The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-28

Only regret that il was not in vogue twenty
years sooner. French is nearly as indispensable
to a reading man as TO traveller and we are
glad at the addition Of this Grammatical Sy-
nopsis,' which enables one to acquire very rap
idly sufficient reading knowledge OF the tongue
But why does neither book contain complete
table Of irregular verbs7 This, and such axe
deficiencies. make them much less valuable lot
reference We offer the suggestion to the next
editor for not all the dictionaries supply the want.
A oomnlete tabular Grammar, for Accidence,) which
could be had in half the space given to this Sy-
nonsis would be Of ten times the service The
book Of Dialogues seems to be full and good-an
excellent Companion" we suggest, for an Allan
tic voyage--perhaps something of bore at home.
However, to learn language is work, not play.
The Reader appears to be an interesting selec-
tion One book of this sort is about as good as
another A hint ought to have been given of
the history Of these twenty-six men--at least the
dates ftheir births, and some rude classification of
their works. So we reserve ample commenda-
ton for the next edition, which will doubtless
supply these defects
DICTIONARY OF MECHANICS. ESoIxR WORK AND ENer.
SERRrss. Edited by Oliver Byme. New York APP
pleton.
All we vouch for is the neatness, cheapness,
and seeming completeness of this work. ITS plan
and intention are admirable and we are assured,
on what we consider the very high authority of one
thoroughly converssnt in these matters, that the
Dictionary is all that it claims to bean excel
lent and reliable work of reference If "a mechanic,
we should put it first among the second depart
ment of tools-unless the furnishing of the brain
goes even before the furnishing of the shop.
The CARAVAN, A COLLECTION POPULAR TALES,
Translated from the German of Wilhelm Hauf. New
York Appleton. For sale by K. Farnham.
A very neatly printed and illustrated child's
book, after the Oriental fashion, e., under guise
of stories told to a tired caravan. The general
style of adventure does not differ from most such
books, and has not, apparently, the odd freshness
Of Hans Christian Andersen. We have not had
an opportunity Of submitting it to the final ver-
dict Of an intelligent child of the proper age
but have no doubt it would bear that test very
we'll
The war WITH MEXICO REvIswRD. ByA A. Liver
more. Boston: Crosby Nichols 1864 For sale by
Taylor Maury
AS is generally known, this essay obtained the
very fattering testimonial of the prize offered by
the American Peace Society. We are most
struck with the untiring care and industry mani
fest in every page. Throughout all details down
to the aptness and reference of the numerous
quotations found in it, each part seems to have
been wrought with most scrupulous pains, The
authors name is a guarantee for the work being
honestly and conscientiously done. The high
moral tone, and the clear, strong, emphatic Ian
guage, put it high on the list Of similar publ
cations. If we were TO take an exception to any
thing in it, it would be to its apparent anxiety to
make out case, in every singular particular,
against our Government and its apparent un-
willingness to in itself anything else than
its crime and blood. These are matters of i'm
preston, or qualification merely The array OF
testimony in this essay is very striking Almost
every more striking incident is preserved in the
words of the original witness. For this labor, both
the friend and enemy of peace should thank MIR
Livermore. He offers as many features needful
to make up picture of that event, could easily
be gathered in so small volume. And as the
Mexican war was mere plaything and lullaby
to that civil contest which some men seem adjust
ing their nerves to look at calmly, we hope these
timely counsels from legion Of eye-witnesses
will serve to give our people more distinct APP
prehension of the nature of that utima ratio.
CoNsrXscs Lvxpear, TIRE Fur~wxss E.son
Harpers. For sale by Franck Taylor.
Our general indifference towards religious
novels and poor print has not been so far over.
come as to enable us to speak confidently Of the
merits of this tale. From what little we know
Of it, we are not aware of anything in the thought
narrative that entities it to special notice. A.
to it's protested intention, to illustrate the mis-
chief done by the willy priesthood of Rome" w
submit that fictitious illustration proves nothing
but the authors prepossession, and effects moth
ing but an increase of prejudice on either side
The author says that the hctsD occurred with
in few years; but he does not state what ar,
the facts-his argument in the connection beine
to vindicate the use of fiction. n
! The AMERICAN PouLTaY YARD BY d. J. Browne. Larg
II mo. PIP. 329
Text and illustrations are very neat The
reading matter has some curious eruditon, and
seems to comprehend a very full account of the
matter We believe this is the standard work in
this line--of the highest authority, and the best
for practical handbook. Its price is seventy.
five cents in cloth, dollar
For sale at Farnham's.
THE UNION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MEETING
IN PHILADELPHIA.
MEsSRs. BROWN, CADwALLADER, PAGE,
AND TAYLOR.
WILMINGTON, FsJrnary 20, 1850
To the Edi,oY Of Tie National Era:
attended the Union MeetingD of the Hun
ker Democracy, held last night in the Chinese
Museum, in the city of Philadelphia. 1t was a
crowd, indeed--for those who were called were
present, and perhaps quite as many more who
were not called The meeting was to be curious
one, and curious people went in great numbers to
see the show. The Pennsylvania, edited by the