Critical Notices [pp. 582-600]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
science of instruction. We had nearly forgotten the
interesting "Reminiscences of /iebuhr," lately published. Dr. Lieber, however, is still more widely and more
favorably known as Editor of the Encyclopaedia Americana, a monument, which will not readily decay, of
great enterprize, industry, and erudition.
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
The History of Texas: or the Emigrant's, Farmer's,
and Politician's Guide to the Character, Climate, Soil, and
Productions of that Country; Geographically Jrranged
from Personal Observation and Experience. By David B.
Edwivard, formerly Principal of the academy, Ilexazidria,
Louisiana; Late Preceptor of Gonzales Seminary, Texas.
Cincinnati: J. d. James. Co.
This should be classed among useful oddities. Its
style is somewhat over-abundant-but we believe the
book a valuable addition to our very small amount of
accurate knowledge in regard to Texas. The author,
who is one of the Society of Friends, assures us that he
has no lands in Texas to sell, although he has lived
three years in the country, and that, too, on the frontiers-that he made one of a party of four who explored
the province in 1830, from side to side, and from settlement to settlement, during the space of six months,-and
that, in 1835, he had the curiosity to spend six months
more in examining the improvements made throughout
every locality, "in order that none should be able to
detect a falsehood, or prove a material error which
could either mislead, or seriously injure those who may
put confidence in this work." For ourselves we are
inclined to place great faith in the statements of Mr.
Edward, and regard his book with a most favorable
eye. It is an octavo of 336 pages, embracing, in detail,
highly interesting accounts of the People, the Geographical Features, the Climate, the Savages, the Timber,
the Water, &c. of Texas. Much information in regard
to Mexico, is included in the body of the work, and, in
an Appendix, we have a copy of the Mexican Constitution. We give, by way of extract, a flattering little
picture of Texian comfort and abundance.
The people en masse can have a living, and that
plentifully too, of animal food, both of beet and pork,
of venison and bear meat, besides a variety of fish and
fowl, upon easier terms at present, especially the wild
game, than any other people, in any other district of
North America; which must continue to be the case,
for one of the best reasons in the world-at least in
Texas * as the wild animals decrease, the domesticated
ones will increase!
And, as they have not commenced, except in a few
cases (comparatively speaking) upon the border lands
of the Gulf, to export corn, they have by just dropping
the seed and afterwards stowing away the increase,
more bread stuff than they well know sometimes what
to do with, it being out of the question to feed their
hogs on it, except they were to raise them on such food
altogether, which would be a pity, while they have so
much mast in the woods, and so many roots in the
prairies.
And, as their milch cattle increase in numbers, and
that very frequently too faster than they can attend to
their milking, they have more, as to family use, much
more milk, than they know how to dispose of, except
they are well stocked with farrow sows, or have around
them pet mustang colts.
With these three main stays of a farmer's life, come,
by very little more exertion than just the picking and
gathering in, those condiments and relishes, which not
only garnish the table, but replenish the appetite, from
a source of such plentiful variegation, as the gardens
and the fields, the woods and the waters, of a Texas
country!,
INKLINGS OF ADVENTURE.
Inklings of /dventure. By the duthor of Pencillings by
the Way. New York: Saunders and Otley.
These volumes are inscribed "to the distinguished
American orator and statesman, Edward Everett," and
are introduced by a Preface over the signature of N. P.
Willis, in which "the papers which are to follow," are
said to record some passages in the life of a certain
Philip Slingsby. Mr. W. assures us that although his
name stands in the title-page of the book as its author,
(which, upon reference, we find not to be the case)
he can only take to himself that share of the praise
or blame which may attach [be attached] to it as a
literary composition. Most assuredly (setting all this
badinage aside, which may possibly have a fuller mean ing than lies upon its surface) we can see no reason for
praising or blaming Mr. Willis except in his character
of literateur, for any thing to be found in the volumes
before us. We cannot sufficiently express our disgust
at that unscrupulous indelicacy which is in the habit of
deciding upon the literary merits of this gentleman by
a reference to his private character and manners, and
feel, indeed, a species of indignation in the thought, that
when we propose to say a few words, without any such
reference, about the present "Inklings of adventure,"
we are proposing a course of indisputable originality.
Subjoined is the Table of Contents. Pedlar KarlNiagara; Lake Ontario; The St. Lawrence-The
Cherokee's Threat-F. Smith-Edith Linsey (including
Frost and Flirtation; Love and Speculation; A Digression; and Scenery and a Scene)-Scenes of Fear
(containing the Disturbed Vigil; the Mad Senior; and
the Lunatic's Skate)-Incidents on the Hudson-The
Gipsey of Sardis-Tom Fane and I-Larks in Vacation (embracing Driving Stanhope pro. tem.; Saratoga
Springs; and Mrs. Captain Thompson)-A Log in
the Archipelago-and Miscellaneous Papers (being the
Revenge of the Signor Basil; Love and Diplomacy;
Minute Philosophies; and the Mad-house of Palermo.)
It will be seen that a great many of these papers (we
believe all of them) have been published before. It is
not our design, therefore, to speak of them in detail.
Perhaps an outline of some individual sketch, with an
occasional reference to others, will be found to impart
a sufficient idea of the general character of the whole.
We open the book at random, and here are six or seven
pages with the running title of ~Aiagara. It will be a
matter of some interest to see how a poet (one whom
we know to be such) will think it proper to handle a
subject so momentous.
Mr. Willis-Mr. Slingsby we mean-commences by
dating his visit to the Falls, with reference not to any
positive or acknowledged iera, but, relatively, to an
aera in his personal experience. He does not say 1
went in 1810-or in 1820. "It was in my senior vacation," says he, "and I was bound to Niagara for the
first time." We are thus slyly made acquainted with a
trio of items, which, when duly considered, are to give
weight and character to the subsequent details. We
are informed, firstly-that Mr. Slingsby has been to
collcgc —econdly, and presumptively, that he gradu.
VoL. II~76
597