CYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN LITERATURE. By Evert A. and George L. Duyckinck. New York: Charles Scribner.

By far the most important work of American origin and interest, that has appeared for a long time, is the Cyclopedia of the Messrs. Duyckinck. This title scarcely covers the design or represents the scope of the enterprisé. It might be appropriately called an Intellectual History of the country, for the doings of the scholars, the men and women of genius and the educational institutions of the land, from the days of the first European emigration to the present year, are recorded with a fidelity, skill and good taste which does infinite credit to the authors, and cannot but prove of great advantage to the country. The work consists of two elegant octavo volumes of more than six hundred pages each, similar in their general aspect to Chambers' Cyclopedia of English Literature, but superior to that popular work in typographical execution. The ample pages are richly illustrated with portraits, autographs and views of birth-places, homes and institutions; copious references give authority for the most important statements and point out the sources of additional information. There is no attempt to forestal the critical judgment of the reader by literary discussion, but the aim, the works and the personal history of each writer are frankly stated. Comparisons are sedulously avoided. There is an evident national feeling throughout, and an admirable impartiality. The research needed to gather such copious materials and the patient care requisite to collate them, must have been very great. No American writers could have been selected for the task so well fitted to accomplish it to the general satisfaction. From their intimate relations with American authors as editors of the Literary World, their scholarship and patriotic interest in native literature, their independent position, habits of study and amiable character, the brothers Duyckinck commanded resources for such a labor as this which few could equal. They had attached literary friends at the North and the South, the East and the West, who were glad of an opportunity to make local researches and furnish personal reminiscences for their benefit; they possess one of the best libraries in New York and access to several choice private collections; in the course of their editorial career, they had gathered numerous anecdotes and curious data, and from long association with authors and publishers, were able to form a just opinion of the wants of the public and the most desirable treatment of their subject. With these signal advantages, they went to work con amore, and

have produced a work of solid historical value, of singular interest, and one which will undoubtedly become a standard reference at home and abroad and ere many months be found in every library, college, district school, and on the tables of the clergy, who will find their literary claims admirably recognised in its pages; in the boudoir-for our female authors show to great advantage both in print and picture;-on lawyers' desks, for the literature of our native jurisprudence is most agreeably chronicled-in short everywhere, where good taste, love of knowledge and pride of country obtain. It is difficult, in the brief space at present remaining to us, to point out all the sources of interest discoverable in the work. We cannot, however, forbear to record our sense of the permanent value of the first volume as the best account ever given and, in many respects, the only one of the early means, appliances and men whereby the education of the people on this continent, was initiated. Herein will the philosopher of the older nations discern the germs of our liberty and civic growth. Scholars and wise men, christian thinkers and educated patriots laid the foundation of our national prosperity by seminaries of learning, schools, enlightened preaching, political discussion, bold speculation, habits of reading, and honor to superior intelligence. Quaint and erudite beyond the modern standard are many of the worthies exhibited in the first volume; but even there the flowers of literature spring up in profusion. Edwards and Franklin stand like colossal figures at the porch of our mental history; Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams, Morris, Marshall and a host of wise and true men, who led the councils of the dawning republic, are there displayed in their intellectual aspect-their education traced, their modes of thought and expression defined.

It is quite a treat for the philosophical lover of letters to trace the gradual developement of the American intellect in this suggestive chronicle-from the severe theology of the Puritans, the strict classicism of the southern scholars, and the political discipline of the fathers of the republic, to the lighter graces of song, fiction, essay and criticism which mark the last half century. The stars thicken in the literary firmament as the years accumulate and we close the volumes, at last, with quite a new impression of the fecundity of the native mind. There are all kinds of entertainment in the work, food' for antiquarian and anecdote monger, histo rian and novelist, the lover of romance and the stickler for facts. The gems of prose and verse, which the copious extracts include, will gratify every taste; and the catholic spirit of

the narrative will delight liberal readers. The biographies of Freneau and the Brackenridges of Allston and Brockden Brown, of Buckmin ster and Irving are among the earlier pages over which we have lingered with peculiar interest.

To Southern readers the Cyclopedia offers special attractions. They will find many of our literary representatives here, for the first time, justly portrayed. We have had frequent occasion to complain of the partiality of northern writers and their apparent ignorance of what has been accomplished with the pen, south of Mason and Dixon's; and it gives us much satisfaction to exempt the authors of this truly national work from the charge. Their Cyclopedia opens with an account of George Sandys, who translated Ovid, on the banks of the James river in 1620. Soon after comes Captain John Smith's narrative and that of Lederer's "Three Marches from Virginia to the west of Carolina," in 1672. The Westover manuscripts which signalize William Byrd of the good old times of Virginia, follows; and Weems, the gossipping rector of Mt. Vernon, finds, at last, a biographer; Richard Bland, the Virginia antiquary, is not forgotten and Beverley Tucker is well delineated. The statesmen of the South form the subject of some of the most important chapters. Jefferson, Marshall, Madison, Patrick Henry, Randolph, Calhoun, and other illustrious men of historical fame, are memorialized, with a fullness, tact and perspicuity, which brings their mental history and en dowments vividly before the reader. Our more recent authors such as Grimke and Legarè, Maury and Dr. Hawks, the Cookes and Father Rouquette, Gayarré and Calvert, Wilde and Pinkney, Key and Poe find, in these pages, appreciative mention. The life and writings of our friend Gilmore Simms also receive cordial recognition. The sketch of him is written lovingly, and the portrait of the Southern novelist is one of the most spirited and truthful of the collection. The annals of our seminaries of learning are also ably recorded; the Universities of Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, William and Mary, St. John's, Columbia, &c., are duly honoured. Doubtless there are incorrect dates, omissions and mistakes in so voluminous a work; they are inevitable; but the candid request of the editors to be set right when in error is a guarantee that such flaws will be soon remedied. Meantime let the expensive and laborious enterprise be rewarded by the public. We propose to examine the Cyclopedia of American Literature more carefully hereafter; and must now be content to give this general idea of its purpose and the manner of its execution. A few extracts indicating how Southern subjects have been handled we have given in foregoing pages of the present number, and with these we must at this time be content.

MIMIC LIFE; or Before and Behind the Curtain. A Series of Narratives. By ANTA CORA RITCHIE. Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1856. [From A. Morris, 97 Main Street.

Mrs. Ritchie has added largely to an already enviable literary reputation by this delightful collection of "Narratives," in which the graceful and the tender meet and mingle in the most charming and touching manner. Having herself wou on the stage a renown scarcely below that of the highest names in histrionic annals, she manifests a pardonable esprit-de-corps, in her retirement, by seeking to dignify the actor's profession and to enlist public sympathy for the trials that wait upon dramatic life. Whatever may be thought of the design, and there is little charity, we fear, in this censorious world for the followers of the theatrical calling, there can be but one opinion as to its execution, and the sweet creations of the gifted writer cannot fail of endearing themselves to all who read of their ambitions and triumphs and sorrows. We do not recal a brigher picture in the range of modern literature than Tina Truehart, and if it be not drawn from the life, it shows with what pure and lovely images the limner's imagination is stored. The style of "Mimic Life" is almost faultless, indicating far greater care than any of Mrs. Ritchie's previous compositions, and giving promise of a fame as high in the walks of Belles Lettres as Mrs. Mowatt achieved in her interpretations of Shakspeare.

EDITH ALLEN; or Sketches of Life in Virginia. By LAURENCE NEVILLE. Richmond, J. W. Randolph, Publisher. 1855.

The authorship of this entertaining novel is wholly unknown to us, but we cannot go far wrong in attributing it to a practised writer, and a mind of great originality. Mr. Laurence Neville or the gentleman, or lady, who adopts that nom de plume, has a keen eye for the course of human things, and there is a terse and vigorous dash of the pencil about many of the scenes in this work, which we scarcely remember meeting with elsewhere. The deficiency of the book lies, we think, in its literal reality of handling. Neither poesy, nor humanitariantsm appear anywhere in its pages. It is a trenchant and clearly cut picture of life as it is. The merits of the volume on the other hand are equally unmistakeable, and as easily perceived. The leading characters are drawn, briefly but strong. ly, and the miser-prodigal Letarè is powerfully delineated. The coloring of the book is in many places wonderfully true to Virginia life, and we feel a conviction that the author possesses powers which will enable him to accomplish something far better than even this striking production. The volume is published with great good taste, and reflects much credit upon Mr. Randolph, from whose house it is issued.