Chapter III (11)

This is quite an interesting and important work, giving, in moderate compass, a view of the operations of the Bible Society in different parts of the world. The chapter on the different translations of the Bible is especially interesting, and gives, among other valuable items of information, a complete list of the names of the forty-seven translators of the English Bible. It is curious to notice, that among these, there is hardly one celebrated man, though together they produced a translation which is the Standard of the English language.

* * * * *

_Statesman’s Manual._

With the above for a leading title, Mr. Edwin Williams, of New York, ever indefatigable in collecting, arranging, and disseminating valuable political information, has prepared four octavo volumes, containing the whole of the Messages of each President of the United States, from 1789 to 1849. The book proceeds in order, and gives a biographical sketch of each President—an account of the inauguration—a history of the principal events of his administration. The leading transactions of Congress at each session during the period. So much, well performed, relates to each presidential service. The work is then rendered more valuable by the addition of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, Constitution of the United States, with notes and references; a brief history of the events and circumstances which led to the Union of the States, and formation of the Constitution; a synopsis of the Constitutions of the several States; tables of Members of the Cabinets of the various administrations, Ministers to Foreign Countries, and other principal public officers; Chronological Table of Political Events in the United States; Statistical Tables of Revenue, Commerce and Population; a complete List of Members of Congress from 1789 to 1849; a complete Index, or Analytical Table of Contents to the whole work.

We need scarcely go beyond such a simple statement of the contents of these four volumes, to satisfy every reader of this Magazine that it is a work for all hands. But we deem it due to the publisher, Mr. Walker, and the author, to say, that the work is well done, the facts are clearly set forth, and the statistical tables well digested. So that we may safely say that the work forms a brief but most interesting and satisfactory history of the country for the time, and no library should be without the book, and if any man has a house without a library, let him purchase these to begin one. The foundation, of course, being always laid by those hand books that lead and serve devotion, and a copy of Graham’s Magazine. Mr. John Jones, in North Fifth street, above Market, is the agent for the work in this city, and will receive orders for it from the interior. We mention this that people may know where they may be served, for we take it for granted that a work of such unusual interest will be universally called for. We ought to add, that the publisher has had the good taste to have the book printed on excellent paper, and clear new type, and has ornamented each division with a beautifully engraved likeness of the President of whose administration he is treating—and then the work is handsomely bound.

* * * * *

_Proverbial Philosophy; a Book of Thoughts and Arguments
originally treated. By Martin Farquhar Tupper, Esq., D. C. L.,
F. R. S. of Christ Church, Oxford. From the eighth London
edition, embellished with twelve characteristic illustrations.
Philadelphia: E. H. Butler & Co. small quarto, 391 pp._

Tupper’s Proverbial Philosophy has passed through eight editions in London. In this country it has been reprinted many times in a cheap form, and upwards of thirty thousand copies have been sold; indeed the work is so well known that it does not require any commendation from us. But _this edition_ is deserving of especial praise. It is the first illustrated copy of this work published either in England or America. It is printed on beautiful white paper, as thick and solid as parchment. The type is large, clear and elegant. The binding is rich Turkey morocco, with massive paneled sides richly gilt. We consider it the most elegant published volume we have seen. As a holyday gift-book this volume will do credit to the tact and judgment of the presenter, while it is a most elegant compliment to the mind of the presentee.

* * * * *

_Mornings among the Jesuits at Rome. By the Rev. M. Seymour, M.
A. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1 vol. 12mo._

This is an exceedingly interesting volume, the production of a fair-minded tolerant man, and conveying far more accurate information on the spirit of Jesuitism than any work published for many years. It is composed of notes of conversations, held by the author with certain Jesuits whom he met in Rome, on the subject of religion, and especially on the standing controversy between the Roman and English Churches. Mr. Seymour, from the fact that he conversed with his opponents, and enjoyed their friendship, impresses the reader in a very different manner from those controversialists, who have never known the men whose system they attack, and who thus unconsciously confound doctrines with persons, and convert living beings into mere theological machines. Under every religious creed there is a human heart and brain—a truism which is so often overlooked, both in eulogies and attacks on different religious sects, that we must be pardoned for mentioning it.

* * * * *

_The Little Savage. By Captain Marryatt, R. N. New York: Harper
& Brothers. 1 vol. 12mo._

Most readers can recollect the time when Captain Marryatt was the most popular novelist of the day, and Peter Simple and Jacob Faithful were as familiar names as Oliver Twist and David Copperfield are now. But that time has passed; the gallant captain survived his reputation without really losing his talents. The present volume is a most fascinating story, calculated to charm young readers almost as much as Robinson Crusoe.

* * * * *

_Boston Edition of Shakspeare._ Phillips, Sampson & Co., of Boston, are issuing a new edition of Shakspeare, in large, clear type, and on handsome paper, with introductions and notes to each play. Every number contains a whole play, and an illustrative engraving in the best style of art. Four numbers, at the low price of twenty-five cents each, are already issued, and are to be succeeded by a new number every fortnight. When completed it will be the finest and most sumptuous edition of Shakspeare ever published in the United States. The engravings of Miranda, Julia, and Mrs. Ford, in the numbers before us, are alone worth the price. The great merit of the edition, however, is the size of the type and the beauty of the mechanical execution. It can be read by the oldest and weakest eyes without difficulty and without pain.

* * * * *

_The History of Alfred the Great. By Jacob Abbott. New York:
Harper & Brothers. 1 vol. 16mo._

The subject of this volume combines the interest of history and romance, and we hardly need to say that it loses nothing in point of fascination as presented in Mr. Abbott’s clear and graceful style of narration. The series of historical volumes to which it belongs should penetrate into every family in the land.

* * * * *

_The Fountain of Living Waters, in a Series of Sketches. By a
Layman. New York: G. P. Putnam. 1 vol. 16mo._

The topics of this exquisitely printed volume are sufficiently indicated by the general title. It evidently comes from a soul profoundly imbued with religious sentiment, and the sketches indicate an observing and reflecting mind.

* * * * *

LE FOLLET

Boulevart S^{t.} Martin, 61. _Chapeaux de M^{me}._ Baudry, _r. Richelieu, 87—Plumes de_ Chagot _ainé, r. Richelieu, 81;_ _Robes de_ Camille—_Métier parisien de M^{lle}._ Chanson, _r. Choiseul, 2^{bis}_. Graham’s Magazine.]

* * * * *

SADNESS MAKES THEE SWEETER.

WRITTEN BY
J. M. CHURCH, ESQ.
MUSIC COMPOSED BY
JAMES BELLAK.
Presented by Edward L. Walker, 150 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

I watch thee dearest maiden,
I mark thy beauty rare,
Thou’rt leaning from thy casement,
To breathe the moon-lit

air!
The rays are softly falling
Upon thy mournful face,
And in thy sweet, sad eyes love,
A secret pang I trace!

My dreams are all of heaven.
Or sooth sweet one of thee!
And oft I seek thy casement,
This earthly heaven to see:
Ah! tell me where thy thoughts love,
Are wandering this hour!
Thou art not happy lovely one
Thus lonely in thy bower.

That brow how darkly shadowed,
Bid clouds of grief depart!
Yet sadness makes thee sweeter,
More sad, more sweet, thou art,
Now mine’s a cheerful heart love,
Wilt mingle it with thine?
The cup we’ll quaff together,
And thus our fates entwine.

* * * * *

Transcriber’s Notes:

Table of Contents has been added for reader convenience. Archaic spellings and hyphenation have been retained. Punctuation and obvious type-setting errors have been corrected without note. Other errors have been corrected as noted below. For illustrations, some caption text may be missing or incomplete due to condition of the originals available for preparation of the eBook.

page 4, his voice faultered on ==> his voice faltered on page 20, customary slouching gate, ==> customary slouching gait, page 24, Ellsler’s castinets in the ==> Ellsler’s castanets in the page 26, ranks. No faultering—no ==> ranks. No faltering—no page 26, work—no faultering—no ==> work—no faltering—no page 26, shield of Salahad when ==> shield of Galahad when page 32, McClean, who, losing all ==> McLean, who, losing all page 34, of Quebec, M. Cramehe ==> of Quebec, M. Cramahé page 47, And wavy Appenines and ==> And wavy Apennines and page 49, simply Lily’s Euphuisms revived ==> simply Lyly’s Euphuisms revived page 64, On the mantle-piece were ==> On the mantel-piece were page 69, investigation of inorganized ==> investigation of unorganized page 71, still plead the angel-voice ==> still pleaded the angel-voice page 77, Harry advised as villany ==> Harry advised as villainy page 79, home is — No., Union ==> home is No. — , Union page 89, (_Pelecanus Onocrotatus_) ==> (_Pelecanus Onocrotalus_) Le Follet, _Chapeau de M^{me}._ Baudry ==> _Chapeaux de M^{me}._ Baudry Le Follet, _Plume de_ Chagot ==> _Plumes de_ Chagot

[End of Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXXVI, No. 1, January 1850, George Rex Graham, Editor]