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is an American novel in the strongest sense of the term. It abounds in Americanisms, and the scenes and characters are copied from American nature, whenever they are copied from any. Few will probably understand the meaning of the secondary designation, "Marrying Out." The hero is a Quaker, who marries out of the society. We are told, that "the tale was mostly written whilst the author had extreme youth to plead in extenuation of its faults," and that it was published at the request of "particular friends." We are sorry to be severe upon a book, that makes so little pretension, but we must needs tell the truth. It is not a sufficient excuse for publishing such a work, that it is not "considered of sufficient consequence to affect American literature." A cheap novel is likely to fall into the bands, and to have its effect upon the minds, of the very class of people, whose language most needs improvement, and will, of course, have more or less effect in perpetuating bad language and bad construction. We believe that the following specimen of the book will be sufficient for most readers, who have any curiosity respecting it.

"Edgar had now so far recovered, as to discover their confusion, and that Caroline was missing, or that something had befallen her. He inquired where she was; but not receiving any answer, he pitched off the bed, and made for the door, whilst, to prevent it, they all surrounded him. Caroline, who had inadvertently shut the door after her, having recovered, and hearing them entreating Edgar to be pacified, now entered, and coming up behind him, took hold of his arm. 'Here,' said Penelope, here, cousin Edgar, is Caroline.' He turned, and falling towards her, clasped her in his arms, whilst she, from her recent misfortune, scarcely able to sustain her own weight, sunk under the addition of his, and the carpet, by receiving them both, fortunately kept them from coming to the floor."

An Address to the Utica Lyceum, delivered February 17, 1825. By A. B. Johnson, prefatory to his course of Lectures on the Philosophy of Human Knowledge. Utica. 1825. 8vo. pp. 16.

WE have received a pamphlet with this title, from which we learn two facts that there is a Lyceum at Utica,-and that they are about to have a course of lectures on the "Philosophy of Human Knowledge." We rejoice in the organization and establishment of every institution for the promotion and diffusion of useful knowledge; and have no doubt the Lyceum at Utica is one of those institutions, though we know little of its particular objects, or its means and resources for obtaining them. "The philosophy of human knowledge" is rather a vague subject for a course of lectures; and it would be difficult to predict how a lecturer would manage such a subject. Unfortunately the "prefatory" lecture does not aid us in forming a conjecture. Mr Johnson, on this point, only tells us "it is his misfortune to possess a strong inclination for abstruse studies." But his Address shows a discriminating mind. A remark upon the imperfections of language as an organ of communication between different minds, is worthy of attention. " Words," he says, "may be compared to music. When a Briton listens to a certain tune of Handel, the notes articulate distinctly, God save great George the King; but when an American hears it, the notes articulate 'God save great Washington.' Hence the difficulty of understanding a new idea. The words will constantly excite old ones, though the speaker intends new."

INTELLIGENCE.

RECOVERED EDITION OF SHAKSPEARE.

A literary treasure of no common value, and of most singular rarity, which is likely to excite a strong interest in the minds of all well-read lovers of the ancient English drama, and will awaken the hopes and fears of every ambitious and zealous collector of scarce books, has, within a short time, been brought to light.

This exhumated curiosity is a book in small quarto, said to have been once possessed by Sir Thomas Hanmer, but not alluded to by him; and containing scarce editions of eleven of Shakspeare's plays, among which is Hamlet of an edition printed in 1603. Of this edition not the slightest mention has ever been made; it is therefore fair to conclude, that to the various able and learned commentators of Shakspeare it was utterly unknown, the earliest which has ever obtained notice being that of 1604, of which Mr Malone gives the title, though it is quite clear he had no other knowledge of it.

Hamlet first appeared, according to Malone's calculation, in 1600, the newly discovered edition, therefore, was published only three years after the tragedy was produced. Hence it may be, in many respects, a more exact copy of the original than any subsequently printed. The following notice is taken from the London Literary Gazette. It is proper to remark, that the copy shows abundance of typographical errors, and a great want of skill in the copyist. The errors, however, are retained in the quotations which are made.

Hamlet-Edition of 1603.

"We will rather express our gratification that an edition of Hamlet, anterior to any hitherto known to the world, has just been brought to light, than our surprise that it should have been so long hidden. Yet it is a strange thing that such a volume as that in which it has been found, and in the possession of the parties to whom it belonged, should have been suffered to be undiscovered or unnoticed among the lumber of any library. Every person of literary taste must wonder, and every enthusiastic admirer of Shakspeare be inclined to utter an exclamation of dismay, when we lay before them the contents of this precious book. They are as follow

1. The Merchant of Venice. Printed by J. R. for Thomas Heyes. 1600. First edition. [Perfect.]

2. The Merry Wives of Windsor. Printed by T. C. for Arthur Johnson. 1602. First edition. [Wanting last leaf but one.]

3. Much Adoe about Nothing. Printed by V. S. for Andrew Wise and William Aspley. 1600. First edition. [Perfect.]

4. A Midsommer Nights Dreame. Printed for Thomas Fisher. 1600. First edition. [Wanting four leaves in the middle.]

5. Troylus & Cressida. One of the two first editions, both printed in 1609. [Wants title.]

6. Romeo & Juliet. Printed by Thomas Creede for Cuthbert Burby. 1599. First edition of the enlarged Play. [Perfect.]

7. Hamlet. Printed by N. L. and John Trundell, 1603. First known edition. Last leaf wanting; but contains Hamlet's Death, and very few lines are wanting, probably not half so many as occur after the hero's death, in the received text of the play.

[blocks in formation]

[Perfect.] 10. Henry V.

Printed by V. S. for Andrew Wise and William Aspley,
Signature E has six leaves. [Perfect.]
Printed by P. S. for Andrew Wise.

1593. First edition.

Printed by Thomas Creede, for Thomas Pauier. 1602. Second edition. [Perfect.]

11. Richard II. Printed by Thomas Creede, for Andrew Wise. 1602. Third edition. [Perfect.] 12. The Two Noble Kinsmen, by John Fletcher and William Shakspeare. 1634. First edition. [Perfect.]

The size of this important and curious volume is the ancient small quarto, and, with the exceptions specified above, it is in excellent order. It was the property of Sir T. Hanmer, but must have been purchased by him after he had published his Shakspeare; otherwise he would have made use of it in that publication. From Sir T. Hanmer, it passed into the possession of the Bunbury family; and it was from one of its branches that it came into the hands of its present owners, Messrs Payne & Foss.

[To be continued.]

HARRIS' NATURAL HISTORY OF THE bible.

We are happy to learn, that this valuable work has been reprinted in London, and very favourably reviewed in the Philosophical Magazine and Journal for January, 1825. We quote a few sentences from that review with the greater pleasure, because they will serve the double purpose of furnishing a notice of the work, and of showing the estimation in which it is held where it has been reprinted.

"Among the valuable contributions to science and literature, with which our American brethren are now enriching our language, we are happy to notice this useful volume. The want of such a work has been much felt in this country. * * * It is of essential service to the public to possess works on subjects of common interest, comprising in a small compass, what before could not be found without access to voluminous authors and extensive libraries.

"In order fully to understand the Sacred Writings, a knowledge of whatever is local and peculiar becomes important. Not the least important, as contributing to the illustration of Scripture, is Natural History. The poetical books of the Hebrews, in particular, abound in lively comparisons, local allusions, and strong metaphors, drawn from material objects, whose most powerful charms arise from their individuality. The real import of the sentiment, expressed by such allusions and metaphors, must be gathered from a knowledge of the objects on which they are founded. Much of the poetry of the Hebrews, like that of every people of a remote age, partakes largely of the pastoral kind, resulting from the personal occupation of the authors, or the common condition of mankind. To enjoy the beauty of the pastoral scenery, which is so often alluded to in the Hebrew Scriptures, one should have some knowledge of the climate and natural productions of the country which furnishes it; and every thing which tends to make the Sacred Scriptures more engaging to the mass of readers, by illustrating what is obscure, is a great good.

In the use he has made of his various authorities, Dr Harris manifests a due discrimination, and puts it in the reader's power, generally,

in cases of doubt, to weigh the evidence for himself; and we consider him to be entitled to the thanks of the public for having brought within a reasonable compass the most valuable materials on the subjects of which he treats; for having arranged them in a convenient method; and, in general, for having arrived at his own conclusions, on the best evidence which the subjects admit."

AMERICAN NATURAL HISTORY.

Mr Robert Wright, of Philadelphia, has undertaken to publish by subscription an extensive work, entitled American Natural History, which is to be edited by Dr John D. Godman. It will be illustrated by numerous engravings from drawings by that eminent naturalist and artist, Mr Lesueur, which have been made, in every practicable instance, from the living animal or preserved specimen in the American Museum. The first part, in three volumes octavo, will be ready for delivery in September next.

LADAHK SHEEP.

Mr Moorcroft, in a letter from Tartary, says, "The novelties which have already met my view in natural history, are so great as to invite the introduction of details that would swell this letter to a volume." One example is the Ladahk sheep. "This animal, at full growth, is scarcely so large as a South Down lamb of five or six months; yet in the fineness and weight of its fleece, the flavour of its flesh, and the peculiarities of its constitution, it is inferior to no race. It is as completely domiciliated as a British dog. In the night it shelters in a walled yard, or under its master's roof; in the day it feeds often on a surface of granite rock, where cursory observation can scarcely discover a speck of vegetation. If permitted, it will pick up crumbs, drink salted and buttered tea or broth, or nibble a cleanly picked bone. It gives two lambs within twelve months, and is twice shorn within that period. A British cottager might keep three of these sheep with more case than he now supports a cur-dog, as they would live luxuriantly in the day on the strips of grass which border the roads, and by keeping clean hedge bottoms." Mr Moorcraft has procured some of them with a view to import them into Britain. The letter contains, likewise, a notice of a non-descript wild variety of horse, which he thinks might be domesticated for the use of the small farmer and poor in Britain. It is about fourteen hands high, of a round muscular form, with remarkably clean limbs.

ANTEDILUVIAN REMAINS.

Professor Buckland has published a letter relative to the cave lately discovered at Banwell, Somerset. He states the thickness of the mass of sand, mud, and limestone, through which the bones, horns, and teeth are disposed, to be in one place nearly forty feet. He adds, “ Many large baskets-full of bones have already been extracted, belonging to the ox and deer tribes: of the latter there are several varieties, including the elk. There are also a few portions of the skeleton of the wolf, and of a gigantic bear. The bones are mostly in a state of preservation equal to that of common grave bones; but it is clear, from the fact of some of them belonging to the great extinct species of the bear, that they are of an antediluvian origin."

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

EDUCATION.

Lessons in Elocution; or, a Selection of Pieces in Prose and Verse, for the Improvement of Youth in Reading and Speaking. By William Scott. Also, an Appendix, containing Lessons on a New Plan; to which is added, an Abridgment of Walker's Rules for the Pronunciation of Greek and Latin Proper Names, &c. Plymouth. E. Collier.

Reading Lessons for Primary Schools. 18mo. pp. 126. Boston.

Richardson & Lord.

HISTORY.

Notes, Geographical and Historical, relating to the town of Brooklyn, in King's County, on Long Island. By Gabriel Furman. 1 Vol. 12mo. Brooklyn. A. Spooner.

LAW.

Remarks on the Projected Revision of the Laws of New York. First published in the Atlantic Magazine for April, 1825. 8vo. New York.

MEDICINE.

pp. 19.

The Monthly Chronicle of Medicine and Surgery. No. VIII. New York. E. Bliss & E. White.

An Address, delivered at the Annual Commencement of the Berkshire Medical Institution, Pittsfield, December 23, 1824. By Rufus William Bailey, A. M. 8vo. pp. 24. Pittsfield, Mass.

The New England Journal of Medicine and Surgery. Vol. XIV. No. II. Medico-Chirurgical Review and Journal of Medical Science. No. XVI. New York. J. V. Seaman.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Pierre and his Family; or, a Story of the Waldenses. By the Author of Lilly Douglas. 1 Vol. 18mo. Philadelphia.

An Essay on the Study and Pronunciation of the Greek and Latin Languages. By William White, A. M. Philadelphia. A. Finley. Auxiliar Vocabulario de Bolsillo Español e Ingles, Par J. Jose L. Barry. 18mo. New York. J. Desnoues.

The Virginia Housewife. A Second Edition, with Amendments and Additions. 12mo.

POETRY.

The Minstrel's Cabinet; a new Collection of the most popular Sentimental, Comic, Patriotic, and Moral Songs. In 2 Vols. 18mo. New York. D. Mallory.

POLITICS.

Suggestions on Presidential Elections, with particular reference to a Letter of William C. Somerville, Esq. 8vo. pp. 32. Boston. Cummings, Hilliard, & Co.

An Address, delivered at Watertown, March 4th, 1825, at a Dinner in Honour of the Inauguration of President John Quincy Adams. By David Lee Child. 8vo. pp. 10. Price 25 cents. Poston. Cummings, Hilliard, & Co.

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