thing, indeed, could come from the mind of Niebuhr, either directly or indirectly, even in the most imperfect form, which would not bear the impress of his greatness upon it, or could fail to impart interesting information. The veriest scraps which might be picked out of his portfolio, copied from his adversaria, or culled from the margin of his books, would be welcomed by all with deep interest. And it is to this that we must attribute, undoubtedly, much of the interest which attaches to this publication. In itself, it is nothing but a string of loose memoranda. It is evident, on inspection, that the Editor has honestly confined himself to what he found set down in his manuscript, without attempting to supply deficiencies, polish expressions, or replace what might have been lost. He has manifestly given us what fell from the lips of Niebuhr,we have got nothing but the truth, if we have not got the whole truth. But the Lectures themselves seem to have been delivered in a very slip-shod manner, which is not improved by the abridged form in which they have been reported. We look in vain for that remarkable accuracy and minute learning, which were so conspicuous in the finished portion of the History. What Mr. Schmitz has given us consists entirely of rapid summaries, hurried criticisms and bold outlines, drawn, indeed, with the usual skill of Niebuhr, though they now appear in a very disconnected and unpolished shape. They contain, nevertheless, the germs of much important investigation, and, even in their undeveloped state, are highly suggestive. We think, and have always thought, that Niebuhr was not to be followed implicitly and without close scrutiny. Of course, more caution and nicer examination will be required in availing ourselves of the views indicated in the present volumes; for we should have very strong objections to seeing them recognized as standard authorities.

We are, however, peculiarly thankful to Mr. Schmitz for what we have received. If no information were to be obtained from it, which is far from being the case, we should have prized this work as a relic saved for us from the ashes of the dead. We have read it with deep melancholy, as the thought would obtrude itself upon our minds what great energy, what long labour, what deep reflection, what vast preparation, had been employed to secure the worthy completion of the task which Niebuhr had chosen for the occupation of his life. It is sad to think that such exertions, and the high hope which stimulated and irradiated all, were beguiled of their anticipated accomplishment, in the hour of his well-earned triumph. And yet, in some respects, it may be well for the world that Niebuhr left his History unfinished. Had he achieved his meditated task, the varied learning, the wonderful resources, the surprising historical acumen, and the far-reaching practical philosophy displayed in it, might have effectually deterred any subsequent author from attempting the history of the Roman Republic. Yet Niebuhr's work can never become popular or classical as a history, though it will always be consulted by the scholar as a vast mine of an

tiquarian and historical lore. But analysis too far predominates over synthesis in its pages,-there is too much discussion in it,-to permit its ever being regarded as the counterpart and complement of Gibbon. The History of the Roman Republic must be re-written,-Niebuhr will furnish an invaluable guide and abundant materials to the author who may undertake it, but will be no impediment in his path, yet this he would have been had his work been completed.

The Introductory Lectures on the Sources and Study of Roman History are admirable. They embody in a condensed form all that is of importance for us to know on the subject. We can neither add nor take away without injuring the summary.

Prefixed to these volumes is an admirably engraved portrait of Niebuhr. The character of the man and the historian is stamped with nature's hand upon the features. The honesty, the truthfulness, the perseverance, the frankness, and the energy of his disposition, are clearly written there; while his keen penetration and rapid apprehension is revealed in his large and brilliant eye; and his mighty intellect and vast attainments are anticipated from the majestic breadth and height of his expanded forehead. We see in his portrait the presentment of a great man.

We cannot close this scanty notice without quoting from Mr. Schmitz's Preface the account of Niebuhr's peculiar mode of lecturing :

"Niebuhr, as a lecturer, was a singular phenomenon; he delivered his discourses extempore, and without having any written notes before him to assist his memory. The form in which he delivered them was that of a familiar and lively conversation with friends, in which he made use of his most varied and inexhaustible stores of knowledge and personal experience to illustrate the subjects of his discourses, and in which he abandoned himself without restraint to the expression of his strong feelings, as they might be called forth by the subjects under consideration. When Niebuhr spoke, it always appeared as if the rapidity with which the thoughts occurred to him obstructed his power of communicating them in their regular order of succession. Nearly all his sentences, therefore, were anacoluths; for, before having finished one, he began another, perpetually mixing up one thought with another, without producing any one in its complete form. This peculiarity was more particularly striking when he was laboring under any mental excitement, which occurred the oftener as, with his great sensitiveness, he felt that warmth of interest in treating of the history of past ages, which we are accustomed to witness only in discussions on the political affairs of our own time and country. The circumstance of Niebuhr delivering his thoughts in that singular manner,-a deficiency of which he himself was painfully conscious, rendered it often extremely difficult to understand him. But, notwithstanding this deficiency in Niebuhr as a lecturer, there was an indescribable charm in the manner in which he treated his subjects: the warmth of his feelings, the sympathy he felt with the persons and things he was speaking of, his strong conviction of the truth of what he was saying, his earnestness, and, above all, the vividness with which he conceived and described the characters of the most prominent men, who were to him living realities, with souls, feelings, and passions like ourselves, carried his hearers away, and produced effects which are usually the results only of the most powerful oratory." Vol. I., pp. x. xi. xii.

2.-Democratic Review for September, 1844.

AN able and luminous article on the "True Theory and Philosophy of our System of Government," appears in the last number of this periodical, which, we presume, is from the pen of the editor, Mr. O'Sullivan also a letter to the Editor, on the Texas question, from our former Minister to Spain, the Hon. A. H. Everett, which will be likely to create considerable sensation, both at the North and South, in our political circles. It is a bold, vigorous and satisfactory argument in favor of annexation, such as we should have expected to emanate from a statesman whose heart beats high for the honor and perpetuity of the American Union, and who is not indifferent to those signs in our political heavens, which are ominous of danger.

3.-A New Spirit of the Age. Edited by R. H. HORNE, author of "Orion," "Gregory VII.," etc., etc. Complete in one volume. NewYork: Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff-street. 1844. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 365.

We have read over this very interesting series of criticism with some care and attention-and if we do not agree in all respects with its able Editor, this may arise as much from our different position with regard to the characters discussed, as from any actual deficiency in himself. We look at them from a different point of view-we are spectators apart from the strife, he is one of the crowd of combatants who would attempt to apportion to each his meed of praise for "derring do" in this battle in which he has been engaged along with them. He stands on the same platform with themselves, and necessarily mingles with his criticisms something of the partiality and prejudice which must have originated from mutual contact. Of the latter feeling, indeed, the Editor, to do him justice, gives but few indications. The principal fault of his work is rather indiscriminate praise, and in the successful avoidance of one extreme he may be thought to have illustrated the Horatian maxim by falling into the other. Our own isolation, our entire separation from the parties whose talents have been discussed, enables us to regard them from a less unsafe point of vision; we are neither among them nor of them, and this may give us and should give us a decided advantage over Mr. Horne. Our situation, however, has its own inconveniences; if we are completely severed from them, we are less likely to enter into their feelings, to recognize their spirit and to sympathize heartily with them in their efforts. A work of the present kind, which mingles something of personal anecdote with literary criticism, may operate to some extent as a correction of this want of cordiality; and must, at any rate, be generally interesting from the curiosity, which we

all have, to learn what we may, respecting men who have deservedly earned a reputation for themselves. In reading Mr. Horne's book, we have, however, been struck with the singular barrenness of truly great names in English Literature during the last few years. Perhaps we may venture to augur favorably from the hush which precedes the storm.

4.-Rise and Progress of the Mormon Faith and People.

We have received an interesting pamphlet with this title, which is also published as an article in the last number of the Southern Literary Messenger. It is from the pen of a South-Carolinian, already very favorably known to the public by his contributions to our literary periodicals. We take this occasion to acknowledge the receipt also of the last number of the Southern Literary Messenger, which is a very good one, and fully sustains the high reputation which that work has heretofore acquired, and which has been increased since the accession of Mr. Minor to the Editorial chair. This number contains a second letter of George Frederic Holmes, Esq., of this State, to Dr. Simms, on the "Present Condition of Letters," which is worthy of the attention of American scholars.

5.-Two Lectures on the Natural History of the Caucasian and Negro Races. By JOSIAH C. NOTT, M. D. Mobile: 1844.

THESE able Lectures deserve an extended notice or review, which they shall receive from us when we have more space and leisure to devote to the purpose than at present. We can only now return our thanks to the learned author for a very valuable disquisition on a subject of much curiosity and interest.

6.-Historical Sketch of the New Jerusalem in the United States. Philadelphia: Published by order of the Central Convention. 1844.

We have been favored by the author with a pamphlet with the above title, "written expressly for, and by the kind permission of the publishers, taken from, a work to be entitled 'H Para Exxλndia, or a History of all the religious denominations in the United States, and shortly to be published." It is a lucid and able exposition of the doctrines believed and maintained by the Swedenborgians, and we commend it to those who are curious to ascertain the religious opinions of that denomination. Its numbers in the United States, we learn, amount to upwards of five VOL. VI.—No. 12.

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thousand. It has societies in Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and other towns in the Eastern, Western and Southern portions of the Union, forty-two in number, besides scattering professors in more than two hundred different places. All the theological works of Swedenborg were first translated from the Latin into the English by the Rev. John Clowes, a minister of the Church of England. The complete series has received a French version, a German one in part, and is in course of translation into the Spanish. The entire sett in English may be procured from Mr. Samuel Wright, 102 Chestnut-street, Philadelphia, for about forty dollars. We are pleased to see that the scientific works of Swedenborg are also in course of publication, and that the first part of his elaborate work, on the Animal Kingdom, recently translated by J. J. Garth Wilkinson, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London, is for sale as above.

7.-The Triumphs of Time. By the author of "Two Old Men's Tales." New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1844.

ONE of the sto jes in this collection, that of "The Previsions of Lady Evelyn," is very touching, and will remind the reader of that exquisite pathos, which rendered so very popular the first publications of the same author. The volume before us contains several tales, all of which denote a thoughtful, gentle nature, and a highly ingenious mind. None of them can be read without pleasure. The "Soldier's Fortune" is a very happy narrative, keeping up the interest, enlivening the fancy, and softening and making spiritual the heart. A more pleasant collection, more genial, more moral, could not well be submitted to the lady reader.

8.-Translations of the Society of Literary and Scientific Chiffonniers; being essays on primitive arts in domestic life. New-York: Harper & Brothers. 1844.

"CHIFFONNIER" is the French for rag or scrap-gatherer. The word affords a good general clue to the plan of this miscellany. The work is a clever, well-written jeu d'esprit,-an introductory preface by Habakuk O. Westman, "Member of the Society," "Proprietor of the Globe Tavern, N. Y., and formerly Principal of a Public School," conducting you to a treatise upon "the Spoon," of which the first number is before us. This treatise is to be contained in four issues, (at twenty-five cents each,) accompanied by upwards of one hundred illustrations,-"primitive, Egyptian, Roman, Medieval and Modern." "Vive la bagatelle," is the motto of our Scientific Chiffonniers. We may gather from this that their labours will be of a profound and searching character. The