The Portland daily press., 1862-12-13
New Publications,
Diary, from March 4, 1861, to November u
1862. By adam Gnrowski. Boston: Lee
q: SbeDdrd

Diary, from March 4, 1861, to November II,
1862. By adam GnrorSki. Boston: Lee
DE- Shepard
AT the first glance this is one of the most
amusing of books. The Count de Gurow-
ski, who has seen revolutions in Poland
in France, in Italy, and wherever else the life
of one man could compass such spectaces,
seen them from the inside: of the vortex too,
came to this country in sheer despair of Euro
pean liberty, became, or rather continued to
be republican of republicans, was attached
to the staff of the New York Tribune for
awhile, and at last caught up by Secretary Sew
ard two years ago and set down in Washing
ton to make such observations on men and things
as might best suit his age and experience. In
word, this work is due to NJ. Gurowski's
clerkship in the Department of State.
The Diary is published as record of first
impressions. "a life almost wholly spent" he
says, sin the tempests and among the break
ers of our times, has Taught me that the first
impressions are the purest and the best" But
these first impressions are usually obliterated
as the Count grows older, month after month,
by other fresh impressions, till his portraits be-
come mere daubs. Old age and dsappoint-
ment have soured a temper, which must have
contained originally that element of tartness
which goes to the making up of thorough
phianthropist. He loves his race, appreciates
the American people-none better; but Amer
lean men cannot fail to provoke his scorn. The
HISTORIAN Boosting is never wanting. He is
full IF old oh L,
taurs of his past experience. There are no
such men now, at least not on this continent
And so it happens that his book is magazine
from which ammunition may be drawn by all
parties. The complex monster, which he names
"Lincon-Seward-McCle will sufficiently
indicate the catholic spleen he cherishes. This
triple headed incubus has ruined the nation
according to Count Gurowski. "Kent's Com
mentary upon the qualifications of Presi-
dent is the best criticism upon Lincoln" "Mr
Seward would rather swallow viper than ap-
plaud the abolition of slavery" OF McNapo-
leon, as he styles the commander of the army
of the Potomac, the Count says merely, 81 was
struckwith the soft, insignificant inexpensive
ness of his eyes and featuIes."
The unbridled egotism of the writer appears
in numerous ways, but chiefly perhaps in his
besetting tendency to offer advice and coun-
sci, write letters and communications for the
newspapers, on all occasions small or great.
The faithfulness with which he chronicles the
fate OF his messages (regularly disregarded) is
more than ludicrous, "Wrote," says he, "to
Charles Sumner in Boston, to stir up some in
ventive Yankee to construct a wheelbarrow in
which Scott could take the field in person.,
In the earlier months of the Diary, these mes
sages are full of Cassandra prophecies, which
grow suspiciously infrequent toward the close
Not that NJ. Gurowski is Intentionally proph-
ct after the fact-but he may be, after ALL
This remarkable work, it is reported, the
writer sent to the State Department binder to
be bound up into volume; the binder, meeting
with various familiar names, was induced to
to read the sheets he should have bound, and
after reading to hand them to Mr. F. W. Sew
ard; Mr.. +. w. Seward called thereto the at
tention of his father, the Secretary of State
and the Secretary of State completed the cir
cult by returning the book to NJ. Gurowski,
who thus and thereupon lost his clerkshp, and
in anger published his notes revised and amen
ded.
The style of the book is unique; iorcible
and expressive, but full of foreign idioms, not
to mention the scraps of French, Dntch, Ital-
ian, and Latin, and selecting by natural Atm
ity such words as boss, spit-lickers, tip-top,
bosh, btfnkum, &c. Jemima! is one of the
nntfs n.
bition is not without its tragic point of view
after all. This then, the reader muses., is the
wisdom that such a wide and stormy expert
ence brings: this is the end of such lofty aspi
rations-this pitiful carpng; and the patriotic
IN. Gurowski has been naturazed) indigna-
ton is ELECTED by vulgar fit of anger too!
For sale by II. L. Davis, So Exchange ST..
for S125.