The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-21


seeing The book, or consent being asked Would any
esdg publisher In London under similar circumstances
III ghh written by foreigner, who merely through
he country, and drawing hssty conclusions from
what comes under bis own observation only may
rot fpd many To agree with or lndorse his opinions ]
was told M Golovin whhed to send copies for sale In
the Upted States, and undertook forward them but
there had been time for to examine this book,
should have objected TO An erioan pubisher's name
appearing on the title, without being FIRST obtain
ed, Ipeed scarcely observe, that beyond tho difficulty
made by the author biTuse there is restrictions
the Ae Of his boob In America 70 the full extent Of the
public demand. The allusion TO what occurred many
Dckenf Ii quite out OF place Ut the present time
bus few Libraries In the United States would be found
NoseS" ncuSsc9 and no psDic vr,ter ca Se mo1e
generally respected The other matters contained Mr.
SOovins communication are hardly borne ont BY facts;
but rs they do not misrcpresent in particular
reply needed from yours, CHARLES LAYTON.
Agent for D. Appleton l. Co.
An English Retrospect of 1856.
From the london Times Dec. 81
The year which closes to-day has not been one Of
those marvellous periods which stand out high and
rugged from the surface OF history and become the
landmarks of the student in ages to come. 1t is
rather bend in the ever winding stream of time,
which, while our attention has been fixed upon the
events of the hour, has brought MS almost uncon-
sci0usly into utterly different state of affairs.
Every traveller in a mountainous country may re-
membe some day when, after spending early dawn
in the snow and on the crag, and then pass
ing. in rapid transition steep desoents, thun-
deripg eataracts, gloomy gorges. winding valleys,
sunny lakes and wall girt cities, he towards
sunset finds himself in a landscape that he
night have expected in his own familiar
in the distant horizon he might forget that his eyes
were still weak from the glacier, that the torrent was
still roaring in his brain, his foot still sore, but his
spirit still pitched mountain high, dreaming only Of
footing. Where were We all the morning of this
year? Still keeping keen wintry watch on the
Crimea; not hopeless OF peace, but preparing for
war; executing the stern decree of Providence
the great stronghold Of q mighty empire, levelling
its docks and seward FORTS exchanging angry mena
ces with the foe on the north side, and bringing
home the trophies OF the capture. Al that
S Snv on Me the we;sen ro"er with Tar
either Alternative, Prussia stood alOof, as
having no concern in the general interests OF
humanity and the maintenance of liberty and jus
tice between the nations of Europe. IL was our
boast that England he'd never seen so fine an army,
one in all respects so well found and in such dir
cipline as that which formed the vanguard of Eu
ropean freedom on the heights of Sebastopol
Elsewhere the political atmosphere was generally
quiet, with the single exception that something's
trihe or two seen through an electoneerng medium,
had rufiled our sensitive peghber across the Allan
tic and at the very time when our quarrel with the
Gar passing from the sword to the tongue, our
diplomatsts were expected TO have spare time for
Misunderstanding upon matters not only unappre.
GATED but even utterly unknown 70 the mass Of the
n
ago, and IL was one hat made US for the time ma
ton Of warriors, and ready TO bear any burdens or
run any risk for the national honor.
Without any very great event, without anything
much out OF calculation, we find ourselves at the
close OF the year in entirely scene, surround
ed by new objects, and with only few fast fading
links between that landscape and this That great
war is over. Hard terms have been wrung from the
exhaustion Of Russia, and after much subsequent
wraDglipg she has been held to the letter aud spirit
OF her bond. We have celebrated that peace with
great and cordial rejoicing. Prussia was admitted
at the eleventh hour 70 o share in Its honors. Our
fleets and armies have returned, and have
had their ovations. But for the income
tax and some foolish frets kept up by a testy
Admiral and some jealous soldiers, we might al.
most have forgotten by this time the neglects and
misbaps o. the war. A young and active Com
mander-n Chief has been putting his house In order
for the next emergency. The United States sent
b. me our minister, and, as we did not resent the
slight, have sent as peace Offering TO Queen Victo-
ria one Of her own ships found adrft without It's
crew. We have now settled all or late differences,
and are, as We hope always 70 be, on the best Of
terms with our thriving cousins. But as fast as
these wounds have healed others have broken cut
and before we have finished our celebration OF peace
We are at war. We have withdrawn our minister
from The Absoutst Court Of Naples A British
expedition has sailed against Persia, and British
diplomacy Is once more at work in the fatal passes
OF Anphanistan At the same moment n British
Admiral has bomharded one OF the capitals Of
China. Thus we find ourselves az war with the
We have now been at war within these two or three
years. Certainly such a result Is so far from natural
that one suspects II might have been avoided, Tor II
we quarrel With every State in the world, " is a
moderate prt sumption that may, perhaps, be
sometimes In the wrong. However, we have Prus-
sia TO keep rs in countenance Slow as she was 70
fight for the liberty and independence of Europe,
she II preparing for war with the Swiss mountaineers
in behalf Of a barren and obsolete title, which for
years she had not the face 70 assert and the peace Of
Europe IL now threatened, rot by Inst 81 dominion,
but by an antiquarian curiosity.
In this year, whether OF war or peace, the new
Emperor OF all lhe Russias has been crowned with
pomp which threatens 70 be the last OF its kind,
and youthful representatives Of our nobility have
been exhibiting 70 the assembled nations at Mos
COW the peaceful ndes Of our national character.
Across the Atlantic another form OF q less digni-
fed, but perhaps more important character, has
this year been celebrated. The United states have
elected President who, by the good terms he esta
bished with the States not In his interest, has
quietly settled for the present the great domestic
question which threatens the Union. The cause Of
negro freedom never seemed at lower eeo, and
the renewed efforts Of genius In its behalf seem
almost thrown away but the very history OF the
year that proved 70 unfavorable " IL warns us
not 10 expect the same uniform tenor Of events.
No one knows Whist year may bring forth, and
he only certainty IL that no one year will be
he counterpart OF the last. Elsewhere, under the
usual Disadvantages difficulties and suspicion, peace
as been doing its quiet work. Canada has opened
Ter great line OF railway between the lakes and the
AGantlr. Inc electric Wrp tnat II 10 ION the New
and Old World is already begun. Russia has been
inviting Europe 10 join with the iron road the ex-
IN mites Of her wide empire. An era Of peace and
progress has been proclaimed for India but only to
be interrupted by fresh blast Of war; When, in
deed, will peace have the precedence of her fretful
and cspricious competitor France with the fresh
security Of an heir TO the imperial throne, slowly
recovering nom her vast efforts Spain, which IS
so small place in European politics, has had
dfsma OF her own. BY the usual steps she nhs
rapidly returned TO an absolutism strong as GU
cumstapces and the age will endure. by way y,
setting an example, England, France, RUSSIA, aIo
even Austria, have been granting large amnesues
and raioors for political Offences producing ulers
by much quiet content, but meeting with some NOISY
iDgIatitUde. -,
Al home the year has been one Of beginnings
more or less promising The METROPOLITAN p3ara