Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVI, July 1852, Vol. V

Dr. Maclure, one of the masters of the Edinburgh Academy, has been appointed by the Crown to the Professorship of Humanity in Marischal College, Aberdeen, vacant by the translation of Mr. Blackie to the Greek chair at Edinburgh.

The motion for abolishing tests in regard to the non-theological chairs of the Scottish universities has been thrown out, on the second reading in the House of Commons, by 172 to 157.

Mr. W. Jerdan, late editor of The Literary Gazette, is to become editor of "The London Weekly Paper," an "organ of the middle classes."

The department of MSS. in the British Museum has been lately enriched with a document of peculiar interest to English literature – namely, the original covenant of indenture between John Milton, gent., and Samuel Symons, printer, for the sale and publication of Paradise Lost, dated the 27th of April, 1667. By the terms of agreement, Milton was to receive £5 at once, and an additional £5 after the sale of 1300 copies of each of the first, the second, and the third "impressions" or editions – making in all the sum of £20 to be received for the copy of the work and the sale of 3900 copies.

The Athenæum thus notices the death of a late traveler in this country. "The world of literature has to mourn the untimely closing of a career full of promise – and which, short as it has been, was not without the illustration of performance. Mr. Alexander Mackay, known to our readers as the author of 'The Western World,' has been snatched from life at the early age of thirty-two. Besides the work which bears his name before the world, Mr. Mackay had already performed much of that kind of labor which, known for the time only to the scientific few, lays the ground for future publicity and distinction. Connected as a special correspondent with the Morning Chronicle he had been employed by that journal in those collections of facts and figures on the aggregate and comparison of which many of the great social and statist questions of the day are made to depend. In 1850 Mr. Mackay was commissioned by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce to visit India for the purpose of ascertaining by minute inquiries on the spot what obstacles exist to prevent an ample supply of good cotton being obtained from its fields, and devising the means of extending the growth of that important plant in our Eastern empire."

Granier de Cassagnac, long known to France as an impudent, unveracious, reckless journalist and critic, has published some critical Essays, written in his obscurer days. He calls them Œuvres Litéraires. The volume contains articles on Chateaubriand, Lamennais, Lacordaire, Corneille, Racine, Dumas, Hugo, &c.

The readers of the Débats will remember a series of violent, bigoted, conceited, but not unimportant articles in the feuilleton, signed Cuvillier Fleury, devoted principally to the men and books of the Revolutions of '89 and '48. Written with asperity and passion, they have the force and vivacity of passion, although their intense conceit and personality very much abates the reader's pleasure. M. Fleury has collected them in two volumes, under the title, Portraits Politiques et Révolutionnaires. Politicians will be attracted toward the articles on Louis-Philippe, Guizot, the Duchess of Orleans, the Revolution of 1848, &c.; men of letters will turn to the articles on Lamartine, Sue, Louis Blanc, Daniel Stern, Proudhon, and Victor Hugo, or to those on Rousseau, St. Just, Barère, and Camille Desmoulins.

Baron de Walkaener, Perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, of Paris, died April 27. In addition to eminence in what the French call the Moral and Political Sciences, he was a very laborious homme de lettres, and has given to the world interesting biographies of La Fontaine and other French writers, together with correct editions of their works. He was a member of the Institute, and was one of the principals of the Bibliothèque Nationale.

The first number of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's German Dictionary is just out. It would be premature to criticise the work in its present stage; it seems, however, to be most carefully and accurately compiled. It is printed in large octavo form, in double columns, on good paper, and in a clear print. Some idea may be formed of the labor which has been expended on this work, from the fact that all the leisure time of a learned professor has been devoted for the last three years to reading through the works of Goethe alone in connection with it. The first number consists of one hundred and twenty pages, and contains about half the letter A. It is announced to us that 7000 copies had been subscribed for up to the 20th of April. This is a result almost unparalleled in the German book-trade, and not often surpassed in England.

The library of the convent at Gaesdorf, in Germany, is in possession of a most interesting MS. of Rempen's De Successione Christi. It contains the whole of the four books, and its completion dates from the year 1427. This MS. is therefore the oldest one extant of this work, for the copy in the library of the Jesuits at Antwerp, which has generally been mistaken for the oldest MS., is of the year 1440. The publication of this circumstance also settles the question as to the age of the fourth book of Rempen's work, which some erroneously assumed had not been written previous to 1440.

The new Catalogue of the Leipzig Easter Book-Fair contains, according to the German papers, 700 titles more than the previous Catalogue for the half year ending with the Fair of St. Michael. The latter included 3860 titles of published books, and 1130 of forthcoming publications. The present Catalogue enumerates 4527 published works and 1163 in preparation. These 5690 books represent 903 publishers. A single house in Vienna contributes 113 publications. That of Brockhaus figures for 95.

From Kiel it is stated that Germany has lost one of her most celebrated natural philosophers in the person of Dr. Pfaff, senior of the Professors of the Royal University of Kiel – who has died at the age of seventy-nine. M. Pfaff is the author of a variety of well-known scientific works – and of others on Greek and Latin archæology. Since his death, his correspondence with Cuvier, Volta, Kielmayer, and and other celebrated men, has been found among his papers.

Comicalities, Original and Selected

"'Tis true, there is a slight difference in our ages, but with hearts that love, such considerations become frivolous. The world! Pshaw! Did you but love as I do, you would care but little for its opinion. Oh! say, beautiful being, will you be mine?"

RULES FOR HEALTH.

BY A SCOTCH PHILOSOPHER WHO HAS TRIED THEM ALL

Never drink any thing but water.

Never eat any thing but oatmeal.

Wear the thickest boots.

Walk fifteen miles regularly every day.

Avoid all excitement; consequently it is best to remain single, for then you will be free from all household cares and matrimonial troubles, and you will have no children to worry you.

The same rule applies to smoking, taking snuff, playing at cards, and arguing with an Irishman. They are all strong excitements, which must be rigidly avoided, if you value in the least your health.

By attending carefully to the above rules, there is every probability that you may live to a hundred years, and that you will enjoy your hundredth year fully as much as your twenty-first.

FINANCE FOR YOUNG LADIES

Taxes on knowledge are objected to, and taxes on food are objected to; in fact, there is so much objection to every species of taxation, that it is very difficult to determine what to tax. The least unpopular of imposts, it has been suggested, would be a tax on vanity and folly, and accordingly a proposition has been made to lay a tax upon stays; but this is opposed by political economists on the ground that such a duty would have a tendency to check consumption.

The following letter has been sent to our office, evidently in mistake:

"Matrimonial Office, Union Court, Love Lane."(strictly private and confidential.)

"Sir – Your esteemed favor of the 10th ult. came duly to hand, and, agreeably to your desire, we have the honor to forward to you our quarterly sheet of photographic likenesses of our Female Clients. We were very sorry that the Ladies you fixed upon in our last year's sheets were all engaged before your duly honored application arrived at our Office; but we hope to be more fortunate in our present sheet, which we flatter ourselves contains some highly eligibles. We should, however, recommend as early an application as possible, as, this being leap-year, Ladies are looking up, and considerably risen in the Market, and shares in their affections and fortunes are now much above par. Should you not be particular to a shade, we should respectfully beg leave to recommend No. 7, her father having very large estates near Timbuctoo, to which she will be sole heiress in case of her twenty-seven brothers dying without issue. And should the Great African East and West Railway be carried forward, the value of the Estates would be prodigiously increased. No. 8 is a sweet poetess, whose 'Remains' would probably be a fortune to any Literary Gent. to publish after her decease. No. 9 has been much approved by Gents., having buried eight dear partners, and is an eighth time inconsolable.

"Further particulars may be had on application at our Office.

"We beg also, respectfully, to inform you that your esteemed portrait was duly received and appeared in our last Gent.'s sheet of Clients; but we are sorry to say as yet no inquiries respecting it have come to hand.

"Permit us further to remind you that a year's subscription was due on the 1st of January, which, with arrears amounting to £4 4s., we shall be greatly obliged by your remitting by return of post.

"With most respectful impatience, awaiting a renewal of your ever-esteemed applications, and assuring you that they shall be duly attended to with all dispatch, secrecy, and punctuality,

"We have the honor to be, esteemed Sir,"Your most obedient Servants,"Hookham and Splicer,"Sole Matrimonial Agents for Great Britain.

"P.S. – We find our female clients run much on mustaches. Would you allow us humbly to suggest the addition of them to your portrait in our next Quarterly Sheet? It could be done at a slight expense, and would probably insure your being one of our fortunate clients."

Lady. – "Goodness Bridget! what is that you have on?"

Bridget. – "Shure! an' didn't I hear you say these Weskitts was all the fashion? An' so I borrer'd me bruther Pathrick's to wait at the table in."

Fascinating Young Lady. – "I dare say you think me a very odd Girl – and indeed, mamma always says I am a giddy, thoughtless creature – and – "

Partner. – "Oh, here's a vacant seat, I think."

Young Gentleman. – "I don't want to hurry you out of the room, old girl, but the fact is – I am going to wash myself."

Proprietor of the Dog. – "Has he been a bitin' on you, sir?"

Victim. – "Oh! – Ah! – Ugh!"

Proprietor. – "Vell, I thought as there was somethink the matter with him, cos he wouldn't drink nuffin for two days, and so I vos jist a-goin to muzzle him."

THE AMERICAN CRUSADERS

Air – "Dunois the Brave."Old Hermit Peter was a gooseTo preach the first Crusade,And skase e'en Godfrey of BouillonThe speculation paid;They rose the banner of the CrossUpon a foolish plan —Not like we hists the Stars and Stripes,To go agin Japan.All to protect our marinersThe gallant Perry sails,Our free, enlightened citizensA-cruisin' arter whales;Who, bein' toss'd upon their shoresBy stormy winds and seas,Is wus than niggers used by themTarnation Japanese.Our war-cries they are Breadstuffs, Silks.With Silver, Copper, Gold,And Camphor, too, and Ambergris,All by them crittars sold:And also Sugar, Tin, and Lead,Black Pepper, Cloves likewise.And Woolen Cloths and Cotton Thread,Which articles they buys.We shan't sing out to pattern saintsNor gals, afore we fights,Like, when they charged the Saracens,Did them benighted knights:But "Exports to the rescue, ho!"And "Imports!" we will cry;Then pitch the shell, or draw the beadUpon the ene – my.We'll soon teach them unsocial coonExclusiveness to drop;And stick the hand of welcome out,And open wide their shop;And fust, I hope we shant be forcedTo whip 'em into fits,And chaw the savage loafers rightUp into little bits.

POETICAL COOKERY BOOK.

STEWED DUCK AND PEAS

Air – "My Heart and Lute."I give thee all my kitchen lore,Though poor the offering be;I'll tell thee how 'tis cooked, beforeYou come to dine with me:The Duck is truss'd from head to heels,Then stew'd with butter well;And streaky bacon, which revealsA most delicious smell.When Duck and Bacon in a massYou in a stewpan lay,A spoon around the vessel pass,And gently stir away:A table-spoon of flour bring,A quart of water plain,Then in it twenty onions fling,And gently stir again.A bunch of parsley, and a leafOf ever-verdant bay,Two cloves – I make my language brief —Then add your Peas you may!And let it simmer till it singsIn a delicious strain:Then take your Duck, nor let the stringFor trussing it remain.The parsley fail not to remove,Also the leaf of bay;Dish up your Duck – the sauce improveIn the accustom'd way,With pepper, salt, and other things,I need not here explain:And, if the dish contentment brings,You'll dine with me again.

Fashions for Summer

Novelty is the distinguishing characteristic of the prevailing fashions. Give us something new in material, is the cry to the manufacturer. Give us something new in form, is the demand made upon the modiste. Both do their best to meet this demand; and both have succeeded. For the present, whatever is new, fantastic, striking, and odd, is admired and adopted. It will doubtless be a work of time to return to simplicity again.

The costumes which we present for the present month, combine originality enough to meet even the present demand, with good taste and elegance – a union not always attainable.

Dress of white taffeta with colored figures, a particular pattern for each part of the dress. The ground of the skirt and body is sprinkled with small Pompadour bouquets en jardinière, that is to say, with flowers of different colors in graduated shades. The flounces have scolloped edges; the ground is white, and over each scollop is a rich bouquet of various flowers. The body is very high behind; it opens square in front, and the middle of the opening is even a little wider than the top (this cut is more graceful than the straight one). The waist is very long, especially at the sides; the front ends in a rounded point not very long. The bottom of the body is trimmed with a ruche, composed of small white ribbons mixed with others. This ruche is continued on the waist, and meets at the bottom of the point. There are three bows of chiné ribbon on the middle of the body. The upper one has double bows and ends; the other two gradually smaller. The sleeves are rather wide, and open a little behind at the side. The opening is rounded; the edge is trimmed with a ruche, like the body. There is a small lace at the edge of the body. The lace sleeves are the same form as those of the stuff, but they are longer. Coiffure, à la jeune Femme– the parting on the left side; the hair lying in close curls on each side.

Redingote of moire antique; body high, with six lozenge-shaped openings in front, diminishing in size toward the waist. The edges of these lozenges are trimmed with velvet; the points meet like bands under a button. Through these lozenge openings there appears a white muslin habit-shirt, gathered in small flutes (this muslin, however close, always projects through the openings, under the pressure of the body). The habit-shirt is finished at the neck by two rows of lace. The sleeve, which increases in size toward the bottom, has also lozenge openings, confined by buttons, and through the opening is seen a muslin under-sleeve, puffing a little, plaited length-wise in small flutes and held at the wrist by an embroidered band with lace at the edge. The skirt has nine graduated openings down the front from top to bottom, buttoned like the others, through which is seen a nansouk petticoat, worked with wheels linked together, small at top and larger at bottom. Drawn bonnet of blond and satin. The brim is very open at the sides and lowered a little in front. It is transparent for a depth of four inches, and consists of five rows of gathered blond, on each of which is sewed a narrow white terry velvet ribbon, No. 1. The brim, made of Lyons tulle, is edged with a white satin roll. The band of the crown is Tuscan straw on which are five drawings of white satin. The top of the crown is round, and of white satin; it is puffed in crevés. The curtain is blond, like the brim. The ornament consists of a white satin bow, placed quite at the side of the brim and near the edge. – The inside of the brim is trimmed with four rows of blond, each having a narrow pink terry velvet, and a wreath of roses, small near the forehead, larger near the cheeks. Blond is likewise mixed with the flowers.

Dress of white muslin, the skirt with three deep flounces, richly embroidered. The body, à basquine, is lined with pale blue silk; it has a small pattern embroidered round the edge; which is finished by a broad lace set on full. The sleeves have three rows of lace, the bottom one forming a deep ruffle. – Waistcoat of pale blue silk, buttoning high at the throat, then left open, about half way, to show the chemisette; the waist is long, and has small lappets. White lace bonnet, the crown covered with a fanchonnette of lace; rows of lace, about two inches wide, form the front. The bonnet is appropriately trimmed with light and extremely elegant flowers.

Fanchon of India muslin, trimmed with pink silk ribbons, forming tufts near the cheek, and a knot on the head.

Pagoda sleeve of jaconet, with under-sleeves; trimming relieved with small plaits.

The new materials of the season include some elegant printed cashmeres, bareges, and broche silks, in endless variety as to pattern, and combination of color. There are some beautiful dresses of lampas, broché, with wreaths and bouquets in white, on a blue, green, or straw-colored ground. Among the lighter textures, adapted for both day and evening wear, are some very pretty mousselines de soie, and grenadines. The new bareges are in every variety of color and pattern.

1

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by Harper and Brothers, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York.

2

Continued from the June Number.

3

Every one remembers that Goethe's last words are said to have been, "More Light;" and perhaps what has occurred in the text may be supposed a plagiarism from those words. But, in fact, nothing is more common than the craving and demand for light a little before death. Let any consult his own sad experience in the last moments of those whose gradual close he has watched and tended. What more frequent than a prayer to open the shutters and let in the sun? What complaint more repeated, and more touching, than "that it is growing dark?" I once knew a sufferer – who did not then seem in immediate danger – suddenly order the sick-room to be lit up as if for a gala. When this was told to the physician, he said gravely, "No worse sign."

4

Continued from the June Number.