New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-05-19
For The Tribune
Universal History.

fpr ltc liNuuf
Universal History.
Tie s,r5, of Il stary 81 much cnlt.s ,jei hv The
principal nations OF thc European Continent and even
'o como extent smon- thc English ha. ruour-fi1uahy
boon much neglected. hy 0ur-civcs The reason. hereof
m,ry bu' che CHIEF appear. 70 Do hr want OF
ans cool Uaivcr-al History With The exception of
i' extensive and very learned work Known under zoe
namr OF Universal Oh tory ard 90 which sevcrsl
able wrsr- contributed but which nevertheless is now
behind .lr age there doe. not oxi-f single English
Umgcrr. History OF any considerable merit The
rrsn.sfi1n. we have Of the eminent German historians
johannes Won Mailer and Rouech are mere ahnds
and none Of these writers have paid al rhe a.
i-Ht.n vhich seems duo % thc most ancient uauons.
but limited themselves chiefly 20 the Greeks and Ro-
m De snd 20 The N1derns. Toe Ancient History % ".
Rom doe. certainly not compensate TN. defect in the
German productions % j. very learned work bur
written ays narrow minded man vho was unable 70
comprehend the destiny Of mankind Do. consequent
ly childish composition which gave. bur POOR food 20
q full grown mind
The Universal History now 10 publication By " b..
Graham and OF which sc have received the hrst two
number. promises 70 supply want in tins respect
and 90 Jlisc from the parts have already ia our
hands vc hail IL with JOY 'appears he written by
human family and who join. the eagle eve OF the
learned Bossuet TO liberal and philosophical mind
The Ancient History the author divides into three
Periods the charactcr-tcs o which be- sketches IA the
following mastery manner
H. tte First Per0d-" AZ war with Namre ani the
boasts oi prey Mf1 both from bis necessities ana rom
h g8- ions oe-n. 81 an carly a-e t0 develop h- good
AMI bis evil pr0pcn-.ues. 10 youthful. strength he
proves himself the lord 40 one earth ami either iom
curiosity OF in search ~ food aud wealth 0vtruu,
great part 0f s surface Renouncing bis natural free
dom h. enters into Society bur h- dream OF better
state is often dc.usivc Instead of enjoying the right
ho bad hoped of framing the laws hv which bee Is
t0 boz governed he 0irenfimes hnd- himself compelled
tO submit ~ The VIII % de-pot mqulun- TOR the
origin of the Universe and unable .1 solve h, own
doubts or answer hi- own question: be- becomes the
slave Of superstition ami the victim 90 deceif-Nugs
ianp.o him IN ihe dust and priests ohndioid ms ava
kenng reason
mi. fret sfcp- toward Civilization may have been
slow buy during the latter part " this Period see hnd
that he have made rapid strides as tned by the
lniiccni cities by the cOurty homes OF prince by
ths immense and well .Hed warehouse OF the Phcni
clan mcrchants0t which history oi THAT time -pe1Ss
and above an. by the productions of immortal poets
and 1y the monuments which still exist
Bat IN the warm and IaXuriant Orient man soon boz.
comes too eacmnaic 10 preserve biz freedom and pun
-uc the cOurse Of civilization which he has molly
commenced he lacks feuecity Of purpose, and yield
lng 10 the aiurcmcn- OF sensual pleasure, he stops n
his glorious career Already majestic A.it-the home OF
conquerng tyranfs and fertile Egypt Is become the de-
voted land Of superstition and pousm
Tie Second PT0f"F crIlc in writers 81 almostcscry
kind and among them greet number OF trustworthy
h,-toriau- Is much better known 90 us than tho hrst
What great number ot memorable events and
Ieat men Hdou this age of the world How produc
tive D. is Of everything. that attracts attention eNcfcs
admiration. and calls forth applause Great empires
rise rni fan succcssivcly while eminent men almost
unnt,rruptcdy nh the world with the renown OF
their glorious deeds aud admirable productions IN no
other period Of time pcrnaps has The human mind de-
vcioncd it-elf in such granteur
N,u has attancd the age OF majority and cNuts in
fhe CONSEQUENCE Of he power be displays with pride
a fle wonderful cfpicitie- with which De is endowed,
and makes such mighty stride, toward perfection that.
IN many lnsiaucc he has Out-rippet rivals OF later date
10 il the era Of Plato and Aristotle Of Hschylus and
sIphOCles. Of DcmOsthcuc- and Cicero OF fnldas ana
Prixelcs and Of Pcrclcs and Horace OF sublime theO.
rcs and ingenious reasoning ~ grand thoughts and
imuassoned poetry Of graceful diction sud c0nsum-
mate clocufion Of pure taste and accomplished WORK
man-hip OF lofty Imagination and prngcnt wit
Thi- grand drnma-wrich occupies more IMAM I'VE
hundred ycars-presents 10 our view the remarkable
exploits If great conqueror and the foundation Of
vast empire upOn the ruins Of many mighty states and
lourishng cities millions are made slaves Of ambition.
end dcspOfism gorcs I'm the triumph Of Cyrus Bleed.
ing Asia lies PROSTATE hs feet. while her mourning
children are treated herds Of cattle What stain
upon human nature, that numerous naton' eau submit
10 such degradation
Put To- what different spectacle bursts upon
sight There Is Greece the cnkndler Of the holy nre
freedom on greatness anu OF
rich galaxy OF mighty ntccct-, and Of such excellent
social Institutions thar some of them--though not with
out dcfects-havc never perhaps been surpassed Our
hearts ~ occ mans susceptibility o moral dignity
and high mental culture.
The Thyd Peri0i-" IN Judcs is klndlcd he flame
which nourshed by love D. 10 puriy the ar ~ the pee
ufcrous vapors bred by the cnomtes Of the Roman
world The Divine tire spreads itself with slow but
irresistible power end dsspates by s glorious rays
the black FOG OF superstition winch presses on the minds
Of mankind But that Is made sub-ervieni 10
the vile arts Of ambitious hypocrites and becomes the
Of advancing the prcpostefous claims OF princes
and priests
" The terror Of the Roman name u no more and bar
barians begin 10 scot and scOm the imperial eagles,
which thew had before we'd 0nly with aud terror
The age OF infnny has arrived and nothing VIII avail
To- restore the ancient vig0r OF Rome. Slavery-the
wor. Of social cvs-and The cankcr which had under
mined so many mongrchie. and even the republics OF
Greece brings si-O ruin upon the Western Roman
Empire The human mind is ndolent and slothiu, and
the most violent efforts are required ere II l. aroused 10
iuli activity again
This the eagle glance which the author takes Of the
history Of mankind from infancy to the tall Of the
Western Roman Empire, and evidence enough ofthe
abilities this anonymous writer possesses.
We think that the reading public Of America Is greatly
indebted 10 NJ Graham. who has undertaken the pub
hcaon Of this promising work, and we sincerely hope
that he may reap the golden fruits he richly deserves