and in this country. Leigh Hunt, in his Feast of the Violets, has spoken of her as "Tennyson's fair sister"-figuratively, of course-although another impression has prevailed: she is related to that poet only in intellect-witness the courtship of Lady Geraldine in her new volumes;-but she has for cousin, we believe, another poet, Mr. Kennyon, whom the Examiner has lately charged with being of the select few "who write too little." A blessed relationship, and of a kind of which few in this age of multifarious versifying could make boast. The lines of light which have lately pierced the length of the periodical press, in England and America, in the name of Miss BARRETT, have been shot out of the darkness of a sick room in Wimpole street, London. The fair poetess has lived in a cloud, we believe, for many years; seen by few, heard of by many, and quiring away in the seclusion of ill-health, so delicate at times as to shut from her the very light of day; calm through the chill winter as the sleeping swallow, and chirping as fresh with better spirits and a new life as the summer draws on. She is the daughter of an India merchant (a princely father he needs must be to whom a dedication such as her's could be inscribed!) living at the West End. Her occupation is, as it has been for many years, literature, in its highest forms of meditation and poetry. She has a wide correspondence; and her new volumes, recently published, have added to her list of friends some of the most distinguished names in England. those she ranks THOMAS CARLYLE, HARRIET MARTINEAU, Mr. HORNE, Miss MITFORD, and a publisher who can always be worthily classed with the good and great, EDWARD MOXON. Her acquisitions in literature are of the widest range; and she regards with particular good-will the promise of her own day in writers like ROBERT BrownING, TENNYSON, CHARLES DICKENS, and others of the new generation. But when we say that she acknowledges a profound interest in the rising hope and prospect of America, in literature of a true order and spirit, we are sure to seize the attention of the public by a link which brightens and grows firmer every day. It cannot be denied, we think, that the popular heart of this country is stirred at this time by desires in behalf of literature which nothing but the truest and noblest efforts of her authors can satisfy. It is felt on many hands that the new times demand new Among speakers, and that the pens of the country should move to a higher music than any have heretofore attained. If the cycles of the country are to be measured by the order of the Presidential successions, we would say, let the four years now coming form a lustrum of fresh endeavor and nobler art! A new historical romance, entitled "The Border Wardens," by Mrs. Ponsonby, is announced as just ready; also, in monthly numbers, illustrated, "Fanny, the Little Milliner, or the Rich and the Poor," by Chas. Poncroft; Cruikshank has a new monthly periodical in preparation, to appear on Jan. 1, entitled "George Cruikshank's Table-Book," edited by Gilbert A'Beckett, and will include contributions by some of the leading writers of the day. Another periodical is to emanate from Scotland, entitled "Edinburgh Tales," conducted by Mr. Johnston, author of " Elizabeth de Bruce," &c. Mrs. Norton has a new poem, just ready, entitled "The Child of the Islands," &c. "Valentine McClutchy, the Irish Agents, or Chronicles of the Castle Cumber Property," by W. Carleton. A volume of poems, entitled "The Pilgrim of Beauty, The Cottager's Sabbath," &c., by S. Mullin, with twenty-three vignette illustrations, uniform with Rogers' Italy," &c. Lady Blessington has a new romance, just ready, entitled" Strathern." MR. SIMMS'S LIFE OF MARION.-So spontaneous and universal has been the demand for this new production, that we learn the publisher had to put a third edition to press. A desire to peruse, in "legible lines," the patriotic deeds of our forefathers, is evidently on the increase amongst us; and we are happy to find so compétent a pen as that of Mr. Simms thus promptly echoing to the call;-presenting us with so admirable a volume on the public life and services of one who will ever rank foremost among the Worthies of our Revolutionary struggles. As a historiographer, Mr. Simms has presented unequivocal evidence of eminent ability, both in the work to which we refer, and by his "History of South Carolina," which has passed through several editions; and, as we hear it is his design, to devote himself more to works of a historical character than those of his hitherto favorite department of fictitious and poetical literature, we are the more gratified at the success of this, his first essay of the kind. The following are his forthcom ing works: A Life of Sumter; a Life of Paul Jones, deduced from original and authentic documents, which will, it is expected, impart much new information relating to the career of this noted privateer. Another literary project is a revised edition of Capt. Smith's History of Virginia, a work long out of print, but one of authority and value. Mr. Simms will collate the work with all the existing records, and superadd much interesting matter relating to the Travels of Capt. Smith; to which he will also append an original memoir. We quote the words of a recent British critic-the editor of the London edition of some of Mr. Simms' writings-he says, "His descriptive powers are of the very first order, and in his sketches of character, there is no writer that better understands the art of bringing out the salient features in high relief, and of impressing an individuality upon the portraiture that fixes the image perfectly in our mind, where it remains like the figure of one we have intimately known. "The Yemassee" is one of his best works; but it is in that extraordinary work, the "Confession, or the Blind Heart," that the genius and talents of Mr. Simms shine forth in their greatest splendor. It opens a new and virgin mine in the treasures of romance, which only needs cultivation to produce the choicest fruits. The more carefully and attentively it is perused, the more satisfied will the reader be that the work could only have emanated from a mind deeply skilled in the subtleties of the human heart, and capable of unfolding with force and truth, the workings of its most fearful passions and impulses in the most hidden recesses." This is undoubtedly a proud distinction, especially when submitted to a canon of criticism which is not generally very lavish in its awards of merit to writers of the Western Hemisphere. We subjoin the opinions of two or three home critics on the above work, among the highest authorities in American criticism:-" One of the most interesting of recent productions of the press: full of incident, by flood and field."-"It is a work of infinite merit, and will be read with corresponding interest."-" Few characters have stood out more boldly on our Revolutionary Annals, who have supplied more interesting and exciting materials for the historian than that of General Marion; and it is not saying too much to claim for the work before us, no less the merit of accredited historical truth, than the most stirring and absorbing attributes of high wrought fiction.""The style employed in the biography is among the best examples of descriptive narrative we have seen for some time. The work is full of interest, and we believe it will add materially to Mr. Simms's reputation as a writer." ENGLISH. Our announcements of the British press, last month, were so numerous, that we have few additions to make in our present issue. The following comprise the remainder :-A Life of Prince Talleyrand, by Thackeray; a new work, by the author of "The Two Old Men's Tales," entitled "Mount Sorel ;" "Things Old and New," by the racy author of "The Subaltern;" "Letters from the Orient," translated from the German of the Countess Hahn-Hahn, by the author of "Caleb Stukeley." Dr. Beattie, we are happy to find, has in preparation for the press, the Papers and an Auto-biographical sketch of the life of Campbell, the poet. The following are announced as in press, by Newby, the London publisher "Life at full-length," by Mark Merrivane; "Anti-Coningsby, or the New Generation Grown Old;"" St. Etienne" a novel; "The Antiquarian and Architectural Year Book," in which will be gathered into one view all antiquarian discoveries and proceedings for the year, both in primeval and mediaval antiquities; another to the long st of books, intended for Christmas and New-Year's pastime, entitled "The Poetical Book of Fate," respectfully addressed to all who know how to be merry and wise. Miss Jewsbury announces a new production, styled "Zoe, the history of two lives:" another new collection of poems is announced by S. Mullen, entitled "The Pilgrim of Beauty, the Cottage Sabbath," &c. A new work on Australia, by Hodgkinson, is also about to be issued immediately, comprising a description of the natives, their manners, costumes and customs, &c.; the geology, natural productions, and resources, &c. of that country. |