New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-09-16

Tsf Wors of W,ssNer9S ifyNS' N9i T. col'1 ~ ~
Word To- the end u The D-lce pynosy os D'ouil0u
KncseIlocker Putnam, i55 Bfoad"sy
We have already mentioned the magnificent
addition Of The Works Of Washington Irving, which
yr Putnam has in preparation. The frst volume has
puuctually appeared according to the announcement
and il u our mind OF the most tasteful snd elegant
hooks which has issued from the American press
lts publication has been conducted under the immediate
direction Of Mr. RgING and IL therefore the only per
feet edition extan Of the Unuttersble Ponderngs Of
Walter the Doubter, The Disastrous Projects Of Wa
liam the Tesiy aud the Chyarc Achievements Of
Peter the Headstrong' The paper has rich finish
which is almost equal veum, the type dee ntiuiy
clear and the binding inmitabe in ts neatness
If any works Of our language are worthy Of such
choice en- aiming and such honored place IN all
Libraries az these volumes destined 70 ILL., Il s those
Of WAsHrNGroN IRVING. Their quaint and exhausue's
hunor rich graceful and cxubcran fancy, and the pure
AMI natural vein Of feeling deepening into patbo' WIFI
runs through them, make them, IN an eminent sense
household works-works 10 be read By the Winter tire
side or in the calm Of summer twilight always cheer
ing and soothing 10 the influence. and conveying
strenr;hcning and instructive lessons in form which
the mind j. always ready 70 receive. To the writings
OF Dicdrich Knickerbocker, especially, may be applied
the words Of sir Philip sidney lie cometh 10 you
with tale that holdeth children from play, and old
men from the chimney corner
The volume before US has been thoroughly revised
aud now wears the final form in which posterity will
receive Il, Its interest is increased by curious history
Of the manner in which the work was first published
The adroitncss with which the public prepared for
the appearance Of the book is very amusing, and we
wonder not tia, foreigners should have been puzzled
in what manner to understand it. The author, in his
Apology written for this edition describes the
ner in which he was led to it composition from which
it appears that the original plan was commenced in
company with his brother the late Peter Irving, Esq
He says:
Our idea was to parody small hand book which
had recently appeared, entitled Picture OF Now
York" Like that work was TO begin with an his
torical sketch 10 be followed by notices OF the Gus
toms manners and Institutions of the city written in
sero-comic yen and treating local errors olies and
abuses with goodlhumored satire.
ITO burlesquc the pedantc lore displayed in certain
American works. our historical sketch was TO com
with the creation OF the world aud we laid all
kinds of works under contribution for tre citations
relevant irrelevant to give 1t the proper air OF
learned research Before this crude mass of mock
erudon could be dgestcd into form, my brother de-
parted for Europe, and was left to prosecute the en-
terprise alone.
now altered the plan of the work Dscarding ali
idea of n parody the Picture of Newly Ork deter
mined that VIVA; had been originally intended as an in
trOductOry sketch, should comprise the whole work.
and form comic history oi the city. accordingly
moulded the mass Of citations and dsquistons into
inr0d uctOry chapt forming the first book but it
soon became evident 10 me that, like Robinson CUsoe
with his boat had begun on too large scale, ana
that TO launch my history successfully must reduce
its proportions accordingly resolved to c0nhne %
the period of the Dutch domination which, in It's rise,
progress and decline presented that unity Of subject
required by classic rule 1t period, also 20 that
fff1p "a Fur "a
was surprised 10 find how few of my fellow citizens
were aware that New ork had ever been called New
Amsterdam, had heard OF the names OF IT'S early
Dutch Governors on cared straw about their ancient
Dutch proscntors
This, then broke upon me the poetic age Of our
city poetic from iis very Obscuriy aud open, Ike the
Cally and obscure days of ancient Rome to all the en-
belishmcnts Of heroic fiction. hailed my native cry
as fortunate above all other American cities in having
antiquity thus extending back into the regions of
doubt aud fable neither did conceive was commit
ting any grieyOus historical sin in helping out the few
facts could collect this and forgotten region
with hgmcnts of my own brain on in giving character
stic attributes TO the few names connected with u
which might dig up from oblivion
In this, doubtless, reasoned like young aud in
experienced writer besotted with bis ancies and
my pre- sumptuous respasses into this sacred though
neglected region of history have met with deserved
rcbuke from men OF sObefer minds II IS too LATE
however 10 recall the shaft thus rashly launched To
any one whose OF fitness II may wound, can only
| say with Hamlet
Let my disclaimng from purpossd evil
Free far in your generous thoughts
That have shot my arrow Ger the house,
And hurt my brother.
will say this in farther apology for my work
that il it has taken an unwsrrantable liberty with our
early provincial history il has at least turned attent on
to that history aud provoked research II only since
this work appeared that the forgotten archives Of the
Province have been rummaged, and the facts and per
sonages of the olden time rescued from the dust Of
oblivion and elevated into whatever importance they
may actually possess.
We cannot conclude our notice without commend
ing the liberal and enteprisns spirit in which Mr. Put
nam has undertaken the publication OF these works
We are conhden, he will be fully repaid for II by theii
constant sale and circulation The next volume Of the
series which will contain The Sketch Book will appear
on the lst of October
CHARMS AND COUNTER CHARMS. BY MARIA j. MclNrosH
ID Appleton Co. New-YOrk
This is one OF those healthlul, trUihfU works OF
fiction which improve the heart and cnghien the judg
mcnt, while they furnish amusement to the passing
hour Its object is to show in contrast life spent
amid the howery scenes of pleasure and life elevated
through trial and suffering above the strsitened horizon
of earth and this moral is Illustrated in story of dceI
interest The saving influence OF love purified by
lisious principle is shown in its redeenng of heart
hardened by selhness and incrusted with wordlness
while the other hand is presented the sad spectacle
of the ruin OF noble nature from the want of the re
straint and guidance of Christian faith The author is
more at home in the porraure OF the lovely the pure
and the holy than what is repulsve or evil her thinning
is marked by deicscy rather than force but the pic
ture impressive and appeals strongly to the heart by
its truth to nature The style is clear, easy and sim
pie and the construction OF the story artistic in high
degree We commend most cordially the book 20 al
who have not already been grstded by its perusal
PENNSYLVANIA FREE SOIL CONvENTION.-At
the Reading Convention, yesterday, DR.. Gazzam. the
Chairman OF the Committee on Resolutions, submitted
the following. which were unanimously adopted
Resol-ed That this Convention approves and adopts
the platform Of principles adopted by the National Con
ycntOn OF the Friends of Freedom, held al Buffalo on
the 9th and 10th of August
Resorfd. That cordially endorse and accept the
nomination OF Martin Van Buren, Tor President and
Charles Francis Adams for Vice President OF the United
States.
ReSoired That demanding the preservation OF Free
f.1ff hvs .of( Con