The New York herald., 1866-07-29

illustrated after tho spread eagle and SENSATIONAL style Oh
pictorial magazines aud weckles. There are two
hundred and ortynine illustrations Of scenes and incl
DENTS thrtytwo maps and plans, and two hundred and
Rfty-sx portraits. Some OF the illustrations OF scenes
are creditable enough in an artistic point Of Wow,
though we all know that great deal in them must be
credited to tho artists Imagination. Most OF these
Illustrations which have beeh published before from
our artist on the spot" fancy sketches With regard
to the so-calcd portraits Of eminent men and portion
Of the illustrations. cannot speak SO well. They
have very cheap shoddy stamp about them and
look fearfuiy ghastly. The Southern men espe-
cay have painfully forbidding portraits whether pur
posely made not can not say. If 30, 1t would
be keeping with tho spirit of the work and with the
purpose probably Of panderng to the taste and preu-
dice Of people by making oil the Southerners look like
ghasty hard featured conspiraors and murderers Were
history similar TO this compiled by Southenors and for
the Southern Market It would have probably correspond
ing defects with regard to the North and Northerners
That d said BEFORE must be expected from any his
tory written now We cannot however, let the appear
OF such book pass by without protesting against Its
being called true or impartial history
ANNALS OF THE DUDLEY OBSERVATORY. Vol. I.
Weed. Parsons & Co., Albany.
largo portion OF this volume is occupied in descrip
tion Of Dudley Observatory buildings and instruments
and history Of the establishment Of this excellent in
sttioa The concluding portion gives the result Of work
performed In astronomical science since iabors
menced at tho Observatory up to the present year. All
this while highly interesting and useful to Of SCI
ence, win not interest much the general reader
Most Of citizens acquainted with tho manner
in which the Dudley Observatory at Albany estab
lished-by the municent gift by Mrs. Blandina Dudley
Of seventy.sx thousand dollars and bcqueA OF thirty
thousand for this obioct and the liberal donations
and state Of New York, till the aggregate cash
donations exceeded hundred and Afty thousand doark
We need not to these well known facts except TO
remark that in this in everything else we perceive
the large and liberal spirit Of the citizens Of this State
and city wherever science calls for aid or charity
invokes Tho Dudley Observatory though only short
time n existence Is maturing rapidly In usefulness II
has already proud name in the scientific world. We
have doubt will atain In time, tho position
New York occupies to the rest Of tho Union, prc-em
worthy Of It's founders and OF the State Its peri
odica reports viii be looked for with increasing interest
evcsy year. l
Who Co.'s THERE! OR. MEN AND EVENTS. BY
Sentinel" (willism H. BogarD. Carleton,
New York.
The character Of this work Is hardly expressed tho
titic IL Ia neither more less than book Of
dotes OF prominent Americans beginning with Washing
ton and coming down to Edward Everett and Zachary
Taylor Traits Of individual character Of importance In
forming correct opinion or the ilustrous OF
country, which We do not lnd In the moro serious
records Of history exhibited here. These anecdotes
give really clearer insight Of the true and complete
character OF the public spoken Of with the defects
well good qualities, than tho writings Of Bancroft
or other sober historians Tho author seems TO de.
light in presenting these contrasts, which many other
writers avoid from fear Of damaging the beauty
- uo oS IN
little domestic jars between George and Martha Wash.
ington He does not think any man woman perfect,
that the defects found In the character Of ustrous
men should lessen our admiration for their services and
the good that is In them.
The object Of the author appears TO have been 10
and instruct at the same time Any one who has
been much in Washington relish his anecdotes for
such relates the staple Of conversation among
old public wherever group OF the old statesmen
politicians public are found At the hotels, 10 pri
vate circles or about tho Capitol the similar
about former eminent public may be heard
Mr. Bogar who TO have been good deal with that
class Of PERSONS carefully picked up the anecdotes and
sketches OF which his book is composed He has given
them in n simple gossiping style. On tho whole, "who
goes there amusing and instructive little volume
THE OLD MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK CRY. BY
Walter Barrett, Clerk. Fourth series. Carleton:
New York.
We are not surprised that this book going through
fourth sercs for II must be interesting to largo class
OF tho people Of this city. Take the mon Of whom Mr.
Barrett writes, their families and acquaintance all Of
whom want to tho book and ~e understand the
demand for 1t. Outside Of New York IL will not be
much read for the gossip about these odmerchants can
not be interesting to those who did not know them
but the author may congratulate himself on finding nu
merous class OF readers here.
He tells in a simple conversational style. and often
with pleasing quantncss, all about the men who
buted to build up tho business Of this grand CONNER
cial emporium; how they started In life, what their
habits werc what fortunes they amassed who they mar
red what families they had, with many amusing anec.
dotes about their business and career. II IL curious
tumble but very pleasant reading matter. His gossip
ing sketches hit some Of wealthy arstccracy pretty
hard but VIC feel there Is stamp Of honesty In all he
sayA This genial old author has used his memory to
good advantage, Ia shown by tho manner in which his
sketches are rehshcd by the public
PoEMs. BY George II. Miles. Lawrence Ne
hoe Nassau street, New York.
The fact that the Jingle Of words In rhyme, even
vcrcation does not constitute possy, Ia not generally
by those who write verses This We regret
To say Is more the case In country than In almost
any other part Of the world We wcrc led 10 mako those
remarks from reading the book before US Tho author
has written some not unmuscal vcrscs ana displayed
some art In the construction There b, too In them
what We ind in the productions of vast number OF A.
pirsns for poetic fame the present daya good dealcf
ambition and striving 70 awaken the divine spirit OF
poetry. This II mus, be confessed, 10 Crafty.
Ing sign OF the age, promising better results
In the future, and and then producing some
thing worthy Of the name Of poetry. ne spirit or
gcnius Of pocty appears 70 be struggling into life
through all those efforts vcrsacsiion, and We would
by no means say anything TO check the progress Bat,
ungrrcious the task may be- duty 10 speak Of
such works as arc submitted TO the public with candor
and with view Of slsvating the standard OF poetic
taste The author Of Christine and other poems" has
some Ore and an active Imagination which might b
cultivated 80 as TO give him very respectable position
among the poets Of the day but he has not great