Literature of the West.—A kind friend, himself possessed of one of the finest minds in the West, thus speaks, (and he speaks truly, as we have often contended,) of the literary capabilities of the West. 'There is,' says he, 'more racy, original talent in the West, than you easterns dream of.' * * * 'The day is approaching, when a voice shall come out of the West, that will do honor to a dozen of the most worthy and intellectual young men which any section of our Union contains. We have the greatest country that the sun looks down upon; and before we all get gray, we will prove that our pretensions to intellectual vigor and originality are not unfounded. All we ask is a chance; and that must, in the natural course of things, transpire, before many thousand suns go down. Mind, Sir, I point my long fore-finger at you, and tell you so!'
A New Orthography.—We have been not a little amused, in perusing a communication recently received from a correspondent in the western part of this state, wherein the writer gravely proposes an entire change in the present mode of spelling English words. His own plan may be gathered from the first paragraph of his article, which we subjoin, wherein it is shadowed forth. The writer seems sanguine in relation to his naked theory, which might help many of the English Grub-street brotherhood, (vide Cooper,) in their slip-shod and difficult labors for the press; but when a printed book shall be extant, after this fashion of orthography, we think the general ear will be erect to devour it up. Seriously, our correspondent must be aware that he has a 'sinewy opposite' to encounter in the tyrant Custom; and he will find that if he were to wear a gross of quills to the pith in setting forth and defending his project, it would avail him little. Sertinli, the 'hul sistim' iz a veri kuris propozishin on hiz part, and tharfore we giv our rederz a smol spesmen:
'Mr. Edetur: It haz ben sed that ourz iz an aje ov improvement, and most emfaticalli it iz so. Siens, which waz wonse but an objekt ov wonder and kuriositi, iz now the handmade ov the arts. Mind, itself uninteligibel and inexplorabel, haz drawn aside the vale that hid from the vu ov the anshunts the suttel lawz ov nachur, and the operashun ov thoze lawz, and exhibited the hul sistem az won vast but simpel mashene, regulated by undeviating and universal prinsipelz. It haz brot into subjekshun powerz which ware bi the anshunts konsidered the mirakulus ofspring ov supernal beingz. It haz turned aside the liteningz ov heven, and subjekted tu itz purposez thingz not rekognized bi the sensez. Evri thing around us barez ampel prufe ov the onward march ov impruvement. Ol that relates tu the plazure, and bizines, whether moral, intelekchual or fizikal, ov life, exibits rezerch and refinement. Evri thing haz undergone, or iz undergoing, a radikal chanje, thröing of its stamp ov rude ineleganse, and assuming the form and polish ov rich purfekshun; ol but the orthografi ov our languaje; and that, in an aje ov intelekchual glori, retanze ol the kumbrus deformiti ov Gothik rudenes. No adeqate attempt haz ben made tu smuthe down itz ruf fechurz, and bring it tu the modern standard ov perfekshun, simplisiti. And if simplisiti iz the standard ov buti and perfekshun in ani thing, it shud emfaticalli be so in relashun tu the use ov thoze sinze or simbolz that purtane tu the expresshun ov our ideaz. Yet our orthografi prezentz a konfuzed jumbel ov inkongruus speling, without sistem or proprieti. Sum letterz having the distinkt sound ov thre, others ov tu, and mani wordz having won, tu, thre, and fore, silent letterz.'
The writer here goes at large into diverse illustrations, which we must beg leave to decline publishing. At the same time, we fully agree with our correspondent, that our language needs simplifying, in many respects; that governour, errour, and colour, are a little too strongly spelled; and that domestick and 'sheep-tick' do not imperatively require the same termination. But our friend goes too far. He altogether 'out-Grimkes Grimke.' Can he not labor in the circle of reform, 'without a reel or stagger to the circumference,' a fault so common and so reprehensible?
New-York College of Physicians and Surgeons.—We gather from a circular of the trustees of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New-York, that a new, large, and commodious edifice, now in progress of completion, and admirably adapted for the purposes to which it is to be devoted, will be finished in season for the ensuing course of lectures, which are to be of the most extensive character, and to embrace every department of medical science. Anatomical investigations will be pursued under peculiar advantages, the supply of subjects for dissection being abundant and cheap. The anatomical museum has been greatly increased, and is amply provided with preparations for the illustration of a full course of lectures. The obstetrical museum, and the cabinet of materia medica, are well supplied with preparations in wax, drawings, and specimens; each subject of medical jurisprudence is illustrated by preparations and plates, and tests of every article of poisons are exhibited in detail; all chemical subjects are illustrated by actual experiment, through the medium of a superior chemical apparatus; the theory and practice of physic is constantly illustrated by visits to the New-York hospital; general, surgical, and pathological anatomy will be illustrated by preparations, plates, and dissections on the subject; while the lectures on physiology will embrace all the known laws of the animal economy. Among other important acquisitions, may be mentioned that of Alban G. Smith, M.D., late Professor of Surgery in the Medical College of Ohio, who assumes the chair of Surgery, and that of Dr. Brigham, of Connecticut, who fills a new professorship of Special Anatomy. In short, every provision has been made for a medical college of the first order of excellence. It can scarcely fail, therefore, of entire success.