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APRIL 1, 1867.

only be mentioned that there is a perfect copy of "Eliot's Indian Bible," the last copy of which offered at auction brought $800, and was last year resold at $1,000; forty-one different works of Increase and Cotton Mather, printed at Boston, and Cambridge, from 1671 to 1735; a large number of still earlier books and pamphlets by Norton, Cotton, and other Puritan divines; and a very complete representation of the numerous and much sought for publications of the presses of Franklin and the Bradfords. In the Laws and Journals of the early colonial Assemblies, from New Hampshire to Georgia, there are over two hundred volumes, of the utmost interest as showing the legislative policy of the colonies in revolutionary times; and as but few of these have been reprinted in any of the modern collections, they are not in the Library of Congress. In the department of early printed American newspapers, there are unusually complete files of the leading journals of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other States, dating from 1735 to 1800, and covering with much fulness the period of the Stamp Act controversy, the revolutionary war, and the establishment of the present Constitution. The library of Congress at present possesses not even a fragment of a file of any revolutionary or anti-revolutionary newspaper, the earliest American journal in its collection being the " Boston Centinel" of 1789. The Force library has no less than 245 bound volumes of American newspapers printed prior to 1800, besides about seven hundred volumes, bound and unbound, of journals printed from 1800 to the present time.

The number, variety, and value of the pamphlets embraced in this library are entirely unrivalled in any American collection, public or private, unless it may be by the rich stores of the Boston Athenæum. Of pamphlets printed prior to 1800 there are 8,310, while of pamphlets printed between 1800 and the present date, the collection rises to between 30,000 and 35,000. It is now generally admitted that the pamphlet literature, especially of the last century, is full of the most vital materials for political history. The whole number of pamphlets in this noble collection is nearly 40,000, and as Mr. Force was so fortunate as to secure, many years since, five great and unbroken collections, formed by leading politicians of different parties, who arranged and bound up for convenient reference all the pamphlet literature of their time, the collection is not only unmatched, but at this day unmatchable for completeness. Indeed, there are few either of books or pamphlets published in America or in Great Britain upon our affairs which are not to be found here. The Library of Congress at present possesses less than 6,000 pamphlets.

In the department of maps and atlases relating to America, the Force library embraces a collection not only large, but in many particulars unique. Not only the early atlases of Delisle, Jefferys, Des Barres, Faden, and other geographers, with a complete copy of the scarce "Atlas of the Battles of the American Revolution," but an assemblage of detached maps over one thousand in number, and chiefly illustrative of America, are here found. Among these, the most valuable are a series of original military maps and plans in manuscript, covering the period of the French war and the war of the Revolution. These are of exceeding interest, and many of them are the work of officers of the British army stationed in America, bearing such inscriptions as the following:

"Plan of the Rebel Works at West Point" (a pen drawing), date 1779.

"Plan of the Rebel Works on Prospect Hill," also on Winter Hill and Bunker Hill, several distinct maps, date 1775.

The number of these original maps, many of which are unpublished, and therefore presumed to be unique, is over 300, covering the whole country, from Canada to the Gulf.

Of books known as incunabula, or specimens of the earliest development of the art of printing, the collection is large and valuable. It embraces a complete series of imprints by the most distinguished of the early printers, representing every year from 1467 to 1500, besides a large number printed in the following century. The number of books printed in the fifteenth century is 161, and there are over 250 more printed prior to 1600. This collection was formed with special reference to illus trating the progress of the art of printing from its infancy, and is one of the best, if not the best, in America.

Among the manuscript treasures of this library are 48 folio volumes of historical autographs of great rarity and interest, embracing, especially, a collection of revolutionary letters, chiefly military and political, and all of unquestionable authenticity. The Force collection embraces two volumes of an original military journal of Major-General Greene, covering the years 1781 and 1782; a private journal kept by Arthur Lee while minister to France in 1776-7; thirty or forty orderly books of the Revolution; twelve or more military journals of British officers during the same period; twenty-five manuscript narratives of military expeditions, all unpublished; twelve folio volumes of the papers of Paul Jones, while commanding American cruisers in 1776 to 1778; a volume of records of the Virginia Company from 1621 to 1682, mostly unpublished; two autograph journals of George Washington, one dated 1755, during Braddock's expedition, and one in 1787, at Mount Vernon; besides a multitude of others. There is also an unpublished manuscript of Las Casas, in four folio volumes, entitled "Historia Apologetica de los Indias Occidentales," and an "Historia Antiqua de Nueva España," in three volumes. The whole number of volumes in manuscript reaches 429.

But perhaps the most important part of this collection remains yet to be alluded to. It is the materials in manuscript which form the collection made by Mr. Force for the great work of his life, the "American Archives, or Documentary History of the United States." It consists of the whole unpublished materials for that work, including a countless variety of documents transcribed with the utmost care from the originals in the archives of all the old thirteen colonies, as well as many early and unpublished papers relating to American affairs derived from other sources. The originals of some of these have been destroyed by fire since these copies were taken. The whole of these materials would make about 360 folio volumes in manuscript, and they are thoroughly analyzed and classified by States.

As to the numerical extent of this library and its commercial value, the whole number of volumes, by actual enumeration, is 22,529, without reckoning the pamphlets as volumes. If the pamphlets are counted (as is done in most libraries), the number of volumes rises to about 60,000. There are not less than 45,000 separate titles in the collection. Out of these, 7,850 volumes are duplicates, already in the Library of Congress. Taken as a whole (and the library will not be divided), it is unquestion ably true that so extensive a collection of the most rare and valuable books and manuscripts relating to America could not be assembled at so late a period as the present, even with un's "ted means. Mr. Force has not himself put ity of tmpon the collection, and never until with to Colo. has he

APRIL 1, 1867.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16, 1867. EDITOR AMERICAN PUBLISHERS' CIRCULAR: You

entertained the idea of parting with this library, edited by J. Hammond Trumbull, President of the which represents the assiduous gatherings of forty- Connecticut Historical Society. Only two hundred five years' incessant and intelligent devotion to and fifty copies are printed of the volumes of this one idea, viz., the history of America. But a price series. This firm announce also a library edition has been put upon it by others. The New York of Chapman's Homer, which will be put to press Historical Society, through its librarian, offered as soon as a sufficient number of subscribers are Mr. Force $100,000 for his collection, conditioned obtained to warrant so costly an undertaking. This on its ability to raise the amount by subscrip- work will be in five volumes, uniform with Pickertion. Mr. Force accepted the offer, but the under- ing's edition of the works of Milton, in eight taking failed last winter for lack of funds. A volumes, octavo, 1851. Fifty copies are to be large dealer in American books has offered the issued on large paper, and only five hundred copies same sum for the library for speculative purposes, of the small paper edition will be printed. The but Mr. Force refused it, as he will not part with it edition will not be stereotyped. to be scattered, nor upon any condition except that it be kept together in some permanent and fireproof public repository. Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Henry have published several communications in regard C. Murphy, and other gentlemen whose knowledge to uniformity of size in trade lists. Something of American books and their values is both compre- should also be said in favor of uniformity of arhensive and accurate, concur in estimating its fair commercial value to be at least $100,000, the sum at rangement in trade lists. The leading publishers of which it can now be procured. That these sources America and England arrange their catalogues alof so much hitherto unpublished history should go Some of them, as Appleton and Lippincott, classify phabetically, according to the names of authors. into private hands to be scattered, or consumed by their books, but the alphabetical arrangement is fire, could not but be regarded by every intelligent American as a national misfortune. The British preserved under the classification. Many of the Government is now engaged in publishing the minor publishers, however, issue their book-lists materials for the history of that country, as found in the most random manner. If there are one hunin its own unpublished archives and in those of dred books described in the catalogue, it is, or may foreign nations. On this work it has expended be, necessary to examine the entire list in order to $15,000 annually for the past ten years, or $150,000; find any particular book. In other book-lists, where about the same amount as our own Government an alphabetical arrangement is attempted, the auexpended on the unfinished "American Archives " thor's name is ignored, and the resulting system of Mr. Force. Whether Congress should ever comlittle better than none. A small catalogue just plete that publication or not may safely be left to published, apparently alphabetical, begins with "A the future to determine; but what cannot safely be A little further down we have " "Branch, left to the future is the possession and control of The." Book lists arranged according to the first the documents from which alone such a publication word in the title cannot be very useful, as the can be made. The British Government expended, above examples show. If, on the other hand, they in 1865, £22,000, or $110,000, for books, manuscripts, are arranged according to the principal word in the and binding for its national library, the British title, it will often be a question which is the princiMuseum. It has spent over $100,000 per annum for several years past for the same purpose of enriching its collections of books, besides larger sums for salaries, antiquities, and objects of natural history. Congress represents the richest and most liberal people in the world, and may safely be asked to do once in a century what the British Government does every year of its existence, namely, to devote $100,000 to increase its national repository of knowledge. It is not creditable to our national spirit to have to admit the fact-which nevertheless is true -that the largest and most complete collection of books relating to America in the world is that now gathered on the shelves of the British Museum.

66 Divine

It is

LONGFELLOW's translation of Dante's Comedy" is in the hands of the printer. It will be published in three volumes royal octavo. intended to make it a model of Boston workmanship. The "Inferno" will be published next month, the "Purgatorio" in May, and the "Paradiso" in June. The price of each volume will not be less than five dollars.

Man."

pal word. Take, for instance, "History of the Conquest of Mexico." By Wilson. There would be an uncertainty in most minds as to whether the book would be found under "History," "Conquest," or "Mexico;" whereas, if the author's name were the key-word, the inquirer would turn at once and with confidence to "Wilson." Let all book catalogues, hereafter issued, be of a uniform octavo size, and arranged alphabetically according to authors, and both publishers and their customers will be mutually benefited by the reform. BOOKSELLER.

NOBLE GIFT FROM D. APPLETON & Co.-We republish, with pleasure, the following correspondence. The house of D. Appleton & Co. has but few rivals, and no superiors, in energy, enterprise, and integrity. This munificent act on their part will give the world assurance of their public spirit and unsectional and unselfish regard for the best interests of our common country:

"No. 443 BROADWAY, March 23. To the Board of Trustees of the Peabody Education Fund: GENTLEMEN: Profoundly impressed with the muANOTHER EDITION OF DICKENS.-Besides their nificent gift of Mr. Peabody, and the untold bless"Household" edition, and the recently announcedings which it will be the means of diffusing "Riverside," Messrs. Hurd & Houghton promise to been devoted for many years to the promotion of throughout the South and Southwest, and having publish very shortly a new "Globe" edition of Dickens' works, to be completed in thirteen vol- the educational interests of our country, we cannot umes at $1.50 each. These volumes will contain refrain from asking your permission to participate Darley & Gilbert's illustrations; and will be of in this noblest of all noble charities. handy size, and printed on good paper in fair and legible type.

HIGGINS & LUNT have published Lechford's "Plain Dealing, or News from New England-London, 1642."

It is one of their library of reprints of the early documents of New England history. It is

that not only will the extensive and desolate field Munificent as Mr. Peabody's donation is, we feel to which it is to be applied require it all, but that the co-operation of others who sympathize with the great object he has in view may also be desirable.

In furtherance, therefore, of the end proposed by Mr. Peabody, the providing of educational fa

APRIL 1, 1867.

cilities for destitute districts in the South, we beg ANCIENT RECORDS IN ALBANY.-There is, in the to present to your Board 100,000 volumes on office of the County Clerk at Albany, a mass of branches of elementary instruction, viz: 25,000 records of great interest, relating to affairs in copies of Webster's Elementary Speller; 25,000 Albany at an early period, written in the ancient copies of the Webster Elementary Reader; 25,000 Dutch character, which are not only liable to be copies of Cornell's First Steps in Geography; 20,000 lost by fire and other accidents, but which it may copies of Quackenbos's Primary Arithmetic; 5,000 soon become more difficult to find persons compecopies of Quackenbos's First Book in Grammar. tent to read and translate; it is therefore proposed by Mr. J. Munsell, of that city, to have them translated and printed, if a sufficient sum can be raised by subscription to cover the expense. The num. ber of copies printed will not much exceed the subscription. The volume is expected to contain about 450 pages, and is to be well printed on fine paper, and bound in cloth, at $10 to subscribers. After the work is issued it will be held at $12, for the few that shall remain.

We send you herewith specimen copies of these works, and trust they will be commended to you not only by their intrinsic merits and adaptation to the work of primary instruction, but also by the fact that they are the most popular and widely used works on the branches of which they treat, and have been long known and cordially approved by teachers generally.

We solicit your acceptance and distribution of those volumes, and will deliver them to your order as may be needed.

Bidding you God speed in the great work to which you have been called, we remain, gentlemen, your obedient servants,

D. APPLETON & Co.

FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL, March 23-Evening.

"SYLVANUS URBAN."-The old "Gentleman's

Magazine," established in 1731, and for which Dr. Johnson prepared the parliamentary reports from 1740 to 1743, is undergoing a change which would have astonished "Sylvanus Urban," as the editor signed himself. In the April number has been commenced a novel, by Henry Kingsley, entitled GENTLEMEN: Your communication of this day," Mademoiselle Mathilde." The fact is, since Bradaddressed to the Board of Trustees of the Peabody Educational Fund, reached me a few hours since, together with the parcel of books to which it re

Messrs. D. Appleton & Co.

ferred.

bury & Evans, publishers and proprietors of "Punch," have owned the "Gentleman's Magazine," they have endeavored, without changing its distinctive character, to introduce some improvements, and a serial story, by a popular author, is one.

The Trustees adjourned yesterday, after completing their preliminary arrangements, and, unless HISTORICAL Correspondence.-There have just some unexpected exigency should occur, they will not meet again until January next. In the mean siderable historical value. These are the "Correbeen issued, in London, two important works of contime they have intrusted the great work with which Mr. Peabody has charged them to their General spondence of King George III, with Lord North, his Prime Minister, from 1768 to 1783"-a period of Agent, under the supervision of an Executive Com-time which covers the whole of the American War,

mittee.

I return to Boston on Monday morning, and shall as well as the publication of the famous "Letters of lose no time in laying your communication before letters at Windsor, by permission of Queen VictoJunius." The letters are published from the original the Committee, but some weeks, or even months, ria, and are new to the public, except some extracts may elapse before any formal acknowledgment can be made of your most timely and generous offer. published by Lord Brougham in his "Statesmen I am unwilling, however, that a day should pass Mahon in an Appendix to one of the volumes of of the Reign of King George III.," and by Lord without some expression of my deep sense of the his "History of England." They present a higher noble spirit of your communication, and of the mu-degree of intellect-sagacity mixed with obsti nificent gift which it announces.

I thank you most sincerely, personally and officially, for this large and liberal contribution to the cause in which we are engaged. A hundred thousand volumes of such publications as you have so promptly placed at our disposal, and of some of which I know the value, cannot fail to furnish the most acceptable and important aid in the prosecution of Mr. Peabody's designs; and I am sure that I only anticipate the action of the Executive Committee, and of the whole Board of Trustees in tendering to you without delay our grateful and hearty acknowledgments. Believe me, gentlemen, with great respect, your obliged and obedient servant,

nacy and personal prejudices-than King George had previously got credit for possessing. Now and other work, also in two octavo volumes, is of later then, too, traits of generosity are exhibited. The interest. It may be called the Secret History of the Reform Bill of 1832, and contains "The Corre King William IV. and Sir Herbert Taylor." During spondence of the late Earl Grey with his Majesty the Reform excitement of 1830-32, Lord Grey was Prime Minister of England, and Sir Herbert Taylor was Private Secretary to King William, whose letters he almost invariably wrote from his private instructions-the alleged reason being that his Majesty wrote with difficulty, from a rheumatic affection in his right hand; but the great probaP. S. Since writing the above I have found an bility being that the Secretary, a highly educated opportunity to read your letter to Mr. Peabody man, wrote more elegantly, as well as more gramhimself, who listened to it with the warmest emo-matically, than the Sailor King, who had been sent tions of gratification and gratitude. He enjoined it upon me to thank you most heartily, in his own name, for your noble gift.”

R. C. WINTHROP, Chairman.

We learn that a very liberal offer to the same charitable endowment was also made some time since by Messrs. Charles Scribner & Co., the details of which are not yet complete.

AMONG the new forthcoming publications of G. W. Carleton & Co., New York, are Davies's book, How to Make Money, and How to Keep it," and "The Votary," a new poem by a new author, Mr. James D. Hewell.

to sea, as a midshipman, in his fourteenth year. From this correspondence the weakness of the monarch's mind is obvious. His wife had inspired him with a horror of Reform, and it was only by adroit management that his Ministers kept him up to the mark, and got him to sustain them in carrying the Reform Bill. It may be expected, from statements in these volumes (one of which is that he had great tenderness towards pocket-boroughs), that Lord Brougham will publish some revelations respecting his share in framing and passing the Reform Bill.

APRIL 1, 1867,

MESMERISM IN FICTION.-There has just appeared in London a new novel, advertised as "illustrative of Mesmeric Influence-or whatever we may choose to term that strange power certain persons exercise over others-controlling without being seen, ordering in silence, and enslaving or freeing as fancy or will may dictate."

AN AUTOGRAPH CURIOSITY.-There was lately sold in London the manuscript "Diary of John Bucciardi, Master of Ceremonies to Pope Alexander VI.," who died early in the sixteenth century, and was the father of Cæsar and Lucretia Borgia.

SIR WALTER SCOTT.-"The Fair Maid of Perth," not one of the best of the Waverley Novels, has supplied M. Bizet, a French composer, with the subject for a new opera, to be immediately produced at the Italian opera house in Paris.

KETTLE-DRUMS.-Among the recent sales in London, by well-known auctioneers of literary property, was "a valuable collection of kettle-drums, the property of a gentleman retiring from the profession," among which was "the famous set of drums presented by George III. for the Handel Festival in Westminster Abbey, in 1784." These drums, it is believed, were made of silver.

CHARLES KNIGHT.-This veteran publisher and author, proprietor of "Knight's Quarterly Magazine," in which Macaulay commenced to write nearly forty-four years ago, has commenced the reissue, as a library edition, of his "Half Hours with the Best Authors," remodelled, with additions, printed on new type, with steel and wood engravings, and to be completed in eighteen monthly shilling parts.

MR. CHARLES READE, in a letter addressed to the "Sun," confesses himself as indebted to the "Pi. vardiere" case, in the Causes Celèbres, for the main incidents in his "Griffith Gaunt."

OBITUARY.

Died, on the 18th of March, 1867, in the 68th year of his age, JOHN PENINGTON, Esq., of the firm of John Penington & Son, Booksellers, of Philadelphia.

Mr. Penington was a thoroughly cultivated gentleman, belonging to one of the old and well-known families of Philadelphia. He was educated at Princeton College, and studied law in the office of Spencer Sergeant, Esq. Subsequently he accepted a position in the Bank of the United States, when he devoted his leisure to the collection of an extensive library, which was particularly rich in choice editions of the ancient classics. On the failure of the Bank, during a period of severe commercial depression, Mr. Penington opened a bookstore, of which his fine library formed the nucleus.

The extent and minuteness of his bibliographical knowledge, the amiability of his character, and the strict sense of honor which marked his dealings, speedily attracted around him all who were interested in literature, and led him to undertake, as a specialty, the importation of old books and of books in foreign languages. With correspondents in all the chief book-marts of Europe, his operations gradually extended, until many of the most noted collectors throughout the United States were in the habit of making, through his house, their principal importations. So much did his establishment become a centre of intelligence and cultivated taste, that when MM. Didot issued proposals for their recent edition of Brunet's "Manuel du Libraire," the list of subscriptions taken for that great work by Messrs. Penington was the largest obtained by any one house-even exceeding that of the MM. Didot themselves.

The death of Mr. Penington will be mourned by a large circle of friends, to whom he was endeared by his many admirable traits of character; but his loss will be felt even more widely. In the booktrade of the United States there are not so many who combine with business qualifications a genuine love of books and a thorough acquaintance with bibliography, that we can afford to spare one whose range of knowledge was so extensive, and whose stores of learning were always at the service of every inquirer.

Mr. Penington was a member of several learned societies, and published various essays on subjects connected with archæology and history.

JOHN PHILIP, member of the Royal Academy of England, born in the North of Scotland in 1817, and one of the greatest of modern English painters, died in London, on the 27th of February. He so much excelled in painting Spanish subjects, that "Philip of Spain" became his familiar title among artists. He began by painting Scottish subjects, somewhat in Wilkie's early manner, but, having gone to Spain, in 1850, for the benefit of his health, was attracted by the new and fresh character of the subjects there; and his greatest successes were in these. He was a good portrait painter, too, with a depth equal to that of Raeburn, his countryman, the friend of Walter Scott. Ten days before his death he was prostrated by paralysis, and it was reported that he was recovering up to within half an hour of his decease.

SIR GEORGE SMART, a well-known English music teacher, who had been present at the great Handel Commemoration held in London in 1784, has also passed away, at the advanced age of ninety-one. He was the first English conductor of any mark; founded the Philharmonic Society; was the friend of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Rossini, and Weber; the last of whom died in his house; and gave instructions to almost every concert and festival singer in England, during the last fifty years, how to deliver the music of Handel. He was knighted, by the Viceroy of Ireland, in 1811; was organist and composer at the Chapel Royal, St. James'; and directed the music in Westminster Abbey at the coronation of William IV. and Victoria.

The death of DR. LIVINGSTONE, the African traveller, is reported by Sir Roderick I. Murchison, President of the Royal Geographical Society of England, he deriving his knowledge of the fact from a letter, dated December 26, written by Dr. Kirk, the former companion of Livingstone, and now Vice-Consul at Zanzibar. It contains these details:

"On the 5th of December nine Johanna men of the party which accompanied Dr. Livingstone came to Zanzibar, reporting that on the west of Nyassa, some time between the end of July and September, they were suddenly attacked by a band of Mazite, and that Dr. Livingstone, with half his party, were murdered. Those who returned escaped, as they say, through being behind and unseen, and they all depose to having helped to bury the dead body of their leader the same evening. Although in the details and in other things the accounts of the various men differ, they all agree that they saw the body, and that it had one wound, that of an axe, on the back of the neck. One man saw the fatal blow given. The attack was sudden, and Dr. Livingstone had time to overpower those who faced him, and was struggling to re-load when cut down from behind." Dr. Kirk adds: "I fear the story is true, and that we shall never know more of its details." Some of the London papers do not think, however, that the fact of Dr. Livingstone's death is well established.

PERIODICALS. Harper's Magazine. April.

APRIL 1, 1867.

The Dodge Club; or, Italy in MDCCCLIX.-Heroic Deeds of Heroic Men: XVII. (Benjamin H. Porter). -The Children in the Moon.-The Shaded Stream. -A Christian Neighborhood.-A Forced March. Easter Holidays. In the Smoke.-Strayed and Stolen.-A Californian Caravansary.—Davy Crockett's Electioneering Tour.-Chaucer's Griseldis.A Money Article.-The Virginians in Texas: Chaps. XIII., XIV., XV.-My Fathers-in-Law.-The Romance of Sleep.-Mrs. Pullett's Perversion.-How I Happened to Marry.-Busby and Jack.-Editor's Easy Chair.-Monthly Record of Current Events. New York: Harper & Brothers.

Editor's Drawer.

Hours at Home.

April.

Bad Government; or, Bad Men in Power (Dr. Bushnell). The San Greal (E. Spencer).-City Lyrics: The Newsboy (J. D. Sherwood).-Marcella of Rome Chap. VII. (Frances Eastwood).-The Cedar Groves of Lebanon (Rev. H. H. Jessup).Representative Cities: Tyre (Prof. W. S. Tyler).The Martyrs of the Galleys (Prof. E. P. Evans).The Vegetable World (E. Seymour).-Storm-Cliff: Chaps. VI., VII. (Miss Pritchard).-A Morning

with the King of Siam (G. B. Bacon).-Night and Morning (Mrs. Dorr).-Parks, Gardens, and Groves (D G. Mitchell).—The Cretan Insurrection. By a resident of Crete.-The Lull before the Battle (E. P. Roe).-Short Sermons to Sunday School Teachers: No. 12 (C. S. Robinson).-Books of the Month. New York: C. Scribner & Co.

National Quarterly Review. March.

Alfieri: His Life, Writings, and Influence.Oliver Cromwell: His Character and Government. -The Temporal Power of the Pope.-Chatterton and his Works.-Poisons and Poisoners.-Negro Rule in Hayti, and the Lessons it Teaches.-The Sun and its Distance from the Earth.-Insurance: Good, Bad, and Indifferent.-Notices and Criticisms. New York: E. I. Sears.

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-Packetarians (W. L. Alden).-English Scientific Societies (W. W. Reade).-The Harley Patent (Mrs. W. H. Palmer).-Lawyers and their Traits (Fred. B. Perkins).-Steven Lawrence, Yeoman: Chaps. I., II. (Mrs. Edwards).-At Peace (Ina D. Cool brith). - Modern Poetry (D. A. Wasson).Maurice de Guérin (Virginia Vaughan).—Bedouin | (C. W. Stoddard).—Nebula (The Editor). New York: W. C. & F. P. Church. Our Young Folks. April.

Good Old Times: Chap. IV. (E. Kellogg).-Lessons in Magic: No. 9 (P. H. C.).-Our Violet Girl (H. E. B.).—A Child's Question (Kate Putnam).— Pussy Willow Blossoms (Mrs. H. B. Stowe).Round-the-World Joe: Chap. III. (George Eager). Jack's Jack Knife (Helen C. Weeks).-Where the Elves Came From (Anna M. Lea).-Going Halves (Margaret Eytinge).-Foot-Ball and Hockey (C. J. Foster).-A Story of an Apple Tree (Mrs. Anna M. Wells).-The Song of the Robin (Emily H. Miller); with music, by J. R. Thomas.-Round the Evening Lamp.-Our Letter-Box. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. The Contemporary Review. March.

Extravagance in Devotional Writings (Lord Lyttleton).-Female Suffrage (Lydia E. Becker).— Connington's Eneid (Rev. James Davies).-Ancilla Domini: Thoughts on Christian Art (Rev. R. St. John Tyrwhitt).-Professor Zeller's Development of Monotheism among the Greeks.-The Lake Dwellings of Switzerland (Rev. H. H. Wood).— Public Schools: II. (Rev. Thomas Markley).—Notices of Books. London and New York: Alexander Strahan, Publisher.

The Catholic World, April.

Mother.

Church and State.-The Olive Branches in Gethsemane.-The Story of a Sister.-The Church and the Sinner.-Modern Writers of Spain.-The Godfrey Family: concluded.-Kettle Song.-Ritualism. -The Cross.-Robert; or, Influence of a Good - Lecky's History of Rationalism. —- A Dream.-A Talk about Paris.-Dr. Bacon on Conversions to the Catholic Church.-Athlone and Aughrim.-Asperges Me!-Ancor-Viat; a New Giant City.-Planting of the Cross-Miscellany.-New Publications. New York: L. Kehoe.

BOOK NOTICES.

HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY. Famous Americans of Recent Times. By James Parton. pp. 473. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. In this volume Mr. Parton has collected the well known biographical papers upon Clay, Webster, Calhoun, Randolph, Girard and his College, Bennett and the New York Herald, and Goodyear, which originally appeared in the "North American Review." To these he has added articles upon TheoHarper's dosia Burr and John Jacob Astor, from " Magazine," upon Commodore Vanderbilt, from the "New York Ledger," and H. W. Beecher and his church from the "Atlantic Monthly." These papers are admirably written, and they will be found to be both interesting and suggestive.

Memoirs and Correspondence of Madame Recamier.
Translated from the French, and edited by Isa-
phene M. Luyster. pp. 408.
Boston: Roberts

Brothers.

This is one of the best of those volumes of per

sonal memoirs which abound in French literature. For many years Madame Récamier reigned in society as a queen, and the bulk of the present volume made up of letters addressed to her by various nobilities. Those of Chateaubriand alone give us an autobiography of the last twenty-five years of his life. It is an extremely readable work, full of cu rious personal incidents.

:

President Reed, of Pennsylvania. A Reply to Mr. George Bancroft and Others. pp. 132. ́ Philadelphia Howard Challen and John Campbell. nate with the last volume of his "History of the Mr. Bancroft seems to have been rather unfortu United States." Its accuracy in different respects has been impugned in various quarters, and can only be tested by minute investigations, of which we have an admirable illustration in the present essay. Mr. Reed writes with polish and vigor, and with full knowledge of the subject-matter. In the work before us he not only disproves the statements and innuendoes of Mr. Bancroft, but enters

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