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22 CONTRIBUTIONS L ETKOPOLITAN CORRESPONDENCE. LETTER XXX. . Kew York, Jan. 9th, 1854. 77, Holidays Popular Interest New Year's Day in New York New Year's Sabbath Snow And Sleighing Peculiar custom New Year's calls Extent of the obligation Modus Operandi Bre vity of calls Refreshment Number of calls .Carnival in the streets Sleighs and Sleigh-bells I Runaways and collisions A subject for Cruik .. -.shank's 'pencit Winter nights and books The Priest and the Huguenot History of British In dia 'The London Illustrated Library Mr. Bohn's ' Libraries Egypt and Ethiopia Comte's Positive Philosophy-Dextruction of the Lafarge Hotel and Metropolitan Hall by fire A Complaint. My Dear iW,-The New Year's carnival in our great metropolis is now over, and the course of life "is returning into. its wonted channels, lo obtain any adequate idea of the .interru ption to the usual tenor of things occasioned by the holidays, you must have been, like me, an eye-witness. I think I told you in a previous letter, that prepara tions for the holidays occupied every one's thoughts and every one's time. You will not be surprised, therefore" to hear that when at length, the festival : time'anived, there was a complete aud utter aban ine aiverKC methods of celebrating and enjoying it. Passing over the Christmas festival with- its eccle stastieal and social ob.-ei vanct-s, common to all .arts of Christendom I shall endeavor to give youome idea of the peculiar festival of New York rXew YniSs Dy as both Christmas and New Yeai;s fell upon Sunday the subsequent Monday : was in both cases observed as the holiday. New . Year's Sabbath; therefore, passed as a sort of nulla tiV. except with that, I hope, not inconsiderable, part of our community who made it ' a season of grateful and devout thanksgiving to God for Ills mercies during the past year. , Monday morning broke upon the metropolis and brought to the whole population the tokens of a veal and rare carnival: The whole city was cover ed with a snowy mantfe and seemed like a bride 'arrayed for the altar. It was not ajight covering either, but, the accumulation of two-or three suc cessive, snow-falls with the advantage of partial inter-thaws to make the whole compact and solid. For once, the sleighing was unquestionably good enough to suit the most exacting taste or imagina tion. At the thousands of breakfast tables in the city fromUhe early hourof seven vuntil the aristo cratic hour of ten nothing was talked of but the day's frolic and fun'. It is the custom in New York, and I know not that the practice obtains anywhere else, at least,, as. a late for the men and . boys included! to call upon every lady of their acquaintance within, the limits of the metropolis and.its suburbs. It is equally the law of course, that the ladies of all ages stay at home to recieve these calls. The gentleman who has an extensive acquaintance prepares himself therefore for a formi dable duty. His list is made out with pare before hand and the names arranged with topographical care, that he may lose as little time as possible it his progress. This list includes every lady with whom himself or his family are upon visiting terms. It matters nbt that he may have no per gonal acquaintance with a lady. If she be the wife ' or the sister of a social o'rliusfciesa acquaintance, : he must pay his respects to her upon New Year's J)ay. Not to call is equivalent to a denial of ac quaintanceships rather tq an expression of indif ference as to its continuance. 1, do not say that there is no reparation for an omission to call but nevertheless it is a thing to-be avoided if possible. Now let me give, you a glimpse of the routine. 'The vouwg men have of course the most numerous calls "to make it may be a hundred, or two hun dredj and even three hundred is not an impossible ': number. These generally " hunt in couples" per haps jn trios or quartettes, and in either case they rule upon their rounds. On Monday last the mer ry sleigh-bells made most incessaut music from mom till midnight. The earliest calls are general ly tame and dull. ' Every one is upon their pro priety. The gentlemen enter the parlor where they find "the lady or ladies of the house, who are stand in" to receive them. As many of the visitors make their New Year's call, the only one in all the year, it is quite' common to have the greeting after this fashion : " Why, Mr. Brown ! I'm happy to see you. It i an age since I had the pleasure!" "In deed, Mrs. Smith, I am under infinite obligations to the beneficent law which gives me such a. coveted pleasure, in spite of my constant occupations." "."Wont you take a glass of wine. Mr. Brown, or ' "a cup of coffee and some pickled oysters ?" , "I beijeve I will try the former that I may drink to our more frequent meeting in the new year." "' When the visitor is a familiar friend and caller, the words are different and the scene more" social. The visit is a brief one it may be five minutes, it seldom exceed fifteen in any case. The visitor stands '.with hlV hat in. his hand, and if he . would, he must not linger, for his list is formidably long. By the time that 20 or 30 calls have been made, and as' many sips of wine or punch have been tak- ' enthough it is not imjwlite to -refuse the refresh ments offered at any place the;. visitor is general ly inclined to be as social and familiar as his nature prompts ; and it isaiot strange that at the.end of a day of such calls, nyany a young gentleman nnds it difficult to get to bed without aid I The calls of New Year's are not all so brief and ceremonious as these. Some there are, many per- haps, who make only half a dozen or half a score of calls visits I may term them, but with the majority of callers the rule is to pass the compli ments of the season and hurry off. Many seem to think it essential to their character to have an in terminable list aud to be in a most desperate hurry. These invariably brag, as they proceed, upon what they have accomplished. They Mill draw out their watch the second minute of their call, and with affected alarm exclaim : - "Why bless my soul, it is time for me to go, I have yet sixty calls to make !" Every where the ; "visitor finds a table spread with eatables and drink ables, and the ladies, as in duty bound, are all be decked in their best, and wreathed with courtesies and smiles. The streets, meanwhile, are full of men, while not a petticoat or at least a delicate one is seen to flutter along the ptave. Ilerethey go and there they go, in black coats, black hats and gloves, each consulting a slip of paper, or it may be, a memo randum book, and each appearing to be oppressed with a sense of formidable duties. And really, it is not a trifling task :.to make fitly or sixty calls in one day, especially if one has to do it on foot. I made thirty-five mvself, at the rate of seveato an hour, and was glad that I had no more acquain tances in his great metropolis ! Apart from the New Year's calls, the day was a peculiar one. Broadway and the other great thoroughfares were choked with sleighs, and the rush was inc&sant. Immense sleighs containing forty, and perhaps fifty nersons. were drawn by eight or ten horses all coy- Arpd with bells. , To their music add the hurrahs of the passengers and the answering shou of the pe. flirt rva nriA von mV have an idea of. the (iiu which prevailed. .The excitements of the day were increased by frequent runaways and bv occasional collisions with consequent upsets and scatteratioiis. The day was exceedingly fine, and never in the annals of the city of the Knickerlock ers was there a more' peifect snow carnival held in our midst. I liuvi done great injustice consciously to the New Year's festi-al o.l' our metropolis. It would " require the p.encil of a Cruikshanks toHlo it. up as it deserves to be done. I may possibly have sue WnfierRrrr,"afid" 'inore than this, I could not hope to do. The long winter evenings which now prevail afford me unwonted leisure for read ing, and I have been of late among-the new books.. With a sustained and most absorbing interest haveT read from ' beginning to end, two volumes' entitled " The Priest awl the Huguenot" transla ted from the French of M. Bungener, a minister of the Keformed Church of Geneva, a work devoted to the delineation of theTeh'uious aspect of France in the period of the weak,' but sumptuous Louis XIV. .Intensely dramatic iy its style, the book fairly fascinates the reader, aneLjfills both the. inind and the heart with vivid impressions of the horrors and injustice of the religious persecutions of that unhappy period of history. : It is a book of the most startling contrasts of the most powerful char acterization and, notwithstanding . its profound and aggressive antagonism to the Romish Church, of a fine and comprehensive catholicity. The work.; is republished by Messrs. Could & -Lincolnof Bos-". ; ton, who previously issued " The Preacher and the King" a work of similar" character and merit, by the same author. They deserve to be known and' read throughout Christendom. The Three Presidencies of India, is the title of a handsome octavo volume recently 'published in London, in the perusal of which I have gained a more thorough insight into the polity and peculiar ities of British India, and into the manners, cus toms and religious doctrines and-rites of its heath en millions, than from any other work extant, ft is from the pen of Mr. J. Capper, who was fori long time the Editor of the Ceylon Examiner, and whose facilities for writing such a work could hard ly be surpassed. He has spoken out without fear or favor, tQUching the narrow: and selfish policy of the British Government towards its Indian colo nies, and H is to Vk Vopol tLut tLo xraxaa xeill taa. potential as the echo of thie public opinion in effecting desired reforms in the British Indian er ritory, now of such vast extent. . This Volume is one of a series called the London Hlustrated Li-' 1 brary, embracing works of g?eat excellence, hand somely printed and finely illustrated. They are sold at a very small price, arid are imported for the trade in this country by'Messrs. Bangs, Brother & Co., of New York, who-are also, as I have more than once mentioned, the agents for Bohn's admi rable libraries. Of these latter, new volumes are constantly appearing. One upon "Egypt, Ethiopia and the Peninsula of Sinai" the learned work of Dr. Lepsius, a German savant is a late addition to the Antiquarian Series, jand another -volume entitled " An Exposition of the principles of the C urs de Philosophie Positive of Auguste Comte,," belongs to the Scientific Library. Both of these works merit the earnest attention of the scholar and 'thoughtful reader. Mr. Bohn's books are most carefully and judiciously chosen, and should be in every library. ' New York has nearly been frightened out of its propriety of late, by two fearful conflagrations, and only yesterday morning, a third terrible fire creat ed a feneral excitement. It broke out in the Me tropolitan Hall, which, together with the new and magnificent Lafarge Hotel, into which the Hall was eventually to be absorbed, is now a mass of smoking reeking ruins ! The conflagration happened at mid-. night,and the work of destruction was soon complete. The L'afarge Hotel was almost ready for the recep-J tion of guests. Costly, and magnificent furniture had just been put in tojthe house, which was most ly saved, but in a darriaged state. The loss is of course very great, but I do not know that any great degree of popularsympathy prevails withthe owner. It is impossible not to deplore the destruction of our magnificent musical hall;, around which so ma ny memories of delight cluster in connection with those queens of song, Jenny Lind,. Catherine Haves, Sont.ag, and Alboni, and more recently with the grand' orchestral ! performances of Jullien's match less band. The beauty of our splendid promenade is wofully marred by this last conflagration. In place of a ralace fronttwo hundred feet long and seven stories high,- of white marble, there is now a vast gap of blackened and unsiglAly ruins. Before I close this - letter . allow w to enter a complaint against somebody or somebody else, through whose neglect I 'have failed to receive nearly all the late numbers 'f 'the Post. One which came to hand a fortnight ago should have contain ed my closing letter upon the Crystal Palace, but did not.- There would appear to be "a screw loose " somewhere. ;i ; . As this is the first letter I have written' to your readers since the New Year began, I will close it by offering to them'all the compliments "of the season. COSMOS. CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY. Charleston, Dec. 31st, 1853. Mr Dear Mother : I have returned from a visit of ten days in the country, and hasten to givo you my first impressions of plantation life. ' It was a bright morning when we left our city home, in the little steamboat that was to carry us1 within ten miles of our destination. Seated upon deck, with an interesting book, the hours passed swiftly, until we were . met by the friend to whose house we were invited. Then we step 1 fro steamer to the row-boat and were qo'. a 7 0 over the waters, and listening to the' s gV boatmen.- This was all new to me,an I njy , it exceedingly. The melodies were ep sweet, u in some of the songs, sacred words were sWng6 J intermingled with the welcome they gave th 1- , ... ... :l, their "kind aies coming to spend unnsuuaa ... , . sT TC Missus." We were told that tne negruoo , thJnk it wrong Jxk sing any but " spirituals." After leaving the bbat, a ride of five miles through the woods, brought us to the door of one of the loveliest of southern country nom " .i .- where we received a cordial welcome; The day after our arrival was rainy, and of course we spent it by the fireside, eniovin gits -quiet home pleasures The next dav the Sabbath the sun shone brightly, and we h'ad a delightful ride of seven miles through the forest of rreen pines and mag nificent live oaks to the country 'church.-. A north erner is much impressed by the sight of these grand old tieesso gracefully draped with the waving, banner-like moss. And then, thh old church it has a history. Many, many yean ago, upon the same spot the colonists built a chinch, which du ring the Revolutionary war, was destroyed by Brit ish soldiers. Some of the ruins remained, around which the iv A m-cndiTOi, me ae.scenuKi-X)i ti vy twined, and a-utHf trHt'-01 had worshipped there, desired to worship the God of their fathers, upon the same spot, and upon the ancient ruins was' erected this church.' - The ensuing week passed rapdly. Sometimes we would ride to the cotton fields ; sometimes A it neighboring rice plantation, where we saw the flood-gates and other arrangements for " growing rice;" and he stacks of rice, all ready for the threshing floor. Another day, we would walk about the plantation, visiting the different build ings, where we were shown the "mysteries of " cot ton ginning," and cotton-packing. Or, turning our steps to the garden, we would admire the thorny Teaves and coral berries of the Holly or the beau tiful Laurel, or pluck a December rose. If we ex tended our walk through the avenue, we could rest (at the favorite "laurel seat." Sometimes we would pay a visit to two very old Africans who always gladly welcomed their "Missus," but whose broken language it was difficult for a stranger to under stand. Thus the days glided by, .while our even iugs were enlivened by music, conversation, and quiet games, till Christmas came. f You have never seen a Christmas Tree, nor had I, and although I had often heard them described, I was not prepared to see so beautiful a sight, as greeted my eyes, when the doors of the drawing room were thrown open. The pine tree with its "golden lamps hid in a pighof green" shone like a fairy vision. From its branches hung fruits of great variety rosy cheeked apples and golden oranges contrasted with gay ly dressed (.lolls, bright colored Cornuconiae, ele gant books, and many other tasteful gifts some the giver's own work others brought a great distance displaying the watchful love that had chosen for the husband or child that which was most desired. The tree was too heavily laden with its Christmas fruit tojiUAtain all the varied mfts. hujjnanv were placed beneath it. None were forgotten -for eve ry child, there were gifts from each parent, and trom each brother and sister, and even the little babe the darling of them all, who in the arms of her nurse gazed with bewildered delight on the "an imated scene, not only received them, but in her name many were given. A silver thimble was pre sented to her nurse, with the words, "little Phebe's Christmas gift to her mamma." It was a scene of happiness, in which all the household- participated. The servants received their "Christmas" upon a different day. We stood upon the piazza, while each in turn came to their master and mistress and received from the hand of the latter, with a bow and a V thank you missus " a warm cap or gay handkerchief, and thence proceeded to the store house to receive their Christmas "good things." As we gazed upon their laughing faces, we thought that they were indeed enjoying a " merry Christ- mas." Early Christmas morning the family were awak ened by the voices of the servants singing their Christmas hymn upon the piazza, and afterward one of their number a pious man prayed fer vently for their master and mistress. We were deeply interested in the Sunday School that our friend taught in the afternoon of that day. Near lythirty boys and girls met upon the piazza, and recited with great correctness the catechism, their mistress had taught them, and repeated several hymns. In their instruction she used large cards upon which were painted Scripture Scenes, and they answered her questions respecting them with out hesitation. They appeared deeply interested in her instructions. They joined with great anima tion in singing several hymns, and methinks, I even now hear their voices echoing the chorus of their Christmas hymn, "Don't you hear the arch-y-an- gels singing, uiory to the new-fetns Kmg. lie fore they separ. ted, they all kneeled down and re peated with their mistress several short prayers, closmg'with " Our rather. It was with sad hearts wc said farewell to our friends at Winterdale, but we will ever cherish sweet memories of this pleasant Southern home. Your affectionate daughter, M. L. B. For the Southern Weekly Post- VIRGINIA D . , BY. C. II. BRACKETTE. A young lady .of blue eyes, tight hair, and a fore head indicating intellect of a high order, sat alone in the parlor of a select boarding house ip the city of B- a brief fourteen months since.' It was a dull autumn evening and little without looked in viting to the eye. One acquainted minutely with the science of Gall and Spurziem, would have per ceived the organs of ideality, imitation and mirth fulnass fully developed, while the sentiments of the higher order were large also. - The young lady had scarcely seen twenty sum mevs, and yet was an orphan m the world. She was seriously meditating, and at times gaz ing .at a pile of letters which were scattered ever a parlor table before her. V At times the eye was lit up by pleasant, mirth ful. thoughts. How. the eye too of woman in her hours of pensive memories expresses intfilect sen tiraent and passion. ? The one to whom this sketch "refos would in an assembly where fashion, beauty, and intellectual characters are found, have been singled out oi uuu dreds, not only as a peculiarly lovely and graceful being, but more as having a soul nouie m sense of the word. Hours passed swiftly away, and still Virginia D did not permit forgetfulness of her avoca tion for the time, to overcome her. She was answering, or seeking to do so, the let ter of a recent correspondent whose half dozen let ters were before her. Of the gentleman whom she was corresponding with, she knew little, they hav ing never met, and their acquaintance being there fore pf course limited. Answering an advertisement in one of the daily journals of the city, she had commenced a corres- pondence which threatened to be extended n not interesting, and was writing to a stranger. ' Charles Ilarley, wl'iore circle seemed to be en larging into an acquaintance on pai'ek, with Virginia D- , was a gentleman of about thirty three years of age, of fair genius and address, with an exceedingly plain person. A scholar and a traveller he had tact aud perception, which he evinced in his letters to Miss D- . Early thrown upon the resources of his mind, he was self relying, earnest and true' in character, and if he sometimes the rtast. he came PffiTbae.k With Venewea 1mirrgTro nro-!T-sierTr;-miTT-fc tures. A true friend ami a decided foe, he was felt wherever chance placed him. Ambition, and that too of, no ordinary kind, had early imbued his mind with an upward tendency. He had pursued his course of life, meeting as he best could, its dis appointments and sorrows. Thus much of the stranger to whose ietters the young lady was giv ing her attention. There is in every heart an earnest desire for sym pathy ! It is a necessity of our common na- ture, to a grt-ater or less extent. Virginia D , possessed of quick and generous sensibility, united with a glowing fancy, commenced her letter by thanking the gentleman for a small volume which that day had been received from him, and then progressed as follows : " I recall my earliest sorrow now. It was when I bade adieu first to ray forest home, the scene of my joys, my hopes and my en dearments, for school in this city. "I never dreamed of a sorrow greater than that hour presented. " Pieviously, to my'happy heart all was sunshine and gladness'.' "Time has borne that time far, far away. Yet I love to think of those hours of my purest de lights." ' The young lady closed by requesting "Confi dence for confidence." The sweet harp which you hold your breath sometimes reader to hear, never yet caused such joyous feelings as the letter, an extract of which is given, did when it was perused by ChaMes Ilar ley. It was a gleam of sunshine in a dreary dark day to him. He loved the unknown writer. His vanity was not touched, but the sentiments of the man were aroused. A month elapsed, and he was seen at one of the Hotels OTTEe city of "Virginia D s residence. He called to see the fair young lady who had aroused him to thoughts of the loveliness of one more than all others. Her letters had woven flow ers around his path ! His very being was improved. But how was it with Virginia D- ? "To love and be loved again," was surely a long ng earnest feeling of her's but who is there who has carefully read the working of .lie tender. passion, that does not know that pride most strengthens affection ? Ilarley, plain, and common n appearance, did not prepossess the mind of our young lady ! To say that she did not feel some interest in him, would be stating untruly still it was not sufficient to induce a continuance of the correspondence. At first she could not persuade herself that the cold, pale-faced gentleman whose appearance show ed much of sadness and disappointment at his re ception, was really the writer of the letters she had received, so full of all that charms and wins wo- man. He left the cUy, bidding Virginia D a- dieu forever. She drooped not tho' at his departure. Socie ty, amusement, everything that gaiety and life could offer was before her. Music, the waltz, the thrilling play, and the low tone of assumed, if not real affection, were for her. Wit, noble bearing, wealth and high position each, all flattered her with devoted attention in turn. One day too 6he will wed some noblevspirit from the throng, and the memory of Charles Ilarley will, pass away forever,, like the bubble on the swift stream. With him, tho it will be far different. His way of life is to be peculiar. The far off shores of the Pacific are to furnish him with a home and His interest in the pursuits of life is' increased, but he seeks a new and far off land as most con genial to one who cannot feel again as he has felt n the past. Such is life. January, 1854. Another Terrible Conflagration in New York. New York, Jan. 8. The Metropolitan Hall and Lafarge Hotel were destroyed by fire at an early hour this morning. The loss is said to be immense. The Lafarge Hotel was just finished and furnished, but not yet occupied. It was in all probability, the most costly house in the city. Sev eral other buildings were damaged. Nothing but the walls of the Lafarge House were left, and they were levelled by the firemen this morning. The Hotel was leased by Charles Wright, who had just furnished it throughont in the most gorge ous style. 'It was to have been openedin a few days. Nearly all the furniture was either burnt or otherwise destroyed. . The fire occurred ift the Me tropolitan Kail, where Jullien was preparing for a grand dress ball. Pet. Express. John W. Rand, the Portsmouth bank robber, late arrested in Boston, has been taken back to Virginia. Mrs. Martha J. Waggaman, a sister of ex-President Tyler, died in Georgetown, D. C, on the 3d instant. THE mast RALEIGHf JAN. 14, 1854. EDITED BY ' CALVIN H. WILEY, I WILLIAM D. COOKE, LYTTELTON WADDELL, Jr. Terms TWO DOLLARS PEE ANOTTM, in Advancl. CLUB PRICES: 5 full Drice, Eight Copies, 12 u Ten Copies, lb u Twftntv CoDies 20 ...... 16, .. 20, ,. 40. (Payment in all cases in advance.. W Where a club of eight, ten or twenty copies is sent, the person making up the club will bo entitled to a copy extra All articles of a Literary character may be addressed "Editors of the Southern Weekly Post, Raleigh, N.C. busi ness letters, notices, advertisements, remittances, ice, etc. should be addressed to W. D. Coolie. SCT Postmasters are authorized W act as Agents tor mo Southern Weekly Post. WILLIAM D. COOKE. raorRitroR. Mr. H. P. Doutiiit is our authorized agent for the State of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. BATTLE OF THE BOOKS. Had we the genius of Swift, we might be tempted to describe another battle of books. The contest now going on is upon a different theatre, and between oth er belligerents than those whom that jjreat satirist marbanedT6nie rconflTct ; but the principle at stake is very nearly the same, although the relative position of the combatants is somewhat reversed, and we may be allowed to say that the issue is far more im portant to the interests of mankind. Time has wrought great changes in the world of authorship, since the witty annalist of that period descended with his grotesque genius and disappointed ambition, to the grave. His ''Moderns" are now the ancient classics, and his own productions are justly numbered among the most venerable remains of an era Ion r known as the "Augustan Age" of English literature. j .The conflict now in progress is waged by an innu merable rabble of ephemeral and comparatively worth less publications, against the great classics of our Ian gunge. Wherever that language is known, the teem ing press is annually pouring forth its myriads of com pilations, imitations, memoirs, novels, travels, and books of a thousand false pretensions, which serious ly threaten, by their numbers and the insidious art9 with which they are introduced, to supplant, over throw, and bury in oblivion the great authors of an earlier day, whose works have hitherto been the pride and wonder of the world. Every observer of the times must have noticed the fact that the great writers of the eighteenth century have gone out of vogue, and that a literature of a very different stamp has gradually taken their place. "We do not mean to say that Shakespeare, Bacon, Milton Pope, Addison, Swift, Johnson, Burke, and others be longing to that brilliant galaxy of names which illus trated the brightest period of English literature, are absolutely neglected by polite scholars, or have ceased to be mentioned with that veneration which custom has long accorded to them. All educated persons ac knowledge their merits, and few would willingly con fess that they have no acquaintance with them. But they have nevertheless receded gradually from the public eye, and are no longer the familiar and favorite companions of a book-loving people. Shrined in the sanctity of their own genius, they have been raised to an obscure elevation above the heads and hearts of the present generation, and condemned to the mockery of a pretended homage which it is difficult to distinguish from absblute contempt. What evidence have we that these great authors are now appreciated ? Their names are sometimes mentioned with an air of vener ation, but how many of our youth ever think of lay ing aside the nouvelettes and magazines of the day, to study their works with that interest and lively curios ity which are so apt to be exhibited when they are felt? There is a great deal of reverence still felt for what ever is venerable and appears to us clothed in the aw ful garb of a distant antiquity. But this reverence is unfortunately more superstitious than rational. Wo look back upon the great productions of the ancient mind, just as we gaze upon the monuments of ancient art. We regard them as objects of curiosity, and as memorials of a state of society which has passed away never to return, but we are too much in the habit of considering their principles, doctrines, and opinions and tastes, as parts of exploded or obsolete systems, too puerile to be studied, and too erroneous to be im itated. Living in an age of great discoveries and in ventions, and of the most astonishing progress of the arts, we are prone to imagine that our philosophy and literature are also far advanced beyond the highest limits ever before attained by the human mind, that it would be a waste of time to trouble ourselves with the views and opinions, the creations and fancies, of the old English authors. Such is the prevailing spirit of our times, and the fruit of this spirit is the general abandonment of those great instructors of mankind, whose works have descended to us rich with the in tellectual treasures of a thinking age, and w hose far seeing intelligence and wisdom gave a greater impulse to modern civilization than all the material improve ments of a later day. The secret reasoning by which many persons justi fy to themselves their neglect of the older writers, is a source ot palpfble selt-deception ; for ii is equallv -obvious that the same perverted taste has tempted the present generation to consign to the same neglect the great authors of their own limes. In our own coun try especially, it is lamentably true that writers of the first class enjoy a very small share of that popular favor which is lavished so liberally and impulsively upon the Stow.-s, the Abbotts, the Headleys, and the Fanny Ferns of the passing hour. Wherever we turn or go, whatever newspaper we many happen to glance at, we are sure to find abundant evidence of popular admiration for writers of tuis inferior class, whilst the names of Irving, Prescott, Bancroft, Bryant, and oth ers of a higher stamp of our own day, are mentioned its only by the learned or by foreigners. It is clear that antiquity is not the only reason why the productions of British literature at its most flourishing period is not now appreciated. The difficulty lies in the pre vailing taste of our people for a lighter and less sub stantial literaturefor the florid, the eulogistic, the quizzical in style for that which amuses without in structing the mind, or for such as leads it along the awful brink of unbelief, and seduces it to scenes of doubt or despair, through the influence of a morbid and culpable curiosity. The issues of the press are so abundant and rapid, that it is no longer possible for even a man of leisure to keep pace with it. The main question is what shall we select from the immense mass of publications spread before us. The great majority cannot even be per suaded to ponder this question, but seize with greedy aviditjr upon whatever comes first, or happens, by means of a taking title to make an impression upon the imagination. The maxim of Lord Bacon that some books are only to be tasted, whilst others are to he studied and digested, is entirely forgotten or dis regarded, m a day when its application has becom tar more necessary than m his own. It is too obvious indeed that such as only deserve a passing taste are now inerery dooks to be generally seized and devour 1 ed bv fancv readers, whilst the 1 human wisdom are passed by without anv in of desire to ascertain the character of tu; " 'i0a Reading is now done, very much as we travel prefer to pass headlong over the lands$e tak- brief and indistinct view of its fc-itnw ' 'ln? our journey's end without having learned anvtlf the way. The rattling car conveys its heed senger to some distant point, the che:n rov. i u- i j , , '"-niu., him (tu hp crrtcka otin no ennn lnt-,.r. .I.-- t I head as empty as: ever, The hook and the coi, remembered only as the means of his trarisnn and entertainment, and add nothing to hi- -t , 1 r trm qtiati y luiviuiaiiuut ) . The view we have taken of the growing hab'r the reading part of our people is rather discount f but we hope there is a limit to the evil whii-h i' ' not pass. The excess and uns:iiisf;;etorv cli"m . - - ii'"iu-:cr of our cheap, ephemeral literature must njci.'-,v!rv duce hereafter a 'corresponding degree of lis -rt;. The people will get tired at last of the civile r-..'" class of books. They will diecover in tin- v; in.s inhere is more jiiieresiiiii ;uui nisiructive !na:t,,r i-,'. page of the old standard authors.than whole olttnfs of catch-penny productions of i lie present day, and we hope to see a wholesome re:iction in favor of vorks0f established merit succeed the present preforcne- f,f the popular taste; for the trashy libraries now .'ii ni.alv issued. i ' ' - We maybe allowed to suggest that teachers schools and colleges have it in their power to ence tha imnd&Jaf.Quy.otliiuttiiM'3 generally do, in regard to the course of readi dins I idvieV ,. . they ought to pursue. A little seasonable encouragement tin this subject, from such a source would have a happy effect in reforming the tas'e and stimulating the inquiries of the young, and iniglv t0;. tribute much to revive among our people an app-jii;e for elevated and instructive reading. SPECULATION. Speculation is the ruling passion of i he day. Spe culation in cotton, stocks, minerals, lands, ioWo, politics, letters, .philosophy, morals, and even in i!,t ,. logy, engages the attention and occupies the thoupi's of a large portion of the American people. ' In nn.r l and iheological'speculation, the great Beecher family seem to be particularly active. Mrs. Sfpwe has coin ed a fortune out of her moral tale, ' Uncle Tora'3 Cabin," and is now proposing, we understond, to fret another out of the public by publishing a journal ot her visit to Europe. Henry Ward Beecher, her bio. ther,is driving a lucrative business in clerical, or rath, er unclerical efforts at wit, by which he succeeds ver j well in tickling the vulgar. Itseem3 to be the height of Henry's ambition to excite a popular grin at" the expense of his bvvn little dignity, and his frequent lec tures afford him abundant opportunities of witnessing the fulfilment of his aspirations. The chief objection we have to his witticisms isthat, unhke those of his famous prototype Dean Swift, they are evidently stu died. The leading Beecherism of the day, however, is a new book by the elder brother, the Rev. I)r, Edward Beecher, styled, " The Conflict of Ages," in wlijch that gentleman probably pushes speculation farther than any modern pliilosopher. We have not seen his production, but have learned enongh of it to justify the opinion that it is a master-piece of speculative presumption. The theory of this ingenious gentle man is nothing less than this, that all mankind hate been in existeriee previous to coming into this irorU, and' although there is no evidence of it whatever, in' nature, revelation, or consciousness, he deduces it as a necessary inference from his Own theological views. According to himself, those views imply injustice oa the part of the deity towards man, unless the theory he now advances is true. " thus relieve God." says the reverend,: we cannot say reverent gentleman, from the imputation of injustice to man, in placing him already depraved in a probationary state." We do not quote the exact words, but we use the precise idea and form of expression employed by him in a re cently published letter in regard to his book. C0NGBESSI0NAL SYNOPSIS. ! SENATE. . January 3d. Mr. Seward called up the case of Se nator Phelps- of Vermont, who held his seat bv virtue of an appointment of the Governor in a recess of the legislature. The legislature had subsequently wet and adjourned without acting upon his appointment, and some now doubted his right to a seat in the Sen ate. Mr.'S.: offered a resolution affirming that right, and on motion of Mr. Badger it was laid over. On motion of Mr. Chase, the bill dividing Ohio into two judicial circuits was taken up, which elicited swae dis cussion, and was filially referred to the Judimry Com- t I mittee. A message was received from the President com municating certain correspondence relating to the Clay ton Bulwer treaty. After some animated conversa tion between Senators Cass and Clayton, the paper were ordered to be printed, and the Senate adjourn ed. January 4th-- Mr. Seward's resolution', in regard to Mr. Phelps, was referred to the judiciary committee. Mr. Shields reported back the House resolution, vot ing thanks" and a sword to Gen. Wool, which was passed. ' Mr. Douglass reported a bill organizing the territory of Nebraska, Among other provisions, it extends the operation of the fugitive slave law to that territory. January 5th Mr. Cass moved that the ia'sa.re of the President of the other day, relating to die-Clay ton and Bulwer treaty, 'be referred, and that that na tion be postponed and madf the order of the d:;y f"r Tuesday next, on which day he would ask to ho heard on the subject. January 10th.--The death of the Hon. lenburg, of Pennsylvania was announce logy upon the character of the deceased wi y Mr. Brpdhead. No important business acted. S HOUSE. January 3d. Mr. Bissell reported a joint re'h:- tion voting thanks and a sword to Gen. Wool, gallant, services at Buen 1 Vista, which, after soaie o'r position from Mr. Giddings, was under the .previous question passed. Bennett's land hill wae uMv.i UP and some 'discussion had upon it.' It was finally r, ferred to the committee on public lands. Mr. Cuttii'-S offered a resolution calling upon the secretary of e Treasury for the Bronson Correspondt-mc. Objection being made, it was laid over. January 4th,---Mr. Cutting called up his r.'s!utiG and a debate ensued between him and Mr. Cih ga' On motion of Mr. Orr, the resolution was laid on the table byia vote of 104 to 60. The resolution confer ring the rank of Lieutenant-Gcneral-ou Gen. cr)'" was then; taken up, and after debate referred to t:.e committee on military affairs. January 5th. Mr. .Dean, from the comniiticen foreign iffairs, reported a resolution of thank-. a'' providing for a medal to be presented to commander Ingrahara, for his conduct in the Kozsta affair. -long and' animated debate took place in regard to 1 -and the House adjourned without action. Janudry 6th. After some desultory and uninte esting conversation on a report from:thc committee ways and means, the House took up the private , lendar. f Janudry 10th. The death of the Hon. Mr, i lenburgj of Pennsylvania, was announced, and no" 1 was done in" the Way of business. als'1
Southern Weekly Post (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 14, 1854, edition 1
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