Newark, N. J., March 3d, 1850. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVING AGE: It would gratify a constant reader to see transferred to your columns the following literary bijou, from a source whence we do not usually look for embellishments to the pages of literary journals-our native Indian tribes. I once had (alas! had) a correspondent, whose letters, for a few brief years, dated from "La Pointe, Wisconsin Territory, Lake Superior." These letters contained many lively descriptions of such objects of interest as could not fail to strike an intelligent mind, intent upon knowledge from every open page of the great book of nature's God. He thus remarks:--"I send you an Indian serenade. The Indian language, however hard to pronounce in English, and however harsh it seems when we endeavor to pronounce it, is very sweet and silvery, or rather liquid, (to express it more correctly,) when spoken by an Indian. It flows softly and melodiously from their lips. One reason is, (I think,) the superior modulation of voice, so much more extended and graceful. In pronouncing a word, the voice passes from one key to another as softly as in singing, and at the same time passes through a greater number of notes. In a word, there is less monotony of tone. The accompanying song seems to be a mixture of the Ottawa and Ojibway, (or Chippewa,) which are dialects of the same language, and differ but slightly. What is very singular, the Indians find it difficult to pronounce the soft sound of our 1, and have it not in their language. Ther they cannot pronounce their tongues seem formed to prevent it. Their language is capable (I think) of being formed into a grammar, though it has never been done. So far as I have examined it, it accords with certain fixed principles. There are certain words and expressions, used by one or the other sex, not used in common. For instance, their expression of surprise or astonishment is the same in Indian that it sometimes is in English, viz., O my!' used by both man and woman; but the man says, 'T'ya', while the woman says 'N'ya'-one signifying the male, the other the female. For a man to use the 'N'ya' is considered extremely effeminate, while it is the height of presumption in the woman to say 'T'ya.' 999 But I shall trespass too far on your time to quote more, and will proceed to transcribe the Serenade, with its literal translation. Lovers of poetry will recognize in it that language said to be universal among all the kindreds and tribes of earth, and which finds expression both in language and independent of it. INDIAN SERENADE. Onaiweh! Paikesai meteequen, quonadhj cuskanosd muscotaiwenin. Onaiweh! Onaiweh! kepahshoshe mocaiseheeon. Taupai kaisainopemayan, mannenatuk azhenah pahkesaikew taupai cotainen ai won. Nodin keokeneta waikon azhenah menoqut paike LITERAL TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE. prairie. Awake! flower of the forest-beautiful bird of the Awake! awake! thou with the eyes of the fawn. When you look at me I am happy; like the flowers when they feel the dew. The breath of thy mouth is sweet as the fragrance of the flowers in the morning ;-sweet as their fragrance at evening in the moon of the fading leaf.* Does not the blood of my veins spring towards thee, like the bubbling springs to the sun-in the moon of the brightest nights?† My heart sings to thee when thou art near; like the dancing branches to the wind, in the moon of strawberries. When thou art not pleased, my beloved, my heart is darkened like the shining river when shadows fall from the clouds above. Thy smiles cause my troubled heart to be brightened, as the sun makes to look like gold the ripple which the cold wind has created. Myself! behold me !-blood of my beating heart. The earth smiles-the waters smile-the heavens smile, but I-I lose the way of smiling when thou art not near-Awake, awake! my beloved. TO-DAY. LET dotards grieve for childhood's days, I cannot join in mourning time For whilst I look on Nature's book The trees are still as fresh and green They wave their arms in air; But in the summer twilight now And shower blessings in the snows That hide the earth to-day. And everywhere a thousand gifts Invite us to rejoice To grieve no more the days of yore, But raise a thankful voice; That tell us, though the world were fair The earth and sky, and sea and air, Then tell me not that childhood's days The structures of the boy : But man beholds majestic themes O ye, whose eyes upbraiding rise, Who walk the earth with cherished hopes Discard a false, unmanly thrall, Nor own so weak a sway, But hope in him who gave you all, And said, with voice more sad than sighs, He said, in his strange foreign tongue, How often a few earnest words Reveal a heart's whole history, And from the bosom's inmost chords Remove the veil of mystery! To thee, O Painter! from thy youth, Time must have been a teacher stern; Experience, with the force of truth, Compelled thy thrilling soul to learn False lessons, which the loving eyes Of God's own angels shall disprove; Whose holy fingers weave the ties Which bind thee to eternal Love. A correspondent says: "The principles of which this work treats are such as more or less intimately concern every man at present engaged in business. The style in which these are presented is exceedingly clear, and no one at all acquainted with commercial affairs can rise from a perusal of any one of the thirty-three "Theses" into which the work is divided, without having obtained a more complete knowledge of the principle discussed, than can be found elsewhere, except after much labor." "To the law student, and even to the lawyer, this work must prove highly valuable. Each principle, which is discussed in a thesis, is clearly stated, some notice of its development and progress is presented by way of introduction; one or more cases which have come before our courts, and which most aptly illustrate it, are briefly reported; and then follows a commentary by the author, sufficiently ample to touch upon all the important principles incidentally connected with the leading one, and yet so brief as to be embraced, with full reference to authorities, within the compass of a few pages. As an introduction to a more extended investigation on the art of the student, this will be a great aid. "As an illustration of the manner of the author, and also as a statement of the law in this state upon a point which concerns every citizen, we quote a single paragraph. In the commentary under the head of Bills of Lading,' the common law liabilities of common carriers are defined, and their right to restrict them is referred to. Says Mr. Anthon : "I understand this right of the carrier to be well established in England, but a strong stand has been made against it in the state of New York, the effect of which, if sustained in the court of last resort, will be to deprive common carriers, by land or water, of all power to save themselves from any of their extraordinary common law liabilities, either by express contract or by notice (which is admitted to be but another form of express contract.) To carry out this severe rule, the court has been constrained to treat a common carrier as a public servant, bound to perform supposed duties appertaining to his office, and then to conclude, from these premises, that an agreement, varying his common law responsibilities, would be void and contrary to public policy.' "An entire and rigid adoption of the science of special pleading, Mr. Anthon thinks, does not exist anywhere in this country. This was the Campus Martius of the old lawyers; here was the field where their choicest laurels were won. 'The state of New York,' he adds, is about to make the experiment of civil law procedure, or something like it, in the practice of her courts. How she will ingraft on this the logic of pleading, which adheres to, and is a component part of the common law, remains to be seen.' "The work abounds in evidences of the rich and varied learning which its author is so well known to possess ; and it is prepared with an apparent ease and freedom from labor in its discussions, which only a long experience in the practice' can impart. It contains three hundrea and seventy pages, and is printed with a clear and open type, on excellent paper and published by the Messrs. Appleton in the best style of law publication." N. Y. Ev. Post. Morton Montague; or a Young Christian's Choice. D. Appleton & Co., New York. This is a narrative founded on facts, in the early history of a deceased Moravian missionary clergyman. It comprises a greater amount of information respecting that order of Christians, who are so eminent for their devoted, meek, and self-sacrificing spirit, than can be found anywhere else within the same compass. The work is written with an excellent spirit, and it illustrates, with much force, the influence of Christian truth in developing the pure, gentle and benign virtues of the heart, and leading it to sacrifice all of earth to heaven.- Courier & Eng. Cosmos: a Sketch of a Physical Description of The East: Sketches of Travel in Egypt and the N. Y. Ev. Post. Is the title of an octavo volume just published by George P. Putnam, of this city. The author is the Rev. J. Spencer, who, in 1849, visited Palestine and the country bordering on the Nile. The incidents of his journey are Probably no scientific work of the age has been so ea-related in a series of letters, mostly written on the spot, gerly demanded by intelligent general readers, as this and addressed to his friends at home. They do not claim Cosmos" of Von Humboldt-the boiling down, as it any character of learning or research, but they occasionwere, to an ultimate essence of a long life-time of patient, ally indulge in brief antiquarian discussions. Their continuous and unwearied study and research. And it is chief merit is that they are the narrative of an intelligent certain that no book ever issued by the Harpers is more and well-informed man, travelling in a country to which valuable than this, as regards the instruction and pleasure historical and religious tradition united give an interest to be afforded to the best informed class of their country-beyond that which belongs to any other. The volume is men. "A Sketch of a Physical Description of the Uni-illustrated by handsome lithographic views of eastern verse!" It is a terse and intelligible statement of nearly or quite all that the human race has yet discovered of the scenery, and by wood engravings inserted in the text. physical phenomena with which it has been surrounded in bodily weakness, in utter inability to change a single section of the laws of nature; but in spiritual strength, to Mr. George T. Curtis' Discourse on "The Strength of note, to ponder, to generalize, and to moralize upon their the Constitution" of the United States is a sound and well most complex provisions. But why should we expatiate worded production. We were agreeably disappointed in upon a theme which would require volumes for its fitting finding it so interesting. Some portions may be comtreatment? Why seek even to praise a work like this mended to the reading of that pestilent old fool, Thomas before us? It must be read, read diligently, thoroughly, Carlyle, as evidence of some great thought" or "noble and with the whole heart and soul; and thus read, it must thing" produced in America. O, Carlyle! "Quashee" extend the mind and the knowledge of all but a very mi-and "The Latter Day Pamphlet" have killed thee in this nute fraction of the countless beings upon earth. The country, where, we opine, thou hadst the greatest number book is a philosophical poem on the material glories of of worshippers! Who will swear by thee now? the world, wrought by one who has probably seen, and studied, and thought, as much as any man that ever lived. To the two volumes now issued, is to be added a third Bost. Post. Dr. Henry J. Bigelow's Introductory Lecture on Surupon the "Special and Scientific Development of the gery is worth reading by every intelligent person. It Great Picture of Nature." This third volume is nearly may be had of Ticknor & Co. The portion on "Quackor quite completed, but its publication is delayed by "the ery" is excellent. We never saw a medical discourse of present state of public affairs" in Europe. The first of the kind more replete with common sense as well as the two now published comprises a sketch of all that is scholarly learning. It is modest, dignified, and liberal. at present known of the physical phenomena of the uni-The only mistake in it is in the paragraphs advocating verse; the second treats of the incitements to the study of the appointment of a sort of medical jury to decide on nature, and considers the different epochs in the progress medical matters brought before the courts. of discovery and the corresponding stages of advance in Bost. Post. human civilization. It only remains to say that the present translation is the only complete one. It is to be The Report of the Committee of Supervision of the preferred to that of Mrs. Sabine, which omitted whole "Poultry Exhibition" is a very handsome document as passages and even pages of the original, and in which the a pamphlet, while it is exceeding interesting for its facts German measures were not reduced to the English stand-regarding this almost novel subject. It has twenty or ard.-Bost. Post. thirty excellent plates of fowls, turkeys and geese. The Annual of Scientific Discovery, or Year Book Bost. Post. The Convict Ship. By Dr. Browning, R. N. Com. Advertiser. A Dictionary of Synonymical Terms of the English Language. By Rev. James Rawson, A. M. Philadelphia. Lindsay & Blakiston. This work gives the results of Scriptural instruction and moral discipline on board an English convict vessel, The title page of this handsome volume tells its own the author acting as surgeon during the voyage. It has story, and we have but to add that the book is intended to passed through several editions in England, from the last record all that has been lately done, invented, or discov-of which this American issue is printed. A preface is ered in Mechanics, the Useful Arts, Natural Philosophy, written for it by the Rev. J. H. Fowles, of Philadelphia. Chemistry, Astronomy, Meteorology, Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geography, Geology and Antiquities-at home and abroad. It contains also a list of recent Scientific Publications, a Classified List of Patents, Obituaries of Eminent Scientific Men, and an Index of important Papers in Scientific Journals, Reports, &c. Its inatter has been gleaned from a great variety of sources, foreign A very useful reference book for the student, and for all and domestic. In many cases, the information has never who take an interest in composition. Within convenient before been published-in others, it has been given to the world in a most fugitive manner, and is now first collect-Compass the compiler has given a very full list of synonymes.-Com. Advertiser. ed in a preservable form. The publication is modelled afte European compilations which have proved to be of great use and interest to scientific men. It is embellished with a fine portrait of Professor Agassiz! Gould, Kendall & Lincoln have just issued, or have in press, other scientific works of value. The" Lake Superior" of Agassiz is spoken of as exceedingly important for its comparison of the Physical Character, Vegetation and Animals of the region of the Lakes, with other and similar portions of the world. This work we have not yet seen, but it is said to be as interesting as it is learned. Mr. J. E. Cabot contributes a Narrative of the Expedition, and Le Conte, Gould, Gray, Harris, Cabot. Lesquereaux, and Edward Tuckerman, articles on different branches of science. The same publishers announce as nearly ready, Part II. of "Principles of Zoology, by Agassiz and Gould." The first portion has the reputation of being one of the most acute and systematic productions ever written. Boston Post. Comos: or a Description of the Universe. By Alexander Von Humboldt. New York. Harper & Brothers. We are delighted to have this great work in two handsome 12mo volumes, Otte's translation, and made convenient, alike by the size of the volumes and the clearness and holdness of the typography, for all readers. No library can be complete without this work, and no reader can he said to be well informed upon the cosmogony of the universe that has not thoroughly read and mastered Humboldt's "Cosmos."- Com. Adv. Merchant of Venice, No. X., of Phillips, Sampson & Co.'s Shakspeare. An excellent edition. POETRY: The Dreamer; Music, 17; The Roman Soldier; Sing, Poet!; The Hen, 36; Indian SHORT ARTICLES: Exclusion of Evidence, 41; Appearances after Death, 43; Egypt; Tur Complete sets, in twenty-four volumes, to the end of March, 1850, handsomely bound, packed in neat boxes, and delivered in all the principal cities, free of expense of freight, are for sale at forty-eight dollars. Any volume may be had separately at two dollars, bound, or a dollar and a half in numbers. Any number may be had for 12 cents; and it may be worth while for subscribers or purchasers to complete Binding.We bind the work in a uniform, strong, and good style; and where customers bring their numbers in good order, can generally give them bound volumes in exchange without any delay. The price of the binding is 50 cents a volume. As they are always bound to one Postage. When sent with the cover on, the Living Age consists of three sheets, and is rated as a pamphlet. at 4 cents. But when sent without the cover, it comes within the definition of a newspaper given in the law, and cannot legally be charged with more than newspaper postage, (1 cts.) We add the definition alluded to:- A newspaper is "any printed publication, issued in numbers, consisting of not more than two sheets, and Monthly parts.-For such as prefer it in that form, the Living Age is put up in monthly parts, containing four or five weekly numbers. In this shape it shows to great advantage in comparison with other works, containing in each part double the matter of any of the quarterlies. But we recommend the weekly numbers as fresher and fuller of life. Postage on the monthly parts is about 14 cents. The volumes are published quarterly, each volume LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-No. 308.-13 APRIL, 1850. From Blackwood's Magazine. AGRIPPA D'AUBIGNÉ AND MADAME DE MAIN TENON. * have fallen, to avenge those noble chiefs, so full of honor. My curse cleave to you, if you are miserly of your blood in that holy cause!" The exhortation was heartfelt, but imprudent. MurOn a spring day of the year 1560, an excited murs were heard amongst the bystanders as the crowd was assembled without the walls of a town stranger's words passed from mouth to mouth, and of Touraine, which, although of small size and a cry of "Down with the Huguenots!" arose in importance, had been the residence of several the crowd. For a moment the cause of this comkings, and the birth and death place of Charles motion seemed disposed to abide the gathering VIII. of France. Upon this occasion no regal storm. His nostril expanded with defiance, and pageant attracted the throng, nor was the gaze of his hand sank down to seek the hilt of his trusty the mob one of idle curiosity. Gratified hatred sword. But his eye fell upon his son, and, and savage exultation were legible on most of the repressing the vengeful impulse, he turned and faces there collected together; only a few counte- left the place, unimpeded by actual violence, but nances wore an expression of horror and pity; pursued by the vociferations of the mob. The and fewer still were those whose contracted brows, soldier smiled scornfully at the hootings of the compressed lips, and pallid cheeks, betrayed their rabble. But upon the boy who clung to his side suppressed grief and indignation. The sight that a deep and ineffaceable impression was made by aroused these various emotions in the spectators the whole of that scene-by the severed and was that of a row of human heads fixed upon the ghastly heads, by his father's passionate injuncbattlements of the fortress, and bearing horrible tion, by the hoarse cries of the brutal populace. testimony to the power and cruelty of the house The day was an epoch in the life of Agrippa of Guise, then paramount in France. The vast d'Aubigné. Then was confirmed in him a hatred, plan of insurrection, known in history as the Con- which ended but with his life, of the persecutors spiracy of Amboise, whose chief was Louis de of his Protestant brethren, an attachment to his Bourbon, Prince of Condé, and its object the over- creed, which he ably vindicated both with his sword throw and imprisonment of the haughty Balafré, and pen, and to which he never hesitated to sacand of his no less arrogant brother, the Cardinal rifice the favor of kings and the brightest smiles of Lorraine, had been discovered and frustrated; of fortune. and twelve hundred nobles and gentlemen, including much of the best Huguenot blood in the land, had expiated upon the scaffold their failure and offence. Francis II., a feeble and incapable prince, then occupied the throne, and the sword of Guise was virtually the sceptre of France. As to The life of Theodore Agrippa d'Aubiné was a grand romance, crowded with marvellous adventures and heroic traits. Brave as any real or fabulous hero of antiquity, he possessed qualities and acquirements that are to be found combined in few military heroes, whether of ancient or modern Of those who contemplated, with ill-concealed times. His failings were those of his century, fury, the horrible trophies of that bigoted and whose virtues and vices were reflected, as in a vindictive party which, twelve years later, rioted mirror, in his active and tubulent career. Precoin the bloody saturnalia of St. Bartholomew, one cious in all things, at six years of age he read four of the most remarkable was a middle-aged man, languages. At that period, learning was confined of robust frame and martial aspect, whose dress to a few. The chiefs of the Huguenot party had was travel-stained, and who was accompanied by a large share of what little was abroad. an intelligent-looking boy, ten years of age. the Roman Catholic clergy and nobility, their Long did the old Huguenot soldier gaze, in min- ignorance would be incredible were it less well gled wrath and anguish, upon the blackening feat- attested. In the very same year in which we ares of his former leaders and comrades, beneath find d'Aubigné (already a learned linguist, and whose banner, and by whose side, he had so often the translator of Plato's Criton) proceeding to spurred to victory. At last his deep emotion Paris with his father to complete his studies, found vent in words. "The assassins!" he ex- Jean de Montluc, himself a bishop, denounced claimed, "they have beheaded France!" Then, before the king's council the gross ignorance of laying his hand upon the boy's head, and heed- the dignitaries of the church. "Bishoprics," he less of the lowering attention his exclamation had said, "are now given to children and to ignodrawn upon him" My son," he said, "you rant persons, having neither knowledge nor will must not grudge your head, when mine shall to fulfil their duties. Cardinals and bishops have not hesitated to bestow benefices on their house stewards, and even on their valets-de-chambre, cooks, barbers, and lackeys. The same priests, *Histoire de Madame de Maintenon, et des Principaux VOL. XXV. 4 |