Text: N. P. Willis (?), Literary, Evening Mirror (New York), November 26, 1844, vol. 1, no. 45, p. 3, col. 3

[page 3, column 3, continued:]

Literary.

GRAHAM’S MAGAZINE. — “Graham for December has been laid upon our desk. It comes in the pride of its excellence and worth with the emblem of June fairly pictured upon its pages — and truth to say, we have never seen a peacock pictorially presented more naturally than this, which the skill of Mr. Quane, and the liberality of Graham, has furnished to the general view, and for general admiration. The line and stipple engraving which fronts it, has an exquisite finish, although the faces of the youths are dropsically fat and proportionally ugly. The fair young girl who stands beside them, in a graceful and unstudied attitude, makes full amends however. There is likewise a portrait of the Rev. Walter Colton, author of “Ship and Shore,” engraved on steel, from a daguerrotype [[daguerreotype]]. Finally, there is a plate of fashions.

Of the literary matter we shall say but little, for the simple reason that we have not space to speak of it rightly. Mr. Francis J. Grund, an elegant and powerful writer, contributes a lengthy and interesting essay upon the “Public Amusements in England, France, Germany, and Italy, and their influence on the manners and customs of the people.” Mr. J. Fennimore [[Fenimore]] Cooper has a biography of Commodore Shubrick. Mrs. Ann S. Stephens revels in pretty conceits, in as pretty a tale as ever she wrote. The Rev. Walter Colton, Mrs. L. J. Pierson, Mrs. Frances Osgood, Mr. R. S. Nichols, Mr. George Hill, and others, add their several and very readable quotes to the variety and interest of the number.” — U. S. Gazette — our sen. bet. ex.

THE AMERICAN HOUSE CARPENTER: Wiley & Putnam. — We have hammered a good deal, without always being able to flatter ourselves that we hit the nail on the head, and so never attempted house-carpentry; but as Editors must be like Caleb Quotem, and include

among their accomplishments, we have looked over this manual, beautifully got up, with appropriate ornaments of no little ingenuity. Not being yet au fait of the subject, we can only say it seems like a thing that ought to accompany the compass and square throughout our land.

THE COMPANION, and the COLUMBIAN are “punctual as lovers” to their many friends, and we have had a peep at the January illustrations of the last named periodical, which show any thing but a decline in the zeal or ability of those concerned.

NOEL AND CHAPSAL’S FRENCH GRAMMAR, adapted by Mrs. SEAMAN — has been overlooked in the crowd awaiting review on our table. It is well recommended, but we think better adapted for advanced scholars than for beginners.