The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-12
The Lite raSy w Osltl.

in Boston, Philadelphia, and New YORK, are larger
than they have been in any previous year; and,
though there will not be large display OF important
original works, the press has been unusually actVe'
and in no season has there been 80 re narkable an
improvement in the general style Of book manutac-
ture. The public appear to have had quite enough
of cheap editions, and hereafter to have god
authors on thick, firm and white paper, and from
large and elegantly cut type, widely loaded. In
such luxurious style, single Boston house is to give
us, in rapid succession, twenty thirty stout
octavos embracing Plutarchs Lives, "a new trans
lation by Mr.. Clough, Oxon,) Hume's History Of
England, Goldsmith's Works, Life of Sir James
Macintosh, &C., &C.. and from one of our New York
houses we are to have, in uniform and beautiful Sc
ries, an extensive collection of the English classics
The venerable Mr.. James Savage, President of the
Massachusetts Historical Society," has just published
new edition Of the History Of New England,
from 1880 to l649 by John Winthrop, Esq, frs;
Governor Of Massachusetts Bay There is no work
more valuable, and, except the Magnolia Christi
Americana" none surious respecting the early
history Of this country and il is quite safe to say
that other person could have brought to its edito-
rial calculation and illustration, research so ntelli
gent laborous and patient, and spirit SO thorough
ly imbued with the feelings purposes and distinc-
tons Of the Puritan age, as Mr. Savage. Neverthe.
less, it is amusing frequently, and painful sometimes,
to how completely he is partisan, especially in
everything relating to Cotton Mather, to make
point against whom would seem to afford the great
est joy he looks for in the world. An edition of Ma
theirs Magnolia has appeared within few weeks at
Hartford and it is to he regretted tlat it was not
prepared, though it had been by an enemy, with
something Of the sagacity and pains-taking which
mark this new impression of Winthrop. The Hart
ford publisher has done the public injury by fill
ing the market with his copies, competent editors
had it in contemplation to bring out the erudite,
quaint, qubbling, vain, bgoted and headstrong old
Puritan, with all the appliances Of contemporary
learning necessary to the proper appreciation and
timaton Of his cumbrous and curious chronicle.
The season has furnished memoirs of two artists
of eminence, Cole and Greenough, whose works are
among the choicest treasures in American galleries,
and whose deaths have been as great msfortunes to
society as to art. The memoir of the painter Cole,
by Rev. Louis L. Noble, is in respect well done.
With the ample materials which appear to have been
in the hands Of the author, the book such as it is,
might easily have been committed to the press in six
weeks instead of three or four years. aud any COM
mon proof reader should have been able very much
to improve its STYLE which is difuse, involved and
difficult beyond frequent examples. And the work
is SO printed-the correspondence DIARIES notes. &C.,
of Cole being in the same type as the part by Mr..
Noble, and without any marks OF quotation that it
is nearly always incOnvenient to ascertain whether
we are reading what was written by the painter,
what was written by his biographer. The execution
Of the volume on Greenough, by MI. H. I. Tucker
man, is much better. large collection Of the sculp
tors characteristic and delightful correspondence
would, however have been much more acceptable.
Mr. Tuckerman does not seem to have understood
very perfectly Greenougns genial and liberal charac
ter and it may be doubted whether his temper quite
fits him for the discussion Of contemporary art or
biography The volume, whatever its faults, is ex
ceedpgy interesting, and upon the whole is as good
as anything Of its kind done in this country.
CHARLES Francis Adams has just brought out the
eighth volume of the works of his grandfather john
AGams This collection was advertised to consist of
ten Volumes and we are sorry to learn that Mr.. Ad
ans will confne himself to that number though
three or four more might very easily DC filed with
interesting and important historical correspondence
by Mr.. Adams and his confidential friends. But il
will crafty all who have read the four small volumes
Of private letters by John Adams and his wife, to
learn that these collections will probably be enlarged
TO some half dozen times their present extent and
printed in three four volumes, uniform with this
edition of ,he works Of John Adams This carefully
and judicously edited compilation of the writings Of
the great revolutionary orator and diplomat is of
incalculaoe value to the historical student and is
deserving place in the library Of every intelligent
American citizen. We hope that, as soon as Mr.
Charles Francis Adams has completed it, he will
60 on with the youminous and scarcely less in.
teresting works Of his father, John Quincy Adams.
We dissent entirely from the position that states
mans letters and memoirs should be withheld until
his cotemp0rares and the subjects of his observation
ae dead. By all means, let us, who are ost imme-
dately interested and most capable of their proper
criticism have that extraordinary diary and the VA
iious learned brilliant, personal, partisan, political
and philosophical correspondence, and the reports
speeches. essays, and treatiscs of the old man elo
quent." If they extend to twenty stout octavos no
matter there are enough people willing to pay for
them, and Mr. c. f.. Adams, we trust, has abundant
leisure for their editorial supervision.
We arc happy to learn that the Hon. Henry s.
Randall is getting along rapidly with his Life of
Jefferson which will be noemparaby the best book
on the subject.
Mr.. Henry Stevens, formerly Of Vermont, and
now Of the British Museum in London has recently
come in possession of large collection Of inedited
papers by DR.. Franklin. We are not advised
whether it embraces the mysterously lost continue
ton of Franklin's Memoirs, but OF letters to and
from the philosopher it contains many Of singular in
terest, and of the utmost importance to Franhn's
fame as statesman.
Colonel Benton is giving much of his time to the |
composition and revision Of his Memoirs of which he
has lately permitted the public to see some pouant
specimens, fully justfyng the expectations formed
on the announcement that he was writing Thirty |
Years in the Senate of the works character and |
quality.
Mr.. Bancroft will publish the third volume of lis
History Of the American Revolution, being the |
sixth of his History of the United States in Oc
tober This great work has constantly increa sing