The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-13


devote to- laborious research, work of this kind IL
Of ncalculabe utility. It enables us to grasp with
ease all the details of our ssal government, and to
assist in adapting II TO our growing necessities.
No citizen of New York should be without copy
of it.
WORCEsTERs ACADEMIC DICTIONARY. Hckling,
Swan Il Brown. Boston.
The present work is an enlargement of the "Com-
prehensive, Pronouncing and Explanatory" Die
tionary, which was published by Mr.. Worcester in
1880, and which found its way into such general use
in our schools The several vocabularies have been
increased, nearly three thousand words have been
added to the Dictionary proper and fuller deiui-
ton has been given to many Of them. The vocabu-
larry of Greek and Latin names comprises, in add
ton to the names found in Walkers "Key," about
$500 Names most of which have been taken from
the works of Carr, Sharpe and Trollope Another
important feature in the Dictionary is the atten-
tion that has been bestowed on the synonymes Of
the language. Although the notices relating to
them are necessarily brief, they will be found sufi-
oienty clear for all purposes of ordinary reference.
AS pronouncing, explanatory and synonymous
dictionary, Mr.. Worcester's work will be found
most useful compilation.
MEN AND TIMES OF THE REVOLUTION or Memoirs
OF Elkanah Watson; including Travels in Europe
and America, from lit to 1842. Edited by his
son, WinslOw G. Watson. Dana Il Co.
II Elkanah Watson was not one of the most pro-
minent, he was one Of the most interesting men of
our revolutionary times. With something of
dilettanti turn Of mind, he was at the same time
eminently practical in his views. He did not con-
tribute as much as he might have done to the po-
tical movements Of his day but he proved useful in
another sphere, which assisted as materially in pro
noting the prosperity and progress Of the country.
PassiOnately addicted to rural pursuits, he turned
his attention early to the economy of agriculture
and to his efforts were the people of New England
indebted for many Of the improvements which rem
dered that region the garden of our continent. Sci
entic farming was his hobby, and he devoted to 1t
most Of his attention and his means. His addiction
to it, however, did not prevent him from cutivatng
his literary tastes, nor from noting down what ap-
peared to him worth recording Of his contempora-
ries The voluminous correspondence and journals
which he kept up during his travels in Europe, and
indeed during the greater part of his lfe have all
been reverently preserved by his family. His son
has weeded them of all superHuous details and pre-
sented us in the present work with such selections
from them as he deemed likely to prove amusing
and instructive to the present generation. As this
task has been performed conscientiously and with
good taste, the result is book rvaling in variety
and piquancy the Pepys memoirs.
The views which Mr.. Watson gives US Of colonial
life previous to the breaking out of the war; are ex-
ceedingly curious from the progress which they
mark in the intellectual advancement of our people.
Where can we find parallel for simplicity like the
following, in the present day.
STORY OF THE MAGIC EGG.
On tho ensuing suneay morning. Is the people were
their way to church. suddenly witnessed great com
motion IN the street and general rush to the b.c.dOSr
FIRE, darted into the crowd, and, entsring tbs
house heard the good womans voice above the rest
for yourselves" seized the msgic egg and to my utter
astonshment read upon it. in ssble characters formed
b. thy oonqueror The agitation and dependency pro-
du ed win hardly be appreciated BY those unacq
with the deep exctabi Of the public mind At that pc
henson by ascsrtaniDg from m Ingenious painter Who
ha opiy In that the supernatural nmaon the
II was device Of some tory to operate on the public feel
ing In The afternoon On express arrived from Bos on
the service our Venerable vhg psr:on Roas read from
his desk the heart thrilling of tho capture of the
Hsssians 1t Trenton-s happy retort upon the tories
One of the great charms of this book is the bon
homme and pleasant humor of the writer. It abounds
with original anecdotes of most of the distinguished
men OF his time, Europeans as well as Americans;
for his high social position his general temperament
and agreeable manners introduced him into the best
circles abroad He gives US familiar view Of the
characters and peculiariies of many of the celebr
ties who have come down to us on stilts, and very
small do they appear of them. To this, however,
Edmund Burke is an exception. Even in his social
intimaces the great writer and statesman could not
cast aside the mantle Of his dignity
A BREAKFAST WITH EDMUND BURKE.
had the qualification Of breakfaasng, In familiar
manner with Mr. Burke the distinguished author, elo
que orator and accomplished statesmsu BE was
In the ordinary intercourse Of e most extraordinary
than speaker and relieved from the necessity OF
ing my powers in contrast with this intellectual giant
Z my variegated life have often been brought into ia
innate intercourse with great and accomplished men, and
have always found myself ct and self possessed yet
the glare Of this uminary hu mbsi and
bsrrsssed me. With DR.. Franklin, always Kind and
familiar could hold oonve as with venera father
but Burke seemed being of another sphere He had
ever been devoted friend to America and in CO opera
ton with Fox, Sheridan and Conway has been the pr
mary OF ~restjrg from the rsuctan king decision
to recognise our independence.
His description of Tom Paine is capital. 1t forc-
bly, illustrates the maxim Of Coke, that external
neatness is an unfaiing evidence ofinernal purity:
DIRTY PHILOSOPHER.
About this period the notorious Tom Paine arrived
Nantes in ne Alliance gsts, rs Secretary OF Colonel
Lau-ens Minister Extraordinary from Congress and
MP hs quarters ct my boarding pace. He coarse
and uncouth in his loathsome in his
sni disgusting egois-reoiciog taking Of him.
sci and reading the illusions OF his mind Yet
could not the deepest emotions OF gratitude
wards him. the instrument OF Providence in sccels
rating the declaration Of independence. He
tanly prominent agent in preparing the publ,
timsnt cf America for that glorious event The idea Of
Indepes had not pied the popular mind and
whom g,rdedly approached the topic 1t shruuk
the oeption, iraught with Doubt with peril and
with suffering.
In 1776 present at Providence, Rhode Island in
social assembly Of most Of the pro npen leaders Of the
State !iecoect that the subject Of Independence
cautiously introduced BY arden whig ana the hought
seemed to excite the adherence OF the whole circle
few Wetks after Psins's Common Sense' appeared