[Illustration: signature of L. A. Wilmer.] Mr. Wilmer has written and published much; but he has reaped the usual fruits of a spirit of independence, and has thus failed to make that impression on the _popular_ mind which his talents, under other circumstances, would have effected. But better days are in store for him, and for all who “hold to the right way,” despising the yelpings of the small dogs of our literature. His prose writings have all merit—always the merit of a chastened style. But he is more favorably known by his poetry, in which the student of the British classics will find much for warm admiration. We have few better versifiers than Mr. Wilmer. His chirography plainly indicates the cautious polish and terseness of his style, but the signature does not convey the print-like appearance of the MS. [Illustration: signature of J.E.Dow] Mr. Dow is distinguished as the author of many fine sea-pieces, among which will be remembered a series of papers called “The Log of Old Ironsides.” His land sketches are not generally so good. He has a fine imagination, which as yet is undisciplined, and leads him into occasional bombast. As a poet he has done better things than as a writer of prose. His MS., which has been strongly modified by circumstances, gives no indication of his true character, literary or moral. [Illustration: signature of H Hastings Weld] Mr. Weld is well known as the present working editor of the New York “Tattler” and “Brother Jonathan.” His attention was accidentally directed to literature about ten years ago, after a minority, to use his own words, “spent at sea, in a store, in a machine shop, and in a printing office.” He is now, we believe, about thirty-one years of age. His deficiency of what is termed regular education would scarcely be gleaned from his editorials, which, in general, are unusually well written. His “Corrected Proofs” is a work which does him high credit, and which has been extensively circulated, although “printed at odd times by himself, when he had nothing else to do.” His MS. resembles that of Mr. Joseph C. Neal in many respects, but is less open and less legible. His signature is altogether much better than his general chirography. [Illustration: signature of Andrew McMakin] Mr. McMakin is one of the editors of the “Philadelphia Saturday Courier,” and has given to the world several excellent specimens of his poetical ability. His MS. is clear and graceful; the signature affording a very good idea of it. The general hand, in fact, is fully as good. [Illustration: signature of M. St. Leon Loud] Mrs. M. St. Leon Loud is one of the finest poets of this country; possessing, we think, more of the true divine _afflatus_ than any of her female contemporaries. She has, in especial, _imagination_ of no common order, and unlike many of her sex whom we could mention, is not Content to dwell in decencies forever.