its landing of from fifteen to sixteen millions of dollars. You may know the Arabia or Mocha, the best coffee, by its small bean of a dark yellow color. The Java and East Indian, the next in quality, are larger and of a paler yellow. The West Indian Rio has a bluish or greenish gray tint. VALUE OF THE CROWN JEWELS. As it may be interesting to our readers who have heard so much lately about fetes, ceremonies, and the magnificence of upholstery, to know the value of some of the articles used on the occasion, we subjoin the estimated price of the jewels of the crown of state which Queen Victoria wore in St. James' Chapel :The great ruby.... The aqua marina... Twenty diamonds round the circle ($7,500 each)... Four crosses, each composed of twenty-five diamonds Total...... : $50,000 60,000 150,000 20,000 60,000 200,000 60,000 70,000 $670,000 Notwithstanding the enormous mass of jewelry, the crown weighs only nineteen ounces ten pennyweights. It measures seven inches in height from the gold circle to the upper cross, and its diameter at the rim is five inches. PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. The port of Iloilo, in the center of the southern group of the smaller Philippine Islands, has been opened to foreign trade by the Spanish Government, and is probably destined before long to become well known in commercial enterprise, although at present there are scarcely half a dozen merchants or shipowners here who ever heard of the place. Iloilo (or Iloylo) is the chief port of the small but fertile island of Panay, which contains a population of about 700,000 inhabitants, and together with the neighboring islands, of which it is expected to be the commercial depot, the population may be estimated at 2,000,000. Besides varieties of Eastern produce, of lesser importance, with which we are familiar from our connection with Singapore, Iloilo is expected eventually to export largely sugar and hemp to a considerable extent, and thus open a direct trade not only for shipment of raw produce to England, but for importing and distributing among the neighboring islands a proportionate amount of British manufactures. SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. It appears from a Parliamentary return just issued, that in 1854 twelve ships, with 992 officers and men, were engaged in the suppression of the slave trade on the west coast of Africa; in 1855, twelve ships, with 1,082 officers and men ; in 1856, thirteen ships, with 1,222 officers and men; in 1857, fifteen ships, with 1,424 officers and men. At the Cape of Good Hope; in 1854, four ships, with 575 officers and men ; in 1855, five ships, with 775 officers and men; in 1856, three ships, with 760 officers and men; and in 1857, three ships, with 610 officers and men. THE BOOK TRADE. 1.-Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856. From Gales & Seaton's Annals of Congress, from their Register of Debates. and from the official reported Debates by John C. Rives. By THOMAS H. BENTON, author Vol. IX., 1826 to 1828. 8vo., pp. 752. New of "Thirty Years' View." York: D. Appleton & Co. We are in receipt of this the ninth volume of Benton's Congressional Debates, and are glad to see that, though the compiler has passed away, the good work he begun shows no symptoms of flagging, although the condensation and preparation for such a work must be immense. It is to these pages we are to look for a sound and practical understanding of the principles of the Constitution and government under which we live. The vast variety of relations which the Federal government maintains, both as supreme over the republic and in its relations to the sovereign States of the Confederacy, are the basis of the numerous topics in these debates, and for this reason the work should have a place in the library of every one who would become acquainted with its parliamentary history. It may justly be considered a national enterprise, prepared with impartiality and marked fidelity to truth of history. The index which accompanies each volume shows at a glance the leading arguments used in the debates, as well as the topics discussed, and the work when complete will form a comprehensive history of the legislation of the United States-the best, we have no hesitation in saying, which will ever be written. 2.-Swedenborg, a Hermetic Philosopher; being a Sequel to remarks on Alchemy and the Alchemists, with a Chapter comparing Swedenborg and Spinoza. By the author of "Remarks on Alchemy and the Alchemists." 12mo., pp. 352. New York: D. Appleton & Co. There seems to be three modes by which the Christian religion is received in the world, and though not absolutely distinct from each other, yet sufficiently marked to be readily distinguished. With one class it is received historically, and its truth is supposed to rest mainly upon historical evidences, so strong that no man in his proper senses can reject the testimony. We next find a class of more cultivated minds, who would clothe the Scriptures, by their abstruse reasonings and attempts to connect the perfection of man with a knowledge of God, with more of philosophy, by insisting upon the fact that all ancient wisdom has come down to us in correspondences and symbolism, not to be taken literally, but to be studied out in spirit, and by these it is that the chief controversies touching the externals of religion are mainly carried on. A third class receive the Scriptures as the spirit of truth, as taught by Jesus, manifested in him so strongly as to be the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, beyond and above all controversy. We cannot readily class the author of these chapters on Swedenborgian doctrine with any of these, but must accede to him à niche somewhat separated from the rest, and to all those who take an interest in such matters, and would acquaint themselves with these abstruse questions, we would recommend this cirticism on Swedenborg, as eliciting much ingenious thought, combined with many striking truths. 3.-Blonde and Brunette; or, the Gothamite Arcady. 12mo., pp. 316. New York: D. Appleton & Co. This well written and highly interesting story, the editor tells us, was gotten hold of accidentally, after having slumbered for some time in the dust of a portfolio. Upon persual of the book, we feel constrained to congratulate him on his good fortune, for it has been long since we have read a story of this kind with as much interest. 4.-Vestiges of the Spirit History of Man. By S. F. DUNlap. the American Oriental Society, New Haven. 8vo., pp. 401. D. Appleton & Co. "I caused blind hopes to dwell within them." Member of New York: Man, whatever his estate in life, has ever been found to be environed by agencies visible and invisible. The Greeks worshiped the stars, the Romans adored Aurora, the rosy fingered morn, the Persians venerated rivers, trees, mountains, and stars, while the American Indian sees gods in the mists of the mountain, the rocky defile, the foaming cataract, the tempests blast, and the evening breezeeach recognizing their own deities through conceptions given them by nature, or the examples bequeathed them by those who have gone before. The object of this work is to set forth the progress the world has made in her beatific systems; for it is a part of the author's creed that thought grows like a plant, and that there has been a gradual rise of systems, one cultus growing out of another and perpetually evolving new power. In it will be found a description of the various objects and modes of worship of the different ages and nations of the earthsun-worship, fire-worship, image-worship, Polytheism, Brahmanism, Buddhism, and all the world religions. While transcendently over these, and above all the false systems devised by man, shines the true and only religion-given by Godthe revelation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The book gives evidence of great labor and patience, and a knowledge which could only be obtained by careful study of the sources from which the information is derived. 5.-Sir Walter Raleigh and his Time, with other Papers. By CHARLES KINGSLEY, author of " Hypatha," "Two Years Ago," etc. 12mo., pp. 461. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 66 This volume appears to be a reprint of papers, which originally appeared in Frazer's Magazine and the North British Review, on Sir Walter Raleigh, Burns, Tennyson, together with some others, entitled, the Poetry of Sacred and Legendary Art," North Devon," "Phæton," and " England from Wolsey to Elizabeth," etc., etc. Mr. Kingsley is a vigorous writer, and has gained for himself a high position in England, by his contributions to the different English periodicals. The selections here are judiciously made, as the subjects dealt with are various and dissimilar; but, on the whole, we are not partial to reviews of this kind, and always look upon them as episodes which it were easily to dispense with; for the best biography of every man is sure to be found in his own works, for in them we find all that has happened to him inward or outward, or rather all that has produced a permanent effect upon his mind and heart, and knowing that you know all, and should be content with escaping from the personality and gossip usually met with in such reviews. It requires not even a skin-deep critic to form a just estimate of poor Burns, whose heart, though young to the last, seemed to have lost all faith in his brother man, and, as a consequence, in himself also, yet through whose omissions and commissions there shines out those beautiful regrets which show that, though he ceased to worship, the vestal fire of conscience still burned within him. 6.--The Poetical Works of Fitz-Greene Halleck. 235. New York: D. Appleton & Co. New Edition. 12mo., pp. We are glad to see the productions of our poet laureate, Fitz Greene Halleck, collected together in so neat a volume as the one before us. It is ever refreshing to browse only for a few moments into some one of his heartfelt lyrics. It is sure to quicken our feelings and awaken within us some slumbering memory which the manifold cares of the world had well-nigh obliterated, but which only need the awakening influences exerted in some one of Halleck's pieces to call into renewed life. We have ever been an ardent admirer of his, and we recommend the little book as very "essential oil" to soothe our ruffled spirits into something like expectant hope. 7.-The Municipalist. In Two Parts. 12mo., pp. 302. New York: George Savage. As This book, as its title indicates, is particularly devoted to the great municipal interests of society, and has for its particular object the alteration of the present constitution of our State by one more suitable to the urgency of the times. the author says in his preface, when we look at the "increase of public debt, taxes, crime, and mobism-at the delay, confusion, and corruption in the judicial procedures--at the abuse of the executive pardoning power, the defective workings of the jury system, and the insecurity of life and property," a mere glance at these crying evils will afford ample room for the question, that with all our boasted ideas of progress and civilization--our numerous churches, colleges, schools, and public libraries, are we not gradually losing our hold upon many of those inestimable principles of virtue taught us by our fathers, and known to be the only sure foundation upon which a republic can exist. Possessed of these ideas the author has undertook to elucidate, by comprehensive explanations, the true system of governing under the constitution, both municipal and State, and adds many cogent reasons for the amendment of the present constitution. Taken altogether it is a hit in the right direction, which the evils of our city, we think, will bear us out in saying, and as such we recommend it to the attention of every intelligent voter, and above all to that immaculate class, our city fathers. 8.--Piney Woods Tavern; or, Sam Slick in Texas. By the author of “Adventures of Captain Priest," etc. etc. 12mo., pp. 309. Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson & Brothers. A rather improbable, yet laughable, story, the scene of which is laid in that classic land of adventure and lawlessness-Texas. For proper effect, the reader should pin back the lobes of his ears, and prepare himself to follow the author, without for a moment submitting to those questions of probabilities and improbabilities which naturally arise in the mind of the reader while threading a narrative of this kind. In short, he must be prepared to drink it all in with thirsty ears, believe it all, and follow quietly the course laid down, whether it be by a slender sapling, over a cataract, or into the huge paws of a catamount, or live Camanche, and thus, with his mind fully prepared for " anything that may turn up," he will find this a laughable and amusing story. 9.-The Courtship of Miles Standish, and other Poems .By HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW. 12mo., pp. 215. Ticknor & Fields. This last poetical production of Mr. Longfellow's is receiving full as much attention as did Hiawatha, and its transcendental qualities have already been seized upon by rhetoricians for the display of their own powers in rehearsal of the elegant style of the author. Mr. Longfellow doubtless possesses all the attributes of a poet, and it were worse than folly to decry what all are praising. Nevertheless, if one may be permitted to express themselves, we should say we have read, even in these stale times of poesy, poems, the reading whereof has sent more electrical thrills through our system than has the antiquated courtship of Miles Standish. The book is neatly got up and will, no doubt, meet with a large sale among the many admirers of the author. 10.-Legends and Lyrics: a Book of Verses. By ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTOR. 12mo., pp. 264. New York: D. Appleton & Co. The "Immortal Nine" has a new worshiper in Adelaide Anne Proctor, or at least she is new to us, having never before, in our recollection, seen any of her production. Apparently she possesses many of the qualifications necessary for a true poet, and some of her pieces, as " A Woman's Question," "The Sailor Boy," etc., abound in ideality and deep pathos; but, though nothing lacking in imagery, she seems to want that versification so essential to the singer of a right noble poem. |