Papers on Literature and Art . . .

  Papers on Literature and Art. By S. Margaret Fuller. New York: Wiley & Putnam.—These two neat volumes make Nos XIX and XX of Wiley & Putnam’s “Library of American Books.” Their contents are essays on various interesting subjects. “A short essay on Critics,” “Life of Sir James Mackintosh,” “Modern British Poets,” “Modern Drama.” “Poets and the People,” “Miss Barrett’s Poems,” “Lives of the great composers,” “Allston,” and “American Literature”—are the titles of the principal pieces. All of theses are distinguished by beauty of style and delicacy and refinement of thought. We have read them with much pleasure, and should be happy to see more of a similar kind. Miss Fuller is one of those people who think that Wordsworth is more of a poet than Byron, and her criticisms, as far as they are consistent with the notions and its legitimate consequences, seem to us of little value. She is, however, often inconsistent, and frequently breaks forth in excellent strains of common sense. In the volumes under notice, the theatrical reader will find an elaborate description, with extracts, of the new play of “Witchcraft” recently brought out in Philadelphia, by Murdoch. As far as we can judge from the quotations given by Miss Fuller, it is hardly worth her eulogy.