The New York herald., 1862-03-08
NOTICES OF NEW pUBLIc.TroNs

NOTICES OF NEW PUBLIchTIoNs'
~---.~-~>~~~>-0e.--~o~~
"UHRIsr THE SriRT." being an Attempt to state
the Primitive View OF Christianity BY the au-
thor OF Z" Remarks on Alchemy and the Alche-
mists," and Swedenborg Hermetic Philoso-
pher." BY James Miller, b22 Broadway.
The WORK before inspired with true spirit OF
religious 'eryor, end exhibits evidences Of widely
tended research among the philosophers and his
hat fail to render II important aequ
ston only tho theological student. but TO al psr
sons eugagei in literary and scientific pursuits
The author establish the fact that the writer's
the New Testament belonged society called
the Esenes who lourished in Juiea tho time of the
advent Of Christianity, and who described by Phlo
and Josophus boing holy Brotherhood who devoted
hor lives to philosophy and the study Of thor sacred
books, who shared their property in common aud
possession ofa secret, which they guarded with the
greatest care from the without" and Taught aegori
caly TO their initiates In reference to the peculiar
opinions OF the Essenes receive much interesting
Information; The without" the Pharisses and
Saducees whom Holy Brethren regarded as no better
than so many swine and dogs. Their secret was their
knowledge Of the spirit OF the law of Moses with regard
TO which they wrote in symbols in their own works
This the author regards tnat or the Tempe of
solomon" of which tho Free Masons OF our own day
claim knowodge. The Masons are descended from
tho Essences arejustly proud OF their lineage The
whole which the book gives Of their character ct
this early period Of the world and OF the frghful modes
of initiation TO which their disciples submitted Is
ceedngy interesting and the time inst. uctiys
The Essenes have already observed held peculiar
opinions with regard to the Old Testament, believing
that tho unoa Of Its letter and spirit corresponding the
body and soul Of man, constituted it "living being"
and the express image Of the Deity This doctrine they
taught in tho Gospels and refer to II the many mystic
which constantly those
books.
"Chrst the Spirit" is in two parts Tho 1rst volume
Is devoted TO developement of the authors theory
the second gives application of his views espo
cia Interpretation of the Gospel Of ST. John With
gard to this Interpretation too much cannot be said in
praise. Tho light which II casts spiritual truths
and tho depths of nsg with which establishes their
authority, rendcr its publication important
event, II not an ora in the history of religion.
The whole volume Is intsrspersed with suggestions
with regard to the literature OF the Middle Ages and
certain Of our modern authors which open up fields OF
speculation of great vauo. and which, to tho ordinary
student, have boon comparatively unknown.
Apart from the literary value which cannot fail to at
tach 10 "Chrst ths Spirit" in whatever way may be
considered an additional interest Is added to II by tho
fact that is the work Of General Hitchcock of the
principal officers OF the American army whose military
reputation is widely known, and who, having satisfied
himself with the glory Of active career has now, It
would scem, in tho peaceful years OF his rotiremsn,
added the Of the philosopher and might almost
say Of the pos to tho aures that he had already
PrLoRIMs OF FAsHroN-A Family History. BY
Kinahan CORVALLIS. Harper Brothers, pub
fishers.
The book bofors us Is we'll written, but Q free,
boid clevcr sketch rather than finished picture.
Il Ia little tho worse, however, for that. We are
NJ thA mt
led him 10 aim at producing exactly what he has &C
compshed aud that according to tho design 50 is ths
result From the fact that tho period embraced in thu
book nearly ninety years and that four generations Of
the Same family succsssivsy appear on tho stage the
Scope for elaboration Is very wido and tbs materials
cudod In this novel would have been ample had the author
chosen for work three times its sze. But he has co..
tented himself with dashns on in few easy strokes
Tho salient characteristics OF his dramat persona; and
80 far no has beon perfectly successful.
Tho tale, which Il bold in outline Is one Of every
day lfe and the characters in are the every day
pilgrims that meet In and out Of what ID con-
ventonally called the fashionable world; and the
vcsstudss Of the family Of which it processes 10 be
ths hstory.he loves thsr hates thoir sorrows ther
joys--ars stirring and well told. The knowledge of
character and experience Of tho world which tho book
Indicates very considerable. The story
j England. then changes TO Germany and theu TO the
Gntod States, whore have some effectively drawn
Denss relating 70 the present war tbs description OF
bhe bsttlo OF Bull run (pp 23l TO 3o3l bsng highly
exciting and pictorial. Thors Is also q shipwrsck
described with power and reality which make US
reaze full Of all the horrors OF tbs situation and
more torrible II would be dicu to imagine Tho
may said Of the description OF the burning ship
which Is animatsd vivii and thrilling Ono Of the
authors greatest excolcnces that be makes his cha
racters talk people really do talk The book Is thcky
studded with disquistions the moralities Of life,
which healthy tone and sound In logic. Tho sye
IA free and flowing, glowing and picturesque. Tho
language employed u always good, tbs sentiments
expressed invariably generous, and tho morality OF
tho book entirely unimpcachab.e. II has, more
over, tho quality Of being amusing, and It is always
spirited The plot may not be intensely exciting
the lovors OF tho Minerva press might desire but it is
sklfuy constructed and sufficiently interesting to
the readers attention from beginning to end Yet
st Is no, much gooi story a story with great
many good things IT, It combines admirably tho novo
ani tho essay and is its very merit in this respect
which may make 1t appear hoavy to those whose
has been vitiatod by reading the ordinary works Of
Hceu OF the day But the effect wholesome and the
work is 10 be commended even on that account. tn.
freshness and originality Of tho book and the bodne
with which IL rofors to tho fascness and holowness OF
conventional society will recommend IL 70 evcry honest
thinker, and Ia a work which genuine thinkers will
appreciate moro than tho majority Of more romance
readers and which not to bs Judged by the ordi
nary novel standard.
That tho author has not put forth his full power
In this book. good as is but written in uniue haste
is howovor, apparent. 10 tho unambitlous effort
man VINO could have successfully executed much
greater and elaborate design. hs only chooses
70 bostow the necessary labor upon It he is evidently
capable OF writing story worthy 10 rank with the
best Of English novels. We decline to Judge Of his
capabilities as . novelist By this one short story,
which, with all its sxcssuco and fidelity to nature will,
cel assured be surpassed by him In the FUTURE IL
has not bosn In the past and venture the suppos
ton that the nrst half OF tho present volume was
written several years ago and laid aside, only
20 bc hurriediy finished within q very recent period