New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-27

4
The arrangement of the volume, where several per.
sons Of the TO be treated is perpexing,
a. follows neither the date Of their birth or their
death nor the alphabetical order Of their Christian
names Thus in members Of families Ike the Abbots
and Aliens and Browns and Smiths and Edward-s,
which comprehend great number Of individuals il is
difficult 10 find the one in pursuit Of or TO be
certain that We have not missed him after exhaustng
the catalogue. The simple order Of arrangement by
| their Christian names would save this confusion.
With regard to the comparative space a!lo;:edto
different individuals not disposed TO be csptous
a. no editorial iustice can perfectly equitable
arrangement, giving to each person prominence ex-
.cy in proportion TO his merits. As the author has
raised the question in his preface however, we ara
bound to say that he often falls into the same eTror Of
which he complains 10 Others Thus Webster Is Dis
missed in three quarters of column while Solomon Al
len is made 10 ell more than four columns Chief JUS
tee Naehall has a column. Cotton Ma;her nearly
three Such cases are inevitable, do they detrsCt
| from the general value and utility of the work
A large proportion Of the names, of course, are dis
posed of il few lines. Some have two three Only,
but these are usually remarkable only for single cir
| cumstance; such as great longevity some other
striking feature which can be told in brief compass.
| Tins Abigail Afford died sged l02; Samuel Abbot
invented the process of making potato starch Bar
zila Dean was crushed BY the falling IN Of the roof
of rew tomb which he had entered to examine, and
the ike. Thee are all proper subjects of bograph-
ics dictionary and s6d to the interest of the work
But where there il special fact 10 designate per-
son. why I'll up the pages with the mere record OF his
name, and the day of his birth and his death Thus,
Samuel W May minister at Cincinnati o., died March
y, 1870; Allen Mayhem, Dr., died at Chilmark 10
Dec 1876, aged 80. Excellent persous we dare say.
in their day and generation, those named above,
but IL there nothing to be said about them,
why insert their names at all. 1t would be quite ~
well TO transfer the contents Of the State Register or
| CITY Directory of once into the volume
We suggest hese criticisms, not from any wan, of
appreciation of DIR. Aliens work, but from real inter
est in it's character and with high sense of the re.
search industry and perseverance which are embodied
in its pages 10 the antiquarian and the lover OF bio
graphy it opens a rch mine Of congenia information.
Certainly not without the traces of personal prejudice,
often dogmstic and censorious "a often superficial and
obuse in the judgment of character, and showing IRE
ouent instances of loose and slovenly composition,
STILL in spite of its defects Is an important contrbu.
ton to American hteraure--in some sense a work Of
| truly national interest-and Supplying place among
the books Of general reference in she library in which
| it has no competitor.
THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES or DR.. LEWIS
| =. LINN. BY + A. LINN and N SARGENT. svo pp AL.
d. Appleton n Co.
| DIR. Linn was descended from one of the pioneer
| families of Western civilization. He held spromi-
nent rank among the distinguished men in the valley
of the Mississippi. Combining an intense devotion to
| politics with the practice Of medicine, he took an
active bart IN the support Of Gen. Jscksons admins
tration, and that of his successor, Mr.. Van Buren,,
I while a member of the United States Senate from
Missouri. The present volume contains record both
of his political and his private life. 1t sets forth his
personal qualities which were Of an elevated and at
tacve character with force and animation, while his
public career is ably described in connection with the
| politics Of the times.
| A COMMENTARY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT By
Lvclrs r. P.Ier Vol ". l2mo, pp Se Boston, A.
| The work, of which new volume is now presented
to the public made its first appearance about thirteen
years ago. Two additional volumes were soon after
issued but from various reasons the author has been
| obliged to postpone The completion of this volume
until the present date. II is wholly occupied with the
Epistle to the Romans of which it presents elsbo-
rate although popular, exposition In accordance with
the theological system of which the author is dis
| tinguished representatives
MARRYATTs WORKS. limo. (serisl). Derby Jscksn-
The mans for reprints of avorite standard authors,
| who have TO certain degree been crowded ous OF
sight by more recent celebrities is good sign IN re-
gard to the judgment of American publishers aud
the tastes of their clients. The present edition OF
Maryatt will recall the memory Of that popular nov
est 10 his ancient admirers, while IL Will Introduce
him for the first time to the attention OF masy Of tho
Younger class Of readers II is brought out in excel
lent style for the library comfortable, and can be
read without damage to the most fastidous eyes,
| THE PASTORS BEoUEsT. srLEcrIess ysos rue sEs'
MONS THE REV. HESRY Bscos Edited by Mrs "a ii.
BACON limo, PIP $50. Boston; Abel Tompsin~
In these dscourses the wide circle OF the aufhors
friends have memorial of the freshness OF spirit and
ardor Of fe. ling which among the many endear-
| ing qualities of his character. They are sngulariy
| free from speculative subtleties and repose on
foundation of original and quickening thought which
il presented with rich variety Of illustration, clear
and forcibe argument, and often impressive eloquencs
THE DOG By DNNs M.yBEw snd HUTcHesos. Edited
by FRAxK FORESTER limo. PIP ds5, stinser Town
send. -
The training of dogs, with their management in
health and sickness is fully treated in this work which
IL composed of treatises Of standard authority with
amateur sportsmen. The present improved edition is
| brought out III n suptil"i 'yP"b'"P"If
numerous spirited illustrations.
LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.
The biography Of the late Dr. Kane is IN course OF
orepsration by DR.. William Elder Of Pbladelphi,
and will be issued at an carly date by Messrs Chdz
& Peterson, of that city. The subject could hardly
have fallen into better hands, and we anticipate amoot
interesting volume from the pen Of DR. Elder who has
been furnished by the family OF the deceased with am