curious, industrious body, who having no particular business of her own, most obligingly devotes her attention to the business of other people. After Mrs. Culpepper, they are by their letters introduced into a family consisting of Mrs. Wiley, and her daughter Jemima, des gens qui marquent être quelque chose, and an immensely important personage, who rejoices in the appellative of Charles, alias Simon Sly, a ci-devant stable-boy transformed into a 'walley de sham,' and personated as one might suppose he would be, by Mr. PLACIDE. Mrs. Wiley infers from the letters presented to her that her two visiters are bachelors of large fortunes, and she is immediately impressed with the phiJanthropic notion of doing them the greatest possible service in her power, by making one of them a matrimonial present of her all-accomplished daughter Jemima, and the other a free gift of her amiable self. She therefore welcomes, with all the suavity and condescending gentility of a fashionable matron who has daughters to marry, the wandering swains, and introduces to their particular notice the talented, the refined, the irresistible Jemima. Previous to this introduction, Mrs. Wiley, with a maternal eye to the effect of her daughter's charms, gives to Miss Jemima sundry important directions in regard to her toilette, which the fashionable taste of the accomplished daughter improving upon, she is presented to the lovers a perfect picture of an affected hoyden, laboring under an immense idea of her bon ton and fashionable grace. Mrs. Gurner's appearance in this character, and her whole performance, are irresistibly ludicrous, from their palpable truth. She is the very beau ideal of awkward pretence the idiot child of a foolish mother. The gentlemen, seeing through the game, very cleverly manage to play the trumps out of the hands of the cunning Mrs. Wiley, by gently insinuating a remark upon the resemblance which the eyes of Jemima bear to the same beautiful features in the countenance of one or the other of their own cara sposas. This of course creates an instantaneous change in the great and generous interest of the two ladies, and the warm hospitality which a moment before insisted upon the strangers making Mrs. Wiley's house their home, and the best rooms in the dwelling their own private apartments, is as conveniently shuffled off to a tone of indifference, which ends in the philosophers being respectively invited to be 'bowed out' by the obsequious walley.' The other scenes in the piece are extremely humorous and characteristic, and the female characters throughout, especially those personated by Mrs. Wheatley, Mrs. Vernon, and Mrs. Gurner, are admirable copies of bona fide originals. Placide was himself a host; and the awkward, quiet importance which he threw into the part-his immoveable countenance, too dignified for a smile, and his second-hand dress coat, loose enough to enclose an alderman—were altogether as full of droll comedy as ever appeared in any of his most favorite laughter-moving exhibitions. Mrs. Wheatley has the very character in which her talents show to the greatest advantage- and she does it ample justice. Mrs. VERNON'S Mrs. Wiley cannot be too highly praised. We have in remembrance at this moment some half dozen amiable mothers, one and all of whom could see themselves reflected there.' Mrs. Gurner played with that truth and spirit which every day more and more convinces her friends of her rapid improvement. In such characters, she will soon become universally admired.

MRS. and MISS WATSON have appeared in opera, through a short engagement, during the month. Both of these ladies have many admirers, created by the very agreeable manner in which they have exhibited their musical talents heretofore, at concerts and elsewhere. Mrs. Watson made her first appearance in this country as 'Cinderella,' the music of which she executed with admirable effect, considering the disadvantages always attendant upon a début. Miss Watson appeared in the same opera as the Prince, and sang the music, as transposed for her, with as much truth and power as could be expected. We must confess, however, to a particular prejudice against the assumption by a lady of a male character in opera, most especially by one of the fine, delicate proportions of 'little Miss Watson.' It transforms the exhibition into a sort of burlesque, to say nothing of the difficulty of giving a just effect to the music by transposition,

and certainly can have no higher claim than novelty to recommend it. There are many characters in opera in which Miss Watson's voice and figure are especially available, but the Prince in Cinderella is not one of them. The after performances of Mrs. and Miss Watson were well received, and attracted larger and better audiences than have latterly assembled at the Park.

C.

'AMERICAN THEATRE,' BOWERY. The same entertainments mentioned in the February number of this Magazine have prevailed, for the most part, at this establishment during the past month. Mr. HAMELIN-a gentleman proverbial for his timely liberality, on all available occasions—having realized large receipts from the new play of Norman Leslie, generously awarded a benefit to the amiable and gifted author of the novel of that name, THEODORE S. FAY, ESQ. The house, we are gratified to say, was filled from pit to gallery, and the 'benefit' was such, in reality—the result being a cheque from Mr. Hamblin in favor of Mr. Fay for one thousand and forty-four dollars.

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THE FRANKLIN THEATRE continues to enjoy the favor of the play-going public, in no limited degree. The plays produced at this house have been, to say the least, effective since they have served to fill the petite establishment with admiring audiences. Its stock company, it is generally conceded, is unexceptionable; and it has its fair share of 'stars' - those twinkling luminaries, without whose evanescent light, (however erroneous the supposition,) most theatres are considered as being involved in little better than total darkness.

JOHN HOWARD PAYNE, ESQ. The arrest and imprisonment of this gentleman by the Georgia Guard has been regarded by the public, in every quarter, as an act equally lawless and brutal; and the universal indignation which the event awakened, speedily caused the disbanding of a corps, the officers of which are forever wedded to ridicule and contempt by the exposé of their sometime prisoner. From this document, which is now for the first time before us, we make the annexed touching extract. The writer is describing the journey into Georgia, after his capture in Tennessee:

"The earlier part of the night was bright and beautiful. But presently a wild storm arose. The rain poured in torrents. The movements of our escort were exceedingly capricious; sometimes whooping and gallopping, and singing obscene songs; and sometimes, for a season, walking, and in sullen silence. During one of the pauses in the blended tumult of the tempest and of the travelers, I chanced for a while to find myself by the side of the smooth and silky Mr. Absalom Bishop. My mind was absorbed in recollections of the many moments, when abroad, I had dwelt upon my innocent and noble country. I remembered that in one of those moments I had composed a song which has since met my ear in every clime, and in every part of every clime where I have roved. At that instant I was startled by the very air on which I was musing. It came from the lips of my companion. I could scarcelybelieve my senses: it almost seemed as if he had read my secret thoughts. What song was that I heard you humming?" 'That? 'Sweet Home' they call it, I believe. Why do you ask?' 'Merely because it is a song of my own writing, and the circumstances under which I now hear it, struck me as rather singular.' My partner simply grumbled that he was not aware I had written the song; but added, knowingly, that it was in the Western Songster, and the verses there generally had the authors' names annexed. We halted at Young's tavern. happened, curiously enough, that the Western Songster was the first object which caught my view upon the table, standing open at Sweet Home,' and fortunately for my chatracter, with the author's name annexed.' I pointed it out to Mr. Ross, and we both smiled.'

It is due to Georgia to add, that no where was the base act of a few cowardly ignoramuses, dressed in a little brief authority, received with more marked evidences of

disapprobation, than in that state. The action of her legislature was prompt and effectual.

CORRESPONDENCE. - A friend kindly corrects an error contained in a remark of Mr. FLINT'S, copied into our number for January from that gentleman's paper on American Literature in a London periodical. Contrary to the supposition of the writer, a large number of copies of Rev. DR. BEASLEY'S Search of Truth in the Science of the Human Mind' was sold in this country, and the work was favorably noticed at much length in an able Western Review. It was also well received abroad. An eminent professor in the University of Göttingen reviewed it, in a celebrated German periodical, awarding to it the highest praise. It is true, however, that our Reviews on the sea-board took no notice of the work. So far, therefore, as their silence may be taken for public decision, in relation to the merits of the volume, it may be said, in the language of Mr. Flint, to have 'fallen dead from the press.' Possibly, however, these Reviews had good reason for their neglect. They might not have known what to think or say concerning a work which successfully disputed the claims of Scottish metaphysicians - claims which they had acknowledged and elevated to the skies. Truth, however, is mighty, and must prevail; and the author of the work in question may, we think, await without fear the award of time, and the result of a growing interest in the subject among our countrymen.

ANOTHER Correspondent craves to be heard in relation to Dr. BEASLEY's paper in the last number of this Magazine, in refutation of M. HUME's argument against miracles. Without adopting the views there canvassed and impugned, JUNIUS, JR.' believes he can show that the conclusions arrived at by the writer of the article are unsound. He says: 'Dr. BEASLEY, after stating Hume's argument, asks: Because men sometimes tell falsehood, does it follow that there is no testimony which amounts to certainty?' I answer, that there are no testimonies which can be believed as certain, where there is an invariable experience amounting to certainty against them.' This appears so obvious, that in all cases where the testimony is thus opposed, we conclude at once, except when the mind is previously occupied by prejudice, that the testimony is untrue. Dr. Beasley, in conclusion, asks: When, since the creation of the world, was such a testimony as that of the apostles and evangelists found to be false?' I answer, that in the case of the Salem witchcraft, better testimony coming to us with ten times the probability, is not true.'

SIR ISAAC NEWTON. A great change in the public mind in relation to the character and renown of the eminent NEWTON is likely to be effected by a recent notice of the life and works of FLAMSTEED, (his fellow laborer in 'heavenly science,') in the London Quarterly Review. It appears, upon undoubted authority, that Newton availed himself, in numerous instances, of Flamsteed's labors, without acknowledgment, and after he became President of the Royal Society, treated the man to whom he was indebted for no small share of his reputation, with contumely, not to say contempt. Flamsteed, it appears, delivered to Newton, under a seal, an astronomical catalogue, (in the preparation of which he had 'endured long and painful distempers by night-watches, and daylabors,' and had expended a large amount of money,) with the strict injunction that it should not be made public, since it lacked revision, and preparation for the press. The subjoined extract explains itself:

'But the measure of poor Flamsteed's persecution was not full. It was followed np with a spirit of rancorous hostility, and we must add, by an act of gross injustice, which

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nothing can excuse or palliate. After the last sheet of Flamsteed's corrected and enlarged Catalogue was printed off, in December, 1712, his intention was, that the press should proceed with the Observations from which it had been derived, and which were made with the mural arc: but 'whatever instances,' he says, 'I made to Sir Isaac Newton to have the copy I had trusted to his hands, I could not prevail with him to return it.' At last he wrote to Sir Isaac, in April, 1716, pressing him to return the night notes, also the 175 manuscript sheets of Observations made with the mural arc, which were trusted to his hands in March, 1708, with so much of the Catalogue as was delivered to him sealed up, at his own request, to which, however, Sir Isaac did not condescend to make any reply. As Newton had now kept them eight years, though frequently requested to return them, Flamsteed at length determined to proceed against him for their recovery; and in the following month he sent his attorney to wait on Sir Isaac, but he would not be seen. That Flamsteed should have taken this last resource is the less surprising, after the several unsuccessful applications for the restoration of his property, which were wholly unheeded. But the reason for this became apparent so soon as the fact was known that the 175 manuscript sheets of Observations, which were to be kept by Newton, as a sacred deposit, had been handed over to Halley. Newton,' says Flamsteed (Letter 216) has put my 175 sheets into Halley's keeping: this is the height of trick, ingratitude, and baseness; but I never expected any better from him since he gave my Catalogue into Halley's hands. I can bear it. God forgive all his falseness.' Thus it appears that the sealed Catalogue placed in Sir Isaac Newton's custody, had also been given to Halley, and, with all its imperfections (distinctly stated to Newton as a reason against publishing it,) together with Halley's mutilations, had actually been printed, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Flamsteed, who thus finding that all faith with him had been broken, that his Catalogue had been thus surreptitiously and clandestinely printed, and that his Observations also had been sent to the press in a garbled and improper manner, determined to break off all communication with him.'

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Strange that the brow of NEWTON, at this late day, should be stripped of false laurels! but such it should seem, must be the inevitable result.

LITERARY RECORD.

'SOUTHERN LITERARY JOURNAL.' We ought, before this, to have mentioned a monthly magazine, bearing the above title, issued at Charleston, by the editor and proprietor, DANIEL K. WHITAKER, Esq. It presents sectional and superior claims to the patronage of the South, which should not pass unregarded by that intellectual and populous portion of the republic. Among the original articles in the number for February, we remark an excellent one on the 'Italian Poets of the Eighteenth Century' — a review of GIUSEPPE PARINI, from the pen of Mrs. E. F. ELLET - whose recent loss to us of the North has been the great gain of the South, and of whose merits as a writer our readers are not ignorant. The first chapter of the Death of Grierson' opens with spirit, and is, or we mistake its promise, the avant courier of a stirring tale. The continuation, however, of a story, where the interval is so long as a month, is an objectionable feature with most readers. There are just views and shrewdness in the paper on Foreign Travel,' and 'Medical Jurisprudence' worthily fills the prominent place assigned to it. The literary notices seem to be marked by strict considerations of justice, and good judgment. Ostentatious, unmingled severity, born of private ill will, or a mere captious spirit, is very properly eschewed. The editor, from his armchair, sends forth a graphic sketch of the lamented COLTON, author of 'Lacon,' with whom he enjoyed for ten years an intimate acquaintance. We annex a brief extract:

'In a conversation we had with Mr. Colton, just before he left this country, he promised that in eighteen months we should see from his pen a work that would eclipse his Lacon.' His design was most probably thwarted by circumstances, and the 'fine Roman hand,' displayed in his 'Lacon,' can now furnish us with no more records to enlighten, to gladden, or to grieve the mind! Strange power of genius, which can thus infuse regret into the hearts of thousands who may never have known its possessor! Mr. Colton partook largely of this unsafe gift- all who knew, admired him; no one felt with, or for him. His manners and appearance were singular; and his conversational powers extraordinary- they seemed equal to all subjects; and we think excelled

those of his pen. His egotism was excessive, and partly attributable, no doubt, to the low association he had manifestly been addicted to in England - since nothing tends so much to repress the propensity (inseparable from the consciousness of superior powers, and difficult to restrain) as good society.

'We have said that Mr. Colton's appearance was singular: his eyes corresponded more with the description given by Madame de Staël, of those of Napoleon, than any we ever remember to have seen. Of gray-extremely penetrating-they were themselves impenetrable.

"The aptness and appositeness of his illustrations were truly surprising. Nature and art were alike put in easy requisition by the man of genius and the scholar; and, altogether, we thought him the most triumphant man in conversation we had ever met with.'

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THE STRUCTURE OF THE EYE. - We have been both gratified and instructed in the perusal of this little book. It is a clear and, as far as possible, untechnical description of the structure of the eye-its outer case— the layers or coats beneath it—the magnifiers the means by which the picture of objects at different distances is formed only on the expansion of the optic nerve the colored circle round the pupil, called the iris — the muscles which give motion to the cye-ball — and, lastly, the apparatus for furnishing and carrying away the tears. The author is Mr. WILLIAM Clay Wallace, Occulist to the New-York Institution for the Blind, and for many years Surgeon's Assistant at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary. We annex the opening paragraph, which conveys a plain illustration of the great principle of those 'windows of the soul,' about which so much has been said by novelists and poets, but the structure of which is rarely understood:

"There are few who have not been pleased with the representations of a camera obscura. The light reflected from objects, after passing through a magnifying glass into a small chamber, with darkened walls and roof, and falling upon a sheet of paper at a certain distance from the glass, forms a beautiful picture upon the paper. The representation of the scene before the glass is so true to nature, that artists often avail themselves of this method of making a correct landscape. The eye is just such an instrument, consisting of several magnifiers, placed in a dark chamber for a similar purpose. The light reflected from objects before it, passes through the magnifiers and forms a picture at the back of the eye, where the rays thus collected strike upon the fibres of the optic nerve, and vision is the consequence.'

BRECKENRIDGE'S ADDRESS. The Address delivered in July, 1835, before the Eucleian and Philomathean Societies of the University of the city of New-York, has but recently been published. We have perused it with pleasure. The plan of the writer, 'to exhibit some of the features which peculiarly characterize our country, and to point out the duty of American youth, resulting from such a view,' is well carried out, and the positions and views of the Address sustained and illustrated in the several divisions of its subject, with much ability. America is shown to be eminently characterized as the depository of liberty; her appropriate influence, especially in view of this sacred deposit, is considered; the evils which threaten us from within, are exposed; the duties of American youth, to themselves and to their country, are set forth; and an elevated and disinterested public spirit inculcated. The tendency of the Address is in all respects salutary, while its manner, void of florid sentences and elaborately-rounded. periods, is well suited to the plain exposition of its sound views, and the enforcement of its valuable precepts.

'YALE MAGAZINE.' - The first number of a neatly-executed magazine, thus entitled, and conducted by the students of Yale College, lies before us. Taking into consideration the disadvantages of a 'first appearance,' the contents of the work reflect no dishonor upon the institution from whence it emanates. There are two or three superior original papers. Such are 'Revolutions and their Tendencies,' and 'The Sciot Girl.' There is now and then a slight tinge of the sophomore spirit, but this is not strange. The whole is creditable, both in spirit and execution, to the young gentlemen concerned in its production. Three numbers, containing about forty pages, are proposed to be issued, should sufficient encouragement be offered, during each college term.