And the ocean currents, it is alleged, not without reasons, may be considerably affected by the secretions of the mollusks and corallines to form their shells and build up the coral reefs.

We have done nothing more than simply to glance at the volume, whose title we have given. The book itself must be read and studied in order to be appreciated. There is scarcely a class of readers who could be induced to read it but would find it ministering to gratification and profit. Many topics are discussed, which, at first view, would seem to have no important connection with the subject of the volume; but, as the grand unity of nature becomes disclosed, their bearing is easily seen. There is a discussion of the probable "relation between magnetism and the circulation of the atmosphere:" another on the "Open sea in the Arctic Ocean;" "The Salts of the Sea;" "The Equatorial cloud-ring;" "The depths of the Ocean;" "The climates of the Ocean;" "The drift of the Sea;" "Storms;""Routes," etc., etc. The plates in the work are very valuable; and the most abundant evidence appears respecting the practical character of these investigations. Life on the ocean will have new securities if this book be generally studied; perils will be more clearly apprehended and effectually warded off; less merchandise will be sunk in the insatiable. sea; and the mariner will at length find abundant food for thought while pacing the deck and looking out eagerly for land; and every road to the ocean will yield a large harvest of facts whose possession will add to the highest wealth the human spirit ever knows.

An extract or two, whose character will be an adequate apology for their insertion, and we will take our leave of the volume.

"The mechanical power exerted by the air and the sun in lifting water from the earth, in transporting it from one place to another, and in letting it down again, is inconceivably great. The utilitarian who compares the waterpower that the Falls of Niagara would afford if applied to machinery, is astonished at the number of figures which are required to express its equivalents in horse power. Yet what is the horse power of the Niagara, falling a few steps, in comparison with the horse-power that is required to lift up all the water that is discharged into the sea, not only by this river, but by all the other rivers

in the world, as high as the clouds? The calculation has been made by engineers, and, according to it, the force for making and lifting vapor from each area of one acre that is included on the surface of the earth, is equal to the power of 30 horses; and for the whole area of the earth, it is 800 times greater than all the water power of the world.”

Under the head of "Quantities of solid matter in the Sea," after quoting from the log-book of the United States ship Levant, showing the strength of the ocean current setting into the Mediterranean Sea through the Straits of Gibraltar, our author speaks as follows:

"Now, suppose this current, which baffled and beat back this fleet for so many days, ran no faster than two knots the hour. Assuming its depth to be 400 feet only, and its width 7 miles, and that it carried in with it the avarage proportion of solid matter-say one-thirtieth-contained in sea-water; and admitting these postulates into calculation as the basis of the computation, it appears that salts enough to make no less than 88 cubic miles of solid matter, of the density of water, were carried into the Mediterranean during these 90 days. Now, unless there were some escape for all this solid matter, which has been running into that sea, not for 90 days merely, but for ages, it is very clear that the Mediterranean would, ere this, have been a vat of very strong brine, or a bed of cubia crystals."

If these morsels, and our commendation, shall induce the purchase and study of this volume by our readers, we are sure they will find themselves invited to a scientific and literary repast of no ordinary character; and one too in whose enjoyment the spirit of devotion will be likely to kindle with new fervor and adoration.

ART. IX. CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE.

THE PIONEERS OF THE WEST, or Life in the Woods. By W. P. Strickland. New York: Carlton & Phillips.

These sketches of western scenery, and character, and life, are pleasant and appreciative, some of them bold, vivid, and impressive. The book is eminently a readable one, and the moral tone of it most unexceptionable.

MEMOIR OF REGINALD HEBER, D. D., Bishop of Calcutta. By his widow. Abridged by a Clergyman. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co. 1856.

The two large octavos in which alone the biography of Bishop Heber has been heretofore issued, precluded the great mass of readers from securing any definite acquaintance with the facts of his life and the features of his character. He has been heretofore more widely known in this country as the author of a few canonized hymns, than in any other capacity. It will be no slight gratification to many readers to possess this faithful portraiture of the eminent minister and missionary, exhibited in the volume before us. Nothing essential to a just comprehension of his life and character we are assured has been omitted in the abridgment; and the work is executed with taste and skill.

POEMS, By Richard Chenevix French, etc. New York: Redfield. 1856.

The previous publications of this eminent author would hardly have suggested poetic ability and taste. An eminent analyzer and critic, nice in his discriminations and patient in his philosophic researches, one would have judged that his chief mental quality was the cool, penetrating intellect. But this volume shows another mine of spiritual wealth which has been worked to some advantage. The pieces here are mostly brief, a large part of them suggested by some slight incident or common scene, and the question respecting the quality and extent of the poetic power may hence be regarded as an open one. No great thing has been attempted, but there are some fine specimens of the unambitious verse. Of his own power as a poet he thus modestly

speaks:

"And what though loftiest fancies are not mine,
Nor words of chiefest power, yet unto me,

Some voices reach out of the inner shrine,
Heard in my heart of hearts, and I can see

At times some glimpses of the majesty,

Some prints and foot-steps of the glory trace,
Which have been left on earth, that we might be
By them led forward to the secret place,

Where we perchance might see that glory face to face."

Here is a little gem which of itself would make its author remembered and

loved.

"Some murmur when their sky is clear,
And wholly bright to view,

If one small speck of dark appear

In their great heaven of blue.

And some with thankful love are filled,
If but one streak of light-

One ray of God's great mercy, gild
The darkness of their night.

In palaces are hearts that ask,
In discontent and pride,
Why life is such a dreary task,

And all good things denied.
And hearts in poorest huts admire
How love has in their aid,

(Love that not ever seems to tire,)

Such rich provision made."

But we have no space for quoting. The readers of the volume will always find the spirit of a strong Christian man appearing through the rhyme, and will now and then be reminded of the saying of Bunyan's Pilgrim, whose very notes are triumphant outbursts of heroism, and the prelude to another moral battle.

THE POETICAL WORKS OF ALFRED TENNYSON, Poet Laureate, etc. Complete in one Volume. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1856.

POEMS. By William Cullen Bryant. Collected and arranged by the author. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1856.

Both these poets are too well known to require anything to be said respecting them or their productions in these pages. We only call attention to these neat little pocket editions, as most admirably got up.

Tennyson's whole poems are here-his " Princess," his "In Memorian,' his "Maud;" and yet these do not take up more than half the space in the volume. Within the compass of a volume which a lady could carry in her pocket without inconvenience, the poet laureate's whole works are to be found; and the type is not unpleasantly small either. How this was spread over the pages of three or four quite large duodecimo volumes, or how what thus spread over them was compressed within these limits, is a sort of secret with the publishers. Perhaps they can explain.

Our own Bryant, whose verse we read as an exercise in the district school and admired its majesty even there, has also collected his poems and sent them out in this little pocket volume to make thousands glad. If it contained only his "Thanatopsis," his "Monument Mountain," and his "God's first temples," everybody would want it. How much more when the singing of thirty years is here crystallized and classified.

THE ROMAN EXILE. By Guglielmo Gajani, Professor of Civil and Canon Law, and Representative of the People in the Roman Constituent Assembly in the year 1849. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co. 1856.

Whoever wishes to comprehend the political and ecclesiastical movements in Italy which brought in the revolution of 1848, the spirit that presided over

its forces, and the secret reasons for its failure, can hardly do better than read this book. The author is a young man, but little more than thirty years of age, and yet he acted no unimportant part in the transactions which turned the eyes of the world toward Italy. He was a member of that secret and powerful association known as " Young Italy," whose plans, and policy, and spirit he freely lays bare, and presents it in a light much more favorable than it has been hitherto regarded among us. He has a soul of fire; and writes after the same vivid abrupt style which distinguished the speeches of Gavazzi and Mazzini. The book is full of information, and full, also, of magnetism, which the most stoical reader will be almost sure to feel.

THE NEW AGES OF GOLD; or the Life and Adventures of Robert Dexter Romaine. Written by himself. Boston: Phillips, Sampson & Co. 1856.

Here is a book modelled after Robinson Crusoe, quite as interesting, more wonderful, and scarcely less instructive or forcible as an illustration of certain great truths. We challenge any young person to read the first seventy-five pages and then lay it calmly down.

FOREST AND SHORE, or Legends of the Pine Tree State. By Charles P. Ilsley. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co. 1856.

We remember to have read some of these sketches and tales in the columns of the "Portland Transcript," some years since, of which Mr. Ilsley was then editor. He is a graceful writer, and has a very clear insight into character, portrays it happily, and keeps his reader's sympathies constantly alive and interested in his heroes and heroines. His description of the "Old Scout" is admirably done; and the adventures with which we are made familiar bring out the old man's qualities to perfection. That is a genuine creation, proving the fine qualities of Mr. I.'s genius. It is a pleasant volume for a tourist.

THE PIAZZA TALES. By Herman Melville, Author of "Typee,” “Omoo,” etc. New York: Dix & Edwards, etc. 1856.

This author has acquired quite a literary reputation, and has unquestionable talent; but we don't like him as an author at all. His style is artificial, there is a strain after originality and effect, he seems forever giving promise of doing something and never fulfilling the pledge. We have tried half a dozen times, but can't read him with profit or patience, and have at last given up the effort as hopeless.

VASSAL MORTON: A Novel. By Francis Parkman, etc. Boston: Phillips, Sampson & Co. 1856.

This is a fine story; well plotted, well executed, and well intentioned. Not many things of its kind have appeared of late, showing a truer appreciation of the mission of the novelist, and a clearer perception of the elements of success than the author has developed here. He will find readers as often as he presents an entertainment like this.