New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-10-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


venicn, and elegant edition. II was composed in
the fau maturity of the authors powers, after great
and successful l3bors In the field of critical and
historical disquisition, and with reputation for
| Immortality conscientious research sobrie'y of
Judgment, and accuracy Of learning, which naturally
impressed him with deep sense Of responsibilities,
and enlisted al. bis various resources N tho perform
ance of his task The enterprise of Mr.. Hallam was
O comprehensive, and in many respects, bold one.
It embraced history Of European literature in
every department during The space Of three SIN.
gularly fruitful and important centuries in the de-
vclopmcnt of letters. The wide compass Of reading
and research involved in such an undertaking would
have deferred most authors from such o formidable
duty. FIR. Halam was too patient Of labor TOO
confident in bis own habits Of critical inquiry and
analysis, too familiar with the highest sources Of
modern learning 20 shrink FROM The task, or 70 dis
trus; is successful accomplishment lie performed
well wba, had been thoroughly done by no previous
author. Even the plan on which his work IS writ
ten belongs to q comparatively recent leI.od oil
literary caliurc. Nothing resembling it is found
In ancient classical ieraurc except single cAap-
ter o. QGn,iliin in which he presents rapid surrey
Il tho poets orators and historians, Of Greece and
Rome. The work Of Diogencs Laor,ius, indeed,
supplies valuable materials COZ tho history of
philosophy, but i j. too loose and immohodloll in
.ir composition to be entitled to that name itself
II was not until the sixteenth century that the
li-a OF universal li;orary history was suggested by
TIE great increase Of publications Gad the general
iefo'ion 20 leaning. The irst important work OF
the Kind was the Il iofieca Uripcrsahs Zurich,
lJi.-p ~ Conrad Gcsncr, distinguished swiss
naturalist. This isa vast alphabetical collection
containing tho i,.cs % al tho books then known In
lioll ", Greek arl Latin. with criticisms, summa-
re'. aad specimens A subsequent work, by The
llear,hor. entitled Pc4dcrfr UrirrrIale' pgcscn's
minute index 10 al departments of knowledge |
l'h .iosi isfrnlcts 10 To texts OF works under
cry ule. C,.aer wa l.''oecd BY rosscyin, or
Italian jesuit, SAo.o BiAiotor0 Srlocfa lkonc.
i...I contains nearly olroaoorical catalogue 81
sltio-s. end sometimes o. shon gocount Of tic..
so.n.
r,ssyc1'scnth ccr'cy furnishes no complete
9s. oa ihe subject aii4oush the wcll-known Poly.
taigr lKiel. los ~ Daniel Morhof. contains
Chronological survey 81 Tho different branches Of
uisfaturs, AMI ins lfoIdei useful materials Of
shch later writer havo not failed TO take adsan-
ilsc. lis work iiol,s moro oop.ously Of authors
30 Latin than ihe modern languages, and Is espc- |
c.aly defective 10 ~ notices o! Engish literature.
TIE an, valuable tynopss Of Literary history In |
Oh, e-Atcanh ccg,ug vas H. OririHr, Procr,''o,
Si1fs as,sai< 3 ogn, LiY,re;sra Parma l'e--g9l |
y Ard.t. Spanish Je.uii. vlo, after ihc dfso!n-
iol Of biz order passed tho remainder Of his lie Ia
Iaiy. Th.s vof- cover, Tie whole field Of ancient
nd uoll ~ l,am.ag. aaa though rarely TO be net
~.'h IN Easish Libraries, is interesting for .,s Gu
rour II not p .ouri leaning. the soRs,,hytniss
= Dc goaor-l y.gsr AID tho flowing facility Of he
style.
within a fcw ycar. from to appearance Of the
drsi volumes Of ANDES. several emincn; German
scholars projected tho plan q complete history o.
modern leaning. Including Literature, ph.losos - |
and the arts and sciences. ca large scale, which
resulted In toInc standard works Of great meT4i,
although the whole scheme was 10. fully carried
into execution. The department Of Poc.sy aud
be.les-loiifcs was assl s-d 20 Doatervck slccua-
two philosophy to Bsh.o, olasaca phlo.oey toI
uecr,n while EichhoFa undertook the general sur
vcy of tic whole. lis History Of Literature from
ia Ora,n q tie most Recent Times" lGO.unscn,
pp5-lg. serving ~ introduction TO the feacs, Is
valuable lol as mctLod.cal arrangement ALL It's la-
uiaol, style although u ha' email pT''ehscr' to
ocsanec. yiyaciiy, OF taste.
The sboro named vol agu an that can lay any
claim 70 "a, character ofecuoEll histories OF licga-
tue, embracing AL sus cc.s ascs and naiota spe-
cal literary histories ere mote common, several OF
which aye ael nowledscl by MI llallAm Us paving
the way TO the accomplishment OF BIS own woIk.
Among these may be noted ~ worthy Of particular
mention tie History Of Italian Literature
Nloiona, l7i2-sll by Iiraboschi distinguished Tor
! IN accurate Investigation and lucid statement OF
| flc,s, ard It's judiciols crtcismsi "ffosress OF
Italian Literature" lircsc. lsOi-l3l by ColnlAni,
recommended by It's ooplous analyscs Of books; And
"Litcgay History Of Italy" by The French author
G.ngucrt
These works, however, form but n comparatively
incon. Ic,ablc portion Of hcma,crals, Oh which hf'
IIsllam has founded bis comprehensive volumes.
lie has evidently neglected no important sources Of
| information, and has epphcd rare good sense, a
Rlo critical instinct, aud q taste, catholic Ia lis
range though Estdious in its decisions, 10 tie
elaboration Of his authorities. lie is most AZ home
in tho departments Of history, political diaqusluon,
and elegant letters. In the field Of speculative Ai-
osophy, no is often ut fault, his Judgments are
vague and superficial, Lis comprehension OF theo'
hes dofcouye; although bis hnbimnl candor ana
T. love oil truth mover forsale him. Tho subject to
which his work Is devoted scarcely admits OF INC
charms of competition; sul his volumes ahoId I"
I h,h store Of agreeable readings and II necessarily
destitute Of the winning grace and plquant V'"o'|
which cls demanded for wide popular Interest the,
never fail Ia reward attention By their transparent