and beautiful subjects of contemplation worthy of the deepest research, so well calculated to elevate and expand the highest faculties of our nature, was surely never designed to be as a blank before our eyes. The devout mind, which really loves and adores its Creator, will eagerly embrace every source of religious truth, and greet with grateful joy every new manifestation of his unbounded beneficence. God employs innumerable methods in the education of the human soul for immortal happiness. He is constantly making to it the most powerful appeals by the course of his providence, by the ordinary occurrences of our daily lot, by the thousand kind and gentle influences of domestic and social life, and by every event that has a tendency to awaken the attention and fix it more unreservedly upon Him.

To return from our digression. We would recommend, then, the study of this beautiful science to our readers, as it will minister much delight and satisfaction to the unwearied student. But it will be objected, that the city is no place wherein to study "plants and flowers,"-that architecture and the fine arts might well engage the attention, as there are models ready at hand. But where are the flowers? How can we study botany without them? In reply, we would urge, that the commonest flower will suffice. But it is easy, even in the city, to meet with many flowers of various classes. When these fail, a stroll into some neighboring suburb will readily furnish the "botanical box," with divers rare and beautiful" specimens." We would advise every student to furnish herself with the "botanical box" so called, which is of tin, with a cover, wherein flowers can be preserved for a considerable time in a tolerable state of freshness, and is used for this purpose by all botanists. In recommending the study of botany, we mean not to encourage such a smattering of it as is confined to a meagre knowledge of its" technical terms," of which many are apt to discourse most largely, whose acquaintance with the science extends no farther than to "the stamen, calyx and petal." The botanical garden at Cambridge, at this season of the year, will well reward a stroll therein. For a trifling sum the intelligent gardener will fill your box with many choice specimens of rare beauty, and an agreeable conversation with the accomplished lecturer on botany, while promenading through the box-bordered walks of the garden, may well satisfy the most fastidious taste.

N. L.

LITERARY NOTICES.

THE AMERICAN COMMON-PLACE BOOK OF POETRY; By George B. Cheever. Boston: published by Carter, Hendee & Babcock. Baltimore: Charles Carter. pp. 405.

The poetry of this volume is mostly of that quiet, deep, devotional kind which the good will love; and there are many pieces deserving our warmest admiration, as evincing the genius of the writers. The selection was evidently made by one solicitous to have his work conducive to the purity of the heart and mind as well as taste of his readers. His effort, we have no doubt, will be appreciated.

It is a matter of much importance, to those who are seeking the improvement. and elevation of the human race, to have the sources of our pleasures purified; and that a taste for the beauties of poetic composition does contribute to our refined enjoyments, few, who have at all considered the subject, will question. The improvement which the genius of poetry is capable of diffusing has been more questionable. It has been feared, and not without specious reasons, that the "muses' light," though admitted to be "from heaven," would nevertheless" lead astray ;" and the Christian religion has therefore seemed to hesitate whether to employ the high gifts of imagination in her service, or only make use of that mediocrity of talent, which, if it did no good, would do little injury. We hope a more just appreciation of the worth of talents, conjoined with goodness, will be, for the future, cherished by Christians; that genius will be encouraged to bring its glorious things, and lay them on the altar of God, dedicated to him, and the cause of philanthropy, and find that reward, in the esteem and patronage of good men, which it has hitherto been thought the fashionable world only would extend to works of fancy and taste.

American poetry has never yet been sufficiently imbued with a national spirit to mark it with originality; the energy of passion and feeling has rarely been displayed by our writers in verse; but in the poetry of devotion this lack of power to breathe the thoughts of the individual character is less perceptible,

because the aspirations of Christians of every name and nation have reference to the same truths and hopes. In moral and religious strains, therefore, American poets are read to the best advantage; and this volume embodies many of the finest poems which have ever been produced on this side the Atlantic. They will do credit to our literature in any country; and certainly the taste and morality of that people who encourage such writers must be respected.

THE LIBRARY OF ENTERTAINING KNOWLEDGE. VOL. viii. Part. 1. THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES; Illustrated by Anecdotes. Boston: Lilly & Wait, and Carter, Hendee & Babcock.

This number is embellished with engravings of James Barry and Sir Richard Arkwright, and is rich in reminiscences of excellent and distinguished men. There is no method of teaching the strength of talents, and availableness of industry, like this of bringing, as it were, the living pictures of the eminent before us, showing them struggling with the difficulties which press down ordinary minds, and destroy the imbecile, but only stimulate the ardor of those who feel the "God within them," and who are resolved to succeed or perish in the attempt. Nor to the poor only is the praise of this self-conquest to be awarded. Many examples occur of that love of literature and strength of soul which has overcome the temptations of wealth, and renounced ease, and thrown off the trammels of the world to follow science and knowledge in their strait and laborious paths. Such examples are, to our country, of great importance. We have more need of stimulating the rich to use the means put into their hands to get wisdom, than to urge the poor forward in the career which is so flattering to the ambitious feelings of our republican population. There are some observations on this subject in the book before us, so just and appropriate that we must quote them, though probably the book itself has been read by most of our subscribers; at least, we hope it will be.

The besetting temptations attendant upon the possession of wealth and leisure (which, rightly employed, constitute such inestimable advantages) are the facilities which they afford to the indulgence of mere indolence and love of pleasure. A rich man, who can live without exertion of any kind, is apt to lose the power even of that degree of exertion which is necessary for the acquisition of knowledge. Besides, his money provides him with other enjoyments; and he often never even acquires a taste for those of an intellectual kind. A defective or misdirected education too frequently only prepares him the better for yielding to the unfortunate influ. ences of his condition; and the habits and prejudices of society come also to assist their force and confirm their dominion. When an individual thus circumstanced, therefore, betakes himself in good earnest to the pursuit of knowledge, he also is entitled to be regarded as one who has exhibited much energy of character, and conquered many difficulties, as well as he who has had to struggle with poverty, or an uncongenial occupation, in his attempts to obtain an acquaintance with books. The impediments which have lain in the way of the former are different from those that have beset the path of the latter; but they may not have been less difficult to overThe fact, at all events, is, that the temptations of wealth have often exerted as fatal an effect in repressing all ardor for intellectual pursuits, as ever did the obstructions of indigence.

come.

Yet, where the love of knowledge has taken full possession of the heart, the rich man is in a much more favorable situation than the poor man for the prosecution of great enterprises in science or literature. These demand both leisure and ease

of mind-two good things, of the first of which generally but little, and of the second often not much, are his who has to provide for his daily bread by his daily labor. Hence some of the greatest names, in all departments of philosophy and learning, are those of persons who, unembarrassed by the toils and cares of obtaining a sub. sistence, have been free to lead a life of contemplation, having purchased to themselves that inestimable privilege by a relinquishment of the other pleasures or objects of ambition, ordinarily followed by those in their situation, and seeking no other advantage from their riches or their competence than that of being at liberty to devote their time and their powers of mind to labors of their own choosing. From the list of the illustrious of ancient times, we need mention no others, and we can mention no greater, than Plato and Archimedes-both of whom were of distinguished birth, (the former being a descendant of the family of Solon, the other a near relation of king Hiero)-and, there is every reason to suppose, opulent.

One short extract more, on a trite theme, but exemplified in a new and striking manner.

Time is the only gift or commodity of which every man who lives has just the same share. The passing day is exactly of the same dimensions to each of us, and by no contrivance can any one of us extend its duration by so much as a minute or a second. It is not like a sum of money, which we can employ in trade, or put out to interest, and thereby add to or multiply its amount. Its amount is unalterable. We cannot make it breed ;' we cannot even keep it by us. Whether we will or no, we must spend it; and all our power over it, therefore, consists in the manner in which it is spent. Part with it we must; but we may give it either for something, or for nothing. Its mode of escaping from us, however, being very subtle and silent, we are exceedingly apt, because we do not feel it passing out of our hands like so much told coin, to forget that we are parting with it at all; and thus, from mere heedlessness, the precious possession is allowed to flow away as if it were a thing of no value. The first and principal rule, therefore, in regard to the economising and right employment of time, is to habituate ourselves to watch it.

THE CATECHISM OF HEALTH: or, Plain and simple Rules for the Preservation of the Health and Vigor of the Constitution, from Infancy to old Age. Philadelphia, pp. 195,

This little work is prepared to teach youth the importance and the practicability of preserving health and lengthening life; and that temperance, exercise, cleanliness, cheerfulness and virtue are the best physicians. The book is neatly and tastefully executed, and in appearance an appropriate companion for the juvenile souvenirs, and its utility must, we think, recommend it to general favor. To parents, as well as children, it will be valuable.

Mr. W. R. Collier proposes publishing a work entitled THE PHILANTHROPIST, AND MONTHLY TEMPERANCE REPORTER. Such a periodical, well conducted, would undoubtedly do much to aid the cause of temperance and good morals.

We have communications that deserve and shall receive notice. Several articles designed for this number have been unavoidably deferred.