Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-03-12

ton Irving. In four vols. q. p. Putnam,
New York.
The character Of the "father OF his
country" l. one tia, cannot be displayed or
Contemplated too oitea or too much. Tho
people Of this nation can never view IL with
too much gratitude or venera,'on. Each
generation. a. IL weigh. the courage and
wisdom u tai. central u sht Of the American
Revolution. finds gratcr cause ,oappreeia'e
tie nollcnc.s aud di,int,r,stcdn'ss Of his
virtues. IL seems. therefore. highly graft.
wing that. after wccm', Spark. and Ban.
croft have dane - much 10 spread before
the nation the lie, correspondence and deed.
Of wsshiuginr. Washington Irving AN
author Of the greatest meri,-'hould give
a, the prc.cu, time, connected story Of his
lite. character AMI services.
Irving would make any subject, about
which be nigh, undertake to write, highly
instructive and entertaining. III, grea,
learning. good Judgment, elO-c discrimina-
ton, intimate knc wledge Of men and things,
and bee inimitablq descriptive powers sd'
mirably ct hun Tor any literary service. In
his Life VI Washington. jus, issued by the
Putnauis, be has added new laurels 10 his
reputation.
Thi, work has all the iaseinations Of a
romance. Washington is carried from the
cradle to the Presidential chair Of an eman-
eipated pcoplc, through incidents. events
aud adventures. which seem like impossi.
bliiies. Ills calm. thoushtful and intelli.
gyni you,h-.pcnt with hi. parents and
associates. and occupied with useful studies
and lAbors. mingled with manly sPOrts-
AFFORD. beautiful pattern Tor the conduct,
OF every young man. But as manhood
dawn.. hi. talents lesin TO show them.
selves: and as We view tie sccncs ia which
he engaged at this distance Of time his life
rnriakss of the mural sublime. Atone mo-
mcnt ve sc him in hunters garb, traVcr'-
irc tho wilderness 10 carry important, dis
patches 10 French posts, soueh, TO be csiab-
lishcd in the far Wos,. At another We sec
him covering the retreat VI the hasty and
naughty Brsddock. Farther on We see him
calling the country to arms against British
oppression. ready TO undertake the stupen-
dOus task Of resisting the worlds master on
sea and land, tina, he might secure the liberty
Of an inian: nation. Now oOmes hi. anxiety.
toll and suffering, buoyed up With hope and
endured without, dependency. lie End.
diGeuluss ,hickening As the war Of indie
pcndenee continues and befo-ei closes the
reader fears that any slight accidcn, in the
plans OF the Comnander.in.C Chief will prove
the ruin Of his hopes. lie persevere-, waits
ard labors to the last, and finds himself the
eonQuerer-the father Of q country, gained
without means, with an army halt fed,
half clothed, and half the time in danger Of
annihils,ion. Everybody is astOni'hed at
the result
As lafayette said, Z" it was the grande't
Of causes won by skkmi.hes, sen,inels and
ou,pOsts." lring's account Of these skir.
mishr., sentinels and oa,ppsts is 50 fresh,
~ vivid. - true u l,le, and 40 carefully
woven with the dignity and magnanimiiy
Of the great leader, thas every reader should
again review In these volumes the Early
SCENES Of this nation, that he may appreciate
the more fully the presen, inheritance gain
ed by the talents, toll and blood Of our
fathers.