20-The Glory and Shame of England. By C. EDWARDS LESTER. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 253, 293. New York: Harper & Brothers. We were much struck by the title of these volumes, and had a great curiosity to read them. We have read them; and a work more full of interest, and that of the most stirring kind, we do not remember to have seen for some time. Mr. Lester has sketched, with a masterly hand, the Shame of England, as exhibited in her iniquitous domestic and foreign policy, and reckless disregard of the sufferings of her subjects, pauperized, famished, and driven to despair, by her insane and most iniquitous corn laws, and her oppressive taxations of every kind. If Americans would know how to appreciate the blessings they enjoy, let them read these volumes. There is in them a great variety of other matter that is exceedingly interesting, in relation to the most distinguished political, literary, and philanthropic characters of England, her commerce, public works, &c. &c. The author's style is chaste, animated, and eloquent; and with so many things to recommend his book, it will be most extensively read. 21.—The True Catholic Churchman, in his Life and in his Death. The Sermons and Poetical Remains of the Rev. Benjamin Davis Winslow, A. M., Assistant to the Rector of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, New Jersey. To which is prefixed the sermon preached on the Sunday after his decease. With notes and additional memoranda. By the Rt. Rev. GEORGE WASHINGTON DOANE, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of the Diocese, and Rector of St. Mary's Church. 8vo. pp. 317. New York: Wiley & Putnam. 1841. The work above named, as its title imports, contains the sermons, poetic efforts, and reminiscences of a consistent and pure-hearted young man, who died in the twenty-fifth year of his age, while engaged in the service of the Christian ministry. His intellectual efforts, as here preserved, indicate a contemplative mind, deeply imbued with the theology to which he was attached, and colored with a delicate and beautiful imagination, that was disciplined by a refined taste and sound judgment. 22.-Rollo Learning to Talk-Rollo Learning to Read in Easy Stories-Rollo at Play, or Safe Amusements-Rollo at Work, &c.-Rollo at School-Rollo's Vacation-Rollo's Museum-Rollo's Travels-Rollo's Correspondence. 9 vols. 18mo. Philadelphia: Hogan & Thompson. 1841. This series of juvenile classics, well known to the trade, and to the juvenile public as the "Rollo Books," deserve a general notice at our hands. We prefer them to all works of the kind, even to Edgeworth and Opie. They are founded on republican society; they ground every thing upon moral obligation; they give unusually exact views of science and natural law; they correct imaginative extravagance by just ideas of life; they teach mutual respect—honor for labor and self-dependence; they employ language in its true sense; they exhibit beautifully the right relations between father and child; they inculcate practical self-government, and sustain their interest throughout without any mental excitement. 23.-The Gem: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1842. Philadelphia: Published by H. F. Anners. This work reminds one rather too sensibly of the day of small beginnings in these periodical kaleidoscopes. Nothing about the book is more than respectable; and nothing sinks much below this. Some of the pieces are reprints, very many are anonymous, and all meet the ordinary expectations of this kind of literature. Few eminent names are inscribed on its pages, and, excepting the "Wedding Day," by Mrs. Hughs, it has nothing it would grieve us to forget or gladden us to meet once more. The engravings and mechanical execution are nowise remarkable, though passably good. 24.-The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1842. Philadelphia : Carey & Hart. This is one of the most exquisite things ever got up in this country, and may be called a prize specimen of itself, so much does it eclipse all previous efforts. The engravings are admirable, consisting of copies of American paintings, chiefly Sully's. The first face which meets you, "The Country Girl," unlike the titled stupidities which decorate English Annuals, is of rare loveliness, and grows upon you as you study it. The humorous ones, particularly the boy on the sled, are full of life. The tales and poetry are not alone good as coming from distinguished authors; they seem, by universal consent, to have wrought them out of peculiarly happy moments, moments of rare inspiration. It is unpleasant to particularize when all are good, but Miss Leslie's "People that did not take Boarders," is alone enough to give a high character to the work and the lamented Lucy Hooper, in singing her last note here, has not failed to sing the sweetest. No one can examine this Annual and not see that the arts have reached a great degree of perfection among us, and deserve the regard and encouragement of the public. 25.-The Rose of Sharon: a Religious Souvenir for 1842. Edited by Miss SARAH C. EDGARTON. 12mo. pp. 302. Boston: A. Tompkins. This beautiful annual is, we presume, designed to represent the religious literature of the Universalists, as we notice the names of some of the most distinguished preachers of that denomination of Christians among the contributors, besides laymen and ladies attached to the same communion. It is not, however, sectarian in its character, but breathes throughout the spirit of our holy religion, inciting to virtue and virtuous deeds, which will endure when sects and sectarianism are lost in the pure catholicism of "the spirit land." The pieces will, on the whole, compare with those to be found in similar works, and where all are so respectable, it would, perhaps, be invidious to particularize. The pictorial embellishments are vastly superior to those contained in the former volumes of the same annual. 26.—Biography and Poetical Remains of the late Margaret Miller Davidson. By WASHINGTON IRVING. 2d Edition, 12mo. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard. 1841. This is one of the most fascinating books of recent publication. Its subject was no ordinary character; but one of those rarely gifted creatures, who appear once in an age, to show what impulses and aspirations belong to our common nature, as well as to teach the responsibilty of education, and the influence of a pure sympathy upon the young. Margaret M. Davidson inherited from her mother, herself no common woman, a very poetical and ardent temperament, with all the susceptibilities of early genius. Nothing could be more beautiful than the intercourse between this mother and daughter, unless it be the spontaneous beauty of all the daughter's perceptions of nature and religion. The pen of Irving never had a fitter subject, and he has done it and himself immortal honor. The poetical remains are simple, but exquisitely musical and flowing. She wrote poetry because her thoughts must find expression, and could do it in no other way. And yet her poetry seems but a faint index of her uncommon genius: which under the alternations of feeble health and intense sickness, prosecuted severe studies, revelled in the natural world, and lived purely the spirit's life. 27.—The Child's Gem for 1842. Edited by a lady. New York: S. Colman. The nature and objects of the present volume, which completes the second series of the Child's Gem, are sufficiently explained by the title under which it is published. It will answer the delightful purpose of making the heart cheerful, while, at the same time, it is improved. The engravings are very pretty. NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE. RAY'S LIFE-PRESERVING BOAT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE :— SIR-I take a deep interest in every measure which promises increased facility to navigation and commerce; because I view them as powerful agents among the instru mentalities by which this opaque world is destined to be renovated. I felt a special interest in the account given, in an early number of the magazine, of Francis' life-preserving boat. But I was struck with one very serious objection, viz.: its want of capacity to contain a ship's crew and a large number of passengers, with the stores and provisions necessary for a sea voyage. Nothing short of such accommodation can afford to the prudent voyager's mind any thing like perfect security from a watery grave. The principle upon which Francis' life-preserving boat is constructed, forbids all idea of its susceptibility of meeting this grand desideratum. I, however, feel disposed to submit a project for the inspection and consideration of the commercial world, designed to supply the above defect, which I think is not only plausible, but also highly practicable; and its adoption, or something tantamount, imperiously demanded by the business and spirit of the age in which we now live. Let the upper story of all sea-going vessels be constructed of iron, made water-proof, and independent of the balance of the vessel, but confined to it by some ten or twelve strong iron bolts, each bolt commanded by a lever, which, in case of necessity, at a moment's warning, can be jerked out, so as to free said upper story from the balance of the vessel; which upper story, being itself made sea-worthy, shall prosecute the voyage by the aid of jury-masts and rigging laid in for such event. Let there be two iron partitions running across the aforesaid life-preserving part of the ship. This will make three large rooms; the middle portion for the stores, which should at all times be kept there in readiness; the other two rooms, one for passengers, the other for the sailors and crew. The state rooms to be constructed of thin light plank, inside of the iron hull; the hatchway openings to be closed at a moment's warning, with water-proof shutters. The steam-engine, and all that appertains thereto, to occupy the lower portion of the ship, and not to interfere in any way with the said life-preserving portion of the vessel. The masts and rigging present a seeming difficulty; but none so formidable but they can be overcome. The masts can be set in strong iron sockets, which shall extend to the floor of the life. preserving portion of the ship; and a joint can be made in each mast, just above the upper deck, by which the masts can be discharged in a moment, if required. And it is evident that the masts would be too heavy for the life-preserving portion of the ship, when used separate from the balance of the vessel. All the rope attachments can be made with hooks, so constructed as to free the vessel of them at a single effort. If it should be deemed best for the masts to extend down to the timbers in the hold, there can be no difficulty in so arranging them as to not interfere with the life-preserving rooms. When a vessel so constructed shall founder at sea, all hands, snugly shipped in the lifepreserver, can sail off with a fair prospect of reaching their destined haven, leaving the sinking hulk to measure by herself the countless fathoms of madame ocean. As an indemnity against loss of life by burning, I would suggest that several large trapdoors can be so fixed in the ship's bottom, as to fill and sink her in one minute, if the fire cannot be otherwise extinguished, and thus save all on board from a fiery death. If my life-preserver be deemed liable to capsize, the self-righting principle of Francis' boat can be carried out upon mine, on an enlarged scale. Permit me to suggest, that a light steam-engine can be carried in the life-preserver, to be used, if occasion require; the force to be communicated to the water by Smith's screwauger propellers, as they are called in England. I now (as I before have done) enter the lists with Mr. Smith, and contest with him the honor of the screw-auger invention, in application to navigation, so far as theory is concerned. In September, 1836, I filed a caveat in the patent office at Washington, describing the screw-auger application of the force to the water, as better than that of the paddle-wheel, for sea-going vessels. In the spring, or summer of 1837, I published my views in a Cincinnati newspaper, and advertised for pecuniary aid to make an experiment, offering to the capitalist one half of the profits arising from the invention. But I met with poor success,-cold silence! I can, with a clear conscience, say that I did not filch the invention from Mr. Smith, or any other person; and I wish it distinctly understood that I do not charge him with having borrowed the invention from me. For I am well aware that it is quite possible, in the nature of things, that the same invention should have been original and simultaneous with him and myself, without a loan or borrow in the case either side. But I have a desire that Mr. Smith should furnish the world with a certified copy of the first document, embracing the screw-auger propellers, filed by him in the patent office of his country. Should this article reach him, I indulge the hope that he will comply with my request. Before I close this article, I wish to clear up one objection to my life-preserving boat, which may, and probably will, suggest itself to the reader's mind. It is a well known fact, that a vessel sinking at sea will take down with it, by its suck or vortex, small boats; but I apprehend that my life-preserving boat covers too much surface, and will be too buoyant, to follow the sinking vessel very far, if at all. There is now one other remark which I would make: my life-preserver can be com. pletely ventilated by the air-pump. Let us now suppose a vessel plying between the ports of New York and Liverpool, having the above security for life and valuable baggage. Do you not suppose that the high estimate which we make of life would prompt such as have occasion to cross the Atlantic, to prefer a passage in her to another vessel ? Clinton, Kentucky, 1841. Yours, very respectfully, STEPHEN RAY. COQUET LIGHT AND BUOYS FOR THAT ROADSTEAD, NORTHUM. BERLAND. Notice is hereby given that in fulfilment of the intention expressed in an advertisement TRINITY HOUSE, LONDON, September 3, 1841. trom this house, dated 10th ultimo, a bright fixed light of great power will be exhibited for the first time on the evening of Friday, the 1st of October next, and which will be visible seaward from N. by E. E. to S. by W. W. by compass. power will also be shown landward in all other directions. The buoys for the anchorA light of inferior age within the island, referred to in the same advertisement, have now been placed in the undermentioned situations, and with the following marks and bearings, viz.: A Red Beacon Buoy, marked "N. E. Coquet," in 5 fathoms water: The south end of Morwick trees in line with the House on Amble Point, bearing A slate roofed House at Bondicar in line with Hauxley Point, S. W. by N. S. W. S. S. W. W. S. W. by W. N. by W. W. A Red and White Buoy, painted in circles, marked "N. W. Coquet," in 2 fathoms: The west end of a long Wood in line with the east end of the Sand North-east Coquet Buoy, Coquet Light House, A Red Buoy, marked "S. W. Coquet," in 3 fathoms : The east end of Shillbottle Trees, in line with the tower of Warkworth Castle, bearing N. W. W A cluster of Trees inland, apparently midway between two houses at A Black Buoy, marked "Sand Spit," in 9 feet, upon the extremity of a Reef running from the main land towards the Island: The west end of Warkworth Castle in line with Amble Point, to the southward, Hauxley Point Buoy, A Black Beacon Buoy, marked "Hauxley Point," in 5 fathoms, on this dangerous reef: A Farm House, having a lofty chimney on its west end, in line with Earsdon Windmill in line with a slate roofed House at Bondicar, A Black and White Chequered Buoy, marked "Pan Bush," in 2 N. W. S. W. by S. S. by E. E. N. N. W. W. The south part of Morwick Trees in line with the north end of Gloster Hill, A red tiled House within the Sand Hills, its apparent width open north of Radcliffe Colliery chimney, bearing Coquet Light House, North-east Coquet Buoy, W. N. S. W. S. Mariners are to observe that the safest approach to this anchorage is north of the Isl. and, between the N. E. Coquet and Pan Bush Buoys, there being but 8 feet-water in the south entrance, viz.: between the S. W. Coquet and the Sand Spit Buoys. N. B.-The above bearings are magnetic; and the depths of water those of low water spring tides. COMPARATIVE NAVAL FORCE OF ENGLAND, FRANCE AND AMERICA. The following table, says the London Times, of the comparative force of England, France, and America, is not very accurate with regard to France, but may be relied on for the strength of America: Hence the mercantile interests of the United States have far less protection in propor. tion to their extent than those of any other maritime country. Not only is the American navy deficient in numerous and well appointed vessels, but the very materials of a navy are wanting. The arsenals are most inadequately stored; the modern improvements in naval architecture have not been introduced into the dockyards, for no ships of the line have been constructed since the war. Only three steamers have been built for the navy. Of the sixty-eight vessels mentioned in the foregoing table, thirty-six only (including, as it would seem, the revenue cutters) are in commission. Of eleven ships of the line, only one is in commission, and that is not in the American seas. The navy list contains seventeen frigates, of which five are in commission; and twenty-one sloops, of which fourteen are in commission. Such is the total deficiency of a home squadron, that the only vessel of war, above the size of a revenue cutter, which has been seen for many years in any of the great harbors, is the schooner Experiment,-a wretched craft, which could only cruise along the coast in summer weather; and sometime ago, a report having reached Philadelphia, that the packet ship Susquehannah had been captured by pirates off the capes of Delaware, the only ship which could be sent out to her relief was a revenue cutter carrying four guns. |