The Philosophy of Magic, Prodigies and Apparent Miracles. From the French of Eusebe Salverte. With notes illustrative, explanatory, and critical, By Anthony Todd Thompson, M. D., F. L. S., &c.

There have no doubt been many deceptions practised in the world and many pretended miracles, which can be satisfactorily accounted for, either mechanically, chemically, or optically. But there have also been many genuine miracles, wrought by superhuman agency, for wise and benificent purposes. And the danger is, that Philosophy, finding herself able to solve so many mysteries and explain so many wonders, may not only hasten to false conclusions within her province; but also stretch forth an impious hand to draw away the veil interposed by an Omnipotent hand : An attempt in itself awfully daring! Then, chiding the credulous for their easy faith, she becomes more easily enamored of her false methods of accounting for superhuman things. Into this danger the author, M. Salverte, fell; and this fundamental defect, to use no harsher term, in the original work, is hardly cured either by the retrenchments, preface or notes of the Editor. The tendencies of the work are not destroyed, and the author, in carrying out his principles to this extent, which Mr. Thompson condemns, was only deducing conclusions for which his premises were all well prepared. French infidel philosophy, however acute and learned, and however much bolstered up by a wrong use of the wonderful progress of Physical science, can not do any good to the sentiments or conduct of the American people. The work forms Nos. XXII and XXIII of the New Miscellany.

In addition to the above, we have had the pleasure of receiving from Harper & Brothers, through Drinker & Morris, a neat little volume containing

The Southern Quarterly Review, for January 1847, is at length before us. It has now passed into the hands of Burges & James of Charleston, and will in future be edited by Mr. Klapp, late editor of the Charleston Mercury, whose qualifications are said to be of a high order. The present No. contains articles of ability and interest on a variety of subjects. The last Edinburg Review contains among its articles a favorable, but discriminating Review of Bancroft's History of the United States. The other Quar terlies and Blackwood are still promptly reissued by Leonard Scott & Co. The Westminster and Foreign Quarterlies having been united together, Scott & Co. have commenced the republication of the North British Review, the organ of the Evangelical Church party in Scotland. Its pages will bear the impress of such minds as Chalmers' and Brew. ster's. The first number has been sent us, through Nash and Woodhouse, from whom all the republications may be obtained.

Sillimans' Journal still continues, we trust, in a flourishing condition. The last number just received would indicate such a state of things: certainly proves its claim to it.

Philosophy in Sport made Science in Earnest, is an attempt to illustrate the first principles of Natural Philosophy, by the aid of the popular toys and sports of youth, in which the author has been remarkably successful. The work has been very handsomely published by Lea & Blanchard, and is for sale by Nash & Woodhouse.

ITEMS.

A new weekly Journal, in quarto form, has been recently started in New York, styled "The Literary World," and conducted by E. A. Duychinck; on whose literary character and attainments we have been led to place a high estìmate. We like his national and independent tone. His new Journal is "a Gazette for Authors, Readers and Publishers," and is, in part, a substitute for the " Bulletins" and "News Letters," formerly issued by the principal publishing houses. Three numbers have appeared, which contain much pleasant and instructive reading, and much bibliographical information. In the last number, Mr. Tupper's late work, “Probabilities; an Aid to Faith," is reviewed in advance of the English critics, and very roughly handled; so roughly and in such a way as might lead one, unacquainted with the writer's real sentiments, to infer a want of sympathy with the aims of the author and the subject he has selected. The critic's estimate of the work may be just; but the same opinions of it might have been expressed in a very different way. Mr. Tupper has fallen off perceptibly; and is liable

his works," An Author's Mind: A Bookfull of Books; or Thirty Books in One,'-smacks of it. But an attempt to

The Pleasures of Taste and other Stories; selected from the writings of that excellent writer, Miss Jane Taylor, whose life is gracefully sketched in the same volume, by the editress, Mrs. Sarah J. Hale; and their

Pictorial History of England, No. 16; which among its attractions, Literary and Pictorial, contains an engraving of the magnificent "Field of the Cloth of Gold," on which the interview took place between Henry VIII. of England and

may deserve some forbearance of censure; some softening of reproof.

Epes Sargent, author of "Life on the Ocean Wave," &c., has published a volume of "Songs of the sea and other Poems." W. Gilmore Simms has put forth a new life of the great hero Capt. John Smith; which, together with his "Life of Marion," and other works by different authors, forms part of a Library for young persons. J. T. Headley, encouraged by the great success of "Napoleon and his Marshals" is engaged upon Washington and his Generals."