the responsibility of giving up that fair island a prey to anarchy and intestine feuds, that she and her people might reap the advantages above mentioned, and look calmly on the strife of those whom she had once regarded as her children. Her counsellors are placed between two evils of which they must choose the least. If Ireland is to be abandoned, we think it were best to abandon it wholly. It would be no greater loss to England than Hanover was when it passed from Victoria to Ernest Augustus. But whether the legislative union is repealed, Victoria remaining sovereign of Ireland, or the link between Ireland and England is to be completely severed, or repeal is to be refused and rebellion put down, one of two things is certain: either the Romish priesthood must be endowed by the state, or the established church of Ireland must fall. Should the former step be taken, the endowment must come from the revenues of the establishment, which will be proportionally reduced; for the British people will not submit to a tax for the retention of Ireland through a hireling hierarchy; and we are persuaded that the church would throw up her connection with the state, rather than submit to what she would deem the sacrilegious plunder of her patrimony. The probability therefore is, that ere another lustrum passes, the protestants of Ireland will be left to provide for their religion on the voluntary principle. Depend upon it, let politicians say what they will, the ecclesiastical question is, after all, the chief root of bitterness, and the main chance with the ghostly rulers of the land.

The concessions which will certainly be made, and that at no distant date, in Britain, are a great extension of the parliamentary franchise-say household, if not universal suffrage-vote by ballot -shortened parliaments-no property qualification for memberspayment for parliamentary services-and the expulsion of the bishops from the upper house. What may follow in the wake of such organic changes, we do not now attempt to predict.

With regard to Germany and Italy we cannot see that republicanism will be immediately established within their borders. Yet these countries offer facilities for federal union similar to that of the United States, which are not presented even by France herself. Being broken up into a large number of independent but mutually allied principalities, these seem formed to constitute so many states or republics, combined in each country into a great union with a general government and executive as in this country; and it is not unlikely that the course of time may bring about such a a consummation. To what height of greatness might not Germany and Italy arrive if they were thus united and free? Spiritual would expire with political despotisin, and both the penetrating intellect of the north and the poetic spirit of the sunny south would start on a career of prosperity "above all Greek, above all Roman fame." The night of superstition and servitude would be lighted up by the sun of liberty, and historical glories would be eclipsed by the splendors of the present day.

One word of advice to ourselves before we come to a close. It is natural that the sympathies of Americans should flow out to the nations of Europe at this crisis. European as we are by descentreceiving yearly from that region large accessions to our population, who do not forget their father-lands-and being confessedly the people whose institutions are admired and coveted by the champions of freedom in the old countries, we should be less than men if we did not watch every movement in them with intense interest, and pray them God speed in their endeavors to advance. But surely it were a pity to let our zeal outrun our discretion, and embroil ourselves in their troubles. They are sufficient to fight their own battles, and we should derive neither credit nor profit by rashly compromising the government of this country, and laying it under the necessity of administering a caution and rebuke to those who may be unwise in their enthusiastic offers of "aid and comfort" to the insurgents. Even without any headlong zeal we may find it hard to steer clear of collision in the coming commotions. It will be prudent to bide our time, and husband our resources for the assertion of our own rights and dignity, if these are unhappily interfered with. Our noblest and safest posture is that of encouragement by open approbation, and perfect permission to our citizens to give what help they please to private individuals; but to hold no communication in public bodies with revolutionary organizations abroad, or in any way to assume a national attitude of fraternity till the period arrives of recognizing the new governments which may ere long be formed. C. M. N.

THE DEAF MUTE.

One afternoon in May, the sun was pouring his golden beams. upon the green, unrippled surface of the water, as the new steamer Commodore was making her third trip across the sound between New Haven and New York. Harry Clinton and myself, who had been passing a few days in the "City of Elms," to attend a grand military display at the inauguration of Governor B, were on our way home, and to obtain a better view of the surrounding country, had taken our position on the upper promenade deck. As the boat shot down the bay, New Haven appeared extremely fine. Nature and art have conspired to render it beautiful and attractive. Fresh leaves were appearing on the elms which would soon mantle the city in shade. East and west rocks rear their majestic fronts just behind the city, and, as you recede, seem to approach and hang over it like twin guardians of the place; while still more remote, Mount Carmel towers up among the clouds and overshadows these cliffs, and is the last object upon which the eye rests after you leave the bay and enter the sound. After

enumerating to my friend Harry various incidents and legends of the mountains, which seemed to throw him into raptures and kindle in him the desire to return and roam over those heights, we quietly seated ourselves and began to trace the lines and lineaments of beauty portrayed by the finger of Deity in his sublimer work, man.

In this, my friend was much more skilled than myself, and I accordingly left him to take the lead in observation and remark upon the different characters of the strangers who were present. Harry was well informed, and knew what was becoming the gentleman, in respect to the rules of etiquette to be observed toward strangers. No impudent staring or ridicule was indulged, but respectful glances of the eye and remarks unobserved by others.

A young lady, neatly attired, graceful in her manners and evidently attracting much attention in the circle which had gathered around her, appeared in a part of the boat, at a little distance from us. As she approached the spot where we were seated, she gracefully motioned her hand to an elderly looking gentleman, and thereupon they entered into an apparently lively conversation in the language of signs which are employed by deaf mutes. Every eye was fixed upon the young lady, and a degree of no common sympathy was evidently excited by those unacquaintad with her. Her dark piercing eye seemed radiant with intelligence and her lips looked as though they might speak, yet they appeared sealed. "Oh, that they had language," was the involuntary prayer that went up from many a heart. The caged spirit, however, seemed composed and animated joy mantled on her countenance. My friend could hardly suppress his emotions, and in fact he did not, but uttered them audibly in terms expressive of his great admiration. He spoke of the blessed results of those institutions which have done so much to unfetter the spirit of the dumb, and give it converse with intelligent minds. He even thought that in the instance before us, superior education, graceful motions and fine expression, fully compensated for the lack of voice. It was plain to see that Harry was more than ordinarily pleased. He expressed his deep regret that he was unacquainted with the language of signs, and resolved in his heart, as soon as convenient, to take a course of lessons in the art.

After the first emotions had a little subsided, my friend with myself commenced promenading the deck. The gentleman with whom the young lady had been conversing left her, and to our surprise she spoke! Those lips indeed had language! The sensation produced was sudden as light! I saw a dozen faces around that appeared electrified. The cheek of Harry was mantled with a flush. His tongue was not only eloquent but his gestures had acquired the significance of speech.

The bell rang for dinner, but Harry's was taken like the "hasty plate of soup." He plucked a rose before he left the table, at the expense of offending the steward, to cast at the feet of the lady, if

perchance she might notice it. I was left below, but when I returned on deck the wind had blown away the rose, and Harry's object proved fruitless. Fearful that my friend's emotion might become conspicuous and render him over polite to the intelligent stranger, I endeavored to divert his attention by taking him to walk near the bow of the boat and conversing upon other topics. The interest, however, between the young lady and Harry seemed to become mutual, as evinced by reciprocal glances of the eye and the slight motion of kerchiefs as they passed and repassed each other in their walks on the deck. My friend and myself were not the only ones on board who desired an introduction to one who had occasioned so much interesting excitement. One young gentleman, a student of Yale, sent to her his card, asking the pleasure of an introduction, but she of course respectfully declined, saying she did not wish to form an acquaintance with a stranger with whom she should, in all probability, never meet again. Harry saw this, but evidently did not despair of his own success. Something seemed to tell him that their eyes had before this, met, and he was almost tempted to lay aside the common rules of etiquette and address her.

While the steamer was near Hurlgate, a little boat shot towards us with such velocity that it appeared as if it would be plunged beneath us. It was manned, however with a sturdy arm, and brought along side and attached to our boat with a rope. This incident drew together a crowd to gaze over the side of the boat. Harry was brought near the young lady, and both recognized each other at nearly the same instant. They were friends whom time and distance had separated, and had thus strangely met. Harry seemed thunderstruck! The young lady was suffused with blushes, though her utterance was clear. My friend introduced me and I left them in raptures. Business called me to another place, but I have since heard favorable reports of them in New York. Their happiness is complete, and not at all interfered with by occasional visits from the gentleman who attended the lady, with whom she still converses by help of the manual alphabet; for he is a DEAF MUte.

LITERARY NOTICES.

AN EARNEST MINISTRY THE WANT OF THE TIMES. By John Angell James. With an introduction, by J. B. Condit, D. D., of Newark, New Jersey. New York: M. W. Dodd.

Few clergymen of the present day have been so much distinguished by fervent evangelical eloquence and by an energetic and effective ministry as the author of this work: he was therefore admirably adapted to write such a work, as it is the very element in which he breathes most freely. The work while it shows what genuine earnestness in the ministry is, distinguishing it from all its counterfeits, suggests the most powerful motives to the cultivation of it, and as the crowning one of all, an humble and practical recognition of the necessity of a divine agency to produce and sustain it. There is a vein of fervid eloquence pervading the work which holds the reader in devout admiration, while it is the channel of the most pure, elevated and profitable thought. It is specially adapted to the ministry of Great Britain; but still it is applicable to the ministry every where. The introduction by Dr. Condit, is striking and eloquent, as all who know him as a writer would expect.

A DISCOURSE ON THE LIFE, CHARACTER, AND PUBLIC SERVICES OF JAMES KENT, LATE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; delivered by request before the judiciary and bar of the city and state of New York, April 12, 1848. By John Duer. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

This is an eloquent and faithful tribute to the memory of a man whose name belongs to the history not of his own country only but of the world. While it must have a special interest for gentlemen of the legal profession, as exhibiting the process by which the highest eminence in jurisprudence has been attained, it has a general interest for all who care for the reputation of their country or who love to contemplate humanity in its brighter and nobler forms.

ROMANCE OF THE HISTORY OF LOUISIANA; a series of Lectures. By Charles Gayarre. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

These Lectures, from the author's own account of them, seem to have had their origin in an attempt to keep out of the way of the yellow fever, while yet he remained shut up in the midst of it: indeed his preface giving in detail the history of the book, is by no means the least amusing thing which the book contains. It does not claim to be a very elaborate production; nevertheless, it contains glances at events which time has thrown much into the shade, but which, notwithstanding, have exerted no small influence upon our country's