New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-12


If the proper study of Mankind is Man. then
History and Biography are entitled to larger
share of attention, especially from the young, than
is generally accorded them. And, IN our Judgment
there is 10 other History so instructive TO Amen-
cans % that of their own country; no Biography
so profitable as that of the most eminent OF most
remarkable of their own countrymen. VI course
we would have no youth study these exclusively;
but we insist that they have not hitherto received
and are not now receiving, from the great body oil
American youth, their proper measure OF regard
The recent appearance of four such works IN this
department, as Irving's Washington, John L. ham
ilton's American History as presented IN the
Life and Writings OF his father Alexander Hamil-
ton Randalls Life Of Jefferson, and Parton's Life
of Aaron Burr impel US to some observations, es-
pecialy on the two latter, and on one or TWO inter-
eating passages IN American History on which they
throw light.
Let u.s. at the outset, render our thanks to Mr..
Randall for his great work. II has many and
grave faults-prolixity, idolatry, and an enormous
redundancy of citation and episode, which will
render it, We fear, rather heavy reading to too
large portion of our youth. We have as yet only
read his first volume, bringing down his heros
career till some time after his entrance into Gen.
Washington's Cabinet in 1880; but we have
read this very carefully, and are sure that, for
Campaign Life, political tract, as this essentially
is il is entirely too verbose. Somebody else than
it. author must hereafter condense the three octavos
into Of tarsa DmO hpfn
make its way into the workshops and the farmers
fresides of the whole country. But no other Life
of Jefferson ever published-probaby none that
ever ,ciH be published-can bear any comparison
to this in thOroughness, fulness of Incl.
dent and conscientious fidelity. Others have
shown us Mr.. Jefferson the philosopher, the
politician, the statesman; Mr.. Randall has given
us in addition graphic portrait of Thomas Jeifer-
son the devoted husband, the tender, loving,
watchfuI father, the exemplary citizen, the con-
fding, faithful friend. This biography has evidently
been labor of love, and the years of patient
assiduous toll it has cost, have been given with
ungrudging, untiring enthusiasm. We shall better
understand CCuntrys history since learning from
Mr. Randall's pages the weariless, all-conquering
Industry, the suavity, the diversified attainments
and the inyincibIe faith in Man, which character
lied the author Of the Declaration of Independence
and founder of the old Republican party. Our
Revolutionary struggle would have been made,
and would have succeeded, had there never been
Jefferson; but it would not have been so grounded
in eternal principle, so dgnified in its character,
nor so benefcent in its results.
Mr. PartOns Life Of Burr is more condensed,
more vivid, more fascinating work, aud will proba-
bly, secure many more readers forthwith though it
will hardly hold 80 high place nor exert so en-
during an influence "a Mr. Randal's work. 1t is .
romance, not founded in fact" but fact itself
the true story of an ering, Maynard, wasted hui
man life-the life of one who, in his worst estate,
was hardly less than archangel ruined" Mr..
Parton is nearly as determined as Mr.. Randall to
make the best of his subject and he does certainly
show that there was better side to Burrs charac-
ter than that which alone has been for half CEN
tury regarded. he does not make Burr good
man-that were beyond the ability of an ADLER, less
scrupulOus, more artful wrter-but be shows that
tie vulgar estimate of his hero as monster Of de-
pravity and debsuchery is unwarranted. Burr was
skeptic, a Gbertine secretIye, intriguing, AM
bilious, unprncipled aspirant for power and pelf
and pleasure; bat he was a tender husband, an
idolizng and dOllzed father, brave and patriotic
soldier of the Revolution, moderate in appetite, I'M
wearied in labor, a man Of quick perception
and rare executive ability. His literary
executor, Matthew L. Davis, did him
gross wrong in two important aspects-in
representing him, first, as an unmeasured unscru.
pulous debauchee, and, secondly, as willing to
wreck the regulations of those who had been vic
tins of his wiles Mr. Parton has conclusyely vim
dicated his fame, especially from the latter land
worse Of these aspersions. His tolerance Of or
blindness to the darker traits of Burrs character
viii not be shared by the great body Of his readers
They will not fail 10 SEQ that selhshness was the
handspring of Burr's career-thst his Republican
ism was sham, actuated by ambition and dislike of
Northumberland that the fearful isolation and
wretchedness of the latter half of his the
fit complement and retributiOn Of the sins OF his
day of prosperity plainly proving to the clear
eyed observer that There is God who iudgeth
"in the earth"
We cannot here dwell on the many readable quail
ties of Mr.. Partons bOok-its candid and essentially
just view of the origin and character, respectively,
Of the old Federal and Republican parties; It's
portrayala Of Bars eminent cotemporsrie'; IS