r
"meritorious conduct, particularly in the performance of his duties in
the prosecution of the war with Mexico."

ALEXANDER S. WADSWORTH, Commodore in the United States Navy, died at
Washington, April 9, in the 61st year of his age. He was a native of
Maine. He entered the service in 1804, and for many years served with
distinction. His commission of post-captain, bears date from 1825. His
name stood the seventh on the naval list. Severe and protracted illness
had for many years disabled him from active duty.

SAMUEL FARMAR JARVIS, D.D., died at Middletown, Conn., March 26th. He
was born in January, 1787. He had the reputation of being one of the
ripest scholars in the Episcopal Church, and was a member of the
principal literary and historical societies in this country. His
extensive acquirements, and fondness for accurate investigation procured
for him the appointment of "Historigrapher of the Church," which was
conferred upon him in 1838, with a view to his preparing a faithful
"Ecclesiastical History, reaching from the Apostles' time, to the
formation of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States." The
first volume, forming a Chronological Introduction, was published in
1845. It is understood that a continuation of the work was nearly ready
for press at the time of his death.

JOHN S. SKINNER, Editor of the "_Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil_," and
well known for his agricultural writings, died at Baltimore, March 21,
aged about 70 years. He was universally esteemed for his social
qualities, unassuming demeanor, and generous impulses. His death was
occasioned by a fall into the basement in the Post Office at Baltimore.

Literary Notices

Ticknor, Reed, and Fields have issued _The House of the Seven Gables_, a
Romance, by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, which is strongly marked with the bold
and unique characteristics that have given its author such a brilliant
position among American novelists. The scene, which is laid in the old
Puritanic town of Salem, extends from the period of the witchcraft
excitement to the present time, connecting the legends of the ancient
superstition with the recent marvels of animal magnetism, and affording
full scope for the indulgence of the most weird and sombre fancies.
Destitute of the high-wrought manifestations of passion which
distinguished the "Scarlet Letter," it is more terrific in its
conception, and not less intense in its execution, but exquisitely
relieved by ch