The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-21
NO. SOB.

PtesSiFS'J udHslaIeu. III relateB 10 q period OF
Protestant history that can never be effaced from
the records of time. 1t brings US into the in
terror heart of the great Reformer of Germany,
and depicts, with lifelike freshness, the passing
scenes and characters at Wittenberg. Wrought
in with incidents that are often of touching pa
thos, are many of Luther's conversations, and
portions of his writings, thus illustrating his
views on a variety of the most important truths
of the Scripture. The great doctrine of iusti-
hcation by faith, in opposition to salvation by
works of mans own and his selfrighteousness,
stands forth prominent. The interest of the
story centers round the blind girl, whose rela-
tons to father and sister, by whom she has
been long intrested and discarded but to whom
she became reconciled, and each of whom, like
herself, are led to true peace by the grace of
God and faith in a crucifed Redeemer
young Italian artist, whose father and mother
in former days have been connected in the in
cdents of the life of the blind girls father, also
bears a prominent part in the tale, and he is the
instrument bywhom the development is reached
The sister dies, the blind girl is united to the
young man, the object of her love, and the father
restored to health, and in his right mind blesses
them. The scene in part is laid during the prev
alence of the plague at Wittenberg and in the
course of the story we are introduced to Luther
in his horse and with his family, and on what
seems his dying bed, as well to him as to the
faithful pastor and teacher by the side of the
sick, and probing with fearful searchingness
the conscience of the guilty, till the time is come
to speak the words of peace, and minister true
consolation. In an artistic point of view, the
story is we'll put together, and we can commend
it to our readers as book which, amid its lights
and shades, conveys many lesson to the pre-
pared heart. DR.. Morris has done we'll to give
it an English dress. Parts of Luther's views of
course will not command the assent of even
Pedestrians; but, in depicting him as he was it
was necessary to give certain degree of prom
inence to these-and in this aspect VIC are not
sorry to meet them here where they illustrate
his character and history.
BELLE ScorT; OF, Liberty Overthrow. A Tale for the
Crisis. Columbus: ID. Anderson Cincinnati: George
5. Blanchard. 1856.
For reasons that justify him in so doing, the
author of this volume withholds his name from
the effective tale it contains. We regret that
he is obliged to take such a course since that
name is not unknown to many of our readers as
one which would have borne with it an earnest
recommendation of his sincerity and unainch-
ing zeal, and have been a guaranty for the truth
of the facts on which this story of wrong is
based. The intrinsic merit of the work, how
ever, will cause it to urge its way from heart
to heart. 1t is the tale of young Virginia
girl, kidnapped in childhood, carried off, and
reduced to slavery, by an uncle, the executor
Of her fathers will, and who, not content with
depriving her of an heiress's portion, places her
under the yoke of bondage. After a variety of
incidents, she reaches free State, makes an
attempt for her liberty is held under the Fugi-
tive Slave Law, and sent to prison. While
there, waiting the decision of the United States
Commissioner, the prison takes fire, and, with
almost superhuman exertions, she is rescued,
but so injured that her death is the final re-
suit. This is not, however, before the knavery
of the guardian is exposed; she is made free,
and he is compelled to disgorge his ill-gotten
wealth. The unfolding of the varied events,
as bearing on the main point, is managed with
no little skill. Some Of the situations allow of
descriptive effect, and are used successfully.
The argument against the Fugitive Slave Law
put into the mouth of Belle SCOTS advocate
before the Commissioner, and which is no doubt
meant for a statement of the authors own
views, is ingenious, and commends itself to the
feeling heart of the philanthropist and Chris
tian. We should fear that the sense of Judi
cial responsibility to God is not yet high enough
even in the free States, to plant itself on the
"higher law" which it claims to be wrought
even into the Constitution of the United States
Whether such a train of thought has ever act
ually been addressed to a judge in plea for
freedom, we do not know but we should not
wish to stand in his place, if, setting it all aside
he dooms an immortal being to Slavery, and
goes, in his own turn, to appear before the
bar of his God. The noble traits of character
with which Mr.. Reed, Mr.. and Mrs. Stilman,
and Mrs. Johnston, are depicted, render them
favorites with the reader. But the sympathy
gathers chiefly round Belle Scott, and we feel
disappointed that she lives not to enjoy her
freedom, and to reward, as the reader all along
believes she will, her champion with her hand.
THE Mystic PoEMs. BY Philip James Bailey,
Author of Festus Boston Ticknor Fields. 1856
BALLADS. BY William Makepcace Thackeray Boston
Ticknor & Fields. 1856
Both fthese works for sale by Taylor Maury, Wash
ingion, ID. c.
Two volumes of poetry, both by distinguish
ed authors, but of very different complexion
and character. The first is dreamy, recondite,
full of new words and compound expressions,
and it ia difficult at times to detect in his Ian
guage the authors meaning; the other, plain
as pipe-stem full of humor, mostly sort of
rattledof lines, careless as to matters Of taste,
and yet not always deficient in some of the ele-
ments of true poetry. The author of Fes-
tus " has never, in our opinion, equalled that
first effort of his muse. His Mystic and Spirit |
ual Legend, in the present volume, fall far be-
meath it. We do not deny that there is rich |
poetical imagery, and often, also, harmonious
measure; but, grand as perhaps some may be |
disposed to call the conception, we do not fancy
it. His Mystic, born first in Egypt, then on
the Ganges, in Greece, &C., in these transmit
grations opens the way to describe the assimi-
lation of such being to the phase in which he |
appears. But the veil rests over all, and, at
the end of all, we are lost in indistinct remem-
brances Of a shade fitting about from one part |
of the world to another, with no definite i'm
Il Al