The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-05-15
NEW BOOKS.


Street, Richmond Va, have sent us the
following books, published recently by
HAMPER & Bros, New York. Il
A Treatise on Neteorology; with
AetsrolOgieslTables. By Elias Loom
Is, L. L. D. III ~ ~
/ In Comics hierarchy Of the sciences,
neteroloSy isreckoned among the least
positive OF all, and indeed It hardly de-
serves 60 be called science, being vet
In lite infsncy. Agassiz said, not long
ago, that he never svensured to make
predictions concerning the weather, be-
cause too little was known to enable
him to dose With any accuracy. Never
theless, it Is stated Authorltatively that
the late tornado and earthquake In the
West Indies were accurately predicted
by French sava's, N. Delieser, n we
mistake not. This would indicate that
meteoroiogy has made decided and
practical advances within Is brief exh-
tencc Of some oyesrs, asd provision
beisg the test we may sson begin to
claim place for neteo-oiogy among
the less exact sciences. All that has
been accumulated by the best meteor
ologists has been arranged by Prof.
LOOMS In good order aud. witha clear
ness which we commend most highly.
The book is intended for students, Is
neatly printed and illustrated eopious-
ly with excellent plates 1t Is badly
bound. The time has come fwhea even
schooEboys may be safely trusted with
well-bound books. Text books far
University studestss should always have
the best--it need not be the eostliest
binding. A book Ike this deserves a
back that is nos ugly and that will moi
| warp. .ro.Ha la t1as r,
The Massacre Of St Bartholomew, BY
Henry White. The Huguenots, by
| Samuel Smiles. aaYn. ~ i5s.e'u-
These books are companions. They
differ somewhat in sixe and one is print
ed on better paper than She other, but
bothare durably and handsomely bound
in green ard gold, and their weight. or
"heft,' when held in the hand, remind
us OF the best English books. Tho enc
Describes the great struggle which cul.
m,nated in the tragedy OF st. Barthe'o-
news day, the other traces the history
OF the settlements, Churches and in
dustries Of the Hsguenots In England
and Ireland, to which is appended an
account, much too brief. especially Is
regards those who settled in Virginia,
Of the Huguenots in America. Both
books are well, and, SO Ear A. we have
been able to examine them, fairly writ
ten. The authors are mo prentice
hands, bu. skilled workmen in the feld
OF letters. Apart from the. interest
which attaches to the struggles Of mas
cent Professionalism, these books have
a peculiar worth not alone to the descen-
DAMS Of the HuguenOts but to the rul-
| ing section ofthis cocnty, for they show
in strong colors. what cannot too often
be displayed-the wicsedness and folly
of persecution for opinions sake. Il,
| quote from M. Whites preface.
Though there may be little danger
Of four drifting back TO The atrocities o.
the sixteenth Century, and though VIZ
no longer burn men, mob law and Other
I forms of terrorism are still employed
to s.ifle tree discussion, and check in,
dividual liberty. From this to the pris.
on, the rack, and the stake, the step is
not 80 wide as it appears. -
| We wish the HARPERs would adop;
the above IS the motto for their month.
ly and weekly papers. s.'.t -''
Stories OF the Gorilla Country. BY
Paul Du Cfaillu. ID .t. ;,nt. .ofil
Du Chaillu's name is familiar to oul
readers. 1t is now proved that he IS nc
imposter but mas really seen and he@rt
what he described i'm his book ON ,EGua
torical Africa. The Gorilla Stories ar,
told in natural manner, far preferabl,
to Mayne Reid's melodramatic style
The book is very prettily gotten up
aud will prove great treat to boy read
ers the country over. .@ =
| A French Country Flmily, BY
Madame Dc Witt, nee G uizot. Transla
ted by Dinah Mulock CruiE. 'ss- I'D
The author of ~ ohm Halifax, gentle,
man" says, .'ln introducing to English
children this charming picture o.
French family life, think / am .bcne-
| fitting their. elders too. We b riton.
are too apt to believe that French so
1 ciety is only as modern French novels
make it appear but this book show.
that our ncighbors across the channe
understand '.home" as well as our.
! selves.n Ir tt..
How couldit be otherwise, when tht
Huguenots and other French emigre,
have given to England and America sc
many noble men and pure women
the peers Of any men or women OF
earth. We doubt whether more pleas
ant contribution to English literature
has been made within the century thar
ga French Country Family Il i,
tasteiully printed, bound and iliustra-
ted. "a ....
Sooner or Later, by Shirley Brooks.
An unusually interesting novel--one Of
the sort which you can not we'll put
down till you have finished. Well writ.
ten and well sustained. Pity the re-
ligious tone islnot better. The pictnres
have some merit, but are done In that