Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-06-12
MACAULAY'S MISCELLANIES.
3 uols. 8 10; for sale By H,gaa. Thompson &.
Co, 40 Camp.sfre.i. Mo. Orleans.

Co, 40 Camp-ares, N,v.O Orleans.
It was a happy thought, if not very original,
that first suggested the propriety Of compiling
the masterpieces Of the E liaburg Review,
and. after classifying them uuisr appropriate
he1ds, giving them to tha world in neat, port
able volumes. With here and there an ex-
ception, the articles Of that periodical, assume,
naturally and justly, the highest rank in Eng
lish literature. Penned by the most accom-
plishei writers in England, WHO, like players,
have eaeh a particular branch assigned them,
but who are selected for a certain duty on ac-
count of their peculiar qualifications and tastes
therefor, they may, without hyperbole, be call.
ed the flowers or the refinement of literature,
politics or law, according to the subject inques-
ton. Some Of the most philosophical remarks
upon the balance of power in Europe, that
ever met our eye, were from the pen Of a
celebrated British juris', in a volume Of politi-
cal essays, compiled from the Edinburg Re-
view. Nor was the subject partially handled,
or but half-done up, in the space of some fifty
or sixty octave pages, 10 which il was confn-
ed. After a perusal Of the principal volumes
on international law, that both France and
England have produce since the dnys of Va
te1, the reader was satisfied at the conclu-
| sion Of the learned essay, that he had the
whole in a nutshell. The pith and marrow
Of the matter were assuredly there and
though Invested Of many a long DEPRESSION,
and instances in evidence which tend to show
the research Of an author, the argument Of the
Scotch lawyer was neither the less perspicu-
GUS or the less cogent.
The Miscellanies before us form a different
collection from any we hive seen. The es-
says are all by the same gifted pen, and near
ly all belong to that instructive and interest,"
ing branch Of litera'ure--bography. 1t is
biography in the superlative degree, too no
calling up from for getfulness, for the sake of
friendship or mere love of book making, the
shades of obscure or noteless men, whose
names would have mouldered even before
their flesh, had not some partial hand snatch
ed them from a hasty oblivion. The bio
graphies reviewed by Macaulay are Of men
whose history is the history Of their times;
and the student. whose recollections of the
politics Of Elizabeth or Cromwell, or the
literary character Of the days Of Milton or
Johnson, have grown dim, can refresh them
as fully, and with infinitely more pleasure, by
glancing over a few pages of these volumes,
th1n by disturbing again the dusty tones of
English history. We regard these books as
being much the same to the mtn Of letters,
as are well-devised labor-saving machines to
the mechanic. They enable him to accom-
plish in shorter time a much greater amount
Of labor than it was formerly possible to do.
They give b1ek to him in the course OF few
hours, the result Of the arduous study of
years, which, by the gradual encroachments
of time, hal been almost derobed from the
minds eye.
Nor do these volumes offer minor adyan-
tages to men whose circumstances in life have
narrowed their means Of acquiring a know
ledge Of past events and the actors in them.
The mechanic, the laborer, who tolls all day,
may sit down an hour over them in the eve
ming, and retire to rest with a knowledge Of
facts which it has cost others years of assidu-
GUS research to acquire. He finds Clearly
traced. olt before him, ana with the most criti-
cal precision, not only the real transactions Of
the pas, but their effects upon after times,
AMI the motives AMI characters of the promi-
nent mea who participated in them. And if
the information thus obtained be not SO minute
or diffuse as that we arrive at by more labe-
rious study, there is accompanying it the con-
viction that it is Invested of the gross errors
which cucumber grossers volumes, and that
the deductions (Which, above all things,
should be eonsidered), are those of an impair
tia|, competent judge, who his thoroughly
sifted the whole matter, and whose eminent
mental abilities peculiarly qualify him for the
Office he has performed.
1t would be out of date at the present time
TO speak of the character of Macaulay as a
writer. His fame is American as we'll as Ell
ropean. No render of the E1glish language.
awards him a second place as a reviewer or a
critic. His style is a model of al that is beau
tiful, entertaining and lucid ; and his perfect
familiarity with every branch, not only of En-
glish, but European literature, ancient and
modern, reller him one Of the most pleasing
as vel IS at &c. e IS a SITS of the nine.
teenth century.
We cannot close this hrsty aad imperfect
notice of Ma aulay's Miscellanies, without
repeating the remark with which WI set out,
that the idea of collecting these papers into
convenient volumes does great credit to him
who conceived it. In these boek-making
days works of such sterling value are of rare
issue and we hope the example set by our
neighbors beyond the seas, will be acted upon
in the United. ]. .ates. The North American
Review is periodical that connanas the first
class of American talent; and many of it's
papers, if properly classified and bound, would
ornament and honor the most choice Of Ameri-
can Libraries.
We make below two or three extracts, on
subjects with which ever, reader is familiar.
The volumes before us abound with strokes
of this mastery order. The first is the
character of the celebrated hiogranher Of
Johnson:
BOSWELL.
The life of Johnson is assIre9'y a great,
-. xuork Honor iS NOT more