As they joyed in the zephyr's breath to play, CORNELIA. CRITICAL NOTICES. Resignation, an American Novel. By a Lady, in 2 vols. 12mo. Boston. 1825pp. 408 and 444. THE story of this novel opens with the death of Mr Ellison, the father of the heroine of the work, upon Bunker Hill, on that memorable era, the 17th of June 1775,-a place singularly well chosen to kill a man in, now there is a monument erecting probably over his very grave. Elizabeth Ellison's mother soon dies, and she is taken to Virginia by Mr Harlington, her maternal uncle. This transfers the scene from Massachusetts to Virginia. While yet children, an attachment of peculiar interest arises between Elizabeth and Francis Onsville, whose father was a clergyman, educated in Scotland, and whose mother was a "highland lassie," of rich and respectable parentage. Francis receives a theological education in this country, but is obliged to remove to Aberdeen (Scotland) to comply with the dying request of his mother. Elizabeth is obliged by circumstances to remain in America, and the separation of the lovers necessarily causes a great deal of misery, which is heightened and aggravated by many other calamities. The scene is now partially transferred to Scotland. Francis, after having been a settled minister in Aberdeen, returns to New England, where Elizabeth is preparing to settle, just in time to interrupt an engagement between her and a boarding-school teacher. The first love prevails, and Francis and Elizabeth remove again to Virginia and are married. The scenes of the novel are laid, as our readers will perceive, in divers places. The characters are very numerous, so numerous indeed, that we cannot even call them up by name and tell where they were born, whom they married, and where they died. Notwithstanding the very unnecessary number of characters, the complicated plan of the work, and our discouraging prepossessions, we have read it with considerable interest. The severity of criticism, which occasionally appears in our remarks upon the lighter works which come under our notice, is disarmed in this instance by the christian benevolence and the deep-toned piety with which our author's heart is imbued, and which pervades the whole work. The story is one, which describes no magnificent achievements, nor convulsions of nations. There are in it no striking events, no great catastrophe,-no plots and counterplots, to absorb the attention of the reader; and of course we have not felt in reading it that degree of interest which is excited by the rapid description of events and circumstances, important on account of their connexion with some great catastrophe. Perhaps it is well that it is so; for the author's design evidently was to recommend religion as it is exhibited in the quiet of domestic life. She has effectually guarded against one error-that of exhibiting human life brighter than it really is. Those, who complain of works of fiction, because they fill the youthful mind with the idea, that life is made up of chivalrous adventure, cannot utter the same complaint against the author of "Resignation." We think that she has erred on the other side, by representing life as a scene of sorrow too unmingled, and this world as a dwelling-place in which it is undesirable to live. For ourselves we believe, that God has made this world as happy as it could be, and be at the same time a state of probation; and that if man will serve him in sincerity, even on earth he shall be happy. Very rarely is it the case, that a family, and all connected with it by consanguinity or friendship, are involved in so many calamities as befell the heroes and heroines of "Resignation." There are many tender and affecting scenes in the course of the book; but we very much regret that they should be drawn out into the unnecessary length of two closely printed volumes. This diffuseness impairs the interest of the narration, and the reader's attention flags long before he finishes one volume. If our author's pen had been accustomed to more rapid and concise description, she would have interested her readers much more, and left more definite and vivid impressions on their minds. She needs more of that comprehensive activity of mind, which looks through a subject or a train of fictitious events, with a glance, giving prominence and definiteness to the most important views and circumstances, and sinking those which are unimportant into the shade. She needs a bolder hand, and an eye better disciplined in the rules of perspective. A good novelist, like a good painter, will make his scenes and heroes stand forth in an attitude of strength. One that is inferior may describe many personages and scenes in an interesting manner, but his paintings, like those of the Flemish schools, however beautiful may be the colouring, will wear an air of confusion, which will leave the mind of the reader in a dubious and unsatisfied state. "Resignation" has other faults. We might mention the Irish and Negro gibberish, which the author has very unnecessarily introduced, as great blemishes to the work. Besides, we have to inform our author, and we can do it from actual and personal knowledge and observation, that she has not caught the negro dialect in Virginia at all. She has put into their mouths English far more horribly mangled than any which they are in the habit of using. Our author, too, should have been better acquainted with the diseases of Virginia. In her novel she has caused more to die of consumption in the neighbourhood of Richmond, than probably ever died of that disease in the whole state, from among its native inhabitants. If disposed, we could point out many other faults, but we do not wish to discourage. We like to see the daughters of America employing their pens, especially when they are enlisted on the side of piety and virtue. But let them not come before the public with too sanguine expectations. If they write novels, let them remember that small, thin volumes, with wide margins and spaces, are much more acceptable generally, than those where the author is more prodigal of words; and that one volume is far better than two. 1. The Christian Indian; or Times of the First Settlers. (The First of a Series of American Tales.) 1 vol. 12mo. New York. 1825. pp. 251. 2. Stranger of the Valley; or Louisa and Adelaide. a Lady. 2 vols. 12mo. New York. 1825. An American Tale. By 3. Frederick de Algeroy, the Hero of Camden Plains. A Revolutionary Tale. By Giles Gazer, Esq. New York. 1825. pp. 235. It is well known to many of our readers, that in the year 1614 the celebrated Capt. Sinith undertook a voyage of discovery and trade to New-England, then calied North Virginia. The author of the first of the novels supposes that he took with him, on this occasion, a young Indian, called Tantum, who had some years before been carried to England. The voyage was on the whole unsuccessful, and accompanied as usual with occasional skirmishes with the natives. In one of them, according to our author, a young Englishman was wounded and left for dead. He is recovered, however, and secreted by an old squaw. In her wigwam he is attended by a young Indian maiden, who falls in love with him, and conducts him, through many adventures, to a Dutch fort on the Hudson river. Miona, the young woman, had been contracted to Tantum, who, in some mysterious manner, assists her in guiding and protecting the white man. Miona finally kills herself to protect the Englishman from some danger threatened by an Indian prophet; and the book ends with the departure of the hero for Europe, and an explanatory letter from Tantum. The object of the work is to set the Indian character in a better light, than the author supposes it has yet appeared in, and to excite our sympathy with the wrongs and sufferings of that devoted race. It is pretty well written, but we think it wants interest, and that the story moves slowly and heavily, without sufficient variety of incident. As it is contained, however, in a single small volume, it is not "a great evil." It is more important when considered as the first of a series. It is so announced on the title page; and we must confess, that we look forward with some dread to the task of reading and noticing, however slightly, a number of works, which, to judge from this specimen, will not be likely to rise above mediocrity. The second in order of these works reminded us of a chemical doctrine, to which, as that science has been so fashionable of late years, we may venture to allude, without much risk of being charged with pedantry. The story is complicated, but the interest of it depends, in the main, upon the adventures of several couples, who were contracted without any violent affection; united, as it were by quiescent affinity. They meet, however, in the course of the story, with certain divellent affinities, and form new combinations, in some instances with detonation, and in others with slight effervescence. In plain English, the parties severally fall in love with other persons, and marry them, with more or less difficulty to themselves and their friends. It is an indifferent novel, with a plot and a set of dramatis personæ which belong to another generation of novel-readers, and seem hackneyed, uninteresting, and tedious to the readers of the present day. The third, "Frederick de Algeroy," we have read through with great difficulty. If it were not too despicable for serious notice, we should be tempted to treat parts of it with extreme severity. It is calculated to have a bad influence, if it has any; but we trust that the wretchedness of its execution will prevent its finding many readers. With respect to works of this class, we desire to remark in general, that if we sometimes speak of them with bitterness, we ought not to be accused of unprovoked severity. It is expected of us to notice American publications. We must read the volumes which are deluging the community under the name of American novels, we are mortal men, gifted with no more temper and patience than our fellows, and the authors must take the consequences. A Brief Outline of the Evidences of the Christian Religion. By Archibald Alexarder, Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. 1825. 18mo. pp. 299. THE author of this book lays no claim to originality, either in regard to the several branches of evidence, or to the method of their arrangement. His object appears to have been, to present the evidences of our religion in a condensed and popular form, adapted rather to the common class of readers, than to those who wish to search deeply into the origin and progress of Christianity, or the grounds upon which our faith in it may be firmly established. This book, however, is well worth the perusal of the professed theologian. The author has touched upon almost every department of the evidences, and generally allotted to each its proper value. He has collected much important matter in a small compass, and expressed it in a clear and forcible manner. Thus he has effectually done all, which he proposed to himself to do. And they who feel desirous of renewing, or more firmly fixing, their impressions of the truths of revelation, cannot, perhaps, do it with less labour, than by reading with attention this little book. INTELLIGENCE. LAW SCHOOL AT NORTHAMPTON, We extract from a circular letter of the gentlemen at the head of this establishment, the following account of the advantages afforded to students. "WE have an extensive law library, to which the students can at all times have access, and there are several rooms in the same building where the library is placed. A lecture of an hour is given three days in a week, when we are not occupied in court, and will probably be given every day after the present year. Recitations are also attended to three times a week; and the discussion of a legal question, by the * Hon. E. H. Mills and Samuel Howe. students, takes place once a week. To give our pupils an acquaintance with the practical details of the profession, and in some measure to supply to them the advantages of experience, in addition to the professional business done in the office, great pains are taken to state to them the cases which occur on the circuits, and the various questions raised in the trial, the arguments urged in the discussion, and the disposition finally made of them. * * * "We are situated in one of the most delightful and healthy villages in New England. Its scenery is almost unequalled in our country. Its population is moral and intelligent-and comprises many gentlemen of literary, scientific, and professional eminence. Our communications with every part of the country are easy and frequent, and no day passes without being able to receive and communicate intelligence in every direction. Our establishment is at present in the centre of the village, but we have it in contemplation shortly to remove it to a more retired part of the town, in the immediate neighbourhood of the justly celebrated school of Messrs Cogswell and Bancroft, on Round hill. Our terms are one hundred dollars a year, including rooms, fuel, and candles." ADDITIONAL VOLUMES OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. Two or three additional volumes of these Tales, translated by the Rev. Dr Wait, from the Arabic manuscripts in the public library of the University of Cambridge, are about to be published in England. VARIATION OF BOILING POINTS AND INCREASED PRODUCTION OF VAPour. It has been known, for some time, that when certain kinds of extrancous substances are introduced into boiling fluids, considerable effect is produced upon the boiling point, vapour being formed either at lower points, or with much increased facility. Thus, Gay-Lussac has shown, that metal filings thrown into water, heated in a glass vessel, lower the boiling point of the water 2° or 3°; and Mr South pointed out the effect produced by putting platina wire, or slips of platina foil, into hot sulphuric acid, causing it to boil readily, quietly, and at lower points in glass vessels, than it otherwise would do, the difference here being several degrees. Dr Bostock has observed a remarkable fact of this kind in the extent to which the boiling point of ether may be changed by the introduction of a small chip of wood, or a portion of quill or feather of any kind. Ether in a glass vessel, boiled freely at 112°, and with difficulty at 110°. On employing another glass vessel, it would not boil till the temperature had attained 150°, and the latter point was retained in other vessels. Repeating the experiment in a new vessel, it boiled earlier than before, but the vapour was observed to come off from one point where some substance had adhered to the glass. This led to the introduction of a small cedar chip, when the wood was quickly covered with bubbles, and the ether brought rapidly into ebullition. In this way ether boiled at 102°, which, without the wood, required 150°. The wood was not so effectual after some time as at first. When completely soaked with the ether, it sunk to the bottom, and the ebullition nearly ceased; a fresh piece renewed it. Fragments of broken glass lowered the boiling point considerably. A small piece of metal |