The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-04

on certain supposed Inconsistencies of religious
character. But, after all, it does not help for
ward the action and development of character
or progress of the story.
There is haze about the termination that is
unpleasant to the reader, and it seems as if there
was want of finish in the authors PLAN A
mystery hangs over Medals last night at the
ball, when she returns and finds her husband
house locked, and the reader feels painful I'M
certainty that some undescribed outrage has
been the result, since she does not go to her
friend RachePs, as she had purposed, and returns
in the morning, almost Supplied. This mystery
renders the closing portion, her divorce and de-
parture, still more painful. Mr.. Argyle is left
unhappy, too; and when at last he seeks Media,
he does not find her, and vaguely learns that she
is probably dead.
All through the work are passages of severe
! satire, especially on the fashionable fooleries
of New York society.
In point Of style, Mr.. Wood has gained on
his former volumes. There are scenes in Peter
iSchlemiM and the Modern Pilgrims, more pow
erful than we find in the volume before us ;
but the work, on the whole, will probably com
mand more readers than either of those pro-
auctions.
The satiric vein that runs through the wri-
tings of Mr.. Wood hardly does justice to his
generous sympathies and his earnest interest
in those who are suffering and ready to perish.
We could wish that for once he would let his
pen represent the man as his friends know him
in social intercourse, so that the public might
have better opportunity of understanding
the genuine benevolence of his nature.
Thus far his new work has been handsomely
reviewed, and noticed by discriminating papers
of high position, in the most commendatory
terms.
MODERN GREECE. Narrative OF Residence and Travels
in that Country, with Observations lis Antiquities,
Literature, snguage Politics, and Religion. By Henry
NJ Baird, NJ. a. illustrated by about sixty engravings
New York: Harper & Brothers. 1855. For sale by
Franck Taylor, Washington, ID. c..
There are some countries ever presenting
themselves to us with such memories and asso
Citations, let who will visit them he can scarcely
fail to bring back report to interest the read
err. Greece is one of these. land of classic
story, rich in her histories of the past crowded
all along her paths of fame with the names of
men whose recorded deeds will not die out
while time endures; and still, amid her ruins,
offering to the traveller relies of the creations
of unrivalled genius, her plains and mountains
recalling as it were the tramp of armies and
desperate conflicts of heroic spirits, Greece is
one of those parts of the world from which we
ever love to hear. Though described and
measured out in the topography of ancient and
modern times from Herodotus Pausanias, Thu
cydides, down to Choisent, Coulter, Ponque-
vile, Wordsworth, and many more, some of
whose productions are embellished with all the
beauty Of the artists pencil and coloring, still
we are ever ready to welcome any one who will
give rs the fresh impression Of an eyewitness
who has traversed her hills and wales, and lin
gered around the monuments, depicting, though
but too feebly, what she once was. The cir
cumstances under which Mr.. Baird has prepared
his volume now before US, were favorable. He
went out to perfect himself as scholar in that
noble language of Greece, and to become &C.
quainted, by personal inspection so far as he
could, with the memorials Of her fame. He
had the advantage of intercourse with the native
inhabitants, and also with the most intelligent
foreigners who had been longest resident there
The opportunities thus afforded he has we'll i'm
proved. Though he visited and describes the
various spots which are identified with Greece
through the many centuries of her existence,
yet it is mainly for the information he has fur
nished us with the modern condition of her peo-
pie, the operation on the country Of the innu-
ences of diverse kinds to which she is subject
ed, and the prospects of her future progress,
that we regard this volume as the most valua-
bic. We are glad to get the impressions of an
intelligent eyewitness OH these points, and we
know Of no book of this size where we meet
with more satisfactory information in this re-
spect. We have been fsvoraby disappointed
as to some things, though there are sad draw
backs still in her means of advancement.
Greece is not what she ought to be. We are
agreeably surprised to learn that education is
so much attended to by the Government. But
this is, perhaps, the only bright line that is in
terwoven in that rule. Her native people feel
that they have a monarch and officials of all
kinds imposed upon them, that sprung not from
their soil. Those who bore the greatest part in
her Revolution have reaped least of its fruits
1t living, they are crowded far in the back.
ground, to make room for Germans that have
no synpathies with her history or much regard
Tor her future. A corrupt church lends its aid
to keep down the natural vigor which, under
other circumstances, would assert its power !;
ana Greece is indeed "living Greece no more"
Mr. Bard is an observing man, and notes what
ne sees IN easy language, with no attempt at
display. Our readers will find in the volume
concise account of the manners and customs
Oh 'ne people, lnterspersed with anecdotical incl
dents, and candid statement of the condition
OF the country IN relation to its own Govern.
ment, and also the former Turkish rule. The
operations OF our missionaries, and the perse
cutions to which DR.. King has been sub;ected
and from which he was released by the inter.
position OF our Government, are fairly told
Much varied information is condensed in a few
pages. We are introduced to some of the most
prominent men of science and Literature 40
well as members their civil state. Numerous
sketches, occupying place in the text and az
vignettes at the head of the chapters, present
us with the appearance of the most celebrated
ruins; and from the few hundred pages we are
enabled thus to gather as great (if not great
cry amount of knowledge respecting the whole
country as we can find in any other volume of