31.-Matrimony; or, Phrenology and Physiology Applied to the Selection of Congenial Companions for Life; including Directions to the Married for Living together Affectionately and Happily. By O. S. FOWLER, Practical Phrenologist, etc., etc. New York: Fowler & Wells. We have no doubt that the adoption of Professor Fowler's principles of selecting "congenial companions for life" would be far more productive of the felicities sought for in the matrimonial alliance than the principles that too generally govern our choice in this all-important matter. We think, moreover, that were the motto which Mr. Fowler has placed in his title-page, "Natural Waists, or no Wives," adopted, we should soon find a new race of beings. It is a good book-full of common-sense suggestions and its counsels, if heeded, would do more to promote moral reform than all the societies, instituted for that purpose, in Christendom. 32.-The Poetical Writings of the late Willis Gaylord Clark. First complete edition. New York: J. S. Redfield. These poems, collected from the various periodicals in which they were originally published, have many admirers. They are sweet expressions of the pure and gentle spirit of the author; and, to quote from a friendly critic, they "flow in melody from a heart full of the sweetest affections, and upon their surface is mirrored all that is gentle and beautiful in nature, rendered more beautiful by the light of a religious imagination." Devoid, however, of that spirit of the "living present," so fall of hope in, and for humanity, which appears in Longfellow, Lowell, Mackay, and others of the same stamp, their circle of admirers must gradually diminish. 33.-Fact and Fiction; a Collection of Stories. By L. MARIA CHILD, author of "Letters from New York," " Philothea," "History of Women," "Flowers for Children," etc., etc. New York: C. S. Francis & Co. This handsomely-printed volume, of nearly three hundred pages, with its fifteen tales and sketches, is reproduced in its present form without preface, note, or comment, with this simple and characteristic inscription, "To Anna Loring, the Child of my Heart." The stories, many of them, at least, have been published in the periodicals of the day, the Columbian and other Magazines. Mrs. Child is a true woman, with a heart full of the largest sympathies for the whole human race; and her imagination and fancy-indeed, whatever of talent or genius she possesses-all harmonize with that innate goodness which pervades a life of Love and Duty. The fact and fiction" of these agreeable tales and sketches are alike full of truth and beauty, and will interest the pure and simple-hearted as well as the most cultivated and progressive minds. 34.-Greenwood Illustrated; in a Series of Picturesque and Monumental Views, in Highly Finished Fine Engraving, from Drawings taken on the Spot. By JAMES SMILLIE. The Literary Department by N. CLEVELAND. Parts I. and II. New York: Published by R. Martin. The plan of this work is excellent, and the manner in which it has, thus far, been carried out, creditable in the highest degree to all concerned. The numbers already published give promise of a degree of pictorial excellence that has not, so far as we have seen, been excelled, and, we have little besitation in adding, been equalled, on this side of the Atlantic. The two parts before us contain six engravings, accompanied with appropriate letter-press descriptions. Four parts more will complete the work, which is furnished to subscribers at fifty cents each, or three dollars for the entire work. We cheerfully give our unqualified testimony as to the fidelity of the views; and the pen and pencil show us how art and nature are combining at "Greenwood" to form an attractive and fitting place of burial. We shall refer to this beautiful work again. 35.-The Architect; a Series of Designs for Domestic and Ornamental Cottages, connected with Landscape Gardening, adapted to the United States. Illustrated with Drawings of Ground-Plots, Plans, Perspective Views, Elevations, Lectures, and Details. By WILLIAM H. KANLETT, Architect. Parts I. and II. New York: William H. Graham. This work is designed to supply a systematic treatise on rural architecture, with scientific and practical developments of various styles adapted to the United States. Each design consists of a groundplot, the several flower plans, two geometrical elevations, and framing, and all the necessary working plans-accompanied by full specifications and estimates of all materials, labor, &c., required for the construction, and the necessary descriptions and directions. The ground-plots contain topographical views of the gardens and other grounds connected immediately with the residence. The two numbers are handsomely executed, and give promise of a most valuable contribution to this department of the arts. Three numbers more will complete the first volume. Each number contains six plates, from drawings on stone, in the first style of tinted lithography. Such a work will be useful, not only to the professional architect, but to the private citizen. 36.-My Own Treasury; an Illustrated Gift-Book for Young Persons. Edited by MARK MERRIWELL. New York: Wiley & Putnam. This very handsome book has quite an English look; and we more than half suspect it one of the first-fruits of the new tariff. Be that, however, as it may, its one hundred engravings are very cleverly designed and executed, and the tales, sketches, and histories, happily blend whatever is attractive in narrative, and graphic in description. It will prove a most attractive "Christmas-book" for the little folks. ART. CONTENTS OF NO. II., VOL. XVI. ARTICLES. PAGE I. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NAVIGATION AND NAVAL ARCHITECTURE, No. IV. New series. By Gen. H. A. S. DEARBORN, of Massachusetts, author of "A Memoir of the Commerce and Navigation of the Black Sea, and the Trade and Maritime Geography of Turkey and Egypt," etc........... II. TRADE AND COMMERCE OF NORWAY,.. III. MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE.-SOCIETY ON THE BASIS OF MUTUAL INSURANCE. By D. R. JACQUES, Esq., of New York,........ 131 138 152 IV. LAW OF Debtor and CREDITOR IN LOUISIANA-No. IV. By FRANCIS H. Ur- 165 172 VI. MINERAL RESOURCES OF MISSOURI. Mineralogical Observations in the State of Missouri. By Dr. LEWIS FEUCHTWANGER, of New York,.. 177 VII. THE LEAD REGION. BY CHARLES LANMAN, Esq., of New York,. 181 MERCANTILE LAW CASES. Decision in the Court of Common Pleas of England,... Principal and Factor-Consignment-Advances—Sale,... COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW, 182-183 182 EMBRACING A FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES, ETC., ILLUSTRATED WITH TABLES, ETC., AS FOLLOWS: Commercial Legislation-The Sub-Treasury-Scarcity of American Coins-Importance of a Sound National Coinage-United States Government Stock Prices-Treasury Notes-Leading Features of the Banks of Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, and New York-Exports from the Port of New York-Price of Flour in New York, at the close of each month-Exports of Certain Articles to Great Britain-Receipts and Exports of Flour at New Orleans, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, 1845, '46-Receipts of Produce at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1841, 42, 43, '44, 45, '46-Ohio Canal Tolls, 1842, '43, '44, '45, '46-Shipments of Flour and Wheat from Michigan-Receipts on New York Canals, at Tide-water, etc., etc......... 184-193 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. PAGE Commerce and Navigation of New York, for the year ending 30th December, 1846,.. 194 194 194 Foreign and Coastwise Arrivals at the Port of New York, for the year ending Dec. 31, 1846,..... 195 Comparative View of Arrivals and Passengers at the Port of New York in different years,... 196 Tobacco Trade of New York, in 1846-Export and Import Trade,....... 196 Commercial Navigation of Great Britain-British Shipping entered inwards from, and cleared ontwards to, British Colonial Ports, from 1820 to 1845,.. 197 British Shipping entered inwards from, and cleared outwards to, Foreign Ports, from 1820 to 1845, 197 Commerce of China, in 1845,.. Abstract of Trade under British Flags, at the Ports of Canton and Shanghai, in 1845, as compared with 1846,........ Foreign Trade of Canton, during 1845, compared with 1844,.............. Export of Teas from China to the United States, in 1845 and '46,...... Export of Silk and sundries from China to the United States, in 1845 and '46,.. JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES. .198 198 199 200 Pennsylvania Iron Trade, from 1844 to 1846,.. The Coal Trade of Pennsylvania,........... 201 202 Names and Costs of the Canals and Railroads leading to the Coal Mines of Pennsylvania,...... 203 Statistics of the Coal Trade, Shipments, etc., for several years,.................. 205 Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Trade, from its commencement, in 1820, to the close of 1846; showing Receipts from the Various Mines, Total Supply, and Annual Increase of the Trade,.. The British Copper Trade-Memorial relating to it,. 206 207 JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY AND FINANCE. Banks of Baltimore-Their Condition on the 4th January, 1847,.......................... Finances of Massachusetts-Treasury Report in 1846,............. Finances of New Jersey, in 1846, as derived from the Governor's Message,... RAILROAD STATISTICS. Philadelphia and Reading Railroad-Its History, etc............... 208 208 209 209 209 Railroad Iron in the United States, in a Letter to the Editor of this Magazine,. 210 212 COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. Harbor Decrees of Macao, altered from the Decrees of March 1, 1846,.... HUNT'S MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE. FEBRUARY, 1847. Art. I.-HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NAVIGATION AND NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. NUMBER IV.-NEW SERIES. The actual habits of our countrymen attach them to commerce. They will exercise it for themselves. Wars, then, must sometimes be our lot; and all the wise can do, is to make the best preparations we can. For either offence or defence, the sea is the field on which we should meet a European enemy. On that element, it is necessary we should possess power.-JEFFERSON. HAVING Completed the historical sketch of navigation, down to the ratification of the treaty of peace with Great Britain, in 1783, I regret that I am obliged to suspend the execution of the remainder until I can command more time to devote to that interesting subject, which I hope I shall be enabled to do in the course of the next year;-but, as naval architecture has been only partially noticed in the preceding letters, and as it now claims the intense consideration of this and all the other most powerful maritime nations, I have concluded to devote the two last of the present series to that important branch of nautical science. Still, I can only give a very succinct account of its origin and development, with a few suggestions on the expediency of establishing more exact principles for the attainment of such perfection in the form of ships as shall more certainly combine strength and stability with speed and capacity. It is with great diffidence that I have ventured even to intimate possi. ble improvements in construction; for it may be very justly presumed that such inquiries are not only beyond the domain of a mere private citizen, but exclusively pertain to those intelligent naval officers, architects and ship-builders, who, from long experience, must be considered far better qualified to decide whether any beneficial change can be made in the system which now exists. The form and size of vessels, and the manner of building them, have been as various as the purposes of their construction, and the nations and ages in which they have been employed; and, if plans or models of them could be collected, they would form a most interesting and instructive exhibition: but, so imperfectly described are those of the most distinguished maritime empires of antiquity, that it is impossible to obtain even sufficient data, from the surviving works of Greek or Roman authors, to form a definite opinion of their dimensions, configuration, or appearance, when in a complete condition for commercial adventure or naval enterprise. In civil architecture, the means are ample for becoming perfectly acquainted with its proficiency, as a science and an art-so far, at least, as it was applied to public structures; for not only have many of the magnificent edifices which were reared in Egypt, Greece, and Rome, during the memorable epochs when those mighty nations had reached the culminating point of prosperity, affluence, refinement, and power, escaped the ravages of conquest and time, but the treatise of Vitruvius has been transmitted across that broad and deep gulf of oblivion, in which the libraries of entire kingdoms have been overwhelmed. We are, therefore, enabled to fully comprehend the scientific principles on which they were projected, the materials employed, the manner in which the work was executed, and the imposing effect which must have been produced when all the architectural details-sculptures, paintings, and other sumptuous embellishments of the temples, pyramids, obelisks, triumphal arches and columns of Thebes, Tentyra, Athens, Samos, Pæstum, Agrigentum, and the "Eternal City" were as perfect as genius, taste, science, art, and wealth, could render them; for sufficient portions of the largest and most magnificent have been perpetuated, to enable a modern architect to make accurate plans and elevations of them, in a restored condition; or to imitate an entire edifice, in such a perfect manner, as to rival the original in execution and elegance. But ships, having been built of such perishable material as wood, not a fragment remains, nor has a work on naval architecture, by any author of antiquity, descended to us; so that even the manner in which the banks of oars were arranged in the fleets of Alexandria, Greece, Carthage, and Rome, is a problem, which has not yet been satisfactorily explained. The galleys were divided into two classes-the first being called monocrota, or those which had single rows of oars; and the other was distinguished by the term polycrota, which included such as had three, five, nine, or more tiers of cars. Those commonly used for naval expeditions were of various dimensions, and were designated as biremes, triremes, quadriremes, quinqueremes, euneremes, and tessararemes, according to the number of banks of oars in each. The The various series of rowers were called by different names. Thalamita were those who sat lowest; the Zygite sat in the cross-seats, and the Thranite in the highest. The triremes carried two hundred men, of which one hundred and eighty were rowers, and the rest mariners; so that the Athenian fleet of one hundred and eighty triremes, which was commanded by Conon, in the victorious action with the Spartan admiral, Pisander, must have contained thirty-six thousand men. The quinqueremes carried four hundred and twenty men, three hundred of whom were rowers; and, as the Roman fleet, at Messina, consisted of three hundred and thirty galleys, and the Carthagenian, at Lelybæum, of three hundred and fifty, most of which were quinqueremes, the former must |