PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL HUESTON, 139 NASSAU-STREET. LONDON: JOHN CHAPMAN, 142 STRAND. BOSTON: FETRIDGE & CO.: CROSBY & NICHOLS: REDDING & Co. PHILADELPPHIA: G. B. ZIEBER & CO. 1850. WM. OSBORN, PRINTER. EDITED BY LEWIS GAYLORD CLARK. THIS is pronounced, by the press of America and England, 'the best Magazine in America.' It has now completed its thirty-fifth volume, and in its list of upward of a hundred contributors, are found the names of every distinguished writer, male and female, in America, with several equally prominent of Great Britan, Turkey, Sweden, etc. A new volume will commence with the first day of July, 1850. The following notices of the KNICKERBOCKER are from the American and English press, to which might be added hundreds of others. "THE last KNICKERBOCKER is exceedingly good. Some of the articles are worthy of BLACKWOOD'S palmiest days. The Editor's Tuble is in Mr. CLARK's happiest vein; varied and racy in a remarkable degree.'-New-York Commercial Advertiser. THE KNICKERBOCKER seems to increase in attraction as it advances in age. It exhibits a monthly variety of contributions unsurpassed in number or ability.'- National Intelligencer. "THE KNICKERBOCKER is one of the most valuable Magazines of the day, and outstrips all competition in the higher walks of literature.'- Albany Argus. THE KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE is now beyond a question the magazine of the country, Whoever wishes his money's worth, and something over, let him subscribe now to Old KNICK,' and our word for it, the Editor's Table alone will amply satisfy his expectations. It is not a periodical to be lightly glanced over and thrown by, but it forms a library book to save and re-read. A set of the KNICKERBOCKER, bound up in volumes, on the shelves of one of our popular libraries, is more consulted (so the librarian has often told us) than any other similar work.'- Boston Daily Transcript. THE LONDON EXAMINER.-"This very clever Magazine is the pleasantest periodical in the United States. Its articles, which are numerous and short, various and interesting, are well worthy of imitation by our Magazines on this side of the Atlantic.' LONDON MORNING CHRONICLE.-Judging from the numbers before us, we are inclined to consider this the best of all the American literary periodicals. Its contents are highly interesting, instructive and amusing.' REDUCTION IN PRICE TO CLUBS. The publisher has determined to do every thing in his power to bring the Knickerbocker within the means of all, and invites the attention of those who feel an interest in circulating the best American literature, to the following terms to clubs, viz: For five copies sent to one address, the price will be $20 00 66 ten 44 35 00 Post Masters throughout the United States are invited and requested to act as agents. To all those who may interest themselves in getting up clubs, we will send a copy free so long as they keep up, and remit regularly the yearly payment. To the Subscribers and all interested in our Work. The publisher desires to avail himself of this opportunity to thank those who have manifested their unabated interest in the Knickerbocker, by sending subscribers. Quite a number have done so, and no doubt with a very slight effort on the part of some friends, our list might be doubled. As a further inducement for this effort on the part of our patrons, we wish to say, that no pains or expense will be spared to enhance the value of the work, and our pages will prove that our readers will receive at least as large a share of benefit from our increased means as we could expect ourselves. AGENTS WANTED FOR THE KNICKERBOCKER MAGAZINE. ENTERPRISING, active agents are wanted in every town and city in the United States, to procure subscribers for the Knickerbocker. To competent, active persons, with satisfactory references, the most liberal terms will be allowed. Apply, post paid, to SAMUEL HUESTON, 139 Nassau-street. GREAT INDUCEMENT TO SUBSCRIBE FOR THE KNICKERBOCKER. FOUR YEARS FOR TEN DOLLARS. THE undersigned will give the Volumes of the Knickerbocker for the years 1847, 48, 49, and '50, to all persons who will remit to him ten dollars, in funds current in this city, post paid. BACK Volumes or Numbers supplied, and a complete set for sale. Specimen Numbers sent free of charge on application, post paid. SAMUEL HUESTON, Publisher, ART. I. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY: IN THREE PARTS. PART SECOND, II. THE EMIGRANTS: ILLUSTRATING A PICTURE,. IV. A NOVEL IN A NUT-SHELL. BY THE CONDENSATIONALIST, VI. THE YOUNG ROMANCER. BY MRS. C. W. DENNISON,. IX. THE WIDOW'S REPROOF. BY 'GRETTA,' X. A DAY AT UTICA: OR THE FIRST HOUSE-WARMING. BY A. B. JOHNSON,. 240 XI. MEMORY: THE GLEANER. BY CARL LINLEY, XII. SONNET: NEVER SURRENDERS,' 250 252 XV. THE DEAREST FRIEND OF MAN. BY WILLIAM H. ANTHON, 263 HISTORY OF MANSOUL. BY ST. BERNARD, XVI. THE MINSTREL OF THE WORKING-ROOMS.' BY A NEW CONTRIBUTOR, 265 267 XVIII. SONNET ON RECEIVING A BOUQUET. BY R. S. CHILTON, 268 1. ORIGINAL SKETCHES BY THE LATE SYDNEY SMITH, 2. GOSSIP WITH READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS, 1. THE LATE WILLIAM OSBORN, PRINTER. 2. WESTERN SCENERY OF NEW-YORK. 280 287 THE sun is the great central source of heat, as well as gravity. The vast and mysterious power it exerts in holding the distant planets in their orbits is not more wonderful than the influence of its rays on the complex machinery by which the atmospheric temperature is regulated, and the uniform action of the laws of vegetable and animal life maintained. By it the winds are produced, and the heavens kindled with those electric displays, which, like all other fearful agents, perform indispensable offices in the economy of nature. By the vivifying action of the sun, vegetable life is sustained, and upon it animal life depends. Under its influence the sea circulates in the form of vapor, supplying water to the continental element. The temperature of any part of the earth's surface depends mainly on its exposure to the solar rays. If the sun remain longer above the horizon of any place than below it, its temperature will increase, and the reverse is also true. We are nearer the sun during the winter than we are during the summer; the difference in the temperature of the seasons does not therefore depend on proximity to the sun; but in the time the terrestrial surface is exposed to its rays, and the manner in which they are received, whether vertically or obliquely. During our near approach to the sun, (for the earth is about one-twenty-ninth of its whole distance from the sun nearer to it during its perihelian than it is during its aphelian,) its velocity is increased in proportion to the decrease of the square of its distance. It is this increased angular velocity of the earth, when at its perihelian, that protects us from the excess of heat which our comparatively near approach to the sun would otherwise expose us. Were it not for this,' says Sir John Herschel, the eccentricity of the orbit would materially influence the transition of the seasons. The fluctuation of distance amounts to nearly one-thirtieth of its mean quantity, and, consequently, the fluctuation in the sun's direct heating power |