The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-10
NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

n rHE DAYS OF WAsHINGT0s-Applcton To-
Dscsr, hhs individuals. when they esent shovy
exterior have but too frequently nothing bat the
sasfase 10 recommend them. This remark ~ more
particularly applicable to the class OF publications
which seem destined only for the ornamental on OF
. lsdy's boudoir. We take them up with An IN
ssinctiye conviction that their merits are merely
leather and prunella. AS incidents o. decorat on
they are very wei, but as books they generally
valseIess.
When We opened the volume before ns, respleu-
dent it is with gliding and all the ford devices
Of the beokbinders art, we expected to find the
letter press portion of is contents of the usual
trashy and superficial quality which forms The sta
pie of these ephemersl publications. We were
asreesby disappointed to discover that its glitter
ing binding and splendid engravings we're infinitely
less attractive that its narrative, which supplies a
hong felt gap in American literature, and presents
ns with graphic and amusing delneation Of the
social life Of the most interesting period OF his
tory, when the national manners still exhibited
something of the chivalrous bearing of the Old
World, without its slsvisa Difference to rank
and wealth. 10 the happy idea which
suggested TO the author the notion of arranging
around the person of that perfect character of
modern times the great Washingtou--a tAbeau OF
the eminent men ana women who contributed by
teir patriotism and the elevation of their charac-
TER 20 torn the tone Of American sosety IN Ella
d~y, 3 collection of hitherto uppuo,ishcd
Il IS and memorials which Tor interest variety and
historical importar Ia act 20 be snypas nv any
imiar puhli ahon that we know 81. Light, gos-
sifpy unprstendipg, hut yet vivid and truthful in
IT'S style the boz k possesses fascination such "a
We are accustomed only 10 find in the memoirs of
n" Frerch, itses'izss IL writing that mix ure of
tie Quaint and picturesque s7hich we see con
biped in the paintings NJ tire flemish school, and
which renders admirably the peculiar features pre-
scented by the social life Of America immediately
subsequent to the revolution. AS we look back
upon the high and generous impulses, and the ele-
waited tone which distinguished the society OF that
day, we cannot help contrasting with it the dry
materialsm and wide spread corruption which are
the prominent features of the times IN which we
live. But we will MOI anticipate the jadgmen. of
our readera. The following extracts viii enable
them to form for themselves tolerably correct
estimate Of the general merits Of TIE work =
New York wss full Of remarkabs characters dur
ing all the period from the cose of the reyolut on
I'LL the removal Of the government TO Philadelphia.
One Of the eccsntricies who attracted most atsen-
bon WAC Madame &c Breaan, OF whom the author
tells U.s.
Tie marc loDess referred to by Mrs NTH was
M0d.me de Brehap, sisteG or the Count oe Mous-
tier, who, with her son. accompanied him Oh his
ssion ~ This country. Sae was very clever
MAP, WI o.e with spisit, and had some sk as a..
artist She made several portraits VI Washington,
one Of which was presented by hm to SfrS. Bug
ham, and OF suother, which was engraved IN Paris,
many copies were sent 10 Washlcg,on, aad 10 hec
friends here, alter her return to Frame. She ap-
pears TO have made herself more agreslbe Mr..
Jefferson than 10 Mrs. SMITH la a lsster 10 bee on
her quitting Paris for the United Stars, ne says.
"fhe mutations Of European manners, which YOU
will fipd in cur towns, will, / tear, be lstle pleas
ing; beseech sou 10 practise still your VI, WhicI
VIII furnish them N del OF woat is psrec, Should
you be singular, u Will be by excellence and sfer
Q while you will toe effect OF your example,
Very few OF his conemp could app zach wo
men with more happy compliments III N NJ. JeaI5r-
s0r; but is proper To state thai III. lansnt ge Dt
MIS- Smith in regard Ma lame oe Breasn IS llsi-
f a in IRE descriptions OF her vain nave from
otoer hands. . M ing tie you,g mea toel in n -
Yuk vas John Arp,strong, shJ says IL ! 'etter u
ms TREND Geoerai estes: We have Fteocn min
i.terDcy sih us, aEs il France h I'd wisnau 10 de
soy tee lttl. Ieue mbahc CO that - irst ., her
her exertions IN cur behalf, SIC would raw seus
jGeG ~uc1 minister: cis,8ns- hang ~, p-JurJns,
ano entirely covered ny The cspe,ces uf Il atl.
BIZ uulsr, shiDsicai. byssetImi old won-o, Soo,e
ohieht ia 10 playing Via negro enid, aud ctress
hgs monkey"
Our 5. Getty lost great deal by the deecsiap Of
many If j. bes iasa, les
Ii all CIVIL Was mn Of heredJtary rlDk ana Tor
nDe ant to adhere IL he established authority
ana this wGs enrtntly true ~ the war wbl;h led 10
American Independence. The loyalets were IN
large degree people at 80 q condition. accomplished
In manners AS we 81 IN learning, auI nv bneir de-
fecs,on the cCuutry lost many persons who at me
end OF the contest would have been among Ter
most useful citizens, and the brightest ornaments
of her domestic life. The Fairfsxes, Gallo ays,
Dulaneys, D.apcey-. Robnsons, psBns, Phi, ses,
Whites ana Oshers II Of the weig party, would pro-
bs ,ly nave been even more distinguished Ia socey
thau affairs, though the military aud civu abili
ties " bjcn some OF them displayed against rs, or
IN foreign countries, showed that they might have
molly served their fasherland in shess Capacities,
and participated with the most successful aod most
h0nofed Of Der faithful sons in her on;c lons and
her grateful rewards.
Alta later period several prominent public men
are introduced, in b. ief and graphic skstsaea
Here are the great rivals, Alexander Hamilton and
Aaron Burr
Or The men in the city, not Immediately counec'
ed with the government, Joe grea-est, ueropa al
comparison, wa Alexander H4,alitnr. His extra
ordioasy geuius, Knowledge aud activity " autd have
msde him lustrlou1 Ia any society, DaG mis- chseac
ter was III some respects beyond the grasp Of con
mon minds and 1t IL doubtful whether ne vas justly
appreciated AZ this tlue ny verv large nuTbsr,
though Washington knew rin well, and regarded
him with The siDcesest respect, offsciioo and admi
ralian. II is true that Hamilton someshDg of a
rouG but his gsll4ntr,es were subject u certain
law os honorable ess, which, even in such AFT irs,
is not altogether imp0sshie: and IN his public con-
duct he vas ss lDhexib'y just "a ne was una p.
proacbsbly able. Doubtless III the formation of our
constitution the profound sense of Washington wss
the deciding sutDoritv. but the suggesting intelli.
gepce was Harnii,cnG, and Re is 20 be regarded
above ell other men as the creator Of the idstiti.
ticns of modem iiberty. HIS Residence was on The
corner of Wsl and Broad streets, pea,iy pooosife
Fedora, Hall, and, ~ish party OF bis r'sn g, Ne
had witnessed from his balcony sna iDsaiu Atom of
Washing on. lie bad built nowever beautiful
house which hs called rne Grappp," > fw mics
up the island, which vas MS las hone 10 the ~o'd.
Aaron BUR-, during tois period, was 1T A'oaay
much Of IRE time, busy with Official duties, and "a
writing love letters TO bis wife, and i1stacons foe
the education Of Theo5os a--ths. marvellous CTR
whose b. snty, wit, and malancholy nis',-s. csu.ti
tnte one of The most romantic Oh ,ptsrs Ia the ns
tory of uerican private Dfe. BAR. IL Albany,
liv,d with a pretty and tidy widow. and rarely