Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-02-23
II ewS OF the Dav.
DR.. Hawks History of North Carolina.


North Carolina his, in the Rev. DR..
now Of New York city, a loyal son, tv
Of whom she is justly proud. Wherever his la
lot has been cast, in fulfilling the high mis- pr
sion of the Gospel Ministry, his eye ever re
turns to his native State as his home; his o.
heart throbs for her prosperity; and his hand Il
is ever ready to do her honor Unlike thou e
sands of her sons who have gone out from d
her, and have obtained wealth or eminence p
abroad, who blush at the bare mention Of her Il
name, or have wholly expatriated themselves !
from her; DR.. Hawks clings to his native :
sod, and seems to feel the full force Of the 5
sentiment of the pious Psalmist, IF forget
thee, o, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget
her cunning"
We honor him for this devotion TO his mo
Their State, as we do all others, who exhibit
the like patriotic feeling. But we fear, there
is not so universal a disposition to appreci-
ate his attachment to or his fabors for North
Carolina as we desire to Sec lie has been
working for her in various ways ever since
he left the State, but we regard his recent
able efforts to rescue from oblivion the early
history Of North Carolina, a. especially
claiming from her citizens the strongest ex-
preston ofappreciation. To David L. Swain,
the State owes much for his labors and con
tributions to preserve her history, but he
has generously left to DIR. Hawks the duty
and honor of raising a monument to her Eune
which shall be imperishable.
TIL two volumes Of North Carolina History
already sent forth from the pen ofDr, Hawks,
by the publishers, the Messrs. Hale of Fay
e~ttcvilie, possess an intrinsic value to the
people Of the State, not to be. computed in
dollars and cents. The pride which knowl
edge Of her early history and the manner the
labor has been performed by the able listo.
rian, justly inspires, can but serve 10 rive
the attachments of her children to her, ans
prompt the sons to emul1tato the virtues e
the fathers, who laid deep the foundations o
our honest old State.
We have not time to present to our reld
ers even a brief notice Of the many interes
ting portions Of these volumes. Nor IS !
necessary. The work has been so well done
both by author and publishers, that it is cas-
to call again the public attention to them
They are to be had, we believe, Of Tia
agents Of the publishers, and of the princip:
booksellers in all parts of the State.
We are not prepared to sag to what c,
tent these volumes have been demanded
We are however fearful that their sale Ii.
not been &~snsurate witRthgir merit
The work should be unE samil.
and we regret that the suggestion Aaich "
feel now called upon to make, did not earli
occur TO US. We highly approve Of the q
sign Of the Commoner from Guilford, Go
t Morehead, and heartily endorse the patriot
feeling which prompted him to urge the d
tribution of q copy Of the history to en-,
: Common School in the State. Bat some I
, Election upon the subject, has led us to 4
} conclusion, that his object might have be
much better secured in another way. o
Common Schools have no proper provisi
i made for the formation Of libraries, and pt
e haps 4 quarter Of q century must elapse
c fore such arrangements can be made for tn
d preservation and accumulation, as win wis,
justify any expenditure in this direction.
u The History Of North Carolina by
d Hawks, would doubtless form thebestnucl,
if for the formation Of these libraries,
i. what plan can now be devised efficiently
5, make them either read by the students
o preserved? We cannot rid ourselves of
idea that it will be total waste of patriot
and money. Who is to care for them
Who to secure them either against utter
k, glect or destruction?
is Now it has occurred to us that Gov. ",
er heads design would be better secured and
us suit in greater good, if the Legislature VIC
lis purchase copies ofthis history and give t!
- to each publisher ola newspaper, each \
by lister Of the Gospel, and to such persons
re-. gagged in teaching in tie State, who are
nd " to c~oatiAnc the business of teaching
in the next five years. Such a distribut
would secure general interest in the hist
OF the Stale, and result in greater good.
on The present edition OF the history
it'll beautiful one, and IS gotten Up in a31laf
ace to suit those who are well able to pay a
ere soEablc price for the werk. We think, h
tn ever, a cheaper edition would be more ,
He rable for the masses, and would suit cqu
ed, we'll the distribution by the Legislature al
css suggested. In the meantime we hope
IDS, present edition will be promptly dispose,
diff -~s
md ETST;II W., I'll. TIE,