The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-29

Ahc Pcseht year mas hot produced Work OF such SUI
peror merit as the one now before Il presents the
reader critical aud elaborate view of Spanish liter
AZURE IRON the earliest period. in style Of composition
luminous elegant and CLASSICAL The author seems 10
have prepared himself thoroughly fer the. great task
which he undertook and has successfully and credta
bly, accomplished As early as 1918 he began his coec-
lection OF Spanish literature and visited Spain for the
purpose OF making himself thoroughly acquainted with lis
history and language Probably no other man possessed
such ample store materials for such work and none
certainly have made better use Of them The work
abounds with inconesabe evidences OF the authors la
bors and researches He carefully to have studied
Spanish history; and the influence OF great political and
social changes upon the literature Of people philo
sophcay and lucdy set forth in his pages We regard
this work Of superior and sterling merit rejecting
honor upon American literature, and justly securing its
gifted author place in the very first rank Of American
writers. twill be at once recognised and received as
standard and classical history and will be found in every
respectable library by the side OF the histories OF Bancroft
and Prescott The publishers have also performed their
duty in bringing out in style equal to the best produc
tons OF the English press.
The War ,oth Msreo. BY r. s. RIPLEY. 2vols. svo, PIP
52i. 646 Harper ~ Brothers. 1919.
We have had several books purporting 10 be history
of the Mexican war, most Of which have been meagre
and inaccurate in their facts and imbued with the per-
sonal party predictions Of their writers In the work
before us, we have OF different character and OF
vastly higher claims to confidence than any which has yet
appeared, The author himself belongs to the army,
holding the rank of lieutenant in the artillery, and major
by brevet He was therefore, an Of many Of the
events which he describes. But have examined his
book carefully and happy find work Of very great
merit The author has evidently aimed present to the
public history which might be depended upon as au
thentic and truthful We observe that giving an &C
count Of the origin OF the war; he has sought out the
most reliable Of information and his statements
fortified by copious references well known and
fhanti hall m he
faithful reliable and elaborate history of the Mexican
war; meriting the full confidence OF the American PEG.
pie As literary production, il is highly crcdabe to the
author The style is clear and flowing the descriptions
of the various battles Spirited and give the reader
vivid idea of those highest OF all the tragic scenes of hu
life. The work is illustrated with plates represent
ing the plans Of the various battles which the author
narrates And pleased with the patriotic spirit
which pervades the pages OF the work before us, well
as the spirit of candor exhibited by the author in his com
mens upon the conduct and motives of the various COM
manders The origin Of the is lucidy and correctly
traced down through series of years. and long train of
events to the final breaking of hosies The author
does falsely ascribe the origin Of the to the action
of Mr. Polk, but various necessarily resulting in
war whoever may have been the President at that time
Nor does he believe General Taylor to be the immaculate
and fauess commander which his followers would fan
have the world believe He points out and defects
in the Generals military conduct the justice of which
cannot fail to strike every intelligent and unpreudiced
man. And from the accounts he gives, which accord
with our previous knowledge and impressions, it is ap
parent that our victories in Mexico more owing
10 the scientific skill of the officers and the ndomitable
bravery OF the American troops than to the talents
or judgment OF General Taylor. Nor does the author
think that the military conduct of General Scott was
fauess He criticises freely the movements of both
commanders, sometimes approving and sometimes not
On the whole il able, candid impartial and patr
otto hstoryqualities which should commend it to all
classes OF the American people 1t is printed on clear
white paper with large and beautiful type, the style Of
the best printed American books.
System Of Aneient and Medieval Geography for the Of
4iaais and colleges BY CHARLrs AsTHos LII. d. svo.,
PIP. Tc0. Hnrner DC Brothers,
This IL another valuable emanaton from The plv6e
press Of the Harpe II is the production of one Of the
most eminent classical scholars OF country, whose
numerous books, classic and educational, have made his
familiar to every student and scholar in the repub
lie. We class this work among the most learned
most elaborate, and useful OF the numerous works
Of its eminent author Ii bears the marks of great
and critical research, and is PROFESSIONALLY the best
work of the size, upon the subject upon which il
treats, now extant. The author remarks. in his pre-
lace, that il is intended textbook for the com.
sined study Of ancient geography and historv-two
branches of education that ought be separated
,u OF which the former is entirely neglected among u.s.
,r else only taught out OF superficial and defective
,ends" II will be valuable aid to the student and
ID to prepare atlas to accompany the present work
but the publication of Fndays Classical Atlas, which
he Harpes have for sale, has superseded the neces
'ty OF such publication This work Of Professor
Anthem is another highly cIeditable contribution TO
literature by an American author.
nsfitHte Of Theology by the late THOMAS CHALmERs D.
d., LII. ID. Vol l. limo PIP. 5l5. Harper Brothers,
publishers II
This volume constitutes the eighth volume Of the pos
humous works OF DR.. Chalmers The worldwide rep z
itaon OF this eminent divine sure guaranty OF the
bity with which the present work written, whatever
nay be the opinion Of the reader the peculiar doc
rines which he maintains The subjects Of the treatise
ire lucdly arranged and the style eloquent, ornate but
duse, like the other literary productions Of the
uthor II is valuable addition to religious literature
I is neat and handsomely printed volume, and OF
hat size most convenient for the reader.
Fairy Thia of an Nations BY ANTHONY r. MosrALBA. d
l6mo, PIP. s5s Harper & Brothers, publishers.
This charming book for children II is. its title
ndicates collection OF the choicest fairy tales Of other
ations never before translated into English There
wenty nine in the whole, translated from the Danish,
avonic, Arabic German, French, Hebrew, Swedish, v
'olsh, Russian, Saaskri Betschuanan, Wendian, Nor
vegian, Upper Lusatian Norman Italian, Hungarian,
ceandish, Franconian, and Bohemian languages. OF
ourse they are the very gems OF the fairy literature Of
n nations and are, indeed, beautiful and fascinating
tories The editor says in his preface that the materials
his collection have been carefully chosen from
cna vouuooa NJ nj nafone