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efficient, has been accumulated at a cost altogether
beyond the financial resources of the newer Schools.
Its Cabinet has been enriched by zealous and gene- ;
rous roseai'ches, prosecuted by alumni and friends
through the lapse of half a century.
We know of no Southern Institution where the
system of instruction is better adapted to its end,
than that of the University of Georgia. Its course
of study, moreover, is comprehensive and liberal. — 1
The officers are men impressed with the spirit of the
age —with its “ upward tendencies”—and are ever
alert to advance the standard of learning in their !
classic halls. Especially does the department of
Belles Lettjres and Oratory deserve a moment’s no- !
tice. The South is fruitful in the natural graces of
Oratory, but she has been wofully deficient in their
culture. This however, is no longer true of Frank
lin College. The late incumbent of that important !
chair did much to promote the Art of Oratory in
the College, and his successor is by no means less
zealous in his labors. lie is about to introduce the
admirable system of Prof. Mandeville, as exhibited
in his Elements of Heading and Oratory ; and we
look for distinguished excellence in the students
subjected to such exercises.
An annual presentation of prize medals to the
best orators, is a happy stimulus to the efforts of the
competitors, and combined with the best instruc
tions, can hardly fail to give a higher tone to the
oratorical displays of Commencement week. .
With Doctor Church at its head—presiding with
Christian dignity and parental watchfulness, and
directing the higher classes in the important inves
tigation of the laws which control the mind —of the
economy of government, and of general ethics;
with Professor Jackson in the broad'departments
of Natural History and the Modern Languages —
both familiar to him as his mother tongue; with
Professor Waddel to unfold the treasures that lie
hidden in the pages of Horace, Juvenal and Cicero,
and to develope the classic beauties of
“ The blind old man of Scio’s rocky isle,”
and of the old Greek Tragedians; with Professor
McCay to demonstrate by his clear, vigorous men
tal powers, the abstruse principles of the Mathemat
ics—a task in which efficient aid is rendered by the
Adjunct of his laborious chair, Professor W oou;
with Dr. LeConte in the chairs of Natural Philos
ophy and Chemistry—a diligent investigator and an
ardent expounder of the mysteries of Science ; with
Professor Brantly to teach the subtleties of Logic
—the graces of Rhetoric—the power of Eloquence—
and the moral of History; with the additional
aid of Mr. Fulton, as Tutor, who occupies a de
servedly high position among his senior associates;
with all these able, faithful teachers, surely the
Stato College may challenge the admiration of
Georgians, and boast its right to their confidence.
Within its time-liallowed walls should the sons of
Georgia seek that mental aliment and adornment
which will fit them to occupy the high places of
State with credit, or to reflect honor upon the hum
bler positions of society. Why do the youth who/
horn beneath the unrivalled skies of Georgia, expect
to sleep beneath her flower-gemmed sed, resort to
other Academic groves than that which is cherished
by their native soil 1 Born, educated and honored
in Georgia! should be the sentiment ot our young
men.
In concluding this discursive article, we repeat
that the University of Georgia has high claims upon
the people of the State, and wc trust they will be
duly acknowledged in a large increase of her annual
support. Such an increase would enable the lrus
tees to add not only to the Library, to the Labora
tory, to the Cabinet, and to the Botanical Garden,
but eventually to increase the number of (.hairs,
and to raise the College to a still higher point ot ef
ficiency and excellence. For tho honor of our be
loved State —for tho noble sake of Learning so
may it be!
The Wcbsterian War.
A furious conflict has been raging for weeks past
between the advocates of the Webstefian orthogra
phical dogmas —and the advocates of tho English
system of spelling words. The bone of contentionhas
been as wc have before advised our readers the ele
gant edition of Macaulay’s JJistory of England issu
ed by the Messrs. Harper, in which they have ll cb
sterized the orthography of the brilliant historian
making him tell of scepters —and sabers—and intro
ducing all the innovations of “ the great American
lexicographer.” In this contest —ink has been shed
freely—and the public lias seen a vast amount of
smoke—and heard some stunning reports. At this
remote distance from the scene of strife, wo have
looked on with less excitement, perhaps, than those
who were in the midst of it; and we have been a
little amused to watch the “portents” of tho war.
Some parties accuse the American publishers of
Macaulay, with having committed an actual wrong
—aud they reply that they printed Ids book accord
ing to the invariable standard of their office —which
standard is JVebster's Dictionary. The custom of
these publishers must certainly be an extenuation —
if not a justification—of their coarse ; and the ques
M ® El gIB S3 a* 11 ITS &A a M S&SISTMfB*
tion, at issue is this —Is Mr. Webster's Dictionary
the standard of orthography in England and Ameri
ca 1 To this question—the reply is easy—and de
cided—lt is not. So far from it—the ablest scho
lars of both countries reject his system to a greater
or less extent; and his system, moreover, condemns
itself by exhibiting frequent and glaring discrepan
cies and contradictions. His Procrustean rules arc
! applied to some words —and not*4o others. The k
!is omitted from physic—but retained in attack.—
The re is transposed in meter —but not in acre —The
■ “ redundant” 1 is omitted frtun traveler —but re
i tained in gratefully. To multiply instances of this
i kind is needless. The fact is, Mr. Webster’s Dic
j tionary is not, and never will be a standard for tho
I best writers. It abounds with crudities, and inno.va
i tions that cannot be admitted. Invaluable for its
! etymology—its curious research, and its ample il
lustration—it is, nevertheless, an orthographical
heresy, which the genius of the English tongue re
pudiates.
It is for this reason that we would prefer to have
Macaulay in his English garb, and we hope that the
excellent publishers will restore the text to its origi
nal orthography—in future editions of these truly
elegant volumes —and in the subsequent issues give
us Macaulay—verbatim et literatim.
©ur (Gossip Column.
,i m ‘ * J
Do you not think itroxcusable, dear reader, for U3
to repeat to you, in this our confidential “ gossip,”
—at least now and then—the compliments which
arc paid to us by our brethren of the press 1 Is not
every approving word a tribute to your taste and
judgment in choosing—and we hope—loving the
Gazette 1 Hear, then, what the Laurcnsville (S.
C.) Herald, is pleased to say of us—and congratu
late us on recieving so cordial a tribute from one of
the neatest and very best Journals in our sister State.
It discourses thus:
“This valuable periodical, published weekly, at
Athens, Ga., by W. C. (Richards, Esq., richly de
serves the patronage of the South. It is beautifully
printed, and ably edited —tlie selections showing
good judgment and refined taste, and the editorials
proving that its popular conductor possesses talents
of no common order. Resides, it is offered rut the
low price of - Two Dollars per year: and we would
earnestly recommend the Literary Gazette to those*
who desire an interesting periodical, and are confi
dent that those who patronize it, will get as much
for their money as they can from any of the North
ern presses.”
While we return our thanks to the “ Herald” for
such inspiriting words, let us, at the same time, ac
quit our conscience ot a burden—increased by neglect
to express our acknowledgments to majjy editors for
the flattering notice they have taken of our Journal.
To no one is our obligation heavier—or our grati
tude livelier, than to our friepcHSmythe of the “ Re
public” —who has uniformly extended to tho “Ga
zette,” a degree of praise, and an utterance of kind
wishes that claim this poor return. The South has
• no warmer admirer, her rights no sterner advocate,
her. people no truer friend, than the Editor of. the
“Republic.” Ills generous zeal—his noble senti
ments —all for the South—make his words of en
couragement to us doubly dear. They will not be
forgotten speedily In this connection we
beg leave to correct a slight error into which the
“ Cabinet & Atheneum” of Boston has fallen, in
stating the subscription price of the Gazette to be
$2 50. Its kind wishes that we inn y secure numer
ous patrons from that region may possibly bepromot
ed by the information that wc ask only Two Dol
lars —and intend to make the new scries of the Ga
zette as richly worth the price as most Os our con
temporaries Macaulay’s History of Eng
land is a collection of brilliant essays —such as Ma
caulay only can write—Oach one as perfect in itself
as if it had been contributed perse to the Edinburgh.
You may sit down to his matchless volumes—aud
imagine thiit you arc in a splendid picture gallery —
hung with the illustrious characters of the ‘Seven
teenth Century. Nowvou contemplate the witty and
politic Halifax —the amiable and courtly Shrews
bury—the daring and iutrigueing Tyrconnell—the
temporizing and sordid Rochester —the brilliant.but
unfortunate Monmouth —the noble and patriotic
Russel —tho obstinate and ipfatuated James—the
venerable and stately Ormond —the pious and un
compropjising Baxter—the unlettered but inspired
Bunyan—the broad shouldered and great hearted
Burnet —the infamous and blood-thirsty Jeffreys—
the villainous and perjured Oates —the far-sighted
and Unyielding William of Orange—and a hundred
others who pass in review with all the vividness and
vraisemblance of life. The charm of Macaulay’s
style is so irresistible that j t ou follow his narrative
with a faith as implicit,—albeit not so unenlighten
ed —as that of the Mahommedan reader of the Koran.
Oh, it is a luxury indescribable to sit down for a
whole evening to the beautiful type aud paper of the
Harper’s elegant edition of the prince of modern
historians. Do not suffer yourself, dear reader, to
be long deprived of this high gratification
One-of the Editors of the “ Southern Whig” on his
route to Washington to witness the Inauguration Os
c Old Zack’ writing from that most picturesque and
delectable place—yclept Weldon—complains most
bitterly, and, we doubt not. most reasonably, of tho
want of accommodation of every kind, in the .man
agers of tho Wilmington & Weldon It. R. Com
pany. lie was detained —it seems by sheer negli
gence, on their part —one day at Wilmington and
another at Weldon—this last detention being fully
equivalent to a whole week in tho desert of Sahara !
We know from sad experience that the road itself’
the cars, and the eating-houses on the route are all
shockingly bad—and the agents and conductors
shamefully inefficient. Travellers northward would
do well to take the splendid steamers Cherokee and
Southerner—the former from Savannah and the lat
ter from Charleston The Columbus, too, from
Charleston to Philadelphia, is said tube an excel
lent and expeditious steamer. We should like to
see the miserable mismanagement of the Wilming
ton It. R. Company signally rebuked bv a complete
desertion of thermite by all those whoso destination
is to the cities of N. York ami Philadelphia. Iwould
bring the -Company to their seuses we fancy
Wo invite attention to the advertisement of Mr.
Hayden, which will bo found in the Business De
partment. To write an illegible hand may have
been a mark of genius in “ the dark ages,” but to
do so in these enlightened days, is a mark of—slov
enliness, which no one should be willing to be guilty
of. Learn to write well, especially when Penman
ship is an art so easily acquired utfder a skilful
Teacher.
2Tfjc American dJmoMcal
The Medical Examine*, and Record of Medical
Science, for March 18-19. Edited by Drs. Smith
and Tucker. Philadelphia: Lindsay and Bla
keston.
This is a Medical Miscellany—published in a very
neat form at a very low rate of subscription —Three
dollars per annum. Its contents arc chiefly origi
nal, and in addition to the well-known names of its
able editors —wesee among its contributors —that of
Dr. Meigs—and several others of renown. Medico
biographical notices and copious records of Medical
and Surgical operations greatly enhance the value
of this periodical which we beg leave to commend to
physicians generally.
* * * i
The So. Literary Messenger—for March.
Rarely have we seen a better number of the Mes
senger—the only Monthly exponent of Literature in
the South. It does credit to the skill, industry and
energy of its proprietor. The editor is out upon
Russell Lowell's Fable for Critics with no sparing
hand. In his just indignation at the favoritism of
tho Satire, he is blind —wc sea some real excel
lencies that it possesses. It is refreshing, however,
to see an occasional dressing administered to such
writers as Lowell—who attack an Institution of
which they know nothing—except that it will make
capital for their literary adventures. Tho “Mes
senger” deserves well at the hands of tho people of
flic South, who if they know their interests wjll sus T
tain such an organ of high-toned literature in their
midst.
* 4
©ut 3300 ft Gallic.
* a %
Publishers and Authors who desire to have their
Books noticed in this Gazette are requested to send cop
ies to Edjtor through Stringer Townsend, New-York
or Carey Hart, Philadelphia.
The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus ;
to which arc added those of his Companions. By
Washington Irving. Author’s Revised Edition.
Three Vols., 12 mo. New..York George P.
Putnam. • , • _ „ „ ‘/
The fame of Irving is not local. Ilis reputation
is as great on the eastern shores of the Atlantic, as
on the western. He occupies an enviable pQsition
in tho front rank of the living writers of the English
language. In his case there is no reason to fear
that posterity will reverse the judgement of his con
temporaries. . „ i.- *
While no one, we presfime Will claim forTrving
the strength, brilliance and acute, critical analysis
of Macaulay, or the,depth, clearness, comprehen
siveness and philosophical insight of Prescott, all
will accord to him the merit of unsurpassed and al
most unrivaled purity, elegance and polish of dic
tion. But if wc were to express in one word that
quality of his style which leaves the deepest impres
sion upon our own mind, aud which is certainly a
distinguishing eba ictcristic, we would call it pic
turesque. In reading Irving’s works we hav<j con
stantly bcfoi'e us, distinct in outline and vivid in
coloring, the scene which he is delineating. Each
page is a picture. To refer, for illustration, to a
Single instance, we will take tho description of the
first landing of Columbus on the shores of the New
World, which may be found in Vol. 1., pp. 155 —7,
of the work under notice:
“It was on Friday morning, the 12th of October,
that Columbus first beheld the new world. As the
dav dawned he saw before him a level island, seve
ral leagues in extent, and covered with trees like a
continual orchard. Though apparently uncultivat
ed, it was populous, for the inhabitants were seen
issuing from all parts of tho woods and running to
the shore. They were perfectly naked, and, as they j
stood gazing at the ships, appeared by their a 1 ti
tudes and gestures to be lost in astonishment. Co
lumbus made signal for the ships to east anchos,
and tho boats to he manned and armed. lie enter
ed his own boat, richly attired in scarlet, and hold
ing tho royal standard ; whilst Martin Alonzo Pin
zoft, and Vincent Jariez his brother, put off in com
pany in their boats, each with a banner of the enter
prise emblazoned with a green cross, having on eith
er side the letters F. and Y., the initials of the Cas
tilian inrtnarchs Fernando and Ysabel, surmounted
by crowns.
As he approached tho shore, Columbus, who was
disposed for all kinds of agreeable impressions, was
delighted with the purity and sauvity of the at
mosphere, the crystal transparency of the sea, and
tho extraordinary beauty of the vegetation. He
beheld, also, fruits of an unknown kind upon the
trees which overhung the shores. On landing he
throw himself on his knot's, kissed the earth, and
returned thanks to God with tears of joy. Ills ex
ample was followed by the rest, whose hearts indeed
overflowed with the same feelings of gratitude. —
Columbus then rising drew his sword, displayed the
royal standard, and assembling round him the two
captains, with Rodrigo do Escobedo, notary of the
firmament, Rodrigo banchez, and the rest who- had
landed, he took solemn possession in tho name of
tho Castilian sovereigns, giving the island the name
of San Salvador. ’Having complied with the requi
site forms and ceremonies, hecalledupon all present
to take tho oath of obedience to him, as admiral and
viceroy, representing tho persons of the sovereigns.
The feelings of tho crew now burst forth in the
most extravagant transports. They had recently
considered themselves devoted men, hurrying for
ward to destruction ; they now looked upon them
selves as favorites of fortune, and gave themselves
up to thij most unbounded joy. They thronged
around theadmiral with overflowing zeal, some em
bracing him, others kissing his hands. Those who
lmd been most mutinous and turbulent during tho
voyage, were now most devoted and enthusiastic. —
Some begged favor? of him, as if ho had already
wealth and honors in his gift. Many abject spirits,
who had outraged him by their Insolence, now
crouched at his feet, hogging,pardon for all the
trouble tlioy had caused him, and promised the
blindest obedience for the future.
Tho natives of the island, when, at the dawn of
’day, they had beheld the ships hovering on their
coast, had supposed them monsters which had issu
ed from the deep during tho night. They had
crowded to the beach, and watched their move
ments with awful anxiety. Their veering about,
apparently without effort, and tho shifting and furl
ing of their sails, resembling huge wings, filled them
with astonishment. When they beheld their boats
approach the shore, and a number of strange beings
clad in glittering steel, or raiment of various colors,
landing upon the beach, they fled in affright to the
woods. Finding, however, that there was no attempt
to pursue or molest them, they gradually recover
ed from their terror, and approached tho Spaniards
with great awe; frequently prostrating themselves
on the earth, and making signs of adoration. Du
ring the ceremonies of taking possession, they re
mained gazing in timid admiration at the complex
ion, tho beards, the shining armor, and splendid
dress of tho Spaniards. Tho admiral particularly
attracted their attention, from his commanding
height , his air of authority, his dress of scarlet, and
the deference which was paidhim by his companions;
all which pointed him out to be tho commander.
Hero wo have a picture, every lino of which re
veals the hand of a master. Before us are the beau
tiful shores of San Salvador, crowned with a tropic
al luxuriance of vegetation and overhung with
boughs loaded with fruit. We see the boats of the
little fleet, filled with richly attired cavaliers, with
their banners floating on the balmy air, approaching
tho land, through a sea of crystal transparency.—
Anon wc witness the ceremony of taking possession
of the island, in the name of tho Castilian sovereigns.
Ever in the foreground, as it should be, stands the
tall and commanding figure of Columbus, “richly
attired in scarlet and holding the royal standard.”
Around him are grouped his now devoted and adrni
ripg followers, with banners and crucifixes. In tho
back-ground, gazing in mute astonishment upon
the scene, stand the naked and awe-struck natives.
What can be more artistic, cither in conception or
in execution l But our space will not permit us to
dwell upon this point.
It is a singular fact that tho task of writing the
first complete and standard history of the Life and
Voyages “of tho illustrious Discoverer of the New
World, was reserved for a native of tho New Wofld.
We may well be proud of the fact that our gifted
countryman has accomplished that task in such a
manner as to leave nothing further to bo wished for
in that direction. The biography of the great
world-finder will hardly need to be again written, in
the English language.
three volumes before us possess all the charm
of an illustrated romance, combined with all the in
trinsic valuo of the strictest historic authenticity and
accuracy. Wo have no room to give an abstract, of
their contents. We will simply say that the first
and second volumes embrace tho Life and Voyages
of Columbus, aud that the third contains those of
His Companions, together with an Appendix, eou
yiining Illustrations and Documents of great interest
arfl ‘ynportunce.
These volumes arc the Ilf, IV and V of Putnam's
uniform series of Irving’s Works, to which we beg *
to calFthe attention of tho public. Irving has a
large cifclc of admiring readers, both in this coun
try and in Europe, but the circulation of his works
is still far frou being commensurate with their
meyits. • They ,-hould bo in every library and in
every ily. The opportunity now afforded to the
reading* üb’ic, to possess a complete and uniform
edition we trust will be properly appreciated. *
A -i Books are sold by W. N.White.
353