MOUNTAINS.-Mountains are to the rest of the earth what muscular action is to the body of man. The muscles and tendons of its anatomy are, in the mountains, brought out with force and convulsive energy, full of expression, passion and strength. The plains and lower hills are the repose and the effortless motion of the frame when the muscles lie dormant and concealed beneath its lines of beauty, yet ruling those lines in their every undulation. This, then, is the first grand principle of the truth of the earth. The spirit of the hills is action-that of the lowlands, repose; and between these there is to be found every variety of motion and rest, from the inactive plain, sleeping like the firmament, with cities for stars, to the fiery peaks, which, with heaving bosoms and exulting limbs-with the clouds drifting like hair from their bright foreheads-lift up their Titan hands to heaven, saying: "I live forever!"

THE DEATH OF CAROLAN.-(Founded on Fact.)

Weary and faint came Carolan,

To his ancient halls one day;

His withered cheek was pale and wan,
And his flowing beard was gray;

And dim was the eye of the bard of old-
His palsied hand was weak;

His voice, whose music erst had thrilled,
In feeble tones did speak:-

"Blest home! he said, "I'll rest me here-
Lead me once more to my oaken chair!"

He gazed around with anxious eye,

On each familiar face,

But saw them not! and heaved a sigh,
While tears stole down his face;

"Twas sad to see the blind man weep
O'er memories of the past!

His soul seeemed moved by sorrows deep,
His strength seemed failing fast;

"Bring me my harp!" he said, "once more-
My harp, my pride in days of yore."

Around his harp awhile he clung,
With mingled smiles and tears,

And then some tender strain he sung,
Of bye-gone happy years;

But soon in more impassioned words,

He tried a bolder strain,

And struck some wild and thrilling chords,
Then all was hushed again;

Then breathing out his soul in prayer,

The Minstrel died in his oaken chair.

THE KING AND THE DENTIST.-Went to Hthe dentist to have my teeth cleaned. Told of his nephew, who is practising as a dentist in India, being employed to make a set of teeth for the King of Delhi. The difficulty at starting was, that the dentist required to be allowed to take a mould of the king's mouth; and the idea of a Christian putting his hand in the royal mouth was an abomination not to be heard of. It was at last, however, agreed that by washing his hands, before the operation commenced, in the water of the Ganges, the dentist might qualify himself for the contract. The teeth succeeded admirably; and one of the courtiers who, from jealousy of the Englishman, had declared they would be good for nothing, was desired by the king to put his finger in and try; and, on the courtier's doing so, his majesty nearly bit the finger in two. The affair, however, turned out unluckily; as the king, whose appetite was enormous, being enabled by the new grinders to gratify it ab libitum, brought on a plethora, which nearly killed him, and the teeth were thrown into the Ganges. Memoirs of T. Moore. ANCESTRY.-The boast of them who have nothing else to boast of.

Review of Current Literature.

1. PICTORIAL BIBLE STORIES. Part Second. Henry Formby. Baltimore: Murphy & Co.

Moses

Solomon. By the Rev.

The readers of the Metropolitan are already acquainted with the labors of Father Formby; his efforts to establish a series of stories drawn from the sacred annals, in a style adapted to the capacity of the young, and in a form at once entertaining and instructive. We know the fondness of children for pictures-the delight with which they gaze on pictorial representations; we know, too, the deep and lasting impressions thus made upon the innocent and youthful mind. To turn this inborn propensity of the child to its mental improvement, and make the instruments of its pleasure serve as a medium of imparting religious instruction. is a work that cannot be too highly appreciated; and to accomplish so desirable an object, is the design of the series of Bible Stories.

The little volume now presented to the public, is the second of the series It passes over a period of sacred history fraught with the deepest interest. The departure of the Israelites from the land of Egypt, their passage of the Red Sea, their wandering in the desert, their arrival in the promised land, their wars and their triumphs, the prosperity and the punishment of David, the glory of the reign of Solomon, are all calculated to make the most lasting and salutary impressions on the minds of children. They will learn from the many examples in the sacred annals the beauty and the rewards of virtue, and the enormity and the punishment of crime.

The neatness of the finish and numerous embellishments of the present number give it a peculiar attraction. The illustrations are of a superior order, surpassing in correctness of design and beauty of execution any thing we have met with in similar works.

2. THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH; or, the Seven Pillars of the House of Wisdom. By the Rev. Henry Formby. Baltimore: Murphy & Co.

This is another work from the pen of the learned and zealous missionary of Birmingham. His zeal for the cause of truth; his burning desire of imparting instruction to those around him, allow him not a moment's repose. He has learned from experience the sad want of religious knowledge, especially among Catholic youth. To remove this reproach, and to remedy the evil, has long been his most ardent desire. Hence his indefatigable labor in the cause of instruction; hence his exertions in his various works to blend the pleasing with the profitable, and to make the acquisition of knowledge a pastime and a pleasure.

The Seven Sacraments of the Church is not a book of piety; it is rather a work of popular instruction on the most important tenets of religion. It is written with a view of making religious instruction interesting to youth, by connecting the explanation of the dogmas of the new law with incidents drawn from the history of the Old Testament. The design is admirably conceived and well carried out.

But the distinctive feature in the work is its pictorial character,-a feature that will render it at once a favorite with the young. Experience shows the value of types and figures in a work of instruction, particularly in the point of attractiveness to the youthful mind. Being fully impressed with the usefulness of the book, we earnestly commend it to parents and others having the charge of youth.

3. THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THEIR COLONIZATION TO THE end of THE TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS IN 1841. By George Tucker. Vol. I. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. Baltimore: Murphy & Co.

It has been well observed, that "history is philosophy teaching by example.” From the light reflected from the ages of the past, we are enabled to contemplate the actions of those who have gone before us, to gather knowledge from their lives, and to profit by their experience. From the example of the great and the good, we are en

couraged to virtuous and noble deeds; from the fate that has befallen the impious, we are admonished that the crimes of nations as well as individuals, have a limit; that the day of reckoning, though postponed by the patience of an offended Deity, will sooner or later arrive.

A knowledge of general history is important, but as citizens of a vast empire, whose very foundations rest upon the intelligence of the people, it behooves us to be intimately acquainted with the history of our own country. With its institutions, with the circumstances connected with its growth and prosperity, every citizen ought to be familiar; and indeed with the present facilities of acquiring this knowledge, it would be a reproach not to be acquainted with the history of the United States.

The importance of being well acquainted with the annals of this country, especially from the period when it assumed the position of an independent nation, cannot be too highly estimated. It is therefore a source of much gratification to observe that the subject has engaged the attention of some of the ablest minds in the country. We have histories of the United States ably written-accurate in detail and abounding with the deepest interest. A history, however, dealing more with the institutions of the country than is usually met in those now extant, marking their progress and developing their advantages, it often occurred to us, was a very great desideratum; and this has been supplied by the work now presented to the public from the pen of Mr. Tucker. The author commences by given us a short outline of the early settlement of the country. He passes rapidly in review the events that led to our separation from the mother country, at which period his history properly begins. From this onward his details are more ample and full. Connectedly with the history, he examines minutely the working of the government, and exhibits the secret springs by which it was impelled. The characters of the distinguished men who took part in its early formation are properly estimated and correctly drawn. Candor and impartiality, as far as we are able to judge from the volume before us, seem to have been the chief aim of the author. The style is clear and concise, and well adapted to the nature of the work; and if we may judge of the forthcoming volumes by the one now presented to the public, we are fully persuaded that Mr. Tucker's history will become a valuable acquisition to the literature of the country, and compare favorably with those histories which are now regarded as standard works on the subject.

4. THE LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON: in three volumes. By Washington Irving. New York: G. P. Putnam. Baltimore: Murphy & Co.

There seems to us a peculiar fitness in the fact, that the most distinguished actor in the past history of the nation, should find a biographer in one of the most distinguished writers of the present age. The name of Washington Irving is one of which America feels proud; his literary career reflects lustre upon the country and on the age in which he lives. His life of Washington, apart from other merits, would derive importance from having emanated from his pen.

We have other lives of Washington possessed of distinguished merits. Weems will be read for the humor of its style, and for the fund of anecdotes which interlard its pages; Marshall, for his calmness and impartiality, and that almost judicial dignity with which he treats the subjects; Sparks, for his faithful annals and valuable records of Washington's writings; still there was room for another biography, in which the graces of literature should be brought to illustrate the life and times of the "Father of his Country."

The work before us, whether we consider it in respect to its subject or author, is one that needs not our commentary or our praise. There is one feature in it, however, which we much admire. It exhibits Washington more in a social attitude than we find him in other biographies. This feature has been observed by a cotemporary writer, who thus speaks of it in a notice of the work: "It has been too much the habit of historical writers to represent him rather as a cold abstraction than a being warm with the life and blood of a man clothed in flesh and partaking in like passions with ourselves.

Mythology alone, it should be remembered, preserves the record of demi-gods who no longer "live in the faith of reason." In the annals of veritable history and biography we expect to meet with men-men who, though they may have made their lives sublime, were yet sharers in that common humanity which they have done so much to ennoble and adorn."

5. PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA AND MEDINA. By Richard F. Burton. New York: G. P. Putnam & Co. Baltimore: Murphy & Co.

The interest felt at the present time in everything relating to the East, would be alone sufficient to give to this book a favorable reception. But there are other circumstances which combine to give it a degree of more than ordinary importance. Our knowledge of the Mohammedan doctrine, and the rites and ceremonies attending the worship especially, in the "sacred ” cities of Medina and Mecca, is extremely limited. No people could be more jealous and more guarded of their religious rites and ceremonies than the followers of the "Prophet." None but professed Mohammedans are allowed to enter the above-named cities; hence the difficulty, be the disguise ever so complete, for Christians to enter these places. It is not surprising, therefore, that to the present time only three or four Christians have been able to describe, from personal observation, the cities of Mecca and Medina.

sors.

Bartessea, an Italian, in 1603, was the first who made a pilgrimage to Mecca; and his account, we believe, is chiefly confined to a description of that city. Pitts, an Englishman, in 1680, visited Mecca and Medina; but little reliance is placed upon his statements. The most reliable author, previous to Mr. Burton, is Burkhardt, who visited the East in 1814. His account, however, is chiefly confined to Mecca, as he was taken ill at Medina, which limited his observations and descriptions concerning the latter place. Burton's narrative is more ample and complete than any of his predecesDifficulties innumerable lay in the way of the execution of his dangerous undertaking; but his perfect disguises, his thorough acquaintance with the various dialects of Arabia and Persia, and his knowledge of Mohammedan doctrine, enabled him to accomplish it successfully. He describes minutely many things only mentioned by those who previously visited these places, and fully corroborates previous accounts. His full and minute accouht of the religious observances of the pilgrimage, and the various forms of salutation and prayer, is exceedingly interesting. Indeed, the whole work abounds with interest, far surpassing, to our minds, the most engaging novel. But, apart from the interest thrown into its pages, the work will be found in a high degree valuable to those who wish to acquire a knowledge of oriental life and scenery, and become acquainted with the religion and religious observances and ceremonies of the followers of the "Prophet."

6. WIDDIFIELD'S NEW COOK BOOK; or, Practical Receipts for the Housewife. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson. Baltimore: Murphy & Co.

As the science treated of in this book was far above our humble abilities, we handed it to a fair friend, with a request to give us an impartial statement relative to its merits. The following is the prompt and, we must presume, candid reply:

"Widdifield's New Cook Book is, without a question, one of the best of the kind now before the public. Its receipts, over five hundred in number, extend over every variety and species of cooking. These receipts have been fully tested, and prove to be all the authoress claims for them. But one of the great advantages enjoyed by this book is the simplicity of the ingredients, and the comparatively moderate cost at which every receipt may be prepared: thus uniting in cooking two most desirable objects, economy and utility. Let our young ladies make themselves familiar with this book; it will prove far more useful, when they come to assume the care of a household, than a score of novels."

With this endorsement, we can have no hesitation in recommending the work to our readers,

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

Messrs. Murphy & Co. announce for early publication the following important works, viz. A new revised edition of The Primacy of the Apostolic See Vindicated; by the Most Rev. FRANCIS PATRICK KENRICK, Archbishop of Baltimore. The announcement of a second edition of this important work within a year, is not only the best evidence of its merits, but also of the interest taken in the subject. It is universally acknowledged the ablest vindication of the primacy ever published, and the steadfast and increasing demand for it, must be alike gratifying to the distinguished author and to the Catholic community. There are many reasons at the present time which render the subject attractive, not only to the enquirer after religious truth, but even to the statesman. These reasons are briefly enumerated by the learned and distinguished author in the following extracts which we subjoin from the preface of the forthcoming edition:

"Although but a short space of time has elapsed since the fourth edition of this work was issued, several events have occurred which serve to show the vast importance of the subject of which it treats. The impediments thrown in the way of the exercise of the Pontifical power, by Joseph II, have been voluntarily removed by the present Emperor of Austria, who feels that his first duty and best policy is to acknowledge the Church of God, to respect her rights, and promote the observance of her laws. The Czar of Russia has so far yielded to the sense of the expediency of conciliating his Catholic subjects as to send a minister to Rome empowered to make every suitable concession for the arrangement of the Catholic interests of Poland; and has received, in return, an extraordinary envoy of the Holy See, sent to compliment him on occasion of his coronation, which has so recently dazzled the world by its splendor. But the greatest homage rendered to the papal authority in this age, or perhaps in any other, is the acquiescence of the whole Catholic episcopacy and the Church at large in the definition pronounced two years ago from the Chair of Peter. In the mean time, the want of a tribunal to maintain and guard the revealed doctrines has been seen in the English establishment, by the latitude of opinion allowed by the Queen's Privy Council in regard to baptismal regeneration, and by the recent proscription of the doctrine of the real presence pronounced in the name of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In our own country, the excitement which prevails on the subject of domestic slavery, and the spread of polygamy in the territory of Utah, evince the advantages of an authority which, independently of local considerations. declares the divine law, and lends moral influence to the support of government and society. May we not hope that the unjust prejudices so deeply rooted and so industriously fostered against this guardian power wil at length yield to the evidences which daily multiply of its necessity?"

Roman Vesporal, containing the complete vespers for the whole year, with the Gregorian chants in modern notation, is another work shortly to be issued by the same publishers. This is an important work, and its appearance will be hailed with pleasure. It is intended to supply a want which has been much felt in this country, both by clergy and laity. The former will find it a liturgical work required in every church; to the latter it will be a hand book, enabling them to assist at the solemn services of the Church and take part in the same. The chants of the Church should be familiar to Catholics; they should join in them, as is the custom in Catholic countries. Devotion and a sense of duty may lead us to take part in the public service of the Church, but we pray best when we say those prayers which the Church prescribes for us. This should be early impressed upon the minds of children, and if the forthcoming book be introduced into our schools and colleges, its good effects will soon be felt throughout the

country.

Mr. Donahoe, of Boston, announces for early publication The Principles of Government, by WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN; and The Life of Mary, Queen of Scols. The former of these works was written while the distinguished author was in exile. The name of William Smith O'Brien, the prominent part he took in the late Irish rebellion, and the circumstances under which the work was written, must impart to it additional interest, and will secure it a large circulation. The latter is from the pen of a French author, the celebrated De Marles, and was published at Tours, in 1853. It is translated by a gentleman of Maryland.

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