The daily union., 1854-12-14
LITERARY NOTICE.

History Of Tie Origin, Formation, and AaoptioH Of the co'l-
sftioa Of the Unaed Saies c notices Of ITS principal
tramers. By George Ticknor Curtis Volume l. New
York Harper & Brothers, 1854.
We have risen with unmixed pleasure from the careful
perusa the volume of this history of the constitu-
ton by George Ticknor Curtis of the Boston bar He
says with great justice in his preface that our literature
had not supplied special history of the origin and es-
tablshnent Of the constitution Of the United States for
the wellknown work of Justice Story designed more
"a practical exposition of the instrument itself than
history of its formation and students of the polt
cal affairs of this country have had full TO estimate
the Of such work as is now supplied for their
study
This need has been the felt because the work of
the distinguished author of the Commentaries the Con-
s,utou was from the necessity Of his plan directed to
the advocacy of many opinions which had entered largely
into the political Of this generation And al
though these opinions urged with dignity and fair
ness they gave notwithstanding the whole body of the
text character which WILL long these or kindred
questions remain undetermined, the author of the
Commentaries to be regarded advocate less than
historian.
The subject chosen by Mr.. Curtis frees him. large
extent from this embarrassment and although it is easy
perceive from occasional passages in his work that he
has adopted the Of his private opinion the doc
trines urged with such ability by Daniel Webster in his
distinguished senatorial life yet the adcocGe nowhere ap
pears His work in Its cain mpartalty and in its just
appreciation of those who contributed to the formation of
our wise and prosperous government stands upon the
level with the history of the English constitution by
Henry Hallam and think that Mr. Curtis could not
desire to receive a higher tribute of praise.
The biographical sketches the close Of the first volume
will enlist the iveiest interest among all classes of read
Those who not sufficiently attracted by the
dignity and grace OF the narrative style of the author TO
the solid portions of the WORK WILL in these briet
memoirs, fnd ample pleasure and contentment We do
not think that the press could perform task more CRATE
full than their republication The whole work will find its
way often TO the hands of the student than to the
possession of the larger number who b their avoca-
tons diverted from continuous study and it. therefore
becomes public journals in the wise of their inu-
ence upon public opinion and public knowledge TO ex-
end far tey can the information afforded by such
book They may least well present the faithful denea-
ions which il contains Of those great exempars OF patriot
sm whose memories are so dear TO this people We
would particularly refer the sketches Of Washington of
hamilton, of Franklin and of Madison
Although any work upon American history from the
pen Of Daniel Webster would have possessed incacua-
bic value are since the perusa Of this volume, more
Fconced TO his abandonment Of his great purpose The
author did not sit in vain at the feet of his Gamae The
lessons Of the teacher live in the pages of the scholar
Webster might without derogaion TO his own genius
have adopted the growth Of thHt pup-nind which be
ems to have bsered by the secret influences of his
private affection so large in knowledge and ripe in sehol-
aShiP are the fruits which il has produced