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LITERARY REVIEW.

HENRY OF GUISE: Harper & Brothers.-Mr. James is a man of soaring genius. Of this he gives ample testimony in the celerity with which he grasps and arranges the materials-and those, for the most part, rich and striking-of his numerous contributions to literature. But we never take up new volumes from his pen-coming upon us, as they do, as though created by some mysterious labor and time-saving machine, more expeditious than the measured action of that ancient and common literary thing of all work—the brain-without trembling lest he has thrown a stumbling-block in his own path-glittering as it might do, yes, as it does—with the trophies of victory. He has, of late, given cause to fear. He has thrown stumbling-blocksalmost precipices, in his own way. His late drama is despicable; and two or three of his last novels, if superior to the ordinary run of productions of their class, have been of very questionable credit to him.

What Henry of Guise might have been, had deliberation, and that calm and reflective effort which must be bestowed on every creation emanating from man-whether of hand or brain-to render it as excellent as its maker, let him be ever so expertis capable of doing-we cannot, of course, say. We do say that it is powerful-interesting-creditable, of itself. The historical novel is James' peculiar forte. He deals gloriously with kings and princes, and palaces and courts, and intrigues and battles. He has chosen, in this present work, a stirring period of French history—in which characters are offered to his hand, so peculiar, so striking, as to require little effort of his genius to produce, with them, tremendous effect.

With this we dismiss Henry of Guise. It has faults, such as would be expected-but such as may not affect James' present popularity, though they may render him hors du combat hereafBut his peculiar excellences and deficiences have been so often commented upon, as to make it supererogation to pursue the topic.

ter.

THE SEA CAPTAIN: Harper & Brothers.-Mr. Bulwer, infatuated by his dramatic success, has apparently deserted the walks by which he attained to his exalted literary renown, and devotes his powers to their new vocation. We cannot regard his choice as a wise one; unless, perchance, as has been said of him, he is careless of posthumous fame, and declares the extent of his ambition to be confined to the attainment of laurels for his living brow. Yet the more successful furtherance of this result by the change of pursuit, is very questionable. His first play failed upon the stage, and is not of great merit in any point of view. His second, the 'Lady of Lyons,' and most popular, is, by his own acknowledgment, and, in truth, a mere common-place drama, in which every high attribute is sacrificed to stage effect. His third, 'Richelieu,' commands more favor in all respects-being superior upon the stage, and in the closet-but his fourth, the one before us, is weak in every point-literary merit- delineation of character, with one exception-and even in stage effect. He had better resume

his romances.

YOUNG WOMAN'S GUIDE: G. W. Light.-We deem it our sober duty to pronounce the author of this book, Dr. Alcott, a literary quack-who obtains his subsistence, not by communicating sound, healthy information, but by mounting a hobby, and substituting his own warped notions and despicable prejudices, for moral and physical truth. Not but that he has written much that is good-how could he help it, in the path he has chosen? Unfortunately, his good is the gilding upon the pill of the evil, and both are swallowed together-the harm accomplished far excelling the benefit. He is unfitted to teach Young Mothers,'' Young Wives,' 'Young Women.' He has lived to age, a bachelor-if he be not one even now-and his discussions upon female character are mere charlatanry. His 'Young Wife' and Young Mother,' contain monstrous absurdities and false hypotheses-and his 'Young Woman's Guide,' now before us, while it inculcates no very gross errors, is, the most of it, but the repetition of what has been told a thousand times. It is calculated to fetter and degrade woman, rather than to advance, her to her appropriate station. Are we not borne out in this

remark, when the Doctor advances that domestic employment is that assigned to woman by Divine Providence? and the improvement of cookery is the best exercise of her powers of invention! The moral inculcations of the book are very good common-places-the most of them, however, as well fitted to guide old men as young women, and there is, perhaps, not much positive evil-but the negative detriment may be serious. PICTURES OF EARLY LIFE: Marsh, Capen, Lyon & Co.The sketches of youth contained in this little volume, are the productions of Mrs. Emma C. Embury, of whom, so well is she known to our readers, from her valued and constant contributions to our pages, it is necessary to mention no more than the name. They are intended to illustrate some of the more important lessons of early education; and the authoress has delightfully succeeded in her task. From the midst of a peaceful and happy home,' she says in the closing paragraph of her preface a home gladdened by the voices of joyous childhood, I send forth these pictures of early struggles, temptations and errors. To each one of you, my young readers, I come as a sympathizing friend, who has not outlived the remembrance of her own wayward youth, much of the experience of which she has embodied in the volume now offered to your acceptance.'

DAMSEL OF DARIEN: Lea & Blanchard.-Mr. W. G. Simms, the author of this novel, has attained a considerable degree of popularity as a writer of fiction, and although there are peculiarities in his modes of thought and style, with which we have no great degree of sympathy, yet he must be acknowledged to produce interesting tales; and his images and descriptions are frequently above mediocrity. He is of a poetic cast of mind, but, we should imagine, not gifted with remarkably keen powers of observation. When these qualities are united in the same individual, the former sheds a radiance of beauty around the truth of the latter, which renders the combination one of the most pleasing in the mind's diversified paths of action. But when the former soars beyond the guidance of the latter, as is the manifest case with Mr. Simms, its unregulated pinions do not cease their irregular flight until they have conducted their unfortunate possessor into the regions of vague indefinitude, and visionary unreality, if not of ridiculous bombast. An instance of the portions of Mr. Simms' composition from which we deduce these views, and in which he has exhibited the former two, at least, of these results, is a description of a tornado, in the book of which we are now speaking-so elaborated as to convey the impression that its author intended it to produce a brilliant effect, and yet so wide from truth and probability, as to give to its high-sounding phrases the character of a perfect bathos.

This indefiniteness often distinguishes his delineations of character; although, in every work which we have seen from his pen, many of his personages possess marked individuality. We have not room for a critical examination of The Damsel,' and having thus expressed an opinion upon its most striking faults, we are happy to say, in conclusion, that it possesses interest capable of affording much entertainment, and reflecting credit upon its author.- Wiley & Putnam.

DUMAS' MEMOIRS OF THE REVOLUTION: Lea & Blanchard. Lieutenant General Count Dumas, the author of this excellent work, commenced his military career during the first years of the American Revolutionary war, and accompanied General Rochambeau to this country as his aid-de-camp when that officer was despatched to the aid of our suffering ancestors. The anterior portion of the first volume is therefore occupied by a succinct narration of those actions and occurrences of our own great contest, in which he bore a part, and pleasant anecdotes of our adored Washington are related. Then succeed the events of the French Revolution, in which Dumas was conspicuousand the history of the wonderful mutations in the French empire are portrayed with scrupulous fidelity, to the year 1826. We know not by whom they were translated, but can bear testimony to the happy manner in which the task has been executed.Wiley & Putnam.

DIARY OF THE TIMES OF GEORGE IV.: Carey & Hart.T is reprint is in continuation of two volumes, some time. since given to the public, and professes to be edited by the late Mr. Galt. They have created much of a sensation on the other side of the water, as revelations of the kind, during the lives of many of those concerned in the transactions related, necessarily would do; and the tone of criticism has been severely condemnatory. Being compilations, they have no great degree of literary merit, but will serve to amuse our republican community with the realities of high life and royalty, stripped of the veil which ordinarily lends enchantment to the view. Much light is obtained from these volumes, upon the true character of Queen Caroline.-Wiley & Putnam.

ALCIPHRON Carey & Hart.-The celebrated Thomas Moore has once more entered the field of poesy in his old age, but alas! will add no new laurels to those which bind his brow. Alciphron, which is based upon his prose tale of "The Epicurean," is characterised, occasionally, by splendid imagery, and its versification is generally melodious and correct, yet there is much that is prosaic in it, while the looseness of its morality is so gross, that we wonder at such an emanation from one upon the brink of the grave.-Wiley & Putnam.

THE VIOLET: Carey & Hart.-We can afford but a word to this sweet little annual for children; with beautiful binding, pretty engravings, and delightful stories, that will make the hearts of the youth, to whom it may be given as a present, leap within them.-Wiley & Putnam.

THEATRICALS.

PARK. The past month has been devoted, at this establishment, to the performances of Mrs. Fitzwilliam and Madame Celeste. The former has proved far more attractive than any other single star,' or even any combination of superior lights who have appeared upon the Park boards during the season. She is certainly exceedingly gifted, and possesses unbounded versatility in the entire range of the comic drama. A new extravaganza, which she presented during her last engagement, entitled 'Foreign Airs and Native Graces,' wherein the absurd peculiarities and assumptions of continental prima donnas and danseuses' are happily hit off, has afforded her an opportunity to display her powers to fresh advantage. Her abilities as a vocalist are by no means the least noticeable of her attractions. To a sweet, powerful voice, of great compass, and a considerable taste, she unites a degree of cultivation unusual with those who do not make their vocal display their paramount claim to attention; and absolutely surpasses many of those who rank themselves in this latter class. Besides those pieces, in which she is, perhaps, most distinguished, she has obtained a favorable fiat for comic genius of a more elevated cast, from her very superior performance of Shakspeare's 'Rosalind.'

Madame Celeste succeeded her, and played those dramas in which she has established her celebrity. This lady has exhibited her cleverness no less in the thousand and one incidental ruses, to which she has resorted, to increase her houses, in the course of years, without giving absolute offence, than in the inherent merit of her performances. Her face is wonderfully expressive, and this, added to her grace of attitude and gesture, render her one of the most talented pantomimists who have appeared upon our boards.

Mr. and Miss Vandenhoff commence an engagement on the sixth of this month. Their eminent abilities will probably rise superior to the pressure of the times, so detrimental to theatrical success, and bid defiance to its disappointing influences.

CHATHAM. This neat theatre seems to have assumed the place vacated by the lamented National; and with the more valued members of the company of that theatre, and the assistance of the abilities of Mr. James Wallack, its ci-devant manager, has been enjoying of late its full share of public attention and patronage. Mr. Wallack, laying aside his numerous misfortunes, which would crush another to the earth, as if they were but a loose cloak upon his shoulders, has exhibited

that full quantum of sprightliness, humor, grace and ease, which have placed him beyond rivalship in his peculiar line. Rolla,' 'Dick Dashall,' 'Michael,' 'Massaroni,' etc., in his hands, have lost none of their attraction, for his ability in these characters bids defiance to tiresomeness and ennui, how often soever repeated. We may incidentally mention that he stated to his audience upon being called out on his first appearance, that the reports respecting the abandonment of the plan for the Metropolitan Theatre were untrue, and that he was not aware that his friends had deserted him-that it would be commenced early in the spring.

EDITORS' TABLE.

THE NEW YEAR.-It is the beginning of a new year; and as we bade adieu to the old in our last number, with some re flections incidental to the season, we are disposed, in like manner, to welcome the new. The ceremonies observed at the death of time, are an anomaly in the history of funereal usages; for deaths generally induce sombre images in the mind, and are chronicled by the tolling of bells, the shedding of tears, and the donning of dark habiliments. But when a year dies, the bells ring a merry peal, old and young array themselves in smiles and gay adornments of body-and laugh and feast over the grave of the departed. Such customs are rather disrespectful to the dead, especially at so early a period, when the breath is scarcely out of its poor old body. Nor are they, perhaps, so conducive to the benefit of the inner man, as a serious review of the life of the deceased, and an estimate of the correctness of our dealings with him, would be. Yet we are disposed to par don the hilarity and mirthfulness that, we cannot but hope, gladden every countenance of those, between whom and our. selves this magazine forms a pleasant tie, provided they will now and then, in the midst of all, pause and reflect!-scan the past, ask themselves, what of the future? and form strong and enduring resolves in the present; and with this, we wish them a very happy new year!

For ourselves, in connection with the subject, we take occasion to mention that the secular year and the year of our magazine are not identical; since our volume began in November. But we are able, nevertheless, to congratulate our readers on the success of our efforts to increase the attractions of the Companion.' We are convinced that the announcement of the names of Mrs. ANNA MARIA WELLS, Dr. O. W. HOLMES and Professor LONGFELLOW, as regular contributors to its pages, will be a source of congratulation with all. The reputation of each as an author, is exalted, and we have thus added new stars to the galaxy which illumines our magazine. The talent of other writers of established reputation, not heretofore contributors, has also been secured-and so long as new attractions can be added, they will be diligently sought after. Even now, in typography, embellishments, and in the reputation and abili ties of its contributors, we have placed the 'Companion' above competition.

POSTAGES. The comparative rates of postage, on different descriptions of periodicals, seems to have been established in a perfectly arbitrary manner. We are at a loss to conceive why a magazine sheet should be subjected to a greater tax than that of a newspaper. We have not room to enlarge upon the subject, at present, as we could wish; but we hope that the attention of the publishers of magazines may be excited upon this point, and that concert of action secured, by which the necessary application to Congress may be made, which may result in the remission of the extra rates now charged. There is no doubt that a memorial upon the subject would be favorably acted upon by that body.

OUR FASHION-PLATE.'-Our Fashion-Plate for December, as we expected, has been exceedingly admired for its tastefulness, and the beauty and finish of its execution. We pledge our. selves that the same excellence, in all respects, shall characte rise our future embellishments of this description.

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