In 1833, the compromise tariff came into operation, and continued its biennial reductions down to 1832. In 1832, tea and coffee were made free of duty. The consumption of molasses, it appears, is very nearly the same per head in 1845 as in 1821. The quantity imported has doubled, as has also the population. Sugar has increased in a greater ratio; but 1845, being a year of short crops in Cuba, the imports were small and the price high. Tea has been free of duty since 1832; but its consumption is not greater per head than when it paid a duty. The import of coffee in 1830 was about 4 lbs. per head, in 1845 it was 5 lbs. per head; or the average of the last three years was 6 lbs. per head, against 4 lbs. per head when it paid duty, showing an increase of actual consumption of 50 per cent. This increase in the consumption of coffee involved an increase in the consumption of sugar; and the quantity taken of both would have been much larger, had the duty on the latter been less one is a necessary accompanyment of the other. It is observable, that the import of both free and dutiable articles fluctuates greatly with the state of the currency. 1839 was a year of great expansion on the part of the banks, and the weight of the three articles, omitting molasses, imported in that year, was 321,938,860 lbs., or about 19 lbs. per head; and in the next year of revulsion, the duties on sugar being the same, 227,495,981 lbs., or about 13 lbs. per head, only a decline of 33 per cent. The same influence produced a great falling off in the demand for British goods, and not only paralyzed the markets for sales, but prevented the collection of prior debts. Thus, our paper system is the instrument of English prosperity in time of peace, and the effective instrument of their wrath in time of war. Happily, affairs are taking a turn which will soon remove fears of a rupture from the market; but will not do away with the duty of the government to prepare both for peace and war, by effectually separating the funds of the government from a system so fraught with danger. It is also matter of high importance that a permanent policy should be speedily adopted; one that will assure not only our own commercial and manufacturing interests of a cessation of commercial legislation, but also the commercial world, that henceforth there will be no more violent fluctuations in the monetary or commercial systems of the Union; and that into whatever channel capital or enterprise is hereafter directed, it will not be interfered with by governmental enactments. NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. WILEY & PUTNAM'S LIBRARY OF CHOICE READING; Stories from the Italian Poets being a summary in prose from the poems of Dante, Pulci, Boiardo, Ariosto and Tasso; with comments throughout, occasional passages versified, and critical notices of the lives and genius of the authors. By LEIGH HUNT. 16mo. The Cricket on the Hearth; a fairy tale of home. By CHARLES DICKENS. 16mo. 25 cts. The Poetical Works of John Keats. 16mo. Wiley and Putnam's Library, of the latest volumes of which we have just given the titles, has reached its sixtieth number, and all within the period of one year-a memorable example of perseverance and success in a good cause. Before this library was undertaken, some of the best books included in it had lain long on the shelves of the English importer, and though recommended to the trade by readers of taste and judgment, who had discovered their merits, were systematically rejected. They would not sell, they said; they were not like the Laura Matilda novels it was the fashion to publish; they might be good, but if so, they were too good-too good to sell. This was the complimentary treatment of the public by publishers of the old school, who one day woke up from their ancient belief, and found a library of Choice Reading actually established, publishing its volumes every week, relished, enjoyed and paid for by the people, who were thenceforth becoming rapidly discontented with the hack novels aforesaid. Here were books with thought in them, pure, piquant, witty in style, "with a relish that inviteth," as different as possible from the ordinary run of books for the people. They were separately good, and there was variety in them: for history and biography, Carlyle's Cromwell, Lord Mahon's Conde, and the Autobiography of Cellini, as full of wonder as Munchausen, and as full of information as Hume: for books of travels an entirely new school of observers and narrators men of the world, of wit and character. Eothen, the first volume, was a shot fired into dullness from which it will not speedily recover. No writer can after this enter upon one of those jog-trot series of commonplaces which filled up books of travels formerly, without at least being aware of his impertinence. The reader of Eothen knows what may be seen and what can be said. The Crescent and the Cross, and Thackeray's Journey from Cornhill to Cairo, belong to the same class of writers, full of the prodigality of full heads and hearts. Sir Francis Head's Bubbles, and Victor Hugo's Rhine, came up to the standard. For fiction, in place of the novel of three volumes, we have the Amber Witch; Undine; Lady Willoughby; Zschokke's Tales; the Crock of Gold, and such classicalities that are not too bulky or heavy to travel down readily to posterity. Then came Leigh Hunt, and Hazlitt, and Professor Wilson, and Thomas Hood, and Laman Blanchard, and T. K. Hervey, and Charles Lamb, and Charles Dickens, and Keats, with Walter Savage Landor and De Quincey, and a host of others in reserve. Is it a wonder that the library should be sixty volumes old, “a great Cæsar fed on such meats," or will it be a wonder if it reach the age of old Parr, and rejoice in a hundred and sixty? Some of the recent volumes of the Library have been among the best. Leigh Hunt's Italian Poets introduces the reader, ignorant of the Italian language, to a new world of poetic beauty in the study of the great masters of song-Dante, Ariosto, Tasso The Italian Pilgrim's Progress, the story of Angelica, the Gardens of Armida, are unequalled in beauty as prose narratives. The reader may, from a few days' perusal of this delightful volume, gain a familiarity with the great authors which has cost scholars, before this "royal road" was made, years of study. We are glad to perceive that the American series of this Library is advancing-not indeed so rapidly as the other, for it has not all the literature of the past and of foreign countries to draw upon, but firmly and satisfactorily. Mr. Matthews' Big Abel and Little Manhattan is the only new work of invention and fancy published in this series, but works of this original character are never very frequent; and in the lighter departments of essay and description, he series has been fully supported by Headley and Cheever's travels. Mr. Simms' Wigwam and Cabin contains some of the he things he has done. In constructive skil it has seldom been surpassed, while its purely American material adds greatly to its value. Mrs. Kirkland's Western Clearings" has been equally successful. By reference to our Literary Bulletin, the reader will see several new works announcedamong others, a book with a curious title, by Herman Melville, a brother, we believe, to the Secretary of Legation at LondonTypee, the name of a tribe of the Marque sas, among whom-the naked, tattooed, beautiful, manly and womanly cannibalsthe author was domesticated. A picture of these islanders may be looked for with interest. History of Silk, Cotton, Linen, Wool and other fibrous substances; including observations on Spinning, Dyeing and Weaving, also an account of the Pastoral Life of the Ancients, &c. &c.-New York, Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff-street. We have before called attention to this valuable work, and think it deserves a more particular notice. In this commer cial age the four "raw materials" of which it more especially treats, have come to be the powers which move and govern the world. Cotton alone forms a bond of peace and amity between the old and new worlds. The chicanery of politicians, and the bad ambition of the military are bound by the strong mutual interest which the two greatest nations of modern times have in the sale and purchase of cotton. The defence of New-Orleans, the last battle fought on this continent, affords not a bad illustration of the position cotton now holds in the commercial world. The myrmidons of England having overrun the Peninsula and driven back the veterans of France, under her ablest marshals, were hurled with desperate energy against the crescent city. The bales of cotton, defended by the indomitable heroism of western rifles, baffled the chosen troops of England, and they retired in disgrace. From that moment, Cotton has grown in importance, until England cannot dispense with it on any terms, and it has become a bond for her good behavior. The mercantile navy of the United States, is almost solely employed in its transportation. Linen and Wool, as well as Silk, have also become important items in national intercourse; and it is remarkable that in the last 30 years only, have these materials risen into great importance as articles of transportation. The ancient history of the now "rulers of the commercial world," if they may so be called, is exceedingly interesting. Their slow progress through the dark period anterior to the Christian era, is in the volume of which we treat, traced with great labor and admirable skill. The struggle of the infant manufactures against the rude oppression of haughty military governments, and aristocracies the restrictions and regulations they underwent, through the jealous avarice of rulers, and the sufferings of the early manufac tures in consequence of the utter contempt with which all useful employments were regarded by the race of robbers, called nobles and princes, through long ages, are highly instructive; and the more so, when we reflect that "the age of chivalry is gone!" and that war and military glory are rapidly exchanging places with the manufacturing arts. The former falling into contempt, and the latter taking their proper place as the most honorable employments. On all these points, the noble volume published by the Harpers, affords a mine of instruction and entertainment. The Attraction of the Cross; designed to illustrate the leading truths, obligations and hopes of Christianity. By GARDINER SPRING, D. D. Third Edition. New⚫ York, M. W. Dodd. The author of this work is well known among us, as an able and eloquent divine. It has evidently been prepared with much care and labor, and as a most appropriate and affectionate memento for his church and congregation, to whom it is very chastely and briefly dedicated. Of the peculiar views which it advocates, it does not befit us to judge. We can only assume his premises, and speak of the truth or clearness of his deductions, and the spirit n which they are made. The leading thoughts are clear, and often presented with power; the style, graceful and flowing, though sometimes diffuse. It is not the design of the work, as the author has avowed, to present even an outline of the evidences of Christianity, but rather "a transient view of them while standing by the cross." And this view is presented with earnestness and sincerity, with a genuine, spiritual tone, which shows the whole heart to have been in it, and the great motive to have been a desire to bring this class of truths before the rising generation with greater prominence. The Cross of Christ, he says, is the hope of the world, not as a ritual emblem-not as a wonder working enchantment-but only as it is expressive of the truth of God, and of a religion that is internal, spiritual, practical, intelligible, and personal. It is à condensed view of that truth at which the author has aimed; and though his range is discursive, his object is truth, and his desire to utter only "the mind of the spirit." From the twenty-two chapters, in which the work is comprised, those, On the truth of the Cross, The actual purpose of the Cross, Faith in the Cross, The holiness of the Cross, and all things tributary to the Cross, evince much thought, and present a comprehensive view of the great truths on which the author supposes the plan of redemption to rest. The latter chapter has many passages of great force and beauty. The leading thought is, that the unity of the divine government results from its unity of design; that amidst the diversity, the inconceivably rich variety of the deity's works, some one work-some great design, has a pre-eminence above the rest, and this great work and design, is the redemption-to be subserved by every other. This subserviency is illustrated by a brief induction from the material and intellectual creation. We commend the volume as one worthy of perusal and of deep interest, however much the reader may differ from the assumptions or the arguments of the author. Notes of a Journey from Cornhill to Cairo. This volume makes No. 58 of Wiley and Putnam's Library of Choice Reading. It is written in chaste, flowing style, and is full of life and irresistible humour. With less of the formality and pretension of or dinary volumes of travel, it presents a simple and often graphic picture of persons, places and scenes, which came to the eye of the writer, in a two months' pleasure excursion in the Mediterranean, during which, under the most favourable circumstances for seeing all that was worthy of note, he visited Malta, Athens, Smyrna, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Cairo. The opening of the first chapter, describing his own feelings and the scene before him on the morning of the first night at sea, after having left the chilly winds off the Isle of Wight for a more balmy air-the beauty and grandeur of the canopy above, then thickly studded with its gems of light, as well as of the ocean around him, is a fair index of the spirit and style of the book. One of the most pleasing and readable chapters gives an account of his visit to Jerusalem, and its several objects of historic and classic interest-the Porch of the Sepulchre, Greek and Latin Legends, Church of the Sepulchre, Bethlehem, and other places made memorable in sacred history. MONTHLY LITERARY BULLETIN. THE new literary enterprises of the Messrs. HARPER, include among others the following important and attractive works-A volume of Discourses and Sermons from the pen of the celebrated Merle D'Aubigne,-or properly written Merle of D'Aubigné. Translated by the Rev. Dr. Baird.Gardner's Farmers Dictionary, a complete repertory of information on all subjects connected with Husbandry, Agriculture, &c.-Zumpt's Grammar, the improved edition, edited by Prof. Anthon.-A school abridgment of Anthou's, Smith's Classical Dictionary.-Prof. McClintoch's new series of Greek and Latin school books, on the model of Ollendorf's system. Sismondi's Literature of the South of Europe, new edition.-A splendid Pictorial edition of Goldsmith's Poems.-The Pictorial History of England, in numbers, which will speedily be commenced. Also, Foster's Lives of eminent British Statesmen.-Siddell's & Scott's Greek Lexicon, which is rapidly drawing towards completion.-A new volume of Tales by Paulding.-A new work by the author of "Kate in Search of a Husband," entitled Jesse's Flirtations."-Two or three others of a kindred character, such as, "A Year with the Franklins." By Miss E. Jane Cate.-" Elizabeth Benton, on the Connexion of Religion with Fashionable Life."-Hallam's Constitutional History, the new edition. A revised edition of Webster's English Dictionary.-A new series of their District School Library, being the fifth, &c. They have recently issued some valuable books, such as Mill's "System of Logic, ratiocinative and inductive,"-a work of extraordinary merit and scholarship.— Dwight's System of Theology, a new improved edition, with a memoir of the author, &c., in 4 vols. Svo. A volume of Critical and Biographical Miscellanies. By W. II. Prescott, &c. -"The Pastoral Life and Manufactures of the Ancients, &c."—a volume of extreme interest and value. THE APPLETONS have issued in their Literary Miscellany, Guizot's History of the English Revolution, translated by Wm. Hazlett. 1 v. 8vo., in paper $1-cloth $1.25. This is one of the most important and valuable works issued this season, and demands more space and attention than we can give to it in our present number. This, with Arnold's Rome, and some other large works recently published by this House, we shall subsequently notice more at length. The English Revolution forms the VIII. & IX. volumes of the Miscellany. The other seven volumes are-I. Gertrude, a Tale, by the author of "Amy Herbert." Edited by Rev. W. Sewell, B. D. One neat volume, 12mo. Paper cover, 50 cents, cloth 75 cents. II. & III. The "Waverly" of Italy - Promessi Sposi, or, The Betrothed Lovers. Translated from the Italian of Manzoni. Paper cover $1, cloth $1,50. IV. Memoirs of an American Lady, by Mrs. Grant. of Laggan. One volume, paper 50 cents, cloth 75 cents. V. The Life of Schiller, by Thomas Carlyle. A new edition, revised by the author. One volume, 12mo., cloth 75 cents, paper cover 50 cents. VI. & VII. Sketches of Modern Literature and Literary men, (being a Gallery of Literary Portraits,) by George Gilfillan. Reprinted entire from the Loudon edition. Two vols. 12mo., paper cover $1, or two volumes in one, cloth $1,25. To say that no volumes have lately been published of more sterling merit, pure morality, chasteness of style and permanent interest for miscellaneous reading for all classes is but just commendation. WILEY & PUTNAM will soon issue Mrs. Kirkland's new work entitled Spencer and the Fairy Queen, in their Library of American Books. Nathaniel Hawthorne will also speedily publish in this series, Mosses from an old Manse, a series of tales, the product of his residence at Concord, Mass.; also, Typce-a Peep at Polynesian Life, during a four months' residence in the Valley of the Marquesos, with notices of the French occupation of Tahiti and the provisional cession of the Sandwich Islands to Lord Paulet, by Herman Melville. They have also in press for the Library of Choice Reading, Poetry and Truth out of my life-the Autobiography of Goethe, translated by Park Godwin: Thiodolf the Icelander, by La Motte ToqueHood's Serious Poems, published by his witlowHazlitt's Table Talk, a new volume-Izaak Walton's Lives of Drune, Herbert and others, with life, by Zouch. PAINE & BURGESS will also soon issue a new edition of Montezuma, by E. Maturin-a work of much dramatic power and interest, and which does credit to the genius and character of the author. THE PROGRESS OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN THE UNITED STATES. It is now some three years since we were led by the interest which was then manifesting itself in the State of New-York, upon the subject of Constitutional Reform, to attempt a definition of the true end and purpose of constitutional guaranties, and the principles by which their alteration or amendment should be conducted.* We then maintained, among other things, that in governments where all classes are so fully represented as in the United States of America, where public opinion is so rapid in its formation and circulation, and so controlling in its authority, the Constitution should be subjected to a thorough revision, once at least in the life-time of every generation, and such repairs be made as are clearly and steadfastly demanded by a manifest majority of the voting population, for whom it is designed. Since we then invited the attention of our readers to this subject, new constitutions have been adopted by the States of New-Jersey, Louisiana, Texas, and Missouri; a Convention has been called for the purpose of revising the Constitution of New-York, and a similar call will probably be made before another year shall have rolled away, by the people of Maryland and Virginia. It is safe to say, that within the space of seven years, the Constitutions of one third at least of all the states of the Union will have undergone a thorough revision. These facts prove two things-first, that our view of the constant improveability of all political Constitutions, and their liability to the infirmities of age, is probably shared by a controlling proportion of the American people; and secondly, that the national mind is ripe for extraordinary changes and improvements in constitutional science. The growth of our people in this species of wisdom has not been duly appreciated, for obvious reasons. A nation is a long time settling a principle of policy. While that principle is the occasion of political differences and hostile party organizations, it neither receives nor deserves any more permanent expression than it can find in the laws and in the discordant opinions of men. When, however, it has been thus applied experimentally, and has entitled itself to popular favor and confidence, all hostility to it of course ceases, and from that time the sooner it is incorporated into the fundamental law, the less chance will there be for its force to be wasted or its teachings to be disregarded. But to try and to prove a principle of government in this wise, is necessarily a slow process; and but a few, even in this country of ready political intercourse and communion, are the offspring of any single genera * Democratic Review, December, 1843. |