Notices of New Works: Chevalier's Letters [pp. 781]

JNotices of JYew Works.
mary of the noble bard's sonrrows and character, strikes us
as uncommonly just and comprehensive. We think he has
assigned Dryden his true place in English literature, and
explained, by discussing the age of Macchiavelli, the politic.-l principles and reputation of that remarkable man.
These volumes should find a place in the library of every
scholar and man of taste.
to the bar. We have ever felt for this neglected class of
men, and in as far as Dana truly sympathises with them we
honor his benevolence. But if afterpartaking of their hard
lot, he can have the heart to take a fee from a sailor, we
must think he has more calculation than belongs to a good
messmate. The style of the volume is unpretending, and
does not challenge criticism. There is much repetition, and
frequent instances of careless expression. To some inland
reader it may convey new intelligence of the sea and its
trials. Should it attract philanthropic attention to the
wants and injuries of seamen, and lead, in the smallest degree, to the melioration of their condition, the author
and publishers will have ample reason to congratulate
themselves.
The Token. Boston: W. D. Ticknor-1841.
This is an old and well-established favorite among the
patrons of Annuals. S. G. Goodrich commenced the work
fourteen years since, and among the first numtbers may be
gleaned some of the choicest productions of Dewey, Willis, |
and Miss Sedgewick, originally prepared for its pages. In
the Token, too, appeared the best of Hawthorn's charming
sketches, which have since proved so popular, under the
title of Twice-told Tales. The editor informs us that the
' hard times' induced him long to hesitate before commencing the present number. Its embellishments are quite inferior to those of former volumes: and upon the face of the
Token for 1841, we perceive the comparative lack of spirit
with which its enterprising publisher engaged in its preparation. The literary department, however, is superior to
that of the majority of similar publications. More than a
third of the book is occupied with two articles on "Irelan d
and the Irish," which, however inappropriate for a Souvenir, will prove to many readers more acceptable than vapid
love-tales or mediocre poetry. The other contributors are
Tracy, Greene, Fields, Jones, Tuckerman, and Miss Lee.
The paper and print are excellent. From what we have
seen thus far of the Annuals for next year, the Token will
take the lead: and we rejoice that the editor has thus kept
the series unbroken, and hope the Token will long retain
its due rank and position among the Souvenirs of America.
If we mistake not, however, the public taste is rapidly outgrowing the mere toys of literature, and it will soon be necessary to raise the tone of Annuals, or modify their cha racter. There is room for many splendid compilations,,
which, handsomely illustrated, would outweigh all the tribe
of gilt and embossed originals, and could be afforded at a less
price. Experience proves that such volumes are generally
appreciated. We would instance as examples-the Boston
Book-which is a collection of specimens of metropolitan
literature, and has been published two successive years;
and "The Poets of America," issued last autumn by Col man of New-York. These volumes not only furnish admi rable New-Year's Presents, but are worthy a place in every
library, and contain gems of prose and poetry-the charm
of which does not evaporate with the season. We hope to
see more of such Annuals.
Specimens of Foreign Literature-vols. 7, 8, 9: Menzel's
Germrran Literature. Translated by C. C. Felton. Bos ton: Hilliard, Gray & Co.-1840.
We acknowl edg e, w ith many thanks, the reception of
this (as we judge it, a priori) valuable work. It may not be
known to all our readers, that there has been publishing in
Boston, for somne time past, a series of works entitled
" Specimens of Foreign Literature," the design of which may
be discovered in the significant motto which they bear, from
Milton. "As wine and oil are imported to us from abroad,
so must ripe understanding and many civil virtues, be imported into our minds from foreign writings;-we shall else
miscarry sti ll, and come short in the attempts of any great
enterprize."
The words of the great poet will, no doubt, prove true.
Yet, at the same time, we must be excessively careful that,
in carrying out his suggestion, we do not cause more evil
than good. We must beware that in our diligent labor to
bring hither exotics, we do not neglect the plants of native
growth. Literaturb that is genuine and noble, is an expression of the universal heart, not a production of this or that
soil, only after long years of imitation and study of foreign
masters. These, doubtless, give grace and refinement, and
add to the vigor and the beauty of the native stock. But, we
repeat, we must see to it that the native stock is not neglected, and dwarfed and suffered to wilt away, while we
bestow all our care upon the transplantation of that which
is novel and foreign. And let us be sure that we do introduce many " virtues," and the fruits of " ripe understanding," instead of crude, vague and impracticable philosophies,
and flowers that, however rich their hiue and gorgeous their
beauty, bear with them the mniasma of pestilence and death.
German literature is attracting much attention in this
country. We do not profess to be acquainted with it, and
therefore are incapacitated from passing judgment as to its
tendencies. While, doubtless, it contains much that is
profound, original and free-while it looks through the me dium of that subjective.philosophy which goes out from the
inner man, and colors all things with the light of the soul;
still, we think it quite probable that it has muich which is
merely speculative, theoretical and dreamy: and that of a por tion of it, it may be said, the good that it contains, is not
original, and the original is not good.
The work before us, as giving a history of this literature,
must be interesting to the scholar and the inquirer. We
will give a more extended notice at another time.
Two Years Before the Mast. New-York: Harper & Bro thers-1840.
The author of this narrative has just been admitted to
practice at the bar. This circumstance seems to us to account for thle appearance of the book. It contains little that
is novel or striking, except certain details relative to' hidecuring,''slipping for south-easters,''owls' and' Coati,' on
the coast of California. If there is a single remarkable
feature in this picture of sea-life, it consists in the grotesque
associations arising from the fact, that the author was transferred from Cambridge College to the forecastle of a merchantman. His description of the toils, hardships and
amusements of a sailor, convey little that is new to any
observant individual who has ever made a sea-voyage. We
apprehend our young attorney's narrative was an afterthought, and that the book was written as aYankee expedient to identify himself with the interests of seamen, and ob -
tain a moiety of the legal business which poor Jack brings
1840.]
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Chevaller's Letters.
This is one of the most admirable of the countless works
in relation to this country. It is philosophical without being abstractly so, and with less reflective power than the
speculations of De Toequeville; it is equally sensible, ingenious and impressive. The letters are finely translated,
and the volume shoull be extensively read by our citizens.
The execution is in the usual, elegant style of the publishers-Weeks, Jordan & Co. of Boston.