Notices of New Works [pp. 255-256]

1852.] Notices of New Works. 255
tion, the regulations of trade and commerce and
all other municipal regulations; its treaty making
power or its way of covenantiug with other nations; and other things of the kind too obvious
to be mentioned, which are builded on a foundation broaderthan individual man, which grow out
of qualities in man that have no meaning except
in society; and without which individual men
could not enjoy sufficient liberty to do things
worth recording, or to study the records of what
others have done.
We have not pretended to much more, in the
preceding pages, than to suggest some hints of
the abundant and manifold argument by which
this idealist scheme of interpreting history may
be refuted, when its mystical darkness shall settle upon us, if that time should ever arrive, in a
thicker cloud than it has yet done. Mr. Emerson has as yet not a great many followers in the
United States. Practical thinking, contact with
the realities of life, and nervous good sense will
probably separate from his school some of those
who now temporarily adhere to it. His views
are said not always to have escaped, even in the
streets of Boston, that good-humored sneer which
is the natural appendix of an enthusiasm so transcendental that it soars out of common sight, so
amiable that nobody could persecute it, and so
grotesque that few are found to follow it. There
are other peculiarities about the school of thought
which he seems endeavoring to found, to which
a future occasion may afford us the pleasure of a
reference. J. H. B.
Moithg of 34cw Wo~rks+
ESSAYS FROM THE LONDON TIMES: A Collection of
Personal and Historical Sketches. New York. D.
Appleton & Company, 200 Broadway, 1852.
This i s th e first volume, published in a very neat and
in their drudge-work of daily literary composition, unknown by their readers and unblessed by the incense of
popular applause. One of these days, perhaps, when
the life of some one of them, who has written himself
into a widely recognized fame, shall come to be prepared,
we may have a story of toil and endeavor, of neglect and
suffering, to point a chapter for a future Disraeli.
One of the pleasantest Essays in the volume, to our
taste, is that on the "Amours of Dean Swift," which
impressed us so much, on reading it in the Times, that
we transferred it at once to the pages of the Messenger.
It has much of the rhetorical fervour and critical analysis
of Macaulay. "The Drama of the French Revolution"
is a masterly historical summary, and "The Life of John
Keats" is written in a strain of exalted sympathy and
high poetic appreciation.
This work may be found at the bookstore of A. Morris.
A RHYMING, SPELLING AND PRONOUNCING DICTIONAIR
of the English Language. By J. WALiLER. A New and
Revised Edition. Philadelphia: Lindsay and Bla kiston.
We believe it has been generally conceded, that when
Mr. Walker undertook to facilitate the labors of Grub
Street, and make versifying easy-thus causing many innocent young gentlemen to poetize who might else have
engrossed-he should have been interrupted by the sheriff
and punished for his offence against society by fine and
imprisonment. Now, we have great respect for Messrs.
Lindsay and Blakiston, who have before this entitled
themselves to public favor, by issuing many excellent
works at fair prices, but we are of opinion, that in reprinting the Rhyming Dictionary, they have committed a
high misdemeanor, for which sunmmary punishment should
be inflicted. For, who shall calculate the number of
hopeful youths that will sit down, in a small frenzy,with
a copy of the work at hand, to write themselves out of
elbows and into poetic fame? Who shall dletermine the
amount of paper to be destroyed-the quantity of time
to be wasted-the headaches and heartaches, and the
thousand natural shocks that bards inherit, to be occasioned, by this poetical labor-saving machine? We say
nothing of the inevitable consequences to the poetasters
themnselves-the poverty that such dribblings must necessarily entail and its attendant miseries. But think of
these, oh, misguided votaries of the modern museWhat reams of foolscap, while your brains ye rack,
Ye mar to make again! for sure, ere long,
Condemn'd to tread the bard's time-sanctioned track,
Ye all shall join the bailiff-haunted throng,
And reproduce in rags the rags ye blot in song.
to issue, under the title of" Popular Library of the Best As a matter therefore of sound policy to the State and
Authors." The enterprise is a laudable one, and will as a measure of humanity to our fellow creatures, we
doubtless meet with great success. Certainly half-a would discountenance all attempts at removing the difficuldollar could not be expended to more advantage than in ties in the way of the rhymster. We want no macadaprocuring the excellent little work now before us. mized highway to Parnassus. On the contrary, we would
The question will arise in the minds of many who read environ it with all the hindrances that could be devised,
these essays and admire their point and perspicuity- feeling satisfiedl that such as the gods design to dwell
who writes them? That there has been great labor and there, will soar towards its radiant summit with a strong
patient study expended in their preparation, is evident in and steady wing, and with the majestic sweep of genius.
almost every sentence. That pen must have been well- One thing must be said in praise of the work before us,
trained which could write such nervous and elegant Es- and this it gives us pleasure to say. Attached to each
glish. But the articles were given to the world through word in the dictionary is its proper signification, so that
the columns of a daily newspaper, with seemingly the if the poet follow the directions faithfully, he will not
hope of no other reward than the guineas which were-re- fail to express his meaning. however drearily hlie may verceived for them;-the whole credit of the authorship sify. How much of our newly-made poetry would have
attaching to that wonderful personage of paper and prin- been better for an observance of this simple rule of corn.
ter's ink-the London Times. The flesh and blood position!
authors who have thus ministered to the delight and This Dictionary is neatly printed and may be obtained
instruction of the public, meanwhile, are busily engaged of Nashl & Woodhouse.
1852.]
Notices of Neaw Works.
255