The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-12
VOL. VIII.

acquaintance with the ways and workings Of
the human heart. The conversational portion
often piquant and graceful, is made to embody
ideas, rather than TO illustrate character.
There are passages in it of exquisite psthos,
especially where the patient trusting, selfssc-
rifcing, long-suffsring Ellen appears before US.
The book comes forth anonymously, but it is
said to be the first published production Of
Miss Mary Thomas, of Cincinnati, sister Of
the well-known author Of |" Clinton Bradshaw
BLAckwooD's EDrNBURGH MAGAZINE for Septem.
Dor. Now York: Leonard Scott Co. For salo
by Taylor Maury, Washington, D. C..
There are two highly instructive articles in
this number-"T The Coming Fortunes of Our
Colonies in the Pacific" and "The Spanish
Revolution" One or two of its literary articles
have rich flavor about them. Mrs Stoves
new book, "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands
is the subject of q long, rambling, and sIashing
review. One of the chief complaints of the
reviewer is, that Mrs Stowe, when in Great
Britain, consorted with Peace Advocates, Dis
senters, Quakers, and straight-laced ReformerF
and obtained very little insight into the real
life of England and Scotland. 1t is quite
probable, that had che penetrated into the ar
cana of what Blsckwood calls " the real TfsU
her Memories might have been moro inter
esting, but scarcely so "sunny" and hattering.
THE FEMALE PRosE WRITERS OF AMERICA. With
Portraits, Biographical Notices, and Specimens of
their Writings. By John S. Hart, L. L. D. New
edition, revised and enlarged Philadelphia. E.
II. Butler d Co. For sale by Franck Taylor, Penn
av., Washington, D. C.
A volume Of five hundred and thirty.fvo
pages, beautifully printed, illustrated and
bound, containing, among many names dis6n
guished in American literature, some whose
first and only distinction is, being bound IN
within the lids of this elegant book. The in
dustrious editor has done his work gallantly
and deserves well of womankind. His business
was to show up the greater and the lesser
lights just as they shine, and it takes oil sorts
of stars and little twinklers to make up the
"spangled heavens"
PRESERVATION OF HEALTH AND PREVENTION OF
D. Appleton & Co. For sale by 4. Farnham,
Washington, D. C.
There is nothing new in this volume, but It
is sound and practical. Medical science has
done more for the prevention than the cure Of
disease and, for this reason, the more these
trestises on the Preservation of Health are mu
tiplied and read, the better The People gen
orally, if they knew as much about preventing
disease as the Doctors, would be able to do
with as little physic as those learned gentle
men do.
AMERIkA AND DIE sKLAvEREI, america and Sa-
very BY julius c. Overbautr. New York,
1854
This is a pamphlet of 80 $40 pages, in tho
German language, which wsnotiOe as an ind
cation of the state of feeling on the great
question of human ibsry which prevails
among our German population. It contains
a clear statement of facts, tracing up the his
tory of the diverse action and public sentiment
in this country, with reference to Slavery.
Quoting from the Declaration of Independence,
which is regarded but ss the embodying Of
principles existing long previous in reference
to the oppression of the mother country, the
author cites the memorable paragraph pcnned
by Jefferson, in which he so protested against
the action of the Kingof Great Britain in fas.
tening the slave tradi on the Colonies, and
which was excluded flom the Declaration Of
Independence in oonsc tusnce of the unwilling
ness of South CarOlinl and Georgia to concur
in the same. He thu asserts that even then
the action of these States was adverse to Free
dom in its broad sense, ond.but that the revolt
ed Colonies, in their perilous struggle with the
mother country, could not afford to sacrifice
their unity of resistance to even 60 just prin-
ciple, this very principle, by being set forth
broadly before the world in that immortal
instrument, would have forever put an end
speedily to Slavery in this country. Yet the
feelings of these patriots, he says, were all ad-
verso to Slavery; and, as proof of it, recurs
to the Ordinance of 1887, the effect of which
he traces in the formation of the free States Of
the West and Northwest and their growing
prosperity. He views, too, the Fugitive Slave
Law of the Constitution but as an exceptional
case, an extreme one epgrafted on it. and not
indicative of its spirit which was all for Free
dom. In this point of view he quotes the act
abolishing the slave trade, and boldly main
tains, that had nothing unexpected occurred
to change the face of affairs, the death blow
was struck at Slavery, and the views of the
founders of the Republic would have been real
lied. But tho increased value given to cotton,
the purchase of Louisiana, and similar causes,
gave q retrograde direction, which continued
on, in spite of the stand taken by the Mis-
souri, Compromise, till the acquisition of Texas,
the war with Mexico, the Compromise, and
finally the repeal of the Missouri Compromise,
known as the Nebraska and Kansas Bill, have
brought things to where they are, and reused
the feeling that now q stand must be taken for
liberty, stronger than any since tho outset.
We have sketched this statement, in sub
stance, of the authors mode of treating his
subject, for the benefit of those of our readers
who cannot avail themselves of his pages in
the original language. Oar German popula-
ton will, by hundreds and thousands, we trust
resdit in the authors own clear words. 1t is
calmly written, without vituperation, but on
this account is the more forcible, as it shows
the man of decision, that he feels confident Of
the truth of his cause, and doubts not of sue
cess in rousing the sympathetic beat of the heart
of his countrymen. We doubt if even the
strongest friend of tie Nebraska bill, or Of
Slavery, If he is ready to look candidly at our