hers of the first rank
in letters.

* * * * *

John G. Whittier, we are sorry to learn, has been for some time in
ill health. He is living quietly upon his farm in Haverhill, on the
Merrimack.

* * * * *

Browning's "Christmas-Eve."--With great peculiarity and eccentricity,
Mr. Browning is a genuine poet. Whether eccentricity is inseparable
from genius we shall leave it to others to determine. Mr. Turner's
peculiarities have admirers, and some persons affect to discover
merits in Mr. Carlyle's German style. Mr. Browning's poetic powers
raise him almost above ordinary trammels, but it has been justly
remarked of him, that transcendentalism delivered in doggerel verse
has throughout the effect of a discord."

* * * * *

FROM THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS.

GEN. ANDRE SANTA CRUZ.

This valiant soldier has lately arrived in London as Minister
Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Bolivia to the English Court. He
before visited Europe in the character of exile, but his misfortune
is in a measure repaid by the importance and dignity of his present
position.

General Andre Santa Cruz was born in 1794, at La Paz, the capital of
one of the provinces of Bolivia, and is a direct descendant, through
his mother, from the Incas of Peru. He began his military career
immediately upon quitting college, in the Spanish army, wherein he
attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He joined the liberating army
in 1820, when Peru proclaimed her independence, and by his valor and
tactics, largely contributed to maintain the proclamation. In 1821,
as a reward for his services, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel,
and in conjunction with General Sucre, assisted to raise the standard
of liberty in the State of Ecuador. It was in the course of this
campaign that the battle of Pichincha was fought in which Santa
Cruz distinguished himself at the head of the advanced guard. These
services attracted the attention of General Bolivar, and won for
him the rank of General of Brigade. He was next engaged with General
Bolivar in the celebrated campaigns of Xemiu and Ayacucho, which
closed the wars of independence, in 1824.

The achievements of General Santa Cruz in the course of these
campaigns were rewarded by the dignity of Grand Marshal of Peru,
and the government of the departments of Chuquisaca and La Paz. His
sagacious administration in his latte