190 EDITOR'S MISCELLANY. slate in school time, when we were a child, though we believe nobody ever gave us credit for over-much ingenuity in that line of business. But, for all that, there was a similarity, we are sure. Yet there are many things in and about Montreal on which the mind of the true Christian loves to dwell. There are several churches where the truth is preached in its simplicity, unadulterated with the stupid dogmas of men. There are many who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Besides, there are many objects of pleasing interest, both in nature and art. There is one of the finest landscapes from Mont Real, (the eminence overlooking the city, and from which the city derives its name,) that our eye ever dwelt upon. It is well worth a journey to Canada to see. The St. Lawrence is a beautiful stream, and it is peculiarly beautiful as it flows past Montreal. Then you have the city in the foreground of the picture, and the blue hills in the dim distance, which form the continuation of the Green Mountain chain, for a background. It is charming in the extreme, and the engraving in the present number is a truthful representation of it. The publisher has selected for one of the pictorial embellishments of the present number, "The Mother and her Bonnie Bairns." The sketch is an illustration of the Scottish ballad similarly entitled-a ballad which, though it be old, is touching and beautiful and worth reading. We have almost a mind to reproduce it entire, especially as one stanza appears in connection with the illustration, but on the whole we think it will be quite as well to omit it in this place. It is a tragic story, after the fashion of the old ballads, for which we are indebted in the first place to a vulgar legend older still. Who put it into the poetical form it is quite impossible to say. The responsibility of bringing it before the public rests, we believe, with Allan Cunningham, and our opinion is that he is the author himself. The incidents that are woven into the ballad are wild and Bluebeard-like. Reader, did you ever look into the "Songs of Scotland, ancient and modern, by Allan Cunningham ?" It is a curious medley, and will well repay your examination. You will find in this medley, among other equally strange and out of the way ballads, this of the "Bonnie Bairns." One frequently stumbles upon something to laugh at, as well as a good many to weep over, in passing through the lumber-rooms of history, The otherday we felt an uncontrollable disposition to smile, just in a place, too, where others looking through different spectacles from those we use, would perhaps never have thought of such a thing. It was when we came in contact with a chapter in the "Sketches of the Puritans," recently published by Mr. Dodd, in which the "most high and mighty Prince James" is sketched in the act of giving battle to non-conformists of his day. At the conference held at Hampton Court, a conference met to take into consideration the case of those troublers of his majesty's peace, he said, "I will make them conform, or I will harry them out of the land, or else worse." Everybody knows that he was as good as his word. But the joke of the thing is, that at this Hampton Court meeting, the loyal and pious Bancroft fell down on his knees before the King, and declared, "I protest my heart melteth for joy that Almighty God, of his singular mercy, hath given us such a King as since Christ's time hath not been!" HANINGTON'S DIORAMAS.-There have been for some weeks past on exhibition in this city a series of Dioramic views, representing the successive epochs in the creation of the world, together with a view of the Deluge. They have been very much praised by a portion of the city press. But we are obliged to say that, though we tried very hard to be pleased, we succeeded but indifferently. The artist is evidently a man of sense, a good deal of ingenuity, and perhaps of some artistic talent. But the theme he has selected for the display of that talent and ingenuity is either too high for him, or he has not bestowed sufficient labor upon it. PAINTINGS OF THE ANTEDILUVIAN WORLD.-Very differently executed, and in our opinion far more admirable, is the series of paintings representing scenes in the antediluvian world, now exhibiting in the city. These paintings were designed by John Martin, the celebrated painter of Belshazzor's Feast, and executed in Rome by artists of the first rank. Our friends will be well repaid by a visit to this exhibition. BANVARD'S PANORAMA OF THE MISSISSIPPI AND MISSOURI RIVERS.-This incomparable work of art-for we deem it incomparable of its kind— after having drawn crowds to witness it for months in Boston and in this city, is now we believe about to be removed to Europe, for exhibition there. We congratulate our transaltantic brethren on the treat they have in anticipation. THE AMERICAN ART UNION.-This institution seems well deserving of patronage. It is sus Man and his Motives. By GEORGE MOORE, M. D., member of the Royal College of Physicians, London, author of the "Use of the Body in Relation to the Mind," &c. New York: Harper & Brothers. Whoever takes up this book with the impression that it is dull and stupid, like a host of metaphysical works that one finds now-a-days quietly sailing down the stream to oblivion, will make up his mind, after reading the first page of Dr. Moore, that he was greatly mistaken. We like the book-not because it is deep, for it is the easiest thing in the world for a man to be deep in metaphysics, so that nobody can understand him, and indeed, so that he cannot understand himself; but because there is in it so much, which, rising far above the hacknied and common, is nevertheless of great practical utility. We sincerely wish this author might be read and studied; for though he may be wrong in some of his theories, we think he is right in most, and in some, too, where the great mass of metaphysical writers are wrong. Hogarth: His Life and Works. New York: J. S. Redfield. This publication-so cheap that everybody can possess it-contains a sketch of the life of this fun-loving genius, and some thirty very creditable engravings taken from the artist's best efforts. Home Influence: A Tale for Mothers and Daugh ters. By GRACE AGUILAR. New York: Harper & Brothers. A very pleasantly told tale. The author re. marks in her preface that her sole aim, with regard to religion, has been to incite a train of serious and loving thought toward God and man, especially toward those with whom he has linked us in the precious ties of parent and child, brother and sister, master and pupil. She desires, she says-and we agree with her most heartily and cordially-to assist in the education of the heart, believing that of infinitely greater import ance than the mere instruction of the mind. Would that all who write for the family circle were impelled by the same spirit. The world would be better, we think. Spiritual Heroes, or Sketches of the Puritans, their Character and Times. By JOHN STOUGH TON With an Introductory Letter, by JOEL HAWES, D. D. New York: M. W. Dodd. This is a volume of some 230 pages duodecimo, in which the author has, to use his own words, ' attempted the painting rather than the sculpture of history, not confining himself to the exhibition of groups in bold relief, or in forms of statuary, but aiming to represent alike the men and the times in which they lived, combining them as in a picture." This form of history, always difficult of execution, is doubly difficult in the case of the Puritans. If there ever were a class of men concerning whose opinions, acts, motives, in an age subsequent to the one in which they flourished, it is almost impossible to get at the truth, that class of men would seem to include the Puritans. But the author of this volume has performed his task judiciously and well. He is at home evidently, in this branch of history; and although he seems to be somewhat more enthusiastic in his eulogies of the Puritans as a sect, than many would deem warrantable, he is in the main impartial and seldom gives way to prejudice. Verily, these Puritans are in a fair way to have justice done them at last. Chambers' Miscellany of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln. This serial work has reached its twenty-eighth number. Its interest is still undiminished. We do not think there is a more excellent thing of the kind published. The selections are made with the most studious care and discernment; the em bellishments and illustrations-the embellishments, indeed, are all illustrations-are elegant, and the style throughout in which the work is got up is such as to commend it to the patronage of every family. Two numbers more will complete the entire work, which, we do not hesitate to say, will be among the most valuable of the kind to be found in the English language. The popularity of the work in England has been almost unparalleled. Almost a million and a half of volumes have been sold! The American publishers now give notice, that when the work is complete, they shall furnish it only in sets of ten volumes, and that it will be necessary for those who have obtained a part and wish to complete the set, to make early application. For sale in this city by H. Long & Brother. The American Sunday School Union, have recently issued in their usual neat and pretty style the following little volumes, all of which, judging from the examination we have given them, seem to be admirably well calculated to interest and profit the juvenile reader: 1. SICKNESS IMPROVED; 2. THE YOUNG JEW, a history of Alfred Moritz Myers, by the author of the "Peep of Day;" 3. THE COUNTRY SCHOOLHOUSE, or stories of Every Day Life among Boys and Girls; 4. HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM in France, from the Earliest Ages to the end of the reign of Charles IX.; 5. SKETCHES OF HOME LIFE; 6. MAGIC, PRETENDED MIRACLES AND REMARKABLE NATURAL PHENOMENA. THE SCHOOL CHORISTER is the title of a very creditable musical work, cheap and well adapted for instruction in Schools and Academies. It is the production of William C. Webster, a gentleman, if we mistake not, with some experience in musical authorship, and published by Samuel Raynor. The NORTH BRITISH REVIEW comes to us punctually, very neatly and promptly reprinted by Leonard Scott & Co. We regard this as on the whole, one of the most estimable of our transatlantic reviews. It is most creditably conducted, and its articles are from some of the ablest pens in England and Scotland. FLOWERS. HERE are flowers fresh and fair, Richly geinmed with pearly dew: Weave a garland for thy hair, Like thy hopes, as bright, as new. May life's joys less transient prove Than the fragile flowers we love. Fitly will this half-blown rose Deck my sister's youthful brow; Where that straying ringlet flows, Bind this blue-eyed violet now, With the honeysuckle sweet, Fancy hath the power of speech To the pure unsullied mind. |