with the world and its fascinations, an exemption from a censure, which we do not think they merit. There is a happy medium in these things, and we are rejoiced to know that our country now possesses thousands of women, who as wives and mothers are its proud ornaments, and yet who, in early youth, adorned the fashionable circles in which they moved.

No. 7. of the Pictoral History of England, issuing by the Harpers, fully sustains the character we have heretofore given of this useful work. This number contains the Civil and Military transactions of the latter part of the twelfth century. Chapter the 2d gives the History of Religion, with a picture of the Consecration of Thomas a Becket, also Becket's Crown, a Chapel in Canterbury Cathedral, and the ruins of the Augustine Monastery at Canterbury; with full length portraits and costumes of a Benedictine, a Carthusian, a Cestercian, a Templar in his mantle, and of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux pronouncing a pastoral blessing. The last 18 pages are devoted to the history of the Constitution, Government and Laws.

Harper's Catalogue of Valuable Books, in the several departments of General Literature. Published by Harper and Brothers, 82 Cliff street.

1846.

We have here before us such an evidence of the perseverance and usefulness of a great publishing house in this city, as to deserve our especial notice, and excite our admiration. The catalogue of the works issued from the press in Cliff street, occupies 97 pages, and we find every department of Literature well represented. Twenty-three different classes of books, and about fourteen hundred different authors, have been brought to the attention of the American public, by the Harpers, within a few years. Their establishment is on an immense scale, and this catalogue is a convincing proof of their tact and clever

ness.

Few persons are aware of the influence, for good or for evil, which extensive publishers exercise over the public mind. They, to a certain extent, control the public taste, by furnishing for its appetite the moral food which it craves, and they thus incur a serious responsibility.

It is therefore a cause of great congratulation to the American public, that the immense power wielded in this respect by the Messrs. Harpers, has been used to the dissemination of sound morals and useful knowledge.

Their Family Library alone, has penetrated to almost every corner of the world, and surely, no work so extensive, is calculated to do more good by the dissemination of a vast mass of intelligence in almost every department of knowledge and science. It must be a proud satisfaction to these enterprising publishers, that while they have reapt, and are reaping, rich pecuniary rewards, they have done so much "to raise the genius and to mend the heart."

A first Book in Latin, containing Grammar Exercises and Vocabularies on the Method of constant Imitation and Repetition. By JOHN MCCLINTOCK, A. M., Professor of Languages, and GEORGE R. CROOKS, A. M., Adjunct Professor of Languages in Dickinson College. Harper and Brothers, publishers, 82 Cliff Street, New York. 1846.

We have carefully looked through this Grammar, which is very full, and being well studied, it is calculated to make the foundation of the language it teaches deep and lasting. We give the following views of the author as set forth in his preface: "We have aimed to combine the advantages of constant repetition and imitation of Latin sentences from the beginning with a more thorough drilling in etymological forms than is common. In order to effect this combination, we have necessarily deviated from the ordinary grammatical course to some extent; but we trust that experienced teachers will find from an examination of the table of contents alone, that our arrangement is not devoid of systematic and even logical order."

The table of contents is indeed copious and well arranged, and we doubt not

in the hand of a skilful teacher, much aid would be derived, from so full and complete an exposition of the nature of the Latin language.

Ollendorf's method of Learning to Read, Write. and Speak the Italian Language, adapted for the use of Schools and private teachers—with additions and corrections. By FELIX FERESTE, LL. D., Professor of the Italian language and literature in Columbia College, and in the University of the city of New-York. New-York: D. Appleton and company, 200 Broadway. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton, 148 Chesnut street, 1846.

This is, of course, another of Ollendorf's applications of his method of teaching adapted to the Italian language. We agree with the writer of the preface where he says, "The thanks of all who are interested in the cultivation of the Italian language and literature in the United States are justly due to the enterprizing publishers of this American edition of Ollendorff's New Method."

It is a clear philosophical and well digested grammar, following nature, and teaching the language, by making the scholar familiar with words and phrases, before burthening his mind with its grammatical construction. Thus, a child learns its mother tongue, and can hold a conversation for all useful purposes before it knows a single rule of grammar. We have before given our high opinion of this new method, and need only add, that we are glad to see it adapted to the Italian-the tongue in which Dante, Ariosto and Tasso, have rendered their names immortal.

Gammer Gurton's Famous Histories of Sir Guy of Warwick, Sir Beris of Hampton, Tom Kickathrift, Friar Bacon, Robin Hood, and the King and the Cobbler-newly revised and amended. New-York: WILEY and PUTNAM, 161 Broadway. 1846. Gammer Gurton's Pleasant Stories of the Princess Rosetta, Robin Goodfellow and Patient Grissel; with Gammer Gurton's Garland, and ballads of Babes in the Wood, The Beggar's Daughter and Fair Rosamond; newly revised and amended. New-York, WILEY & PUTNAM, 161 Broadway. These are two really beautiful children's books, elegantly got up in the old ornamental style of printing; and although in the present utilitarian age, there may be prejudices against stories such as are here collected, we confess we have no fears of any ill effects to the morals of children from them, and think the writer of the preface truly says: "Their design is to cultivate the heart, to enrich the fancy, to stir up kindly feelings, to encourage a taste for the beautiful, and to accomplish this by taking advantage of the youthful longing for amusement!

WILEY & PUTNAM's Library of American Books. No. 20. Papers on Li terature and Art. By S. MARGARET FULLER, in two parts.

We have read these two volumes with very great pleasure, and are free to confess they have greatly raised the author in our estimation. Her criticisms are in the main just; and disclose a mind weli stored with a knowledge of the true and the beautiful. Perhaps some readers may think her somewhat fanciful, yet she appears properly to estimate everything that is lovely and loveable, as much "unadorned as when adorned the most. We much like the sentiment contained in the following paragraph, taken from her remarks on the "Recollections of a Hand-Loom Weaver, by William Thom of Iverney."

"There is another mode which enters into the natural history of every thing that breathes and lives, which believes no impulse to be entirely in vain, which scrutinizes circumstances, motives and objects, before it condemns and believes there is a beauty in each natural form, if its law and purpose be understood. It does not consider a literature merely as the garden of a nation, but as the growth of an entire region, with all its variety of mountain, forests, pasture, and tillage lands. Those who observe in this spirit will often experience, from some humble offering to the muses, the delight felt by the naturalist

in the grasses, and lichens of some otherwise barren spot. These are the earliest and humblest efforts of nature, but to a discerning eye they indicate the entire range of her energies."

Nothing is more true than this; which is in full unison with Gray, where he says

"Full many a gem of purest ray serene,

The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."

The Expedition to Borneo of H. M. S. Dido for the Suppression of Piracy, with extracts from the Journal of James Brooke, Esquire, of Sarawak, (now agent for the British Government in Borneo.) By Capt. the Hon. HENRY KEPPEL, R. N. New-York, Harper and Brothers, publishers, 82 Cliff street. 1846.

Borneo, one of the largest, if not the largest island in the world, is but little known throughout Christendom; and in this work we have a very excellent account of it, by an intelligent and amiable enthusiast. The following account of Mr. Brooke and his motives are taken from the first chapter.

"He enquired and read, and became convinced that Borneo and the eastern isles afforded an open field for enterprize and research. To carry to the Malay races, so long the terror of the European merchant vessels, the blessings of civilization, to suppress piracy, and extirpate the slave trade, became his humane and generous objects; and from that hour the energies of his powerful mind were devoted to this one pursuit. Often foiled, often disappointed, but animated with a perseverance and enthusiasm which defied all obstacles, he was not, till 1838, enabled to set sail from England on his darling project." He did, however, then set sail, and the following is the account given in his own words of his feelings in accomplishing the perilous task he had undertaken. "I go to awaken the spirit of slumbering philanthropy with regard to these islands. Fortune and life I give freely; and if I should fail in the attempt, I shall not have lived wholly in vain." This book gives the interesting account of his adventures, and we recommend it to the perusal of all who desire to know the happy issue of his mission, and the perils he underwent in its accomplishment.

No. 65 & 66," Books which are Books."

Wiley and Putnam's library of Choice Reading-Italy, Spain and Portugal, with an Excursion to the Monasteries of Alcobaca and Batalha. BY WILLIAM BECKFORD, author of "Vathek," in two parts. New-York: Wiley and Putnam, 161 Broadway. 1846.

Although we have many of the records of travellers who have visited the delightful places, an account of which is given in these letters, few of them possess the same pleasing, graphic and accurate descriptions contained in these volumes. The author of " Vathek" is too well known to need praise from us, though we may surely be permitted to say we have derived great pleasure, from accompanying him, through the pleasant paths and well described scenes which he has laid open in the book before us.

No. 67. Hochelaga; or England in the New World. Edited by Eliot Warburton, Esquire, author of the "Crescent and the Cross," in two parts. NewYork: Wiley and Putnam, 161 Broadway. 1846.

These travels are written in a lively and terse manner. The first volume treats principally of the British possessions in America. The second, of the United States. The author of course has English prejudices, but he is an acute observer, and has made a book, which no one can read without receiving amusement and instruction.

BRITISH NAVIGATION ACT AND COLONIAL PRIVILEGES.

WE have, on more than one occasion, in the course of our labors, called the attention of our readers to the fact, that the navigation laws of England, and the privileges granted to her colonies, together with the treaties falsely called treaties of reciprocity, which we have with other countries, were a serious injury to our shipping interests.

With a view to show this more fully, we now commence the publication of extracts, from document No. 163, 27th Congress, 2nd session: House of Representatives, State Department, dated March 31, 1842, by which the subject of the restrictions to which our commerce is subjected from the causes above stated, will more fully appear.

It is not a little remarkable that the advocates of free trade should entirely overlook the disadvantages under which our trade with the British colonies is carried on. British navigation is rapidly superseding our own in the importations of produce from her colonial possessions to the United States, and also in exports from this country to the said colonies, as well as directly to Great Britain.

In the year 1830, the exports, by British ships to Great Britain, were $5,987,000 against $19,876,000 by American ships.

In 1844, the exports by British ships were $18,716,000, against $19,876,000 by American ships.

This, we think, shows a state of things which should, at least, cause inquiry, unless the new doctrine, attempting to be put in practice, under the name of Free Trade, is to sacrifice the American shipping interest, as well as the American mechanic and laborer.

But we have not the intention, at this time, of doing more than simply transferring to our columns a record of the official statement from the document already named.

The subject is one of deep importance to our ship owners, for the amount of foreign tonnage is fast gaining upon them; and if they are not willing to have their interest sacrificed to the negligence of the gov