The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-04

This book, the writer well says, ID g an APP
Proclamation to biography and, as we conceive,
a very close one. Its subject is DANIEL WEBSTER
II contains brief account of the private life of this
distinguished man, but somewhat ample and
highly entertaining narrative of his political ca
rcer. II will be read with satisfaction and profit by
every American reader, and with high admiration
by the most of them.
For sale by Taylor and Maury, Washington
city.
The LILY AND THE TOTEM, the Huglenots IN
Florida A series of Sketches, Picturesque and
Historical, of the Colonies of Coligni, IN North
America, l562-l570 by the author of the
{" Ycmassce," "Lie of Marion " Life OF Bay
ard,'' &c New York Baker and Scribner, 1850.
The name of w. GILMORE SIMMs will commend
this work to the American public; and we will per-
nit the author to reveal its character, in the fol
lowing extract from his preface and dedication;
"The design Of the narrative which follows con-
templates, in nearly equal degree, the picturesque
and the historical. 1t belongs class of writings
with which the world has been long since made ia
mliar, through collection of the greatest inter
est the body of which continues TO expand, and
which has been entitled the Romance of History
This will justly apply to the present sketches,
yet must not be construed to signify any large or
important departure, in the narrative, from the alb
soue records Of the past The romance here is not
suffered to supersede the history On the contrary,
the design Of the writer has been simply TO supply
the deficiencies OF the record. Where the author,
in this species of writing, has employed history,
usually, as a mere loop upon which to hang his
lively fances and audacous inventions, embody-
ing in his narrative small portion OF the chron-
icie ne possible have been content to reverse the
process making the fiction simply tributary, and
always subordinate 10 the fact. have been stu
dious to preserve all the vital details Of the event,
rs embodied in the record, and have only ycntured
my own 'grafIngs' upon it in those portions OF
the history which exhibited a certain badness in
their details, and secmed to demand the helping
agency Of art. In thus Intervening the history
with the fiction have been socitous always OF
those prophecies and of that Uraisembiance, in the
introduction of new details, which are essential to
the chief characteristics of the history; seeking
equally to preserve the general integrity Of the
cord from which draw my materials, and of that
art which aims to present them in costume the
most picturesque. My labor has been not to make,
but to perfect history; not 70 invent facts, but to
trace them out TO seemingly inevitable results TO
take the premise and work out the problem;
cognise the meagre record which aflords simply
general outline and cndcavor, by severe Undue
ton To supply its details and processes. ] have
been at no such pains to guise the chronicle,
will prevent the reader from separatng-shoud he
desire TO do so-the certain from the c0njectUa and
yet / trust that have succeeded in linking the
two together, as TO prevent the lines Of junction
from obtruding themselves Extensively upon his
consciousness. Upon the successful prosecution OF
this object, apart from the native interest which
the subject tsef pofscsscs, depends all the merit Of
the performance It lie by raising the tone Of the
- a 4 q. 4
making it dramatic by the continued exercise Of
art, rather than by any actual violation Of its re-
corded facts, that have cndeavored to awaken in
tercst To bring out such portions Of the event as
demand elevation TO suppress those which only
cumbrous, and neither raise The imposing, nor re-
lievc the unavoidable; and tosupply from the proba
Die the apparent deficiencies Of the actual, have
been the chief processes in the art which have
ploycd What is wholly fictitious will appear ratl.
episodical matter, than part 81 the nara
tive; and brief historical summary, even in re-
gard to the episode, shall occasiouallybe employed
10 determine, for the reader, upon how much or
how little he may properly rely history"
For sale by Taylor Maury, Washington city.
HYAcINrHE, on THE CoSTRAsr, is tho title Of
story by Mrs. Grey, author Of Alice Seymour, and
sundry other works Of fiction, just issucd by Peter
son, Of Philadelphia. II is well intended little
affair, very common place in style, and defective
in composition, and cmintntly worthy a place
amongst the "chcsp literature" Of the day. It is
for sale by Mr. shngton, odcan Building, whose
shelves contain many books Of superior merit.
Tar FARMER's GUrpE TO SCIENTIFIC ANp PnAc-
TrcAL AeRrcULTuRE.-Wc have heretofore com
mended this work to our readers in emphatic
terms; and with the issue Of each now number we
would repeat tho commentator. Numbers and
are just received by Mcssrs. Taylor Maury.
We have received V. u. Palmer's Business
MsS's ALnANAc for 1851. II contains, besides the
Astronomical calculations. much useful informa-
ton for merchants, manufacturers, mechanics, and
business men generally. Among the great variety
Of its contents find articles on the following
SUBJECTS BroadstuHs, population, routes and dis-
tanccs, poet Office, telegraphs, the iron trade the
planets, &c, California, the tariff, weights and
measures, the coal trade railroads, the American
press philosophy Of advertising, commerce. cotton,
chronological events. exports and imports, rules
for business mon, Cuba, banks and currency, wa.
terworks, &c, &C. Indeed, Il il full Of tabular
and statistic matter, with variety Of reflections
and suggestions, which make il valuable to any
man Of active thought or business, and is sold at
the low price of twelve and half cents per single
copy, one dollar per dozen, seven dollars per hum
dred.
MoNTHL1rs ron ssPrENBeR.-TAe Southern Lit
omy Messenger contains highly entertaining Ia
BILE Of contents, entirely original. The article on
Education in the Navy" merits the attention OF
all who interested in that important branch Of
the national defence -Hmpers Nep Monthly
Magazine comprises instructive series Of arti.
eles by the most popular British authors The
International will hereafter be Issued only in month.
ly numbers. The selections are judic iously made.
We are indebted 30 the politeness Of Messrs.
Taylor Maury for the 9Th number of Lossing's
Pictorial Field Book Of the Rsvoiution-a beautiful
specimens also for the September number Of Har-