New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-10
Netp9lork Daily Gribmote
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BENEFITS LIFE.

BENNLI > LIZ T..
MEMOIRS OF JAMES GORDON BENNETT AND HIS
TINES By a JOURNALIST. limo, PIP. 49, Striager a
Townsend.
Tie life of MephistOpheles, especially if sea-
soned with Tacy photographed passages,
would doubtless prove profitable bookselling
adventure in these days Of INSCRIPTIONS Curl
osity in regard to the private history of famous
personages. In such production we should
naturally expect as much wit as wickedness-
a vein of gayety and fun would temper the ex-
hibitions of malice-the brilliant covering of the
cloven foot would conceal its innate defOrmity-
and the sparkling yivacity of the volume, no less
than It's illustrations of shrewd diabolism, would
insure it a place among the gems of modern
popular literature. Similar traits might be an
tieipaied in the memoirs Of person holding the
position Of the subject Of the present volume.
We should not look for any edifyng matter, il
is true, in regard TO the culture of the social re-
fnemeIts, but it might not be too much to ex-
pect a certain degree of amusement in descrb-
ING the career of professsd soldier of fortune
Banum and Wykofi have shown the world what
can thus be Effected in the funny line, and it
would be readily presumed that no falling of in
that respect would be visible in these memoirs.
Bat the reader who approaches the volume now
challenging his attention with any high-raised
hopes of Entertainment will be speedily and sadly
convinced that he has "Teck0ned without his
host" Such drea-y waste of dry statistics,
barren Gates, Insignificant events and unjuicy
details has scarcely been inflicted on the public
since The travelling tour Of the world-reno gned
Robert Dodge 1t has not even the jocOsity of
bcsIattelhg tia subj ct with excessive praise,
for It's tone in regard to his Characters as frigid
and formal, as if there was danger of calling "a
blush to the check of modesty' by any delicate
insinuations Of nattery. The impression which
most readers will receive from the perusal Of
the volume is that ofthe joyless and unrewarded
character of the career which il describes,
though they will probably feel little com nisera-
tion for such a fOrloro experience, as no one
pites the sufferer from the evident yisitations
Of Nemesis.
The hero of this work is first brought upon
the stage in Scotch highland village in the shire
of BanG His birth and parentage are slig atty
touched on. The residence of his family was
near the celebrated Gordon castle. They were
of the Catholic religion, and the boy James
was sent TO Catholic seminary at Aberdeen.
Finding the discipline of the school little suited
20 his tastes, he "broke loose from its re-
strsin.s. aud owned no master except himself ~
At that early age he manifested "froward and
selfwlled " disposition. lie torSwore depend
ence on his parents, and soon set up ON his own
account. Wien about twenty years Of age, ac-
cording 70 the loose chronology of the volume,
he suddenly packs up his trunk AID Is off TO
America. Landing at Halifax with slender
funds, he takes % the trade OF teaching, but
with poor success. In the diplomatic phrase OF
the writer, "his experiences were nor Of the
most agreeable Kind" He found il hard work
% get bare support, aud after a short course
OF "roiehed toll he makes his way 20 Boston.
be enters that iar'iamed city with fantastic eX.
pressions Of enthusiasm. but secures no re ward
for bis desperate struggles" Without ac-
qusintauces OF iutroduc ION, it was no easy task
10 obtain he daily food. lie vas reduced so
los az actually TO cas- nothing for two days. and
beegary seemed the only means Of keeping s,al
and boy together. Fortune at leIgth relcuts
IN respectable printing oh:e. At this time,
his blogfapher amiably remarks, abe Wss Of q
remalue disposition and INDUCED in c)ntem-
plsiiyc walks as well as ia stuiious 90 iergason
81 men and things around him. This picta-e
Of Pensire youth is almost too exciting O. the
imagination. Hs was a poet also, a1d flr.G-
bSit'y Tor Poste'lty some Of his eSlsioas are