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Fashionable Life is not always the happiest, nor its associations the most sincere. -- There cometh with its wonderful appurtenances sometimes a faint praise always equal to censure, and then a tone of elevated appreciation or depreciation, as if indeed Fashion was Lord of the Manor, and its dictates were to be regarded when not in accordance with propriety. There is an accompaniment of it, however, which the staid of manner do not generally adopt, an adaptation of small talk, table talk and infinite little pleasant says, and finishes of adaptation of manner and thought to the scenes and events of life extremely agreeable, and which in ordinary affairs of prosaic wisdom is deemed too trifling to be noticed. Any thing and every thing in the realm of God is worthy of the notice of a gentleman, "and as a sparrow falls not to the ground without the notice of our Heavenly Father," so it cannot be beneath the dignity of his children to bow with respect and love to the beautiful displays his creation, or is exhibited in his own direct emanations -- or indirect, by means of his created.

Prefacing with these observations, we may proceed to remark that although it may be fashionable to descant on the literature of the age, of science and scientific institutions, of works of art, and their concomitants, yet in consequence of peculiar constitution, we being supposed to have affinity to Lazy St. Lawrence, we must defer the publications of Jemima to more profound and able critics and advisers, and with the ocean of libraries, we may shipwreck our understanding and be left to grope with the inconveniences attending it. "Putting it on thick," is what we of the Opal do not understand. We do mean what we say despite of fashion, when we say that the Edinburgh or Quarterly Review, or the Westminster or British Review, or Sartain's, or Godey's, or Graham s, are always in our heart of hearts. We mean what we say, that we are indebted to them -- for a myriad of thoughts and interests that inform the mind and better the heart.

Because we are favored with so many kindnesses, is no reason we should despise the "day of small things," or pass unnoticed the fact that Mr. Backus has received a legislative appropriation of three hundred dollars for the aid of his Radii, but we do not acknowledge the like sum from the great body, for the Opal, nor do we expect to have the pleasure. When we turn over the pages of the Reviews and books and papers, and see so much worth seeing, we would be in retirement and hide our heads in very shame, that we bare so few original thoughts. "Our leanness, our leanness," to be a little Scriptural, but still we do not despair; of one thing we are not ashamed, we are never too old to learn, nor are we ever ashamed to learn or to be instructed. As usual, the intellectual contributions to our fountain from abroad are very acceptable, and with the London Lancet to bleed us, and let off our impurities, we have the healthful food from the South, and West, and East of "our own country," to supply its extra demands on our circulation, and as the Opal is destined to be original in its communications, we hope that it may live, and be itself an embodiment of the intelligence and information that loads down its table. Judicious perusal of works of taste and sense is ever an object of curious desire, and the enabling a person to do so, in circumstances of independence of mind, body, and estate, demands the sincerest gratitude.

By the way, Elder Bailey, of Utica, who is always ready in the cause of virtuous benevolence -- with his good sense and candor to commend his friends and neighbors -- and who came to this Humanity with the Blind Vocalists, and showed great interest in their welfare, will be pleased to accept an expression of our regards therefor, and a wish that prosperity may ever attend the path of so good a man. And in this connection, by association, we are reminded of our obligation to Dr. Valentine, some near relation to the Saint, and to the Major Valentine, of the Council of New-York, perhaps, but more related to himself as the very genius of wit, and soul of civil mirthfulness, whose truthful imitations of character rendered him at once the object of deep interest to the officers and their care, as a source of great diversion from the care and sorrow incident to some who happen to be here. Although Kossuth did not visit the Asylum, there were some who shook hands with him, and who felt quite honored thereat. This shaking of hands, is not superior to a telegraphic despatch of good-will, even tho' the late Hooper Cumming seemed to prize it very highly, who declared he would rather shake hands with La Fayette than any man on Earth; they had fought side by side at Brandy-Wine.

There is one thing we must mention -- the Evening Prayer in the Chapel, by the Chaplain, and the music by the choir, which has a tendency to raise the souls toward Heaven. Not writing for writing sake, we will mention the visit to the Asylum, and to Dr. Benedict and his aids, of some gentlemen superintendents of Insane Retreats, Dr. Greene, of Georgia, Dr. Smith, of Ohio, and Dr. Lopez, of Alabama, to whom our Superintendent and aids extended the usual civilities. The Convention of Superintendents met at New-York, but we have not seen the account of their visit, nor do we think our Metropolis shewed them the Bay and Dr. Morris's Establishment at the Island. We are ashamed that Boston, the good old town of Boston once, but now the city of refined hospitality, takes the lead generally in doing up such matters; and it is an undisputed fact, that instead of shewing the strangers of distinction the Bay of New-York, and its environs, they show Blackwell's Island, a parcel of paupers, rag-tag and bob-tail, our institutions, and then are Dickenized for their trouble. Now we were brought up in the city, we early learned its every way and our hearts yearn toward the place of our early and happy days.

"Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy Palaces," Oh beloved Island of Manhatto; and we will declare that none but a poor stoic can look at his bay or mountain strand, and not, in the language of Halleck, "feel prouder of his native land." A Great City is a great place, and has in it great men and women, and of course great institutions, and they are all changing, all passing away, a generation has passed with the hand that writes this brief hint, if God spares him who wields the pen, he may give some reminiscences of days lang syne, if the fecundity of age should not leave him entirely minus.

The Methodist Quarterly: Edited by the Reverend Dr. M'c Clintock. Whoever rises from the perusal of this truly valuable periodical, must be deeply impressed with respect for its most pious, able and accomplished Editor; and as he reflects on the several articles, particularly on those of Antigone, Hungary, Methodist Preaching, and Moses Stuart, he must feel an increased respect for the society, and a sense of the moral sublimity accompanying it, which, a few brief years since, was the plain and zealous friend of religion in the humblest and most retired arenas of the world, as well as in the outskirts of the nation; and teaching the principles and sustaining the system of John Wesley, far in the west, where the Multnomah flows, and the Knittenaue roams undisturbed in the Plains. Its men as plain as their coats, and the women as nice as their caps, and whose prayer meetings were of a cast to subdue the proud spirit unto "religions's ways of pleasantness, and unto her paths of peace.

In a Log Cabin, beyond the Mountains, where a Methodist Circuit Preacher sat, who was a native of London, did we hear the question propounded -- "Do you wish to escape from the wrath to come," and altho' from our metropolis, where a little Portuguese boy, a member of the John Street Meeting Class, had often urged us to join, yet we had never responded to the call before, nor ever before had such awakened feelings, as were induced by the prayers and singing of great numbers in the bright nights and pleasant days of a Summer Camp Meeting on the Prairies, now cultivated and settled by the friends of religion and science.

The position assigned in the review to President Woolsey, is a just one, and he no doubt in scholarship, genius and refinement is one of the best scholars of the age, associated in the scholar's thought with Everett and Anthon, and the late lamented Hopkins, and perhaps no one can transcend him in the appreciation and elucidation of the euphonious Greek.

Kossuth is an Ex-Governor of Hungary, a peculiar and suffering people, in number about 14,000,000, who comes over to the United States, on the invitation of Congress, in a public vessel, as an oppressed gallant gentleman, whose principles as developed in most eloquent speeches in his American travel exhibited him as a true, sensible and devoted friend of the rights of man.

Beyond Wesley, Coke and Clarke, the Methodists at one period presented very few of the polished diction of this period, and it is within the memory of the writer of this that the metropolis had so few learned men among the Methodists, that when he invited a friend to go to the St. John Street meeting to hear the early friends and founders of the now great book concern in New-York, Messieurs Soule and Bangs, he was scouted at as simple, for averring that there were men among Methodists sufficiently learned to quote Greek and Hebrew, it not being supposed possible for the Methodists to have men learned in "the dead languages." Behold now their sons in every quarter of the globe -- erudite, enterprising, faithful and brave.

The sketch of the lamented Moses Stuart is very honorable to the review and to the denomination, and although it was said that learned and glorious champion of religions literature and science had the warmest friends among the opposers of his interpretation, viz. the Unitarians; yet we believe for fair-mindedness and religious sympathies, this sweet little article about the good and great is as creditable as that of his subject, old neighbors, the Unitarians -- or even some of his Orthodox friends. The fact is, there is a sort of character that looms above and beyond the panegyrics of mortals. It is composed of those elements that unite by their virtuous and intellectual affinities, and like the brazen Serpent, held up in the Wilderness to the Children of Israel, draws the people unto it, either to admire, respect or imitate. And so the Moses of the Church of New-England presents his monument in the varied learning, virtues and talents of a wonderful disciple, forming a pedestal of symmetry, surpassing conception, the top stone of which is consummated by hosts, with shouts of "grace, grace" unto it, and reflecting from its summit, as the sun of righteousness radiates and irradiates therefrom the glory of the Christian, the Cross of the blessed Jesus, in its unostentatious and essential emanations.

Now that a good Bishop of the Methodists has gone to Heaven, we should be happy to see the learned Editor of this Methodist Review, occupying a place which devoted piety and talent has vacated, and by enlarging his sphere of active engagements, be a bright and shining light in the Church militant, and reign forever in the Church triumphant, as one of the precious number whose robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb.

Spring, in its season "of sweet prospect, sweet birds, end sweet flowers," carries to the metropolis bands of christian people, whose delight is in the "law of the Lord: in his law do they meditate day and night." Assembling in the fashionable places, there are read reports of varied interests -- the Tract, Bible, and Missionary Societies; Seamen's and Orphan's interests; Poor Widows' and Small Children, and the Society for Respectable Aged and Indigent Females. The chief interest, however, centres in the two great Soceties -sic-, the Tract and Bible, moral means and intellectual, addressing the understanding and through the heart. These form a multitude that have power with the arm that moves the universe, because they are men of prayer, and have power with God.

The Tract Society was projected in the parlor of Mr. David L. Dodge, a rich importing merchant of New-York, and the Bible Society with Mr. E. Boudinott, who gave Ten thousand dollars for its formation, and was its first president. These are two great moral means; and the Missionary, in the language of Bishop Heber, carrying a better religion to superstition and bigotry, forms a third, among other wonderful means used by the great God to reform and to recall unto himself his fallen creatures, and to enlighten them.

These interests have become wonderful! -- The Tract Society moves onward, with power and celerity and ability. The Bible Society exhibits operations and resources extensive and expanding.

The speeches at these Anniversaries are good. The talented and pious persons who greet each other, old friends and schoolmates, who have separated far in the journey of life, meeting at the metropolis as sort of cross-road, where they pause to refresh themselves with some awakening reminiscences of departed and happy days. We wish them well, as imitators and exemplars of virtue, whose hue is born in heaven. We would emulate their devotion to the interests of society; "the year a change brought to all" save our love for the apostles of sincerity and truth; and while many have stumbled upon the dark mountains of death, being wearied, we rejoice that the King of Zion will uphold his children, even though no martial band may admire the adroitness of their movements, nor fashionable throng weep and tremble at their eloquence, yes, even though they may live in secret and die neglected, or pine away in the abodes of superstitious intolerance or idol-worhsipping -sic- bigotry.

There is a nobleness in the services of Christianity that stimulates to exalted purpose, and while the Societies meet, we hope will commune with the "still, small voice" that urges to virtue and its comforts.

With the great religious Societies, the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane met likewise at the Astor House. This little band has continued another year, with no diminution of their numbers, though two have lost their Asylums by fire. Their reports, in general, exhibit unusual prosperity and success. We have a direct interest in wishing the blessing of the "Dweller in the bush" on their efforts.

The women of the metropolis are doing wonders. The nucleus of depravity hath become the reservoir of virtue, and instruction for ignorance, cleanliness for impurity, elevation for degradation, religion for vice, hath opened up the way to glory, -- all accomplished by women, who collected thousands of dollars, and expended them all in the amelioration of one spot of wickedness.

The Savings' Banks of New-York, as a means of usefulness to mankind, are wonderful. The men who established them, Dr. Pentard and others, are gone to reap their reward. We look back to our call the Old Bank with delight; we went with two little nephews to make their deposits, with each his Five dollars, and being unable to write their names, grasping their hands in this, we wrote the little fellows' names, handed their deposit to Mr. Campbell P. White, and wished well to the young bankers and the great cause.

The Bible Society was instituted in the Court of Sessions Room, at the City Hall, in 1816. Judge Platt, George Griffin, Dr. Nott, and Mr. P.A. Jay were the speakers, and after torrents of eloquence. Mr. Jay rose and spoke, seeming like a zephyr to a whirlwind, so gentle was he. Earthly prospects may fail, earthly friends may drop into the tomb, but the Almighty never forsakes his friends:

Seas may waste, skies in smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away,
But fixed His words, His sovereign power remains,
His realm for ever lasts, His own Messiah reigns.

We promised in our last number to give in this, our views on the subject of "Spiritual Rappings." A month, dear readers, since then, has rolled away, bearing us still nearer to "that undiscovered country" from which not only "no traveller returns," but which He who made the world has shrouded in such deep darkness and silence that even no voice comes from it save that of revelation, speaking "I am the resurrection and the life," assuring us that in His own good time the grave shall give up its dead, and its hushed stillness burst forth in fullness of speech. And shall we follow the unhallowed feet of vain fools, and intrude ourselves upon the sacred precincts of death? We shall spare ourselves the labor We shall not dare the presumption. Our Superintendent allows us to state one fact, which speaks more than words; there are in this Institution Fourteen (!) persons whose reason has been dethroned by this unhappy delusion. This is all we have to say now; in some future number the subject may be treated more at length.

The following Letter was received a few days since, with a pencil drawing of the figure which our accomplished artist transferred to wood with wonderful accuracy. We are proud to have the portrait of our only brother to grace our pages.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE OPAL.

Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane.
May 31st 1852.

DEAR SIR, -- In looking over the May No. of the your truly useful and able periodical, we notice that you make mention of a paper styled the "Entertainer," which was, a short time since, published in this institution. Above, we give a fac-simile the finis of that paper, which, we flatter ourselves, will answer your inquiries as to why "you have known nothing about it." We in loco Editoris thank you for the kind interest manifested in the behalf of one of our own offspring, and also for the offer of your very efficient aid in adding strength to its columns.

The "Entertainer" was a weekly publication of entirely original articles contributed by the inmates from both sides of the building, and while it performed the office consistent with its title, it, at the same time, by a happy combination of powers, robbed misery of its potency and sorrow of its sting. It was not averse to publishing "bubbles light as air," if it was thought they would tend to

"Softly smooth the brow of care.
"And write a thousand graces there."

In a word, the grave and gay were felicitously arranged in its columns, so that its appearance was always hailed with pleasure. The "Entertainer" has further been open to the examination, of strangers, and we have not yet heard of one declaring that it was unworthy of the efforts of those, tvho, as some suppose, are incapable of displaying any ingenuity when atnu~ing themselves at the "delectable game of draughts."

But to return to our sketch. If on looking attentively at it, Mr. Editor, you think you can decipher an eagerness in the stride, or if you imagine you can trace in the tout ensemble any desire to "locomote" at an increased speed, we beg you to disabuse your mind of such false impressions, for we will make it upon ourselves to assure you, that the Editor of the "Entertainer" never left this Institution with that impetuosity which the artist has thought fit to betray it, the illustration given. No, Sir! not a bit of it! There are charms which (let the outside world think it ever so great a paradox) hovers over this spot, and which twines round the heart with irresistible power.

We have now given you the facts. We would further hope that you will appreciate our intent, and that is, it a paper is established here permanently, the "Opal" is the first from whom we would claim sympathy and aid.

We have read your periodical with feelings expressive of both pleasure and pride; pleasure, from the able and instructive properties of the papers, and pride, from your convincing the outside world of their utter ignorance when speculating in regard to our world impaled. And also convincing them of the humiliating fact of their being involved in more than Cimmerian darkness where they would be thought wise.

I am, your's truly,
P. H.

The Democratic Review in an article on "Fogey Literature" makes mention of the Opal as a monthly or semi-monthly paper published at the State Asylum, and says that Willis and Jones, and such-like "fellows," should not contribute to other papers, or write books, but rather write for our paper. Shade of O'Sullivan on Capital Punishment, deliver us! If a man cannot discriminate between a monthly and semi-monthly, he had better put up at an Ass-ylum, and invoke the aid of St. Nicholas to aid him to translate, -- Ne sutor ultra crepidam, and be content to acknowledge an affinity to the asinine species. Fogey is a word beyond our literature, but if we understand what is meant by it, we do not belong to the school. When we are fogey-ized, we will say so, and some one can "make a note on't." We have no room to answer this slander in the present number, but will take time to give our opinion on "Fogies and Fast Men" after the Fourth of July.

We are indebted to the publishing house of Long and Brother, of New-York, for nine volumes of Books; and to an unknown friend for "Leaves of a Naturalist."

This is generous. A publishing-house that is willing to contribute something out of its abundance, to the wants of such minds as surround us, will, doubtless, receive that reward which always follows true benevolence. It has been matter of surprise and deep regret to us that we have so few of these kind favors to acknowledge. Could our great Bibliopoles but witness the eager avidity with which each new a accession our limited means will allow us to make, or the chance favor of a kind friend enables us to add, to our little Library, is conned over and its merits discussed, we can but think their hearts would be melted, and that books for the "Opal Library" would arrive, not as now, "few and far between," but as "thick as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks in Vallombrosa."

Dr. Kirkbride will please accept our thanks for a copy of Dr. Wood's Address on the Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Pennsylvania Hospital.