The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-08
Gkt &tbish.

Slavery with Appendix. By Elder Jonas Hartzel
Pastor ofthe First Christian Church, Davenport Iowa
Cincinnati: John Boggs. 1858.
"The object of the authors argument is
stated to have been primarily to defend the
Bible-more especially the Old Testament-
against the .oft-repeated charge of in6del Abo-
liionists, that the book, so called by way of EN-.
inence, was "the patron of American Slavery"
The essays were originally written for the
Northeastern Christian Magazine, and now,
revised" are given to the public in their pres
ent form. They present very good summary
Of the argument az to the character of the ser
yitude of the RihlA--nnt elaborate, of course,
like that Of DIR. Cheever's mastery examina-
ton of the passages in their original text and
connection.
The attempt to vindicate American Slavery
as it exists, with its abhorrent features of vice
and cruelty, by the Bible, shows hardihood
that could find place only after lopg-wonted fa-
miliarity with it, conjoined with the lust of gain
and love of power. 1t is well, therefore, to
have set forth, in simple and compact man.
ner, the inconsistency of the whole system with
the word of God. We hope our authors words
of reproof and earnest exhibition of truth on
this subject will not be without effect on some,
and especially will aid to close the mouths of
those who gainsay the clear and conclusive
spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Old Hepsy, by Mrs. G. w. Denison, with illustrations
from designs by the author, engraved by W. Orr. New
York A b. Burdick 1858.
A tale of Southern life, portraying some of
the aspects of Slavery. The main interest of
the story turns on the fortunes and trials of a
,ohite slave girl, or one 30 nearly white and so
related as to exhibit, in its worst features, the
denominations of such system. Mrs. Denison
has doubtless been personally conversant or
acquainted with incidents similar to some of
those here related, and which she has delinea-
ted in way fitted to impress candid and reflect
i've minds with their truthfulness. In a GER
tain degree, her object is like that of bred
but the line of exhibited evils lies along another
track, nor can the execution srtistically be
compared to many passages of that powerful
sketch of human passion, in the midst of wrong
fully-exercised powers. A number of the per-
sons in this tale drawn with skill, and enlist
the readers attention and sympathy. Aunt
Mabel, Maggie Willis, Hepsy, Lawyer Kenneth,
Marshall Randolph, Henry, as well as Lucina
herself, and the other nearly sohite slaves, Ferd
Keene and HOLSTER, move along in the deyel.
and strongly-marked characteristics. There
are passages that address the feelings with
natural, simple pathos of humble grief, though
sometimes we meet also over-strained impulses
of Infatuated passion, that rather inure than aid
the effect. Mrs. Denison does not confne the
display of noble feelings to non-slaveholders,
but aims likewise to exhibit the influence, too,
of conscience In the Shareholders themselves,
scuh IS may be seen in the expressions of Mar
shall Randolph and Maggie Willis; while, in
Lawyer Kenneth, a Northern.born and educated
man, she furnishes specimen of those who,
when they have sold themselves to the system,
become worse than others whose first breath
was drawn amid its influences.
The story ends with the triumph of right, the
white slave freed, and the spirit of oppression
humbled as well as bsfflsd.
Does the frequent issue of these Anti-Slavery
tales indicate the progressive power of this great
cause among our population We must believe
il, and also that, even though clad in the guise
of fiction, many of the truths so gsrbed-read,
as they no doubt viii be, by numbers from the
South-must exert power to make them feel
the debasing and injurious operation of sys-
tenn so full of outrage, and so wholly at variance
with the humanity and religion of the Gospel.
Oriental and Western Siberia Narrssive of Seven
Years Explorations and Adventures in Siberia Mon
gola, the Krehis Seppes, Chinese Tarsary and part
Of Central Asia. BY Thomas William Atkinson With
map and numerous Illustrations. New York F.: Har-
per Brothers. 1855. For sale by Taylor Maury
Washington D. C.
This volume of travels deserves to be classed
with those of Barth and Livingstones. It is
not indeed so large as either of the others, but
it 10 characterized BY like fidelity of oommu.
nicasion of information, admirable tact in sci.
zing upon tbs points of interest, and graphic
power in presenting them. Itrelates, too, to q