Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-01-12
BooK NOTIcEs.

No one, with the teeming press of modern
times, can expect to be well advised of all that
is progressing in the scientific and literary
world without these reviews.
The Westminster for October opens with
an able and exhaustive article upon popular
representation, arguing in favor of its uniyer-
sal extension. The Review adopts Mr..
Hare's theory of representation, which has
attracted favorable attention. Mr., Hare's
theory may be briefly stated thus He endeay-
ors to obtain fair representation Of minori-
ties; giving to all electors in proportion to the
numbers of the respective parties, voice in
the public deliberations, instead of the repre-
sentation of majorities prevailing in localities
leaving defeated minorities without represen-
tation. For illustration the counties of Bed
ford, Somerset and Fulton send two represen-
tatives to the Assembly, of particular par
ty, leaving unrepresented a large minority.
Mr.. Hare's theory is intended to obviate this
inequality, and he would extend this repre-
sentation until so large vote is obtained as
would include and group these fragments and
minorities together by going beyond the dis
trict to obtain representation. Under the
present system in representative govern
ment, if one interest or party be predominant
in twenty constituencies, twenty members
may be elected to represent these majorities,
although the minoeities may amount to num-
Der not far short OK the successful majorities.
In each of the districts one vote might deter
Al IL n x1erbf
determine twenty elections, leaving thou
sands of electors without representation.
Locality is not essential to this theory. Every
elector is at liberty to vote for whomsoever
he chooses, and every representative then
has unanimous constituency. We have not
space to dwell longer upon the numerous de-
tails of the plan, but would refer our readers
to the article in question and to the work
of Mr.. Thomas Hare. The remaining arti-
cles are: Rationalism in Europe; Capacities
of Women; Palgrave,s Travels in Arabia; The
Holy Roman Empire; The Doctrine of Ma
tionalities and Scheswig Holstein; Mr. Crates
Peatos Letters from Egypt.
We note the contents Of the others as fol-
lows
London Quarterly Reciew, for October,
Conservative: ''Cathedrals of England,
''The Mariners Compass, y The Resources,
Condition and Prospects of Italy, ''The Po-
etry of Praed and Lord Houghton,' p f'BIind
People, T" Field Sports of the Ancient Greeks
and Romans, ''The GaIlician Church, y
''The Russians in Central Asia"
Ediaburg ReDies0, (Whig): journal and
Correspondence of Miss Berry," ''Life in the
Criminal Cases" "The Rock cut Temples OF
India, ''Life of Carl Maria. Won Weber,"
''Campbell's Frost and Fire "Posthumous,
Writings of Alexis de Toequeyille," s'Pal-
graves Arabia,i' "The Cromwellian Settle.
ment of Ireland, Sir Thomas Wyse's Pc
loponnesus, and American Psychomancy'
THE ELEcTIo.-The first number of the
new series of the Electc is on our table.
Those who are familiar with Littelrs Museum
and Living Age, will understand the scope of
this periodical. As its name indicates, it is a
selection of the best articles from the Period
ieals of Europe. The selections are made
with rare Judgment and TASTE The frontes-
| piece is an exquisite engraving of Shakes
peare with his family ct Stratford reading the
tradegy of Hamlet. The leading articles are
the Dante Commemoration, from the London
Quarterly; some "reminiscences of Leigh Hunt
the poet and politician, and Coleridge the mat
aphysieian; witty, humorous, pretty women of
the time of Horace Walpole.
Our ''YoUNG Folks is without a rival in
its claims upon the patronage of the young
No more pleasing present for New Year
could be made to our young folks. The mat
ter is full of interest and instruction to the
young, and it viii awaken taste for reading
and study, that might otherwise never be
aroused.
| The December number of BLAckwooD's s
/ MAGAZINE is on our table. The number opens
with part IY of the memoirs Of Herr Won
Borcke, Chief of Staff to Gen. j. E. B. Stu
art, of the Confederate army. The author
formerly belonged, as his name indicates, to
| the Prussian army. He tells his story very
well, but his statements must be taken cum
grano sails. He is the hero of innumerabls
daring personal adventures, from which he
always magages to extrieate himself with con-
summate skill. Take the following as spe-
cimen of his style, and of the disposition to
/ spin good yarn which we have mentioned
The style is that of the inimitable Baron Von
| Trenck:
''0ne Of the Yankee officers, who as / was
! later informed, was the colonel of the regi-
ment that had effected its escape from Har-
| per's Ferry, had attracted my attention the
previous DAY by his gallantry and the excel
lent dispositions he made of his troops. Here
| saw him again, galloping very near us on a
handsome grey horse, quickly discovering
our weak points, and posting and instrueting
his men accordingly. After having left him
undisturbed for some time thought it neces-
sary to put stop TO his proceedings, and Sc
| lecting a couple of my infantry who had been
| pointed out to me as the best shots, made
| across the open space in front of our lines
directly towards him. Having arrived with
in reasonable distance, | ordered my sharp
shooters to fire at the daring cslonel, who
was moving along at an easy gallop, without
paving me the slightest attention. After sew
eral bullets had whistled quite close to him,
he suddenly halted, and, turning round, adj
yanced a few steps and made me military
salute in the most graceful manner possible.
Then calling out to one of his men to hand
him carbine, he raised the weapon, took a
deliberate aim at me, and sent his ball so
close to my head that thought it had carried
away lock of my hair. saluted him now
on my part, and, wheeling round quietly,
both of rode back to our respective lines.
So courtesies are sometimes exchanged in