"Richard Edney, or the Governor's Family; a Rus-Urban Tale, simple and
popular, yet cultured and noble, of morals, sentiment and life." It is
worthy of the author of "Margaret." Though it evinces very little of the
constructive faculty, it illustrates in every page a quick and
intelligent observation, a happy talent for characterization, and great
independence in speculation.

* * * * *

Mr. C. P. CASTANIS, formerly known in this country as an agreeable
lecturer upon various subjects connected with Modern Greece, has just
published (through Lippencott, Grambo & Co., of Philadelphia), a
narrative of his captivity and escape during the massacre by the Turks
on the Island of Scio, together with various adventures in Greece and
America.

* * * * *

MR. E. G. SQUIER, whose large work upon American antiquities, published
by the Smithsonian Institute, made for him a most desirable reputation,
is now engaged in the preparation of an elaborate work upon the remains
of ancient civilization in Central America, to contain the results of
investigations during his recent official residence there.

* * * * *

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE'S new work, "The House of Seven Gables," is in the
press of Ticknor, Reed & Fields, of Boston.

* * * * *

MISS FENIMORE COOPER, whose beautiful work entitled "Rural Hours in
America" has been so much and so justly applauded, has a new volume in
the press of Putnam.

* * * * *

In the new novel of "Olive," republished by the Harpers, (which is much
praised by the London critics), the heroine, who has a lofty, noble
nature, full of poetic feeling and enthusiasm for art, determines to
devote herself to its study, urged on by a desire of liquidating a debt
contracted by her father. _Apropos_ of the purpose of her life, and the
sphere of her sex:

"She became an artist--not in a week, a month, a year. Art
exacts of its votaries no less service than a lifetime. But in
her girl's soul the right chord had been touched, which began
to vibrate into noble music, the true seed had been sown, which
day by day grew into a goodly plant. Vanbrugh had said truly,
that genius is of no sex; and he had said likewise truly, that
no woman can be an artist--that is, a great artist. The
hierarchies of the soul's dominion belong