accomplished female writers, Mrs. Sigourney and Mrs. Hale, is a work of older date, but similar character to the last named periodical. Its circulation is very large, and amounted, a few years since, to thirty thousand copies. It is intended chiefly for female readers, but is a very agreeable family periodical, and although it does not often soar to the highest grade of literary excellence, is yet, for the most part, unexceptionable both in style and matter.

"The_Magnolia,” a Southern periodical, is published in Savannah, Ga. It has a very good circulation, and several excellent contributors, among whom are Dr. Stevens, a writer of great promise and of much historical lore, Mr. Simms, the novelist, Dr. Caruthers, author of "the Knights of the Golden Horse Shoe," and other works of fiction, and Miss Lee, a young lady of fine poetical genius, and a choice contributor to most of our popular periodicals. Her poetical effusions were first confined chiefly to "the Southern Rose," a Semi-monthly, published in Charleston, S. C.,— an exquisite work of its kind, under the editorial charge of Mrs Gilman, the well known and highly appreciated author of "the Recollections of a Southern Matron," "Ruth Raymond" and other works. The latter periodical, much to the regret of its friends, has been discontinued, but "the Magnolia," we are pleased to learn, is in a very flourishing condition.

The South has another periodical, established at Augusta, Ga., entitled "the Augusta Mirror." Among its contributors, are Judge Longstreet, the acute and humorous author of "the Georgia Scenes," and other practised writers. This work has a good reputation. We are not apprized of the extent of its circulation, nor are we sufficiently acquainted with its character, to enable us to make it the subject of particular comment. We are in the same state of ignorance in respect to the standing of a periodical, not long since commenced at Macon, Ga. From our knowledge, however, of the refinement and good taste of the citizens of that place, we are satisfied, that the community is one in which literature must be highly respected, and any efforts to extend its claims and influence, must meet with a warm, generous and steady support.

The West has, also, contributed a Monthly to the list of our lighter periodicals, "the Western Monthly Magazine,"

edited ably, first, by Judge Hall, a gentleman well and advantageously known to the literary public, for his learning and scholarship, and, subsequently, by Mr. Gallagher, a poet of great fire and sweetness, the author of "Erato" and other gems, and there was a freshness and raciness generally in its articles, and a vigor of style, when we were conversant with its pages, which evinced a determination and an ability, to place the literature of that interesting section of our country on an equality with the progress to which its spirit of enterprize and ambition has conducted it in other departments. "The Western Monthly Magazine" has been, we believe, discontinued, but other periodicals have sprung up to supply its place, with whose history, progress, character and fortunes, we are sorry to say, that we are not as familiar, at this time, as we ought to be.

Of the Quarterly Reviews of the United States, "the North American Review" is the oldest, having been in existence upwards of quarter of a century. For a considerable portion of that period, it has exerted a pretty extended influence, and while there was no other Review, was circulated, more or less widely, throughout the entire Union, having been regarded by our literary men, as furnishing a fair standard of the taste and ability of American scholars. It has generally been in very good hands, the educated gentlemen of the metropolis of the Bay State having had the best opportunities, both at home and abroad, to acquire that miscellaneous information and varied acquaintance with men and books, which are indispensable to the direction of such a work.

"The North American," at its commencement, was simply a monthly magazine, under the editorial charge of Mr. Tudor, a gentleman of highly respectable connections in Boston, and who, at one time, we think, filled some political station of eminence abroad, under the appointment of the United States' government. It did not acquire a very brilliant reputation while under his control, and when he left it, it passed into the hands of several literary gentlemen who jointly conducted it, and gave it the form of a Quarterly Review. Upon Professor Everett's return from Europe, he undertook its management, and no gentleman could have been selected, better fitted to advance the cause of American literature, through the pages of its leading organ. A man

of rare genius, and of most accomplished education, commenced in his own country, and prosecuted in the best Universities in Europe, he brought, to the fulfilment of his task, qualifications of a very high order, and which few American scholars have ever possessed in so eminent a degree. The fame which he had previously acquired, as a brilliant, eloquent and exceedingly classical writer, and as a man of varied attainments, embracing nearly the whole extent of ancient and modern literature, or the most valuable and curious parts of it, was fully sustained and increased by his admirable management of this work, in whose success a deep and living interest was felt throughout the whole country. Upon Professor Everett's engaging in political life, where he has occupied, at successive periods, stations of the highest eminence, the work passed into other hands. Mr. Sparks, the laborious and very learned author of the "Life of Washington," and of other ponderous tomes that crowd our libraries, succeeded to its editorial chair, which he filled with distinguished ability, well sustaining the reputation he had so extensively acquired, of a polished and powerful writer. His articles were, generally, less distinguished for brilliancy than for strong sense, acuteness of observation, vigor of thought and elegance of language; less for the corruscations of genius which glitter upon the page, than for the clear deductions, of a luminous mind, enlarged and invigorated by various studies and rare oppportunities of acquiring knowledge. Mr. Sparks was, some years since, appointed to the Professorship of History in Harvard University, a position to which he was, doubtless, eminently entitled, by his profound learning and rare literary merits. He is still an occasional contributor to the pages of "the North American," and the thorough and finished article, on Dr. Harris's Life of Oglethorpe, in the number of that work now before us, is said to have been from his pen.

After Mr. Sparks left the Review, it was taken in hand by the Hon. Alexander H. Everett, who had just returned from Europe, where he had filled the high station of Minister Plenipotentiary from the American Government to the court of Spain. He is the brother of the Hon. Edward Everett, formerly editor of the work. Mr. Everett filled the place, vacated by Mr. Sparks, greatly to the acceptance of American scholars. If his style is less classical and ornate

than that of his brother, it is still remarkable for its strength and elegance. Few writers are better acquainted with the history of our country and the progress of opinion on its political arena,--few have a more thorough knowledge of men and measures, of the machinery of government, both at home and abroad, and of the various springs that move it, than this distinguished scholar and statesman. On popular topics, Mr. Everett has always been a powerful writer, and such is his profound erudition, that there are few departments of study, which have not, more or less, engaged his attention, and upon which his opinions would not be valuable to the American public. He, at present, fills the highly responsible office of President of the Jefferson College in Louisiana, of which institution, we hope he may long continue to be the ornament and pride.

Mr. Channing, a brother of the celebrated Dr. Channing, and Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard, was, for some time, connected with the fortunes of this Review, filling its editorial chair. He has always sustained the reputaion of being a chaste and elegant writer, though somewhat less distinguished in the republic of letters, than his brother, the divine.

The work is now in the hands of the Rev. Dr. Palfray, Professor in the Divinity School at Cambridge, Mass., and who ranks very high, as a scholar, and as a theologian, in those circles in which he is known to fame. He is a man of great learning. We believe that he does not write much for the Review himself, his labors as editor, owing to the multiplicity and weight of his other avocations, extending chiefly to a supervision of the articles sent for publication, and a decision upon their merits. He is strongly wedded to the doctrines of the old Federal school in politics, although some of the articles of the Review have, it is said, latterly exhibited a leaning towards democratic principles, an exception,—if it be the case, from the general rule by which the editor is governed in the control of the work. As a political organ, it has always been economical of the light it has diffused, and, upon litigated questions, which distinguish parties and divide the country, it has generally expressed its views with more caution than independence.

The "North American Review," for the last quarter of a century, during which it has been regarded as a kind of

standard or representative of American literature, has certainly been graced and illuminated by a high and varied order of talent, much profound learning, excellent criticism and elegant scholarship, but it has sometimes lacked spirit, as well as substance, and its articles have been occasionally tame and feeble, compared with those of the best periodicals, of the same class, in Great Britain.

This Quarterly, when under the control of Mr. Sparks, attained a circulation of upwards of three thousand copies. Its patronage was much extended by his own personal activity, and by his employment of faithful and enterprizing agents. It had about the same amount of circulation, when in the hands of the Hon. Alexander H. Everett; but we regret to learn, that during the last few years, its number of patrons has sensibly diminished, particularly in the Southern portions of our Union.

"The American Quarterly Review," published at Philadelphia, Pa., was commenced under the literary auspices of Robert Walsh, Esq., about twelve or fourteen years ago, and was under his sole control till the period of its discontinuance, with the exception of a short time, when it was in the hands of his son. It not long since passed quietly off the troublesome stage, and not many tears were shed at its departure. Always conducted with respectable talent, and displaying a good share of learning and research, it yet was a work that never created any great sensation, and Mr. Dennie's "Port Folio," its predecessor on the same arena, will be consulted and read by the lovers of fine writing, long after the ponderous "American Quarterly" is rendered venerable by dust and age.

"The New York Review" was projected in order to supply the vacancy created by the demise of the "American Quarterly." It is under the editorial management of Mr. Cogswell, formerly of the Roundhill Seminary at Northampton, Mass., a gentleman of learning and ability and every way qualified for the station that he fills. Among its contributors, is the Hon. Hugh S. Legare, Esq., of South Carolina, now Attorney General of the United States, and one of the best Review writers in America. The articles on the Civil Law and on Demosthenes, which have shed so much lustre on the pages of the work, were from his pen. Francis Leiber, L.L.D. of the South Carolina College, au