Part 14

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THE OLYMPIC.--This new establishment has taken the town by surprise, in one respect at least. It is the most beautiful theatre on the Atlantic sea-board. Its decorations, scenery, etc., are rich and tasteful; the entire stage is carpeted, the stage-management is well conducted, and both in internals and externals, it reflects credit upon the liberality and taste of the proprietors. We have been unable, as yet, to attend upon any of the performances; but are informed that they have been highly creditable, bringing out Mr. BARRETT, Mrs. MAEDER, (CLARA FISHER.) Mr. FLINN, Mr. GATES, and other Thespians of eminence. We wish the 'Olympic' success, which we doubt not it will command by deserving it.

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DUBUFE'S DON JUAN AND HAIDEE.--The time of this picture is when Lambro, the father of HAIDEE, surprises her with DON JUAN; and the scene is too well known to require description. The painting itself is beyond comparison, in richness, beauty, and effect, the finest effort of art yet exhibited in this country. We shall not attempt a detailed sketch of its numerous points of attraction; but simply enjoin upon all who may read this paragraph, within an hour's walk or ride of the Stuyvesant Institute, to repair thither 'at the meetest vantage of the time,' to become for a season 'dazzled and drunk with beauty.' At the same exhibition-rooms, is another painting by DUBUFE, of 'St. John in the Wilderness.' It is a faultless production.

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LANDSCAPE GARDENING AND RURAL TASTE.--A correspondent has elsewhere touched upon these themes, and we are glad to perceive that they are attracting something of public attention. The want of taste of which the writer complains, is but too general. Propriety and beauty of location, in our cities, even, are often sacrificed to the mere external ornaments of the edifice itself. Speaking of a picturesque and pleasant mansion near London, COOPER sarcastically observes: 'We should pull the building down, if we had it in New-York, because it does not stand on a thoroughfare, where one can swallow dust free of cost.' There is a good deal of truth in this. A superior house may not unfrequently be seen here also, occupying, by choice of the owner, some such 'cheerful position' as KNICKERBOCKER's hotel, which 'commanded a pleasant view of the rear of the poor-house and bridewell, and the front of the hospital.' Our country-seats, too, are still sometimes chosen, as formerly, if we may believe our venerable foster-father, the pleasant _locale_ being often 'on the borders of a salt marsh; subject, indeed, to be occasionally overflowed, and much infested in the summer-time with musquitoes, but _otherwise_ very agreeable,' producing abundant crops of salt grass and delicate bulrushes. In England, says IRVING, the rudest habitation, the most unpromising portion of land, in the hands of a person of taste, becomes a little paradise. 'The sterile spot grows into loveliness under his hand; and yet the operations of art which produce the effect are scarcely to be perceived. The cherishing and training of some trees; the cautious pruning of others; the nice distribution of flowers and plants of tender and graceful foliage; the introduction of a green slope of velvet turf; the partial opening to a peep of blue distance, or silver gleam of water--all these are managed with a delicate tact, a pervading, yet quiet assiduity, like the magic touchings with which a painter finishes up a favorite picture.' What might not portions of America be made, under the influence of similar action?

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VOCAL MUSIC.--Mr. H. RUSSELL has recently visited us again, delighting thousands with his soul-stirring music. His late concert at the City Hotel was crowded with the élite of the city; and he gave many of his old, and one or two new productions, with surpassing effect. Indeed, his superior has never been among us. If we might be thought worthy to advise, however, we would counsel our friend, as he journeys eastward, to omit the perusal of the long letter, before singing the pretty song of 'Woodman, Spare that Tree!' by our contemporary, COL. MORRIS. We but speak the sentiments of a large majority present at the concert, when we say, that the perusal referred to is in exceeding bad taste, and altogether unnecessary, since the lines need no explanation. Any person can understand them, who understands any thing; and a long preface to that old and noble song, 'The Brave Old Oak,' which has quite the same general features, would be equally appropriate. We must not omit saying a word for Mr. BROUGH, Mr. EDWIN, and Mrs. WATSON. They sang with their accustomed skill and feeling; and a Miss LEWIS acquitted herself with great credit.

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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!'

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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?

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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.

LITERARY RECORD.

THE 'ALBION'--PORTRAIT OF MISS TREE.--The Albion of the 16th September contains a full length portrait of Miss ELLEN TREE, in the character of 'Ion,' which is one of the most exquisite engravings, in large quarto, ever presented to American readers. It is engraved by DICK, from a superior London lithograph, with recent corrections of the likeness, by HENRY INMAN, ESQ., to whom Miss TREE gave a sitting for the purpose. The terms of the 'Albion' are but six dollars per annum, for which an amount of the best selected periodical literature of England and Scotland, larger by far than can be presented in any similar journal, is given, in an exceedingly neat and tasteful form. Among the various interesting papers in recent numbers, we remark a new and extended 'passage' from the 'Diary of a London Physician,' unexcelled in power by any of its predecessors. Five dollars will insure a subscription to the Albion for ten months, including the superb portrait mentioned above. The publication office is at No. 1 Barclay-street, opposite the Astor-House.

LONDON SCRAP PRINT REPOSITORY.--We have pleasure in calling public attention to an establishment recently opened by Mr. A. LOWE, at No. 4 White-street, one door from Chapel, where the agency of ROBINS' well-known 'Gallery of Fine Arts' will be kept, together with scrap-prints of every description, including views in London, England generally, Wales, etc., with fancy female portraits, in costume, colored, together with the humorous sketches of the world-renowned CRUIKSHANK. We can heartily commend the fine views in Robins' 'Gallery,' and the laughable sketches of 'G. C.'

'NEW-BRIGHTON MIRROR.'--This is a very beautiful quarto publication, modelled after the manner of its New-York archetype, which it equals in typographical properties, and is tastefully and judiciously cared for, in point of literary matter. The first number is adorned with an engraving by ROLPH, from a painting by CHAPMAN, representing New-Brighton rising like a sweet creation of enchantment from the silver bosom of our glorious bay, with all its graceful edifices, and the noble, dome-crowned 'Pavilion' of that accomplished host, MILFORD, 'prëeminent by ample odds,' swelling up in the midst. It is a charming picture of a most delightful spot; and the journal which presents it is worthy of both. Success to it.

POEMS BY THE 'AUTHOR OF LACON.'--A friend recently from England has kindly favored us with several brief articles of poetry, upon miscellaneous subjects, written by Rev. C. C. COLTON, author of 'Lacon,' which have never been published in this country. They are from the original manuscript, in the possession of an intimate friend of the gifted but eccentric author, and are characterized by that sententiousness and force for which the writer was so distinguished. They will grace our pages at intervals, hereafter.

PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT, ESQ.--A late number of the 'New-York Mirror,' well supplied in its literary department, contained an admirably-engraved likeness, from a painting by INMAN, of this eminent American poet. It is one of three similar portraits which have preceded it, of FITZ-GREENE HALLECK and N. P. WILLIS. The three are alike excellent, both as correct portraits and works of art.

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Transcriber's Note:

Valid archaic spellings have been retained (for example: ecstacy and extacy variants are listed in 1828 or 1913 dictionaries, and so are retained).