Literature.

houses , and are cumbered ivith barrels of salt , corn , flour , and molasses , and bales of cotton , to such an extent as to impede the traffic , and justify the belief that the police must either bo very numerous and efficient , or the population very honestly disposed . The docks of Liverpool are busy enough , but there is no life or animation at Liverpool at all equal to those ivhich may be seen at the levee in the ' Crescent Cit } ' . ' The fine open space , the clear atmosphere , the joyousness and alacrity of the negroesthe countless throngs of lethe forests of funnels and

, peop , masts , tho plethora of cotton and corn , the roar of arriving and departing- steamboats , and the deeper and more constant roar of the multitude , all combine to impress tho imagination with visions of wealth , poiver , and dominion , and to make the levee as attractive to the philosopher as ifc must he to the merchant and man of business . "

Dr . Mackay tells us that the Americans are not an irreverent people , and he instances their feelings towards Washington in the following passage : — _ " In natural , beauty the Potomac is rich , but there is no place of any historic or even legendary interest on its banks between Agnia Creek and the capital , except one ; but to every traveller , whatever his nation , that one is the most interesting spot in the United States . But

interesting is too weak a word to express the feeling ivith ivhich it is regarded by _ all t-he citizens of the great republic , young or old , male or female . It is their Mecca and their Jerusalem—hallowed ground , consecrated to all hearts by the remembrance of their great hero and patriot—the only one whom all Americans consent to honour and revere , and whom to disparage even by a breath , is in their estimation a crime only second to blasphemy and parricide . Mount Vernon , the home and tomb of George AA ashington , is the sacred spot of the North American continent ,

whither pilgrims repair , and on passing which each steamboat solemnly tolls a hell , and every passenger uncovers his head , in expression of the national reverence . Our boat did not stop to allow us to visit the place —a circumstance which I have since much regretted , as I never had another opportunity ; but in the summer season , Avhen travellers are more numerous , sufficient time is usually allowed for the puqiose on the downward trip from AVashington . But the boll on the upper deck tolled its requiem forthe departed ; and captaiu , crew , and passengers took off their hats and remained uncovered until Mount Vernon was left behind , and the home and grave of the hero were hidden from sight among their embowering verdure . "

From every part of these two volumes of Life and Liberty in America , we gather expressions of liking for the people and their country . The only subjects which strike our author disagreeabl y are the "institutions" of slavery , tobacco chewing , and its consequent expectoration ; the draughty , uncomfortable railway cars , with their anthracite stoves , and the monstrous extortions practised by their hackney coachmen . In all else Dr . Mackay writes

in an _ appreciative and genial humour with America and the Americans ; and as bis reception was flattering , so we hope the entertaining volumes he has penned will be as agreeable to our cousins on the other side the Atlantic as they arc to us on this side , and prove that to a traveller who inquires for himself , and not like Captain Basil Hall , who visited America thoroughl y pvejniliced , that those children of the same common mother , who ive ought to regard as brothers , are in no way behind thc old country in the arts of peace and civilization .

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , AND ART . Tins day ( Saturday ) , September 3 rd , a private view of the Liverpool Societ y of Arts will be held . Wo hear that , in addition to works by Messrs . Duncan , Gavirr , Herring , and other native artists , the exhibition will include several examples of the Dczsseklorf school , two by Leu , ono hy Achenbach , and about twenty others ; together with ivorks from other Continental schoolsParisBelgiumand . . Bremen .

, , , A story by Mr . Charles Dickens , ivhich has been long talked of , has at length made its appearance in thc New l'orl ; Ledger . It is called ¦ Hunted Doivn , " arrd is intended for an illustration of life assurance , the American critics do not seem much struck with its beauties . Thc AeivYork newspapers positively announce that Mr . Dickons has engaged 'p give a series of readings in the principal American cities for a

consideration of £ 10 , 000 . AVe believe it is true that an offer of this nature is boon made to our illustrious countryman ; but wo are not aware lat he has accepted it ; and wo believe , the amount named to be cx"ggerated after the ordinary American custom . the arrangements for the meeting of the British Association in Aberclecn next month fast letionThe Music

are reaching comp . Now ¦ a " , in which the principal of the Association ' s meetings will be held , ¦ ¦ > noiv read y for the seating , and presents a very fine appearance . The D'oceedings ivill be commenced by His Eoyal Highness the Prince Av ? i ' \ delWering an a & h-ess in the new hall on the evening of » oclnesclay , the 14 th of September . -lie cartoons of Peter von Cornelius , from his earliest works to the

last , have been placed together in the Berlin Academy , forming in themselves au exhibition ivhich will be shortly opened to the public , These cartoons fill several large rooms of tho Academical building . In consequence of the approaching departure of the Right Hon . James Wilson for India , he has been compelled to decline the Treasurership of the Newspaper Press Eund , of which he still continues a

Vice-President . The right honourable gentleman has expressed a hope that on his return to England , five years hence , ho may find tho fund a thriviug- institution . David Cato Macrae , Esq ., barrister-at-law , has been elected Treasurer of the fund .

The Siccle , speaking of the prizes proclaimed at tho annual sitting ot the French Academy , says : — "M . Gilbert , who received a prize tivo years ago for a remarkable eulogium on Vauvenargues , obtains this year the prize for one on Regnard . M . Gilbert is the young man W'hose romantic marriage was at one moment a subject of conversation . Although a poor teacher , and the son of a workman , lie man-led the AA-ealthy Madlle . Schneider , Avhose brother he had educated . The prize for

poetry has been carried off , against a hundred and forty competitors , by a young woman of twenty-five , a child of the people , a teacher , living on the produce of her lessons in the midst of her family of artisans . She has written a charming piece of poetry , full of simplicity and devoid of all declamation . It is M . Legouvc ^ who is charged to read these tiA'o prize Ai'orks . The name of the young woman is Madlle . Ernestine Drouet ; sho was pupil of Beranger , who took , great pains with her , and at the ago of

eighteen she obtained the diploma of superior instruction . The Council of Legal Education have issued a number of rules for tho public examination of students in Michaelmas term , 1 S 59 . The mode of conducting the examinations is set forth , but these do not differ materially from the rules ' keretofore iu force . The examination is to commence on Saturday , the 29 th of October , and will be continued on the . Monday and Tuesday following . It AA'ill be divided very much ns heretofore . The list of books and authorities with which the osaminants

are expected to be acquainted is also given . Lord Brougham is at present staying at Tynemouth , enjoying tho fresh breezes of the North Sea . It is the intention of several o £ tho mechanics' institutes and working men ' s institutes on tho Tyne to present addresses to his lordship . Sculpture ( says the Athenmum ) is at last secure of a home in England . Her Majesty ' s Commissioners for tho Exhibition of 1 S 51 , and the

Horticultural Society have finally agreed ; and the works at Kensington ivil I be proceeded ivith as soon as the money is subscribed . Of this there is little doubt . Thc Council of the Horticultural Society , at their last meeting , accepted tho terms as altered by Her Majesty's Commissioners to meet the views expressed at the general meeting of the society . Iu our opinion , from what we have heard of the details , thc agreement is liberal and fair to both parties , and such as becomes two important

institutions acting in conjunction for a great purpose . Nearly 1 , 000 feet of beautiful arcades will form a noble palace for sculpture ( and frescoes ) , and a noble adornment for tho garden , —the greater part open and the rest glazed , anel offering both a pleasant and instructive promenade at all seasons . It is a design that the metropolis may be proud of . Tho people o £ England may be proud of it , for no shilling in aid ivill bo asked from Government . Of this voluntary aid of £ 50 , 000 ( in

addition to the . £ 50 , 000 agreed to be expended by the Commrssioircrs on tiro arcades ) there is no doubt . Already tho Council have received notice of mmiifrcout donations from Her Majesty and the Prince Consort , and of the Prince of AVales , and the younger branches of the Eoyal Family becoming life members , —and two hundred and thirty other ladies arrd gentlemen have put clown their names , and the names of their children , as life subscribers , and have also subscribed for debentures various sums ,

amounting together to above £ 20 , 000 ; so that Avith donations , life members , and debentures , there is already promised above £ 2 S , 000 . M . Y . Laurence Oliphant is expected to deliver a lecture , on China and Japan , iu Dunfermline , about the end o £ October , a subject on which , from his opportunities as private secretary to Lord Elgin , he is peculiarly qualified to instruct his hearers . The library of the late Baron de Humboldt , bequeathed by him to his

old valet , has been pur-chased for 40 , 000 thalers , the Vienna journals state , by Lord Bloomfield , minister of England at Berlin . Mr . Robert George Wyndham Herbert , B . C . L ., Fellow of All Souls ( late of Balliol College ) , barrister-at-Iaiv of tho Inner Temple , has been appointed secretary to Sir Geo . Ferguson Boiven , K . C . M . G ., governor- of Queensland , Moreton Bay . Mr . Herbert , in 1851 , obtained the Hertford scholarship , "For tho Encouragement of Latin Literature ; " in 1852 , the