66 Harper and Brothers have in press History of Women in England," by Miss Lawrence; "Life of Addison," by Lucy Aiken; "Voyage around the World, in H. M. Ship Sulphur," by Capt. Sir E. Belcher; "Cyclopædia of Biblical Literature," "Miss Pen and her Niece," by Mrs. Stone; "Ragland Castle," by Mrs. Thomson; "Devereux, Earl of Essex," by Charles Whitehead; "Lives of the Princes of Wales," by F. Williams; "Melanthe," by Mrs. Maberly; "Windsor Castle," by Ainsworth; "The Home; or, Family Cares and Family Joys," by the author of "The Neighbors;" "Hargrave, or, The Man of Expedients," by Mrs. Trollope. Sears' Family Magazine of General Knowledge," goes prosperously forward -its circulation already is 6000 copies monthly-a well deserved popularity. Professor Frost has just commenced a "Pictorial History of the United States," to be completed in about twenty numbers, price twenty-five cents each; the illustrations are designed by Croome. Saxton and Miles are the Publishers. This is a work precisely adapted to the tastes and requirements of the day, and will doubtless be in great demand, as it is well done. Mr. Griswold has just put forth a most admirable volume, expressly designed for schools and family use, consisting of choice "Readings in American Poetry" -a work greatly needed, and one that merits the largest patronage-there being no similar work extant, all other selections being from foreign pens, and therefore, to a great extent, inapplicable to the purpose, as they afford no reflex of national character or national scenery. The work is beautifully prepared by the Publisher, Mr. Riker, of this city. Carey & Hart have just issued, in cheap style, "Personal Narrative of a Journey and Residence in Cabool," by the late Sir Alex. Burnes. A complete series of the "London Lan cet," comprising forty-two volumes, and embodying an immense amount of curious, anomalous and extremely valuable illustrations in the several departments of Medical Science, is offered for sale very cheap. To any member of the Faculty, this choice work will prove a most valuable desideratum. Address (post-paid) J. & H. G. Langley, 57 Chatham street. Mr. Park Godwin's new paper, the "Pathfinder," on the plan of the " Plaindealer," has reached its seventh number, and we deviate from our rule in inviting attention to its distinguishing merits. Dunigan of this city has just ready, a series of twelve highly attractive juveniles, on an entirely novel plan, forming a succession of transformations, to be entitled "Dame Wonder's Transformations." He announces also, a new, improved, and very beautiful edition of "Letters to Ada," on the Doctrines of the Catholic Church, &c., from the distinguished pen of the Rev. Dr. Pise of this city. ENGLISH. The following are some of the most recent English publications : "Titian, a Romance of Venice;" by R. Shelton Mackenzie, LL. D. "The Scottish Heiress." "Charades for Acting," by Miss Pickering. "Strutt's Domestic Residence in Switzerland," 2 vols. "Strutt's Pedestrian Tour through Calabria and Sicily," 1 vol. "The Pope and the Actor;" a Novel, 3 vols. "Taylor's Scenes and Adventures in Affghanistan," 1 vol. "The Pictorial Miscellany for Intellectual Improvement :" Part I., illustrated with numerous highly-finished wood engravings, maps, &c. Edited by W. Pinnock, author of "Pinnock's Catechisms." "Home; or Family Joys and Cares," translated by Mary Howitt. "Second Causes; or Up and Be Doing," by Charlotte Elizabeth. Mrs. Trollope's Story of the New Poor Law, entitled "Jessie Philips," Part III., to be completed in twelve monthly parts. "Voyage Round the Coasts of Scotland and the Isles, in the Summer and Autumn of 1841; by James Wilson, F.R. S. E., M.W.S. &c., author of the "Treatise on Angling," in "The Rod and the Gun." "Lives of the Kings of England," uniformly printed and illustrated, with Miss Strickland's "Lives of the Queens of England." "History of the House of Commons, from the Convention Parliament of 1688-9, to the Passing of the Reform Bill in 1832;" by Wm. Charles Townshend, Esq., M. A. "Burke's History of the Landed Gentry." A new edition, with considerable additions and improvements. "The History of Woman in England, and Her Influence on Society and Literature;" by Miss Lawrence. "Frederick the Great, His Court and Times;" edited by Thomas Campbell, Esq.-the third and fourth volumes completing the work. The third volume of "Letters of Mary Queen of Scots," illustrative of her Personal History, with an Introduction by Agnes Strickland. NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Tuesday Evening, April.4th.-The regular monthly meeting took place at the rooms of the Society, in the New York University. Amongst the invited guests present, were William L. Marcy, LL.D., late Governor of the State of New York, Hon. John Savage, late Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court, Professor John McVickar, D.D., of Columbia College, Judge Oakley, of the Superior Court, and others. The President, Hon. A. Gallatin, took the chair at half-past 7 o'clock, and the Recording Secretary, John Jay, Esq., read the minutes of the last meeting. The President then announced the following gentlemen as members of the Executive Committee: Gen. P. M. Wetmore, Hon. G. C. Verplanck, Prof. E. Robinson, D.D., John L. Stephens, William L. Stone, and Erastus C. Benedict, Esquires. Gen. Wetmore, from the Committee to invite Chancellor Kent to pronounce an eulogy on the late President of the Society, Peter A. Jay, Esq., presented the following letter in answer to the invitation: "New York, March 8, 1843. "GENTLEMEN: "I acknowledge with gratitude the honor you have done me, by the invitation to pronounce before the Society an eulogy on the life and character of the late Mr. Jay, and I extremely regret that I am constrained to decline the acceptance of that task. I know that I am greatly indebted to the Society, not only for this flattering mark of their respect, but for the distinguished honor which I have formerly received from the same source. Had not. my age, and the habits of retirement which it inculcates, and the admonitions which it gently but increasingly tenders, produced a fixed resolution not to appear again in any such capacity, I should have been obliged to yield on this occasion; but this cannot be done, and I must therefore respectfully beg leave to be excused. I ought not however to conclude without availing myself of the occasion to observe, that I have always felt and cherished the highest respect and esteem for the public and private character of Mr. Jay. I consider him to have been among the most useful and practical of the eminent public men of the state and city in which he lived. He appeared often at the bar, and with reputation and honor, when I was upon the bench. I was an associate with him as one of the Governors of the New York Hospital, and also as a member of the Convention of this State. In every station which he filled, and every duty which he assumed, he was faithful and true. He preserved the greatest modesty and simplicity of character, with polished manners and the accomplishments of various learning. He displayed throughout every portion of his life strong talents, profound knowledge, unostentatious firmness, the purest integrity, an ardent love of justice, and the graces which accompany an humble and fervent spirit of Christian faith and devotion. "On such a character who would not delight to dwell? I deeply lament the loss of him as a friend, with whom I had many bonds of sympathy, and I am happy to believe that there are many generous and highly gifted members of your Society who would cheerfully supply my place, and do ample justice to the interesting theme. "I have the honor to be, gentlemen, with very great respect and esteem, your obedient servant, "Messrs.- "JAMES KENT. WM. B. LAWRENCE, FREDERIC DE PEYSTER, Comm. &c." Mr. John Jay, from the Committee appointed in 1841 to make request in behalf of the Society, to the several States, for copies of all Executive and Legislative documents, to be deposited in their library, made a brief statement of the results already obtained. The letter addressed by them to the Governors, drafted by Archibald Russell, Esq., with whom the plan originated, had set forth with great clearness the advantages to result to the American scholar, statesman, and historian, from a complete collection, in so important and central a city as New York, of the Legislative acts and proceedings of the separate States. Courteous and encouraging replies were received from Mississippi, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, and Missouri; and the required appropriation of State Papers has been made by New Jersey (who added also her Chancery Reports and Elmer's Digest), Maryland, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The gift of Maryland. amounting to fifty-three volumes, and those of New Jersey, have been received. The others are waiting the order of the Committee. Mr. Jay offered the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That the thanks of the New York Historical Society be presented to the Legislatures of Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Maryland, for the appropriations made by them of State and Legislative documents for their library. Resolved, That the Committee appointed to make application to the Governors and Legislatures of the several States for the documents and proceedings published under their supervision, be authorized to renew the application in all cases where it has not been satisfactorily responded to, and to take such measures as in their discretion shall seem fit for procuring the appropriations which have been already made. Christians and Druzes, the latter consti- The origin of the Druzes was for a long time shrouded in darkness; even the learned D'Herbelot, to whom oriental history is under such lasting obligations, had nothing more to relate of this singular people, than the fable of their being descended from some of the French warriors, who accompanied Godfrey of Bouillon, in the first crusade. Later writers have gone further, and specified a certain Marquis de Dreux (or Dreuse), as the founder of the race; and French vanity was flattered by the eager reception of this absurd legend among the Druzes, whose princes thus claimed a relationship and alliance with the "great nation." But it was reserved for a French scholar in our own day, to sweep away this cobweb of fable; the illus rious De Sacy published in the last days of his long and learned career, an elucidation of the origin and the religion of this people, drawn up many years before, and in respect to A these two points, his work exhausts the subject. Professor Edward Robinson* then favored the Society with a paper on the subject of the DRUZES. He began by describing the geographical features of the country inhabited by that singular people, lying on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean sea, north of Palestine. chain of mountains pervades this part of Asia, extending through all Syria and Palestine, quite to the Red Sea, known chiefly under the names of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. As seen from Beirût, or as more commonly written, Beyroot, (a port on the Mediterranean, whose inhabitants are for the most part Druzes), the mighty wall of Lebanon, said Professor Robinson, rises in indescribable majesty to the height of nine or ten thousand feet, impending over the city; as its ridges here present themselves to the eye, one is immediately struck with the reason and propriety of the name Lebanon, signifying in Hebrew, the "White Mountain;" for the whole mass of the mountain consists of whitish limestone; or, at least, the rocky surface, as it reflects the light, exhibits everywhere a whitish aspect. The mountain teems with villages, and on this side, is cultivated more or less to the very top. Yet so steep and rocky is the surface, that the tillage is carried on often by terraces, built up with great labor and covered above with soil. The vegetation on these terraces is not visible from below, and no one would suspect the existence of a multitude of thriving villages on the rocky sides of the mountains, with a numerous population of mountaineers, hardy, industrious, and brave. The inhabitants of the ridge of Lebanon alone, north of Sidon, not including Anti-Lebanon nor the valleys, are estimated at two hundred thousand souls, consisting of Dr. Robinson then proceeded to trace the origin of the Druzes and their religion to the early part of the eleventh century, in a Mahometan sect that arose in Egypt at that period, under the auspices of the Khalif Hakim, who gave himself out as the prophet and God of a new religion. This prince was a wild and visionary fanatic, and his whole reign was a series of violence and inconsistencies. At one time, he set on foot a furious persecution of the Christians, both in Egypt and Palestine, compelling them to apostatize or suffer death, when many preferred the latter alternative. He caused at the same time the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem to be rased to the ground. Entertaining the idea of passing for a prophet, he exacted from his people, that no one should pronounce his name without prostrating himself, and hence, in public assemblies and elsewhere, when his name was uttered, all bowed themselves down and kissed the ground in token of respect. At length, there appeared in Egypt a religious emissary of a Persian sect, who held the doctrine of the transmigration of souls, and attaching himself to the service of Hakim, encouraged him in his fanatical notions. This man's name was ed-Derazy, which is now in its plural Arabic form, edDeruz, the general name of the Druzes. Such is the origin of their name. Derazy became the prophet of Hakim, and pub Author of "Researches and Travels in Palestine," &c. lished a book that taught his divine nature by transmigration, and urged the people to worship him as God, the Creator of the Universe. But although treated by the Khalif in the most familiar manner, Derazy failed to secure the popular belief in Egypt, and was compelled to seek refuge in the recesses of Mount Lebanon, where he laid the foundation of the present race of Druzes, by spreading his doctrines amongst the rude and ignorant mountaineers. He read his book to them. invited them to recognize Hakim as God, distributed to them money, taught them the doctrine of metempsychosis, permitted the use of wine and the practice of fornication, and gave up to their will the property and lives of those who refused to embrace their faith. Other adventurers followed the example of Derazy in propagating the new faith, and in the course of time the believers in the divinity of Hakim increased rapidly, and at this day they amount to several hundred thousand souls. Dr. Robinson cited several Arabic writers to show the condition of this people at different periods, and to establish the truth of his account of their religion and origin. Great secrecy is observed by the Druzes in regard to their religion, and it is only of late years that the writings of their prophets have by accident and the fortunes of war found their way into the libraries of Europe, and from them a summary of their doctrines has been compiled by De Sacy. Four volumes of these sacred books, forming a connected series, are in the Royal Library at Paris; and other copies exist in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, in the Vatican at Rome, and also at Vienna and Leyden. In the course of the insurrection that took place five years ago, the Egyptians, as they sacked and laid waste the towns and villages of the Druzes, seized also many of their sacred books; one or two of which were purchased by the American missionaries at Beyroot. Dr. Robinson did not conclude the reading of this valuable paper, owing to its great length, but is expected to finish it at the next meeting. A communication from Hon. William Jay, of Westchester, accompanying the donation of a valuable mass of English Parliamentary documents, relating to the suppression of the slave-trade, the right of search, and the culpable neglect of the Spanish authorities of the Island of Cuba, or rather their open connivance at this shameful traffic in human flesh, was then read in part, and the remainder reserved for the next meeting. The Society then adjourned. Saturday Evening, April 15th.—A special meeting, convened by order of the President, was held on Saturday evening at the Historical Rooms. At half past seven o'clock, the Vice President, Mr. Lawrence, took the chair; and a number of gentlemen, who had been previously nominated as honorary, corresponding, and resident members, were elected. The principal objects of the meeting being to hear a paper of Mr. Gallatin in reference to "the Jay map," the Society, about 8 o'clock, on the arrival of the President, and of Daniel Webster, Secretary of State, adjourned to the Chapel of the University, where a large assemblage of gentlemen, who had been admitted by tickets, were already gathered. Mr. Gallatin and Mr. Webster, on entering the Chapel, were greeted with loud and continued applause. The venerable President, after stating that the discovery of this map, which had till his death been in possession of his predecessor in office, Peter A. Jay, was now principally important, the boundary question having been definitively disposed of, as a set-off to the supposed map of Dr. Franklin, stated to have been discovered in Paris, and of which it has been attempted by the English press to make a use prejudicial to the frank dealing of the United States. He then made a number of preliminary remarks requisite to a full understanding of the bearing of the map, by presenting the points which had been at issue in the controversy. Our limits will not enable us to follow in detail the statements of this elaborate argument, part of which was read by the Secretary, Mr. John Jay; but we will notice it when published. Mr. Gallatin having finished the reading of his paper, the first Vice President, Wm. Beach Lawrence, Esq., rose, and after a few appropriate remarks, invited Mr. Webster, on behalf of the Society, to favor the meeting with such remarks as he might deem suitable to the occasion. Mr. Webster thereupon rose, and addressed the Society for about half an hour on the subject of the history of this question, and its recent final adjustment by the Treaty at Washington. His address was received with great applause; and after its conclusion, the thanks of the Society were unanimously tendered, the question being put by the Vice President, to the President and to Mr. Webster, and they were requested to furnish copies of their remarks for publication, and the Society adjourned. A Statement of the Principles of the Christian Union. Page 563 II. THE SCULPTOR IN HIS STUDIO 567 III. UNIVERSAL HISTORY.-Second Article. By O. A. Brownson IV. THE SPECTRE BRIDEGROOM. Imitated from the German of Bürger.-By Alexander H. Everett 569 587 V. THE STORY OF THE MUCH WRONGED MAN.-Edited by William 593 VI. COLE'S IMAGINATIVE PAINTINGS.-By Charles Lanman, Author of "Essays for Summer Hours," &c. 598 VII. BOOKS FOR THE PEOPLE.-By Miss Ann C. Lynch IX. THE IDEAL.-By Rh. S. S. Andros 603 604 608 XIII. THE MOTHER AND SON. A TALE OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. 618 XIV. THE BRAHMIN AND THE CRYSTAL DROP.-By Mrs. Jane L. Swift 627 629 XVI. POLITICAL PORTRAITS WITH PEN AND PENCIL.-No. XXXIX. XXXIX. |