SIR WALTER SCOTT.

WHENEVER the great Wizard of the North is known to be at work, public curiosity is excited to learn what he is about; and we are always glad when we can gratify that popular feeling. Imprimis, there is forthcoming a great edition of the Waverley Novels, in monthly volumes, which series is to commence in the ensuing summer (the Prospectus states June 1st). In this revised edition we are to have copious notes and introductions by the author -a rare occurrence, for we do not remember an example in literature of so voluminous a writer living to explain and illustrate his own productions. We observe from the prospectus, that the work is inscribed, by permission, to the King, and is to be embellished with frontispieces and vignette titles, from designs by distinguished artists. After noticing the nature of the alterations he has made and is making, Sir Walter informs us, "The general Preface to the new edition, and the introductory notices to each separate work, will contain an account of such circumstances attending the first publication of the Novels and Tales, as may appear interesting in themselves, or proper to be communicated to the public. The author also proposes to publish, on this occasion, the various legends, family traditions, or obscure historical facts, which have formed the ground-work of these novels, and to give some account of the places where the scenes are laid, when these are altogether or in part real; as well as a statement of particular incidents founded on fact; together with a more copious glossary, and notes explanatory of the ancient customs and popular superstitions referred to in the Romances." This, we think, must be extremely interesting, especially as we understand that the preface to Waverley will be, in fact, an autobiography

of the author, so far as regards these celebrated novels, and will have appended to it some of his early productions in prose, now for the first time given to the public.

TEA DRINKING.

While the late Mr. Gifford was at Ashburton, he contracted an acquaintance with a family of that place, consisting of females somewhat advanced in age. On one occasion he ventured on the perilous exploit of drinking tea with these elderly ladies. After having swallowed his usual allowance of tea, he found, in spite of his remonstrances to the contrary, that his hostess would by no means suffer him to give up, but persisted in making him drink a most incredible quantity. "At last," said Gifford in telling the story," being really overflooded with tea, I put down my fourteenth cup, and exclaimed, with an air of resolution, 'I neither can nor will drink any more.' The hostess then seeing she had forced more down my throat than I liked, began to apologise, and added, but, dear Mr. Gifford, as you didn't put your spoon across your cup, I supposed your refusals were nothing but good manners.'"

LITERARY CONGRESS AT BERLIN.

For the last seven years a congress of literary and scientific persons has met annually at Berlin; but till the present year's session the circumstance has been little known, and the members have been confined almost wholly to the natives of the German states. The interest, however, excited among the literati of Europe appears to have been silently increasing; for on the 18th of last September, the day of the annual meeting, the Prussian capital presented the imposing spectacle of no fewer than four hundred and sixty-seven men of letters, from all

quarters of Europe, congregated within her walls for purposes connected with the advancement of science and literature. At the public sittings, which took place daily for a week, lectures were delivered and communications read, as in other learned societies; while the rest of the day was occupied in committees on astronomy, geography, chemistry, mineralogy, botany, zoology, anatomy, physiology, and medicine. The president was Baron Humboldt, whose discourse has been printed. The next meeting will take place at Heidelberg.

INNOCENT CONFESSION.

A lady at confession, amongst other heinous crimes, accused herself of using rouge. “What is the use of it?" asked the confessor. "I do it to make myself handsomer.”—“And does it produce that effect?"-" At least I think so, father."-The confessor on this took his penitent out of the confessional into the light, put on his spectacles, and having looked at her attentively, said, "Well, madam, you may use rouge, for you are ugly enough even with it."

CHINESE POETRY.

The Chinese is said to be the most musical and harmonious of all known languages. The words of which it is composed are varied not only by quantity, or the longer and shorter times in which they are pronounced, but also by the rising and falling of the voice, and by various inflections of tones, like those in European music. The poetry bears a striking analogy to the artificial character of the people. The verses are composed of five, seven, or nine syllables, and the stanzas of four, six, eight, ten, or twelve verses; and in each description of stanza, the rhymes are differently disposed in a regular stated method, from which no deviation is ever made. But the verses are not merely related to each other in their rhymes, but also in the idea and signification; thus, if one verse signify a mountain, a flower, fire, water, &c., the correspondent verse-say the third after it-must

correspond in reason as well as in rhyme. Another kind of poetry, without rhyme, consists in the antithesis, or opposition of thoughts: if the first thought, for instance, relates to the Spring, the second shall turn upon Autumn; or if the first mention fire, the second shall express water. The more difficult and artificial the composition, the more highly it is valued.

CABINET CYCLOPÆDIA.

A "Cabinet Cyclopædia" is announced for publication, under the superintendence of Dr. Lardner. It is to consist of a series of "Cabinets” of the several sciences, &c. and upwards of 100 volumes, to be published monthly, are already announced in the prospectus; or nine years publishing. The design is not altogether new, it being from the Encyclopædie Methodique, a series of dictionaries, now publishing in Paris; and about four years since a similar work was commenced in England, but only three volumes or dictionaries of the series were published. If this be the flimsy age, the "Cabinet Cyclopædia" is certainly not one of the flimsiest of its projects; and for the credit of the age, we wish the undertaking all success.

SENTIMENT AND APPETITE. We remember an amiable enthusiast, a worshiper of nature after the manner of Rousseau, who, being melted into feelings of universal philanthropy by the softness and serenity of a spring morning, resolved, that for that day, at least, no injured animal should pollute his board; and having recorded his vow, walked six miles to gain a hamlet, famous for fish dinners, where, without an idea of breaking his sentimental engagement, he regaled himself on a small matter of crimped cod and oyster sauce.

When a Grand Vizier is favorably deposed, that is without banishing or putting him to death, it is signified to him by a messenger from the Sultan, who goes to his table, and wipes the ink out of his golden pen; this he understands as the sign of dismissal.

MAY, May!-our heart leaps, and we grow ten years younger at the word. It is really no mean thing, in the common-place world of prose in which we live, to feel a stimulus awakening what little of poetry and love that are left us. May has been, since the beginning of the world, the season of love and of flowers; the earth and the heart then sprout with their loveliest and most amiable blossoms. May is, time out of mind, the poet's holiday; and nature looks on her favorite with her kindest eyes, and puts on her birth-day suit to bid him welcome. Surely our forefathers never left us a sounder proof of their wisdom than in consecrating the most delicious season of the year to the renewal of loves and friendships, as if the best feelings of the heart and the flowers of the earth took, at the same time, a new lease of existence.

Romulus is said to have named "rosy footed May," in honor of his nobles and senators, termed majores, or elders; as the following month was called June, in compliment to the Juniors who served him in his wars. There is no month the beauties of which have been so much celebrated; and Milton has the following beautiful song on May morning :

Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her

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throws

The flowery May, who from her green lap The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.

Hail, bounteous May! that dost inspire Mirth, and youth, and warm desire; Woods and groves are of thy dressing; Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

This song is said still to be sung on the top of one of the colleges in Oxford, every May morning at sunrise.

The poets have ever been the great advocates and admirers of May. Shakspeare has scattered allusions to May, like flowers, over all his plays and poems. We hear of "the merry month of May," the "May-morn of youth," and of "love, whose month is May."

The scenery of a May morning is particularly beautiful; a serene sky, a refreshing fragrance, arising from the face of the earth, and the melody of the birds, all combine to render it inexpressibly delightful. Yet there are those who prefer to all these the turmoil of a crowded city. Such was Mr. Boswell, and, according to this "honest chronicler's" report, Dr. Johnson himself was alike insensible to the charms of nature. "We walked in the evening," says Boswell, "in Greenwich-park. Johnson asked me, I suppose by way of trying my disposition, Is not this very fine?' Having no exquisite relish of the beauties of nature, and being more delighted with the busy hum of men,'