Mr. CLAY; and it is therefore with much pleasure that they can now propose to remedy that deficiency in a most satisfactory manner. Our Engraver, Mr. Ritchie, is now engaged upon a head of Mr. Clay from a very spirited painting by Mr. Jarvis, which we propose to offer to our subscribers without any additional cost to them, on the following conditions, which we are sure they will gladly comply with. The terms of subscription to the Review are "five dollars per annum, payable early in the year." Now we propose to send to each of our subscribers for the coming year, who will remit to this office the amount of their dues up to the end of 1849, during the first two months of the year, a copy of this splendid picture. Our friends will perceive that the compensation which we propose to ourselves for this expense, is simply the saving to us of the cost and trouble of collecting, and the gratification which we are sure we will confer upon them. The size of the engraving will be 8 by 6 1-2 inches, printed on large paper for framing. It will be in Mr. Ritchie's best style, and we think will prove to be the finest engraved portrait yet executed in this country. When we mention that the publishing price of this plate will not be less than two dollars, we think our proposition will be considered liberal Returning our most grateful thanks to our early and more recent friends, we would beg their compliance with this proposition, and request each of them, as an especial favor, to call the attention of some one at least interested in the cause, to this and the Prospectus for 1849, to be issued next month. Please direct how the Plate is to be forwarded when sending remittance. AMERICAN REVIEW. Gontents for January. INTRODUCTORY TO THE YEAR 1849, ORIGIN OF THE TWO PARTIES: CONTRAST OF THEIR DOCTRINES, REMARKS ON ENGLISH NOVELISTS. By G. F. Deane, THE POLICY OF ENGLAND AND ITS RESULts, MOZART. By G. A. Macfarren,* FERDOUSI THE PERSIAN POET, . THE HON. WILLIAM L. DAYTON, U. S SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY, MIDDLE-ASIATIC THEOLOGY. By J. D. W., THE VALE OF INNOCENCE. By J. D. W., GOLD HUNTING IN CALIFORNIA IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. By E. 1 6 21 34 44 54 68 71 81 84 89 99 100 104 * Late Professor of Harmony in the Royal Academy of Music in London, Musical Director at Covent Garden Theatre, &c., &c. NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED AT 118 NASSAU STREET. AMERICAN REVIEW, No. XIII. FOR JANUARY, 1849. INTRODUCTORY TO THE YEAR 1849. WITH the present number begins the second volume of the Second Series of the "Whig Review," as its friends, and the public generally, have been pleased to call it; though, for their part, its conductors prefer to name it " American," as their whole effort has been to make it so; intending that it shall be, if possible, a true and lively representation of the morals, manners, and polity of this new Empire of the West. Casting a rapid glance over the pages of our last two volumes, we find a series of articles, not only touching, but examining and discussing, upon grounds strictly constitutional, almost every leading question in the range of our politics; forming a connected series of political essays, called out, indeed, by the occasion, but composed not without regard to the future. The origin, conduct, and spirit of the war, the Policy of the Administration, the principles and measures of the Whig Opposition, and the reasons which controlled their movements in the Convention and at the late election, have been elaborately argued and set forth; under the guidance of what was once known as a Democratic, but now as a Whig, construction of the Constitution. Accompanying these essays is a series of authentic biographies of living statesmen, which serve to show, that power and honor in this country are attained by genius and native force, and never, directly, through the accidental advantages of wealth and family. These biographies seem also to be a sufficient proof, that the only inheritance of consideration, to which an American statesman can lay claim with credit to himself, is the inheritance of a good name, and of a temper able to contend with, and to overcome, adversity. In these two departments, of political essay and biography, the conductors of the Review have fulfilled their promise to its patrons, as to quantity and variety of matter; with what success, is left to their kind judgments to determine. Upon a very considerable part, they may, perhaps, be allowed to say, the public have passed a favorable and unequivocal judgment. The conduct of the literary department of the Review, presented difficulties not easy to be overcome, and which the conductors do not flatter themselves have been yet overcome, or will be, until a change takes place in public opinion in regard to the comparative merits of foreign and American intellects. A very considerable class of persons in this country seem to labor under a deep conviction of the native inferiority of the American understanding. They have the same opinion of our own, that the German people have of English genius. "The English," said Goethe, the greatest of the Germans, "never think.' But if they do not think, they speculate, and their speculations on political economy, and other topics, serve many of ourselves instead of thoughts. Now with all deference to the very respectable and, since their late translations from the Germans, quite learned modern |