dicals since the appearance of his "Footprints," two years
ago. The book will be welcomed by the lovers of genuine poetry. Mr.
Stoddard is a young man of unquestionable genius, and we have been
pleased to observe that there is a decided improvement from time to
time in his compositions, indicating the industry and wise direction
of his studies, in refinement of taste, elegance of finish, and a
rapid and vigorous expansion of his imagination. His masterpiece, thus
far, is The _Castle in the Air_, fitly praised by our neighbor of the
_Albion_, as one of the finest productions of the present time. We do
not know of any poet at home or abroad to whose fame it would not have
added new luster. In the July number of the _Knickerbocker_ we find
the following "Dirge," which is not unworthy of him:

There's a new grave in the old church-yard,
Another mound in the snow;
And a maid whose soul was whiter far,
Sleeps in her shroud below.

The winds of March are piping loud,
And the snow comes down for hours;
But by-and-by the April rains
Will bring the sweet May flowers.

The sweet May flowers will cover her grave
Made green by the April rain;
But blight will lie on our memories.
And our tears will fall in vain!

* * * * *

Inedited Correspondence of Goethe and Schiller.--By many friends of
German literature it will be remembered that Goethe, during his life,
carefully preserved a particular portion of his papers and letters,
which he in 1827 transferred to the government of Weimar, on the
condition that the box in which they were contained should not be
opened until the present year. The 17th of May was the date fixed
upon, and in accordance with the will of the deceased poet, his heirs
and those of his brother poet Schiller were on that day judicially
summoned to Weimar to witness the opening of the case. Of Schiller's
descendants there were present on the occasion, his eldest son and
eldest daughter, and the widow of Ernst von Schiller. Goethe was
represented by his daughter-in-law and his two grandsons, Wolfgang and
Walther, who came from Vienna, their present place of residence, for
the purpose. Schiller's eldest son is chief inspector of forests in
Wurtemberg. Madame de Junot and Frau von Goethe were also present. The
box on being opened was found to contain a full correspondence between
Schiller and Goethe, ready arranged for the press. A codicil in
G