The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-05
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

| we are indebted 10 the puplshers VINO nave sem
us the following new works, through the hands ol
Mr.. Franck Taylor, bookseller;
No. 10 of "An Encyclopedias Of Domestic Econ.
omy;" New York, published by Harper q Broth
ers. This number fully sustains the character won
by its predecessors. The book is destined to form
part of every genteman's library.
| Part Cd of Leigh Hunts fugitive essays, publish
ed under the title of "The Indicator and Compan-
ion," as No. 20 Of "Wiley g. Puinam's Library
of Choice Reading"
| Travels in North America, in the years lS4l
and 1872 with Geological Observations on the Uni
ted States Canada, and Nova Scotia By Charles
Lyell, esq, f. r. s.; author of the Principles OF
Geology. In 2 volumes. New York: published
BY Wiley e. Putnam, lS45." As this work shows,
Professor Lye devoted the most of his short visit
To America TO professional observations; for he has
certainly published mass of useful and interesting
information upon the geological traits of the United
States and Canada, in this little book; and has very
properly abstained, in great measure, from the
philosophical dispositions and Paul Prysh
revelations relative to the manners habits, and char
acier of society in America For acting so wisely,
he has avoided the rock upon which many nelli-
gent and well. educated Englishmen have split, in
writing of travels in America. "First impressions
of and things in this country, those usually
obtained from the bar-room and the stage coach;
or, in these days of improvement, from rail-
road car and steamboat Notwithstanding any.
thing but correct data from which to draw sound
conclusions relative to people and our country
or its institutions. MIR. Lyell, however, has not
entirely escaped being humbugged--the common
fate of English book -makng travellers in the Uni
ted States-as may be discovered in the following
extract from the eighteenth chapter Of his work.
Speaking of Cincinnati, he says:
GAS to the free hogs which roam about its hand
some street Is, they belong 10 in particular
and any citizen is at liberty to take them up, fatten
and kill them. When they increase too fast, the
IL. II -.
number. Ii Is fayore amusement OF the boys to
ride upon the pigs; and we were shown one saga.
cious old hog who was in the habit oflying down
soon as boy came in sght''
Some Buckeye wag must surely have been doing
his best to make ''prme pork" of the professor.
Part No of "Cosmos A Survey of the General
Physical History Of the Universe, by Alexander Won
Humboldt New York: Harper & Brothers, 1845."
The number before us is the commencement of a
translation 1--WE believe the first attempted in Eng
lish) Of the celebrated works of Won Humboldt,
who is perhaps the greatest philosopher of the
present age Like almost all exordiums, this
is wanting in particular interest to the general read
err yet it is the forerunner of matter which, it is
being spread before those who read in our own Ian
guage will find its way into every palace and hovel
where there is to be found an earnest inqui-
rer after physical or geographical knowledge. To
make this book sell well, the translator should aim
to dvest his work OF the peculiar transcendental
style with which the writings Of Won Humboldt are
affected, even more than is common with German
philosophers and scholars Generally, any book,
to be universally popular in America, must be
'spithy.n We would also urge the translator to
omit everything (and he will find much) that is on
ly to be comprehended by those who appreciate
Newton's Principin and La Places .Mscanique Co.
ieste. We offer these suggestions, solely because
it is most desirable that book really useful to
the world as the writings of Won Humboldt, should
be as widely difiused among Americans pos
sible The task of the translator is indeed noble.
We also thank Mr. Taylor, and the publisher,
for No. 81 Of Harpers' Illuminated aud new Pic
toral Bible, and Nos. 63 and GA of Harpers' IL
Illuminated and Illustrated Shakespeare
The translator has kindly sent us "The Challenge
of Berletta, by Massimo D'Azcglio. Translated and
edited by G. Edwards Lester. New York: Paine
and Burgess, 60 John street, lS45"-published as
the first number of ''ihe Medci series Of Italian
prose- We have rarely looked over the pages Of a
romance with as much glowing pleasure as over
this, which has much to recommend it. The
brilliancy and interest of the story are equacd by
the grace and easy flow of the translation. Unlike
almost every other translation, one hardly read
this without being cheated into belief that the
book in his hands is an original. The great fault
of the TRANSACTIONS of the day is too strict adj
herence to foreign idiomatic expressions, which,
however smooth and elegant to other ears certainly
CRATE harshly on ours. Mr.. Lester is apparently
without this fault, and, therefore, so much the bet
ter qualified for in the work of literature on
which he makes this first essay. His work "The
Glory and Shame Of England has earned for him
the reputation Of strong thinker and we-inforn-
ed gentleman which qualities certainly requi-
site to make one successful translator as an au-
thor of distinction. This book shows the advan-
tagc he has derived from these personal traits.
Hitherto few, very few, transations from the tera-
ture Of Italy have been spread before the reading
public on this side Of the Atantic and are graft
EaI ,,,l. ,ho T H., l..
searches into channel promising so much gratfca-
ton to those who would seek intellectual entertain
ment from the abors Of great minds in any and
every cline.
The publishers have sent us, through Mr.. .Franck
Taylor, bookseller the "Genius and Character of
Burns, by Professor Wilson," published by Wiley
and Putnam, number Of their Library of
Choice Reading" If aught were necessary to
commend to the readers Of light literature a book
concerning the history of Scotand's ''own inspired
bard, nothing could be more effectua to that end
than the announcement that it was the handiwork
of that prince of critics and essayists, the renowned
"Chrstopher North" There is peculiar interest
about the history of Burns-a touching pathos
belonging to that Of no other mana freshness in
his fame, which abates not with the repetition of his
praises, reacts from the excess of admiration.
Ii is at least honorable in the world that it rarely
fails at some time to make atonement for the wrongs
it may have nhicted--that if its cold and blightipg
negltCt sHOulu nave the SOUL, anu CoHsSHeu
to misfortune want, and misery, the tender life of
genius, it embalms with fonder care, and enchains
with devoted idolatry, its poshumous
memory. Each sigh which the patient child Of
nature or song may have in vain tried to repress
amid the rayess desoaton of his lot, swes, in the
sympathetic bosom of posterty, into glorious and
undying echo of praise If anything con atone for
the pangs, the trials, the hear-aches the sou-sck-
ening anguish which wrung the sensitive soul of
Burns through life, it is the tender and afectonate
interest with which his memory and his fame are
now cherished, and the homage Of glowing and
fearful enthusiasm with which every recollection,
every simple incident of his history, is consecrated.
He found relief, amid the severe struggles of his
life, in the prophetic aspirations which conscious
genius ever feels, that posterity would appreciate
and applaud his song. This inspired hope was the
amulet Of his woes, the sustaining principle of his
passionate and painful existence.
The history and writings Of Burns have been the
theme of numerous biographers, critics, and COM
mentaors; yet imperfect and inaccurate have been
their writings, arising from the obscurity Of his
career in some instances and from their own illib-