9.-The Story of Joan of Arc. By R. M. EVANS, with 24 fine plates. 12mo. pp. 189. New York: Appleton & Co. 1842. The name of this book is a fraud. Not a third of its pages are taken up with the story of the hapless maid of Orleans. However, we forgive the deception, as the contemporary history is deservedly given in connection with Joan's life; and we cannot fail to approve the good taste which would turn the attention of readers to the exquisite naïveté, the interesting detail and vivid description of the early chroniclers. The execution of this book is perfect in its way: the plates are the best of the kind that we have seen: the type clear, bold, and new: the whole finish is at least equal to any thing imported. We rejoice especially that at last English historians are beginning to do justice to a heroine they so foully murdered and so infamously traduced. The saviour of her native land, who, with a slender virgin's hand, turned back the triumphant hosts of invading England, maintaining, as is now established beyond a doubt, unsoiled purity of soul among all the seductions of an abandoned court and a profligate camp, sinning only by the too-fond reference to heaven of the golden dreams of a noble heart, and the aspirations of a courageous spirit, deserves to be remembered and admired through all time.. 10-A Treatise on the Church of Christ; designed chiefly for Students in Theology. By the Rev. WILLIAM PALMER, M.A., of Worcester College, Oxford. With a Preface and Notes, by the Right Rev. W. B. Whittingham, D.D., Bishop of Maryland. From the second London edition. 2 vols. 8vo. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1841. These elegant volumes contain the best statement anywhere given of the historical ground on which the high-church party among Episcopalians would elevate themselves above the rest of mankind. Under the guise of a defence against the growing power of Romanism, an earnest and uncompromising claim is put forward to the sole possession of the name, praise, and power of the one catholic, visible, and infallible church, the pillar and ground of the faith: of course an attempt is made to prove the unsoundness of every other church, to arrogate for itself divine authority, and absorb exclusively that broad title, now effulgent with hues of light varied as the rainbow-the "Apostolic Church of Christ." We warmly commend the work to those who desire the extension of its well-argued doctrines. 11.-History of the Great Reformation, of the Sixteenth Century, in Germany, Switzerland, etc. By G. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, President of the Theological School of Geneva, etc. 2 vols. 8vo. New York: Robert Carter. 1841. This is an original work, drawn from the original sources, containing much matter of which the English public had before known nothing, and, though marked by decided expressions of fervent attachment to the peculiar doctrines of Luther, has the interest of a faithful and vivid narrative. Though many books have been written ABOUT the Reformation, this is the first we have met with or the Reformation; the first to lay open the soul of that great movement, and exhibit, not our opinions upon the men of that wonderful era, but the men themselves. Believing that the great need of the church is a universal extension of the free, searching, and progressive spirit of that period of spiritual awakening--believing that those are no true Protestants who press not vigorously forward in the path trod by the earth-shaking steps of Luther and his brethren, we hail the appearance of these interesting volumes with gratitude, hope, and joy. 12.-The Sidereal Heavens, and other subjects connected with Astronomy, as illustrative of the Character of the Deity, and of an Infinity of Worlds. By THOMAS DICK, L.L.D., author of "The Celestial Scenery," etc. Philadelphia: Ed. C. Biddle. 1841. This work is, in fact, a completion of that on the celestial scenery; and, like it, teems with instruction and interest. It embraces a great deal that is very rarely combinedpractical advice and information, lofty philosophy, original speculation, and profound religious sentiment-rising, at times, to eloquence. We are glad to see such works, and trust a discerning public will encourage their publication. The present edition is the only one which does the author justice, or promises the reader comfort. Every school library, and every active and inquiring mind will, of course, become possessed of it, until the fame of Dick shall be as wide as the English tongue, and enduring as that firmament to which his riper thoughts seem wholly consecrated. 13. An Analytical Digest of the Law of Marine Insurance. By HENRY SHERMAN, Coun→ sellor at Law, New York. 8vo. pp. 315. New York: Collins, Keese & Co. 1841. It is a principle of government that its subjects are presumed to know the law of the land, and that a want of such knowledge shall furnish no excuse for violating any law, whether it be imposed on them by custom or statute; we regard, therefore, with much interest, every effort made to bring home to us the duties we owe as well as the rights we may claim. Much expensive litigation to which underwriters are subjected might be spared if the rights and duties flowing from their relations to each other were better understood. To this country, especially, the law of marine insurance is becoming more and more important; and its importance must continue to increase so long as our commercial interests are advancing. By professional men, as well as that numerous class whose interests are staked on the mercies of the ocean, a work like that before us has been much desired. The author has presented an analysis of the law of marine insurance, accompanied with a digest of all the cases adjudged in this state down to the present time, together with an appendix of cases decided in the federal courts of the United States. The work will be found not only useful in our own state, but in any other; and we commend it to all interested in this important branch of American jurisprudence. 14.-Memorial of the Rev. Lewis P. Bayard, D.D. Edited by J. W. BROWN, A.M., Rector of St. George's church, Astoria, Queen's county, N. Y. 12mo. pp. 272. New York: D. Appleton. 1:41. This volume is designed to preserve some memorials of one whose years were spent in the faithful discharge of Christian duty, no less in the private walks of social and domestic life, than in the office of the Christian ministry, as understood by the Episcopal church. It embraces, besides, a memoir of his life, extracts from his journals and correspondence, notices of his tour through Europe and the Holy Land, selections from his sermons, and the discourse preached on the occasion of his decease, by Bishop Onderdonk, of the diocese of New York. 15.-Gould's Stenographic Reporter. Vol. 2. 8vo. pp. 416. New York: Gould, Banks & Co. The volume before us embraces a full and complete report of the late trial of Alexander McLeod, at Utica. The Reporter is to be published in monthly numbers, of sixty-four pages, and is devoted to 'the recording of important trials, for treason, murder, highway robbery, mail robbery, conspiracy, riot, arson, burglary, &c.; also, miscellaneous speeches of American statesmen, in congress and state legislatures; lawyers and judges in the Supreme Court of the United States and individual states; political addresses, orations, lectures upon arts, sciences, literature, and morals." 16-The Life of William Cooper, Esq. By THOMAS TAYLOR. Second American, from the third London edition. 12mo. pp. 288. Philadelphia: Edward C. Biddle. This is the most recent among the many memoirs of Cowper published, and was undertaken by Mr. Taylor under the conviction that no previous Life gave "a full, fair, and unbiased view of his character." The writer of course consulted all that preceded this one. It has been compiled from Cowper's correspondence, and other authentic sources of information; and contains besides, remarks on the writings of Cowper, and on the beauties of his character, never before published. 17.-Universal Index, and Every Body's Own Book. By M. T. C. GOULD, stenographer. Washington City. 1841. This little work contains directions for saving time, acquiring knowledge and having it at command through life, by means of an appropriate alphabetical key. As its title indicates, it will be found useful to all classes of persons in pursuit of useful knowledge. The plan, we believe, has met the approbation of many of our most distinguished men. 18.-Virginia, or the Lost Found; a tale, by the author of "Constance, or the Merchant's Daughter." 18mo. pp. 179. New York: Dayton & Saxton. 1842. "This tale is designed," says the author, "to furnish a popular illustration of some of the modes by which the unwary may be beguiled into religious error, and the young seduced into dissipation and crime." 19.-The New Hampshire Book; being Specimens of the Literature of the Granite State. 12mo. pp. 391. Nashua: David Marshall. Boston: James Monroe. 1842. This handsomely printed volume contains upwards of one hundred and forty articles, from more than half that number of persons, all of whom were natives of, or lived so long in the state, as to have become identified with it. All classes, professions and interests, appear to be fairly represented in the selections. New Hampshire has been called "the Scotland of America," and her sons, like the Scotch, have visited every region, and left monuments of their enterprise and ability wherever they have gone; consequently, it will be found that a considerable portion of the authors in this collection have not spent their lives in the state, but have sought their fortunes in other regions. But their writings are on this account none the less native and characteristic. The volume forms one of the most interesting collections of "local" literature that has yet been published. It is alike honorable to the literature of the state and the country. We concur with the editors of the volume, that the collection is by no means meager in poetry. It gives a very satisfactory answer to the query of a writer in the North American Review some ten years ago, who marvelled that a state so rich in beautiful and sublime scenery had given no considerable indication of poetic talent. 20.-The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. By DANIEL DE FOE; with a Memoir of the Author, and an Essay on his Writings. Illustrated by Granville. 8vo. pp. 402. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1841. This edition of Robinson Crusoe has come out embellished with very spirited engravings, well calculated to attract the attention of children. It seems to us to differ from preceding editions in containing more moral and religious inferences, and rather less incident and detail. Whether this is an improvement or not, will depend upon the taste and good judgment of the reader. None of us can look back to our young days without a slight leaping of the pulse, at the remembrance of the effect on our young imaginations of this work of true genius, and we say let all the little folks read and enjoy it as we did. 21.-The Dublin Dissector, or Manual of Anatomy, etc. Second American, from the recent revised Dublin edition, considerably enlarged and improved; edited by R. Watts, Jun., M.D. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 600. New York: J. & H. G. Langley. This is a work so universally known and esteemed among the members of the medical profession in both hemispheres, that it is only necessary for us to invite attention to the present improved edition. It contains above 150 pages of additional matter, illustrative of the original text, consisting of facts and anomalies derived from the experience of American practitioners. OUR OWN AFFAIRS. We trust our readers will believe, that in copying the following communications, we are not influenced by vanity. That their reception pleased and flattered us, we will not deny; that we feel grateful for the sentiments they contain, we are proud to acknowledge. We deem ourself the more honored, too, as they came unsolicited; and yet we would have avoided this public mode of heralding our honors, could we have communicated our thanks to the donors in any other manner. So incessantly are we employed, how. ever, in our editorial duties, that to answer each of these kind missives separately would be almost impossible; and this must form our apology for thus tendering our acknow. ledgments, and responding to them all in a collective manner. We beg these institutions, therefore, to accept our most sincere thanks for electing us in each as an honorary member. We feel deeply grateful for this mark of their kindness and attention towards us personally; more grateful still are our sentiments for the interest they manifest in the success of this magazine. It has ever been, and ever shall be, our study and pride to elevate it to the rank which they so flatteringly declare it enjoys; and, with the support and influence of institutions like these-institutions that we deem of vast importance to the commercial world, furnishing, as they do, storehouses of knowledge and sources of learning that combine to shed a moral and intellectual lustre around the character of our mercantile men-we do not despair of ultimate and complete success. The object we seek to attain is good and honorable. It is to spread authentic and valuable information before the merchants of our country, and to assist in promoting that improvement of mind for which the present age is so remarkable. We desire to see commerce regarded as a science, and it shall be our aim to develop it in this aspect. The proud ignorance of the dark ages shrouded it in prejudices, and buried it in contempt: our purpose is to relieve it from these remnants of barbarism that yet cumber it around, and elevate it to that rank which, as a profession, it is entitled to enjoy. If we accomplish this, the height of our ambition is gained. If we fail, the fault must be our own: it lies not with our patrons or friends. "At a meeting of the board of directors of the Mercantile Library Association of Baltimore, it was unanimously "Resolved, That the thanks of this board be tendered to Freeman Hunt, Esq., of the Merchants' Magazine, for the interest evinced in the pages of that work in the success of this association and similar institutions of other cities. "Resolved, That Hunt's Merchants' Magazine has been conducted, from its com. mencement in 1839 to the present time, with signal ability; that it is eminently adapted to the wants of the mercantile community, and calculated to diffuse among its members much valuable information, essential to the honorable and profitable prosecution of com. mercial enterprise. 66 Resolved, That Freeman Hunt, Esq., be and is hereby elected an honorary member of this association." MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, Louisville, Kentucky, December 16, 1841. SIR,-I have the honor to inform you that at a late meeting of the board of directors, you were unanimously elected an honorary member of this association. In conferring such membership upon you, they were desirous, in the name of the association which they represent, to avail themselves of the opportunity to return their grateful acknow. ledgments to you for the very warm interest always evinced by you in the great profession of commerce, and in the character of those devoted to its pursuits; and to express their sincere pleasure at the success which has crowned your noble undertaking. Permit me, Sir, to add the hope that your valuable magazine may long receive such patronage and encouragement from the merchants of our country as its high merits richly entitle it to. With high regard and consideration, TO FREEMAN HUNT, Esq., Editor Merchants' Magazine. Your most obedient servant, MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, Clinton Hall, New York, January 10, 1842. DEAR SIR,-I take great pleasure in informing you that at a meeting of the board of directors, held on the 7th instant, you were unanimously elected an honorary member of the Mercantile Library Association of the city of New York. It affords the board great gratification in offering this testimonial to one for whom they entertain so much individual and official respect and regard, and whose efforts in the establishment and management of the only strictly mercantile magazine in the world, they consider highly creditable to the editor, and particularly valuable to the members of this institution, in common with all others interested in commerce as a profession. I beg you to receive the accompanying certificate of membership and catalogue; and trust you will hereafter consider yourself entitled to make use of the library not only as a friend but as a member of the association. With the best wishes for your future happiness and prosperity, I remain, TO FREEMAN HUNT, Esq. A reply to the article of Condy Raguet, Esq., in our last, on the "Impolicy of Countervailing Duties," emanating from the Central Committee of the Home League, will appear in the March number of this magazine. The great length of the article on the Falkland Islands has compelled us to omit sev. eral interesting papers designed for the present number. ERRATUM.--In the January number, at the head of page 65, for "medias," read medios. HUNT'S MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE. MARCH, 1842. ART. I.-MEDITERRANEAN COMMERCE WITH INDIA. THE Commerce of the Indies has already been the theme of able and interesting articles in the preceding numbers of the Merchants' Magazine. Those articles, however, related chiefly, if not exclusively, to the trade of the English and other East India Companies of modern origin, carried on by marine voyages, mostly around the Cape of Good Hope. Prior to the discovery of this grand commercial route, the whole European traffic with India was conducted, through first or second hands, by way of the Mediterranean and Black Seas; whether by the medium of Arabia and the Red Sea, or by way of Persia, the Euphrates and Syria, or by the still more northern route of Turkestan and the Caspian Sea. Such was the commerce which built up the ancient Palmyra and Damascus, Tyre and Alexandria; which gave new importance to the more modern Cairo, Aleppo, and Constantinople; and which ultimately led to bitter rivalry between Venice and Genoa, until it was at length diverted into its present more circuitous channel. A rapid sketch of this oriental commerce, from the earliest times to the present day, will, it is believed, fill an evident chasm in our current mercantile literature. Whether the ancient Assyrians maintained any intercourse with the further East, is a point on which the few remaining fragments of ancient history contain no information. The student who seeks to examine the progress and polity of the earlier ages, and who recurs for this purpose to the fountain head of all historical knowledge, the most ancient writings themselves, will soon find how little survives, except mere shreds and patches, to make known to us the grand events and mighty influences of the past, on which we mentally gaze, as it were on a few scattered stars breaking through the clouds before the dawn of morning. These remarks apply particularly to our present subject, aside from its own peculiar difficulties. "It is a cruel mortification," observes the learned Dr. Robertson, "in searching for what is instructive in the history of past times, to find the exploits of conquerors who have desolated the earth, and the freaks of tyrants who have rendered nations unhappy, recorded with |