The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-04


laos and judicial decisions governing them; and
special notices of the business Of shipmasters,
men, and Others, toih coastis By J. SIDNEY HEN
SHAW late of the United States Navy, counsellor
at law, etc New York: J. c. Riker 1873 Ful
ton street lS49.
We learn from the preface that this unpretend-
ing summary is an enlargement OF portion of
lectures upon international Law, delivered by
der of the Navy Department TO the junior officers
Of the Navy. Inasmuch as il presents, in con-
yenent FORM all the laws of the United States
ating consulates, with the decisions of the courts
of the United States upon litgated points thereof,
besides the purport of the general instructions OF the
State Department thus far issued to consuis and
the analogous customs of other countries, IT must
necessarily be desirable uade-mectun for every
consul Of the United States. In this rcspec as a
useful manual for consuls, the writer is authorized
to state that the present distinguished Secretary of
State has ,uodciaily approved OF this compend'
after careful perusal, and encouraged its compile
ton by adding several important notes, and by
supplying necessary documents of recent dates,
and am impression of the consular seal II may be
found at Franck Tayors bookstore.
Pendennis are not usually impatient for
the appearance of serial; but while the third num-
Der of Pendennis has been in the hands OF our
northern friends for some days-and the fourth
number is announced-wc do not know why we
should not be able to find it at Washington
bookstores.
We have received the October number of The
Plough the Loom, and the Anpil, which is full of its
usual valuable matter; and the September number
of The Western Journal Of agriculture manyac-
lures mechanic arts internal improvement, commerce.
and general literature
The North american RepietD, No. CXLp. Boston:
Little & Brown, October, lS49.
This is a good number of Review, which we
should like better if it less local and provincial
in its spirit and scope. There has been too often
solicitude manifest to suit its opinions to the me-
ridian of Cambridge, and utter nothing, either In
the way of praise censure, that could, by any
possibility, be dispeasing to Phi Beta Kappa con-
clave or that would not be pronounced orthodox by
some mutual admiration society,", such as are
tabled to exist in Boston and its vicinity. We think
we see indications Of struggle to escape from this
scholastic pressure, in some of the recent numbers
of the North american. The leading paper OF the
present number is on French ideas of Democracy,
and a community of goods. The moral, which the
writer draws from his survey, is thus summed up,
in language well worthy the attention of those whose
province it is to aid in giving form and direction to
public opinion
have attributed the amentable failure of this last
trial of republicanism in France existed in that
country alone, might seem to have devoted TOO
much space to their discussion. But they have
found preachers and proselytes on this side OF the
Atlantic also and the Socialism OF the latter revolu
ton threatens to create almost as much mischief
here as did the Jacobnsm of the former one. we
have no fears indeed, of the prevalence among our
people of these doctrines in their most exaggerated
and pernicous form; in France alone could absur-
dities so manifest obtain any hold upon the public
mind. But in every community there is a secret
feeling of bitterness ranking in the breasts OF the
poor against the rich, which is with difficulty kept
down by the effects of education and moral and re-
ligious principle and which, in times OF great po
litical excitement, becomes exasperated and men
arinp. Demagogues and theorists know too well
how 10 strike this sensitive chord even in peaceful
and prosperous days; and, where the whole power
is lodged in the hands of the multitude, they may
endanger the organization of society itself by thelr
insidious action, before any general alarm IS ex-
cited
.The revolution of February certainly took the
upper and middling classes in France by surprise
and they found that even their great numeri-
cal superiority afforded them little protection
against the exasperated popuiace IL Is unsafe
even i'm Amerisa TO allow the doctrines of the so
cialsts TO be preached to the people without sup
plyinR an antidote to the poison. The flour rot
which took place in New York some twelve year
ago, and the anti-rent war; which more recently
disgraced that State, significant warnings
The great truths of political economy and civil pol
ity ought To be explained TO the people with som
higher purpose than the hope OF affecting the party
politics of the hour. The educated and rejecting
portion of our community ought not to wait, as thu
members of the French Academy did, till they ar
reminded by the thunder Of the cannon directed
against the barricades, and by the earnest apPea
OF the constituted authorities Of the State, that theI
also have a work to do for the preservation OF so
cety and the interests OF truth"