TO THE KALIPH HAROUN ALRASCHID, UPON HIS UNDERTAKING A PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA: BY IBRAHIM BEN ADHAM,

IBRAHIM was a hermit of Syria, equally celebrated for his piety and talents. He was the son of a prince of Khorrasan, and born about the ninety-seventh year of the Hegira.

'RELIGION'S suns can ne'er adorn
The flimsy robe by pleasure worn,
Its feeble texture soon would tear,
And give those jewels to the air.

'Thrice happy they who seek th' abode
Of peace and pleasure in their GOD,
Who spurn the world, its joys despise,
And grasp at bliss beyond the skies.'

An unusually large number of communications, in prose and verse, received during the month, await insertion or examination. Our correspondents will accept our cordial thanks. . . . As a general thing, our private correspondence yields to professional labors after the twelfth of every month, until the Magazine goes to press.

LITERARY RECORD. - We have before us the 'Sixth Annual Report of the Managers of the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica,' made to the Legislature in February last. It is full and complete in relation to every thing connected with the institution, and has beside many excellent directions how to avoid predisposing causes to insanity. We find the following amusing account of the inhalation of the vapor of ether by two of the inmates of the asylum:

'WHEN this excitement abated, he seemed ecstatic with delight on account of the visions he had seen and the revelations that had been made to him. I floated away,' he exclaimed, 'in infinity of space; I have seen a future world; what I have seen has proved the dogmas of religion. Unless a man comes up to an iota, it is over with him.' He said he felt convinced of the truth of NEWTON's theory of the solar system, as he saw the planets revolving in the order and way pointed out.' When fully recovered from the effects of the ether, he said he should not like to take it again, assigning as a reason that his head felt strangely after using it; he however soon after recovered, and has now been well more than a year.

Some were pleasantly excited after using it. One danced. Another, when asked how he felt after awaking from a short sleep, replied, Exactly, exactly neat, by jingo! I never felt better in my life than I do now. I thought I was in Heaven, then in Hell, then at the judgment, and then at school. I must have slept two hours.' Another, when asked by a patient to tell him what his feelings were, said he felt like a kind of airy nothingness, as if he could fly.'' Dr. AMARIAH BRIGHAM, the Superintendent, has no superior in America in the treatment of the insane; and we believe no similar institution in the Union can boast a greater number of annual cures.... ONE of the best works of many upon a kindred theme which has appeared from the American press, is one just issued by the HARPERS, entitled 'Oregon and California in 1848.' The author, J. QUINN THORNTON, late Judge of the Supreme Court of Oregon, describes only what himself, in company with his wife, saw and experienced; and he writes in such a way as to make his readers see what they themselves saw; which is the best praise we could award to his style. The volumes are illustrated by numerous good engravings, and an excellent map of the region described; and contains also an appendix embodying recent and authentic information on the subject of the gold-mines of California, and other valuable matter, of interest to the emigrant. The same publishers have issued, in a handsome volume, Rev. BAPTIST WRIOTHESLEY NOEL's Essay on the Union of Church and State,' the dissolution of which is forcibly and vehemently urged, upon various grounds, elaborately fortified and argued at large. We have also to welcome from the same press two more of those well-illustrated and well-written works, Abbott's Histories. The last two of the series contain the History of Queen ELIZABETH' and the History of HANNIBAL.' The same ease and simplicity of style, and the same faithfulness to authentic history, which we have recorded of their predecessors, mark the two works before us. The HARPERS have also issued Part First of The Caxtons, a Family Picture,' by Sir E. LYTton Bulwer, a capital work, of which, when completed, we shall have more to say. Mr. BULWER furnishes the concluding part to the American publishers before it appears in England. ... WE have already spoken of and quoted from Hon. Zadock Pratt's Address before the American Institute, as reported at the time for the 'Tribune' daily journal. We have now before us the Address as revised by the author, and published by order of the Society, of which he is President; and we must again commend it to our readers as an effective and well-written exposé of the true dignity of labor. We doubt whether any one,

after perusing it, would be likely to say of another fellow-citizen, 'He is only a mechanic.' We make room for a single passage:

'I REMEMBER there was a certain man called FELIX in the Scriptures. What his pedigree was I do not know; but his countrymen were a proud race, and hated the mechanics. But one of these despised mechanics, a tent-maker, made this same FELIX tremble. Only a mechanic l' Why, NOAH was a ship-wright, and SOLOMON an architect. And who built the Pyramids; who the ancient cities, whose ruins all the historians, philosophers and learned men of modern times are unable to explain? The great temples of the holy city; Tyre and Sidon, Balbec, Persepolis, Babylon, Palmyra, Thebes, and other wondrous monuments of the East, whose magnificence no modern art can excel; who built them? 'Oh, it was only a mechanic!' 'In another place, and on a different occasion, I alluded to the impulse given to modern improvement, and the change wrought upon the face of the whole world, by the invention of FAUST, who gave light and knowledge to all mankind, by the discoveries of COLUMBUS, the science of FRANKLIN, the ingenuity of ARKWRIGHT, the genius of FULTOn and of WHITNEY, mechanics all-nothing but mechanics.' I need not attempt to say what we owe, what this nation owes, what the civilized world owes, to these great men.'

You have a right to be proud, my friends, and I certainly feel proud, that FRANKLIN and FULTON and WHITNEY all were countrymen of yours and mine, though they were 'only mechanics.' I feel as if I could hold up my head proudly, when I can say, that young as we are as a nation, such is the free scope and tendency of our institutions, and our glorious climate to foster the full energies of the mind, and to grow the whole man, that in all the useful mechanic arts we are outstripping the nations of the old world. In arts and in arms, and in every worldly pursuit of man, our advancement stands unequalled since the world began.'

...

'The Christian Union and Religious Memorial,' a monthly magazine, devoted to the common interests and the current history of the church, in all its branches throughout the world, and edited by the Rev. Dr. BAIRD, D.D., assisted by members and friends of the American Evangelical Alliance,' is acquiring the reputation and circulation to which its merits entitle it. It has contained many articles, both in prose and verse, which have won for it the high commendation of the clergy and religious persons generally. WE cannot say that we especially admire the title of an excellent lecture delivered before the Young Men's Library Association at Augusta, Georgia, by Hon. ROBERT M. CHARLTON, of Savannah. The Poetry of Death,' as it strikes us, were better represented as a consequence, than assumed as a fact, per se. But as touching the lecture itself, we may say, that it is a well-reasoned and extremely well-written production, variously enforced and felicitously illustrated. It is such a performance, in short, as might be expected at the hands of its accomplished author. · The Temptations of City Life' is the title of the third of the excellent Tracts for Cities,' publishing by J. S. REDFIELD, Clinton-Hall. It commends itself especially to all young men who are seeking a home and fortune in large cities.... THE Messrs. APPLETON have issued a little volume by D. T. ANSTED, an English Mining Engineer, called 'The Gold-Seekers' Manual.' It will be found a prac. tical and instructive guide to all persons emigrating to the gold regions of California. . . . 'The California and Oregon Trail, or Sketches of Prairie and Rocky Mountain Life,' is the title given to a very handsome illustrated volume, published in New-York and London by PUTNAM. The work is made up entirely of the 'Oregon Trail,' by FRANCIS PARKMAN, JR., recently completed in these pages. These sketches have already been widely read and admired, and may be said to have acquired an established popularity. The readers of the KNICKERBOCKER, at least, do not require to be enlightened as to their character. MR. HENRY WYKOFF has put forth, through the press of PUTNAM, Broadway, an instructive and interesting little volume, upon Napoleon Louis Bonaparte, First President of France,' embracing biographical and personal sketches, and including a visit to the PRINCE at the castle of Hamm. A collateral, if not a principal aim of the writer, in these and other promised sketches, is to show the ascendancy of the aristocratic mind of England over the democratic mind of America, which guides our judgment of things, determines our opinions of men, enters into our institutions, biases our laws, shapes our ideas, and too often directs our sentiments.' . 'The Mothers' Journal and Family Visitant,' so long and so ably conducted by Mrs. E. C. ALLEN, (who is now reaping the reward of her works before the throne of HIM who said on earth to children, 'Come to me,') is now edited by her excellent husband, Rev. IRA M. ALLEN, assisted by Mrs. ELIZABETH Sewall. It is a periodical of great usefulness. Its contributors and editors seem to vie with each other which shall do most to add to the interest and value of the work. We commend it, as we have often done before, to the patronage of the mothers of America... PUTNAM, publisher, Broadway, has issued, in a very handsomely-executed and illustrated volume, ' Phantasia, and other Poems,' by Mrs. JAMES HALL. Our readers have been made familiar with her genius by several excellent poems. We commend with added pleasure therefore her beautiful volume to public acceptance.

...

WE regard it as the very best work of its kind in the Union.' — St. Albans (Pt.) Journal.

THE KNICKERBOCKER was received with unfailing punctuality on the first of the month, which however is the least merit of this agreeable miscellany; for its contents are as invariably good as its appearance is punctual.'-WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT, in the New-York Evening Post.

THE last KNICKERBOCKER is exceedingly good. There are no less than twenty-four original articles, and all of the right sort; some of them worthy of BLACKWOOD's palmiest days. The Editor's Table is in Mr. CLARK's happiest vein; varied and racy in a remarkable degree."

New-York Commercial Advertiser.

THE KNICKERBOCKER seems to increase in attraction as it advances in age. It exhibits a monthly variety of contributions unsurpassed in number or ability.'-National Intelligencer.

THE KNICKERBOCKER is one of the most valuable Magazines of the day, and outstrips all competition in the higher walks of literature.' — Albany Argus.

'We have here an old and general favorite; one among the pioneers of the American periodical press; the venerable KNICKERBOCKER. The 'EDITOR's Table' is always the most attractive portion of 'OLD KNICK.'s' monthly bill of fare- to us at least; and in the present number we have found it-more so !'-New-York Gaz, and Times.'

PRESIDENT EVERETT, OF HARVard College, LATE MINISTER TO ENGLAND.-'I peruse the KNICKERBOCKER with high gratification. It seems to me of an order of merit quite above the

average of the periodicals of this class, English or American.'

HON. J. K. PAULding, late Secretary of the NAVY.-The manner in which the KNICKERBOCKER is conducted, and the great merit of its contributors, place it in the highest rank of periodicals,' PROF. LONGFELLOW, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. -The KNICKEREOCKER stands high in this quar ter. It is superior to most of the English magazines, and well deserves its large list of subscribers.' HON. ROBERT M. CHARLTON, GEORGIA.-The KNICKERBOCKER is a work which requires no puffing; and I shall always feel that I am conferring a favor on those to whom I recommend it.

MRS. L. H. SIGOURNEY.-'I have long regarded the KNICKERBOCKER as the best periodical in America, and it really seems second to none abroad.'

THE LONDON TIMES.' 'The London Times' commends the KNICKERBOCKER in cordial terms, and speaks of several articles from which it had selected liberal extracts for subsequent pub. lication.'-LONDON COR. N. ' Ev. STAR.'

THE LONDON EXAMINER.-"This very clever Magazine is the pleasantest periodical in the United States. Its articles, which are numerous and short, various and interesting, are well worthy of imitation by our Magazines on this side of the Atlantic.'

LONDON MORNING CHRONICLE.-Judging from the numbers before us, we are inclined to consider this the best of all the American literary periodicals. Its contents are highly interesting, instructive and amusing.'

THE LONDON Literary GazettE.- 'The taste and talent which the KNICKERBOCKER displays are highly creditable to American writers, and very agreeable for English readers.'

LONDON METROPOLITAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE.We have read several numbers of this talented periodical, and rejoiced in them. They would do credit to any country, or to any state of civilization to which humanity has yet arrived.'

LONDON ATHENÆUM.'- From a very clever Monthly Magazine, The Knickerbocker' of NewYork, we copy the following spirited story,' etc.

SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTON. The KNICKERBOCKER is the best American periodical I have yet seen. I take pleasure in enclosing you an article which was penned expressly for your work.' CHARLES DICKENS, Esq.-I read the KNICKERBOCKER with very great pleasure: it is indeed a most various and entertaining periodical. It affords me pleasure to contribute to the pages of a work which numbers among its regular correspondents such writers as Mr. IRVING.'

REV. Dr. DICK, SCOTLAND.- 'I have read a good many of the articles in the few numbers of the KNICKERBOCKER which you sent me, and find them to possess great merit. Some of its papers, it is true, were too light for my serious turn of mind; yet the whole appears well calculated to gratify the tastes of the mass of readers."

CAPT. F. MARRYAT.-'You make an excellent Magazine-spirited, various, and original. I hope my 'Moonshine' will reflect no discredit upon the good company in which it will find itself.'

TERMS $5 per annum in advance. All remittances must be made to SAMUEL HUESTON, Publisher, 139 Nassau-street, New-York.

THE following persons are authorized to receive subscribers and collect subscriptions on account of the KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE.

MR. HENRY M. LEWIS is our Travelling Agent for Alabama and Tennessee, assisted by JNO. C. BRETT.

MR. ISRAEL E. JAMES, for the Southern and South-western States, assisted by JAMES K. WHIPPLE, WILLIAM H. WELD, O. H. P. STEM, JOHN B. WELD, T. Š. WATERMAN, JOHN COLLINS, JAS. DEERING, ALBERT K. WELLINGTON, R. S. JAMES, CHARLES E. MUSTIN and M. F. TAYLOR.

MR. C. W. JAMES, for the Western States, Iowa, and Wisconsin, assisted by J. ROBB SMITH, J. T. DENT, T. GARDNER SMITH, FREDERICK J. HAWSE, JOHN W. ARMSTRONG, JASEN TAYLOR, E. M. STEVENSON, W. RAMSEY and PERRIN LOCKE.

THE subscriber, having disposed of his interest in the KNICKERBOCKER Magazine, hereby informs the subscribers and agents that the proprietors have appointed Mr. SAMUEL HUESTON their agent to attend to all the business of said Magazine. All moneys due from subscribers and from agents will hereafter be paid to Mr. HUESTON, to whom all communications regarding the business of the KNICKERBOCKER should be addressed.

New-York, Feb. 1, 1849.

JOHN ALLEN.

AGENTS WANTED FOR THE KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE. ENTERPRISING, active agents are wanted in every town and city in the United States, to procure subscribers for the KNICKERBOcker. To competent, active persons, with satisfactory references, the most liberal terms will be allowed. Apply, post-paid, to SAMUEL HUESTON, 139 Nassau-street.

GREAT INDUCEMENT TO SUBSCRIBE FOR THE KNICKERBOCKER.

FOUR YEARS FOR TEN DOLLARS!

THE undersigned will give the Volumes of the KNICKERBOCKER for the years 1847, '48, '49 and '50, to all persons who will remit to him ten dollars, in funds current in this city, post-paid.

CONNECTICUT.

A. H. Maltby,................... New-Haven.
Brown & Parsons,..................Hartford. C. W. James,

M. Boullemet,

.Mobile.

LOUISIANA.

KENTUCKY.

G. B. Zleber & CO............ Philadelphia. Geo. W. Noble,...

..Louisville.