The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-16
NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Partisan Sights and French Principles.
Italian Sights and Papal Principles.
Humboldt's Cuba, by Thrasher.
Old Dominion, by G. P. R. James.
Ernest Linwood; novel, by Mrs. Lee Hentz.
Romance of the Harem, by Miss Pardoe.
Abbott's Learning TO Think.
The Mechanics and Bankers Almanac for 1866.
Dickens Household Words. Part SO.
Watson's Men and Times of the Revolution.
India, the Pearl of Pearl River.
HomeY's Iliad. (Harpers Classical Library.)
Edgar A. Poe's Miscellaneous Works. VOL 4.
The Wonders Of Science; or, Young Humphrey
Dsvy.
Edith Hale.
Wolfsden.
Shoepac RecOllecti0ns.
The North Carolina Reader. Nos. IL and 8.
Report on the Finances, ls54-'5.
The English Recruiting Correspondence. Pub.
Doc.
PERIODICALS FOR xARgH.
Harper's Magazine
Putnam's Magazine.
The Knickerbocker Magazine.
Hunts Merchants Magazine
The Schoolfellow, &C.. &c.
RACHEL GRAY-By Julia Kavanagh. Appleton
Il Co.
| Mas Kavanagh il writer who, on her debut IN
literature at once struck golden vein in the region
! of fiction. Her books have attained more general
popularity in Great Britain than those OF almost any
living female novelist. She is less known and
appreciated here, though why, we know not, except
that no pains have been taken to puff on her books
One of her best tales ia the novel before us Simple
in construction and modest in its materials as in its
pretensions, it is yet touching and exquisite pic
hr.v,n h1o vfo Vhn
interest OF the story thrilling and absorbing as it is
is no, derived from the usual staple element OF ro
nance. The passion of love plays no part in the
motive influences Of its plot. The home affections in
their less exaggerated and sentimental FORM serve all
the purposes Of the writer in its con structon. The
attraction OF the book lies altogether in its actuality
All It's characters and scenes seem to have been
drawn from life. We know no closer observer or
more vivid delineator Of nature than Miss kavanagh
WoMAHs' FAITH, a Tale Of Southern Life. Derby
4 jackson.
The scene Of this story is Louisiana, and the
epocn the close Of the last and the beginning Of the
present century. Tho fortunes Of family OF French
eaipyfs furnish The elements of the tale, which
skiltullv woven together, and form, in a dramatic
sense very effective plot. In the aelineatiOn OF
character however, the writer is not SO happy as he
seems TO have stadied human nature in the abstract
rather than from actual observation. The story is,
theless, powerfully written and interesting
one.
TIE CREOLE ORPHANS, or Lights and Shadows OF
Southern Life BY JAS S. Peacocke, M. d.
The scene of this story is also laid in Louisiana,
and to our ,aste is faithful and lifelike in its
portyaiture Of Southern manners than the novel pre-
viously noticed. Tie author has vividness Of ina
gination and an eye for natural beauty both Of.
which are requisite in the scene painting Of tropi
cal region.
GRACE OMALLEY-By W. H. Maxwell, authcr Of
Wild Sports Of the West Peterson PhlladelphaL
This is another dashng romance by one Of the
liyeliest and most rafting Of Irish novelists. The
scene is Of course laid in that land Of fun froc aud
"devilment' which gave the writer birth, and we
need scarcely add that the tale is redolent Of all
three. The humor and eccentrcity Of it's style i'm
part half the value to the tale.
CHARIEMoNr the Pride Of the Vjllage-By W. Gil
more Simms. Redfield.
recent tragical occurrence in Kentu ky forms
the groundwork of this story. AS a general prin-
cpe we are opposed to the selection of contempora
neous events for illustration in works Of fiction.
They are calculated to wound the feelings or per-
haps revive the sorrows OF those come: ted with
them and no matter how tenderly treated, must be
regarded as an unjustable invasion Of the saEctity
Of private life. What transprcs through the medi-
um Of court Of justice VIC have o right certainly
to deal with as entering into the domain Of
public facts bnt we have no right to ideal
ize in novel the actors in such scenes,
and to present to the public our own feelings and
motives as theirs. The moral aim usually claimed
FOR such transfguratioDs is exceedingly question
able, inasmuch as they inhict pain on individuals
wi.hou, beneftting society much. Apart from this
objection Mr. Simms story is very cleverly written,
ard will find favor amongs. the lovers Of highly
reasoned romances.
PRACTICAL Book OF REFERENCE AND ENGINEERS
FIELD BoOK-By Charles Ha.ctt, G. E., edited by
Chas W. Hackley. Stringer d Townsend
The high character OF Mr.. Haslett's work has long
been established. The present edition by Mr.
Hackley supplies whatever it was deficient in, and
renders il one OF the most convenient and valuable
books Of reference in connection with engineering
tina. has as yet been issued. The ad dtion of field
book and Of all the latest scientific calculations and
improvements, give to the work entirely new
character, and the very commodious and elegant
style in which it has been brought out enhances it
value pocket companion.
TaE YEAR Book or THE NATIONS FOR 1856. BY
Ehhu Burritt
In cur notice OF this book, few days since, we
remarked that the statistics Of the different coun-
tries were only brought down to the year 1850 On
more careful rerusal OF il We find this to be mis-
take. The statistics arranged on single page,
from the year 1901 TO 1850, in order to present j
view Of Just half century at once On other pages
further on in the book the statistics continued
up to 1866. Az manual Of late statistical informa
tion this little treatise has far greater value than
a cursory glance at it had led us to suppose.
FAMILIAR ScIENCE--By David A. Wells, A. ii.
Chds a. Peterson, Philadelphia.
This is an admirably compiled and most useful
work. some what on the plau Of DR.. Brewers " Sci
eutfc Explanations but more comprehensive aud
varied in its contents. 1t is intended rather as
~rorb of reCcrauce for famiIiaa and FOR n vnrv