Text: C. F. Briggs (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), February 8, 1845, vol. 1, no. 6, p. ??

[page 93:]

THE MAGAZINES.

THERE are two kinds of Magazines, those that appear on the first of the month, and those that appear in the middle of it. The first are the five dollar ones without illustrations, the others the three dollar ones with them. Instead of illustrations, perhaps it were safer to say pictures; and again, instead of pictures, it would be safer still to say engravings. There is still another point of difference between the Magazines. One kind are printed in Philadelphia and the other in New York. Nothing higher than three dollars in the shape of a Magazine, has ever thriven in Philadelphia; nothing lower than live dollars has ever done well in New York. We have thus, we believe, Riven the distinguishing features of the two species of the Magazines.

We might distinguish them still farther, as: the three dollar species have pinkish colored covers, fifty leaved, and are of both sexes; while the five dollar species are generally males, have a hundred leaves, and are bluish or brown covered. In other respects the points of difference are not very marked. The three Magazines now before us are of the five dollar kind.

THE KNICKERBOCKER comes first, being the oldest Magazine alive, and entitled, as a matter of course, to precedence. The number for this month contains the customary variety of papers, among which is the fourth paper of a series on Cuba, which contains much valuable and interesting information regarding that Island. The Editor's Table, which has a marked idiosyncrasy, has the customary set out of pleasant dishes, among which every taste is sure to find something to its liking.

THE DEMOCRATIC REVIEW is embellished with a very truthful looking portrait of Auguste Davezac, which is itself illustrated by what the writer calls, 16 a very brief sketch of the skeleton of Major Davezac's Life.” This brief sketch of the skeleton of the Major's Life is altogether a work of supererogation. The portrait itself tells the whole story. We have never seen a better summary of a character than that made by the lines of the Major's portrait. Were it not for the concluding passage of the “Sketch of the Skeleton of Major Davezac's Life,” we should think that he wrote it himself. But it ap. pears to be the work of one who has been iu the “same legislative councils” with the Major.

“In regard to his political character,” says the writer of the “Sketch of the Skeleton,” “we can testify from intimate intercourse in the same legislative councils, as well as much other political association, that he is one of the most thoroughly ingrained Democrats we have ever known. It is not only a thought in his head, but a deep rooted feeling in his heart. And as the English Queen said that the name Calais would be found visibly impressed upon her head after her death, so do we almost believe that Democracy may be found stamped on that of our venerable friend; unless, indeed, that of Andrew Jackson should have monopolized the whole surface of the Organ — a point of no great importance, synonymous as the latter may almost be regarded as being for the tinnier.”

We regard this brief sketch as the most remarkable piece of writing that we have ever encountered in any Magazine, whether three dollar or five dollar. The Democratic contains several fine papers, embodying much wholesome thought and many aids to reflection.

The article on Army Organization manifests considerable learning on a subject which is happily falling into disrepute every day. The “first eight days in England” by Judge Carleton of New Orleans, evinces much more good will than discrimination. The Judge had no need to go to Manchester to see little children with naked feet in mid winter. Our own streets are full of such sights, and more mud than can be found in any city in Europe. There are all sorts of ways of attracting attention in a Coffee House. Mr. Weed informed us in his letters from Dublin, that he made quite a sensation one morning by calling out to the waiters to take away the silver fork they had brought him, and give him a steel one in its place. Judge Carleton, finding himself in the Coffee-room of a Liverpool hotel, where nobody seemed disposed to notice him, determined to arrest the attention of somebody; and adopted the following ingenious expedient.

“Opposite to me,” says the Judge, “sat a stout gentleman whose abstraction announced that silence was not to be broken. Ile seemed unconscious of my presence; nevertheless I resolved to unlock hit frozen speech. But how? — I studied my part, and throwing down my knife, I exclaimed,’ At last I have seen that beautiful, that unspeakably beautiful England! T studied its geography when a boy, its history when a man, and the hall had not been told me!’ “Such an exclamation as this in a room where gentlemen were quietly eating their breakfast, gained the Judge the attention which he coveted, as a matter of course.

The article on Pascal; Mr. Tuckerman's Essay on Bryant's poetry; and the characteristic story of South-Western Life, by the writer who calls himself C. Wilkins Erni, are well worth reading..

THE AMERICAN REVIEW for this month is a decided improvement upon the first number. It contains many pleasant articles, and a poem by Mr. Poe, which is not ascribed to that gentleman, for what reason we are at a loss to conceive, for it is a piece of verse which the best of our poets would hardly wish to disown. The prefatory remarks of the Editor are rather mystifying, and seem to tend to the disparage. ment of the poem as principally recommended by its versification. — “The Literary Prospects of 1845,” is a very agreeable and genial paper by Mr. Duyckinck, who is one of those rare men that devote their time and abundance to the cultivation of letters, not as a means [page 94:] of dissipating time and procuring a refined enjoyment, but as the means of doing good to others, and promoting social reform. The Review of Alison's History by Mr. Headley, is long and able, but too much in the massacrante style for the dignity of a review. It would be difficult to account for the popularity of Alison's History in this country, were it not that we make it a point to read everything thar is popular in England; and that it is a passion with the English to read everything that is called history. “Words” by E. P. Whipple, is a very bright and sparkling essay. The article on Post Office reform, must be a commendable paper, since it advocates reform of some kind; but we widely differ with the writer in regard to the opening idea of his essay. “Of all the manifold devices supplied by the ingenuity of man to promote the progress of civilization, a National Post Office stands in the foremost ranks of importance.” Now we think that the very reverse is the truth. A National Post Office which puts a curb upon individual enterprise, is not only a drag upon civilization, but it will continue to be, what it has long been, one of the most prolific sources of political corruption in our system. Any modification of our present Post Office laws cannot be otherwise than beneficial; but any alterations short of abolishing the system entirely, will always leave something to be reformed. The American Review was established with the professed design of counteracting the influences of the Democratic Review, and it seems to be admirably adapted to that end. We have never seen two works so nearly alike. Extract from each the mere partisan slang which marks their political essays, and it would be difficult to decide which was which.