The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11

spirit; and many curious occurrences give to
tho progress Of his travel the character of wild
adventure. The work has been well received
abroad, and no doubt will be here. The cost
is far less, though it is true it appears in small
er-sised volume. Still, to those who are athirst
for knowledge, and desire to become acquaint'
ed, from truthful and intelligent traveller, with
this before unknown region, it will prove book
of much interest. We are sorry the author did
not give US some vocabularies of the languages
of the different tribes. Perhaps, however, he
reserved this subject for more scientific COM
munication to some learned society. We are
glad, at any rate, to meet him as we have done,
with the fruits of his researches in 80 popular
form. But it is not merely with the immedi-
ate results of such explorations we are most
interested. We regard the opening of Africa,
so long unknown, or known but by the bsrbari-
ties of . horrid warfare and the traffic eonse-
quent on it, as well as originating it, as an indi-
cation of Divine Providence, that the time for
her civilining and christianzing is drawing nigh.
We believe, too, that nothing will conduce
more, eventually, to dry up the turbid fountain
which has disgorged its poluting streams upon
our country; and that, while some are hoping
to see that traffic again begun, God is shedding
light upon the darkness there, to counterfeit
these base devisings of human cupidity and
that He will cause humanity to triumph, by ex-
citing deeper interest, from the progress of
research and discovery, in that long abused land
of sorrow and degradation, and thus stir up the
Christian world to their duty.
KANSAS: Its Interior and Exterior Life, including full
view Of its Settlement, Political History, Social Life,
Climate, Soil, Productions, Scenery &c. BY Sarah T.
L. Robinson. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, & Co. 1856.
No book that we have yet seen on Kansas is
so well fitted to give US as good an idea of the
country and the people, with the events that
have trsnspired, and in such an interesting
manner. We are let into the domestic and so.
cial life Of these pioneers of Freedom sit down
at their tables; 60 round about with them on
their visits of friendship or sympathy; stand
beside the beds of the sick, and see them die
and buried and thus share as it were in the
things pleasant or unpleasant, meet the peris
and hardships they are suffering, and from day
to day form part Of the corners and goers, and
partake of their expectations and disappoint-
ments. We behold them amid fevers and
agues, cholera, and assaults of rufian foes; and
can gather some idea how endurance is goaded
on, and struggles to break forth and avenge the
wrongs that are wrought. Never have we had
| a. oh ID kb<oa 4
and patient men and women-never have we
been filed with so deep an admiration of their
heroic fortitude, as well as undaunted courage,
as from reading this book.
Mrs. Robinson is no ordinary woman. Gov
Robinson, her husband, we'll deserves the praise
bestowed upon him, and the confidence the
freemen of Kansas reposed in him. His min
istries Of mercy BY day and BY night, his ready
bleness of character. shine forth as true sor
of the Pilgrim sires.
The book, we are told, was written in grea
degree by Mrs. Robinson, while watching beside
her imprisoned husband. By this we understand
that she brought together and compacted the
results of her observations for it is continu
Gus journal from day to day, and this is wha
gives it special interest. The whole is narrated
with such ease and truthfulness, and at thu
same time so graphically set forth, that it give.
the very insight We want to have of their ex
periencss. The characters of the persons who
pass over the scene are selftold. Their word
and actions place them before us, as if we wer,
present, and heard and saw their visages, ant
could dive down into their hearts. We feel i
must be fair report, sin nothing extenuated
or aught set down in malice" Mrs. Robinson
has an eye and heart for the beauties of nature
and her descriptions are most picturesque. w,
have had no idea before that the country, in it
external aspect, was so beautiful and present
ed SO many attractions to the settlers. We ar,
glad, indeed that 1t is SO, for all these arr
needed, to help them struggle on, with the Low,
of Freedom animating their souls, amid the in
vasions of right to which they have been sub
jected, and the grievous wrongs they have en-
dured. The interest of the book, as pictur,
of new home, and the interviewer incidents o
Life in the log-cabin and out on the prairie; tn,
social phases of new country, where are as
sembled persons of all characters and habits o
education, from all countries and States, ar,
thus graphically presented, to enlist the reader
while the spirit of Liberty and noble selfdenia
breathes through the whole, to call out his sym
patty, and give him deeper interest In tina
country and its future destiny.
The book will have no little influence, ant
we trust will be extensively read. There il
such good humor and kindness-so much tina
at once takes hold of the heart of every feeling
soul-that we believe hardly even the mos
prejudiced, who may take it up, and dip int
its pages, with the chance-reading here anC
there, but must be favorabiy impressed viii
the authoress's honesty of purpose and excel
lence of character. We could wish it nigh
find its way further South than we fear will b,
tt !, limit of its circulation but it has mis-
sion to accomplish; and that mission, we doub
not it will accomplish in portions of the FIRE,
States, where light is still needed as to the pas
history and true situation of Kansas.
The position Mrs. Robinson occupied brough
her in contact with, and under her observation
fell, the various incidents and characters o
that country. The history develops itself from
day to day. We are enabled to mark the prog
ress of aggression and the spirit of resistance
We learn to know the persons who are actor,
- a. soana.. aud - tho mind turn, i'll L.. Al