Polynesian., 1844-09-14
Literary Notice.

principal Islands in The South Sea, ;nckud-
ing .Ner Zealand; the introduction Of
Christianity; and the actual Condition ocMe
Inhabitants in regard to Civilization, Com
mercs, and the .arts Of Social Life. BY the
Right Rev. M. RUSSELL, LID. and
Del. (of St. Johns College, Oxford),
Author Of "View of Ancient and Modern
Egypt" Palestine, or the Holy Land"
etc. etc. With a Map and vigneue.-
New-York: Harper & Brothers, 80 Cliff
Street. l843.
The above work we have lately received.
1t was originally published in England and
has been selected for publication by the Har-
pers for their Family Library. 1t is a we'll
written but meagre compilation from authcn-
tic sources Of the general history of Polyne-
STA, sufficient perhaps to satisfy the curiosity
ofthose not particularly interested in the
history of this portion of the globe. The
author appears to have made himself tolera-
bly, well acquainted with the narrative ofthe
earlier voyagers, and to have used his infor-
nation with good judgment, but Of later
sources of information he appears to have
been singularly deficient, and evidently be-
slowed but little care or labor in seeking for
them, so that the work although very good
to a certain extent, is Of comparatively small
value to those who desire information bought
down to the present period. The informa-
ton given relative to these Islands, is very
s%uccinct, though impartial. The reader will
smile at the following quotation -
1--WE have had the good fortune to obtain
a manuscript Dairy or Notebook, kept by a
distinguished officer who spent some time in
the Sandwich Islands, as well as those of the
Society group. His information comes down
to 1886, since which period there has not been
any material alteration either at Otaheite or
WoahoO."
The work was completed in Sept. 1884,
Certainly between 1886 and 1912 changes
in government, manners, and general civili-
cation have occurred, second in importance
to no preceding ones, and should have been
noticed in a book Of this character. Not.
outstanding SO important an omission the
reader will be interested by a perusal Of
the work.
We close our notice with the following
eloquent remarks, which are pregnant with
meaning
"Our limits forbid more ample details on
the commercial prospects Of Polynesia, a
portion Of the world which presents itself 10
US in the most interesting light, when We
consider the means that ought to be employ
cd for its moral and religious improvement.
Both good and evil are in our hands, and
the natives canont enjoy the one without be-
ing exposed to the malign influence Of the
other. The national mind, more especially
in New Zealand and the Sandwich Isles, has
been put in motion; and we doubt not that
the result, under the direction Of Infinite
Wisdom, will prove most beneficial. In con-
templating the happy progress which man.
kind have already made in knowledge and
refinement, the reader will find pleasure in
perusing the following remarks, equally preg-
nant with intelligence and hope. Desert
bing the progress of the Romans in Britain,
the historian of their empire observes, that
the hostile tribes Of the North, who dctes-
Of the World, suspended their domes-
tic feuds; and the barbarisns of the land and
sea, the Scots, the Picts, and the Saxons,
spread themselves with rapid and irresistible
fury from the wall Of Antoninus TO the shores
ofKent. Their southern neighbours have en-
aggerated the cruel depredations ofthe Scots
and Picts; and q valiant tribe Of Caledonia,
the Attacotti, the enemies, and afterwards
the soldiers Of Valentinian, are accused by
an eyewitness Of delighting in the taste Of
human flesh. When they hunted the woods