The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-08

'as ns EXPECTATIONS. ANovel. BY Charles Dick
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'as SEA H'xrr1crArIoNs. ANovcl ByCharles Dick
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a. nN"uy' "a Ann street, New York.
The impression 10 general among critics and the read
ing public that Charles Diokens in his latter works IA,
failed TO exhibit those powers as writer which ests
shcd hs reputation In the earlier period OF his career
has been charged that the humor which In his PickwO
ian CREATIONS once distinguished him has ceased 10 Tow
that he Is wanting 10 that pahos which was so conspcu
GUS IN 1.-THE Old Curiosity Shop" and in certain passagos
"0vcr TWIST that his descriptive scenes and Dialogue,
nave become commonplace and that he even oeases
10 become original and constantly reproducing in each
successive work the characters with which his reade
are familiar in his former efforts. While there is son
truth In these criticisms il ia certain that the blemsha
which undoubtedly psrvade several Of his later work.
have been much exaggerated. il possible that hayin
achieved fame and acquired handsome competence thu
once unknown writer Gun afford to rest upon hin
laurels, and, satisfied with the glory he has won
has become careless in hts compositions which NAV
account for the deficiencies complained OF in Itt,
Dorrit" and Tale Of Two Cities !" and with which he
Is charged by his latest work. Great Expects
TONS"
lisa well known fact that some OF the previous writ
nss OF the great novelist far from satisfying himself
and is even asserted that convinced he Of hsis
defects he promised, on announcing the forthcomn&
worthy Of him than its immediate predecessors. That hi
capable Of fulfilling this promise, if such had bssa
made evident TO those who believed that his
falling OF had been the result of carelessness rather thas
the effect Of loss Of mental power. The title O
Great Expectations, therefore, fully accorded with
the feeling that aroused In those who knew and ap
preciated his genius Now that the work Is completed
the question arises have these expectations been realized
Perhaps Of the works Of Dickens have given rise
to greater diversity of opinion their than IN,
under notice. On tho one hand, 'sGreat Expects
tons has been auded in the most cxtrayagant
and the other it has been the subject Of the mos
mercess criticism. The truth lie between these
extremes While there unques tonabc unity Of
sign and amusing diversity Of characters all clustering
around the hero and contributing the final catastrophe
look in vain for those fine touches Of nature which
lent such charm to some of his previous works, and
which contributed than his sterling humor it
self to establish Dickens reputation At tho same time
while the tendency to carcaurewhich has always beer
ono of this writer's chief bemshespeeps ont here
there it immoderately INDUCED in Of
his previous works. Still It is evident, in several pas
sages, that he struggled hard with the tendency and
could only repress by effort which he has been u
q bic to conceal.
good feature in the tale Is the absence Of that con
tna play upon particular forms of phraseology which
so much disfgures some Of his writings, partcu
lary Little Dcrritt," whore, at the very commences
ncnt of tho story he sezes hold Of the word wnkng
and serves 1t up toute sauce, in that would
not have been tolerated in less able writer There
many other instances of this tOrturng of language which
will strike the mind Of those who have read his works
with ordinary attention. is pleasant to find him ds
cardng such puerilities, which unworthy Of hn
genius.
On the whole we must confess that we had not very
yraat ctat Of yNOr wa havo mt
been disappointed. While IL is superior to Little Dor
ritz and Tale Of Two Cties is far below David
CopperfeId. or even Bleak House." II revival with
out q refrigeration.
THE House on THE MOOR. BY the author OF
Margaret Maitland" 1.-THE Days of Ny Life"
&c. Harper < Brothers.
Atalc admirable in It's philosophy and teachings Few
writers Of the present day have the power entirely
sway the feelings the author Of this charming book
FEAxLY PARSONAGE. By Anthony Trollope.
Harper Il Brothers.
Mr. Trollopes last story is, think, Of his best.
There is sufficient ingenuity in the plot to keep the Gu
rosity Of the reader the qua without its vergins
the melodramatic The characters naturally and
easily drawn and the reached without any
of those violent efforts which spoil the effect of
the authors former tales.
LADY MAUD; OR, The WONDER or KINaswO0n
CHASE. A Novel. By Pierce Egan. Brady,
Ann street.
This novel although by what is called q sensation
thor superior only TO his former works. but To the
general average Of such productions. is highly dra
matte the situations well managed, aud the plot
legtn,ately worked out The encomiums bestowed on
the tale by the London Aram borne on. by peruss
story that enchans tho interest Of the reader from the
commencement, and that engrosses to the close canuOt
be said be wanting in many Of the qualities that go 70
make up first class work of fiction.
up TIsr
BY DR.. John Ordronaux, Professor at Columbia
College. New York: Appleton Il Co.
We have pcrused the present book carefully, and
have also read several other small works on
the same subject which have been called into
existence by the present exigency. We have no
hesitation in prononncng this to he the best Of
these recent publications. Thousands Of valuable lives
will be saved If it he placed In the hands Of yolun
tecr and they forced by their officers to obey the
prcceps il lays down. II is small in volume, and be
carried easily the pocket YETI 50 far as we can judge
il eshausts thoroughly the subject OF military hygiene.
Il tells tue soldier what to eat and what 70 avoid what
10 wear and what TO escew; how to avoid fcvers and
diarrha and what TO do il they cannot DO avoided how
manage outpost duty On sentinel duty IN camp, In
barracks and in the open pain how to deal with wounds
before the surgeon arrives. Il contains the latest dis
coycres in medical and surgical science made by the
British and French surgeons in the Crineathe whole In
stand and also contains remarks Of great value
on the climate Of our Southern States People who have
friends in the army should not lose day in sending them
this little work The government would save money and
life If it furnished dozen copies to every company
tered into service.
ENGRAvINGS.
Among the recent publications Of this kind sent to
are portraits of Gen. Scott published by Currier Ives
of Gov spaguc, published by Mann, Stearns Beale Of
Gen Mcclellan, published by David Hcnwcod and Of Gen.
sicgei published by L. sicge at III William street
NEW MUSIC.
We have received from Firth Pond Go. the following
ne uieces of music.-iiThe Patriot Flag words BY
Adev: music by X. Thomas. ''The Star Spanged Ban
ncr- transcribed for the piano by Jean Manns. Gle
Chant dcs Bateliers,'' by H. Drayion, 1.-The Sumbef
Song - words and music by A. H. Wood "Thc Union for
Ever words and music by &. r. Cromwell. "a
Reauieur in memory Of Ellsworth, by g. W. Warren.
sThe National Songs Of America transcribed and varied
nv Albert ". Berg. f'He Was Famed for Deeds OF