The New York herald., 1870-04-23
LITERATURE.
Criticisms Of New Books.


HISTORY or THE AMERICAN OWL WAR. By John
william Draper; y. D., LID. In three volumes.
Vol Ill. New York: Harper h Brothers.
We can add nothing more to the praise which has
been bestowed upon the nrst volumes Of this work
than to say that tho concluding volume Is In every
respect equal TO the Others. There is the same
graphic, animated style, and the Same desire to
write fairly and mpartaly OF both parties to our re.
cent civil war. The events related in the volume be-
fore US are those which occurred between Mr. Lin
coins emancipation proclamation and the dtsband-
ment OF tho Union army. Two chapters. which
conclude the work. contain retrospect Of the war
ana and the a. authors views regarding the future pros
to entertain the opinion generally held that the
negro WIN finally disappear from the republic BY
gions OF the Continent. He also renews his advO-
cacy OF the removal OF the capital from Washington
cure position.n His views regarding the causes OF
the war and regarding the future OF the country will
OF his readers Will agree with MIN neces
sity for the centralized government lie describes.
and which he 30 ardenty desires.
BATTLE OF THE Books, Recorded by an Unknown
Writer for the Use OF Authors and PuDishSrs
Edited ana published by Gail Hamilton. New
York: Hurd Il Houghton.
Excepting the scandal to which 1t gives publicity
this book possesses no value whatever. The author
merely describes ner professional ex perience with
firm OF Boston publishers, VINO, it seems did not
treat her fairly. In fact she claims that they tried
to defraud her out of her Just dues. The story she
meanness, and her endeavor to make money out Of
her ill-treatment by these publishers Is merely
another illustration or Yankee cupldity. Ii the ex-
preston of this opinion seems harsh 1t Is
less right that we should express It, A perusal OF
9e poos w ~ sS s @ e .as s 20
turn honest penny" by retailing scandal are a
bad set altogether. And with this we dismiss them
and the BOOK
UNIVERSAL PaoNoUNcisa DICTIONARY OF BIO
GRAPuY AND MYTHOLOGY. BY J. Thomas, A. NJ
M. ID. Philadelphia: j. B. Llppincoct " GO.
This work contains brief "memoirs OF the eminent
persons OF all ages and countries and accounts OF the
various subjects OF the Morse Iiindoo and classic
mythologies, with the pronunciation Of their names
in the different Languages III which rhey are used"
IL Will be comprised within forty-dve parts, or which
five parts have already been published, ana when
complete Will be one OF the most valuable blograph-
ical pronOuncin9 dictionaries In our language.
TIE NATIONAL QUARTERLY REVIEW. Edited by
Edward ]. Sears, LID. New YORK: Edward j.
Sears
The March number Of this review fully maintains
the enviaole reputation it OF being tae best
publication or the kind the United States. 1t does
not contain poor artcle "Rabea!s and His
Tines" 'Natonsl Organic Life,n "Louis XI. and
His Times y .'Opium aud the Opium Trace " "Eras'
Neighboring World" and .'Our Criminals and Our
Judiciary, comprise It's list OF reviews ana are all
The "Notces and Criticismsn are also good.
TEMPERANCE ANECDOTES is the title of little
book published from the National Temperance so.
ciety and Publication House' OF this ciIy and Is fun
OF very dull and stupid JOKES anu LOT OF very old
and commonplace arguments against drunkenness.
While we willingly credit the compiler with good
intentions must confess to strong douot OF the
efficacy Or this book In the cause OF temperance.
PRfNCIPLEs OF SYsTEM OF PHILOSOPHY, by
Austin BORROWER A. NJ. New York: Carlton & Lana
han) seeks "to reconcile the more difficult question
OF metaphysics and religion with themselves and
with the sciences ana common sense" We can
discover nothing very original striking In the
best principles enumerated, while there are some
which lack sound reasoning aud cannot convince.
The author falls into the same error tas other spec
uators in philosophy have fallen into before him.
| lie forgets tnat the sciences are not founded on
mere speculation, out on certain facts which are In
controvertlbe e. whereas the basis OF relgon Is ntu
tions with the iacts OF science demands SOMETHING
more than common sense, which Is itself Intuition.
PROVERBS, EccLEsIAsTRs AND THE SONGS OF
| SOLOMON Is a small book containing The scrprural
| works named In the title, "wth notes, critical ex-
| planatory and practical, designed for Doth pas.
! tor and people" by Rev. Henry Cowes, D. d. New
| York: d. Appleton co., DR.. COwles has already
made reputation by his commentaries on other parts
OF the Old Testament, and this work Will doubtless
receive deserves to receive the favorable
puDuC ttat Ills previous ones
have.
WALKERS PRoNoUNCING DICTIONARY OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Ney YORK: w. w. Swayne) Is,
as we have 1t here published IN small compact
FORM ana VIII be found useful 10 all. II Ia printed
In small but clear type, and IS altogether worthy OF
commentators.
AN OLD-FAsHIONED GIRI. by Louisa NJ. Alcott
tBoston: Roberts Brothers) is pleasant story-not
| quite SO good as Little Women" but readable
throughout Polly, the heroine Is the old-fashioned
girl In every respect the opposite Of the girl OF the
period, and delightful creature 10 read OF and-to
know. AS in her other works, the authOress ex-
| hlblts much power In delneatng character There
is great deal OF the humorous in the story, which
Will amuse and entertain old and young.
| MARY's GRAMMAR by Mrs. Marcel New York d.
| Appleton h Cob can be commended for its thorough
| adaptabilty to children. Mrs. Marcel has hit upon
! the plan by which the young Can be taught to
''speak and write the English language with pro-
prlety," understanding fully what they speak and
write. This plan Is comprised In series OF CONVEX
satiODs, III which the use and meanings of words
and their parts OF speech are explained pleasantly
and simply. Tue book ought to be in every school
where small children are taught grammar.
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS " GREAT BNTAN