THE CONTRIBUTIONS WANTED.

Finding some observations on this subject in the introductory paper to our former work alluded to in the preceding article, so nearly expressing what we desired to say at this time, we have saved some labor by uniting them with a few additional remarks.

We do not intend that our Magazine shall contain any very long or very elaborate articles. We think it better in most cases to say too little than too much; and the remark is particularly applicable to a work like ours. The fact is, that voluminous papers are not very generally read in this country, however lucid or learned, or sound or sensible they may be. We are too busy, hasty, practical a people-those of us especially so, who belong to the operative class, and are obliged to make the most and best use, at least the most expeditious use, of all the little leisure we can get.

In all other circumstances as in this, we are desirous of consulting the particular situation, taste and necessities of those whom we must mainly depend upon for support. The matter of the Magazine, then, must be Practical; and in this veiw we wish to comprise criticisms and strictures upon the living manners, fashions, literature, prevalent opinions and general tone of the age. Some parts of the Spectator-a work which we are antiquated enough both to admire and recommend-occur to us as coming near enough to a model of what we wish for in this department. Of course, these criticisms and strictures must be founded mostly upon actual observation, manly in their moral aim, and gentlemanly in their style. If they are not all these, they certainly will not be profitable, and therefore will not be admissible. With these provisos, the more spirit and nerve in them the better. Truth, and sense, and argument, we are sorry to say it, are not alone sufficient to reform the world, and scarcely to inform it. If they were, sermons would do more good, and novels less damage.

As to Fictitious composition, we have no great respect for the common run of love-tales, we frankly confess. Nor do we intend to adinit, or expect to receive any, which are not made subservient to some higher end than caricaturing human life and human nature under the everlasting mottoes of heroes and heroines, bright eyes and poison, love, murder and witchcraft. At the same time, we have no doubt that fiction may sometimes be advatageously made the medium of sound observations upon men and manners,

and especially of wholesome satire. Most of these remarks will apply as precisely to Poetry. The mere gingle of rhyme is but a poor srbstitute for sense, spirit or principle. Wherever it is an accompaniment, we shall receive it with pleasure; and of course, in that case the more ornamental the better. The diamond itself, without polish, is but a trifle more precious than granite.

We shall be glad to receive well-written Biographical notices, and shall make it a point to prepare or provide them frequently. There are names enough of our own countrymen, to suggest abundant matter both of entertainment and instruction, in this line of literature Occasional essays upon Composition, with an especial reference to the benefit of young writers; notices of all new works in which we believe that our readers are or should be interested; in a word, any matter which is brief, decorous, practical and spirited, will come within our professed plan.

It is proper here to observe, that while we think it a duty to establish and support an opinion of our own upon every important subject which relates to the general good—and while we are convinced that we have a perfect right to think and speak as we choose (paying a proper regard always to decorum)—we cannot consistently deny the same privilege to others. We shall respect all parties, so far as their conduct may justify such deference; and therefore shall be willing to receive fair and well-written articles on all controverted subjects-not necessarily excluded from the sphere of our work-of sufficient dignity and consequence to deserve the notice of the public.

We have made no special mention of the wide range of subjects connected with the leading purpose of the Magazine, because we suppose they will be readily suggested by the remarks already made in the Prospectus. We trust that not a few able writers, heartily interested in the elevation of the People, and capable of grappling with the difficult problems which some of these topics involve, will give us an opportunity to record the result of their labors in this department.

In fine, it will be our aim, in all cases, to procure such matter as will enable us-without the aid of much fiction, or of mere fic tion at all-to succeed in interesting the imagination and improving the mind, without perverting the one or corrupting the

other.

THE BOOK WORLD.

Miscellaneous Paper.

THE presses of the American Publishers are kept so continually active, and throw off so many books of value and interest, that we have thought a paper giving a short account of the operations of a few of our eminent booksellers, in addition to some special notices, would not be without interest to our readers. We hope to be able to devote attention to all the leading publishing houses, as we proceed.

WILEY & PUTNAM's Library of Choice Reading fulfils the promise of its commencement, in affording delightful books of History, Biography, Art and Criticism, in an elegant form, and at a cheap price. Among its late publications, "Leigh Hunt's Stories from the Italian Poets," is one of the most valuable and interesting. It contains an abstract of the whole of Dante's Divine Comedy, and various beautiful stories from Pulci, Boiardo, Ariosto and Tasso. The translator's essays on the genius of his authors, are full of delicate criticism and attractive information. Hunt's translation of Dante preserves, to a considerable extent, the intensity of the "sad Florentine." When Beatrice lifts her veil, towards the end of his "Journey through Purgatory," Dante “quenches the ten-year's thirst of his eyes in her ineffable beauty." Beatrice had been dead ten years. The work is laden with beautiful images.

The "Autobiography of Goethe," translated by Parke Godwin, and others, for this Library, is an admirable book. Considered as the work in which the greatest and most comprehensive genius of Germany, discourses of the events and influences of his own life, it must be interesting to all who take any pleasure in biography. The American translation is the only correct one ever "done" into English.

The "Poetry of Wit and Humor," edited by Leigh Hunt, and containing illustrative criticisms by him, is another brilliant addition to the Library of Choice Reading. It contains extracts from Chaucer, Shakespeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, Ben Jonson, Randolph, Butler, Suckling, Dryden, Pope, Goldsmith, and Wal

cot-a wide variety of authors, exhibiting corresponding varieties of the ludicrous.

Wiley & Putnam are also publishing Carlyle's works in their Library. They have already issued "Heroes, and the Heroic in History," "Sartor Resartus," and the "French Revolution". three books, among the most remarkable, in their style of thought and expression, which have been produced in the present century. Carlyle is an author to be read with care, in order that the reader may be on his guard against an imitation of his manner or an adoption of his occasional fallacies; but, judiciously read, he will be found one of the most suggestive and delightful of writers, full of splendid pictures, deep thought, and powerful delineation of character. There is often a startling abruptness in his expression, which strikes the reader's mind like a missile hurled at his headas in the remark, "The French Revolution, too, was a truth, but a truth written in hell-fire." Carlyle's words are often red hot with the energy of the thought or passion they express, and rake opposing arguments or principles as with grape shot. His manner, also, though of a peculiar kind, is very striking. It often combines the riotous hilarity of Rabelais with the caustic bitterness of Swift. Altogether, in understanding, imagination and style, he is one of the curiosities of literature.

The vast book-mill of the HARPERS, it is well known, never stops, and we have on our table a considerable number of their late publications. The panting critic "toils after them in vain,"they publish faster than he can read. The veriest book-cormorant would be glutted, if every volume which fell from their teeming press dropped into his maw. Among the enterprises of this house, their New Miscellany is especially worthy of consideration. It contains valuable books in the different departments of literature, neatly printed and bound, at the low price of fifty cents a volume. Mrs. Somerville's "Connection of the Physical Sciences," and Schiller's "Thirty Years' War," are afforded at this low price. The former is well known as one of the most valuable scientific works for popular reading ever written; and the latter is the offering to the Muse of History, made by Germany's second great poet. It is intensely interesting, from the great interests at stake in the war, the skill and bravery of the generals, and the terrible picture it presents of a country ravaged by a contest of thirty years. In this war Protestantism received its baptism of fire and blood. It emerged from it weakened, but still victorious.

Spurzheim's work on "Phrenology," has passed into the hands of the Harpers, and they have issued it, at a comparatively low price, in one handsome octavo volume, with illustrative engravings. This is probably the best treatise on Phrenology extant. To a believer in the science it is an invaluable store-house of facts and arguments; while its clearness of style, and its fine exposition of the nature and operation of the human propensities, sentiments and faculties, make it interesting to those who are skeptical in regard to the "organs."

The same publishers have also issued a concise and well-written "History of the American Revolution," by Rev. J. L. Blake, originally published by the English Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Their elegant edition of "The Pictorial History of England," published in numbers, is going forward rapidly. As regards pure information, relating to manners, customs, literature and art, as well as to events, this history is the most important and valuable yet attempted.

The APPLETONS, of New York, are continually publishing books of a high character, at a low price. Their series of Publications, under the general title of Appleton's Literary Miscellany, contains many valuable and important works. Among their late publications in this form, is Gizot's "History of Civilization, from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the French Revolution," admirably translated by William Hazlitt. Guizot unites, perhaps, a greater number of the essential qualities of a great historian, than any other living writer. His capacity to analyse conditions of society, his fine representative power, his vast acquirements, and his brilliant, rapid style, render the present work as instructive to the student as it is pleasing to the mere reader for amusement.

In referring to Appleton & Co. we should not forget their editions of Ollendorf's method of learning to read and write the German, French, and Italian languages. Each volume is edited by some American linguist; and each presents a simple and easy method of gaining a thorough knowledge of the language to which it is devoted. These works can hardly be too highly recommended to the student.

TICKNOR & Co. of this city, have published a new edition of Messrs. Murdoch and Russell's "Vocal Culture"-the best popular treatise on the voice, and containing the most aidful elocutionary rules to guide the learner in reading and speaking, which