The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-04-14

Among the historians who have attained
high and deserved reputation within the United
! States within the last few years, we are inclined
/ to yield the first place to George Bancroft His
great work on tho ''History OF the U. States
h1s been brought down from the commencement
of American colonization to the opening of the
Revolutionary War; to which subject it is un.
derstood that h intends devoting the succeed
ing volumes. His researches in The publ C off
ces Of England, while he was Minister of the
United States at the Court Of ST.. James, have
brought 10 light great mass Of Documentary
evidence on the antecedents aud course of the
Revolution, which have not yet be:n made pub.
lie.
With his critical sagaciy in sizing eviderc
his hound like instinct in seeming every parti-
Gle of testimony that can lead him on the right
ira ok, and his plastic skill in moulding the most
confused and discordant ma erials into com
pact, symmetrical and truthful narrative, he can
not fail to present the story of that great hstor-
ical drama, with freshness, accuracy, and ar
tistic beauty, worthy of The immortal events it
commentaries. Mr.. Bancroft is now excu.
sively occupied in the completion OF this work.
He pursucs it with the drudging fidelity Of
mechanical labnrer, combined with the cnthu
siasm of poet ard the com 2rehensive wisdom
of statesman With strong social tastes, he
gives little time to society. His tavori,e post
is in his library, where he labors the live-long
day. in the spirit of The ancient artist, MALTA
dies sine linen. His experience in political and
diplomatic life, no less than his rare and gcner-
Gus culture, and his singular union Of the high
est mental faculties, enable to predict with
confidence that this work will be rec med among
the genuine master pieces Of historical gent
us.
The volumes Of the "History of the United
Staes" already published, are well known 10
intelligent readers both in Great Britain and
America. They distinguished for their
compact brevitv of statement, their terse and
vigorous dic,ion, their brilliant panoramic views,
and the boldneas and grace Of their sketches
OF personal character. A still higher praise
may be awarded to this history for the nacity
with which ii clings TO the dominant and in
spring idea of which it records the develop
ment. Whoever reads il, without comprehen-
ding the standpoint of the author, is liable to
disa appointment: for it must be confessed that,
as narrative of events, the preference
may be given to the productions of far inferior
authors. But it is TO be regarded as an epic IN
prose OF the triumph IF freedom This noble
principle is considered by Mr. Bancroft as an
essential attribute of the soul, necessarily as
serting itself in proportion to the spiritual SUI
prenacy which has been achieved. The his. |
tory, then, is devoted to the illustration of the
progress OF freedom, as an Oubrth of the
spontaneous acton of the soul 1t is in this
point Of view that the remarkable chapters on
the Massachusetts Pilgrims, the Pennsylvania
Quakers, and the North American Indians,
were written; and their full purport, their pro.
found significance, only be appreciated by |
readers whose minds possess at least the seeds
of sympathy with this sublime phlosopy.
The chapter on the Quakers is pregnant
psychol gical treatise. Sparkling all over with |
the electric lighs OF rich humanitarian phil |
osophy, 1t invests the theplogic visions o! Fox
and Barclay with radiance and beauty which |
have been i'll preserved in the f ,rmal and lfrless
organic systems of their successors The pnr-
allcl run by the his orian between VILLAIN Penn
and John Locke is on of the most character
istic productions of his peculiar genius Origin
al, subtle, suggestive, crowded with mater and |
frugal of words, it brings out the distinctive
features Of the spiritual and mechanical scools
in the persons OF two of their representative
men, with breadth and relative which is sell
dom found in philos phical portrai ures. Mr..
Bancroft was the son OF an eminent Unitar an
clergyman in Worcester, Massachusetts, He
was born about the beginning Of the present
century, and is consequently little more than
fifty years of age He graduate, at Haryl land
University, with distinguished hunors, before
he had completed his fifteenth year. Soon after
he sailed for Europe, and continued his studies
at the German Universities, returning to his
own country just before the attainment Of his
maj rly
Devnting hi.,selffor several years TO literary
and educational pursuits, he .qnied brilliant
poet, critic, and essaylst; and
at subsequent period, entering the career OF
politics, he has signalized himself by his attach
ment to democratic ideas, and the cl"quence and
force with which on all occasions he has sus,
tanned the prime Piles with the prevalence of {
which he Identifies the progress of humanity ,,
Vest minister Rrrtcc. 5
There were II divorces legalzed at the II
cent cession of the Alabama Legislature. r
Speed Butler, has been appointed to Wes
Point Military Academy, from the 9TH Illinois
District.
MAINE Law IN WIscoNsIs-The Leg =
stature of Wisconsin, have passed The
Maine Law, and submitted it to a vote of the
,eople.
"Why are Mrs. Ellis writings like the mud |
" condition of slreets' Because they tend t. u
levate female habits.
"JorL AND THE MAINE Law In the frsf
hap,er of Joel, fourth verse; will be found the y
GLOWING ;-"Awake, We drunkards, and weep .
nd howl, all We drinkers of wine because Of
he new wine; for it is cut off from your he
H