New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-09

writers the cedar was the nobest Of trees-the ion
arch Of the vegetable kingdom. solomon span w.
tree from the cedar-tree that u IN LeDAnyI,a To
unto the hyssOp that sprIngeth out OF the van.
tie prophets il the favonte emblem Tor gre
spleudUr, and majesty; hence kings ana moor w
pillars Of society are everywhere cedaIs VI -
Especially Is this the in the splendid
by Ezekiel Of the Assyran power and glory Heu0
too in connection with its durability and fragrance
was regarded as the most precious of ell wOoo anu
employed in costly buildings for ornaine" anf
luxury. In SOlOmOns temple, the beams OF tho TO-
r. also the boards and the ornamental WORK, were VI
the cedar of Lebanon; and it was likewise used IN
the later temple Of Zerubbsbel. Davids palace was
built with cedar; and so layishly Wa THIS cosby W."
employed in Of Solomon palaces, that II Is cacI
"the house Of the forest Of Lebanon As matter Oh
luxury aso the cedar was sometimes used Tor zoos
and for the masts Of ships. In like manner th9 Ceda
was highly priced among heather nations. IL wa.
employed la the construction Of their tempes' as q.
Tyre and Ephesus, and also in their palaces, as ~
Persepolis. In the two latter Instances, ho"e'et
Ephesus and Persepolis it does not follow that tue
cedar came from Lebanon, though that OF Syria was
among the most celebrated. Ii is also very po-sioe
that the name cedar sometimes loosely appIed 10
trees Of another species
With the publication of this volume, the record
of the authors personal observations in the holy
Land is brought to a close. In connection Win H.
new edition Of the former volume is issued IN
condensed FORM retaining the whole of the original
text and emitting only such collateral portions as
were of more Importance to the scholar than TO the
general reader. The work thus completed presents
striking illustration of the enterprise energy, aud
scholarship of the eminent author. 1t is the pro-
duct Of rare combination of talents, without
which such valuable contribution to Biblical liter
allure could not have been accomplished. With
the habits of patient research, minute accuracy,
and critical discrimination essential to cOnsummate
success as philolOgist, Dr. Robinson unites the
ardor and perseverance of the traveller, the per-
ceptye faculties Of the architect or engineer, aud
the skill in expression Of the descriptive writer.
He is never weary amid burdensOme detals-nO
physical obstacle mpedcS the vigor Of his action
ever ready to wade stream or explore cave, or
climb mountain with all the enthusiasm of youth
he brings the mature wisdom Of experience to
guide his researches to correct bis impressions, and
from conflicting evidence, to elicit truth. Hence
the unanimous recognition of the standard value OF
his works by the learned both in Europe and Amer
lea, and the keen interest with which the student
Of sacred history awaits the appearance Of his
opus msgnum on the physical and historical
Geography of the Holy Land" to which all his
former labors have been tributary.
THE BAY PATH; A tai. o, Nrw-EscLdsD co.of Il
LrE:. BY G. HOLLAND i2mO' PP 4iS o. r. fu'
The plan of this novel was evidently suggested by
digent study Of the antiquarian lore of England
1t is not so much imaginative production as PIC
ture from the actual experience of former age, but In
which the vitality of the present has impaired glow
to the records of the past. The characters OF the
story the incidents of the plot end the general tone OF
coorng arc taken from the history of colonial times
but the theme il handled with much depth OF feel
ing and vigor of expression to cothe it with the in
terest of a modern romance. Around the ancient
Bay Path" as was called the forest road which led
from the settlements on Connecticut River to the
parent hive on the sea shore the author has gathered
the elements Of natural passion evolving series OF
characters with such truthfuness of delneation that
they seem the inevitable product of the primitive age
TO which they are assigned. He has admirably pre-
served the contrast between the freshness and funess
of individual life and the imperfect rudimentsl cond
ton of social development The heart beat high with
strong human emotion in the rude dwellings of Aga
wam-men Of noble lineage and generous breeding
were there-women to whom refinement and gentleness
were innate-while the absence Of many conven-
tional restraints gave free scope to the most err
ratio expressions of individuality. The presence
of sweet Mary Pynchon, "who stoode very
eo-ie Of womanhood," in the same with the
wild defiant and outawed, though still truly human,
John Woodcock, weliStrates the variety of charac-
ter which furnishes the writer with fruitful materials
for his pen. and which he has wrought up with such
attractive and often pathetic effect. The ofre
Oh ia nv a
skiful use which he has made of the local scenery,
which in It's essential features is the same as in
the DAYS of William Pynchon and Elizur Holyoke.
The mountain, the river the meadow, with whose
scenes of deep beauty and perfect peace every
traveller in the valley of the Connecticut is familiar
are hsre associated with the fading types of past
age and greatly aid the imagination in reproducing its
sombre lneaments To such degree is this the case
that stranger TO the scenery would scarcely be able
10 do Justice TO the nauaness of the story, which has
so spontaneously grown up in the authors mind in the
midst of the impressions and "reminiscences Of bis daily
life In the composition OF the work reader addicted
TO comparison would probably find some traces OF
Hswthorne-an exensl resemblance could hardly be
avoided where the materials were nearly Identical
but Mr. Holland is no mitator Of his predecessor-
his story is formed quite different model and if
il does not exhibit the graphic concentration and vivid
ness of the "House of the Seven Gables" it is also
free from its grim, sardOnic spirit. We notice
casionu anachronism in the dcOn of the nterlocutors
who sometimes use colloquia expression of mod
erp date and the author himself is too INSCRIPTIONS in
the adoption of one or two words which have sane
ton but bad American usage.
CHARACTERS AND CRITICISMS: By ". ALFRED JONES
, IuO j. Y
It's rarely that the productions of periodical crit
ci.m have any claim to a more permanent form than
that Of their original publication. Written with refer
- ..h;nh 40 lnnc ns they arn nf raoast