New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-07
LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

Till within a very recent period the literary world
Of Fu,ope was as careless as il was ignorant of
American history and especially of that portion
of il relating to colonial times. Recent indications
would seem to show that with the advance of the
United States into the front rank OF nations the labors
bestowed Of late years on the investigation OF their
infancy and growth are beginning to attract attention
in Europe few months ago, very elaborate article
appeared in The Edinburgh Reyiew on the Puritan
Fathers of New England. based mainly upon the view
of that portion of our early history taken in ldeths
History of the United States. T6e number for the
first of April of the Recue des Dear Mondes, contains
an elaborate article on the Origin of the American Re-
publics. founded on the histories of Bancroft and
Hildreth. ard new French History Of the United
States for the period preceding 1899 This article
dwells with emphasis upon the discrepancy hrst
noticed, we believe. by Hildreth, between what
may be called, in a certain sense, the mythology
cal version of American histOry-that history as or
name nted and gloried but at the same time ex-
aeeerated aud often distorted and mystifed in the
paneeyrcal versions of it put forth by multitude of
rariotc orators, each striving TO Guido the other
in encomiums the simple aid often less fat
teripg truth of that history, as preserved in its
ample and authentic cotemporaneous records. The
principal point, however, of the article is an
attack upon the idealistic view OF the origin and
progress of American institutions taken by Bancroft,
who attempts to trace back everything TO deliberate
and dogmatc attempt to embody and realize the
Democratic idea The French reviewer, on the other
hand maintains with Ilildreth that the origin of the
institutions Of America they exist at this moment,
il 10 be sought ar found in the ideas institutions and
modes of action which the coonists brought with them
from Great Britain, modified great deal more by
theological than by philosophical notions; and though
somewhat affected by The and peculiar position IN
which the culoiss found themselves placed, yet, as
10 all their better features, q reproduction and more
full vtopment il America of the ideas and mschn
try of Europta an liberty. This is an interesting in
oury and as the reviewer justly observes, OF great
practical importance, too, as well to Europe as to
America.
We have already announced the fact that Mr..
Bavard Tsylcr is engaged 10 preparing Cyo'oped'd
# Modern Trorel We now learn that this work will
con prise the voyages explorations and adventures oil
more than fifty eel, braed travellers ofthe hall century
between HumbOldi's journeys to the equlnoctai re-
eions and DR. Bsrh's return from Tmbuctoo. Inc
mass Of information contained IN many OF their WORKS,
though of great value and interest 10 every poh
view has never yet been made accessible TO readers
Of the English language Mr. Ts!lo Fill condense,
compare and digest the whole, aud WE dare say VIII
present il in a moot attractive and agreeable form.
The work will contain about 800 octave pages, and
will be cold by subscription only. The publishers are
Messrs Moore wilstach Keys & Co., of Cincinnati.
Derby & Jackson are preparing uniform edition
Of the novels tina, delighted the last generation,
Thaddeus Of Warsaw" Scottish Chiefs " Chill
6ren of the Abbey" Romance Of the Forest" &c
&c. We believe each work is TO be complete in one
volume.
-Tcknor & Fields are bnngng out library edition
oftbe "Wav,rley Novel;" the original three volume
romspces to eppeac IL t~o pocket volumes each. TIE