They have created a system of inland navigation, the aggregate tonnage of which is probably not inferior in amount to the collective inland tonnage of all the other countries in the world, and they possess many hundreds of river steamers, which impart to the roads of water the marvelous celerity of roads of iron. They have, in fine, constructed lines of electric telegraph which, laid continuously, would extend over a space longer by 3000 miles than the distance from the north to the south pole, and have provided apparatus of transmission by which a message of 300 words dispatched under such circumstances from the north pole might be delivered in writing at the south pole in one minute, and by which, consequently, an answer of equal length might be sent back to the north pole in an equal interval.

The Mirror, a cleverly-conducted "folio of four," published at Bath, in the State of Maine, furnishes the following illustration of that perseverance and industry which is generally pretty sure to command success :

46

There is nothing more true than that success in life is sure to follow any well-directed efforts, which do not clash with the immutable laws of nature. Luck" is a word that has no place in the vocabulary of the successful man, and is used only by those who are so blind or ignorant as to be unable to trace effects back to causes. We do not propose an argument from this text to-day, but merely wish to present the idea to our readers for them to discuss. There are feelings of despondency prevalent among mankind, which the consideration of the subject will dissipate, and many who believe themselves doomed to poverty and toil, by giving earnest heed to the faith which this truth will create, will find themselves rising at once from misery they so much fear. Fear of bad luck operates as a continual check on many, crushes enterprises and prostrates energies. It is the "conscience" that

"doth make cowards of us all,"

and only by taking a rational and common-sense view of the operating causes that change our position and affect our well-being, are we enabled to profit by them, and shake off the chains that our weakness and irresolution have permitted us to become enslaved with.

The luck doctrine places an erroneous estimate on exertion, and consigns success to the care of the

"Divinity that shapes our ends,"

and makes a machine of man's immortal nature. We have seen many a poor devil resigned to the hopelessness of his poverty, sit for hours with his pipe, cursing the tardy divinity that should enrich him, and wasting the moments which alone could do it. As ye sow, so shall ye reap," is as true to-day as ever it was, and he who would suc ceed in becoming wealthy, learned or moral, must labor, study, watch.

We are every day reminded by forcible illustrations of the power of exertion. In this city (Bath) there are many examples in proof. We have before us one remarkable case, where, unaided save by their own hands and the friends their own energies naturally drew around them as their business increased, two poor men in a very few years amassed one of the largest fortunes in the city. Their ships are in every sea, and at home their houses and stores line every street, and the busy hum of scores of mechanics speak their increasing wealth. Unable to obtain a liberal education, and with talents no more than ordinary, they had nothing to boast but the determination to succeed. It was not luck but common sense which told them that a dollar put at interest would be worth more at the end of the year than it would be if expended for rum and cigars, military parades or dancing. It was not luck but natural accumulation of the investment that, in a few years made the one dollar two dollars, the first hundred two hundred, and the first ten thousand twenty thousand. It was as natural for the "pile" to grow as it is for grain to take root. There was no chance about it—it must be so. Industry and economy were their only aids to obtain the first few thousands, the last few were obtained by the first. There is nothing marvelous in all this, nor any thing which any person of common sense might not avail himself of. It is plain matter-of-fact business, and no god of fortune can rub it out; and no god of ill fortune can overstep proper guards erected to secure you in possession of what you have thus got your hand upon.

We might give innumerable instances, but leave that labor to the reader, contenting ourself with having called his attention to the subject.

NEW METHOD OF EXTRACTING SUGAR FROM THE CANE.

Dr. Shier, agricultural chemist to the colony of British Guiana, has discovered a method of extracting an extra quantity of sugar from the juice of the cane by substi tuting subsidence and filtration for skimming, in the clarification of the juice. By this means he obtains nearly 20 per cent more than by the ordinary process, and the juice yields from 1 lb. 4 oz. to 1 lb. 10 oz. of muscovado per gallon.

ORIGIN OF THE PENNY POSTAGE SYSTEM IN ENGLAND.

A traveler sauntering through the lake districts of England some years ago arrived at a small public-house just as the postman stopped to deliver a letter. A young girl came out to receive it. She took it in her hand, turned it over and over, and asked the charge. It was a large sum-no less than a shilling. Sighing heavily she observed that it came from her brother, but that she was too poor to take it in, and she returned it to the postman accordingly. The traveler was a man of kindness as well as of observation; he offered to pay the postage himself, and in spite of more reluctance on the girl's part than he could understand, he did pay it, and gave her the letter. No sooner, however was the postman's back turned than she confessed that the proceeding had been concerted between her brother and herself; that the letter was empty, that certain signs on the direction conveyed all that she wanted to know, and that, as they could neither of them afford to pay postage, they had devised this method of franking the intelligence desired. The traveler pursued his journey, and as he plodded over the Cumberland fells he mused upon the badness of a system which drove people to such straits for means of correspondence, and defeated its own objects all the time. With most men such musings would have ended before the close of the hour, but this man's name was Rowland Hill, and it was from this incident and these reflections that the whole scheme of penny postage was derived.

BRITISH CUSTOMS DUTIES-1850-51.

A return has been laid before the British Parliament of the gross amount of the customs dues received at all the ports of the United Kingdom, exclusive of London, in the year ending January 5, 1851. The gross amount received in the ports of England in that period was £6,961,629; in the ports of Scotland, £1,251,981; and in ports of Ireland, £2,055,925; making a total of £10,960,535.

THE BOOK TRADE.

1.-The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: With a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations. By his Grandson, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Vols. 2, 3, 4, 5, 8vo., pp., 542, 576, 588, and 496. Boston: Little and Brown. The second and third volumes are chiefly filled with a diary of Mr. Adams, which commences with his first entrance into responsible life, and continues through a large part of his great career. It is somewhat broken and partial in its character, but it develops so much of the tenor of his life as to enable the reader easily to detect its leading principle. The second volume closes with passages from an autobiography of Mr. Adams. Those are marked by superior animation in style. They also supply some of the details that are wanting in the diary. These two volumes appear to have been prepared with great judgment and discrimination. The diary is fairly and faithfully presented, even without regard to its bearing. Indeed the main purpose seems to have been, to present to the public a fair and unbiassed picture of the mind and heart of an individual so far as this can be of interest. The diary extends to 1778. That portion of the autobiography covering his Congressional life as then commenced. It includes all the notes taken of debates in the Continental Congress. These, meager as they are, constitute almost the sole remaining memorial of the kind that has come down to us. Some of them relating to the state of trade, the authority to institute governments and the formation of the articles of confederation, although fragmentary, possess an intrinsic value for every one who desires to understand the true history of the Revolution. The remaining volumes contain the very able work of Mr. Adams entitled the "Defence of the Constitutions of the United States against the attack of M. Turgot in his letter to Dr. Price, 22d March, 1778." This is the chief performance of the author as a writer. It is worthy of his high fame in other respects.

2.-Appletons' Dictionary of Machines, Mechanics, Engineer-work, and Engineering: Designed for Practical Working Men, and those intended for the Engineering Profession. 2 vols. 8vo., pp. 960 and 960. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

As a work for mechanics, engineers, and practical men, who are interested in any of the branches of mechanical industry, this is unquestionably the most important that has ever been published in this country. The progress which those pursuits have made within a few years has been wide and rapid; at the present moment they may be regarded as scarcely inferior in importance to any other departments of industry. It is to furnish a text-book, and a convenient and compendious work of reference for such a vast field, that those two volumes have been brought out. They may be regarded as particularly American and national in their character; for while they contain the experience and knowledge of Europe on mechanical subjects, they are enriched with all the important details of American ingenuity. The plates and cuts of machinery, many of which are working-drawings of machines, exceed four thousand in number; these are generally made with such distinctness and intelligibility that a mechanic can successfully construct a machine from them. In its pages are embodied complete practical treatises on mechanics, machinery, and engine-work. The appearance of the work, originally in numbers, has attracted to it a very general and favorable notice. In its present form, it comes within the means of all who are interested in mechanical subjects, by all of whom it should be patronized.

3.-The Ladies of the Covenant. Memoirs of distinguished Scottish Female Characters, embracing the Period of the Covenant and the Persecution. Ry Rev. JAMES ANDERSON. 12mo., pp. 494. New York: J. S. Redfield.

These are sketches of the lives of women who were distinguished by their zeal and their sufferings on account of of religious belief during the reign of James 6th and of his grandsons, Charles II. and James VII. The notices are not historical, but contain such illustrations of their personal piety, and such portions of their domestic history, as time has spared. They are written in an interesting and animated manner, and afford much insight into the customs and habits of social life in those days, as well as delineate the spirit of piety which prevailed among the covenanters.

4-The Complete Works of Martin F. Tupper: Authorized Edition. Vols. 3 and 4, 12mo., pp. 419 and 416. Philadelphia: E. H. Butler.

These volumes complete the recent edition of this author's work. They are very beautifully printed and bound. The third volume contains "Ballads for the Times," "Geraldine," Hactenus," "A Thousand Lines," and other poems. The fourth volume commences with an "Essay on Proverbs," by an American, which appeared in an edition of this volume issued a year ago. Then follows "The Proverbial Philosophy," first and second series; and a " Modern Pyramid," which consists of seventy sonnets to distinguished men of all ages. The latter portion of the volume is occupied by a translation from the Anglo-Saxon, of the poems of King Alfred. The author of these volumes is an elegant writer whose pages are marked by a singular and unusual simplicity of thought combined with good sense and kind feelings. The sentiment is always pure and good. It flows from sympathy with the mass of mankind rather than from any peculiar taste, or attachment to classes. These merits are sufficient, if there were no others, to secure favor and popularity to such agreeable volumes. 5.-Cabinet of Modern Art, a Collection of Twenty-five Subjects from Modern Masters. Engraved in the Highest Style of Mezzotints. Illustrated by Appropriate Articles in Prose and Verse. Second Series. 8vo., pp. 264. Philadelphia: E.

Hunt Butler.

This, the second of a series of works illustrative of modern art, is destined to take a high rank among the illustrated books of the times. The engravings, twenty-five in number, are in Sartain's best, and we may add, the highest style, of mezzotinto. The subjects are selected with taste and a nice appreciation of the beautiful. The letter-press illustrations are in keeping with the pictorial, and it would be a work of supererogation to say more on that head. Mr. Butler has already acquired an enviable eminence as a publisher of rare taste, and by his liberality to artists, authors, and all concerned in the morale and material of book-making, set an example worthy of all imitation. The typography, paper and binding of this volume will not suffer by comparison with the best gift-books produced either in Europe or America.

6.—Old Testament Scenes and Narratives. Being a Second Series of the Good Child's Library. 16mo., 12 vols. Philadelphia: Hogan, Perkins & Co.

We have seldom met with a series of books more attractive, or better adapted to the taste and capacity of children, than the present volumes. The series consists of twelve volumes, comprising scenes and naratives in the Old Testament, each separate and distinct from each other, having no other connection than similarity of form and style. The following are the titles of each of the volumes, viz:1. The Garden of Eden. 2. The Flood. 3. Dispersion of Mankind. 4. Departure of the Israelites. 5. History of Absalom. 6. History of Isaac. 7. History of Jacob. 8. History of Joseph. 9. History of Moses. 10. History of Joshua. 11. History of Samuel. 12. History of David. Each volume is illustrated with two beautiful colored engravings. The scenes and histories are all conveyed in easy and graceful verse; and the whole series is printed on a fine snow-white paper, in a style that would be creditable to works designed for “children of a larger growth." This will be regarded as an important feature, by all who can appreciate the advantages of implanting in the young mind a taste for the beautiful in nature and art. It is second only in importance to that of implanting in the young heart and mind the lessons of truth and goodness.

7.—The American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge, for 1852. 12mo., pp. 352. Boston: Little & Brown.

This is the twenty-third volume of this useful publication. It is sufficient to say of it that in no respect does it appear to fall short of its predecessors. The information which it contains is very complete in relation to all the civil Departments of the country, and the accuracy with which it is prepared is well known. This is doubtless the most valuable work of the kind published in the country.

8.-Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. By HERMAN MELVILLE. 12mo., pp. 634. New York: Harper & Bros.

Those who expect to find an agreeable and entertaining volume in this will not be disappointed. In some parts it may be rather diffuse, but as a whole it will be read with gratification, The Whale forms the subject of it; in connection with it is introduced character and scenes of that peculiar kind which impart so much life and spirit to this author's works.

9.-The fifteen Decisive Battles of the World; from Marathon to Waterloo. By E. S. CREASY, M. A., Professor of Ancient and Modern History in University College, London. 12mo., pp. 364. New York: Harper & Bros.

It may after all be a disputed point whether the great drama of human affairs would have been vastly modified had any other issue than that which really occurred, been the consequence of these battles. The author assumes the affirmative of this question, although we are disposed to believe that principles control men, and if their development is even seriously defeated at any period, they will under another form manifest themselves and struggle for the supremacy. Either view of the case does not affect the value of this able work. Its prime excellence consists in that wide knowledge of human affairs, that deep insight into the causes of human actions which the author displays. The scenes which he describes possess an inconceivable interest, and the skill with which he traces the consequences of events gives to his work more than usual value and importance.

10.-London Labor and London Poor; A Cyclopedia of the Condition and Earnings of Those that Will Work, Those that Cannot Work, and Those that Will Not Work. By HENRY MAYHEW. Vol. I. 8vo., pp. 231. The London Street Folks. New York: Harper & Bros.

We have had occasion repeatedly to notice the numbers of this work as they ap peared. The present volume comprises the numbers thus far issued. The condition of the humbler classes in an ancient city like London,-their various pursuits, the manner in which the industrious, and as well the idle, live, presents a picture of human society from which the veil has never before been so fully removed. The statements seem to be entirely reliable, and they are such as all persons should peruse. 11.-Drayton. A Story of American Life. 12mo., pp. 274. New York: Harper & Bros.

The hero of this tale rose from the shoemaker's bench to an eminent position before his country, as the author represents him. There are many fine passages in its pages, and much graceful writing, but to us the tale seems to lack interest, and appears as if it had been written at wide intervals.

12.-The Talisman, an Offering of Friendship. With Oil Colored Illuminations from Designs by Devereux. Edited by G. HENRY D. MOORE. 8vo., pp. 262. Philadel

phia: Hogan & Thompson.

One of the leading features of this gift-book is its twelve illuminated illustrations, designed by Devereux, and executed in the best style of the art; and another, and not the least, is that it differs from the majority of the works of its class, inasmuch as in the literary department there is a judicious blending of the pleasing with the usefulthe entertaining with the instructive, so as to render it not only a welcome visitor in the holiday circles, but a work of permanent value and interest for all time. The original papers are well written, and the selections made with taste and discrimination. 13.-The Course of Creation. By JOHN ANDERSON, D D., with a Glossary of Scientific Terms. 12mo., pp. 376. Cincinnati: W. H. Moore; New York: Mark H Newman.

This is a handsome reprint of a work by an eloquent Scotch Geologist. The author writes with remarkable clearness and purity of style, and discusses with much ability the several geological questions of the day. He takes a middle course between those who make the several geological periods glide into each other insensibly, and by changes prolonged through an almost indefinite period, and the more summary system of those who believe the successive periods were broken up by sudden perturbations on a tremendous scale. Thus he links the present phases of the earth's surface with its past history in the remotest geological era. The work is one of that series of admirable volumes which has been produced in Scotland within a few years, and that are so well adapted to general reading.

14.-The Young Lady's Mentor: A Guide to the Promotion of Character—in a Series of Letters to her Unknown Friends. By A LADY. 12mo., pp. 284. Philadelphia: Peck & Bliss.

Few works for young ladies will be found more attractive than this volume. It abounds in excellent sentiments, which are presented in such an attractive and entertaining manner as to secure a welcome with all who can appreciate the useful when combined with the agreeable.