Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-05-22

ANEKfcau I0STfFEFT. BS GEoTg BaLC Vol. VII.
BgItog Little, Brown \ CO. 1855.
From Messrs. Little. Brown & Co., Boston,
We have received the Tth volume of Bancroft's
current history of the United States. 1t has
hecn said, and ,ve think. said with truth, that
new volume from, the pen of either Nacaulay,
GuizoI, Theirs or Bancroft is an event which
marks period in the literary history Of the
world, just as the rising and setting of the sun
and the courses OF tllc seasons, MEASURE its
material progress. They may be called now
the four great historic philosophers Of the worlds
men whose opinions are standards Of orthodoxy,
md which are asserted and quoted iy the news
papers and the speakers and writer's of all classes
Just as the dicta Of Blackstone and Kent are by
the LAWYERS Prentice, in his lecture here at
Washington Hail, quoted from Mills, great
Political philosopher, To show that in the Politi-
cal republic or the monarchy there must he al
ways some acknowledged authority
that must be above cavi or profauity-such MS
the fundamental or organic laws of the Govern
inent, in order to lay stepping stone to any
future progress. So in the republic of letters,
there must of necessity be acknowledged guides,
whose opinions las far as human opinions can
bc,) derived from life long study aud research,
must be received as sound aud representative
when need is had to refer to them. The three
great nations of the world in point of crviliZA-
tIon-France, England and The United States
have severally acknowledged these men to be
their respective spokesman.
This seventh volume closes with the battle of
Bunker Ill., having opened with reconsideration
of"America Britain and France in May, l774."
This portion of time while, according to the cal
cndar it would seem to but include the events
of some forty.Rvo or fry days, includes in
American history, ia order to its completeness,
a great deal more ard may be considered in our
history as is the Cromweliian era in that Of
England; or, in other words. it furnishes the
material for the brilliant volume of our conn
trys history, and the glorious elimination Of the
historians reputation, who has approached the
xenitl. cautiously, and with the conditions pre-
celent'' well grounded. 1t embraces, legitimate
~, biographical reviews of the great men Of the
civilized world, for America, at that time, was
ia such condition. both by reason of her geo.
graphical and political position, to have ellie
tied an opinion from aud involved the action Of
not only every Leading statesman but, we might
more cornprchcnsivrly say. to have exercised
the "walk and conversation" of every European
politician who had weight in the councils, or
upon the hustngs. 1t to is this last named ftau-
turc of the work, moro than any other, TO which
we have directed our attention, and without al
lowing ourscl Yes to pronounce upon the general
scope of the biography Of this portion of Ban
crorts history, we submit specimen as, in
opinion, likely to afford pretty guud idea.
Concerning DIR. Samuel johnson, then the
great cynosure of English eyes, Bancroft writes !:
while such was the state of angry oppo>i
tinn between the citizens and the soldiers at
Bnstup, Lord Howe ut London finally broke of
his negotiations with Fr5Lk!in, and the ministry
used the pen Of Samuel johnson to influence
the public mind. johnson was n poor mans
son, and had himself tasted the hitter cup Of X-
trene indulgence His father left no more than
twenty pounds To bury his mother and pay
her little debts he had wriIton 'RuSSelRS.' For
years he had gained precNriouS support
author. He had paced the streets of London all
night long, from not having where to Law his
head; ne had escaped prison Tor trita he
owed, by begging aims of Richardso.,; had bro
ken his bread with poverty, and had even known
what it il from sheer want, to go without din
ner. When better days came. he loved the poor
AZ few elSc loved then; and he nGrSed IN his
house whole neStH Of the lame, the blind, the
sick, and the s0rrOwtCi. \ man who had thus
stur,liIy baIIlrd with social evils, and was
keenly touched hy the wretchedness of tho
dOwn.trodden deserved To have been able to
feel for an injured people; but he refused TO do
70. Having defined the word pension aS pay
given tn q state hirrling for treason to his cnun
Try he was himself become n pensioaer; and at
the age of three score and six, with small hire,
like bravo who loves his trade, he set about
the task of his work masters In tract, which
he called Taxation on Tyranny he echoed 10
the crowd the naughty which passed
down from the king aud his court to his council,
to the ministers, to the ariStocracy, their para
sites aud followers, with nothing remarkable in
his party zeal, but the intensity of its bitter
ness; or in his manner, but its unparalleled in
science; or in his argument, but its grotesque
extravaganza.
The BostoniAns had declared to the general
congress their willingness to resign their opu-
lrnt town, and wander into the county as exiles
'Alss retorted johnson. the heroes of Boston
will only leave good houses to wiser men, To
the complaints of their liability to be carried
out of their country for trial, lac answered, we
advise them not to offend. When it was urged,
that they were cOndemnct, nnhcard, he asserted,
there is no need of trial; no man desires to
hear that which he has alresdy seen.'
"Franklin had remained III Great Britain for
no reason but TO promote cancellations; and with
an implacabIe malice which set of by \
pCnderol,S effort st mirth, johnson pointed 81