Munroe & Co. have in press a volume entitled “Scenes in my Native Land,” intended as a companion to the “Pleasant Memories of Pleasant Lands,” written by that must esteemed authoress Mrs Lydia H. Sigourney. Of the latter work nearly three thousand copies have been sold, and from what we have been able to see of the proof sheets of the former, it will be attended with similar success.

James Munroe & Co., have just published the Second Edition of Livermore’s Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. They will shortly publish a new volume by Mrs. Sigourney, entitled “Scenes in my Native Land.’ we have seen some of the sheets of this volume, and feel justified in announcing it as one of great beauty, and of high interest. The same Publishers will soon give us a volume by Rev. Mr. Bulfinch.

James Munroe & Co are continually publishing an assortment of new works as worthy in their contents as they are neat in their outward appearance. Amongst the latest emanations from their press, we notice a new work by Mrs Sigourney, entitled “Scenes in my Native Land”—a most pleasant production as connected with the home associations and olden reminiscences of the gifted autor. The book scarcely needs our commendation, and yet we are pleased to refer to it as a volume full of gentle thoughts and kindly recollections. …

Twice Told Tales, by N. Hawthorne, and “Scenes in my Native Land,” by Mrs. Sigourney; “Proverbs, in Alphabetical order,” by Wm. H. Porter, and “Lays of the Gospel,” by Rev. S. G. Bulfinch, are all beautifully printed, and suited for presents at this season, or at any other. Published by Jas. Munroe & Co. 134 Washington street.

Scenes in my Native Land, by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney. Boston: James Munroe & Co., 12mo., pp., 319.

This beautifully printed volume is a fitting companion for the last preceding work of the accomplished authoress, the “Pleasant Memories of Pleasant Lands.’ She does in this for her own country, what she did in that for some fair regions and storied localities of Europe. There is a great variety of subjects and topics in the volume before us, and they are severally presented to the reader in a becoming mood of mind, with a serious simplicity, or with a cheerful gayety of thought and language. Of course, the power of associations, and the weight of ancient memories do more to impress the subject of her previous volume with interest, than they can possibly do for any scenes or histories in this land. Still there is romance here, and there are scenes and objects which address the deeper feelings of the heart, and move to melancholy or kindle the fancy. Many of these, such as local narratives, domestic occurrences, and impressive occurrences, Mrs. Sigourney has portrayed and described, now in Prose, then in poetry, with a fertility of imagination and a beauty of diction, which characterise her as a writer. May her volume join everywhere the companionship of its predecessor, and add to the deserved esteem and fame which belong to Mrs. Sigourney.

Scenes in my Native Land. By Mrs. L. H. Sigourney. Boston: James M[u]nroe & Co. 1 vol. 12mo.

The subject of this elegant volume is calculated to make it popular almost independent of its literary merits. Like other volumes of the same authoress, it occasionally betrays the book-maker more than the poet. In Mrs. Sigourney’s poetry there is often displayed so much excellence that it seems strange she should ever drop into verbiage and commonplace. The present volume contains some fine imaginations, many glittering fancies, much deep and humane feeling, and some graceful descriptions of natural scenery. Of those portions of the work which are not comprehended in this praise, our gallantry forbids us to speak. We wish, however, for her own fame, that Mrs. Sigourney could be induced, either by eulogy or condemnation, to try for once the full force of her mind on some subject which would test its capacity. No person receives more tender treatment, when she publishes a mediocre book; and none would be more certain of obtaining applause, if she produced one worthy of her own talents and American letters.

Scenes in my Native Land. By Mrs. Sigourney.

We frankly confess to a total want of admiration for the writings of this lady, who is equally monotonous and voluminous. Coldly correct, elaborately dull, laboriously common-place, she has nothing to commend her, in our eye, unless it be the moral tone and inoffensive aim of her writings. And these are rather technically than intrinsically moral. It is good morals to the ear that she bestows upon us—the stereotyped lessons of virtue, and not its vital truths—which are rather to be enforced through the medium of the sympathies, than by any rigid repetitions of doctrine. Still, in morals, she is to be counted unexceptionable, and we have no objection that it should be so. Such is her merit. We may admit farther, that, so far as mere correctness goes, she makes very good verses. She has written some small pieces, which, in an indulgent period, might be considered poems. Some lines on the death of an infant, which commence thus—

“Death found strange beauty on thy infant brow,”

have a smack of poetry about them, which might almost persuade us to hope for something; but even these finally dwindle into common place. Another piece, entitled “Indian names,” is fair enough verse in a reign of mediocrity. The present volume, which is of mixed verse and prose, has nothing half so good as either of these. The prose is very prose, and for the poetry, take the following “Farewell to Niagara,” as a sufficient specimen. Thus apostrophized, how “Niagara” must have roared and blubbered at the parting.

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