The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-16


Publisher, Philadelphia. 1858
A Reader for the use of schools consisting
r. q collection of Poems and Prose articles,
Generally unfolding the leading testimonies
If the Society Of Friends, but quite free from
tho snirit of sectarianism, The book is edited
nv a lady of Philadelphia, of the Orthodox
hranch of the Society, and it has an introduc.
tio, BY Enooh Lewis the Editor of 'ahe
Friends -, published in that city,
which must 90 understood as a commentator
and endorsement. of the work.
The book is quite remarkable for the sacred
richness Of its topics, and for the eminent ex-
.elIenvo % their authorship. From Whittier,
hs quotations. are liberal, rich, and judicious;
ana the contributions bv il::a modern host of
the Poets, and from writers of truth and hui
uspi.y, a.q 81 nu.ae,Oqs aud diversified that
complete enumeration would amount to an
index Of the work. 10 proyisien for the right
ealtare O! the heart aad sound di-~"''
~ - IN M
vviuuct, 1t is not only unexceptionahle but, ad-
mirable. History, Biography, and the beauti-
ful in Nature and Art are duly regarded, and
as thoroughly supplied as the limits and de-
sign of such selection could well be made to
embrace
The book is marked and distinguished
throughout by the excellent popularity in the
method Of its compilation. 1t is evidently
selection from abundant resources, which have
accumulated through years of general and we'll
directed reading, and is by this circumstance re-
leyed from the stiffness and monotony common
in collections made up in the haste and under the
influence Of a set purpose. 1t has the best
cuttings OF leisurely reading through large
range of literary pursuits, guided by judicious
and cultivated taste and this feature of the
book alone cOmmends it to acceptance, as
truly rich collection of excellences in all the
departments of reading which it properly EN-
braces
We have remarked that the articles general
ly uphold the testimonies of Friends, but it
would be mistake TO infer that they are to
any considerable extent gathered from Qua
ker authors. They are in fact for the most
part from names of every known and unknown
credible best utterances of the best men and
women, of every sect, who have spoken for the
one true faith, and labored for the highest
common welfare of humanity. 1t is moreover,
as we'll adapted to the apprehension of child
hood, as to the instruction and qualification of
maturer years On this account, it is publish
ed in three forms one for the use of schools,
with 10 portraits, leather gilt $500 and one
plain at ST 90. SENIOR.
SELECT BRITISH ELoouENcE: Embracing tho best
Speeches, entire, of tho most eminent Orators of
Great Britain, for the last two centuries, with
sketches Of their lives estimate of their genius
and Notes, critical and explanatory. By Chauncey
A Goodrich. D. D.. Professor in Yale College. n.
York: Harper & Brothers. 1852. PIP. 9i7, royal
octave
This is work of rare merit. 1t is not, as
might be supposed, mere collection of extracts
or choice mOrceaux of British Oratory. We
have here entire the best speeches of men whose
names are synonymous with eloquence, and also
critical notes, giving accurately the course OF
argument and varied illustration which entitie
them to be regarded as the masterpieces of
modern Forensic and Parliamentary Oratory.
The introductions and notes are specimens OF
editorship, such as are seldom met with at the
present day. Indeed, for compact historical
statement, thorough and patient sitting Of evil
n ,ooIo nd
racy anecdote we view it as far in advance of
any similar work in the English language. 1t
is the fruit of more than thirty years study
and investigation from one well qualified, who
has engaged in his task con amore, and whose
falthiulness in its execution is attested by the
mass OF materials he has gathered, and the
hight he has thrown on many difficult points of
political history. His notices of Lord Chatham
Burke, Fox and William Pitt, and his remarks
on Jdnlus, Sheridan, Erskine, and others, alone
are worth the price of the volume. Condensa-
ton marks every page, every line. The author
has labored TO compress as much as possible
INTO the smallest compass and has succeeded
10 no other single volume can we point for the
means Of forming so correct an estimate of
those struggles between the mighty men of
their day, the war Of intellectual giants in the
public forum, as is here given. They are be-
fore us, living, moving, and speaking the dig
nifed elevation Of Chatham, the wondrous ex-
uberance of Burke the manly sense and popu-
lar address of Fox, the splendid satire of Sher-
idan, and the stately march OF the Younger
Pitt and all their peculiar characteristics,
stand out in high relief so clearly in every fea-
ture that we cannot mistake them. The quo
tations from the Classics, so aptly applied, are
given in elegant TRANSACTIONS, and their beauty
and force is thus brought home to the English
reader, often great desideratum in works of
this class. And, what too we always consider
as no slight addition to any valuable book, 1T
has copious table Of contents, prepared with
the same care as marks every other portion OF
the work while the typo and paper form fit
chasing for the rich mosaic they contain.
1t is volume that should be studied by the
statesman, the lawyer, and the preacher, and
especially by every young man preparing to
exert any influence on the national mind and
the service which Professor Goodrich has done
to the public by his thorough editorship is very
great 1t shows us how much similar research,
patient toll, keen appreciation of truth, and re-
lined taste, are needed in all the departments
Of our literature; and what rich stores OF
knowledge might be brought out to view, were
others to engage in the task of delving into its
hidden mines with like dsyotednsss and prepa-
ration, 1t may perhaps correct the fashy mode
Of public speaking and writing, 10 common at