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1852.]
“Five Points Mission.”
In a late number of the New-York Herald,
there is a communication from the Ladies’ Home
Missionary Society, in special reference to the
“Five Points Mission,” that most philanthropic
of modern benefactions. The mission is thus de
fined :
“To feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to
educate the ignorant, to aid all willing to work to
obtain suitable employment, to promote the cause
of Temperance to the utmost, to preach the Gos
pel to the poor, and thus try to throw every moral
and religious influence around this hitherto neg
lected community. We cordially welcome our
Episcopalian friends to the field of action ; and
now that two points are thus seized, we hope and
pray that the other three may soon be brought
under similar renovating influence.”
Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi Val
ley, with the original narratives of Marquette, Allouez,
Membre, Hennepin, and Anastase Douay. By John Gil
mary Shea. Rcdtield, Clinton Hall, New-York.
No more valuable addition than the present
work, to the stock of substantial American liter
ature, has ever appeared from our press. It is
replete with interest of the most healthful and
enticing character; rare information, absorbing
adventure, stern trial and sublime faith, demand
in turn our admiration and sympathy. The sim
ple, but graphic details of the experiences of the
early explorers of the Western wilds, as presented
in their own language, cannot fail to touch the
heart ol every reader. From Father Marquette’s
first step upon American sod to the period when
he pointed out his grave upon the shores of the
Michigan, completing a martyrdom as sublime as
any related in the early age3 of the Church, the
narrative never flags—aud so with ail the other
records of ancient trial and adventure. They
constitute en masse an historical romance, as
thrilling as the “tales of the Crusades,” and redo
lent of the philosophy which is born of suffering,
and triumphs in the “beauty of holiness.” The
relations of Jesuit missions, which necessarily
form the major part of the narratives in this vol
ume, are iudeed most instructive—lnstructive his
torically, religiously aud morally, aud none, we
venture to say, who peruse them candidly, can fail
to rise from the task sadder and w’iser men. YVe
select among many affecting incidents, the follow
ing description of Father Maiquelte’s death:
“When his dear companions afterwards came
up, all dejected, he conso.ed them, aud gave them
hopes that God would take care of them after his
death in those new and unknown countries; he
gave them his last instructions, thanked them for
all the charity they had shown him during the
voyage, begged their pardon for the trouble he had
giveu them, and directed them also to ask pardon
in his name of all our fathers and brothers in the
Ottawa country, and then disposed them to receive
ihe sacrament of peuauce, w'hich he administered
10 them for the last time ; he also gave them a
paper on which he had written all his faults since
his last confession, to be given to his superior, to
oblige him to pray more earnestly for him. In
tine, he proin.sed not to forget them in heaven,
aud us he was very kind-hearted, and knew them
to be worn out with the toil of the preceding days,
iie bade them go aud take a little rest, aesunng
; them that his hour was not yet so near, but that
i he would wake them when it was time, as in fact
SOUTHERN LITERARY GAZETTE.
he did, two or three hours after, calling them when
about to enter his agony.
“When they came near he embraced them for
the last time, while they melted in tears at his
feet ; he then asked for the holy water and his
reliquary, and taking off his crucifix which he
wore around his neck, he placed it in the hands of
one, asking him to hold it constantly opposite to
him, raised before his eyes ; then feeling that he
had but little time to live, he made a last effort,
clasped his hands, and with his eyes fixed sweetly
on his crucifix, he pronounced aloud his profes
sion of faith, and thanked the divine majesty for
the immense grace he did him in allowing him to
die in the society of Jesus; to die in it as a mis
sionary of Jesus Christ ; and, above all, to die in
it as he had always asked, in a wretched cabin,
amid ihe forests, destitute of all human aid.
“On this he became silent, conversing inwardly
with God ; yet from time to time words escaped
him ; ‘Sustinuit. annna mea in verba ejus,’ or Ma
ter Dei, memento mei,’ which w’ere the last words
he uttered before entering on his agony, which
was very calm and gentle.
“He had prayed his companions to remind him,
when they saw him about to expire, to pronounce
frequently the name of Jesus and Mary. When
he could not do it himself, they did it for him ;
and when they thought him about to pass, one
cried aloud Jesus Maria, which he several times
repeated distinctly, and then, as if at those sacred
names something had appeared to him, he sud
denly raised his eye above his crucifix, fixing them
apparently on some object which he seemed to
regard with pleasure, and thus, with a counte
nance all radiant with smiles, he expired without
a t-tiuggle, as gently as if he had sunk into a quiet
sleep.”
Tiie Forest. RyJ. V. Huntington, author of “Alban”
aud “Lady Alice.” Redfield, Clinton Hall, New-York.
[From John Russell, King-st.
Mr. Huntington, whatever may be thought of
his religious creed, or his morale, is fairly entitled
to the praise of vigorous fancy, fine invention, and
considerable artistic power. These were display
ed in “Lady Alice,” and we cannot agree with
those critics who deny the claims of that work to
all originality of design, or grace and effectiveness
of execution, because of its moral which is false,
and of certain of its details which are unjustifia
bly bold. In the present tale, which is as its name
betokens, a picture of life in the forest, there is a
continual mingling of the characteristic excellen
cies, and the no less characteristic faults of Mr.
Huntington’s style. His delineations of scenery
are most beautiful and graphic. Indeed, many of
them are pictures that none but a master could
have taken. The richness of a Claude reigns in
the colouring of the woods aud skies; the waters
are musical with happy meauings.aud Nature in the
various phases of her native solitudes, is presented
with the delicate appreciation of a painter, and the
enthusiasm of a poetic imagination. Iu the char
acters however, w r ith whom the author peoples
these scenes, we do not recognize the same fidel
ity to Nature. Originality there is quite enough
of, but it is a sort of originality we do not admire,
and we fear Mr. Huntington will find to his cost
that the public agrees with us.
Daniel Webster and his Contemporaries. By Chas.
W. March. Fourth Edition. Charles Scribner, N. York,
[From John Russell, King-st.
This woik, winch has been long lying by us, we
had iutended to notice in extenso, as there are
many points upon which we would desire to join
issue with the author. Since the death, however,
of the great mail who is the hero
have abandoned our design, simply
that we would not enter into the task oH (
the weaker portion of his character, at a ...
when every true American should look only to his’
virtues. Perhaps, at a future time, we shall carry
our original intention into effect—at present, we
would say, that we regard Mr. Marche’s book as
greatly wanting in impartiality, and as possessing
far less truthfulness of deduction than gorgeous
ness ot rhetoric, and downright, though elegant
adulation.
Oijf
The Southern Lady’s Book, for Nov., 1852.
[N. Orleans: Edited by Miss L. Virginia Smith
and Vm. T. Leonard, M.D.J This is the first
number ot anew periodical, which promises to
become a universal favourite. Published at the
South, and to be supported principally by South
ern talent, we trust that the “Lady’s Book” will
be patronized in such a manner as to reward the
enterprise of those who have established it. The
present number is equal in all respects to any pe
| riodical ol the kind that has ever issued from the
; press in this country. The typography is superb,
the engravings excellent, and the articles able
The poetry is particularly good. Miss Virginia
Smith, who has already w'on a name by her fre
quent and graceful contributions to periodical let
ters, has contributed to this number many tasteful
articles, both in prose and verse. Indeed, all con
cerned in the “Lady’s Book,” have reason t(j con
gratulate themselves upon the fair auspices under
which it commences.
The London Quarterly Review, for October,
1852. [New-York : Leonard, Scott <fc Co.] The
articles in this number are of average merit. They
are as follows :—l. British Bards and Stonehenge .
2. lonian Islands; 3. Irish Salmon ; 4. Sindh—
Dry Leaves from Young Egypt; 5. Memoir ol
Dr. Chalmers ; 6. Life and Letters of Lord Lang
dale ; 7. Gold Discoveries ; 8. Parliamentary
Prospects.
Hunt’s Merchant’s Magazine, for November,
1852. [New-Yoik: Freeman Hunt ] The “lea
'der” in this number is an article upon the “Com
merce of France in 1851,” which presents some
facts of an astonishing character, in reference to
the commercial resources of that country. “The
Trade and Commerce of Cincinnati” is an ex
ceedingly elaborate paper, crowded, we have no
doubt, with the most valuable information. The
number we think is more than usually statistical.
The Southern Literary Messenger, for Nov.,
1852. [Richmond, Va. : John R. Thompson.
Editor and Proprietor.] A good number. “Notes
and commentaries on a voyage to China” are con
tinued. The article on “Literary Coincidences”
is both curious and interesting, and the poetical
department full of merit. The graceful sonnets
on the death of Webster will be found in another
portion of our paper.
The Westminster Review, for October, 1852
[New-York: Leonard, Scott Cos ] A most
full and able number. The papers on “The Phi-