The poetry of William Ellery Channing has a recognized place in American literature, though much of it has disappeared. Dana's "Household Book of Poetry" contains a single piece of his on "Death," that is characterized by a depth of sentiment and a richness of expression, which his more distinguished contemporary, Mr. Bryant, does not surpass. Mr. Emerson's "Parnassus" contains eight, the last of which, entitled "A Poet's Hope," closes with the wonderful line-- "If my bark sink, 'tis to another sea." Of Cranch's poems, several have been adopted by collectors,--notably the lines-- "Thought is deeper than all speech-- Feeling deeper than all thought; Soul to soul can never teach What unto itself was taught." Weiss, Wasson, and Higginson are true artists in letters. The essays of the last named of the three are the best known, partly by reason of their greater popularity of theme; but Mr. Wasson's discussions on ethical and philosophical subjects are distinguished by their luminous quality. Except for the vein of unhopefulness--partly due to ill health--that pervades them, the chill communicated by the regions he sails by, three or four of them would, without hesitation, be classed among the gems of speculative literature. The best work of Weiss, his lectures on the Greek Ideas for example, stands apart by itself, perhaps unrivalled as an attempt to unveil the glory of the ancient mythology. The interpretation of religious symbols is his province, where, by the power of "sympathetic perception,"--to use Mr. Wasson's fine phrase--he penetrates the secret of mysteries, and brings the soul of dark enigmas to the light; and his beauty of expression more than restores to the imagination the splendors which the unpoetic interpreter reduces to meretricious fancy. The influence of Transcendentalism on pulpit literature--if there be such a thing--has probably been sufficiently indicated; but the privilege of printing a sermon of Mr. Emerson's--the only one ever published, the famous one, that was the occasion of his leaving the ministry and adopting the profession of literature--affords opportunity for a special illustration. The sermon--which is interesting in itself, from the subject, the occasion that called it forth, the insight it gives into Mr. Emerson's mind and character--is interesting as an example of the method and spirit which Transcendentalism introduced into discussions that are usually dry and often angry. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.--ROMANS XIV. 17.