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We once more send our "Opal" to our kind readers. We trust that its soft and varied light will best be as grateful, as we are assured, it has been heretofore. For the numerous and complimentary notices which our humble efforts have called forth, we are too modest to render any other return than an expression of our simple, but deeply-felt thanks. It would not look well to quote them.

We must however make one exception. The Editor of the Utica Daily Gazette, had committed two grave offences: one was in an extremely well-written article on the "Black Swan's" singing, that "her voice was perfectly white." The other was, not taking any notice of the "Opal." In his paper of the 11th ult., he made the honorable amend so handsomely for the latter offence that we cheerfully forgive the former as he has a fine literary taste, we will venture to suggest to him the solution of a great question which has tormented the critics from Warton down to our time. What did Milton mean by the word in italics in the following passage?

"As the wakeful bird
Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid,
Tunes her nocturnal note."

Does not the "Black Swan" solve the difficulty? The Gazette, we know, will turn on us, and charge on us that very trifling, which we deemed so indecorous in him. Never mind; Miss Greenfield can bear it. Such wit as ours cannot obstruct the success of such musical capabilities as hers, which may ensure a reputation that shall eclipse even that of Jenny Lind herself.

Jenny Lind, Jenny Lind, alas! Jenny Lind no more! That sweet name, sweet enough to be the key-note of her own matchless music, is become -- Mrs. Goldschmidt. What an ignoble, dickering, Wall-Street, and 'Change-Alley mutation! But God be with thee, Jenny! And even thou shalt cease to pour the melody of thy eloquent voice, -- eloquent, because it is the instrument of thy full, deep soul, into the hearts of men, -- may thine own heart bound at the magnificent announcement, which thou hast so often uttered, as it was never uttered before by mortal, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."

We publish the following letter with the reply to it, as a proof that our race is actually progressing, that there is hope of man, and that even lawyers are willing to distrust the accuracy of landmarks and dogmas which are consecrated by ages, but alas, by ages only:

To the Editor of the "Opal."

Dear Sir, -- I am about to commence the trial of a man who is under indictment for a capital crime. I strongly suspect that the fellow has not known what he was about this ten years past. As a question may possibly arise, during the trial as to the proper definition of insanity, I take the liberty to ask your aid on the occasion. I understand that a number of insane persons are kept at the Lunatic Asylum; indeed, it is said, that you have a touch yourself. As, therefore, you are fully qualified to advise me, and as I should be sorry to order the poor fellow to be hung, if he is innocent, please to give me the requisite information, and oblige.--Yours, &c.

Justice of the Supreme Court.

There is much in this letter which gave us pleasure. In the first place, we like the amiable spirit which prompted the words we have italicized. In the second place, it shows a teachable spirit; he is anxious to learn. There is a little slyness in his allusion to our own mental condition, but does not his Honor know that idiots and lunatics were considered by the ancient wise men as worthy of special veneration, as being the vehicles through which the Gods conveyed the clearest manifestations of their will? Socrates said that a lunatic differed from another man only in this, he had no will of his own, but its place was most gloriously supplied by that of Jupiter himself.

With this remark we most cheerfully answer the Judge's question. In consulting us he is following the guidance of that common sense which, probably, secures to him success in the ordinary transactions of his life, in the purchase of his hat or his shoes, for example. He has come where the article is kept in great abundance and variety. Let us then, as well as may be, save our customer from the commission of a fearful crime, which, though it has no name in the statutes, must, from the deliberation which precedes it, be written in characters of blood on the books of righteous and everlasting judgment, -- we mean Judicial murder.

Lord Erskine had heard from childhood that "an insane man argues correctly from false premises." Proceeding on this assumption, (for assumption it is) he declared that if a man charged with crime acted on an impression founded in reality he was not insane, and was therefore to be pronounced guilty; if, on the other hand, the impression was wholly illusory, he was not responsible and therefore not guilty. In accordance with this "law of insanity," Lord Ferrers, who had received a slight, but real, injury from a friend, and killed him in consequence, was executed. Hatfield, who, imagining that George III interfered in some way with the second coming of Christ, fired at the king in the theatre, was, in accordance with the same law, acquitted. Now Hatfield was, doubtless, innocent, but so was, probably, Lord Ferrers. The doctrine that insanity consists in reasoning from a false impression is a fiction. The man who is worth half a million, and from the loss of ten thousand supposes himself ruined is as insane as the man, who, not having a stiver, supposes himself worth half million. The insanity in the former consists in exaggerating a reality, and Ferrers' mental disorder was, probably, this description. But in both cases the patient had last the power of regulating order of his thoughts by those actualities, a disregard of which, in fact, is insanity.

Had Erskine, as we have done, spent large part of a year in an asylum for the insane, he never would have laid down his celebrated rule, a rule in pursuance which multitudes of lives have been violently destroyed in due course of law. Will the writer of the letter allow us to ask him if, on this "legal" definition of insanity, he has known many sane men? Is he sure, indeed, that he is not occasionally insane himself; that is, has he not, sometimes, after pursuing with the utmost care a process of reasoning, found himself landed in an embarrassing falsehood, simply because he had not been regardful of his premises?

We are aware that Erskine's rule has been modified, of late years, by the law members of the House of Lords; but as they start with the same unauthorized definition of insanity, they have not materially remedied the difficulty.

But we must hasten to give the Justice what he asks for. If the Superintendent of this Asylum was involved in a law-suit, on a right determination of which was suspended his reputation as a man of intelligence, humanity, and, above all, of righteousness, he would, doubtless, by careful study, become familiar with the principles of law bearing on the question. He would study Justinian, Blackstone, Kent. But, being aware how much general principles become modified by circumstances, he would not be satisfied till he had applied to the practical knowledge of this very Justice, whose pursuits have taught him a thorough knowledge of those circumstantial variations in which the main difficulty lies. So, we say to the Justice, get all the general knowledge you can. Read Beck, Calmeli, Shakepeare's "Hamlet." But do not discharge the man into either world, until you have sent for the Superintendent. His position has given to him a knowledge far more important to you than, in the supposed case, your's could be to him; for in determining the life or death of the accused a far greater number of modifying circumstances -- circumstances so delicate that only a practiced judge can weigh them, -- are to be most carefully and solemnly considered.

Riddling at Tripler Hall -- The mind of New-York has recently been thrown into violent agitation. A tea-pot was offered for the best-riddle, to be awarded at Tripler Hall, in presence of the congregated intellect of the city. Fourteen hundred candidates contended for the prize. Fourteen hundred men and women after a riddle! What agony of guessing! what forcing of things together that never met before! what violence done to common sense, to the regular, proper use of ideas and words! The result of this precious piece of goosey-ganderism is this; -- "Why is the writer of this conundrum like a domestic servaat out of employment?" "Because she wants to get a service, and is willing to carry off the tea-things."

Charles Lamb, that intuitive perceiver of all that is true and right, who had the same feeling about this abuse of the human faculties which has always been entertained by people of sense, said that there is but one rule about puns and riddles and that is, "they are good in proportion to their badness." Instigated by a peculiar, but powerful motive, he ventured on one once, and he insisted it was the best ever made. A silly woman was tormenting his dear, nervous sister Mary, with tales of the rheumatism of her beloved grandmother. Charles, wishing to put an end to the torture his sympathizing sister was enduring, abruptly said, "Pay, Madam, is not your grandmother a very tall woman?" "No, -- but why do you ask?" "Because," replied he, "she teems to be a granny dear" (grenadier). Certainly, on his rule, this cannot be surpassed, unless it be by the following: "Why is the British national anthem of the male sex?" "Because it is a hymn" (him).

Now this is too bad. The juggler, who spins plates and carries poles on his chin and nose, could put his fingers, chin and nose to far better use. What shall we say then to this jugglery with the mind and its thoughts and their noble exponent-language? The only man of genius, we believe, who ever owned a pun or riddle was Burke, and he owned but one: "What is majesty robbed of its externals;" "a jest;" of which the solemnity of the thought conceal, the trifling, just as at a funeral we are not likely to be merry.

Wesley and Methodism, by Isaac Taylor, New-York, Harper and Brothers, 1852. -- Another volume, on a great subject, from this bold and able speculator. We have always read the writings of Isaac Taylor, with interest, and generally with profit. His "Saturday Evening" is, we think, the most eloquent and suggestive religious book which the present age has produced. No work is better filled to inspire vivid conceptions of the powers of Christianity, and none, therefore, has probably done more to animate the Missionary efforts of Christians.

The present work is divided into four parts. The first presents sketches drawn with great vigor and distinctness, of the founder of Methodism. The second states what in the author's view, is the Substance of Methodism. In the third part he describes its form; and in the last, we have his anticipations of "Methodism in the time coming." Those titles are certainly striking and characteristic.

The disposition which is so natural, and in many respects so useful to an author to magnify his theme, is strongly manifested by Mr. Taylor in this work. He regards the period and events which he has chosen for his subject as the great points in the religious history of the last century. This is extravagant. The great religious event of that period we have supposed to be the complete triumph, after a long and dreadful struggle, of the Protestant faith. We are speaking of Religion in England. This struggle fairly commenced before the Revolution of 1688, but did not terminate till one third of the last century had elapsed. And it was purely an English triumph, achieved by efforts inspired by opinions and convictions which were seated in the very heart of the English country people.

Again, it is not being strictly true to the statements of well-established history to give such exclusive prominence to the ministry of Wesley, Whitfleld and Fletcher, while in the same century, before them, even such men as Tillotson and Howe, and, after them the strongholds of Socinianism -- and rational heresy were utterly demolished by such men as Hawley, Lowth and Butler.

With the cautions suggested by these remarks, we cannot but regard the reading of this book as a means of great religious improvement, and especially as a means of impressing most deeply and distinctly on our minds the universal adaptedness of Gospel truth. We do not mean to imply that the Gospel was first carried to the masses of men by the Methodist preacher, but that to him was given in unusual measure, to understand the mode, and if you please, to invent the instrumentality, by which these masses are to be reached.

We wish that we had room to quote a few passages, in which the boldness, originality and justness of the author's thoughts are so perfectly harmonized with his abrupt yet lucid and impressive diction. The following extract, we think, presents a very just and striking description of Whitfield's eloquence.

"The basis of Whitfield's mind, or that power upon which his singular gifts as a speaker worked, was the conceptive faculty, as related to those objects that are purely spiritual; both abstract and concrete; and with him this faculty had a compass; adaptation, and an intensity of sensitiveness, never perhaps equaled. So it was, that while he spoke, the visible world seemed to melt away into thin mist, and the eternal world, -- the real world -- to come out from among shadows and stand forth in awful demonstration."

Man and his Migrations, by R. G. Latham, M. D., F. R. S., New York, Charles B. Norton, 1852. -- This book treats of subjects of great interest and importance. Its dimensions are rather too small, to allow of any thing more than a glance at the various topics comprehended under its title. While we commend the book, as an excellent introduction to the study of Anthropology and the Natural History of Man, it may not be amiss to advert briefly to the important uses to which the Science and its branches and subdivisions are subservient.

Palaeontology and Ethnology may be regarded as branches of Anthropology, and carry with them something of the same interest which belongs to Comparative Anatomy, which from a few fragments, or even from a single fragment of a bone, deduce an accurate description of the animal to which it once belonged. The Comparative Anatomists, for example, can easily determine from a small portion of the bone of the foot of an animal, the nature of the food on which it subsisted. He would soon make up the whole foot. From it he would pass to the mouth the whole conformation of which could be deduced from what is known of the foot. Thence he would pass to the stomach, intestines, size and even its habitation. It is thus that the natural history of the mastodden, of which but some parts of the bones are extant, is written with no less confidence and detail than is that of the lion or the elephant.

Now, certainly, the most interesting of all histories is that of our own race, and every object which may serve to extend our knowledge of it, is to be valued as treasure. Palaeontology and Ethnology undertake to collect such objects, and to learn from them such lessons as they are fitted to teach. The former gathers and studies antiquities of whatever kind, and deduces from them the character of ancient periods and even of ancient opinions. Ethnology confines its enquiries to such monuments, ruins and traditions as indicate the ancient character of Nations, whose history is unwritten or is lost.

Of the value of such materials an estimate may be formed from an illustration which corresponds with the case which we have selected from Comparative Anatomy.

On some remote and deserted island, I discern an object which seems to be the ruin of some vast building. I clear away the trees, shrubs and rubbish by which it is almost concealed, and soon exhume forms and decorations which I cannot but regard as indications or symbols of great, solemn, and holy ideas. Every door, window and pinnacle that remains points upward towards Heaven. No doubt can be entertained that this was once a religious temple. I continue my explorations until I discover the precise form of the church. It is that of a cross. The religion celebrated in this temple was therefore the Christian religion. -- All over the building I find a peculiar combination of things into three. What remains of a great window is triple. A portion of the roof is standing, and its divisions plainly discover a nave and two side aisles. There are three entrances, and every where there appears the tre-foil with its significant and awful meaning. This, therefore, was not only a temple, and a Christian temple, but also a temple in which was owned and worshipped the mysterious and ever-blessed Trinity.

Now, could the most detailed and the best authenticated history do more for us than these Palaontological signs have done in forming a just notion of the religious character of the former inhabitants of this island? -- We suppose that we are in possession of no other clue than that furnished by the ruin. Combine with it those intimations scattered through the written annals of the period indicated by those imperfect but eloquent remains, and it will not be difficult to deduce a history, quite satisfactory, of a people, of whom nothing is left but the ruins of their

temple. What we have said of this silent witness of the past, may be said of language, of which the mutations are no less instructive than curious, and of those numberless traditions, which, passing from generation to generation, through the constant hearts rather than through the ever-changing opinions of a people, are often times more reliable than history itself.

The real nature and value of tradition, as a source of knowledge, has never been thoroughly and philosophically investigated. -- Especially has it not been fairly compared with History. Hume loved the Stuarts, and they are therefore the subjects of his incessant and extravagant praise. Mcaulay hates the Stuarts, and they are, therefore, the theme of his equally incessant and extravagant abuse. Still both wore Scotsmen. Both had Scotch educations; and, in preparing their histories, both had the same materials and authorities before them. Now what are we to say to these things? The kind of evidence, which we have endeavored to illustrate, is certainly free from the influence of those prejudices, which have produced such opposing descriptions of the same events and characters. The inanimate, unconscious witnesses, which Palaeontology and Ethnology summon to their aid are incapable of those perversions of the truth, which are liable to be produced by a mind acted on by ever changing motives. -- The same maybe said of tradition, when it is transmitted through the great mass of a people. By confining our belief to such traditions, as come within the limits of this description, we shall be secure from those abuses of faith, which were inflicted on their age by the ancient Pharisees, and are still imposed on the present, by their legitimate successors in deception -- the doctors of the Romish Church.

Before closing this truly miscellaneous article we would recur briefly to the Utica Gazette. With regard to the remark contained in the notice before referred to, that the contents of the Opal are "equal, &c., but marked by such characteristics as we should expect from such a quarter," we know not what the Editor means, unless he alludes to such a passage as the following, for example, in our February number. It occurs in the letter of our foreign correspondent, (who, we are happy to say, is at home with us, not having waited for the Steamer.) "Despotism," he writes from Padua, in the very heart of Italian tyranny, "is a mere phantom of the imagination." Now, this seems, doubtless, a little queer to the editors of our newspapers, who find their interests in sending forth a great deal of twaddle about liberty. For our own part, we cannot but respect the writer of the letter for his courage as well as for the justness of his sentiment. It is certainly courageous to dare the utterance of such a doctrine in "our age and country." And that the sentiment is just, appears from the conduct of almost every man and woman. We all seek for society, and what is society but a restraint -- often-times alas! most dreadfully despotic? Yet how cheerfully are these restraints submitted to. Take the case of love, or jealousy, tight boots, or corsets. Is not the thought even, to say nothing of the experience, of them sufficient to still this clamorous cant about liberty.

But not only is the sentiment of our correspondent sustained by facts, but it is also in a high degree, accordant with the real dignity and capabilities of human nature.- "My mind to me, a kingdom is," is the noble thought and boast of one of the finest specimens of that nature, and all along the line of history it is illustrated by men who are the real kings and princes of our race. Dante, Tasso, Richard of the Lion-Heart, and La Fayette, are not the less poets and heroes for having been within the walls of prisons.

We hold, therefore, that our correspondent is right. He has swung clear from trammels to which no mind will submit, except one that has not the strength to cast them off. If the sentiment does not meet the approbation of editors, it is, probably, because its author lives in an atmosphere more favorable to a distinct perception of the truth than exists outside of the Asylum. And, by the way, we must be allowed to say that since we have been an in-dweller of this place, we have often had occasion to notice, under all its so-called restraints upon the body, the freeness and grandeur of the movements of the soul. Mr. Clinton was declared insane for conceiving the plan of connecting, by a canal, the waters of Lake Erie with those of the Hudson; but now Mr. Clinton is regarded as one of our greatest men. But what is that compared with the determination entertained by one of our inmates, to bring the whole weight of Niagara Falls on one wheel, and run a line of shafts from it to Oregon. Or what can be finer in the way of sweeping off all casuistic difficulty than the following explanation of the necessity of lying. "Now," said a so- called patient, but why not style him a real philosopher, "we cannot make too free with truth. It cannot mingle much in our common transactions. For example, I am a lawyer; my business is to do all that I can for my client; this is my jurisdiction, and I must confine myself to it. It will very often happen that my duty lies in letting on as little truth as possible. The fact is, that Truth is a thing so great and awful, that the frail disordered circumstances of human life will not bear the full pressure of its weight."

We say these things not in any spirit of vain boasting, we only wish to intimate to the Editor of the Gazette, and the world without generally, that if they will come and live with us for a season, they will learn to regard many thoughts and things which now seem strange, and are, therefore, unintelligible to them, as strange and unintelligible merely because they have not extended their view over but a very limited portion of humanity.

In looking over the materials which make up the contents of our present number, we cannot forbear directing attention to the peculiar merit of the "Considerations on subject of Insanity." This most painful of human calamities, it is supposed, has been but recently a subject of scientific and philanthropic investigation. The author of these communications proves that the men of genius of past ages have made mental disorders the object of their study. It is thus, that in illustrating his "Considerations" he has drawn so freely from the celebrated Essay on Man; and we trust that in his future contributions he will present us with drafts equally liberal from a still higher authority, even Shakspeare, the master of human nature, in all its phases, whether healthy or diseased.