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By Root 16112 0

consideration. I imagine that here in order to remember the vision of our soul, it is necessary for the connecting link between it and the body, viz. the mind, to be in full activity, although possessing its powers of memory from the eternal nature of its superior, and companion, the soul; thus rendering it no difficulty to the mind to retain the reminiscence of its own dream, as the soul never sleeps; which assertion may receive additional confirmation from the following argument; that were it only for one single moment to be unconscious of its existence, this would at once break in upon its eternal principle, as being a suspension of its own powers, and which cannot happen to eternity. It is the slumber of the mind and not the soul, therefore, which causes forgetfulness.

OUR MAGAZINE LITERATURE

We commence our article with a list of the most prominent monthly periodicals of the country, which are as follows: The Democratic Review, The Knickerbocker, Graham's Magazine, The Lady's Book, Sargent's Magazine, The Pioneer, The Lady's Companion and The Southern Literary Messenger. In the above order, we propose to offer a few thoughts concerning the character of each, and shall conclude with a remark or two touching the tendency of this kind of literature.

Were it not for its ultraism in politics, we should consider the Democratic Review the most valuable journal of the day. Its editor, John L. O'Sullivan, is a man of fine matter-of-fact talents, and a good political writer, though not a brilliant one. The principal contributors to the work are Brownson, the new-light philosopher, Bancroft, Whittier, Bryant, Hawthorne, and Miss Sedgwick. Now the productions of such minds are always worth reading, for they are imbued with the true spirit of talent and genius; and that Magazine which employs such writers cannot but become eminently useful, and in the end, a source of reasonable emolument. Another interesting feature of the Democratic Review is the department of Criticism, which we think has generally been conducted in a candid, sensible and upright manner. Beside the notices of new books accompanying each number, it generally contains two or three elaborate reviews, which make it an agreeable work for men of letters. And as to its embellishments, (for everything must be pictured into the world now-a-days,) we consider them of the most truly valuable kind, being accurate and well-executed portraits of eminent men. Now if is were not for the ultraism of its proprietors, we should probably be favored, from time to time, with the counterfeit presentment of a Whig politician or writer, for, after all, there are some few men of talents even among the Whigs. Would not a step like this be making the Magazine more truly democratic than it is? and would it not be likely to add materially to the subscription list of the publication? Most highly indeed, do we esteem the Democratic Review, and, take it all in all, we acknowledge only three as its superiors in any country: namely: Tait's Magazine, Frazer, and Blackwood. And these it will fully equal, when it has had the advantages of their experience. But to proceed.

The glory of the Knickerbocker is for ever departed. Once, it was a thrice welcome messenger of intellectual entertainment to everybody, ladies, gentlemen and all. Nearly all our distinguished literary men have at times, made it the medium of their communication to the public. But, alas! the good names now connected with it are few and far between, and its subscription list is rapidly dwindling away. A secondary reason for this, we imagine, is in the bad management of its pecuniary affairs; as it has been sold to a Boston publisher, and, being printed there, is a Boston magazine, and no more the Knickerbocker. But the principal cause of its melancholy decline, may be traced to the peculiar and unappreciated talent of its editor, Lewis G. Clark. The only redeeming quality which we (mind, we don't say the public) can find in this gentleman, is in the fact that he is the brother of the date Willis G. Clark, who was one of