of a rail road connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, we should see the rays of truth and intelligence which illumine our eastern sky, darting down the extreme west. Even if it should be necessary for government to grant sixty miles width of territory, on each side of the line of road, to pay for its construction, it better be granted than to have this noble project linger till another generation passes; for this broad belt will become a zone of light, radiating in all directions, and illuminating a thousand darkened minds.

There cannot be too many projects afoot, of a like nature, which shall redound to the progress of the human race toward the highest pitch of intelligence. We hail this enterprise, now in its infancy, as an omen of good to man, and would rejoice to see it under full headway towards its consummation.

Progressive improvement in everything which relates to the well being of man is the grand characteristic which should distinguish a free governed people like ourselves. Every man who participates in the blessings of our genial institutions should help to elevate them; to dignify them in the eyes of the world, by elevating and dignifying himself, by refinement and a high state of cultivation.

It is this alone which can render a people fit to govern themselves. Kings hold sway over their subjects either from actual or supposed preeminence. Their subjects consequently yield obedience more from compulsion than willingness. They obey because they feel that they must-not because they love obedience.

Not so, however, with those who live under a republican government. Rulers and the ruled stand in quite different relations to each other. Their mutual respect and confidence should be manifest; those in power should govern from love, and those under them obey from the same motive or feeling; the one should exercise authority as not abusing it; the other, have respect for that authority in submitting to it for the general good. Intelligence, the only safe basis of this system, must be disseminated as widely as the bounds of such government extends; or else dissatisfactions, riots and mobs will become prevalent. This must be an enlivened and progressive intelligence, such as to allow all men to comprehend their true relations to each other, as rulers and ruled, or the light better be withheld entirely, and subjects be governed, as of old, by compulsion; for partial knowledge often leads men to commit grosser blunders than those who are entirely deficient in this respect.

What a flood of light, therefore, should be poured over our land to quicken, animate and elevate the condition of its people, in order to prepare them to carry forward the sublime and complicated enginery of this free and enlightened government! Who will not join in this great work of disseminating wise counsels, sound learning and morals throughout the length and breadth of our commonwealth? Its borders, already encircling so vast an

area, are every day widening. New territory and its inhabitants half civilized, foreigners unacquainted with our laws and principles of self-government, are coming under our jurisdiction, and we in turn come under theirs; for they soon-by the speedy right of citizenship granted to them-have a voice, at the ballot box, in making our rulers. A great work, therefore, is to be accomplished.

The question, whether our government will stand, is decided by the question, whether intelligence shall keep pace with the increase of our population. Let ignorance get the better of wisdom, and its beautiful fabric will totter and crumble; let ignorance be entirely subverted, and it may be perpetuated forever.

LITERARY NOTICES.

THE ROUGH AND READY ANNUAL, OR MILITARY SOUVENIR; ILLUSTRATED WITH 20 PORTRAITS AND PLATES. New York: Appleton & Co.

The design of this book is to preserve the record of the leading events thus far connected with the Mexican war. It is written in a lively style, and has the great advantage of having a subject of present and surpassing interest. The articles are generally in prose; but there is here and there intermingled with them some very creditable, and one or two beautiful pieces of poetry. Some of the portraits at least do great justice to their subjects.

APPLETON'S Rail Road anD STEAM BOAT COMPANION; Being A TRAVELLER'S GUIDE THROUGH THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA: BY W. WILLIAMS.

This is the most complete and satisfactory guide book for this country that we have seen. It will be regarded as an almost necessary part of every traveller's luggage.

THE PSALTER, OR PSALMS OF DAVID, &c.; TO WHICH ARE PRE

FIXED AN EXPLANATORY PREFACE AND A SELECTION OF

CHANTS. New York: Appleton & Co.

The object of this book, as stated by Dr. Muhlenburg, is to facilitate the practice of congregational chanting. Of its merits, apart from the Psalter itself, which needs no uninspired recommendation, we do not pretend to speak, farther than to say that the printer and binder have both done their work admirably.

THE POETICAL WORKS OF LORD BYRON, COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME. ILLUSTRATED WITH STEEL ENGRAVINGS: New York, Appleton & Co.

Every body has formed an opinion for good or evil of the works of. Lord Byron, and most persons consider him as among the brightest and most baleful stars, that have risen and set in modern times. It is impossible but that his works must circulate, and here is an editor of them worthy of his exalted genius. The engravings are beautifully executed, and indeed the whole mechanical execution is of the first order. If his works had been free from all moral taint, it would have been difficult to speak of them in terms of excessive praise.

LIFE OF MAJOR GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR; WITH NOTICES OF THE WAR, &c.; BY JOHN FROST. Appleton & Co.

This work, relating to one of the most remarkable men of his age, can hardly fail to circulate extensively, and to be read with deep interest. It exhibits various pictures of military life, drawn with much skill and effect, and we have no doubt, from the sources to which the author had access, that it is to be regarded throughout as a work of unquestionable authenticity. The engraved representations will, with most readers, add somewhat to the interest of the work.

THE POETICAL WORKS OF FITZGREEN HALLECK, NOW FIRST COLLECTED. ILLUSTRATED WITH STEEL ENGRAVINGS FROM DRAWINGS OF AMERICAN ARTISTS. Appleton & Co.

There are those who believe that Halleck has more poetry in his soul than any other living genius that we can claim; but be that as it may, no one can doubt that he has earned to himself, by his poetical productions, a glorious and enduring name. This edition of all his works, published under his own direction, and in a style well befitting their exalted merits, will be gratefully welcomed every where as one of the brightest gifts of the season.

PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FROM THE DISCOVERY BY THE NORTHMEN IN THE TENTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT TIME: BY JOHN FROST, LL. D. Printed and published by Case, Tiffany & Burnham: Hartford.

The author has succeeded in giving us a detailed and luminous view of the discovery and subsequent history of our country. The sources from which he has compiled his work have been ample, and the authority well sifted. He throws much new and peculiar light upon the earlier eras and, without aspiring to the philosopher, gives us an exact and compendious review of the United States as they have been and are. The illustrations are apt and intelligent guides to the most striking facts in the history.

ARTIST LIFE; OR SKETCHES OF AMERICAN PAINTERS: BY HENRY T. TUCKERMAN: Appleton & Co.

We have here sketches of twenty-three of the most distinguished of our American painters, both from the living and the dead. The sketches are brief, but graphic and satisfactory. The soul of beauty and loveliness and poetry breathes in them all. The work is worthy of its author's high reputation, and is a beautiful offering to cultivated and refined intellects.

THE THREE DIALOGUES OF M. T. CICERO, TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY W. GUTHRIE: Harper & Brothers.

This volume forms one of Harpers' classical library. It is an excellent translation of one of the most celebrated works, of one of the most celebrated orators, of one of the most cetebrated periods in the world's history.

THE ANCIENT WORLD, OR PICTURESQUE SKETCHES OF CREATION: BY D. T. ANSTED, Prof. of Geology in King's College, London. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard.

The design of this work is to show, in a very general way, the results of Geological science. It is altogether of a popular character; avoids, so far as possible, the use of technical phraseology, and may be read with great profit by all classes of persons, and especially those who have no time to give to minute investigation.

THE BOY'S TREASURY OF SPORTS, PASTIMES AND RECREATIONS, WITH NEARLY 400 ENGRAVINGS: Lea & Blanchard.

This book contains directions for every kind of sport, we had almost said, that human ingenuity ever devised. Many of them certainly we would not venture to recommend; and yet any boy, whatever may be his taste, will be sure to find something here to his liking. The book is very well got up, and must have cost somebody a world of labor.

THE DIVINE PANOPLY, OR A SUIT OF ARMOR FOR THE SOLDIER OF CHRIST: BY HUGH STOWELL, A. M. Amer. Sunday School Union.

This work is full of evangelical truth, exhibited in its most practical relations. It is fitted to yield important aid to any Christian, and especially to one who is struggling in the peculiar conflicts incident to the earlier stages of a religious life. It is written with great simplicity and directness and earnestness, and is every way adapted to make itself benignly and powerfully felt.

CAMPAIGN SKETCHES OF THE WAR WITH MEXICO: BY CAPT. W. S. HENRY, U. S. ARMY. New York: Harper & Brothers. This work partakes rather of the character of a journal than a connected and formal history; but then this only gives it an additional freshness— a life-like character which, with the mass of readers, must greatly increase its interest. It abounds with thrilling and graphic details, and preserves the record of many minute circumstances in connection with the war which otherwise might never have been incorporated in history. The writer disclaims all pretensions to a literary reputation; but "out of his own mouth," or rather from the productions of his own pen, we "condemn' his disclaimer.

For sale by E. H. Pease & Co.

NOTES ON THE IROQUOIS, OR CONTIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN HISTORY, ANTIQUITIES AND GENERAL ETHNOLOGY: BY HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT. Albany: E. H. Pease & Co.

This nobly printed volume forms a very important contribution to the department of American history to which it relates. It is a work of immense research; and though it is thrown together without any great regard to order, yet that, considering the design of it, does not particularly lessen its interest. A large portion of the facts which it details are now, we believe, put on record for the first time; and had it not been for the author's indomitable perseverance many of them, no doubt, would have been lost to the world. The work ascribes to the Iroquois, we doubt not, with truth, in many respects, a noble character; and their history has become essentially interwoven with the history of our own nation.

GOSSIPPING LETTER.

T. D. S., Esq.-Dear and Honored Sir-Papa bids me begin my letter so; for he says you are a great man. He says you can write books and poetry, and you are going to be President-some time.

Papa is sick and not able to write you a gossipping letter; and he has told me to write and let you know this. It is our vacation just now; and papa, who is always talking about keeping up a standard of taste-my standard is apple-pie-and purifying literature, especially when Mr. Wasp, the newspaper editor, comes to our house, has bid me write to you because I must practice composition, of which he says you are a judge. Mr. Whackboy, our teacher, made me begin composition last spring, and I wrote an essay on a Comparison between Washington and Nebuchadnezzar," which got the medal at our examination. The master corrected it a good deal, and put a piece to the end of it about