Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-04
SURGEON CRAvEx,s COOK.

But q few weeks has elapsed since the ap-
pearance of this work from the press Of
CARLETON Of New York, and yet we pre-
sumo il is in the hands Of more readers and
has been more extensively copied from by
the daily newspapers, than any wosk ever
issued in this country; and the information
is that the demand still greatly exceeds the
supply. The author, Surgeon Of volun-
teers unknown out Of the sphere Of his du-
ties, had nothing Of prestige to make his
work 50 popular. and the explanation ofthe
fact must be sought, first in the profound
interest which the American people feel in
its subject, and secondly, in the mode in
which it is presented. We have read it, and
can readily understand the eageness with
which it is sought after for the plain IN
vanished tale Of facts and reports of daily
conversations for seven months, as told by
DR.. CRAVEN, who was during The time the
appointed and intimatemedicala adviser of Mr.
DAVIS in his imprisonment at Fort Monroe,
serve 10 make a book which should, and we
think has made, and will continue to
make profound and saIutary impression
on the public mind.
The author dedicates the volume to the
Secretary Of the Treasury in brief and fit
ting terms as the first of all the Northern
public mem who pushed aside the trammels
Of official restraint, and expressed an inter-
est for the condition Of Mr.. DAVIS, who has
lain a captive without a hearing, subject to
unnecessary rigor, and a victim of indignity
and cruelty, for more than twelve months;
and selects for its motto quotation from the
great NAPoLEoN's remarks to DR.. OMEARA:
"Had / died on he throne, enreIoped IN the
dense atmosphere Of poorer should to many
haze remained a problem. NO1C, misfortune 1oH
enable all to judge ne Uithout disguise"
The conversations Of LAS CAsAs at St.
Helena, the diary of Count MoNTHoLoN,
and the notes of Drs. O'AIEARA and ANTON
MARCH,, the medical attendants of the IL
lustrious exile of that barren island, extend
ing as they did through a period of five
years, did not accomplish more to revolu-
tionize the public sentiment of the world in
regard to that great defeated and abused
man, than will this simple and unpretending
volume orescue its distinguished subject from
thesystematic obloquy with which he has been
visited, and TO present his character, both to
friends and enemies, in a light which will
enforce a degree Of impartiality from his
captors and judges which has not hitherto
been accorded to him, and to extort from all
in whom hate and prejudice are not in
grained, an admiration for his abilities, and
for the philosophic dignity with which he
has borne himself-a respect for the man,
as well in his furious but just Indignation at
the scene Of the manacling, as in the tender
solicitude for his people" who, though out
of prison, are still suffering. 1t is a por-
travail from the pen of a political opponent,
Of the intellectual and moral attributes-as
seen in circumstances which try the temper
Of the leader of the Southern people in the
late civil war, which is to be Of infinite serv-
ice to the cause of truth, and we beg leave to
thank him for the frank and candid manner
in which he has written, the fearlessness
with which he has put his book before the
judgment of his fellow-countrymen, and the
honest scorn which he takes no pains to con
ceal for those whom he knew would question
alike his motives and his statements
Want of space forbids anything of analy-
sis of its contents. We have published CO.
pious extracts already, and marked others
from the conversations Of Mr.. DAVIS, on
men and things, which We intend to present
It's these which give the work its chief val
ne, for they exhibit him as an extensively
and vrriedly learned mantle earnest, able
and courageous leader of one of the great
schools in American politics-one who was
placed at the head Of an impossible task, but
who is az great in its failure and in the pris-
on to which it consigned him, as he was in
the Senate or as the administrative head of
gigantic revolution.