The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-05
LITERARY NOTICES.

4
LECTURES THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR. By
Rev John Cumming, ID. ID. Philadelphia: Lindsay &
Blakison For sale by Taylor Maury, Washington
| D.
| We have already introduced this eloquent
orator and author to our readers, and noticed
at some length several of his works. This is
another volume of his Apocalyptic Sketches.
SprRrrUA1sN. By John w. Edmonds and George T Der-
| ter M Vol. =. New York: Partridge & Britain.
| We learn from the preface to this volume,
that during the preparation of the first, Dr.
Dexter was used as a writing medium only :
since then he has advanced and become
speaking medium This volume is the product
chiefly of the oral communications of the Doc
tor, made during his frances. 1t is queer
book, and will doubtless find plenty of readers,
and some believers. We must confess our
skepticism as to the new revelation.
MODERN AenAroRs or Pen Portraits Of Living American
| ReforIners BY David w Bartlett. New York: Miller
| Orion, Mulligan
Mr.. Bartlett is a good portrait painter, and
has given us in this volume very pleasant pic
lures of score of agitators," as he calls them,
in the various fields of reform, with criticisms
on their works, anecdotes illustrative of their
every day life and character. 1t is well that he
has made a selection, rather than a collection,
for had he taken all the living men who think
themselves distinguished as reformers, "the
world itself could not contain the books that
should be written"
Mr.. Bartlett is now the editor of the Hartford
Conn Republican, a paper which has had the
good sense and manGness to pursue a straight
forward course on the Slavery Question, with
out turning aside to tamper with Native Amer
icanism.
THE LIFE WILLIAM II. SEWARD. With Selections from
| his Works. Edited by George E. Baker New York ::
| Red6eld
This neat volume, carefully prepared by Mr..
Baker. contains the substance of the Life and
Works of Mr.. Seward, already published in three
large volumes. 1t is decided Improvement on
them, having omitted much that is really unim-
portant, and being far better adapted for gen.
eral circulation.
Two new chapters are added, recting the
history of the Compromise of 1850, the defeat
of the Wing Party in 1852, and the abrogation
of the Missouri Compromise in l854-all prom
inent events, to which Mr.. Seward sustained
important relations. Mr.. Baker is faithful
biographer, and writes in an easy and natu-
raj style.
| NORTH BurrrsH REVIEW. February, 1855. New York 5:
Leonard Scott Co. For sale by Taylor Marry,
Washington, ID. c.
An admirable number, full of articles on in
teresting topics, well treated. The Review con-
tains an elaborate article on Drunkenness, ex-
posing its ravages in Great Britain, and advo-
eating progressive measures of reform. 1t can
not vet rise to the daring of the Maine Law
policy.
COMPLETE CONCORDANCE OF THE Holy SCRIPTURES THE
| OLD New TESTAMENT. By Alexander Cowles, NJ.
| A. New York: Nj. w. Dodd For sale by Gray Bal
lantyne 9Th street, Washington. ID. c.
We should as soon think of introducing
Cowper's Task formally to our readers as Cru
denis Concordance. In it's kind, it is complete,
and a complete edition of it, in substantial form,
is what the American publisher processes to
have given us. 1t is printed in a large octave,
small type or paper of fair quality for the
price-for, in offering it at $3.50, the publisher
aims to put it within the reach of the greatest
number of Bible students.
'rHE LIFE PHILIP MEIAScrHoN BY Charles Frede nc
Ledderhose. Translated from the German, by Rev. G.
F. Kroet, Lancaster Pa Philadelphia Lindsay
Blakision 1855 For sale by Taylor Maury, Wash
mgton, ID. c.
If Luther had not had his Melancthon, he
would have exerted far less enduring influence
on the mind of Europe. This Life of one, pre-
eminent for his scholarship and his reverence,
is not learned, not thorough, but popular in its
form and intent, well adapted to satisfy those
who care not to criticise too closely the most
estimable characters. Such biographies as the
supplemented narrators of the Bible have
given to the world, stand alone, in their severe
impartiality.
Discoveries IN CHINA or the Symbolism Primitive
Character of the Chinese System of Writing BY Ste
nben Pearl Andrews New York: Charles b. Nation
1 VOL PIP. l37. For sale by Gray Ballantyne.
This is truly an American contribution to the
science of ethnology. The author aims at
nothing less than the explosion of the idea
which has settled down upon the learned world
that the Chinese language (which has been re
garded as !" the puzzle of languages y is with
out analysis, and only to be learned by commit
ting to memory thousands of purely arbitrary
characters: a task only to be achieved by be
ginning in infancy, and continuing the study
, through the best period of life. Such is the
| Chinese idea of their language. They know O
: no shorthand cut to its attainment. This, Mr.
s. p. Andrews, the author of this volume, claim.
Ito have shown in this volume to be erroneous