We add to this interesting letter a few

LITERARY ITEMS.

HUESTON, 137 Nassau-street, New-York, is

about publishing a book, entitled "January and June; or, Out-door Thinkings and Fireside Musings," by Benjamin F. Taylor-a pithy, witty writer, whose fugitive articles have occasionally enlivened our own pages. It will, doubtless, be one of the most readable books of the season.

There were six hundred and ninety-one books published in the United States during the six months ending June 30, of which one hundred and sixty-nine were reprints of English books, and seventeen original translations from the German and French.

The corner-stone of a Jewish Educational Institute was laid with the usual ceremonies in this city in October last. The institution is intended as the commencement of a Hebrew College, to be hereafter erected.

The Cooper Institute, now in course of erection in this city, at the head of the Bowery, is designed to be a free public institution, for the benefit of youth generally, apprentices, and all who are disposed to embrace an opportunity for self-improvement. Competent persons will always be ready to instruct without charge, and lectures and discussions on the most useful scientific subjects are to be delivered continually throughout the day and evening. Mr. Peter Cooper is the founder of this noble institution, and the gift is made perpetual.

We have received a handsome catalogue of the White Water College, located at Centerville, Indiana, and under the presidency of the Rev. Cyrus Nutt. It appears to be in a flourishing condition. Total number of students in all the departments, two hundred and eight.

The committee authorized by the City Council to purchase a site for the Public Library of Boston, have concluded the purchase of the "Wheeler estate," and one of the estates adjoining on Boylston, near Tremont-street, the same being a portion of the Apthorp estate. The price paid is about seventy thousand dollars. In size, location, and fitness, in every way, it is believed by the warmest friends of the institution to be a most excellent site.

The report to the Methodist Episcopal Genesee Conference, on the condition of the College and Seminary at Lima, shows a property of above $200,000; and the number of pupils that have received instruction during the year is six hundred and fifty-two males, and four hundred and twenty-three females. The new Freshman class in the college numbers forty-nine. The seminary has sent out above two hundred teachers during the past year.

At a late meeting of the School Board of Cincinnati, it was stated that there are at least fifteen thousand children in that city who attended no school whatever.

Miss Martineau is engaged in translating the Philosophie Positive, by the great French atheist, M. Comte. It is melancholy to see this gifted lady, in advanced age, leaning more and more toward rank infidelity.

The catalogue of the Wesleyan Female Institute, Staunton, Va., shows a total of sixty-nine students in the several classes. It is under the

principalship of Rev. J. Wilson, and has a good faculty and good prospects.

Chevalier Bunsen's "Hippolytus" figures in the last batch of works denounced as "damnable and dangerous" by the Congregation of the Index at Rome. Uncle Tom's Cabin has been a second time placed upon the same list. A "good sign."

The Inaugural Address of Horace Mann, as President of Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, accompanied with the usual ceremonies on occasions of the like character, took place upon the college grounds in October. Mr. Mann's speech was on the capacities of man, and the best methods of redeeming the race from the degradation into which it has fallen.

Murray has published a revised third edition of "The History of England," from the Peace of Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles, by Lord Mahon, Vol. V. This comprises the period between 1763 and 1774, and contains some curious discussions of the oft-mooted, never-settled

question concerning the authorship of the “Ju

nius" Letters.

Mr. Arder, of London, having purchased from an Arab, at the sepulchral diggings about Luxor, Egypt, a roll of papyrus, has been instrumental in the publication of two pleadings of Hyperides at the Greek bar, felicitously deciphered from the reporter's notes, which, from the fact of their being three hundred years older than the Christian era, claims precedence in seniority before all known manuscripts. Longinus had a high opinion of the orator Hyperides.

The Rev. Dr. Choules, who accompanied Commodore Vanderbilt on his recent excursion, has a journal of the voyage in course of preparation.

The estimated total number of volumes now in the library of the British Museum is five hundred and ten thousand one hundred and ten. The additions since 1848 have been at the rate of fifteen thousand volumes a year.

The memoirs of the late Robert Rantoul are about being published. They have already reached their second edition-that is to say, the demand for them has taken the first edition of two thousand. Less than half the towns in Rantoul's county of Essex subscribed for one thousand copies.

Among other items mentioned in our foreign papers, is the fact that the King of Prussia has conferred on A. Von Humboldt the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit.

Dickens is said to have cleared $20,000 from the Bleak House.

It is said that there are but seventy-six persons in New-Hampshire between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one who cannot read and write. There are ninety thousand pupils on

the school-lists of the State.

Mrs. Emma R. Coe is pursuing a course of legal studies in Cleveland, Ohio, with the view of qualifying herself for the practice of law!

Grace Greenwood returned home in a late European steamer, and has been on a visit to Boston for the purpose of putting to press her "Travels in Europe," which will be immediately issued.

She was married a short time since, in the village church adjoining her parents' residence at New-Brighton, Beaver County, Pa., to Mr. Leander K. Lippincott, of Philadelphia.

It is reported in the London Critic that "Mr. William Chambers is about to proceed to North America for the purpose of writing a descriptive tour through the United States and Canada, and collecting accurate information respecting the condition and prospects of emigrants in those countries." It will be seen from our

Boston correspondence that Mr. Chambers has

arrived.

and the amount of soul that glows out from their blue depths tells of the intellect of the man. Lieut. Maury is devoted to his studies. He talks 'Amazon' all day. There is a magnificent map of South Carolina just facing his desk at the Observatory. He will sit and illustrate that map for hours in a strain of conversation to which, in interest, and beauty, and style, no letter he has written can compare. tleman, and the best conversationalist I have He is a delightful companion, a finished gen

ever met."

The degree of LL. D. was conferred on Hon. Horace Greeley at the last commencement of the University of Vermont, at Burlington.

Prof. R. H. Bull, Director of the Observatory of Columbia College, succeeds Prof. Redfield in the mathematical department of the University of New-York.

A cotemporary writes thus of Lieut. Maury: "He is rather short, and lame. His face has a mild, benevolent expression. I have never heard a softer voice. He is polite to all, and generous to a fault. His eye is his best feature, I think. There is great expression in his eyes,

money was made by sales of her book in the Slave States. Mr. Fletcher has written the ablest, most learned, and critical defense of slavery which ever appeared in print, and it will bring the publisher in debt; while the Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin,' which has just arrived, is going off rapidly."

NEw works accumulate on our hands enough to bewilder the veriest book-worm. American book making is evidently, like every other department of American enterprise, to take its place soon, if it has not already, in the foremost rank of the craft. Why should it not?

One of the most important issues since our last "notices" is Dr. Edward Beecher's volume, The Conflict of Ages; or, the Great Debate on the Moral Relations of God and Man." It is an attempt, and a determined, energetic one, we will acknowledge, to wrestle with the great difficulty-the "appalling question," as Chalmers calls it of the origin of evil. Dr. Beecher finds all the usual solutions of the problem inadmissible, and attempts another, viz.: Origen's doctrine of the preexistence of men in another sphere where they sinned-the present state being but a gracious provision for their recovery. This extraordinary hypothesis will destroy the authority of the book, and yet doubtless give it currency by giving it a novel, if not an original interest. It is elaborately, and even powerfully written a huge bone for the metaphysicians to pick. (Phillips & Sampson, Boston.)

The same publishers have sent us Dr. Wayland's " Memoir of Judson "—two stout volumes of more than a thousand pages. It presents a general survey of the American Baptist field in India, of the conditions of missionary labor there, the religious and social life of the

country, &c. Its facts and comments in these respects are elaborate and invaluable, and ought to secure it a standard rank at once in our already abundant missionary literature. The personal narrative and delineation of the book are, however, its chief attraction. What religious character of our generation is more interesting than Judson? Dr. Wayland has appreciated him, and portrayed him with the finest skill. Both the subject and the author ought to secure the work general popularity. There is but one danger to its success-its size.

Gould & Lincoln, Boston, send us a copy of their elegant edition of Miall's "Memorials of Early Christianity," which the reader will find exceedingly interesting and instructive if he will not take offense at some of Mr. Miall's

peculiar denominational notions. Beginning with Jerusalem and Pentecost, the author traces some of the principal Churches and their principal men down to Cappadocia and Gregory Thaumaturgus. Paul, John, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Tertullian, Cyprian. Clemens, and Origen are among his heroes, of course. Hippolytus, of whom we have heard so much since the late discovery of his lost work, also figures in the narrative; the famous statue of him is given among the engravings. The cuts are numerous, but not very good. Otherwise, the work is in the usual excellent style of this house.

It is a capital affair.

new literal translation of the "Comedies of Aristophanes," from the revised text of Dindorf, with notes and extracts from the best metrical versions, by W. J. Richie. This volume includes the Acharnians, Knights, Clouds, Wasps, Peace, and Birds. We have received also two volumes of the Standard Library, the "Lectures," that is, sermons, of John Foster, at Broadmead chapel, Bristol. This is their third edition; it contains some additions. The en

ergetic thought and iron-clasped style of the great essayist characterize these productions; but they will never take rank among his notable essays.

Rev. Dr. Hawks has given to the public a very excellent translation, from the Spanish, of Rivero and Tschudi's" Peruvian Antiquities"a work that attempts to glean, from local remains, a more adequate knowledge of the institutions of the Incas-their idiom, religion, laws, sciences, and customs-than has heretofore been given to the world. The readers of Prescott will turn to this volume with no ordinary interest for a fuller disclosure of those marvels of Peruvian life of which he necessarily gives but glimpses. It is a most interesting volume. Its accounts of architectural ruins is especially valuable, being the fullest one extant. (Putnam, New-York.)

Messrs. Carlton & Phillips have issued "Family and Social Melodies, a Collection of Hymns and Tunes for Family and Social Worship," by Rev. W. C. Hoyt. The hymns are mostly from the standard Methodist Hymn-Book; the tunes are generally plain and familiar, but not the less rich and choice. The music has been rewritten, and arranged for the work by Mr. E. C. Gaebler, who also contributes some excellent original tunes. For the convenience of players of the piano, melodeon, seraphine, or organ, the trebles are written on one staff. In fine, we know not a better work for the purpose of promoting singing in family worship, and had we space here we could write an essay on the importance of that design.

Messrs. Carlton & Phillips, F. J. Huntington, and Mason & Brothers, have issued "The Lute of Zion," a most important musical work, containing a really superb collection of tunes for the Methodist Episcopal Church. The work was edited by J. B. Woodbury, author of "The Dulcimer," assisted by Professor H. Mattison. It contains the riches of "The Dulcimer," with much more that is equally precious. We predict it will have a fast and long-continued run. It contains five parts, devoted respectively to 1st. Ordinary Church Music; 2d. Anthems and Select Pieces; 3d. Melodies for Class-Meetings,

and Brother Jonathan's ever active brain and Books of European travel abound now-a-days, hand have contributed his quota to the voluminous catalogue. Among the very best of The venerable savan made the tour of Europe nearly them is "Silliman's Visit to Europe." cessful narrative of his travels. half a century ago, and published a very sucHe repeats his

visit with enhanced interest, and the present two stout duodecimos are remarkably fresh in their style; they abound in very entertaining sketches of the learned men met in his trav

els; the pictures of scenery and life are made with a skillful hand and appreciative taste, and the scientific portions of the narrative are, of course, of the first order. There is a real charm thrown over the whole work by the tranquil, healthful geniality of the writer-a graph indicate strikingly in the outset. These character which both the portrait and autovolumes cannot fail to be saleable. (Putnam, New-York.)

Seaton's " Map of Palestine," with its accompanying " Companion," is a work which has an interest for all religious readers. The countries to which it relates are accurately delineated from surveys made for the French and English governments, and have also been personally visited by the author. By the simple use of initials, the Levitical and royal cities, as well as the cities of refuge, may be seen at a glance, and the modern names of all places of importance to the merchant or traveler are added to those given in the Scriptures. It has already passed the ordeal of the English and American presses, and has only to be known to secure general acceptance in this country. (Baker, Godwin & Co., New-York.)

Sir Egerton Bridges, in his edition of "Milton's Poetical Works," says:-"Of all uninspired writings (if these be uninspired) Milton's are the most worthy of profound study by all minds which would know the creativeness, the splendor, the learning, the eloquence, the wisdom, to which the human intellect can reach." Professor Cleveland has prepared a new edition of them, which must have cost immense labor from the care and accuracy with which every word has been weighed and compared. It is a volume which, in his own words, he has aimed to have "critical enough for the scholar, full enough for the general reader, and beautiful enough for the tables of the opulent; but which should, above all, be cheap enough for the school-room, and for the dwellings of those whose limited means prevent them from buying expensive books." We think he has been successful. The great merit of the edition is its verbal index, which is really invaluable; it occupies over a hundred double-columned pages, and by it any passage in Milton may be found, for not a line is without some representative word to which the index gives the clew. (Lip pincott, Grambo & Co., Philadelphia.)

"The United States, illustrated in views of Oity and Country, with Descriptive and Historical Arti

Church of Rome within two years. The translation of the Bible into Irish by Bishop Bedell has had great effect.

The king of Prussia has issued a proclamation that he will dismiss from his service any officer who, marrying a Roman Catholic, shall promise to bring up his children in that faith. This is intended as a protest against recent encroachments of Popery.

The annual meeting of the Bengal Baptist Association was held in February last. This association, founded by missionary exertion, numbers twenty-two Churches and one thousand three hundred and forty-two members. these Churches there were added by baptism, during the year, one hundred and sixteen.

To

The

A writer in the Central Christian Herald, in enumerating the different religious sects in eastern Ohio, mentions, among others, the Omish and Manese, which, he says, are divisions among the Mennonites or Harmless Christians. difference between some of them is said to be the wearing of buttons instead of hooks and eyes, while the length and split of the coattail is the great matter of controversy with others.

A movement has been set on foot among the Dissenters, by Rev. John Angell James, of Birmingham, England, and some others, with the view of procuring a million copies of the New Testament Scriptures in the Chinese language, for distribution among the Chinese insurg

ents.

Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, missionary bishop of Minnesota, recently made his annual visitation to that Territory. He has been as far up as Fort Ripley and the Gull Lake Mission. Besides the Indian Mission, and the chaplaincies at the forts, there are but two Episcopal Churches in the Territory, one at St. Anthony and one at St. Paul. Both these are enlarging their houses of worship this season.

The Protestant Church Convention, or "Kirchentag," at Berlin, has resolved to meet next year at Frankfort-on-the-Main. In the concluding report there is nothing interesting with respect to America, excepting the opinion of the conference that the apostleship of the Mormons is an emigration office in disguise, and its chief object being to advance the price of land in the West. The Danish government has been officially informed that there are one thousand three hundred Danes on the eve of

emigrating to Utah. Prodigious efforts are making by the Mormons throughout the north of Europe to direct emigrants to their State. Mr. Ferris, late secretary of the treasury of Utah, reports that the Mormon rulers are even more profligate and depraved than has been represented. Brigham Young, he says, has forty wives. Men and women, too, generally, are utterly debased.

and error striving earnestly for the mastery Coming thus to our own land, we find truth in this wide field. The Protestant Episcopal Church held a general Triennial Convention in this city in the latter part of October. Bishop faith, has been formally deposed from his EpisIves, the notorious pervert from the Protestant copal office by the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

The English papers furnish unfavorable news from Madagascar. The queen was still pursuing a course of rigorous hostility toward the Christians, who were suffering greatly from her persecutions.

There are now built, and in process of building, no less than seven Roman Catholic Church

edifices in Chicago. One of these, now build

ing, will be worth $100,000, and two others, already erected, are estimated to be worth $50,000 each.

Some of the Chinese of San Francisco have subscribed two thousand dollars toward the erection of a Christian church in that city.

At a late quarterly-session of the Managers of the Methodist Episcopal Tract Society, held in this city, the treasurer, J. B. Edwards, reported the receipts of the society, thus far, to be $5,034. The corresponding secretary, Rev. A. Stevens, reported that thirty conferences have adopted the cause, twelve conference agents have been appointed, forty-five colporteurs have been sent out, and $19,000 have been subscribed at the conferences. The revision of the entire series of the society's tracts has been completed, and many substitutions and additions have been made. The list now includes four hundred and forty. The volume series includes fifty works, large and small. This organization has been in operation about

one year.

Among recent grants of books by the American Bible Society were Bibles and Testaments in Ojibwa and in English to the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions; Portuguese and Spanish Bibles for distribution along the Amazon; Spanish Bibles and Testaments for Panama; a pulpit Bible for the American Chapel at Rome; another for a colored church in this city; Bibles and Testaments for Canada; with forty-two volumes for the blind.

Respecting the Scandinavian missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the West, Bishop Scott writes that "the work is greatly expanding. God is raising up men for this work in a wonderful manner, and the field is widening and white for the harvest!"

Of the Universalist persuasion, there are said to be one hundred and twenty-three ministers and two hundred and thirteen societies in the United States.