New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-25

= mole field of history with certain &C 1olasic ana
indifference; Without pern.t,ins .ae
thnl OF PASSION Hence, ne IL after all mere col
lectos OF facts-s polished and charming ssory-tsi-
ler-a sraceful sho "msn o. tae scenes OF ana ms
whose kpo Wedge Of details Is nvaled only oy the
smooth facility Of his descriptions Hs style Is
doubtless admirable, Gifts Gind-hnished wiihdalnsy
yaton-clear and mpd ~ the gentest rlvnlet
which winds gracefully through quiet New-Eag
land valley-redolent OF the choicest literary cur
.uTe, and betrsying an almost affected ali OF GOOD
society. But without any intellectual musculaIiy,
temperate TO tameness, uniformly elegant and as
uniformly timid-free from anything that could VIC.
lently impiDge on the most fastidious tastes, ana
equally free from anything that can touch the higher
sentiments Of our nature and convert the held OF
history into sublime arena where great thoughts
and divine principles struggle for the mastery-n
pals on the sense OF the reader 9th it, DER.
honey ed sweets, producing profoun1 impression OF
monotony, and gaspipg feeling OF sudocstlon, IKE
that Of breathing the air OF close greenhouse, In
its almost profuse luxuriance Of winter blossoms
We long for one free native blast from the ROCKY
Mr.. Prescott has taken the public especially the
British public, by surprise The latter was oy no
means prepared for the advent OF such writer from
the B80tian, commercial, well DO New World
and his sudden appearance IN the midst OF the most
refined circles was nearly as astounding as would
be the discovery of mediey val Gothic temple in the
back woods OF America.
JARED SPARKS
Can claim no higher merit than that of
q diliRent and careful compiler He is familiar with
the SOURCES of American history. Devoted for many
years almost TO the exclusive study OF the SUBJECT
possessing plain, tough sturdy common sense, ana
without the slightest particle ofimaginatlon-hs has
written several historical biographies, as those OF
Washington, franklin and Gouverneur Morris,
which are OF some value works OF reference, but
% models of historical composition are entirely be.
meath criticism. Their style is heavy, numbering,
awkward and not even the negative merit of sim
plicity. Often attempting an ambitious flight,
be makes dire havoc of all the rhetorical
figures, producing admiration for ms inMe-
pioity at the expense OF our confidence in
his taste. In his selections from the papers OF
Warrington he has been guilty OF what we can call
BY no miider name than fragrant literary INSIDE
meaAor We allude to the he9usnt substitution
of his own language for that Of Warrington under
the pretepse of preparing the writings OF the latter
for the public eye BY this process, the most fami
lar letters OF Wsshinston, written in the freedom
private friendship, are made to assume grave and
stately bearing and eliminated of all the touches OF
nature, which, to reader Of the present day, are Of
more interest than the whole Of the senteatious
ious precision. We protest against such tampering
with the productions OF the lllustfi0us American
Nor do we always wish to see the father OF his
country in full dress. No doubt Washington had
man, and the suppression Of the little escapades of
humor or petulance, which sometimes occur in his
Letters, is wretched tribute to his memory.
RICHARD HILDRETH
Is more recent historian. He has writ
ten the History OF the United States do wn to the
Administration Of Thomas Jefferson" and is now
engaged in its completion to a later period. His
work deserves more attention than ii has received
1t 10 keen, ice cold, anatomical analysis Of Amer
lean history, written with bloodless freedom from
passion, diseecting the motives and measures which
have been ufually surrounded with brilliant halo
of admiration, and persistently eschewing every
appeal 20 sentiment imagination, or emotion. The
language 10 clear terse, vigorous, and for the most
M ~ ny.Yot onfl ind
you Of greater power than is exhibited. You leave
the peTusa OF the work with the assurance that you
have been following guide. who, though severe
sombye, taciturn, knows well his road and could
exercise lusty sinews and muscles in case Of need
SAMUEL ELIOT.
A work of considerable learning and re.
search has been written by Samuel Eliot, entitled
The History Of Roman Liberty" As a specimen
OF historical investis ation on difficult and compli
Gated subject, 10 highly creditable to the diligence
on classical models, but il lacks the ease and free
dom of the practiced writer. Nor does the work
exhibit any remarkable traces Of either profound or
original thought Mr.. Eliot is evidently man OF
high cultivation, but can lay no claim to genius.
He Is only safe when he follows his masters When
ever ne attempts TO speculate on his own account,
signal failure 10 the consequence. His book 10 at
once IN illustration o. the elegant culture which !:
OF the mid conventional supsr6ciality of thought,
which distinguishes so large portion OF the schol
die VI WAT uttf6fy meuOpOuS.
FRANCIS PARKMAN
Is young author of singular promise.
HIS recent History Of Pontiac" Is an admirable
production. Combining thoroushDess Of research
with picturesque beauty Of expression, 1t presents
fascinating narrative OF one of the most pregnant
EPISODES in American history. His dicton is copi-
Gus, free, and impressive, often highly ornate, but
never violating good taste his descriptions of nat
ural scenery and OF military movements are graphic
aid spirited; and. with more than common powers
work whose symmetry and harmonious colorins
enfhle 1t to high place among the recent master
pieces OF literary art.
GEORGE TIcKNoR.
In connection with the present topic, we
may allude to the History of spanish Literature"
by George Tickn0r, work which sho VS. no " mach
may be accomplished by thorough scholarship, re-
fined taste, and devotion to speciality OF research
without the possession Of ability or the slight
est Of the generous Ideally which so often
erudits men. The History of Spanish Literature is
not surpassed, indeed 1t is net approached By any
previous work ON the same subject Its criticisms are
almost Invariably acute and discriminating its mar
iauvo portions flow with facile sweetness and
It's srapslations always faithful frequently display
considerable poetic skill. But throughout the whole
work the author rarely suffers himself to exhibit,
IN tnoueht OF an EXPRESSION the originality Of his
mind or any tendency to the higher regions of con-
temptation or poetry.
~ History OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA" BY N. MURRAY. 4 succinct compila.
ton Of the History Of the United States from the Dis
covery OF America to the close OF the War with
Mexico. II processes to be written in accordance
with The principles of peace, and on that accomt
claims the favorable regard those who are opposed
nom conscientious scruples, to the practice of war
The author has made digens use OF the best author.
inss and presented the leading events of American
history in simple and unpreteadiAs style. Q2no
PIP AL. Boston; B. B. Musssy 4 Coz
F We have received from Bangs,
Brother d Co. the first volume Of Bohn's London.
edition Of HunBoLDr's personal Narrative OF
Travels 10 the EQuinoc6al Regions Of America
This edition Of Humboldts admirable WORK omits
the political, commercial, and observations
which have become obsolete BY the changes in the