The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Messrs. Lea e. Blanchard of Philadelphia, have
sent us Through the bands of Mr.. Franck Taylor,
bookseller, Of this city, the first volume of
"THE NARRATIVE THE UNITED STATES Ex-
40, al, and '42: by Charles Wilkes, U: 8. ~,
commander of the expedition, &C., &C. Philadel-
pha: published by Lea & Blanchard"
The fame of this important work is already too
widespread throughout the country to require the
aid of our humble efforts to direct public attention
to it.. The enormous sum of government money
expended to collect and prepare the data of which
this book is made up; and the wel-known talents
and enterprise of the gentlemen charged with the
various scientific, literary, and naval duties connect
ed with the expedition insure it prompt reception
on the part of all in the Union who read books It
treats of much that was heretofore well known, and
vet invests it with new Interest," and it tells of men
and things previously little known TO the civilized
world, in such manner that one must be very stu
pid or very lazy to lay it by willingly without a
careful reading. We shall not attcmptt to 60 into an
analysis of the work; for do it justice, should
be forced to lay aside all other matter for some days,
and devote our columns for the time to extracts and
comments. We arise from an examination of the
book in wonder at the extreme care and minuteness
of observation of nature and of art which it exhib-
it's and with gratifed pride that interesting an
enterprise should have resulted in spreading before
the reading public such a mass of agreeable and
useful information. To publish catalogue of the
various subjects it treats Of, would occupy many of
the columns of the Union. We shall therefore but
remark, in conclusion, that those who possess taste
physiology, or natural philosophy, will find ample
enjoyment in this first volume OF "7he Memoirs Of the
United States Exploring Expedition" on sale at the
store of Mr.. Franck Taylor bookseller; which,
though sold at a much less price than the edition
originally published by the government, yet con-
tains all the important matter, with numerous plates
and charts, &c.
To the kind attention of Mr.. Hanck Taylor, book
seller we are indebted for the first volume of the
sdemoirs of the reign Of George the 3D., by Horace
Walpole youngest son of Sir Robert Walpole, Earl
of Oxford,) now just published from the original
MSS, edited, with notes, by Sir Dennis LIE Mer-
chant, Baronet, in 2 vols: Philadelphia, Lea e.
Blanchard, le45.
Without pretending TO criticsc the literary merits
of this book we must be allowed to congratulate
the reading public on the appearance of full and
complete account of the influences, both public and
private, which were brought 10 bear the English
government, at period in its history at least as full
of interest as any other corresponding length of
time since Canue vanly essayed to stay the ATTAIN
tic waves Who can reflect the great changes
in the future organization of society, whicn, as
yet, are but gathering strength to effect mighty
purposes, that had their origin IN the measures
of the British ministry from l760 to l772, and
vet deny that this period of time was pregnant with
GRAND and benevolent resultsi The petty intrigues
for ministerial place and power, the sordid avarice
the centous lust, the grasping ambition among
those in high places, and the point Of nfatuation to
which the advocates of kingly prcrogative carried
their demand for concessions involving the destruc-
ton Of the charter rights Of the British subjects du-
ring the period of time under consideration, not only
gave birth to shaking all Europe to its centre
but forced pilgrim fathers to set the ball of lib
eralism in motion on this continent to break out in
those "murmurs and discontcnts, in which may be
traced the first ndistinct rudmens of the great an
tagonstic principles and social revolutions Of our
own time" To the philosopher and statesman, this
book must be of great interest, because it opens
to their view at glance, as it were, the secret
springs of action among those who, in measure,
guided the destinies of the world during that event.
full period. To the religionist, its perusal must
afford great qualification, because all who reflect
must see that Providence, in His inscrutable wis
dom, bent the mighty efforts of the day to debase
and enslave the world, to the purpose of It's
regeneration. To the many who delight in tales Of
court gossip and intrigue, this work will be an ex
ceeding rich treat for it tells Of times when nothing
but intrigue seemed to advance the ambitious and
the story is told, too, by one through whose veins
the blood Of Wapole coursed, and who was, there
fore, as well qualified by nature to discover and APP
precis,e the corruptons of the age, as enabled oy
education, mind, and opportunity, TO- comphe a
faithful transcript Of the circumstances 10 whch ne
acted no unirnportant part We repeat, again, that
Mr. Hanck TAYLOR bookseller, has this work Tor sale