The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-15

history. Our biographical collections, our lite
razy cyclopsdas ere generally the nerest trash
done 70 order for some wealthy bookseller, and
full Of the gFossest errora Navkiah praise OF the
personal friends Of the editors omissions Of ever
il1srious names, and insertions Of fugitive poe.
~ by school girls who write for some dckly
sentimental journal-which journals will be forth
coming in consequences, with puns-are NE
staple of these precious volumes, destitute Of al
true appreciation Of what il really the rls or the
beautiful.
Fortunately for NJ, history II too grand in it
philosophy to be much tempered with BY these
scavengera Our own has bean attempted BY too
few TO be a. yet much falansa, bot W regret 70
zee that even the sacred character Of the Father
Of his Country has been recently traced by come
of bis school book biographers behind his bed eur
tains, to illustrate his amiability as q husband.
We had hoped that the Weemses had disappeared.
Our principal historians have fair chance for
future celebrity. The writings Of Prescott,
Irving, and Bancroft have, in their respective
departments the highest reputation, and the
country may be proud of them. Our legal
writer's may be safely eulogized. No moro last
ing monuments have been any where erected than
by Story, Kent and Wheaton. This 10 . field
into which ignorance and audacity cannot enter
and it is and must be occupied only by superior
minds
In the severer sciences we are far in advance Of
the contemporary departments. In astronomy,
chemistry, geology, electricity, mechanics, where
the critics Of the oyster cellar stamp are speech
less and impotent, we are gathering . noble col
lection Of authorities, whose researches and OBJ.
servations are now quoted throughout Europe.
What We deeply regret are the haste and the
alovenliness with with which our encyclopedia
works are got up. Our larger biographical
works are exceedingly incorrect and meagre.
Our gazetteere are full Of mis.akes-
our best maps omit the latest dis
coveries, and exhibit a careless Technology
Even in our public institutions there is zoo much
Of this deficiency Of learning It is a fact 10. "
be disputed, that the Regents Of the University
are occasionally Obliged to return to their au-
thors, the reports received by them as the prin-
cipals of the very academies enjoying the bounty
u INC Cthtes IOK COrTeCtlOHs III oTtnCSKHpny ana
arithmetical tables
The indiscriminate praises OF the press have
much to do in fastening upon us an imperfect IL
terature. II is well known fact that many
country papers-yes, and city papers, too
reckon the presents made them of books from
the publishers, . principal item of their pro-
fte. Half the time these notices are written
in the publishers Offices and enclosed with the
works sent to be noticed. We believe that in
this very city some of our frog like journals keep
up an inflated existence merely for the sake of
gift books and free admissions 10 the theatres
1t is the good fortune and it is the duty of the
independent press to be above and beyond al
such Influences in their literary criticisms
Such are the ramifcations and the power of
the great publishing houses that they can sell
pretty much everything they please, whether it
il good or bad; but it is time that American
readers understood what it is they are called
upon to buy. Aud IL liz also time that Tie syLv-
lar. Of the country stood out against the scissor
izing principles on which they are expected to do
their work, gull the public, and sta-ve TO death
in the ignoble occupation