805 are, or were, originally, clerks, and pay $2 per annum, and 169 merchants and other subscribers paying $5 per annum. The last mentioned class enjoy all the privileges of the library, except the right to vote and hold office.

Besides the above, there are 113 honorary members; 283 stockholders of Clinton Hall Association, and nine life members, who joined more than twenty years ago under the original constitution, the article of which, authorizing life memberships, was repealed in January, 1831. Of the 2,974 accounts mentioned in the foregoing statement, 128 are suspended for non-payment of dues, and will, without doubt, be all cancelled during the present year. This leaves us 2,846 actual members at the beginning of the year, who may be relied on as contributors to the support of the institution, and worthy a place on its records. Of the 346 members who have withdrawn in 1849, 112 have gone to California, and 96 to other places. Of the 400 whose accounts have been cancelled, 42 are known to have gone to California, and it is presumed that many more have taken the same direction, as they cannot be found.

The report of the Treasurer, Mr. Theodore Stout, exhibits the following particulars : Receipts of the year, (class fund excepted,) are... Expenditures....

$7,207 06

7,159 15

The revenues of 1849 exceed those of the preceding year by the sum of $903 85. The amount expended in 1849 is $600 95 more than in 1848.

The library, according to this report, contained on the 1st of January, 1849, 29,157 volumes; the number added during the year by purchase, 2,369, and donation, 148, making the present number, 31,674.

This number is subject to a considerable deduction of volumes of the cheaper class, which have become too much worn and defaced to be placed in the new catalogue, and far too many that have been retained by delinquent subscribers.

The additions of 1849 are classed as follows:-Works of literature and art, 406; general literature, 1,555; fiction, 556. Of these, 40 are folios; 126 quartos; 1,397 octavos; and 954 duodecimos. The additions made to the library during the year are in the main judicious-the object in making selections is to buy such books as will best satisfy the demands of readers.

There are other interesting facts connected with the present and past condition of this institution which we should be glad to introduce in this notice, but we are compelled to defer the subject to a future number of our journal.

INFLUENCE OF COMMERCE UPON CIVILIZATION.*

Of this extensive work, six numbers are published, and we have glanced over some of the subsequent proof-sheets. Its design is to make Universal History attractive and comprehensible to general readers, and we think it admirably adapted to its purpose. The author is too well known, to require any critical remarks upon his style, but as it is much the most elaborate and important work he has undertaken, it is proper to say, that it is characterized by great clearness and force, in the diction, by a happy arrangement, and a presentation of a vast amount of exceedingly interesting and useful matter. It is full of useful tables, and notes for reference: the Geography, both Ancient and Modern, is very complete. The historical portions abound in striking details and illustrations, and the remarks and reflections of the author are characterized by the best of all philosophy-that of intelligent common sense. We copy a passage, as a sample of the author's mode of generalizing upon the topics which come in his way :

"As an illustration of the influence of physical circumstances in determining the fortune of nations, we may properly direct the attention of the reader to the position of Europe in respect to the Mediterranean Sea. The length of this is about two thousand miles; but the winding coast on the European side measures at least twice that distance. Three peninsulas-those of Greece, Italy, and Spain-project wholly or in part into this sea, and upon these were the first seats of European civilization. The whole border of the Mediterranean is historical ground. Nearly every promontory, cape, headland, island, and bay, within its circuit, has been the site of some renowned city, or is associated with memorable events in the annals of mankind. It would be easy to trace the career of Phoenicia in Asia, of Carthage in Africa, of Greece and Rome in Europe, to their maritime position, and to show how the facilities afforded to early commerce by the Mediterranean, rendered its borders, for two thousand years, the great center of the world's civilization. In comparing the coasts of Africa with those of Europe, as displayed upon a map, we are struck with the remarkalbe difference. Those of the former have an even outline, with few projections or indentations; we see a solid mass of land, intersected by no great bays, or seas, or,

A History of All Nations, by S. G. Goodrich, 1,200 pages, royal 8vo. Boston: Wilkins & Carter, Publishers.

ment.

navigable rivers; and hence Africa, affording little facility to navigation, remains either an unknown land, or is occupied by agricultural and nomadic races, who continue, from age to age, in barbaric darkness. Europe, on the contrary, is edged by a coast presenting a succession of capes, headlands, inlets, and islands, inviting the people to commerce, which is the great source of enterprise, knowledge and improveIt is reasonable to assign a portion of national character to races, and a portion, also, to climate; but position, in relation to the sea, has an influence upon nations, even more transforming than these. Had the negroes been planted in Greece, they might have led the world in arts and arms; had the Greeks been confined to Nigritia, they would doubtless have continued, from age to age, mere nomads. Since the first empires sprung up in the valleys of the Euphrates and the Nile, no nation of mere agriculturists has become permanently enlightened, refined, or powerful. The plough, the spade, and the mattock, teach the mind but little; human nature dwindles, when it is absorbed in mere tillage of the soil. The merchant, who visits various countries, has his mind enlarged, and his enterprise quickened; the mariner, stimulated by difficulty, and roused by danger, has his faculties sharpened, his courage elevated, and his resources, mental and physical, indefinitely multiplied. Under the influence of these, every kind of productive skill is fostered; and thus a civilized state, which consists in the diffusion of diversified arts and varied knowledge in the community, is attained. It is a mistake, then, manifest from the example of Europe, to consider agriculture as the chief source of human progress. The land feeds mankind, but the sea has civilized them. Agricultural nations may be productive, but commercial countries will govern them; the first may live, but the countries combining the two will be rich, intelligent, enterprising and powerful. Europe, a maritime country, and little favorable to agriculture, is the center of wealth, power, and intelligence-making the old world tributary to it, and, in fact, controlling almost the entire products of the eastern hemisphere; while the vast interior plateaus of Asia and Africa, formed for agriculture alone, continue as they were three thousand years ago-the domain of barbarians, without towns, cities, books, or permanent institutions.”

This work supplies a great want, namely-a Comprehensive Universal History, suited to the use of all classes, and, if we mistake not, it will ere long be deemed indispensable in every library.

POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE COTTON TRADE.

The London Economist thus sums up an elaborate article on this subject:

Now, bearing in mind that the figures in the above tables are, with scarcely an exception, ascertained facts, and not estimates, let us sum the conclusions to which they have conducted us; conclusions sufficient, if not to alarm us, yet certainly to create much uneasiness, and to suggest great caution on the part of all concerned, directly or indirectly, in the great manufacture of England.

1. That our supply of cotton from miscellaneous quarters (excluding the United States) has for many years been decidedly, though irregularly, decreasing.

2. That our supply of cotton from all quarters, (including the United States,) available for home consumption, has of late years been falling off at the rate of 1,000 bales a week, while our consumption has been increasing during the same period at the rate of 3,600 bales a week.

3. That the United States is the only country where the growth of cotton is on the increase, and that there even the increase does not on an average exceed 3 per cent, or 80,000 bales annually, which is barely sufficient to supply the increasing demand for its own consumption, and for the continent of Europe.

4. That no stimulus of price can materially augment this annual increase, as the planters always grow as much cotton as the negro population can pick.

5. That, consequently, if the cotton manufacture of Great Britain is to increase at all, on its present footing, it can only be enabled to do so by applying a great stimulus to the growth of cotton in other countries adapted for the culture.

Let us now sum up the conclusions which our tables have solved :

1. Our supply of cotton has materially fallen off during the last few years, and will not increase except under the stimulus of much higher prices than have (till the last few months) been obtained.

2. That under such range of prices our consumption will not maintain its present apparent rate, (or say 32,000 bales a week,) whatever be the increase or improvement of machinery.

THE BOOK TRADE.

1.-The Neighbors; a Story of Life. By FREDERIKA BREMER. Translated from the Sweedish. By MARY HOWITT. Author's Edition, with a portrait. 12mo., pp. 439. New York: George P. Putnam.

64

Our English readers are indebted to Mary Howitt for introducing this specimen of "the rich treasure of intellect and literature of Sweden" to their notice. She selected this work of Miss Bremer, as we are informed, as long ago as 1841, from a series of four, namely, "The Neighbors," "The Home," The President's Daughter," and "Nina," not "on the principle of presenting the best first, in order to excite expectation, but as believing it a fair and average example." It was soon followed by the other three of the series, and all were immediately republished in this country, where they have obtained a more extensive circulation than in England. In the opinion of Mrs. Howitt, in which we, and, indeed, all who have read them, will heartily concur, they are most admirable in their lessons of social wisdom, in their life of relations, in their playful humor, and in all those qualities which can make writing acceptable to the fireside circle of the good and refined. Miss Bremer is now in this country, and in her preface to the American edition of the "Neighbors," she says:-" Among the many agreeable things which have met me on my arrival in the United States, I count as one the proposal of Mr. Putnam to give a new edition of my works, on conditions which cannot but be agreeable to me, since they offer me the privilege of a native author." From this, and the well-known liberality of Mr. Putnam, we infer that the author is to receive pecuniary remuneration for her works the same as an American author. The present volume, the first of the series, is published in a style uniform with the works of Irving, and is altogether the most beautiful edition that has yet been published in this country. We think that Mr. Putnam will be amply remunerated for his liberal enterprise, and that those who have, or may hereafter, enjoy the pleasure of perusing the productions of this accomplished lady, will not fail to patronize the present edition, that the author may receive her share of the profits.

2.-The Monuments of Egypt; or, Egypt a Witness for the Bible. By FRANCIS L. HAWKS, D. D., L. L. D. With Notes of a Voyage up the Nile, by an American. 8vo., pp. 418. New York: George P. Putnam.

It does not appear to be the object of Dr. Hawks to give a connected history of Egypt. or to furnish the reader with an explanation of every inscription or representation on the walls of its venerable ruins. He, however, exhibits, in an intelligent form, certain apparently well-attested facts, that furnish illustrations of, or give direct information to, the truth of events recorded in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. In the performance of this undertaking, the compiler commences by giving a recital of the sources of information we possess in matters relating to Egypt and particularly an account of the discoveries made in hieroglyphical interpretation, within the last half century. He lays no claim to authorship, and therefore avails himself of the learned labors of Champollion le Jeune, Champollion Figeac, Rosellini, Young, Spineto, Lepius, Wilkinson, Birch, Osborn, Bunsen, Kitto, Henstenberg, &c. While exhibiting, in a comprehensive form, all the more prominent features of the subject, it is not professedly a scientific work, but designed rather for the general reader, than the learned student. "The Journal of a Voyage up the Nile," made between the months of November, 1848, and April, 1849, is designed to illustrate the former part of the work; and while the traveler admits that too little is known to furnish a full proof of Scriptural chronology, or history, from the monuments alone, he assures us that he has seen nothing in Egypt to shake his faith in the truth of the Bible, but, on the contrary, much to confirm it.

3.-Institutes of Theology. By the late THOMAS CHALMERS, D. D., LL. D. In two volumes. Vol. II. 12mo., pp. 515. New York: Harper & Brothers.

This is the eighth volume of the posthumous writings of the late Dr. Chalmers, which are now in progress of publication. It contains the views of a distinguished divine upon a most important subject. The entire series, when completed, will form a system of theological discussion and exposition that will interest a large portion of the theological world.

4.-The Poets' Offering, for 1850. Philadelphia: Gregg, Elliott, & Co.

Edited by Mrs. SARAH J. HALE, 8vo., pp. 576.

An extract from the preface to this splendid volume, from the pen of the accomplished editor (we should perhaps say editress) will give a better idea of the character of the work than any statements we could make. We shall, therefore, quote the following paragraph, adopting and endorsing Mrs. Hale's statements:

"The Poet's Offering, now presented, is a gift-book on a new plan. The contents are of more value than the cover. The beautiful illustrations are only a faint reflection from the more exquisite beauties of the text. We say this with confidence, because in this volume will be found the most perfect gems of genius the English language has preserved since the days of Spencer. Whatever is loveliest in sentiment and loftiest in aspiration is here represented. Specimens of the varied forms in which gifted minds have contributed to the habit of wit, the beauty of wisdom, the sweetness of love, the power of patriotism, the holiness of piety-all that has most deeply stirred the soul of the AngloSaxon race for the last three hundred years, is here embodied. And more-collected from that class of writers which, in every age, has represented the highest genius of man, the editor has in this book brought together the thoughts and sentiments of the two kindred nations, whose one language is now spoken in every quarter of the globe, and whose influence pervades the world."

All this is literally true, and the volume forms the most extensive and complete encyclopedia, or dictionary, of poetical quotations on almost every subject falling within the range of human life, or human thought, that, to our knowledge, has ever before been grouped into a systematic and classified form. The broad scope of Mrs. Hale's plan has enabled her to gather the choicest specimens of British and American literature, and she has displayed extraordinary skill and judgment in the arrangement. The appearances of nature, the feelings, passions, and pursuits of life, have their appropri ate heads, and the greatest variety is given to the poetical interpretations of each word or subject. The volume, though published as an annual for the holidays, possesses a permanent-a perennial value. It has all the external beauty of the transcient "Offering," "Souvenier," or " Annual," designed to adorn the "center-table," without any of their trite and tiresome purility.

5.-The Works of Michael de Montaigne; comprising his Essays, Letters, and Journey through Germany and Italy. With Notes from all the Commentators, Biographical and Bibliographical Notices, etc., etc. By WILLIAM HAZLITT. 8vo., pp. 686. Philadelphia: John W. Moore.

We can do little more in announcing the publication of this valuable work, than reproduce the opinions entertained and expressed by our predecessors. Dugald Stewart places Montaigne at the head of French writers, who contributed, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, to turn the thoughts of their countrymen to subjects connected with the Philosophy of Mind, properly belonging to a period somewhat earlier-his tone of thinking and of writing classing him much more naturally with his successors than with any French author who had appeared before him. The same writer says of Montaigne-" His work is unique in its kind; valuable, in an eminent degree, as an authentic record of many interesting facts relative to human nature, but more valuable far, as holding up a mirror in which any individual, if he does not see his own image, will at least see so many traits of resemblance to it as can scarcely fail to excite his curiosity to a more careful review of himself." By Hazlitt, he is regarded as the first person who led the way to essay writing in the moderns. "He was," says Mr. Hazlitt, "in the truest sense, a man of original mind; that is, he had the power of looking at things for himself, or as they really were, instead of blindly trusting to, and fondly repeating, what others told him that they were." It was such characteristics of Montaigne's mind that have imparted to his works a rare value, and have made them the delight and admiration of intellectual thinking men for the last two or three centuries. 6.-The Art Journal. London and New York: George Virtue.

The "Vernon Gallery' continues to supply one of the prominent attractions of this standard journal. The two engraving in the present number (December, 1849,) are from pictures in that noble gallery. "High Life," and "Low Life," were engraved on steel by H. J. Beckwith, from pictures painted for Mr. Vernon by E. Landseer. "The Distressed Mother," engraved by R. A. Artlett, from the group in marble by Sir R. Westmacott, is a masterly specimen of art. The numerous illustrations on wood, that enrich the present number, are among the very best specimens of a style of engraving that we have never seen surpassed, if equaled, except, perhaps, in this journal. The present number, with its appropriate title page and copious index, complete the volume for 1849. With the volume for 1850, we are promised new novelties, and increased attractions, which will, we have no doubt, be met with a correspondingly liberal encouragement from the American people.