The only fault we have with this _critique_ is, that it hardly does
justice to the noble talents of Mrs. Sigourney. Something more, we
think, might have been said, and said with perfect truth. Miss Gould
is more fairly dealt with, but nevertheless the criticism does not
appear to come from the heart of a poet. Some incidental remarks upon
Miss Sedgwick are highly complimentary and exceedingly just. Mrs.
Sigourney's first publication was reviewed in the North American about
twenty years ago. She was then Miss Huntley.
Article IX. "Sartor Resartus: in three Books. Reprinted for friends,
from Fraser's Magazine. London, 1834."
The North American might have been better employed than in reviewing
this book--even although it be "no secret in England or here that it
is the work of a person to whom the public is indebted for a number of
articles in the late British Reviews." The book purports to be a
commentary (the author incog.) on a late work on the Philosophy of
Dress, by Dr. Diogenes Teufelsdroeckh, Professor of the Science of
Things in General, at the University of Weissnichtwo in Germany; and
the Reviewer thinks it necessary to enter into some pages of
discussion, in order to convince his readers that Professor
Teufelsdroeckh and his book are both _a hum_. We think the whole
_critique_ a hum of the worst order, viz: a hum unintentional. We will
venture to bet that the meaning (if there be any) of the Sartor
Resartus has only the two faults of the steed in Joe Miller. In the
first place, it is hard to catch. In the second place it is worth
nothing when caught.
Article X. "A Comprehensive Pronouncing and Explanatory Dictionary of
the English Language; with Pronouncing Vocabularies of Classical,
Scripture, and Modern Geographical Names. By J. E. Worcester.
Carefully revised and enlarged. Boston, 1835."
This is a valuable work, and the writer of the _critique_ upon it
seems fully aware of its many excellences. Mr. Worcester has based his
Dictionary upon those of Johnson and Walker, but has given six
thousand more words than are found in the Critical Pronouncing
Dictionary of the latter. A large number of terms purely technical are
given with their meanings--many foreign words, also, in familiar use.
Article XI.--1. "A Narrative of the Visit to the American Churches, by
the Deputation from the Congregational Union of England and Wales. By
Andrew Reed, D.D. and James Matheson, D.D. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1835."
2. "Four Years in Great Britain. By Calvin Colton. 2 vols. 12mo. New
York, 1835."
Dr. Reed's book is reviewed calmly and with strict impartiality--the
reviewer allowing that the Dr. writes with energy when his attention
is fully aroused. This, perhaps, is his chief merit. Of Colton's work
little is said. "His adventures," observes the critic, "are very well
described, and though in some of them he gives too much prominence to
his own doubts and fears, still, if the whole had been written in the
same manner, it would have insured the work a greater popularity than
it is likely to gain." His account of O'Connell is highly praised.