The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-21
"That palter with us in a double sense
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope.n
NEW BOOKS.

NEW BOOKS.
From Ticknor Fields, Boston, and for sale by
Cushings & Bailey:
The LIFE AND CAREEE OF MAJOR JOHN ANDRE Adutant.
General of the British Army in America. By WIN
THRoP SARGENT. With illustrations. l vol. limo.
PIP. All. 1861.
These "lines'' can scarcely be said to have "laen
In pleasant places" A more unpropitious season
for every species of literature other than that of
the journalist, could not be conceived. 1t is an era
of kilograms, news letters and proclamations while
belle leres silent with arts and laws Its there
fore, as a craft launched into a whirlpool or as a
leaf given to the winds, we must regard a book
published at this time. In only one thing is the
one before US seasonabe. 1t is tale of an old
revolution told in the midst of new one, and here
and there we meet with those curious parallels
which show that under similar circumstances
human nature is even the same. Take for example,
the following classification of the people of Phila
delphia, at the moment of lis occupation by the
British in 1777, and see if it would not very wcI!
describe those of another city at this very hour:
The Rank Tories came first. The Moderate Tories
were such as preferred the English connection of
l763-valued worldly prosperity, hated New Eng
land and loved the Rank Tories. The Tinlid Whiqs
dlstrusted American pOwer-the cost of the war
and the continental paper money; but were not
disnclined to independence, if it could be got
Avarice was supposed to be their handspring. The
Furious Wings injure the cause of liberty as much
by their violence as the Tnaid Wings by their
fears. They think the destruction of Howe's army
less important than the detection and punishment
of the most insignificant tory; that the common
forms Of Justice should be suspended towards tory
criminal; and that a man who only speaks against
our common defence should be tomahawked and
scalped and roasted alive. They are likewise all
towards who skulk under the cover of an office or
sickly family when they are called to oppose
the foe in the field Woe to the community that is
governed by this class of men. Lastly come the
,Tdmch Whigs-temperate, firm and true; friends
to their country-hodng life and goods as less than
American independence.
separate memoir of Major Andre is certainly
book which ought to have been written and yet so
much space has been devoted to him as the hero of
one OF the most remarkable transactions the revo-
luhonary war, in all American histories, and
judging not only by Mr.. Sargent's own admission
but also by the result of bis Investigations so little
worth telling, untold, that the subject pre-
Sented but few attractions to biographical ambition
In Spite however, of the familiarity of the theme,
By the aid of pleasant style, judicious criticism
and happy use of the privilege of episode
he mas drawn a sketch alike instructive and
interesting. The management of a subject so trite
and notorious so not only to fatigue and
disgust the reader but on the contrary to afford
high degree of pleasure and information, is the
pest proof of the authors powers. We would in
stance the third and fourth chapters as evincing
Tiews equally sound and comprehensive, of the
situation OF American affairs at the commencement
If the revolution coupled with ability in their pre-
rarely met with.
AS to Andre, we think Mr.. Sargent laws him
Town pretty much as he takes him up. He is pre-
ented 10 no new point of view, and the additions,
developments are only in the direction in which
very reader is prepared to expect them He has
'een rightly adjudged alike by contemporaries and
'osteritv young man singuarly gifted with the
powers pleasing, destined to advance rather by the
rts OF insnuation than by force of character. He
lad all the talents and accomplishments which
onfer social distinction without the higher quail
les which entite their possessor to historical fame
We therefore concur in the conclusion to which
DR.. Sargent seems to have come that ne was re-
narkably lucky in being hung. By his execution
lie was
"Happy, but of life to lose the worstn
thereby all danger of his country's in
ratitude and forgetfulness and haf-pay, which |
re the common lot of the worthiest of superfuous |
eterans. Through an act of very questionable |
lorality, induced by motives not certainly pure, |
'adng to death, the most dsgracefu in it char
cter which men inhict upon convicted criminals,
e climbed by the galows tree into the ofest circle
England's historical WORTHLESS, and secured for
lie dust of the spy left by bis executioners beneath
rude cairn on the wild west bank of the Hudson,
place and name among that of the sages and
sroes of Westminster Abbey. Was ever fail
e so successful?
Also
JRRENTs AND UNDER CURRENTS IN MEDICAL SCIENCE |
with other Addresses and Essays. By OLIVER WEN |
DELL HOLMES Parkman Professor of Anatomy and
in Harvard University &c, &c, &c. vol.
l2mo PIP. 4O6 1861.
The publication of these Essays proves that their
thor has passed the point in his career
ben his works were required to distinguish his
me, to that more agreeable and profitable stage
hen his name is sufficient to give currency to his
orks. Before that "good time" the printing OF
'n shght things" might not have accelerated its
coming.''
Also
Antioch noSs. By HORACE MANN late President of
~A''0'A 0'iiege' vol. IL mo- 1861.