the quackeries of the times. Such a work as the present is well adapted to infuse the necessary tastes; to give an impulse and direction to the dormant love of Nature which exists in almost every bosom; to show the reader, by glimpses here and there, how full of interest, even in what had seemed before the most uninteresting quarters, is the world in which he lives; and to cause his soul to harmonize with the order and music, which have been breathed into that wondrous world by its invisible Creator." These four volumes on the Seasons are now furnished by the publishers, separately from the series, to those who do not wish or are not able to purchase the whole. This is an advantage; and we understand the other works, which make part of the series, will also be published and sold separately. They cannot be afforded, however, at the same price as the entire series, or in as durable binding. For it must be allowed that the price of the School Library, as such, is exceedingly moderate. We may not be competent to judge, but we should pronounce it, as did the prospectus, "cheaper than any other series of works that can be procured at home or abroad," when we consider the character of the original works, the labor and learning bestowed upon the improvement of these editions, the beauty and durability of the mechanical execution, and not least, the unanimous sanction of such a board of examiners, with Edward Everett at their head. We must express our earnest hope, that the patronage, absolutely needed to sustain so great an enterprise, will not be withheld. We have been the more exact in noticing these books, and this scheme, because they are to be viewed, not by themselves, but in connexion with the whole cause of popular education, and the generous efforts now made for its furtherance and elevation. Some of the States have made appropriations of various sums to their several school districts, expressly for the purchase of school libraries. It is a yet nobler charity, to create for them, or select and put within their reach, the best books for such libraries. In fact, the plan was first suggested, as we believe, by the repeated applications made to the Board of Education, or their secretary, to recommend and furnish a list of books for this purpose. Here we see at once the call, and the obvious utility. Yet we have heard that it was formally objected, at some public meeting, that these books, or any like them, were not needed! that the common village and school libraries were good enough! and, most amusing of all, that no man, or body of men, has the right to dictate what shall be read! Having been unable to learn of any more sensible or formidable objections than these, we enter into no defence. The single doubt, under which we have labored ourselves, has arisen from the high intellectual character of the works so far issued too high, we have feared, for the object. But it is said, in reply, that this larger series is designed for teachers and parents, more than for children; and that the Juvenile Series will meet the other want, and obviate the objection. But two or three of the Juvenile Series are yet prepared; too few to speak or judge confidently of the result, but of a character to encourage the best hopes not only for our schools, but for our common Juvenile Libraries, now so numerous, and for the most part so indifferent. The whole plan, if completed, will give us fifty uniform volumes of each series. And as to amount of matter, these first ten books contain over four thousand pages, making an extra volume above the promised average. In every way, therefore, we think the public are well served, thus far. As to the future, if the Board and the publishers will bear the suggestion, we hope they will keep to known and approved works, rather than take the risk of original productions. To this suggestion, we should give the form of a stout objection to original works, if there were any necessity imposed upon school districts or committees to take these books, be they what they nay. Such an opinion has prevailed, and we wonder not at the fears it awakened. Happily it has no foundation. Neither the State nor the Board of Education assume any authority in this respect. The legislature has authorized a certain expenditure by each school district, by law or tax, for the purchase of libraries, but left the selection wholly optional. This should be known. And we give it in the words of the Board, in their second annual report. "It will remain entirely optional, with the school districts, in availing themselves of the authority conferred by the act of 12th of April, 1837, whether they will purchase the books recommended by the Board. It is by law. left with the discretion of the districts, what rules and regulations may be adopted for establishing and maintaining the libraries authorized to be formed; and the Board have as little inclination as right to encroach on the exercise of this discretion." E. B. H. -- ART. VII. Undine, from the German of Baron de la Motte Fouque. New York. 1839. THE whole character of this production is peculiar, and, for the most part, singularly beautiful. It has long been considered a master-piece in this department of German literature, and has gained the admiration abroad of such men as Coleridge, and in our own country of many eminent scholars. Indeed it has an originality, which renders it wholly unique; and, with all its strangeness, there is a remarkable simplicity and a genuine pathos which touches the heart. It is a fiction, yet it contains truth. It is both natural and supernatural. It may seem to contain no particular moral, yet it has spiritual power, and is well calculated to purify and elevate a thoughtful mind. A work of so much genius has naturally attracted attention, and several sketches and abstracts, bearing the same name, have been published both in France and England. We believe, however, that this is the first thorough translation; but whether it be so or not, it is, on many accounts, a work of rare merit. It bears the mark of ripe scholarship; and while it is avowedly a close translation, it is written throughout with classic purity, and enters so entirely into the peculiar spirit of the work, as to render it not so much a translation as a reproduction. We feel at liberty to state, that it is the work of the Rev. Thomas Tracy, an American scholar, who apart from the bustle and excitement which characterize New England, is able to commune in retirement with the gifted minds of the old world, and unlock the inestimable treasures of thought which are hid in foreign tongues. He has shown a delicacy of taste, a soundness of judgment, and a power of language, which in every way qualify him greatly to enrich the literature of his country. The literature of Germany seems at the present time to be awakening the wonder of the world. The depth of erudition, thoroughness of research, boldness of speculation, and profoundness of thought which it discloses, have called forth the amazement of some, and the veneration of others. In that country, minds of gigantic strength have been at work, searching to the depth all the kingdoms of Nature, Imagination, and Thought; piercing through the outward forms of things, overthrowing conventionalisms, and boldly pressing forward, even through Choas and Night, for the everlasting principles of Truth. The result seems to have been that, while some daring minds have been bewildered in the shades of doubt, others have passed triumphantly through all difficulties, and have had their faith in God and divine revelation fixed upon more than adamantine foundations. They have ascended the holy Mount of Contemplation, and beheld glorious visions of Beauty and Truth. From this diversity of mind come various voices, some in the sharp accents of skepticism, and others in the melodious tones of a pure Christian trust; while among the listening nations, some exclaim," it thunders!" and others that, "an angel speaks." Thus there are those who associate with the German mind all that is pure and lofty, and others, all that is to be dreaded in infidelity and mystical atheism; while those, who have not personally investigated, have had their curiosity awakened, and earnestly desire that, by translations or otherwise, they may judge for themselves. Thus scholars among us have commenced the work, and are interpreting to the multitude, on this side of the water, the labors of those who have made greatest advancement in knowledge and wisdom. For our own part, we rejoice that it is so. We believe that the translations which have been lately laid before the public, from Tholuck, and Rückert, and Tennemann, and Ullmann, and Goethe, and Schiller, must be the means of strengthening virtue, and diffusing truth, of exciting the mind to a love of progress and kindling it to holy aspirations. It may be said by some, that this introduction of foreign thought is injurious to national literature, and that our scholars should be thinking for themselves, and not leaning upon the thoughts of others; and there is some weight in this. But still let it be remembered that Truth belongs to no country, and that a great mind writes not for a nation, but the world. It is only important that, while we seek for good wherever we may find it, we preserve our true individuality, and are never led from our convictions of right by any undue admiration of others. In what has been said, we have referred to the more profound productions of Germany; the labors of her Theologians and Philosophers; and we can hardly refrain from suggesting to the translator of this beautiful creation by Fouque, that he should unlock some of the treasures of those master minds, and give to us what might be of permanent value, as a work of investigation and thought. Not that we would imply that in the story before us there is no permanent value, for a value of a certain kind there undoubtedly is, and that of no low order. Truth may be conveyed in other ways than by sermons, or ethical essays, or scientific tracts, and the mind may be elevated and put in harmony with truth, even where no definite truth is conveyed. The beautiful creations of Genius, the exquisite productions of Poetry, may spiritualize and ennoble. They may be so adapted to the higher wants of the soul, as to breathe into it a new life, and strengthen it for the better performance of its most common duties. The story of Undine is not without its significant truths which truths often lie like pearls at the bottom of the stream; yet there are also many scattered even along the shore. Such a fiction, however untrue in itself, may be true to the imagination, and true to nature. There may be, and if it is a real work of Genius there must be, a harmony in it, with the great creation around, and the laws of the spiritual nature within. It is a false idea that nothing is true and practical, but what can be weighed and measured. There are high wants in our nature, and so mysterious is the spirit of man, that it constantly seeks to overleap the senses. It has an inward eye, an inward ear, and a living soul which loves to impart life, and gaze upon the beings of its own creation. "The intelligible forms of ancient poets, The fair humanities of old religion, The Power, the Beauty, and the Majesty, Or forest by slow stream, or pebbly spring, Or chasms and watry depths: all these have vanished!” But still the soul, which at first peopled nature with these beautiful spirits, is true to itself. The imagination that at first beheld them beholds them still. There is a soul in nature, the will of God giving to all life and beauty; and the mind when it wonders amid the leafy halls of nature, when it hears the sweet murmur of the stream, and gazes down into its crystal depths, when it stands under the boughs of the forest surrounded by shadowy twilight, naturally catches faint glimpses of the universal and indwelling life, and hence is tempted to people space with separate existences. This, together with the overflow of its own inward life, is the source of the mind's belief |