But this will come; the necromancer Age
Shall round the wilderness his glory throw;
Hudson shall murmur through the poet's page,
And in his numbers more superbly flow.
Ev'n now perhaps, the destined soul is born,
Warm with high hope, though dumbly pent within,
To shield his country from the common scorn,
That never duly hymned her praise hath been.
Enough—'t is more than midnight by the clock;
Manhattan dreams of dollars, all abed:
With you, dear Walter, 't is the crow of cock,
And o'er Fièsole the skies are red.
Good night! yet stay—both longitudes to suit,
At once the absent and returning light,
Thus let me bid our mutual salute;
To you Buon giorno—to myself Good night!
T. W. P.
[LITERARY NOTICES.]
Annals and Occurrences of New-York City and State in the Olden Time. By John F. Watson, Esq. New-York: Baker and Crane.
Here is a new work touching the Knickerbockers, which we are especially bound to notice; and this we do with the more satisfaction, that we can heartily commend it to the notice of our readers, or what is the same thing, to 'the public at large.' We perceive by a few pages of the work which have been laid before us, that this is an enlargement of a former edition, favorably known to the reading public, entitled 'Historic Tales of Olden Time concerning New-York.' It now notices the rise and progress of the inland country and towns, relates much concerning the pioneer settlers, and details the hostilities and ravages of their Indian neighbors. It is in fact a complete history of a buried age; and brings up to the imagination, for its contemplation and entertainment, a picture of 'things as they were in the days of rustic simplicity, so wholly unlike the present display of fashion, pomp, and splendor.' It is easy to perceive that Mr. Watson gathers facts and writes con amore; not for profit, in this book-making age, but because he feels and sees our wonderfully rapid advancement from small things to great. 'I have written,' he says, 'for New-York and State; not for money, but for patriotism. I felt it due to the country, to tell its tale of wonder; and due to God, for His gracious and signal providence, in so settling and prospering our Anglo-Saxon race, in this new field of His exercise.' To quote the warm language of one of our contemporaries: 'This is in truth a work without example for its imitation; and with equal truth, it is in execution a work sui generis. It is a museum that will never cease to attract. Its annals and statistics will have snatched from oblivion valuable reminiscences of the early youth of our country; and will furnish the historian, biographer, and the patriotic orator with matter to adorn and beautify their productions. He deserves the gratitude of his country, and the patronage of the reading community. Wherefore, no American that can read and can afford to purchase, should be without a copy of this valuable contribution to the memoirs of early American history.' We venture to predict that the aged will be delighted to be thus reminded of things which they have heard of, or perhaps witnessed; and the young will be surprised to find such a lively picture of the doings of their forefathers. Among the many subjects considered, are the first settlements and primitive incidents connected with New-York, Albany, Schenectady, Rochester, Brooklyn, etc.; notices of the early Dutch times; manners and customs; dress, furniture, and equipage; local changes; ancient memorials, and curious facts. Much is said of the Indians; of the local incidents connected with the revolutionary war; of ancient edifices and buildings; in short, of every thing calculated to bring back scenes and occurrences of by-gone times. These matters too are related in a style peculiar to the author; they are matters moreover only to have been perceived and scanned by a mind so constituted as his own. The work is undertaken by Messrs. Baker and Crane, a young and enterprising metropolitan house, and will be completed in one octavo volume of about five hundred pages; illustrated with thirty new pictorial embellishments; and furnished to subscribers at the low rate of two dollars per copy, payable on delivery. Among the engravings, which are to be executed in the best manner on wood, will be two views of New-York City; one of New-Amsterdam in 1659, one of New-Orange in 1673; a map of the city, as it appeared in 1729; pictures of the old Federal Hall, in 1789; the Walton and Provost Houses; Trinity church, now numbered in the catalogue of things that have been; the Merchants' Exchange, destroyed by the 'great fire' of '35; beside numerous other edifices, of interest to the antiquary; and also views of Hudson's arrival at Sandy-Hook; the Erie Canal, Niagara Falls, the Conflagration of Schenectady, etc., etc.; and 'last, though not least,' a fac simile of the head and signature of the good old governor, renowned in Knickerbocker's annals as 'Peter the Headstrong,' or 'Hard-Kopping Piet.' 'Finally, brethren,' let every Knickerbocker who feels an affectionate attachment to the home of his fathers, or veneration for the memory of their fathers, secure at once for himself a knowledge of all manner of curious things inseparable from our history, from one who has been called 'the Homer of his class, and in archeology, peerless.' Subscription-lists are open at the office of the Knickerbocker, at the store of the publishers, number 158 Pearl-street, and at the rooms of the Mercantile Library Association.