The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-27
LITERARY NOTICES.

Brothers For sale by franck Taylor.
Mr.. Hildreth's History of the Colonial and
Revolutionary periods Of this country, we have
already spoken Of 1t has been long enough be-
fore the public for its merits to become known,
impartial history, full though concise, and svnc-
ing at once laborious research and sound judg-
ment. In the volume before US, he resumes his
narrative with the adoption of the Federal Con-
stitution, and presents a complete view of the
Administration Of Washington. He proposes to
follow this up with two volumes more, bringing
the History down to the end Of the Sixteenth
Congress, embracing the period Of the origin,
policy conflicts mutations, and final dissolution,
of the two parties known as Federalists and Re-
publicans or Democrats; period of struggles
within and dangers from without during which
the tenacity of the American Union and the
strength Of the Federal Government were SUBJ
jected to repeated and trying tests.'
We hail the work with pleasure, and promise
the author at least an attentive reader.
CITATIONS AND SPEECHES. In two volumes. BY Charles
Sumner. Boston Ticknor, Reed, & Fields For sale by
IayIOr q Waury; Gun. avenue washington
Were the eloquent utterance of great princi-
Piles and their embodiment in consistent and
pure life sufficient passport to high political
station, Charles Sumner would now be Senator
Of the United States. Whatever may be the re-
suit Of the present struggle in Massachusetts,, it
cannot affect the reputation of the author of these
Orations and Speeches. That will live and grow
when mere political distinction shall have been
forgotten. For, these productions have perma-
nent value. They exhibit the highest moral
truth, in its broadcast application, enforced in
earnest tones by cogent argument, and Illustrated
by the rhetoric Of an sffiuent scholarship The
work is neatly got up in two duodecimo volumes,
in the usual unexceptionable style Of Ticknor,
Reed, & Fields.
The FOOTPRINTS rHB CREATOR or, the Asterolspis
of StrOmness. BY Hugh Miller, Author of the Old Red
Sandstone. Cincinnati; VIM. H. Moore Co.
The Cincinnati imprint on this important book
reminds us of the enterprise of city which, not
yet fifty years old, is beginning to republish some
of the most valuable scientific treatises from
abroad. The fact is creditable to the energy of
the publishers and significant of the thoughtful
character of the population, which within the
space of half century has reclaimed wilder
ness, and at the same time found leisure for SCI
ent6c recreation.
This work is curious and profound examina-
ton into fossil geology, and an exhibition of its
bearings upon the question of creation 1t has al
ready gone to a third edition in London, and is
now used by DR.. Buckland, as one of the text
books for his geological lectures at Oxford. Ac-
companying the republication, we find sketch
of the authors life and an estimate of his writ
ings, by Sir David Brewster.
JAMIE PARKER THR FUGITIVE By Mrs. Emily Cathe-
rine Person Hartford Brockett, Fuller, Il Co.
The writer of this most unexceptionable book
Of the kind we have ever read, thus introduces
herself to her readers "The materials Of this
sketch were gathered during a residence at the
South. Pleasant "reminiscences of kind friends
there render it impossible for the writer to cher
ish sectional prejudces, Like many Southern
ers, however, she cannot shut her eyes to the de-
formity Of that Power that casts so dark shade
of guilt on our land Graded among New Eng.
land hills, and with hearty sympathies for the
heroes Of all ages and of every country. abe
cannot view unmoved the life-and death struggles
of those now flying from degrading servitude.n
Mrs. Persons book, while it is full of deep
sympathy for the slave does not exaggerate or
caricature the faults Of the master We know,
from our own observation that the picture she
draws of life on Southern plantation is true
one. Inconsistent and unjust it may seem, it is
still fact that, next to savetraders, Southerners
despise overseers. They belong to a different
caste. They cannot rise, as other poor but wor-
thy men may, in society. However wealthy they
may become, they are always prescribed in some
sort-much on the same principle, We suppose,
that the people who make laws to infict capital
punishment, yet refuse to associate with hang
man.
So far as we are able to Judge Of the feelings and
prejudices of Southerns, there is nothing in this
book to which they will not subscribe, except per-
haps the abstract question Of the right Of the
slave to escape, and the policy Of aiding him to
do so.
Setting political animosities aud private inter-
ests aside, there is but little difference Of opinion,
even on these questions, between the North and
South.
We think it will soon get to be understood at
the South, that the man who has enough intelli-
gence and enterprise TO escape from the midst OF
slavery and make his way to free State, is not
exactly fit to be slave, and that it will be safer
and better of without him.
The story is an excellent one, full Of interest
and well sustained throughout; and every gener-
Gus heart, whether at the North or South, will
sympa,hize in the happiness of the fugitive fam
lily, when all their tolls and troubles past, they
meet around their own fre-side, where fugitive
slave laws are not recognised. M. L. B.
TIE FnAScosIAN STORIES BY Jacob Abbott. Harper
Brothers, New York.
These stories are published in series OF FIVE
volumes The first four are before us. They
are the " Wallace Mary Bell" =" Mallevile,"
and q MARY Erskinc" The forthcoming volume
is entitled Beechnutn
These names belong to the principal person
ages in the books, and each appears in all. The
name Of the volume indicates which one figures
most conspcuousy in it. We have not read
them, but our children land children are gene
rally good judges in such matters) say they are
very delightful indeed
The author is 80 well known to the Juvenile
world that he needs no introduction from us
His histories for children have long been the de-
light Of our little circle-and it welcomes his
new and beautiful story books as it would the
visit of an old friend.
For sale by Franck Taylor, Washington.
M. L. b.
PICTORIAL fIRLD Book oF rHR REVOLUTION. by Ben