Editorial and Literary Department [pp. 220-226]

EDITORIAL AND LITERARY DEPARTMENT.
the object of the meeting was the preliminary
organization of a movement for the conlstruction of a a rail-road to the waters of the Trinity
in Texas. He introduced J. D. B. De Bow, of
New-Orleans, who spoke at length in favor of
the rail-road, and urged the necessity of iinmediate action. He was followed by J. M. Landrum, Esq., who eloquently pressed views of a
similar character.
A series of resolutions were offered by H. G.
Battle, Esq., and adopted, pledging the sympathies and exertions of the people of Shreveport
and Caddo parish in aid of the work, and appointing fifty delegates to the Convention in
January next at New-Orleans; and also a committee, of Col. H. Douglass. L. P. Crain, B. M.
Johnson, Dr. C. G. Young, Dr. B. B. Smith, Dr.
W. W. George, J. M. Landrum, and C. G.
Mitchell, to correspond with the people of
Texas and the New-Orleans Committee during
the summer and fall, so as to prepare matter for
the Convention.
CAIUS GRACCHUS:
A Tragedy in five acts. By Louisa S. Mc Cord, of South Carolina.
We have been favored with a copy of
this production, which is from the pen of one
of Carolina's most distinguished and illustrious daughters. Mrs. McCord is the daugh
ter of Langdon Cheves, whose name is
identified with every thing that is chivalrous in honor, elevated in statesmanship, and
incorruptible in patriotism-and wife of D.
J. McCord, Esq., a lawyer of high character
in that state. The daughter possesses many
of the high characteristics of the distinguished sire. WVe remember her translation of
M. Bastiat's work upon Free Trade and
Protection, which has high rank among political economists. She has also contributed
some able articles upon the rights and duties
of the South. In the work before us, her
pen is worthily engaged in depicting the
noble patriotism of the Gracchi, and of that
glorious woman, Cornelia-the mother,whose
great heart knew no other thought than that
of Rome, and in the language of her son,
"From the offers of a kingdom turning
Gave heart and hand to a plebeian Roman,
And son and brother to a Gracchus made me."
There are many fine passages in the play
from which we would be pleased to extract.
Thus, in the fifth act, is shown the devotion
of the wife, Licinia:
" I am a coward-ay-a very hare
For panting fearfulness, and yet methinks
I could for Gracchus cast my life away,
E'en as a worthless straw. I heard last night,
When he believed mse sleeping, sighs burst forth
With groans of bitter anguish, as his heart
Would burst itself in the uttering. On his brow
I laid my soothing hand, * * *
I rose and pressed my lips to his, which burned
With a hot fever-quivering too, they seemed,
All tremulous, as nerved with agony.
Clinging, 1 hoped to cool them with my breath;
Big tear-drops then came coursing from his eyes,
Slowly as thunder drops before the storm;
* I I It was fearful thus to see
The strong man in his agony."
Again, Gracchus being about to rush upon
certain death by meeting and confronting his
enemies-resists the powerful and pathetic
appeals of Licinia, who, in her frenzy, draws
down Cornelia to her knees, as she beseeches Gracchus to fly for safety. In this
hour of agony, which none but a mother can
know, the great heart of the Romais matron
is still stern and true:
GRAC. Mother, have pity! Rise, remember now
Your oft spoke lesson. Death is nothing, standing
Close elbowed by dishonor. Kneel inot to me.
Co.. I do not kneel to you. Hear me, ye Gods!
My supplications are to you for this
My last, best hope in life; my oenly one!
I pray you now to give him strength to bear
This heavy trial; parting worse than death,
From the heart-stricken loved ornes! Go, my son
I have no word to stop you! If your life
Without dishonor can be saved, remember
You owe it to your wife and to your boy.
Farewell I
PERIODICALS.
PVestern Journral, St. Louts. Tarver &
Risk, June, 1851.
Harper's Monthly Magazine, June, 1851.
International Magazine, June, 1851. J.
C. Morgan, New-Orleans.
Southern Planter, Richmond, Virginia.
Banker's Magazine, Boston, June, 1851.
Blackwood's Magazine, May, 1 851.
Rail-Road Journal, New-York.
Literary World, New-York.
We have on so many occasions called attention to the sterling merits of the Western
,Journal at St. Louis, that it canniot be necessary for us to add another word. The
amount of Western statistics which it embodies, is not surpassed by that of any other
publication.
The subscription list of Harper's Monthly
is said already to exceed 60,000, and the publishers expect to reach 100,000. We venture
to say, that no work in the world has equalled
this success, and none have sprung at once
into such maturity of excellence. It must
drive out of circulation many of the lighter
224