The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-22
Gbs Sstish.

o.;.Dce. containing, from time to time, excel
I.ot original papers-at So ayear, sent free of
hostage, if paid for in advance.
NY Examiner. Vol tx. Fourth SERIES vol XIV
I,.n,rv. March, May, 1856. Boston: Crosby Nichols
j Co
The table of contents of this number is as
follows:
Washington and Goethe.
Stenography.
Tnitarianism and Orthodoxy.
paeauley's History of England.
The Church as Social Power.
Sraus. Dueckheim's Natural Theology.
Jewett on Epistles of St. Paul
Book Notices, Literary Intelligence, and
ev Poems, complete the number.
prry,u's MONTHLY. May, 1856. Vol vii No. a.
This Monthly sustains its wellearned reputa-
lion. The contents of the number before us are
vared and entertaining. The character of the
literature of this Monthly is, that it is alire,
aud has some relation to the actual world we
are moving in.
,xy,,s or SAN FRANCISCO. BY Frank Soule, John H.
,,l,oa and James Nistick. New York: d. Appleton &
Co. Fer sale by r. Farnham, Washington, D. C.
This large volume, of over eight hundred
usyes. presents complete view of the rise
and growth of American Empire in California.
Part first contains a summary of the history of
the discovery, settlement, and progress, of that
country. until IL came under the dominion of
the Union. Part second contains record of
the growth of its great city, San Francisco,
with view of the development Of the resources
Of the new State; and Part third presents
brief biographical sketches of the chief actors
IN the DRAMA One hundred and ffty-nine
eprrayings illustrate and embellish q work
which possesses points of peculiar interest.
ursg or MgplcIxE from its Origin TO the Nineteenth
Century By p. L. Renouard NJ. ID. Translated by
Cornelius e Couegys, ii. d. Cincinnati: Moore, Will
-aca krys, a Co. For sale by Franck Taylor Wash
.s.tou. c.
No complete American history of Medicine
having vet been written, DIR. Comegys has sup
Piled the want by translating from the French
Of Renouerd Comprehensive History of the
Science and Practice, from the earliest period
down to the 10Th century, with an Appendix,
containing a review of Medicine during the
present century. 1t is a work of profound in
i-rest not only to the medical man, but to the
general student; and the translator, so far as
We can Judge, has done his work well.
1t is somewhat remarkable that we should
be indebted for this great work to publishing
house in Cincinnati, a city scarcely more than
half century old.
The mechanical execution is worthy Of all
praise, and reflects great credit upon the enter
prising firm already well known as the publish
ITS Of several popular works.
PHrurl.xa. or Sketches and Buresques BY John Phe-
nx d Appleton & Co. 1856. For sale by Franck
TAYLOR. Washington, ID C.
Rather n queer book for the solid press of
the Appletons. What odd-looking figure is
that on the outside, and repeated within? The
portrait of the author? Well, all we can say
is tastes vary; little as we should desire our
own phiz so prominent, save us, kind publish
ers, from ever having our name and autograph
affixed to such nondescript asinine etfgies,
though "written by one of our most intimate
friends
With this, as with most books of humor, the
sketches-that told well in the newspaper, the
daily hits and jokes-lose much Of their effect,
when brought into volume. The occasion on
which they were struck off, the point of aim,
IS gone; they cannot be printed, and this it is
which often makes works of this caste so tame,
when read short time afterwards, compared
with their original power The scene, too, and
place, for which they were sketched, others far
away cannot enter into. No one, at the pres
ent day, can reach the full degree Of effect the
early readers of Rabelais felt; no one among
Us but must feel that many hit of Punch is
with the passing events of the day in London.
SO, here: California has its moral as we'll as
physical climate; its strange fishes, I'm gurgite
rast0 nantes" we believe it is-which, with
somewhat broad license, we will translate by
the old proverb, "birds of feather will flock
together" Now we, here, east of the Rocky
Mountains, cannot be supposed to be able to
appreciate John P. Squibob as his fellow-citi-
4ehs may have done. His fame has only
reached US with his portrait and autograph,
and this record Of his doings in San Francisco,
Genica, &c. OF course, this modern Midas
must excuse US if his bray is not so sonorons
IA our ears as to some in those regions far be-
I'nd our setting sun.
His list Of subjects is little Of every thing
literature, music, politics, spiritualism, man.
ners and customs, population, cities and towns,
are all fish for his net. We are glad that, like
many would-be wits, he does not try to feather
his shafts with Scripture illusions. We honor
his good sense for that better feeling which
has made him choose his topics among the
many passing occurrences of life, rather than
TO wing an arrow at the expense of virtue or
religious sentiment. He deals mostly in broad,
but not in gross humor; and if he has not the
delicate point and irony that marks the produc.
lions of some authors, whose witty thoughts
have been boarded for after days, he has not
NE low ribaldry of others, nor the Voltairian
SATcasms that poison where they sting. John
rhenT, or whoever thou art, we praise thee
ioF this; and if thy mask is long cared, yet it is
uo' cloven footed, nor Satanic. So, on-shoot
holly as it flies, and make men wiser where you
can.
THE RECALL OF MR.. CHAMPION.