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WE have repeatedly in these pages 'borne testimony' in behalf of a more
general cultivation of the fine arts, and especially in the department of
architecture. We have had too much reason to concur with JEFFERSON in the
opinion that 'the genius of architecture never yet condescended to visit
the American Republic.' The Count RENAULT St. JEAN D'A---- was wont to
say, while residing among us, that 'more was to be learned by viewing
Grace-Church in Broadway, touching the state of mental culture among us in
the science of architecture, than by all the methods of reasoning which
philosophy could furnish on any abstract point of knowledge;' and yet we
believe the plan of this edifice was the result of a confederation of
intellectual powers! Moreover, as our old friend, the late Gen. MORTON,
was wont to say, we must bear in mind that beside the several recognized
orders of architecture, we have also an _order by the corporation_! We may
have more to say on this theme on another occasion. We have been led to
these incidental remarks, by the recent death in this city of a man of
rare genius, and unwearied effort in the promotion of a kindred branch of
art--THOMAS HORNER, of England, the well-known draftsman and painter of
the wonderful panorama of London, which constitutes the attraction of the
great collosseum in that metropolis. The labor to affect this great work,
the result of years of toil and severe exposure to the inclemencies of a
noxious atmosphere, doubtless predisposed to that prolonged suffering
which wasted his physical strength; while sad disappointments, and the
precarious means of existence which he derived from his art in this
country, may be justly regarded as concurring causes in hastening his
final departure from among us. For a period of about fifteen years, he had
devoted himself to the taking of sketches of numerous rural views and
edifices in different parts of our northern states, and of the public
buildings of our prominent cities. His delineation of the city of New-York
is perhaps the most conspicuous of the efforts of his pencil. He died in
this city on the morning of the 18th of March, aged about sixty years. It
may be gratifying to his relatives and friends abroad to know, that there
were not a few of our citizens who were ready at all times to aid him by
their benefactions; and that in his illness he found in Dr. FRANCIS, whose
name is a synonyme for considerate kindness, a constant friend and
faithful medical adviser. His funeral was attended by some of our first
citizens, among whom it was gratifying to observe Mr. FOWLER, the
President of the St. George's Society, and other well-known countrymen of
the deceased. · · · OUR correspondent, Mr. THOS. COPCUTT, has opened the
present number with an admirable paper, compiled from Carlyle, on the
never-tiring theme of NAPOLEON. We always associate, and at once, with
NAPOLEON'S name, the dreadful scenes presented by his deserted
battle-fields; such for example as marked the sanguinary contests of his
Russian campaign. Here is a sketch of one, from the pen of an eye-witness:
'The battle-field presented a terrible picture of ruin and carnage,
especially on the left and centre, where the greatest efforts had been
made to take, maintain, and retake the redoubts. Corpses of the slain,
broken arms, dead and dying horses, covered every elevation and filled
every hollow, and plainly indicated the progress of the action. In the
front of the redoubts lay the bodies of the French; behind the works,
showing that they had been carried, lay the Russians. On many points the
heaps of corpses told where squares of infantry had stood, and plainly
pointed out the size of the closely formed masses. From the relative
number of the slain, it was easy to perceive that the Russians had
suffered more than the French.' And this is but one of hundreds of similar
scenes! Yet, 'had these poor fellows any quarrel? Busy as the Devil is,
not the smallest! Their _Governors_ had fallen out!' If one could indulge
a 'grim smile' at any thing in relation to BONAPARTE, it would be at the
potential _military_ standard to which he reduced every thing. Do you
remember his order on the appearance of the Mamelukes in Egypt? Form
square; artillery to the angles; asses and savans to the centre!'
Characteristic; but complimentary that, to the 'learned savans!' · · · WE
have bestowed but little of our tediousness upon the reader in this
department of the present number, whereat he may felicitate himself, since
our excellent correspondence will be found a welcome substitute for much
that we had written, and which 'lies over' until our next. The _Quod
Correspondence_ will arrest the attention of every reader. No two chapters
of the entire series excel the present in power of delineation, or depth
of interest. For 'Babyhood,' addressed to 'JULIAN;' 'Excelsior,' a parody
upon LONGFELLOW; 'Punchiana, with clippings,' and various Gossip with
Correspondents, whose favors were intended for the present number, we must
refer all concerned to our next issue. · · · WE have _received_ the
following works; and to such as we have found leisure to _read_, we shall
here briefly advert: From the BROTHERS HARPER, the first two numbers of a
'pocket edition' of select (and _old_?) novels, containing 'The Yemassee,'
by Mr. SIMMS, and 'Young Kate, or the Rescue:' of the 'Library of Select
Novels,' three issues--'The Heretic,' from the Russian; 'The Jew,' and
'The Grumbler,' by Miss PICKERING: From LEA AND BLANCHARD, HUGO'S
'Hunchback of Notre-Dame:' From J. S. REDFIELD, Clinton Hall, 'NAPIER'S
History of the War in the Peninsula and the South of France:' From
LEAVITT, TROW AND COMPANY, 'Poems by WILLIAM JAMES COLGAN:' From JOHN
ALLEN, 139 Nassau-street, 'The Lady at Home, or Leaves from the Every-day
Book of an American Woman:' and from LITTLE AND BROWN, Boston, Lives of
PATRICK HENRY and LA SALLE, commencing the second series of SPARKS'S
'American Biography.' Miss PICKERING'S 'Grumbler' is one of the best and
most interesting novels we have read for many a day; 'The Hunchback' of
HUGO is too well known to our readers to require mention; and the same may
be said of NAPIER'S excellent history. 'The Lady at Home' will commend
itself to all readers, for its truly admirable lessons to American women.
COLGAN'S poems deserve more space than we can devote to them. The writer
has the true poetical _feeling_, and his execution is often very
felicitous, and always creditable. · · · THE 'Nile Story' of our Boston
correspondent; a notice of the Phreno-Mnemotechny of Professor GOURAUD; of
the Re-publication of English Magazines and Reviews; of New Music, and
other late publications; are all _unavoidably_ postponed, for reasons
already stated, until our next number.