Of recent American Novels, the best that have fallen under our notice (except those of Hawthorne and McConnell, before noticed), are, _The Rangers, or the Tory's Daughter_, a very interesting tale illustrative of the revolutionary history of Vermont, by D. P. Thompson, author of "The Green Mountain Boys," (B. B. Mussey & Co., Boston); _Mount Hope, or Philip, King of the Wampanoags_, by C. H. Hollister, (Harper & Brothers); _Rebels and Tories, or the Blood of the Mohawk_, by Lawrence Labree, (Dewitt and Davenport); and _Second Love_, a pleasant domestic story, by an anonymous writer, (G. P. Putnam.) * * * * * The Hakluyt Society, in London, has commenced its series of publications with _Divers Voyages touching the Discovery of America and the Islands adjacent_, collected and published by Richard Hakluyt, Prebendary of Bristol, in the year 1582: edited, with notes and an introduction, by John Winter Jones. The society should have many subscribers in this country. * * * * * Dr. MAYO has published a new book of tales, not unworthy of the author of "Kaloolah" and "The Berber," under the title of "_Romance Dust from the Historic Placers._" We shall give it attention hereafter. (Putnam.) * * * * * MASANIELLO is suppressed at Berlin, as _Tell_ had been--not modern imitations of those heroes, but the operas so called, by Rossini and Auber. The Prussian Government, liberal as it was a few months ago in professions, cannot stand the performance of operas! * * * * * Mr. THACKERAY is to commence in London, about the middle of the present month, a course of lectures embracing biographical reminiscences of some of the comic writers of England during the eighteenth century. * * * * * Mr. ALISON, the historian, has been chosen Rector of the University of Glasgow, by the casting vote of Col. Mure, the historian of Greek Literature, who occupied the same place before Macaulay. The Fine Arts. The engravings of the several Art-Unions of this country for the coming year will be from excellent pictures. The American Art-Union will offer its subscribers Mr. Woodville's _Mexican News_, engraved by Alfred Jones; the Philadelphia Art-Union, Huntington's _Christiana and Her Children_, by Andrews; and for the same purpose, Mr. Perkins, of Boston, has allowed the New-England Art-Union to make use of his magnificent picture of _Saul and the Witch of Endor_, painted by Alston, and generally considered one of the finest historical productions of that eminent artist. Each of the Unions, we believe, will also publish some less important works for distribution or prizes.