The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-15
TIL E REPU B Lie.
From the .Ne,c York Tribune.
REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.
H. d. THoREAU's BOOK.

Munroe * Co. New fork; VI r Tulhaiii'
really new book-a fresh, original, thoughtful
works sadly rare in this age OF omnlferous pub
lcations Mr.. Thoreau's, if not entirely this, is
very near IT, Its observations of Nature are as
genial as Nature herself and the tones of his harp
have an Eolian sweetness His reflections al
ways striking, often profoundly truthful and his
scholastic treasures, though little TOO ostenta-
tiously displayed, such as the best instructed
reader will enjoy and thank him for. His philoso-
phy, which is the Pantheistic egotism vaguely
characterized as transcendental does NOT delight
Ii seems second hand, initiative, often exaggerated,
a bad specimen of dubious and dangerous school.
But we will speak first of the staple Of the work.
Mr.. Thoreau is a native and resident of Con-
cord, Mass, scholar, laborer and in some sort
hermit. He ,traveed somewhat in his earlier years
(he is still young,) generally trusting to his own
thoughts for company, and his walking cane for
motive power. 1t would seem main purpose of
his life to demonstrate how slender an impeachment
is poverty to a man who pampers no superhuous
wants, and how truly independent and self-suffi-
cling is he who is in no manner he slave OF hisown
appetites. OF his ftful hermit life and its results
we have already given some account: Now for his
"Week on the Concord and Merrimac.n
The Concord is dull, dark, sluggish creek or
petty river which runs through the Massachusetts
town of that name, and is lost in the Merrimac at
Lowell. On this stream MIR. Thoreau and his
friend embarked one Autumn afternoon in small
row-boat, and rowed sailed down to the dam
near its mouth, thence across by the old Middesex
Canal TO the Merrimac above Lowell, thence up the
latter to Hookset, N. H., where theyleft their boat
and varied their experience by pedestrian tour
through the wild and rugged heart of the Granite
State returning their boat alter weeks absence
and retracing their course homeward. They had
a tent which, while boating, they pitched in the
most inviting and secluded spot, generally wood,
when night overlook them; they cooked and served
for themselves, only approaching the dwellings
rarely, to purchase milk, or fruit, or bread Such
10 the thread of the narrative; let US give sim
gle specimen of its observations of Nature Ii is
a description of the commencement of their aquatic
journey.
Gradually the village murmur subsidized, and We
seemed to be embarked ON the placid current of our
dreams, floating from past To future as silently as
one awakes to fresh morning evening thoughts.
We glided noiselessly down the stream, occasion
ally driving pickere from the covert of the pads,
Dream from her nest, and the smaller bittern
now and then sailed away on sluggish wings from
some recess in the shore, the larger lifted itself
out of the long grass at approach, and carried
its precious legs away To deposit them in place OF
safety. The tortoises also rapidly dropped into the
water, boat ruffed the surface amid the will
lows, breaking the reflections of the trees. The
banks had passed the heighth of their beauty, and
of the brightest flowers showed by their faded
nts that the season was vergng towards the after
noon of the year; but this sombre tinge enhanced
their sincerity, and in the still undated heats they
seemed like the messy brink of some cool well. The
narrow eaved willow lay along the surface of the
water In of light green foliage interspersed
with the large white balls of the button bush. The
rose-colored polygonum raised its head proudly
above the water either hand, and towering at
this season and in these localities in the midst of
dense fields Of the white species which skirtcd the
SIDES of the stream Its little streak OF red looked
very rare and precious The pure white blossoms
of the head stood in the shallower parts, and
few cardinals on the margin still proudly sur
veyed themselves reflected in the water though the
latter, well as the pickereI weed was now nearly
out of blossom. The snake head, chelone gLabra,
grew close TO the shore, while kind of coreopss,
turning its brazen face To the sum- full and rank,
and tall, dull red flower, etipdforn puptueun, or
trumpet weed, formed the rank of the huylal
array. The bright blue flowers of the soap-wort
gentian sprinkled here and there in the ada
cent meadows, like flowers which Proscrpine had
dropped; and still farther in the fields or higher on
the bank, the Virginian rhexia and
dropping neottia ladies' tresses; while from the
more distant waysides, which occasionally pass
ed, and banks where the sun had lodged, was re-
hected dull yellow beam from the ranks of tansy
in its prime. In short, nature seemed to have
adorned herself for departure with profusion
of fringes and curls mingled with the bright tint
Of flowers reflected in the water. But we missed
the white water lily, which IL the queen of river
flowers, its reign being over for this season. He
makes his voyage too late, perhaps, by true water
clock, who delays long. Many Of this species
inhabit our Concord water. ] have passed down the
river before sunrise on a summer morning. between
fields Of lilies still shut in sleep; and when at length
the flakes Of sunlight from the bank fell on tn,
surface Of the water, whole fields of white blossom,
seemed to fash open before me, as ioated along
like the unfolding Of a banner, sensible Il TIN,
flower TO the influence Of the suns rays"
Here is another in a similar vein:
whether we live by the seaside, or by the lake
and rivers the prairie, II concerns us 10 attend
TO the nature of fishes since they not phenome
ma confined certain localities only, but forms
phases Of the life in nature universally dispersed
The countless shoals which annually coast tn
shores of Europe and America, are not 80 interest
ing TO the student Of the fertile Law
itsslf which deposites their spawn the tops o
mountains, and ON the interior plains-the fish prin
ciple in nature, from which IL results that they may
be- found i'm water in many places, IN greater o
less numbers. The natural historian i not fisher
man, who prays for cloudy days and good lucl
merely; but fishing has been styled I" a contem
plative mans recreation, introducing him profita
bly 20 woods and water, the fruit Of the natural
lists observations IL not in new genera or species
but i'm new CONCENTRATIONS still, and science IL onl,
a more contcmplative mans recreation. The seed
Of the life Of fishes everywhere disseminated
whether the winds wait them, the waters hOa
them, or the deep earth holds them wherever
pond l. dug, strsghtway IL i stocked with tins VI
vacious race. They have lease Of nature, and il
not vet out. The Chinese bribod 30 carry thei
oya from province 10 province in jars or in hollow
reeds or the water birds 10 transpor them 20 IN
mountain tarns and interior lakes. There are hsbe
wherever there il fluid medium; and even in cloud
and in melted metals detect their semblsncs
Think how in winter you can sink line dow
straight in spasture, through snow and through ice
and pull up a bright, slippery, dumb, subterrsnea
silver or golden fish II u curious, also, 10 refec
how they make one family, from the largest to tn
smallest The least mnnOw, that hes on the ice a
bait Tor pckerel, looks like huge sea FISH cast up
The shore"
Our next extract is specimen Of his more d
dacuc mood
"As the truest society approaches always neares
% solitude, the most excellent speech finally fall
into silence. Silence j. audible 10 all men, at a
times and in all places. She Is speech when "
hear inwsrdly, sound when hear Outwardly
Creation has not displaced her, but u her visb
framework and foil All sounds are her servant
and purveyors, procsiming not only that the
mistress ia, but is mistress, and earnestly
~. sought after. They 20 far akin 10 silence
that they are but bubbles on her surface whic
strsiohtway burst-an evidence Of the strength an
prdifcness Of the under current; faint utteranc
81 silence and then only agreeable " our auditor
nerves when they contrast Themselves with and r.
licye the former. In proportion az they do this, an
are heighteners and intsnsiers Of the silence, the
are harmony aud purest melody.
'Silence Il the universal refuge, the sequel TO 4
dull diacouraes and all foolish acts. a balm tD