Prefacing with these observations, we may proceed to remark that although it may be fashionable to descant on the literature of the age, of science and scientific institutions, in retirement and hide our heads in very

shame, that we have so few original thoughts. "Our leanness, our leanness,” to be a little Scriptural, but still we do not despair; of one thing we are not ashamed, we are never too old to learn, nor are we ever ashamed to learn or to be instructed. As usual, the intellectual contributions to our fountain from abroad are very acceptable, and with the London Lancet to bleed us, and let off our impurities, we have the healthful food from the South, and West, and East of "our own country," to supply its extra demands on our circulation, and as the Opal is destined to be original in its communications, we hope that it may live, and be itself an embodiment of the intelligence and information that loads down its table. Judicious perusal of works of taste and sense is ever an object of curious desire, and the enabling a person to do so, in circumstances of independence of mind, body, and estate, demands the sincerest gratitude.

There is one thing we must mention—the Evening Prayer in the Chapel, by the Chaplain, and the music by the choir, which has a tendency to raise the souls toward Heaven. Not writing for writing sake, we will mention the visit to the Asylum, and to Dr. Beneeict and his aids, of some gentlemen superintendents of Insane Retreats, Dr. Greene, of Georgia, Dr. Smith, of Ohio, and Dr. Lopez, of Alabama, to whom our Superintendent and aids extended the usual civilities. The Convention of Superintendents met at New-York, but we have not seen the account of their visit, nor do we think our Metropolis shewed them the Bay and Dr. Morris's Establishment at the Island. We are asharned that Boston, the good old town of Boston once, but now the city of refined hospitality, takes the lead generally in doing up such matters; and it is an undisputed fact, that instead of shewing the strangers of distinction the Bay of New-York, and its environs, they shew Blackwell's Island, a parcel of paupers, rag-tag and bob-tail, and our institutions, and then are Dickenized for their trouble. Now we were brought up in the city, we early learned its every way, and our hearts yearn toward the place of our early and happy days.

"Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy Palaces," Oh beloved Island of Manhatto; and we will declare that none but a poor stoic can look at his bay or mountain strand, and not, in the language of Halleck, "feel prouder of his native land." A Great City is a great place, and has in it great men and women, and of course great institutions, and they are all changing, all passing away, a generation has passed with the hand that writes this brief hint, if God spares him who wields the pen, he may give some reminiscences of days lang syne, if the fecundity of age should not leave him entirely minus.

By the way, Elder Bailey, of Utica, who is always ready in the cause of virtuous benevolence—with his good sense and candor to commend his friends and neighbors-and who came to this Humanity with the Blind Vocalists, and showed great interest in their welfare, will be pleased to accept an expression of our regards therefor, and a wish that prosperity may ever attend the path of só good a man. And in this connection, by association, we are reminded of our obligation to Dr. Valentine, some near relation to the Saint, and to the Major Valentine, of the Council of New-York, perhaps, but more related to himself as the very genius of wit, and soul of civil mirthfulness, whose truthful imitations of character rendered him at once the object of deep interest to the officers and their care, as a source of great diversion from the care and sorrow incident to some who happen to be here. Although Kossuth did not visit the Asylum, there were some who shook hands with him, and who felt quite honored thereat. This shaking of hands, is The Methodist Quarterly: Edited by the not superior to a telegraphic despatch of Reverend Dr. M'c Clintock. Whoever good-will, even tho' the late Hooper Cum-rises from the perusal of this truly valuming seemed to prize it very highly, who able periodical, must be deeply impressed declared he would rather shake hands with with respect for its most pious, able and La Fayette than any man on Earth; they accomplished Editor; and as he reflects had fought side by side at Brandy-Wine. on the several articles, particularly on those

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of Antigone, Hungary, Methodist Preach ing, and Moses Stuart, he must feel an increased respect for the society, and a sense of the moral sublimity accompanying it, which, a few brief years since, was the plain and zealous friend of religion in the humblest and most retired arenas of the world, as well as in the outskirts of the nation; and teaching the principles and sustaining the system of John Wesley, far in the west, where the Multnomah flows, and the Knittenaue roams undisturbed in the Plains. Its men as plain as their coats, and the women as nice as their caps, and whose prayer meetings were of a cast to subdue the proud spirit unto "religion's ways of pleasantness, and unto her paths of peace.

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of the polished diction of this period, and it is within the memory of the writer of this that the metropolis had so few learned men among the Methodists, that when he invited a friend to go to the St. John Street meeting to hear the early friends and founders of the now great book concern in New-York, Messieurs Soule and Bangs, he was scouted at as simple, for averring that there were men among Methodists sufficiently learned to quote Greek and Hebrew, it not being supposed possible for the Methodists to have men learned in "the dead languages." Behold now their sons in every quarter of the globe-erudite, enterprising, faithful and brave.

The sketch of the lamented Moses Stuart In a Log Cabin, beyond the Mountains, is very honorable to the review and to the where a Methodist Circuit Preacher sat, denomination, and although it was said that

who was a native of London, did we hear learned and glorious champion of religious the question propounded-“Do you wish to literature and science had the warmest escape from the wrath to come," and altho' friends among the opposers of his interprefrom our metropolis, where a little Portu- tation, viz. the Unitarians; yet we believe guese boy, a member of the John Street for fair-mindedness and religious sympathies, Meeting Class, had often urged us to join, this sweet little article about the good and yet we had never responded to the call be- great is as creditable as that of his subject, fore, nor ever before had such awakened old neighbors, the Unitarians-or even some feelings, as were induced by the prayers and of his Orthodox friends. The fact is, there singing of great numbers in the bright nights is a sort of character that looms above and and pleasant days of a Summer Camp Meet-beyond the panegyrics of mortals. It is ing on the Prairies, now cultivated and set-composed of those elements that unite by tled by the friends of religion and science.

The position assigned in the review to President Woolsey, is a just one, and he no doubt in scholarship, genius and refinement is one of the best scholars of the age, associated in the scholar's thought with Everett and Anthon, and the late lamented Hopkins, and perhaps no one can transcend him in the appreciation and elucidation of the euphonious Greek.

Kossuth is an Ex-Governor of Hungary, a peculiar and suffering people, in number about 14,000,000, who comes over to the United States, on the invitation of Congress, in a public vessel, as an oppressed gallant gentleman, whose principles as developed in most eloquent speeches in his American travel exhibited him as a true, sensible and devoted friend of the rights of man.

Beyond Wesley, Coke and Clarke, the Methodists at one period presented very few

their virtuous and intellectual affinities, and like the brazen Serpent, held up in the Wilderness to the Children of Israel, draws the people unto it, either to admire, respect or imitate. And so the Moses of the Church of New-England presents his monument in the varied learning, virtues and talents of a wonderful disciple, forming a pedestal of symmetry, surpassing conception, the topstone of which is consummated by hosts, with shouts of "grace, grace" unto it, and reflecting from its summit, as the sun of righteousness radiates and irradiates therefrom the glory of the Christian, the Cross of the blessed Jesus, in its unostentatious and essential emanations.

Now that a good Bishop of the Methodists has gone to Heaven, we should be happy to see the learned Editor of this Methodist Review, occupying a place which devoted piety and talent has vacated, and by enlarg

ing his sphere of active engagements, be a We wish them well, as imitators and exembright and shining light in the Church mili-plars of virtue, whose hue is born in heaven. tant, and reign forever in the Church trium- We would emulate their devotion to the inphant, as one of the precious number whose terests of society; "the year a change has robes are washed white in the blood of the brought to all" save our love for the apostles Lamb. of sincerity and truth; and white many have stumbled upon the dark mountains of death, being wearied, we rejoice that the King of Zion will uphold his children, even though no martial band may admire the adroitness of their movements, nor fashionable throng weep and tremble at their eloquence, yea, even though they may live in secret and die neglected, or pine away in the abodes of su

There is a nobleness in the services of

Spring, in its season "of sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers," carries to the metropolis bands of christian people, whose delight is in the "law of the Lord in his law do they meditate day and night." Assembling in the fashionable places, there are read reports of varied interests-the Tract, Bible, and Missionary Societies; perstitious intolerance or idol-worhsipping Seamen's und Orphan's interests; Poor bigotry. Widows' and Small Children, and the Society for Respectable Aged and Indigent Christianity that stimulates to exalted purFemales. The chief interest, however, pose, and while the Societies meet, we centres in the two great Soceties, the hope will commune with the "still, small Tract and Bible, moral means and intellectual, addressing the understanding and through the heart. These form a multitude that have power with the arm that moves the universe, because they are men of prayer, and have power with God.

The Tract Society was projected in the parlor of Mr. David L. Dodge, a rich importing merchant of New-York, and the Bible Society with Mr. E. Boudinott, who gave Ten thousand dollars for its formation, and was its first president. These are two great moral means; and the Missionary, in the language of Bishop Heber, carrying a better religion to superstition and bigotry, forms a third, among other wonderful means used by the great God to reform and to recall unto himself his fallen creatures, and to enlighten them.

These interests have become wonderful! The Tract Society moves onward, with power and celerity and ability. The Bible Society exhibits operations and resources extensive and expanding.

voice" that urges to virtue and its comforts.

With the great religious Societies, the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane met likewise at the Astor House. This little band has continued another year, with no diminution of their numbers, though two have lost their Asylums by fire. Their reports, in general, exhibit unusual prosperity and success.

We have a direct interest in wishing the blessing of the " Dweller in the bush on their efforts.

The women of the metropolis are doing wonders. The nucleus of depravity hath become the reservoir of virtue, and instruction for ignorance, cleanliness for impurity, elevation for degradation, religion for vice, hath opened up the way to glory,- all accomplished by women, who collected thousands of dollars, and expended them all in the amelioration of one spot of wickedness.

The Savings' Banks of New-York, as a means of usefulness to mankind, are won

The speeches at these Anniversaries are derful. The men who established them, good. The talented and pious persons who Dr. Pentard and others, are gone to reap greet each other, old friends and school-their reward. We look back to our call at mates, who have separated far in the jour- the Old Bank with delight; we went with ney of life, meeting at the metropolis as a two little nephews to make their deposits, sort of cross-road, where they pause to re- with each his Five dollars, and being unable fresh themselves with some awakening re-to write their names, grasping their hands miniscencs of departed and happy days. in this, we wrote the little fellows' names,

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handed their deposit to Mr. Campbell P. White, and wished well to the young bankers and the great cause.

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ed in such deep darkness and silence that even no voice comes from it save that of revelation, speaking "I am the resurrection The Bible Society was instituted in the and the life," assuring us that in His own Court of Sessions Room, at the City Hall, good time the grave shall give up its dead, in 1816. Judge Platt, George Griffin, Dr. and its hushed stillness burst forth in fullNott, and Mr. P. A. Jay were the speakers, ness of speech. And shall we follow the and after torrents of eloquence. Mr. Jay unhallowed feet of vain fools, and intrude rose and spoke, seeming like a zephyr to a ourselves upon the sacred precincts of whirlwind, so gentle was he. Earthly death? We shall spare ourselves the la

prospects may fail, earthly friends may drop into the tomb, but the Almighty never forsakes his friends:

Seas may waste, skies in smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away,
But fixed His words, His sovereign power
remains,

His realm for ever lasts, His own Messiah
reigns.

We promised in our last number to give in this, our views on the subject of “ Spiritual Rappings." A month, dear readers, since then, has rolled away, bearing us still nearer to "that undiscovered country" from which not only "no traveller returns," but which He who made the world has shroud

bor. We shall not dare the presumption. Our Superintendent allows us to state one fact, which speaks more than words; there are in this Institution Fourteen (!) persons whose reason has been dethroned by this unhappy delusion. This is all we have to say now; in some future number the subject may be treated more at length.

The following Letter was received a few days since, with a pencil drawing of the figure which our accomplished artist transferred to wood with wonderful accuracy. We are proud to have the portrait of our only brother to grace our pages.