The tragedy, whose name appears at the head of this article, is one that would honor the choice of such a committee. It is the production of a man of genius, learning, taste, and morality. It adheres to historical truth, and exhibits, in an instructive light, the vices and virtues of both savage and civilized society. We might select many passages, and even scenes, with commendation; but shall only ask the attention of the reader to the following beautiful illustration of the power of letters, and the admiration excited in the minds of the aborigines by written communication.

(Turning it round, and examining it in all directions.

It cannot be. Where are my legs, my arms,
My body? This like me! Look, Pocahontas!
Poc. 'Tis very strange.

Nom. (To ROLFE.) You told him what it was.
Rolfe. Indeed I did not.

Nom.
Let me see't again.
Nomony! Ah! Rolfe, let me shut you out,
While Sachem Smith speaks to the leaf again,
Then see if you can tell us what it says.
Speak to it, father Smith.

Smith.
Nom. Oh, any thing. Say-Pocahontas loves not.
Smith. Loves not! (Writes.)

Nom.

What shall it say?

Ay, that will tease him. Say it.

Rolfe. Never.

(Shuts him out.

(Giving it.

(Looking at POCAHONTAS.

(Whispers SMITH, who writes.

Nom. (Looking at the paper.) And that's Paspaho! (To ROLFE.) Is he tall or short?
Rolfe. Nay, you put writing to an unfair test;

I'll bless the art

Rolfe.

Of writing, while I live!

Nom. And when I've learnt it,

If I have something that I fain would say,
And yet not wish to speak it, then I'll make
The leaf speak for me.

Poc. Ay, and think, dear sister,

How sweet, when one is absent far from those

One loves, to send a speaking leaf like this,

And bid it say, we live aud love them still!

Rolfe. In many lands, beyond the Great Salt Lake,

These speaking messengers are daily sent,

Folded and fastened, so that he who bears them
Knows not their contents. Thus, far distant tribes
Speak to each other.

Poc.

Rolfe.

Strange!

The deeds of warriors

Are noted down upon these speaking leaves;
Which never die, nor spoil by being kept:

And thus their children and their children's children
Hear what has happened thousand snows before.

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. —A kind friend, a man of education and refinement, and an acute observer, now in England, has addressed us the first of a series of familiar letters, from which we hope often to quote, for the pleasure or benefit of our readers. His journeyings abroad will be greatly diversified, and out of the beaten track, both as to countries, and portions of countries, which he will traverse. The initiatory epistle, now before us, though necessarily limited in incident, contains a passage or two, which we shall venture to present, since they certainly, in more than one sense, are good 'evidence of things hoped for.' Speaking of the Thames, he says: 'On the morning of the last day of our voyage, the exceedingly turbid state of the water informed me that we were in the vast estuary of the Thames. To me, it seems strange, that WATTS and other poets should have so often attached the epithet 'silver' to this river. From London to its very mouth it is both muddy and yellow.' * * 'Our sails and spars are housed below, and 'booms' disposed of; a 'mud-pilot' is on board, and we are now what is technically called threading the needle.' The pilot roars through his speakingtrumpet, starboard!' larboard!' 'port!-port hard!' as we glide through forests of shipping (you must be on the bosom of 'Father Tems,' to realize the truth of this common simile,) and are passed, up and down, by innumerable small steam-boats, one of which exhibited no smoke, being propelled by the agency of quicksilver. The river is some fifteen hundred feet wide, yet our ship frequently turns up the mud from the bottom. By law, three hundred feet are left in mid-channel, for ingress and egress. At length, we are ushered through an enormous lock into the celebrated St. Catherine's Docks, a vast reservoir, enclosed by immense warehouses, in the formation of which, several thousand families were removed, and their houses pulled down.' * 'I shall send you, in a few days, some interesting articles for your Magazine, which will serve to diversify the pages so admirably filled- I mean no flattery-by your numerous American contributors. They are from the pen of a lady, of distinguished talents, author of 'The Bride of Sicily,' and other poems, and for some late years a popular writer in the Foreign Quarterly,' 'British Magazine,' and 'Frazer's Magazine,' to which latter periodical she recently contributed those clever papers, 'Remembrances of a Monthly Nurse,'' April Fools,' 'Mary Magdalene,' etc. You shall hear from me again, at no distant period.'

In connection with this fragment of correspondence, we annex an extract from a letter written from London by another friend, some months ago, but which has probably 'been i' the Indies twice,' since it passed from the hands of the writer, as it has but just reached us. We fear some portions of it may seem to smack of undue self-laudation; but we beg the reader to bear in mind, that we quote from a souree wholly disin

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Editors' Table.

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terested; and to believe, that what may appear calculated to induce a satisfied vanity, is but a spur to prick the sides of our intent:'

6

'A knowledge of, and respect for, American Literature, appear to be gaining ground in England; but still, very few of our writers can boast much foreign fame; and many a name, and many a book, familiar to us, have. scarcely been heard of, in the land of Shakspeare. There are some bright exceptions, however. It is superfluous to say, that I often heard IRVING and his writings spoken of with enthusiasm ; and the early novels, especially, of COOPER, stand as high in popular favor throughout Europe, as they ever did at home. But the English are disposed, it would seem, to claim these two writers as their own; many, at least, never allude to them as American. The essays of Dr. CHANNING have attained a wide celebrity in Great Britain. I have seen no less than three rival editions. Add to these three names those of WASHINGTON and FRANKLIN, and you can scarcely mention another American name which enjoys a thorough European reputation. A number of our books have been re-published, it is true, and are known, to some extent. I saw English editions of one or more of the works of Miss SEDGWICK, PAULDING, SIMMS, FLINT, FAY, and Dr. BIRD. Our poets they are but little acquainted with. Mr. Irving, you know, endorsed a London edition of BRYANT, and Barry Cornwall conferred the same honor on WILLIS; and his prose sketches I have heard highly praised. He has certainly written himself into considerable notoriety. PERCIVAL'S poems were printed in England several years since. Some of HALLECK's, and others, are well known through the various specimens of American poets. The classical text-books on oriental and biblical literature, from Andover, Cambridge, etc., are re-printed, and considered high authority by English scholars and critics. Several American books, of a useful and practical character, such as ABBOTT'S 'Young Christian,' Mrs. CHILD'S Frugal Housewife,' etc., have had an immense sale in England and Scotland. At least twenty thousand copies of each of the two mentioned have been sold in the kingdom. The sneering question of the Quarterly, 'Who reads an American book?' is no longer asked; but English prejudice is yet slow to admit that 'any good thing can come out of Nazareth.' I was told by a London publisher, that if an American book were re-printed, it would be bad policy to acknowledge its origin. I know several instances of our books having been published in London and Glasgow as original, and without a word of the source, or any alteration, except the omission of local names, by which they might have been detected! In one case, an English copy of a book thus re-printed, verbatim, except the title, was received by a New-York house, published as an English work, and one thousand copies were sold, before it was discovered that the copy-right belonged to the author and publisher in Philadelphia! American periodicals, however, are doing much toward diffusing a knowledge of our literary men and resources abroad-in England, Scotland, and France, especially; and there is, on all hands, a great and growing interest in every thing which relates to our noble republic.' 'Some of our higher periodicals are favorably known here. Silliman's 'Journal of Science' is appreciated and praised by scientific men throughout Europe; one or two hundred copies of the North American Review' are taken in London; and the Knickerbocker,' I am informed, is held in much estimation. Your sometime correspondent, Dr. METCALF, (who is engaged in important studies and investigations here, connected with his theory of the great pervading principle of life,) tells me, that he finds numbers who agree with him in the opinion, that the Knickerbocker' is not surpassed in talent, variety, or interest, by any English magazine whatsoever.'

'There are two dealers in London, who import American books, viz., O. RICH and R. J. KENNETT; and two in Scotland, J. REID and J. SYMINGTON AND Co., of Glasgow. I have had the pleasure of personal acquaintance with most of the distinguished publishers in London and Scotland, and have made notes of some facts, and comparative statistics, in which you may perhaps be interested. For the present, however, I will bestow upon you no more of my tediousness.'

SAMUEL WOODWORTH, ESQ. It is known to most of our readers, whose aid may be rendered effectively, that a 'benefit' is soon to take place at one of our theatres, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the relief of the popular poet, SAMUEL WOODWORTH, and his large and amiable family, to whose support he has latterly been wholly unable to contribute, by reason of a partial loss of sight, and a paralytic shock, with which he has been visited. We hope the edifice where the dramatic entertainment is to come off,' will be crowded from dome to ceiling; so shall the beneficiary be made to rejoice in the belief that the milk of human kindness which flows in his own bosom, is not altogether absent from the breasts of the many who 'know him but to love him,' and who 'name him but to praise.'

'KNICKERBOCKEr Hall.'

'A good name is every thing,' says some didactic schoolbook maker, and we are about to agree with him. 'Knickerbocker Hall,' a large and commodious establishment, recently erected adjoining the Park Theatre, we doubt not will, under the supervision of Terrapin Welch, Esq., P. H. T. C.,—a capable representative of all the Knickerbockers - be 'every thing' that the reputation of its illustrious founder may lead the public to anticipate. 'Moreover, and which is more,' he is to be aided by his son-in-law, Mr. ADAMS, also a noted publican. Spacious dininghalls, ample private supper-rooms, airy and commodious lodging apartments, a renowned cuisine, and the most central of locations- these are matters not likely to be lightly regarded by citizens, or strangers who have ever heard tell o' SANDY.' Long may he reign!

NEW-YORK REVIEW. We are well pleased to learn, that the New-York Review and Quarterly Church Journal' is not, as we had been led to fear, to be abandoned. It will hereafter be published regularly by Mr. GEORGE DEARBORN. Its editorial supervision is confided, as before, to Rev. C. S. HENRY, an announcement which will be amply satisfactory to all who have read the first number. If this work but sustain the promise of its spring' - and that it will do so, with its corps of able contributors, and the aid of the accomplished writer and scholar at its head, we cannot doubt it will prove an honor, and a high one, to the periodical literature of this country.

'BOOK OF THE UNITED STATES.' This little volume, like all from the pen of its world-renowned author, is entertaining as well as instructive, and admirably adapted to secure the attention and excite the imagination of the young. It exhibits the great features of the country, on a principle of classification which embraces in one view all that may relate to a particular topic, as mountains, rivers, cities, lakes, etc., which are contrasted with those of other countries, the better to impress them upon the memory. A free, colloquial style, illustrative sketches and anecdotes, and numerous wood engravings, render this little work what such works should be, eminently attractive. Boston: CHARLES J. HENDEE.

THE predominant taste for the study of ancient literature, and the investigation of antiquity, has been the means of bringing to light a vast quantity of matter, which, if written in modern times, would hardly be regarded of sufficient value to preserve beyond the age in which it was written. Elegance of style and composition is not the distinguishing trait in all the Grecian and Roman authors which have come down to us; nor are the subjects of sufficient importance to merit a preservation of twenty centuries; although it may be safe to say, that these qualities in general constitute the beauty and value of these writings; for we know that the ancients appreciated the works of their great men, as well as we; and to this we must owe their preservation. The philosophy of Plato and Socrates-the histories of Herodotus and Livy - the poetry of Homer and Virgilthe metaphysics of Aristotle the geometry of Euclid, and the eloquence of Cicero and Demosthenes, are not regarded now with more esteem than they were in the period in which they were produced, although the great mass of the people were far behind us in knowledge. Poetry and eloquence are as attractive to the senses of a savage, as to him who is civilized; and to this circumstance must be of peoattributed the preservation and transmission of many poems, ple who have left no other memento of their existence.

The wisdom of the ancient writers above named, was in advance of the age in which they lived, yet they were appreciated; and although kingdoms have risen and fallen, nations have been scattered and annihilated, and language itself become corrupted or lost, these memorials of learning and genius have been preserved, amid the general devastation, and still appear in all their original beauty and grandeur, more imperishable than the sculptured column or trophied urn; models for nations yet unborn, and drawing forth the admiration of the most accomplished scholars and profound philosophers.

In addition to these, we possess many valuable histories, learned dissertations, poetical effusions, specimens of the early drama, etc., which, although they may rank lower in their style of composition, are valuable from the light they throw upon the manners and customs of the age in which they were penned, and make us better acquainted with the private life, the tastes and occupations, of the

ancients.

Thus much may be said of the Greek and Roman people. Their

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