Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-23
CRITICAL NOTICES.

~
" KANSAS AND NEBRASKA The History Geogra-
phica and Physical characteristics and Political Po-
stion Of those Territories Account Of the Emigrant
Aid Companies, and Directions to Emigrants BY En-
WARD .. HALE. With original Map from the latest
authorities. Boston Phillips, Sampson & Co. New
York. Derby. 1854" 12mo., PIP. 256. For sale in
Washington by TAYLOR MAUnY.
II there be any faith due to the proverb that hair
Of the dog his bte those who have had their
probabilities down and their sense Of hear
ing deadened by the daily repetition of those for
almost yearsof and sweet and euphonous though they
be-wi find pleasant recuperatye remedy by taking up
this volume In it they win these twin sisters Of the
West with new faces with features harsh and
pusye as they appeared in the paintings exhibited at the
Capitol during the last session by the rough speechng
limners Of that ik Here the coloring is drawn from
Nature from distorted imagination Their prairie
oceans their beautiful streams their shady forests and
savage denzens and wild herds all fairly depicted.
Nor Is the darker side Of the picture hidden from view
The arid plains where neither tree shrub blade
Of grass for hundreds of acres find soil enough
sustain root; where water bubbles up greet the
eye Of the thirsty emigrant where fuel be found
to light fire by which prepare his daily food where
neither rock hillside shade invites him to repose his
weared limbs: all these too deneated with the PEN
Gil Of truth.
Mr. HALE has honestly compiled his history from the
not failed to consult every traveller who has ever writ
line upon the subject Of that extensive Of onr
country which embraces nearya square Of six hundred
miles and to transcrbe all that is sad whether inviting
revolving to the emigrant 1t to have been his
aim to afford full and fair opportunity to all who desire
to seek home to Judge Of the advantages and dis
advantages which they must expect encounter His
descriptions Of the Indian tribes nhabng various parts
of both Territories highly interesting particularly
that Of the Mandans who essentially different
from all other Indians in the color Of the skin and hair
the kindness and courtesy of their manners and in many
Of their customs that be the general belief Of
travellers that they mixed race, derived from the
little company Of seamen whom the Welsh Madoc left
upon shores his first attempted settlement and
whom he afterwards saw and Of the aborig
nal of that region Many Of the words in their
language not pure Welsh, resemble it 80 closely rs to
give pausibility to this theory. But so little re-
ance is to be placed similarity Of language in endea
yorng to trace the origin Of any people that it not
for the much striking concomitants Of hair skim
eyes, should give credit to the notion that they
descendants Of the deserted Welsh Taking
all the circumstances together regard the theory
plausible one.
With al his predictions for that particular ism to
which he confssses himself attached Mr. HALE has
aged to make his chapter the political history Of the
many anecdotes from the mouldy documents Of past
generation which revive in memories many agreeable
and unpleasant incidents, but has fairly stated the
sayings and dongs Of the most conspicuous actors and
speakers on both sides Of the vexed question: the Mise
| ry debate" as the wags called it, Of 1920.
In conclusion, he gives account Of the Emgran Aid
Companies, much good advice to emigrants and many
earnest exhortatons to the free Of the North to be
prompt and rapid in their movements that they may
become under the law sovereigns Of the soil.
Pixies NUGE.
i A friend-who knows how much it grafes us to see
any evidence of marked genius In the productions Of our
countrymen whether in mechanics physics in poetry
painting music, in the abstruse and DIVERSE
fed departments of science and general teraturehad
the kindness few days ago to lend for perusa
lume Of American poetry which bore the modest title Of
Nuge by ALBERT PIKE On reading the short predatory
notice by the author were astonished find that
very only had been printed at his expense
intended for private distribution among his particular
friends and associates and that he especially desired to
prevent copy from falling into the hands Of critics and
reviewers He assigns indeed the dread Of their wrath
as his principal reason for not publishing these fruits Of his
idle moments. The critic reviewer who would find oc-
caon in these exquisite tribes to exhibit any other feel
ing than that Of pleasure must be cynical than we
willing to believe any Of the class to be- We have
not found single piece in the volume that does not in
estimation possess sufficient merit to deserve place
in any select collection Of poetry and many Of them
hibt depth Of feeling submity Of thought and beauty
Of expression which are unmstakeabe proofs of true
inspiration The hymns to the gods and goddesses are
worthy of those myhic presentations Of the old Greek
fables and in the piece entitled Isadore'' there is
wild and ftfa harmony, thrilling pathos, which
but stole could read without emotion. We have been
pleased indeed with the whole volume that cannot
help saying that the author it to himself and his
country to throw aside his distrust Of the critics. and by
authorizing the publication of his NugG to take place
| in the proud list Of American poets.