THE AMERICAN REVIEW, AND METROPOLITAN MAGAZINE. Numbers five and six.
pp. 588. New-York: SAXTON AND MILES, Broadway.

The number of this publication for the December quarter is a very good
one. We were especially interested in the 'Michael Agonistes' of Mr. J. W.
BROWN, which is, in parts, both powerful and harmonious, and in a
dissertation upon 'WEIR'S National Painting.' The writer is of opinion
that our eminent artist has made a sad mistake in the conception of his
striking group, although he awards warm praise to certain portions of the
picture. Still he says: 'It argues slight knowledge of human nature to
suppose that melancholy resignation characterized those who at Delft-Haven
embarked for a land of civil and religious liberty; wild and inhospitable,
to be sure, but still a land of Freedom. There were other thoughts in the
hearts of that noble band than those of sorrow. Even had they been leaving
the country of their birth, they would not have sorrowed; but as it was,
bidding farewell to a land of foreigners, almost as hostile to freedom as
their own, they felt not otherwise than joyful, and their bosoms were full
of thoughtful, reasoning gladness. The parting kiss of that young wife
must have tried, somewhat, the firmness of her husband, yet not enough to
cloud his bright anticipations of the future. A different mood than that
imagined by Mr. WEIR should have pervaded the group, if we are not widely
in error. 'With all its faults,' adds our critic, however, 'The
Embarkation of the Pilgrims,' although not indicative of great genius, yet
regarded as to execution, does honor to Mr. WEIR. We should do injustice
to the central group, did we omit to confess that the devotional grandeur
of the face of the minister, raised to heaven in prayer, struck us with a
feeling of awe, such as we had perhaps never before experienced.' This
especial tribute we have heard paid to this picture by every person whom
we have heard refer to it.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

AMERICAN MANNERS AND AMERICAN LITERATURE.--We ask the attention of every
right-minded American to the following remarks, which we take the liberty
of transcribing from a welcome epistle to the Editor, from one of our most
esteemed and popular contributors. The follies which it exposes and the
evils which it laments have heretofore formed the themes of papers in this
Magazine from the pens of able correspondents, as well as of occasional
comment in our own department