and the influence, the winning graces, and the hallowing associations that belong to the genuine materiel of song. It is an error very much to be deprecated, to suppose that the physical and moral features of the new world are too cold, too rigid, and too accommodating to be moulded or transformed to the airy forms and magic attributes of the bright essences of the imaginary world. Nor is it true, that there is reason to believe that with the gradual improvement of society, and the increased exercise of the more masculine and useful faculties, the imaginative powers will be neglected and debilitated in proportion. The imagination is an attribute essential to our nature. Modifications, and improvements in civil institutions may give a different impulse and direction to the faculties which furnish the taste-delighting products of the mind, and may thus change the character and course of the imitative arts; but no disposition of society which does not change our very nature, can destroy the sensibility of taste to its appropriate food and stimulus; for that faculty can never be extinguished by the highest cultivation of the others. The difficulties which oppose, just at this moment, the rapid growth of poetical literature in America, are undoubtedly very serious. Perhaps one of the greatest is the circumstance that our taste is formed from models which are framed out of materials to which we ourselves cannot easily gain access. The prevailing taste in Britain is for the sensual and romantic. This taste, with English writers, being generated by the pre sence and the influence of legendary fictions and associations, can easily obtain the indulgence it requires. But our taste, resembling that of England, in consequence of our study of English models, and not in consequence of the same operating causes, is deprived of the means, while it feels the desire of imitation. This is obviously an obstacle, only to be surmounted in one of these two ways: either by a fortunate exertion of imitative talent (a talent of no very elevated order) or by gradually determining the taste of our own countrymen to the study of such modes of beauty as the materials we possess will enable us to equal. Without pretending to assert that Percival or Bryant have succeeded in presenting new objects of poetical contemplation, or new sources of imaginative gratification, we do think they have done much towards effecting a purpose so desirable. The latter poetin particular, has directed, in his poetical creations, the full force of his fine talent to the employment of such scenery, such imagery, and such associations, as lie within the reach of his own readers; and for this he deserves, and will eventually receive the sincere thanks of every genuine American. For ourselves we are unfeignedly thankful for what he has already done; and he will not, we are sure, deem us too exacting, if we ask him to accomplish by a strong concentration of his powers what he is slowly and not certainly effecting by a series of divided efforts; for these are inevitably weakened and distracted by their separate insufficiency of force, and diversity of application. H. SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. FOREIGN. Mineralogy.-Masses of native or pure metallic iron have have been lately discovered near Bogota, in South America. They were found on a hill of secondary sandstone in masses of different sizes, from a few pounds to several hundred weight. They are generally supposed to be of meteoric formation, and an analysis gave the same substances with those found in iron, known positively to have descended from the at mosphere. The largest of the above masses weighed about fifteen hundred weight. One of the largest masses known, may be seen in the rooms of the Lyceum of Natural History of this city. It weighs 3000lbs. and is the property of Col. G. Gibbs, a gentleman distinguished for his zeal in the cause of science. A Botany.-Dr. Horsefield has examined at some length the history of the Bohon Upas, or poison tree of Java. In 1780, Foersch, a surgeon in the Dutch East India Company's service, published the first account of this tree, and the many absurdities and falsehoods with which he adorned his story, have hitherto passed currently in the scientific world. Poets have made frequent allusion to this wonderful tree.* Party orators have liberally compared their opponents to this poisonous production of nature, and it is has even been made the subject of a drama. Devested of all the falsehoods and exaggerations with which its history has been enveloped, the following appear from the experiments of Dr. Horsefield to be the real facts. tree called by the natives Artshar, grows on the eastern part of the Island to the height of 70 or 80 feet Its trunk exudes a milky juice, from which an active poison is prepared. There is also a creeping shrub called Tshetik, which produces an equally powerful poison. They are both inhabitants of the forest, and may be safely cut and handled with impunity. The juice is used by the natives to poison their arrows, and they destroyed great numbers of the Dutch soldiers fore a remedy was discovered. This remedy is the root of the Crinum Asiaticum, which, if timely applied, counteracts, by its emetic effects, the force of the Upas. Several kinds of poison are prepared from these two plants, one of which is so powerful as to kill a strong healthy man in fifteen minutes. of Brazil. He has added three new M. Zoology.-The English naturalists are beginning to turn their attention to this hitherto neglected department of Natural History. The works of Mr. Horsefield and Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles illustrating the Zoology of Sumatra and Java are spoken of in terms of great commendation. The preservation and reproduction of the common leech has been made the subject of a memoir by Mr. Noble of Versailles. It is well known that this useful little animal dies speedily when preserved in the usual mode, in glass vessels. Mr. Noble succeeded in preserving them completely, by covering the bottom of the vessel with clay, of the consistence of soft paste, and placing a stout piece of linen over the top. The water should be changed at least once a week, and if pose- sible without disturbing the soft bottom. The same paper contains several curious facts connected with the reproduction of these animals. They deposit in the soft clay an oval body, about the size of a hazel nut, from which at the end of twenty-five days the young are seen to issue. By taking proper precautions Mr. Noble was enabled to raise as many leeches as his business required. Our medical brethren in this country M. Auguste St. Hilaire has commenced the publication of his Flora * "Chained at his root two scion demons dwell.”—Darwin. might profit by these hints, and dispense, in future, with the necessity of importing annually so many thousands of these expensive but useful animals. Arts. To eulogize the Steam Engine has become common place. Its value to England may be estimated from calculations which show that the Steam Engines there, represent the power of 320,000 horses, equal to 1,920,000 men, which being in fact managed by 36,000 men, add actually to the power of the population of England 1,884,000 men. Medical remains found at Pompei.-M. Choulanet has published in a work entitled "De locis Pompeianis ad rem medicam facientibus," an account of the different objects relating to the medical art which have been discovered at Pompeii. M. Choulanet describes successively the temple of Esculapius, the amulets, surgical instruments, pharmaceutical apparatus, &c., found in the midst of the ruins. Amongst the surgical instruments were some nearly resembling those made use of at the present day; as for instance, elevators for the operation of trepanning, lancets, spatulas catheters, instruments for the application of the actual cautery, &c. There has not been found one single building which could be regarded as a school of surgery or anatomical mu seum. Value of Literary property in Scotland forty years ago.-Cullen was paid 1200l. for a new edition of his First Lines," and Smellie received 10504. for the first edition of his Philosophy of Natural History in one 4to. volume. We have few instances in our country of authors be ing paid so well for mere professional works. It has been stated, however, that Fobert T. Paine, of Boston, received, for a short poem of a few hundred lines, entitled The Invention of Letters." $1400; and it is within our own knowledge that $5000 have been offered and refused for the first edition of a small work not exceeding 400 pages, which was not many years since printed in this city. Trade, &c-England during the last year manufactured 600.000 bags of Cotton, France 200,000, and all the rest of Europe collectively 60000, making a total of 860,000. About 100.000 bales of the cotton manufactured by England is made into yarn, and re-exported in that state for the use of the manufacturers in the North of Europe. The great and surprising extension of the cotton plant in the United States here may be understood from the following facts:--In 1792, the total quantity exported amounted to 140.000 lbs., in 1824 it was estimated that 160,000,000 lbs. were raised within the United States. bingen has recently published the DOMESTIC. Zoology. The appearance of a white bear in the western part of the State of New-York, has given rise to many speculations which have been gravely passed from one newspaper to another throughout the Union. According to these papers, the animal in question is a polar foundation. The animal is nothing more than a white variety of the common brown bear of this country. Professor Say of Philadelphia has recently published a work, entitled Entomology of the United States, which has been pronounced by competent judges to be one of the most finished specimens of typography that has issued recently from the American press. The engravings are highly beautiful, and the price of the Volume, considering the value of the descriptions and the elegance of the embellishments, is such as to enable every naturalist to possess this interesting work. Mr. Charles Bonaparte, (Prince de Cassino,) of Point Breeze, is at present occupied with a continuation of the celebrated ornithology of WilIt will be comprized in about four volumes quarto, and from the well known qualifications of the author, and the zeal and talent he has son. already displayed on similar subjects, it is expected that this work will nearly complete the ornithology of the United States. Mr. W. Cooper read a few months since, before the Lyceum of this city, a memoir on the fossil bones of the huge Megatherium, discovered near Savannah, (Geo.) This interesting memoir has excited much attention LITERARY INTELLIGENCE, WORKS IN PRESS. Lempriere's Universal Biography; containing a critical and historical account of the lives, characters, and labors of eminent persons in all ages and countries, together with selections of foreign biography, from Watkins's Dictionary, recently pub. lished, and about eight huudred original articles of American Biography. By Eleazar Lord Esq. In 2 vols. 8vo. will be published in January.-F. & R. Lockwood. Essays on the distinguishing traits of the Christian Character. By Gardiner Spring D. D.-F. & R. Lockwood. Irving's Catechisms of Astronomy and Chemistry, revised and corrected by John Griscom, Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in the New.York Institution, &c. F. & R. Lockwood. Caius Gracchus, a Tragedy in five acts by Sheridan Knowles, Esq. E. M. Murden An introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Scriptures, by Thomas Hartwell Horne. M. A. 4 vols. 8vo. From the London Edition of 1823. E. Littell. Philadelphia. The Human Heart, a novel, from the London Edition. J. & J. Har. per. The First part of the History of New York, by Messrs. Yates & Moulton. A. T. Goodrich. American Entomology, or Description of the Insects of North America, by Professor Say, of the Penn sylvania University. It will be completed in 5 vols. 8 vo. illustrated with coloured plates drawn by the Professor; price $5 the volume. A New Newspaper will be issued in the city of Hartford, the first week in January next, entitled the Connecticut Observer, published weekly, to be edited by Horace Hooker, Esq devoted chiefly to Theological subjects. Sir Astley Cooper's Treatise on Fractures and dislocations. 8vo. with plates. H. C. Carey & I. Lea. Dewees on the Diseases of Children. 8 vo H. C. Carey & I. Lea. Jefferson's Notes on Virginia. H. C. Carey & I. Lea. Weems' Life of Marion. H. C. Carey & I. Lea. Chitty's Pleadings, with notes by E. D. Ingraham Esq. 3 vols. H. C. Carey & I. Lea. Sergeant & Lurters Reports, vols. 3d and 9th. H. C Carey & I. Lea. Barton's Medical Botany, 2d edition 2 vols. 4to. H. Carey & I. Lea. Johnson on tho Liver. 1 vol. 8vo. H. C. Carey & I. Lea. Lempriere's Classical Dictionary. 1 vol. 8vo. republishing by the trade. Armstrong on Typhus Fevers. 1 vol. 8vo. The Cook's Oracle. 1 vol. 12mo. E. Bliss & E. White. The Pioneers, a novel in 2 vols. 2d edition. Collins & Hannay. Schrevelii Lexicon. (Stereotype edition.) Collins & Hannay. Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life. 1 vol. 18mo. Solomon King. A Companion to the Festivals and Fasts of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. By John H. Hobart D. D. Bishop of the P. E. Church in NewYork. Third edition 12mo. T. & J. Swords. A Familiar and Easy Guide to the understanding of the Church Catechism. 18mo. T. & J. Swords. Roper's Husband and Wife. S. Gould & Son. Espinasse's new edition of Nisi Prius, with very important notes and refer nces, to recent American decisions. S. Gould & Son. The Hudson River Port Folio. H. I. Megarey. This work will consist of 20 views, being the most worthy of notice, from the source of the river to New-York; 16 of these views are now published, and the other four, which will complete the work, will be published this winter. They are engraved and coloured in a most capital style, so as to give the best possible representation of first rate drawings. The Book of the Church, by Robert Southey. E. Bliss & E. White. Wolfe's Journal of a Mission in the Holy Land. E. Bliss and E. White. TO READERS AND CONTRIBUTORS. Tales of an American Landlord. In two volumes, 12mo. New-York, 1824. We had prepared for this number an ill-natured critique on this novel; but so great is our aversion to find fault, that we scarcely regret our want of room has obliged us to exclude it from our columns. A Peep at the Pilgrims in Sixteen Hundred and Thirty-Six. In two volumes. Boston, 1824. A review of this novel has been received, but we are compelled to defer its insertion until our next. Report on a Plan for extending and more perfectly establishing the Mechanic and Scientific Institution of New-York. New-York, 1824 We shall offer a few remarks in our January number on the subject of this interesting Report. ** * We are obliged to exclude the List of new publications, and republications for want of room. |