New-York daily tribune., 1843-12-15
THE T R I B UN E. +.
Iiterarp Notices.

,t.,,co--yoL. II.-1he Harpers have just pub
s...5 tbe second volume Of this great and mpor-
a,st ~. york, in our judgement by far the most m-
liant -. original or foreign published in this coun
= tor many years. Ason's great History,
s5;,b the same publishers have just given to the
.o,ncan public, is much longer and relates 10
:, event which has more profoundly agitatcd the
.,,,a than any other of recent occurrence; and
s.ro,d all doubt more vital principles, were IN
,slvsd and give a higher philosophical interest
,,,be subject than i'll that which has formed the
t,.r,e of any other historian. But in point OF
,Htv Of true literary merit and of dramatic H.
tses. we deem the work of our countryman
1uneasuraby superior to that Of the British au-
tso,. In place of his turgid and at times bonn
hstic style, Mr.. PREscorr gives us simple yet
nost melodous dicton, the free expression, in
ips yet unpretending language, Of his clear
tboushts, habitually controlled by cultivated
md delicate taste. Mr.. ALISON magnifes the In
/ rdsns of his story as if each were history in
tsf: with PREscoTT no fact, however striking,
sdthele least Importance except as it carries for
vord the main narration or illustrates some point
ofcharacter or the motive of some special act.
His History is indeed model 100rk-one which,
We feel persuaded, will be looked upon as such
Sreafter. 1t will take rank with GIBBoY's Rome,
and HunE's England and IRvING's Columbus, in
i Al the essential features Of great History and
will. as much as ary one of them, be regarded
necessary part of every library, public or prl-
vas in time to come. This, we know, is high
prsise for any work but if aay work can merit
/ we are convinced this does. And we shall be
tuly disappointed if the verdict, not only of liter
av men of the present day, but of the soundest
pdges in future years, does not confirm our
/ own, We cannot, Of course, do more, within our
/ limits than speak thus vaguely ofits prevailing
character and general merits. Its undoubted his
toric accuracy, the beauty and elegance Of
its stvle, its sound judgement of the cha
acters Of prominent men, and the motives
md results Of important actions, and the minute
rtgraphie character of its descriptive portions
fn its chief and most striking features. The
fEt portion of the first volume gave us most
valuable view Of the civilization and history of
the earv inhabitants of Mexico. This is not only
most interesting in itself and from the elevated
and Astonishing civilization which it reveals bat
especially important from the vague and meagre
character of all the previous accounts which have
hen given of hisremarkablep people. The volume
dosed with an account Of the residence Of the
Spaniards under their great leader Cort6s, at
Tacapan, on their first arrival in Mexico,-their
jealous effort toconvert the natives, their poor
success and the invitation they received to visit
| Cholua. The second volume, opening with the
description Of Cholula, its history, traditions,
yramids &C., with the arrival of the Spaniards
here, proceeds TO describe their residence in the
cy Of Mexico, with the wealth, pomp, power and
plcy of Montezuma, and concludes with their
entry into Tezcuco, after they had been driven
omthe Capital. The life character, exploits and
death of Montezuma are included in il, and
beautiful portrait of that great monarch is prefxed,
We need hardly say that the interest of this
nlume is most thrilling and absorbing it is more
| %, even, than the first, though it is marked by
lae same exquisite beauties and evinces through
4 out the same sustained and commanding power.
lha third and concluding volume, will be issued
MA few days.
U The AcTs OF TIE APOSTLES, WITH NoTEs,
sass!gned for teachers in Sabbath Schools and
} ,lae Classes, by Henry G. Ripley, Prof. in the
newton Theological Seminary. This is Com
ssntafy on the Acts, got up in the same style as
/ hrness Notes on the New Testament We
eaaot speak Of its value as Commentary.-
iaatls rather the duty Of the Theologian, who
As tune and means to attend to it. In doctrinal
4aiSe's We see it sympathizcs with the Baptist
Sa'n!naton' For sale by Newman, 1919 Broad
u REMARKS ON TIE IMPORTANCE OF FaEE
atscHEs, by Clergyman of the Episcopal
aaca' This is small! pamphlet on an inte-
sung subject That Churches should be free,
Junk IS about as plain as that they ought to be
"4' FOR sale at 40 Ann-street.
UGH LIFE IN New YoRx.-No one who has
,,'saed over the incompatible humor ef our old
q, slAse friend JONATHAN SLICK, whilomc Wea-
lsSield, Correspondent of the New-York Ex-
.@ can have forgotten his wit, his queer con-
1's@ the true twang of his Yankeeism, and
.uae We think will be sorry to renew his ac-
aasance with him.
'ae Slick letters have been published in neat
qPalst by Edward Stephens at l62 Nassau.
'ss and contain probably more of the element
aasas than any similar number of pages ex
fsl Whoever the writer may be, he has more
Aetue Yankee peculiarities of thought ane
is'essaa than anv simulated Yankee we car
snaind, 1t is not so easy d matter to wrlti
ulaS Yankee, as many appear to suppose
any enc will discover who endeavors tt