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to hurt her reputation as a heroine. The picture is a deformity—an exaggeration—since no one can manufacture a fiend out of a fool, and the Miss Julia of this book is very much of a fool. The wonder is how such a creation could occupy the mind of a female writer. Verily, we should hold the sex at but small count, if we relied on the portraits of women, as drawn by women. Why is this? What is the secret of that passion for dark portraitures of one another, which is so decided a feature in works of fiction by female hands? Does it begin with the little scandal-mongering of society? Is it generated by that most pernicious of all evil influences to the sex, which tells them, while yet in pantalets, that marriage is the paramount consideration.

The Address of the Hon. Willoughby Newton, of Virginia, before the Rappahannock River Agricultural and Mechanical Society, of that State, is one of those performances which illustrate the growing stir and exercise of the public mind in the South. It also shows that this mind is possessed of adequate resources, if properly exercised, for the encounter with all the emergencies which belong to our condition. The discourse is well written, and well calculated to awaken the young ambition of Virginians. Not the least attractive portions of it, to us, are the brief sketches of local biography which it affords. We regret that the author had not extended his reseaches and developments, and shown us more of those noble gentlemen of his precincts, whom he so properly reports for honourable and grateful remembrance.

Russia As It Is. By COUNT A. DE GUROWSKI. New York: Appleton & Co. 1854.--This book possesses considerable interest in the present complicated condition of European and Asiatic affairs. Without being much impressed with the author's politico-philosophical matters,--his facts--assuming them to be such--are full of interest and value. He seems to be thoroughly and minutely acquainted with Russian history, past and present-with the resources of that mammoth kingdom--with the characteristics equally of government and governed -with the condition of society every where, and with the personal abilities and qualities of the Czar himself, and all the leading personages of the empire. Sketches of persons and of events, contribute greatly to the illustration of his general descriptions, and impart life to his narrative. Altogether, we do not know of any book, devoted to the current history of Russia, which will so thoroughly inform the reader, and enable him to come to conclusions of value in respect to the condition of Russian affairs. We say this, always supposing the writer's facts to be

depended upon. These, we are not able to verify. He is a bitter assailant of the Czar and the country, and ranks among the insurgent nobles of the kingdom.

History of Oliver Cromwell and the English Commonwealth, from the Execution of Charles the First to the Death of Cromwell. By M. GUIZOT. Translated by ANDREW R. SCOBLE. Two volumes. Philadelphia Blanchard & Lea. 1854.-It will be interesting to read Guizot's Cromwell alongside of those of Carlyle and Macaulay. It will be instructive to read it with reference to any, or all, of the British historians of Cromwell. A Frenchman writing of English history, is not now a subject to surprise, since we really owe some of our best English histories to Frenchmen; as in the case of Rapin and Thierry. But Guizot, or any Frenchman, writing of Cromwell, is something more of a task. By this time, however, Guizot has become cosmopolitan. His genius was always one of the most free from national trammels, and we shall take up his book with the conviction, that he will rise to as full and thorough an appreciation of his topic, and to the exercise of a judgment as severe and discriminating, as any of his predecessors have shown. Thus far, we have not read a syllable of these volumes; and we shall take our time about it: since writer and theme alike require due consideration, and frequent pauses, for judgment. Meanwhile, our readers will be at work, no doubt, and will, possibly, find a malignant pleasure in anticipating our criticism with their own. The work is one to provoke appetite.

Kennedy's Rob of the Bowl (Putnam and Co.) is not so successful a story as Horseshoe Robinson, but it is not unworthy of the accomplished author, and exhibits some of his most agreeable characteristics of taste and manner. There are several scenes of great force and vivacity, and much picturesque portraiture. The romance is founded. upon events in the colonial history of Maryland.

Addison's Writings.--The fourth volume of the fine library edition of Addison--issued by Putnam & Co., and edited with skill and industry, by Professor Greene--is wholly occupied with the "Spectator." With another volume, the collection is complete.

Warren on Health, (Ticknor, Reed & Fields,) a tiny hand book, by a well known and highly distinguished physician of New England.

Types of Mankind; or Ethnological Researches, based upon the Ancient Monuments, Paintings, Sculptures and Crania of races, and upon their natural Geographical, Philological and Biblical History: illustrated by selections from the inedited papers of Samuel George Morton, M. D., &c., and by additional contributions from Professor L. Agassiz, W. Usher, M. D., and Professor H. S. Patterson, M. D.; by J. C. NOTT, M. D. (of Mobile) and GEO. R. GLIDDON, formerly Consul at Cairo. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo & Co. 1854.--We give the title page of this copious volume at full length, which is all that we can do at present. Its contents are of a character to arouse prejudices, startle curiosity, provoke inquiry, and set hosts of disputants at work in conflict. Some of its materials have found their way into our pages, at various periods, through the contributions of Dr. Nott, one of its editors. To those who remember his contributions, it will be easy to conceive his share in the work. Of course, it is full of heresies: but for our own part, we really like heresies, and encourage them on all occasions. They serve as thunderstorms to stir up the atmosphere, and keep us from stagnation. Perhaps, some over grown steeple is struck by the lightning; but, what then? The city is purified. We are promised a review of this work from a competent hand, for which our readers will be pleased to wait.

Campbell's Poetical Works. (Philips, Sampson & Co.)--A new edition of Campbell, with original biography and notes, by EPES SARgent, holds forth some promise. Mr. Sargent is himself a poet, well read in English literature, of excellent taste, and just the person to do his spiriting as efficiently as gently, with such a grateful task before him as that which the American publishers have confided to his hands. He has condensed the voluminous biography of Dr. Beattie into a hundred pages--and the loss here is a decided gain. He has employed the reminiscences of Mr. Redding--a work unknown to the American public-in a similar manner, giving us the substance, and throwing off the husk and fodder. But the great gain is in the inclusion, in this edition, of no less than fifty poems of Campbell, hitherto unincluded in most editions. When, to these praises of the edition, we add that the publishers have done their part handsomely, in the preparation of this handsome volume, we have said all that we need to say for its commendation.

The Divine Character Vindicated. A review of some of the principal features of Rev. Dr. E. Beecher's recent work, entitled "The Conflict of Ages; or the great debate on the moral relations of God and

man." By Rev. Moses Ballou. Redfield New-York. 1854.-We must content ourselves with giving the simple title page of this volume, the subject of controversy not falling properly within our province. But we need not say to the reader that the topic is one of enduring interest. We may add that the Rev. Mr. Ballou ranks among the most intelligent of American divines.

The Oration of Hon. W. D. Porter on the Birth-Day of Calhoun, delivered before the Calhoun Monument Association, and other bodies, in Charleston, on the 18th of March last, is, like all the speeches of this gentleman, a temperate unambitious essay, sensible, ample, appropriate to the purpose, written in good style, simple, graceful and without pretence. Mr. Porter gives a rapid sketch of Mr. Calhoun's public life, a good portrait of his private character, and judiciously sums up the amount of his national and local services, and his claims to the affectionate remembrance of posterity in his native State, and the country at large, for which he so long strove.

Allston on Sea-Coast Crops.-A good practical essay, by the Hon. R. F. W. Allston, read before the Agricultural Association of the Planting States. Mr. Allston loves his profession, and does it justice. He not only urges the proper claims of agriculture to our study, but furnishes in this essay a body of instruction in the details of planting— rice, corn, cotton, all being under consideration--which the young planter will find a useful hand-book, giving him detailed advice at every step

he takes.

Petersburg Library Association.--The annual report of the Directors of this Association, closing with March last, shows the Institution to be in a very flourishing condition. We can speak of the Library from personal observation, and bear grateful testimony to the courtesy, intelligence, enterprise and honourable ambition of the officers and members of the Institution. A large, growing and well selected library, constantly in use by eager citizens desiring knowledge and curious in study;-crowded lecture-rooms, silently watchful of all that falls from the lips of the speaker ;--the old and young, male and female, all zealously uniting in the common cause;-all seeking to combine the elegant and the useful in knowledge;-the truthful and the beautiful;these are the proofs which the people of Petersburg daily give of the utility of their Library Association, and of the wise use which they are making of it.

Professor Brumby's Essay on Agricultural Chemistry, delivered before the Agricultural Association of the slaveholding States, is a word in season. There can be no just grounds for a quarrel between Christianity and Science, no more than between Christianity and any form of truth, unless through the stupidity and bigotry of one faction, and the equal stupidity and imprudence of the other. All God's truths harmonize, and must harmonize with God's laws; and if we will be at the pains to find out what his truths are, and have a little patience with our neighbours while doing so, there can be no doubt that we shall find ourselves all safely landed together on a common platform, eternal as the truth itself. The great trouble of men lies in that miserable vanity, and insolent presumption, which are perpetually shaping the truths of nature and revelation after some ridiculous little model in their own hearts. Professor Brumby's discourse will be read with interest, equally because of its moral and its science.

The Charleston College Magazine is full of promise on behalf of our young friends. It shows talent and study. These, working honestly together, will be sure to produce the fruits of wisdom. We welcome our young cousin to the field, and gladly report the grace and vigour with which he strips for the wrestle. Let him only go into good training now, and he will grow into the strong man, prepared for all comers, the buckler of his country in times of danger, its pride and grace at all other periods.

Kossuth's Select Speeches. (C. J. Francis & Co.)-A neat, well arranged and compact volume of the best speeches of this remarkable man, with finely engraved portrait, and explanatory preface. We hope, in future pages, to be able to review Kossuth as an orator and writer. For the present, it will suffice to commend this edition to all those who desire curiously to look up, in its pages, the secret of that wonderful charm of speech which made him so fascinate the hearer.

White's Historical Collections of Georgia.-A second volume, chiefly statistical, by an industrious labourer, in a region abundant in material, and distinguished by a political and social progress second to that of no State in this country. We shall recur to this volume in our next issue.

Emilie Carlen's " Whimsical Woman" is a story at once slight and dull-all meagreness and insipidity.

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