The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-04-27
ms $500 per a'saaasn., IN advance.
North American Review.

The April number of this noble quarterly is
one Of unusual richness. Its various articles
cover wide range of topics, discussing ques-
lions of metaphysics, of practical social
science, Of religion, of antiquarian research,
Vi literature, of commercial intercourse and
OF International law. In the opening article,
DR.. Edward B. Dalton gives an interesting ac-
count OF the progress made by the Metropoli-
tan BOARD OF Health of New York in abating
the unwhoisome nuisances, and cleansing the
holes in which pestilence breeds in that city.
Mr. Charles Elliot Norton follows with a
thoughtful essay on The Church and Relig-
ION, in which he enumerates some Of the
causes OF that decline in the power Of creeds
and churches which is SO noticeable a fea-
ture or our modern intellectual and social de-
Velopment. The school of philosophers 10
which Mr.. Norton belongs is well known. It
is one which has both ardent disciples and
bitter opponents among men of deeply relig-
ious character. The one class viii read with
sympathy and approval the other with alarm
and displeasure the following paragraph,
which may be said to furnish the keynote of
Mr.. Norton's article:
But so far as the most intelligent portion of
society at the present day is concerned, the
Church in its actual constitution is an an
aehronism. Much of the deepest and most
religious life is led outside its walls; and there
is constant and steady increase in the num-
bers OF those who not only find the claims of
the Chureh inconsistent with spiritual liberty.
nut also ind its services ill adapted to their
wants, and regard it as failing to fulfil the
most important functions which the constitu-
ton of modern society demands of it.
The article on Pompeii by Professor Evans,
tells in pleasant manner nearly everything
OF general interest that is told about that
disentombed city; and Mr.. j. E. Cabot's pa
per on Hegel" is truly mastery handling
OF some of the points of that great thinkers
philosophy. Mr.. F. b. Sanborn points out
some mischevous defeats in the policy under
lying "The Poor Laws of New England"
Professor Whitney furnishes much informa-
ton of interest to oriental scholars concerning
THE Translation of the Veda:" Raphael Pum-
pelly writes intelligently and ably of western
Policy in China" and j. 7. Morse, jr., states
with admirable clearness and decision the
American theory OF "Expatriation and Nat
uralization. To Mr.. G. F. Adams second pa
per on" Boston" we have already referred at
length
Two other heightened articles are contain
ed in this number, and in these two, good as
the Others may be, will be found its chief at
traction. The first is Mr.. Emerson's grace
ful, vigorous, and most original essay on
Quotation and Originality" alone worth the
price Of the issue; and the other is Lowell's
happy essay in Shakespearian criticism. 1t
would seem almost impossible for any one to
say anything new about Hamlet; but Mr..
Lowell has really done it; and his little essay
not only shows subtle perception of the deli
cate shadings of this most fascinating of
Shakespeare's characterizations, but it fairly
sparkles with poetic fancies, and with keen
and caustic criticisms. A brief word of fare
well to Dickens from Norton, aud some fifty
pages of the usual carefully written reviews
complete number of the North american
which in variety, ability and value is not sur
passed by any single issue of any Quarterly,
American or Foreign, which has come under
or notice.