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1852.] mountain range, now seem close-packed together , IS w ith a Titan-hand ; and you see only crowd ed craggy heights, like Alpine fastnesses, parted with glaciers of grief and leaking abundant tears.” These passages must suffice to convey to the reader an idea of the book, the various episodes of which have a delicate fibre of continuity stretch ing through them, giving something like an air of romance to the whole. It is a book for the sun shine, or the fireside —a book for intervals of thought, or study, or physical toil—to refresh a spirit jaded with the harsh realities of daily life. Clover-Nook. By Alice Carey. Dream-Land, by Day Light. l By Caroline Cliesebro. From the press of Redfield, Clinton Hall, New-York. We have placed these two volumes together in qur notice of their appearance, for they come to us in the same unexceptionable style of mechani cal execution, issued by the same house, and from the pens of ladies who rank high among our female writers. Clover-Nook, standing first on our list by right of Miss Carey’s wider fame, is characterized by a purely American feeling, and is as truthful a portrait of a thriving Ohio “settlement,” as was “Our Village” of the loveliest hamlet ever nestled in the shade of English foliage. The sketches of character are linked together with threads of homely romance, and the descrip tions of natural scenery are like landscapes from the pencil of Durand or Cropsey—tender, truthful and delicate. Some of these sketches have an undertone of exquisite pathos ; and then the key changes, and the measure quickens to a gayer mood. Miss Carey, as a poetess, is distinguished for her clear perception of all that is beautiful, in heart and life, and an ability to portray it—her prose has the same graceful attribute, shaded by the imagination and fancy that mark her as an original, as well as a graceful writer. To those who find interest in the details of daily village life, we recommend the admirably contrasted por traits of Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Troost, while the ac count of “How Uncle Dale was Troubled,” will awaken a mirthful sympathy with the old veteran’s misfortunes. We like the book for its truthful ness, both of morals and description, and, more than all, as we have said before, because of its American spirit. Clover-Nook is the type of mauy a Western village, springing to enterprize and wealth, yet preserving the traits of its early sim ple-hearted life. Dream-Land, is in a somewhat different vein. Miss Chesebro has been known only within a year or two past as a magazinist of considerable merit; her sketches having grace, and being dis tinguished by an imagination passing beyond the realities of every day existence. We know nothing ot the experien es that have marked out her path, or the care that has moulded her style, and given to it, thus far, its tone and manner. We can imagine hers a thoughtful, sensitive mind, much given to mverie, but knowing the world through books and dreams,rather than by actual contact; that contact which would sadden, perhaps, but strengthen the foice of character already developing, and make her writings more than “things of passing worth.” M e must not pass over the exquisite typographical SOUTHERN LITERARY GAZETTE. execution of both of these volumes, or the beauty of their original illustrations. They do credit alike to the taste and liberality of the publisher. Memoirs of Thomas Chalmers, D. D., LL.D. Vol iii. From the press of Harper & Brothers, New. York, and supplied by Jno. Russell. We are not sorry to learn, from the preface of this volume, that still another will be necessary to bring these delightful memoirs to a close. We have seldom been more deeply interested in biog raphy, than we have been in the life of the illus trious Chalmers, by his son-in-law, Dr. Hanna. The period reviewed in this portion of the work, is the most brilliant in Dr. Chalmers’ career, em bracing his connection with the Universities of St. Andrews and Edinburgh—with the former as professor of Moral Philosophy, and with the lat ter as professor of Divinity. Decidedly one of the most charming episodes in the whole volume, is his two months’ tour in England, his copious notes of which are present ed to us in the form of letters to all his daughters in succession. The genial and irresistible humour which characterized the Doctor’s social moods, here displays itself in frequent witticisms, puns, and playful allusions. He performed his first three days’ journeyings in a hired gig, and his post-boy was a simple hearted, ingenuous fellow, who answered to the name of John Deans. The Doctor, in the goodness of his heart, treated him to all the fine sights which their journey afforded, and seems to have derived ample compensation for his extra expenditure by making honest John confess, at fifty different times, perilaj is, that ‘no such fine things were to be seen at Huddersfield.” It is no unmerited, or thoughtless eulogium which we pay to these memoirs, to say that while they unfold to us the private life of one of the ablest divines in Christendom, they cannot fail to elevate our views of the essential and peculiar dignity of the Christian character, as displayed in all that life. They are a precious acquisition to the religious literature of the age. The Excellent Woman, From the press of Gould & Lincoln, Boston. More than the usual elegance of typography and embellishment, which characterizes the publi cations of Gould & Lincoln, mark this book as one likely, in their opinion, to “have a run.” Nor have they misjudged, if merit and beauty com bined will make a book popular. The work is an English one, we presume—a graphic introduc tion from the pen of Dr. Sprague, answering for the purpose of an American copyright—and it sets forth in a series of chapters, or sections, “The Excellent Woman, as described in the Book of Proverbs.” Our readers know very well that among the sayings of the wise man, none are more sen tentious and apposite than those which allude to the character of woman. We have in the volume before us many phases of her excellence as exhibi ted under the various aspects of the Virtuous, the Beneficent, the Active, the Provident, the Vigi lant, the Managing, the Humane, the Industrious, the Tasteful, and the Thoughtful Woman. These are not half the divisions of the book, which is exceedingly comprehensive. It is a gallery of fe male portraits, well calculated to impress the rea- der with the true excellence of “God’s last and best gilt to man.” Every sketch is prelaced with a vignette illustration, done on wood, in the best style of the art. We welcome the book with un affected cordiality. It is for sale by George Parks & Cos. The Instructive Gift, a Premium for all good children, and other Juvenile books, from the press of James K. Si mon, Philadelphia. [For sale by Mr. Babcock. Avery attractive group ol books for children, embracing, besides the one named, the ever charming story of “Sandl'ord and Merton ;” Mrs. Bache’s amusing and instructive “ Scenes at Home,” or the “Adventures of a Eire Screen “The Adventures of a Butterlly,” and “Stories on the Lord’s Prayer.” All ol these books are safe and desirable companions for children. “The Instructive Gilt” is a very handsome volume, em bracing two parts, the one called “Examples of Goodness,” and the other “My Play is Study.” Both are translated from the German—that won derful medium ol delightful story for the ycurig— by Mr. Lermont. The book is also very boauti lully illustrated, with brilliantly coloured litho graphs. Ol the other books, two are already on the roll of universal favourites, in previous edi tions. Utterance, or Private Voices to the Public Heart. From the press of Phillips, Sampson & Cos., Boston. This neatly printed volume contains “a collec tion of Home Poems, by Caroline A. Briggs.” We are not familiar with the name, which, how ever, is not strange, for now-a-days new poets spring up and arrive at the maturity of a volume almost by magic. The title-page of the book is to us its most serious fault. It is an affectation, a quaintness, the studied character of which of fends a simple and natural taste. Passing over that, we come to the equally affected (not affect ing) proem: “I begged of our dear Lord one gift from Heaven — A true and simple utterance,—and ’twas given.” The fair author thus modestly asserts the divine inspiration of her “private voices,” and the critics may well tremble while they have to do with them. There are Voices of Affection, of Cheer, of Grief, of Poverty—Sacred Voices and Voices by the Way. Our readers shall hear one of them, as a key note to them all. They will dis cover that the tone is not very high, though not without its share of melody. It will be found in another column, under the title of “A Lesson.” The Tutor’s Ward. From the press of Harper & Bro thers, New-York. This is a highly wrought novel, of tragic plot and strong moral portraitures. It is a story of contrasts, and has a fearful denouement of retri bution and sorrow. It will fascinate a very large class of novel readers. We have received, and shall notice, in our next number, Mr. Squier’s valuable work on Ni caragua, from the press of the Messrs. Appleton; the joint novel of Messrs. James & Fields, called “Adrian, or the Clouds of the Mind;” Wood’s “Sixteen Months in California Stoddard’s Po ems ; Banvard’s “Novelties of the New World;” Wheeler’s “Rural Homes ;” Hawthorne’s “Won der Book “ The Island Home,” and some other new books. 9