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THE FINE ARTS.

POWERS’S STATUE OF CALHOUN.—­An unfortunate fatality appears to wait upon the works of Hiram Powers.  It is but a few weeks since his “Eve” was lost on the coast of Spain, and it is still uncertain here whether that exquisite statue is preserved without such injury as materially to affect its value.  And his masterpiece in history—­perhaps his masterpiece in all departments—­the statue of Calhoun, which has been so anxiously looked-for ever since the death of the great senator, was buried under the waves in which Madame d’Ossoli and Horace Sumner were lost, on the morning of the 19th, near Fire Island.  At the time this sheet is sent to press we are uncertain as to the recovery of the statue, but we hope for the sake of art and for the satisfaction of all the parties interested, that it will still reach its destination.  It is insured in Charleston, and Mr. Kellogg, the friend and agent of Mr. Powers, has been at the scene of the misfortune, with all necessary means for its preservation, if that be possible.

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HORACE VERNET, the great painter, has returned to Paris from St. Petersburgh.  Offensive reports were current respecting his journey:  he had been paid, it was alleged, in most princely style by the Emperor, for his masterly efforts in translating to canvas the principal incidents of the Hungarian and Polish wars.  He came back, it was declared, loaded and content, with a hundred thousand dollars and a kiss—­an actual kiss—­from his Imperial Majesty.  M. Vernet has deemed it necessary to publish a letter, correcting what was erroneous in these reports.  He says:—­“In repairing to Russia I was actuated by only one desire, and had but a single object, and that was, to thank His Majesty, the Emperor, for the honors with which he had already loaded me, and for the proofs of his munificence which I had previously received.  I intended to bring back, and in fact have brought back from the journey, nothing but the satisfaction of having performed an entirely disinterested duty of respectful gratitude.”  It is true, however, that he lent his powers to illustrate the triumph of despotism, and if he brought back no gold the matter is not all helped by that fact.

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AUTHORS AND BOOKS.

THE REV.  JAMES H. PERKINS, of Cincinnati, whose suicide during a fit of madness, several months ago, will be generally recollected for the many expressions of profound regret which it occasioned, we are pleased to learn, is to be the subject of a biography by the Rev. W.H.  Channing.  Mr. Perkins was a man of the finest capacities, and of large and genial scholarship.  He wrote much, in several departments, and almost always well.  His historical works, relating chiefly to the western States, have been little read in this part of the Union; but his contributions to the North American Review and the Christian Examiner, and his tales, sketches, essays, and poems, printed under various signatures, have entitled him to a desirable reputation as a man of letters.  These are all to be collected and edited by Mr. Channing.