The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-24
GIFT BOOKS.

The enterprise of our publishers is not to be
baked by the hard times" The Gift Books
this year promise to equal, if not surpass, all
their predecessors.
We have Just received from the Hafpers,
New York, through Taylor & Maury,
The Poets of II Nineteenth Century Selected and
edited by the Rev. Amos Wilmott
Mr.. Willmott is a man of taste, and a pro-
found lover of poetry. His selections, although
embracing a period of eighty-fve years, are
chiefly from the poets of this century, and are
made with admirable judgment. Harper's edi.
ton, while retaining his work complete, incor-
porates with it additions from American poets,
supplied and arrayed by Evert A. Duyckink,
harmonizing beautifully with the character and
tone of the English selections. One hundred
and thirty-two engravings, drawn by eminent
artists, embellish the work, the typographical
execution of which is exquisite. The tinted
paper'is most luxurious, and the elegant bind
ing is fit investiture of the beauty within.
The truth is, it is almost impossible to praise
such book too much.
From D. Appleton & Co., of New York, we
have received, through Blanchard & Mohun,
corner of Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street,
several books of similar kind
BRYANT's Poems, got up in style of equal
elegance to the work noticed above. 1t is g
complete edition of the Poems of this eminent
author, arranged, with a single exception, &C.
cording to the times when they were written,
and finely Illustrated by over seventy engra-
v;ngs.
But still more elegant Gift Book is
WOrld-Noied Women; or, Types OF womanly Attributes
of all Lands and Ages. By Mary Cawden Clarke H.
lustrated with seventeen engravings Steel, from
original designs, by Charles Stsal.
A more solid, elegant, and complete speci.
men Of the typographical taste and enterprise
of orr publishers we have never seen. Its rich
embossed binding is exceedingly beautiful.
In the list of seventeen world-noted women,
Elizabeth of England, greater than all, finds
no place but the authoress tells US that she
has discussed the subjects appointed for" her.
This she has done with judgment and spirit.
The portraits are all beautiful, the artist re.
garding the ideal more than the real. World
noted women, as a general rule, are more beau.
tiful on canvass than anywhere else.
OF the other Gift Books, we notice Gertrude
Of Wyoming, beautifully printed, bound, and
illustrated with thirty-6ve engravings, by the
Brothers Dalzell. The Farmers Boy by
Robert Bloomfield, with thirty engravings; and
Picture Fables, by Ohio Spekter, with rhymes,
translated from the German of F. Hey by
Henry w. Quicken.
The last is delightful book for children.
These Germans understand the mysteries of
child-life.
The engravings in all of them are themselves
full of poetry.
Then follows, from the press of the same
publishers, series of books for young folk.
Place for Everything and Everything in its Place
1t is sufficient TO say that this was written
By Cousin Alice, whose home books this is
the seventy have been, and always will be,
great favorites, alike with young and old.
The History of Peter the Great By Sarah II Bradford,
author of the Story of Columbus, Lewis, &C.
A great theme, and spirited, discriminating
author. The book is replete with interest and
instruction.
Two others, George Ready, or How to Lire
for Others, by Robert O. Lincoln, and Christ.
mas Holydays: containing several stories for
the whole year, are pleasant books for Christ
mas