of the youths; and so prepared, as to afford them in port the opportunity of acquiring the rudiments of the profession, under proper regulations and competent teachers. That after this course of preparatory instruction, those interested in navigation would readily apply for, and take them as apprentices. Your memorialists would further suggest, that each and every merchant vessel in the United States, of from seventy-five tons to the largest class, should be obliged by law to take these apprentices, according to their tonnage, in such proportion as your Honorable House may think proper and expedient. That on such a plan as this, your memorialists conceive, a large and effective body of native seamen could be raised and kept up, in a few years, who would be advantageously employed in time of peace, and in war, honorably engaged in the service of the republic. In addition, it might be urged, that the measure would be desirable, not only as one of sound policy, but of humanity; for by such means, many indigent boys might be rescued from the fangs of infamy and vice, and made useful members of the community, who otherwise might be lost to their connections, themselves, and their country. Your memorialists therefore pray, that your Honorable House will speedily take such order on the subject, as in your wisdom may seem meet, and as its real importance seems to require; and to pass such a bill, as may best secure the advantages which it appears to promise to the country at large. And your memorialists will pray. Dated at Charleston, South Carolina, this 5th December, 1838. (Signed) In behalf of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, DAVID ALEXANDER, President. Since that period, I have been much gratified to find that other schemes have been proposed, and that the experiment has been made, by appropria. ting a government vessel for the purpose, in which a large number of boys are admitted and educated for the navy. The result is exceedingly satis factory, and I hope that it will encourage our executive to multiply these public schools. So much has been done for our navy; but commerce, the main-spring of our prosperity, requires as much, and perhaps more, of the fostering care of our legislators; and if they will do nothing for it, we must do it ourselves, and we can do it perhaps better, and certainly with less expense, and probably with more efficiency. A place like the Long Island farms, at some distance from the city, an old vessel with a full set of rigging and every thing belonging to it, three or four teachers, cheap clothing and provisions, would cost but a paltry sum in comparison with the immense benefits that would be gained by such an establishment. Several hundred boys would every year be saved from the road to perdition, and become useful members of society. Applications from captains would no doubt be numerous, and in proportion to the extent in which the schools were carried on, the expiring class of American seamen would be replenished. It will be seen by the extract from the Havre paper, which I have translated for your use, that two single individuals have, at their own expense, in less than nine months, furnished the French merchant vessels with one hundred and twenty-nine apprentices, and that in the very beginning of their experimental institution. All that is necessary, is to teach the boys the names of every part of the vessel, and the different duties of a sailor. This is learnt in a short time, especially when it is done in so easy, and, to them, so amusing a man ner. I should like to see such a school established in the House of Refuge, where it would be likely to confer a greater benefit than any trade that may be taught to its unfortunate inmates. A boy who has been for some time in that place is generally lost for his whole life. To say nothing of his progress in vice by his connection with other boys, a stain is on his character, which perhaps will never be washed away by the best behavior, as long as he has so many witnesses of his degradation around him. But if he is sent to sea, and held under a strict discipline, he may reform, and time, industry, religion, and virtue, may finally restore his reputation, and preserve his character from future disgrace. I remain, sir with much esteem, Your obed't serv't, J. F. ENTZ. From the "Journal du Havre," of the 20th October, 1837. The philanthropic zeal of two worthy mariners of Bordeaux has, not long ago, endowed that extensive commercial city with an institution which promises the most happy results. Messrs. Laporte have had the generous idea and the courage to establish at Bordeaux a school for apprentices for the merchant service, leaving to other mercantile ports the glory of imitating an example set with such noble disinterestedness. The following notice, borrowed from the "Moniteur," will explain the principles on which this excellent preparatory school for seamen is founded, and how it will aid to moralize the offspring of the poor class, and to form for the navy the best seamen, of which this country may be proud. 'In the month of December, 1836, an institution, exceedingly useful, and promising the greatest benefits for our navy, was formed in Bordeaux, under the direction of two retired sea captains. "Messrs. Laporte Brothers, observing the daily increase in this city, of a number of boys, who, either for the poverty of their parents, or for want of employment and education, became the prey of idleness and vice, formed the resolution to save them from their impending danger. They applied to the parents, that they might be placed at their disposal, offering to undertake their instruction in nautical exercises, and their education for the navy; in short, to prepare them so as to make them useful on board of merchant and government vessels. "This benevolent idea does Messrs. Laporte the more honor, as they acted only from the impulse of generous hearts, and with means far from being large. "Their noble exertions have been crowned with the most complete success. This interesting foundation was at first a mere experiment on a moderate scale, but such has been its progress that these gentlemen have now the gratification to know that their perseverance has bestowed upon Bordeaux an establishment which, under the name of "Ecole des Mousses et des Novices," strides rapidly on in improvements and extent. "May their good example soon meet with imitation in other maritime places! "Since the 1st of January, 1837, this school has admitted nearly 200 pupils, out of which number the following have already gone to sea : 62 on foreign voyages, 67 in coasting vessels, and 55 are still in the establishment, receiving their daily instruction. More than 50 candidates are waiting for vacancies. "I will now proceed to give a few details on the management of the school. "An old church, lately used as a warehouse, has been rented on a long lease by Messrs. Laporte, in which they have erected, at their own expense,— 1st, The masts of a vessel of about 200 tons. 3d, An undulating platform, (pont à roulis.) 4th, A moveable yard with rigging, (une vergue mobile, avec ses agrés.) 5th, An assortment of fire and other arms. 6th, Fishing implements. "Every morning, at daylight, the exercises begin with the signal given by the mate's whistle. Immediately, the pupils, dressed in sailor jacket, leather belt, and tarpaulin hat, make their appearance, and in detachments repair to their respective stations. At the command of the directors, some climb up the masts to set and take in sails, while others take a reef out, upon the moveable yard, which, being pulled by ropes fastened to the extremities, is agitated as if it were by a high rolling sea. "While these operations are performed with the utmost precision and agility, other boys are employed in making spun yarn and ropes, and another group manœuvre with musket, under the tuition of a military officer. "Some are listening to lectures on the lives of distinguished mariners, a few are trying to keep their balance on the platform during its undulating motion, and the youngest are exercising nautical gymnastics. "Of course, instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, &c., are also given. "I was lately present to see them perform, and was highly astonished as well as gratified, to notice the zeal and alacrity which animate these boys, who are constantly stimulating each other during these, to them, amusing exercises. They have two large boats which they man by turns every evening, and taking a sail down the river, learn to row, under the superintendence of the directors. "Swimming being a necessary part of a nautical education, they are taken three times a week to bathe, in the king's dock. "These pupils are now often employed by captains returning home, to assist in unrigging their vessels, and several are often engaged for the fitting out. The moderate compensation received for it is some assistance in the expenses of the establishment, which, for the essential service it renders to so many families, obtains from the city authorities a liberal supply of provisions." RECENT PUBLICATIONS. 1. The Law Reporter. Edited by P. W. CHANDLER, of the Suffolk Bar. Boston: Weeks, Jordan & Co. Monthly, pp. 40. 1840. THE second volume of this law journal was completed in May last, and the third is now in the course of publication, in monthly numbers, of forty pages each. The main object of the work is to furnish accurate and condensed reports of interesting cases in advance of the regular reports, and to present a monthly digest of the most popular English and American reports, as they issue from the press. The most important legislative doings of the several states are noticed from time to time, and the work also contains miscellaneous articles on different branches of the law, and obituary notices of deceased lawyers and judges of distinction. The late day at which American reports of judicial decisions are pub lished in the authorized volumes, has long been a subject of complaint with the legal profession; and the mercantile community have also been occa. sionally sufferers from this cause, as new and important decisions by courts of high jurisdiction are thus often kept for many months from the public, and costs are not unfrequently incurred in reference to points which have been already judicially determined. A monthly periodical publication, in which pains are taken to publish, immediately on their decision, cases of importance, and which may be transported to all parts of the country by mail, cannot but be useful in disseminating correct legal information derived from the best sources, in a country of so broad extent as ours. Many eminent judges and lawyers appear to have contributed their opinions for publication in the work before us. Among them, Judge Story has furnished his most important opinions for two years past, immediately on pronouncing them; and we learn from the concluding remarks of the editor, at the end of the second volume, that, for that length of time, the opinions of this learned and accomplished judge have not been reported in any other volume. Contributions have also been received from Chief Justice Gibson, and Judge Hopkinson, of Pennsylvania; Judges Davis, Shaw, Dewey, Wilde, and Thatcher, of Massachusetts; Professor Greenleaf, Attorney-general Austin, and many other distinguished gentlemen. The numbers of the work already published contain at least one hundred and fifty new decisions, which, at the time of their publication, had not been reported in the regular reports. There is also a large amount of legal information to be found here collected, and the most important legal decisions in England are noticed. We consider the work as useful and interesting, and hope it may succeed according to its merits. 2. German Literature. Translated from the German of Wolfgang Menzel. By C. C. FELTON. 3 vols. Boston: Hilliard, Gray & Co. 1840. This is no book for an after-dinner lounge; it is a feast in itself; a profound and complete treasure-house key to the most wonderful literature man has ever known. No country but Germany could have given birth to this book. No age but this fearfully prolific one, could have furnished such a luxuriant field to this wide-sweeping critical scythe. There is a very world in these volumes. Philosophy, religion, science, poetry, pass in full survey; each with its countless multitude of devoted followers. And not merely the surface of things is seen, the names of books and the general character of their contents, as in too many criticisms in our own language. Menzel probes the hidden depths, he penetrates and lays bare the causes of the revolutions in the republic of letters. He tells us never, that it happened that such a tone was taken by the taste of historians or divines, or by the reading public. He shows the secret influence which turned the literary producer or consumer away from other channels to this new and strange one. For instance, in exhibiting the present tendency of Germany to pious mysticism, and therefore to the Roman Catholic church, he shows the necessity of this transition. He shows that Protestantism, having "stopped half way," having neither liberty nor life, the public mind is obliged to find its onward course by this winding channel. And, in the self-same chapter, the reason of such various religious manifestations as now prevail everywhere, is most philosophically shown in the widely va rious temperaments which distinguish mankind. And not only is Menzel profound, he is full of life. There never was a book of criticism clothed in such warm colors, breathing such an earnest spirit. At times there are passages of genuine eloquence; and then again his wit, even in the translation, (a work of no small difficulty, but of wonderful success,) quite overpowers you. One has, in many a passage, the strange style of German humor preserved without change, for his enjoy. ment. How does he burst out upon the affected and sickening books of devotion which inundate his native land! "The language of the Bible seems to them altogether too rude and unmannerly; and so they extract from it, as from the powerful forest plants, a little drop of essence only, mingle it with sugar, put it up in fine post paper, with a neat device, and give it to the dear little babes of grace, to swallow as a godly sugar-plum!" (p. 203, vol. i.) There are prejudices enough in the book; we have done expecting a book which has none; we know not what it would be worth, but as the index to an ice-house. Menzel's carry their own cure. His cordial hatred of Voss and Goethe are too apparent to need a caution; and, in the latter case, too wholesome to permit an apology. His sarcasm is really terrible. He leaves nothing but the ashes of Hegel, the atheist. The famous John Muller, whose "Universal History," was republished here, with such a flourish of trumpets, is torn to tatters. "Under the mask of a republican, he served and betrayed every patron; under the mask of freedom, he was always a cringer; under that of patriotism, a traitor; under that of honesty and integrity, an accomplished knave! Formerly, it was enough for one to cast himself humbly at the conqueror's feet; now-a-days, however, one must thank the conqueror, in the language of John Muller, for having freed us." (vol. ii. p. 14.) Many will be frightened, as we were, at the idea of such a vast work of criticism on a foreign literature. But, they have only to take it up to find kindling within them an interest in the wonderful scroll it unfolds, the story of that most original and immense literary productiveness, which, often as we hear of it, seems every time more marvellous than before. Think of a father's having to choose among a library of fifteen thousand different works, written and printed in Germany for youths under sixteen; or, a circulating-library reader among the six thousand new novels which come out there in a score of years; or, the general student among the one hundred thousand works which appeared in his country from 1814 to 1835! Are we not buried in thought under the mountain weight? 3. A Treatise on the Law of Landlord and Tenant, in a series of Letters, addressed to a citizen of New York. By JOHN N. TAYLOR, Esq., Coun sellor at Law. New York: Charles Wells. 12 mo. 1840. The object of this treatise is to furnish a concise and general outline of the law of landlord and tenant, as it now exists in the state of New York, unincumbered with technical phrases; laying down, at the same time, all the leading elementary principles, in language suited to the ordinary capacity of every man, and adapted to the use of those extensive classes whose rights and obligations are the subject of inquiry. Mr. Taylor has of course drawn his information from decided cases of acknowledged authority, regardless of reference, which would be of no use to the general reader, who has no access to the bulky volumes through which they are scattered. Cases are, however, frequently stated for the purpose of illustrating a general principle, from which the man of common sense may |