Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-17
LITERARY NOTICES

"LeUers Young Man, &c by Thomas DeQuncey "a.
Morris ITO the taste Of American publisher DeQuincy
indebted for The rs adequate appreciation OF his excel
lence writer and critic. The extraordinary beauty
and power Of Ills style did escape the notice c the Br-
tsh public and he already held high though III dofne po
slon among the classics of his country. The full effect
however OF his writings impaired By the frsgmentary
form n which they made their appearance and 1t was not
until Boston publisher had collected the scattered rays and
concentrated them Into brilliant focus that men began to
appreciate the warmth and spndor Of his genius He still
suffers from the want of system In his writngsa defect
which excellence In execution repair 1t Is imposs
BILE 10 achieve lasting fame without unity OF aim and effort
If man would win enduring Distinction ho must cxpend all
his energies on undertaking and thus identify his
name with single work of surprising excellence. If
there paradise Lost" Milton would be known
vigorous controversIas and clever writer of fu.
gilve Without the "Decne and Fall there could
be no Gbbon The "Weath of Nations" the name
of Smith from oblivion, and Macaulays History will place
him among The classicsof the language DeQuincey with
powers Of the highest order and learning profound
and encycopedan that pcrsisency of purpose and
capacity of continuous labor which
achieve immortal Ee has written single book
which possesses the essential quality OF completeness and
which his genius and his learning find an adequate and
enduring expression. In tho fifteen beautiful volumes from
the press of Tckno there is production OF higher pre-
tension than occasional essay, brief biography or
Eater" and the "Casars" ure his ambitious efforts.
Despite this disadvantage of incompleeness and want o
unity In his am the genius OF DtQuincey Is splcnddy Illus
tratcd In his writings. He may not have reared any one
fabric Of Imposing proportions and solid structure, but ne
wrought gems of faues taste and exquisite beauty ir
which the hand Of master is conspicuous brief para
graph OF newspaper criticism convey just conception
of the characteristic excellence OF DeQuncey as cdc io
Il Is such chiefly that he challenges our admiration The
fOr the
usl,aon ofhls rich learning his grasp and sub
ey of thought his exquisite perception Of the principles
pshelcs and the extraordinary power and beauty Of styt
which Give him precedence Of every other living writer Fol
psaoe strength and diomac the style Of DeQuncey is
ncomparably superior 10 that OF other English writer
the present age Such the judgment OF the most conpe.
1 ten, critice and such is opinion.
The volume before embraces three "Lettes Young
Man." on the Of supplying the defects Of an ncom
pee education and essays the "Theoy of Greek Tra
eedy" on "Conversalion" "California" "Ceyon" &c
all displaying the characteristic exceences Of the writer
We have made note Of passages in the Essay on
Conversation which will submit the reader when OUT
columns are more exempt from The claims OF political dis
r cusslon.
r "The GrinntH Expedition" by Dr. f K. Kane. (Harod
IL Murray) article in The last number Of Harper's Ma
gazine supplies abstrac, of the information which is ex
pandcd aud illustrated In the present volume. OF course
the cIrcumsanal narrative Of the book is much vivid
and Interesting the meagre outline OF the magazine
but tho latter will suffice for such only genera
Idea the subject md have leisure for the details of On
arctic voyage Dr. Klne gives graphic and picturesque
narrative Of the incidents Of his polar campaign with its
dull mouotony Of coi and tho occasional struggles with The
mountains of ice which beset hs path and nIpped his
ail bark The book is embeshed with profusion oil H.
ustra,ion In Sartains best manner.
"Classic and Historic Portraits" by James Brucc.-(A
Morris 1.-THE objection made this book, that its title
conveys adequate impression Of lis aim and
character. This is thing not easily done for The book
unique and be described by the ordinary terms oil
criticism by reference any familiar standard lance
doos illustrative of the habits and dosyncrasies
of MANY eminent per,onages Of history" would be more
appropriate and significant c Such personal gossip as
the dignity of history disdans constitutes the staple OF the
work The writer take 10 be Of those aborousIy
azy and ndustriousy idle person who eSpend great deal
of effort n wrong direction and 10 little purpose lie has
certainly accumulated much curious aud trivial information
which he communicates in and agreeable style
Alexander the Great Julius Cesar Pylhagoras SapFho
Madame De Stae Queen Elizabeth Mary Queen Of Scots
and Of notable besides found in the table o
contents.
"1ns Constitutional Teri Book" (Harrod 6, Murray
nothing than volume of selections from the writings
of Daniel Webserno competent nutho,l,yon constitution
IN~--
observers The author Of the compilation Is anonymous.
Boys at Home" by e. Adams Uor sale by g. NJ. West
reprint Of English story designed for the umrseneo
and obstruction Of young gentlemen just In ;helr teens
"Stores from History and "Eng1.sh Historical Tales
by Agnes Strickland &C. ii. Wes books Of The sane
class but OF higher preenson end merit. From them Tue
young scholar may acquire without eJt and in chs mos
agreeable manner valuable fund of historical Information
They are handsomely illustrated.
-ss>--
THE BLACK WARRIOR CAsE.-The Cabinet had a
long and session Monday this subject Inc le
suit OF their consultation has not yet transpired lhey
again Tuesday consider the subject We are sss
fed from what learn from wellnformcd sources ln
while they indisposed take advantage OF the Wea
ness of Spau the President will take prompt and efncn
measures vindcate h rights Of the owners OF the sup
and obtain reputation for tse Outrage perpea
on hem without submitting 10 the delay incident 10 ne
tia,on with Spain concerning the afair- WdsA"s'0'
Star.
Il IMPORTANT REVOLUTION IN MEXICO. :,
New YoRK, MARCH Hth.-Advlces from Acapulco, =,
lae California arrivals state revolution had oroRen o
that section Mexico The people had taken arms
Alvarez and declared themselves independent shln,
had taken place at Chilpansngo. where Sana aon M
600 troops At Acapulco the ana osne @
lentia citizens were In custody or had hed iol Ha -
the hands of the Alvarez party Santa Anna nad oePaI