n ■[. THK BATTALION. We adnoire the pluck of itg editors iu publish ing their paper among discouragements. From - this, The Battalion’s first issue, we predict a far better career than its predecessor, the Journal, had.—The Keveille. tyfany thanks. We are making a strong effort in the direction intimated. * Jfc- We have just received the November num ber cf “Alamo and San Jacinto Monthly.” It opens with an excellent criticism of Wash ington Irving. Mr. Fleeming has undoubted ly carefully preserved the works of the “Father of American Literature.” “Influence of En_ yironments,” “An Oration,” “The Divine in-, History,” “An Unknown Southern Poet” are well worth reading. .;n *$• Bocaccio was thirty years of age when he commenced his studies in light literature ; yet he became one of the greatest masters of tbd Tuscan dialect, Dante and Plutarch being the other two. Sir Henry Spellman neglected the sciences- in his youth, but commenced the study of them when he was between fifty and sixty years of age. After this time he became a. most learned antiquarian and lawver.