residing in Geneva for some years, Mr. and Mrs. Kirkland removed to Detroit, Michigan, where they resided for two years, and for six months in the interior, about sixty miles west of Detroit. This gave our authoress an opportunity to observe Western life and manners; and how well she improved it was soon seen in her "New Home, Who'll Follow, or Glimpses of Western Life, by Mrs. Mary Clavers," published in 1839, which made an immediate impression upon the public, by its keen observation and delightful humor. In 1842, appeared "Forest Life," soon after which, she returned with her husband to New York, where he commenced, in conjunction with Rev. Wm. H. Bellows, a weekly journal, called the "Christian Inquirer," while she received into her family, for instruction, a small class of young ladies. Early in 1846, she published "Western Clearings," a collection of tales and sketches illustrative of Western life. Losing her husband, the latter part of this year, the whole care and education of her children devolved upon herself, and her energies as a writer were called forth in a new manner. After publishing "An Essay on the Life and Writings of Spenser," she commenced, in July, 1847, the editorship of the "Union Magazine,” which the next year was transferred to Philadelphia, where it was published under the title of "Sartain's Magazine," edited jointly by Prof. John S. Hart and Mrs. Kirkland. In 1848, she visited Europe, and has recorded her impressions in a work entitled "Holidays Abroad, or Europe from the West." In 1853, she published "The Evening Book; or Fireside Talk, on Morals and Manners, with Sketches of Western Life;" and the same year appeared "The Book of Home Beauty," a gift for the holidays, containing the portraits of twelve American ladies; the text of which, however, has no reference to the "portraits," but consists of a story of American society, with occasional poetical quotations.

ENGLAND.

Who shall describe the exquisite delight with which the land is welcomed at the termination of a first voyage across the ocean! To see mere earth, though it were but a handful, enough to smell and to feel, were something! but to see land, and know that it is the land towards which your curiosity, gratitude, and affections, your nursery songs, your school stories, your academic education, your studies in history, your whole literary experience, have been directing and drawing you from your cradle; to see before you the shores of "merry England,"

the country of Alfred, and old Canute, and Robin Hood, and Mother Goose-the land whose Christmas and Twelfth-night revels Washington Irving made so unspeakably fascinating to our imagination-the land of Shakspeare, and of Shakspeare's creatures the only Englishmen of the ages gone as much alive now as they ever were; England! the country to which appertain the glorious ages of Anne and Elizabeth, and the splendid names that are blazing round those queens, and lending them a more substantial royalty in the imaginations of men, than they ever exercised in their own right; England! the Oldcountry, the Mother-country-land of our fathers-fountain of our liberties-source of our laws; from whose full bosom we have not ceased to draw the milk of gentle letters, though we spurned her maternal claim to rule us; England! the home of the noblest race earth has ever borne; the scene of a civilization without a parallel since time was. What educated American can first see the coast of England, without such a thrill as life is too short, and the heart too narrow, to afford many as keen, and deep, and universal!

ENGLISH LANDSCAPE.

English landscape has a minutely-finished look; it lacks grandeur; its features are delicate, and the impression left is that of softness and gentle beauty. The grass grows to the very rim of the water, like carpet to a rich drawing-room, which must not betray an inch of unadorned floor. The fields are rolled to a perfect smoothness; the hedges look as if they had no use but beauty; the trees and multitudinous vines have a draperied air, and strike the eye rather as part of the charming whole than as possessing an individual interest. We have seen woodlands in the far west that were far more gracefully majestic than any we have yet seen in England; but we have no such miles of cultured and close-fitted scenery. Nature with us throws on her clothes negligently, confident in beauty; in England she has evidently looked in the glass until not a curl strays from its fillet, not a dimple is unschooled.

A TRULY PERMANENT GOVERNMENT-PARIS.

It must be allowed that soldiers, puppets as they are, add much to the mere display of such occasions, and the presence

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of the various military bands is very enlivening; but when we think of our French brethren as being in the midst of a noble struggle for liberty, and desirous of founding their Republic on immutable principles, these soldiers are the most discouraging sight that meets our eyes. exceedingly unsafe for France to be unarmed in the midst of We are told that it would be the nations of Europe, who would be very likely to take advantage of her defenceless state; but without quoting the pacific wisdom of Mr. Cobden, who repudiates this barbarous and degrading notion, we reply, that no republic founded upon military force will stand. The idea of a republic is the result of the general progress of the world, which has outlived the monarchical age; further progress will as surely leave behind the idea of brute force. We shall never see a permanent government until we see one absolutely Christian. Christianity

is immutable, uncompromising; and He who has said that by it alone the world shall be saved, will surely overturn, and overturn, and overturn, till mankind shall submit in truth, as they now do in profession, to the rule of Christ.

Here lies our chief fear for the new French Republic. accursed military spirit, which has been inbred in the people The for generations, is still predominant; the bayonet may be wreathed with flowers, but it glitters through them; and the world applauds the folly under the name of prudence. The men whose counsels have prevailed, though wise and good, are not in advance of their age, as were the founders of our Republic. Their sentiments are fine in the way of poetry, generosity, bravery; but fall far short of Christian principle, which recognizes no modifying power in expediency, declines all compromise with the spirit of the world, sees no safety but in a rigid adherence to the law and to the testimony. Our hopes prophesy the best for France; our fears have been increased by a visit to Paris at this juncture. Every third man is a soldier; you are waked in the morning by the beat of the drum and the trumpet of cavalry; in every street is a corps de garde; you ask the name of a fine building, ten to one you are told it is a caserne (barrack) or a military hospital. The public reliance is not on wisdom, on virtue, on justice, on the spirit of peace; but on fighting, a quickness to resent, and ability to revenge an injury. Herein is fatal weakness.

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PATRIOTISM.

From this auspicious commencement may be dated Mr. Jenkins's glowing desire to serve the public. Each successive election-day saw him at his post. From eggs he advanced to pies, from pies to almanacs, whiskey, powder and shot, footballs, playing-cards, and at length-for ambition ever "did grow with what it fed on"-he brought into the field a large turkey, which was tied to a post and stoned to death at twentyfive cents a throw. By this time the still youthful aspirant had become quite the man of the world; could smoke twenty-four cigars per diem, if any body else would pay for them; play cards in old Hurler's shop from noon till day-break, and rise winner; and all this with suitable trimmings of gin and hard words. But he never lost sight of the main-chance. He had made up his mind to serve his country, and he was all this time convincing his fellow-citizens of the disinterested purity of his sentiments.

A BREAKFAST IN THE "OPENINGS."

She soon after disappeared behind one of the white screens I have mentioned, and in an incredibly short time emerged in a different dress. Then taking down the comb I have hinted at, as exalted to a juxtaposition with the spoons, she seated herself opposite to me, unbound her very abundant brown tresses, and proceeded to comb them with great deliberateness; occasionally speering a question at me, or bidding Miss Irene (pronounced Ireen) "mind the bread." When she had finished, Miss Irene took the comb and went through the same exercise, and both scattered the loose hairs on the floor with a coolness that made me shudder when I thought of my dinner, which had become, by means of the morning's ramble, a subject of peculiar interest. A little iron "wash-dish," such as I had seen in the morning, was now produced; the young lady vanished-reappeared in a scarlet Circassian dress, and more combs in her hair than would dress a belle for the court of St. James; and forthwith both mother and daughter proceeded to set the table for dinner.

The hot bread was cut into huge slices, several bowls of milk were disposed about the board, a pint bowl of yellow pickles,

another of apple sauce, and a third containing mashed potatoes, took their appropriate stations, and a dish of cold fried pork was brought out from some recess, heated and redished, when Miss Irene proceeded to blow the horn.

The sound seemed almost as magical in its effects as the whistle of Roderick Dhu; for, solitary as the whole neighborhood had appeared to me in the morning, not many moments elapsed before in came men and boys enough to fill the table completely. I had made sundry resolutions not to touch a mouthful; but I confess I felt somewhat mortified when I found there was no opportunity to refuse.

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After the wash dish" had been used in turn, and various handkerchiefs had performed, not for that occasion only, the part of towels, the lords of creation seated themselves at the table, and fairly demolished in grave silence every eatable thing on it. Then, as each one finished, he arose and walked off, till no one remained of all this goodly company but the redfaced, heavy-eyed master of the house. This personage used his privilege by asking me five hundred questions, as to my birth, parentage, and education; my opinion of Michigan, my husband's plans and prospects, business and resources; and then said, "he guessed he must be off."

BORROWING "OUT WEST.'

Your true republican, when he finds that you possess anything which would contribute to his convenience, walks in with, "Are you going to use your horses to-day?" if horses happen to be the thing he needs.

"Yes, I shall probably want them."

"O, well; if you want them- -I was thinking to get 'em to go up north a piece."

Or, perhaps, the desired article comes within the female department.

"Mother wants to get some butter: that 'ere butter you bought of Miss Barton this mornin'."

And away goes your golden store, to be repaid, perhaps, with some cheesy, greasy stuff, brought in a dirty pail, with, "Here's your butter!"

A girl came in to borrow a "wash-dish," "because we've got company." Presently she came back: "Mother says you've forgot to send a towel."

"The pen and ink, and a sheet o' paper and a wafer," is no