The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, February 1844

‘This sterling Monthly is always punctual to a day in its issues, promptly appearing with the dawn of the month, though our notices of it frequently lag sadly behind it. It is yet, however, by no means too late to say that it enters upon the year ’44 and its twenty-third volume with ability and zeal unabated, and that it is yet, as it has been heretofore, by far the handsomest, ablest, and most interesting literary Monthly issued in this country. Each number contains over a hundred pages, and in the Editor’s Table alone is often found more matter than the entire body of some of its rivals contains. It has a long list of zealous correspondents, bound to it not more by interest than affection, and numbering among them the most gifted and distinguished writers in the country. The ‘Quod Correspondence,’ a novel which is running through the successive numbers, is one of the best works of the kind ever written; its scenes possess a deep dramatic interest, and throughout the whole, moral principles are clearly and powerfully evolved. ‘The Idleberg Papers’ is the general title of another capital series, and the work is otherwise filled with excellent prose and generally good poetry. The ‘Editor’s Table’ is by far the most racy and entertaining collection of anecdotes, humorous and pathetic passages, slight criticisms, etc., to be met in any magazine. We cordially commend the old and excellent Knickerbocker to the continued love and patronage of the public.’

The Evening Post bestows upon the number praise equally warm and cordial. It adverts to its typographical appearance, with the remark that ‘it is beautifully printed; that even those parts which are put in the smallest characters are so distinctly impressed that the dimmest eyes may read them.’ It lauds especially the article on ‘Descriptive Poetry,’ the ‘Idleberg Papers,’ the ‘Sketches of East Florida,’ and some of the poetry; and the editor, William Cullen Bryant, Esq., is kind enough to add, that ‘no part is better than the Editor’s Table, which presents as excellent a Salmagundi as was ever served up.’ We scarcely dare claim to have earned these high encomiums; but we are anxious to evince to our subscribers, and especially to those new friends (and their friends) who have begun the year with us, that we shall spare no pains to deserve them. It will be our constant aim not only to maintain the reputation which the Knickerbocker now sustains, but in return for the affection with which it seems to be every where regarded, and the liberal patronage which it has always retained, and which is now generously increased by our friends, to enhance it by every means in our power. But, to make use of two French words which have never before been quoted in America, to our knowledge—‘Nous Verrons!’

⁂ Owing to an unlucky accident, at a late hour, a ‘Literary Record’ of several excellent publications, from the following houses in Philadelphia, New-York, and Boston, is unavoidably omitted from the present number. The ‘copy,’ however, of the notices is preserved, and they will appear in our next: Lea and Blanchard, R. P. Bixby and Company, M. W. Dodd, Harper and Brothers, Wiley and Putnam, J. and H. G. Langley, D. Appleton and Company, George G. Channing, J. Winchester, James Munroe and Company, B. G. Trevett and Company, Mark H. Newman, Stanford, Swords and Company, Lindsay and Blackiston, Morris, Willis and Company. In a similar category are some half dozen subsections of ‘Gossip,’ (including two or three pleasant favors from favorite contributors, notice of articles received and filed, etc.,) which were in type, and which now ‘bide their time.’