The New York herald., 1870-06-15
LITERATURE.
Criticisms Of New Books.

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Criticisms Of New Books.
BRIGApIER GENERAL THOMAS FRANCIS MEA0HEn:
His p9lca Ss ana Military Gsree WIN ayons
New York: D. J. Sadlier 90.
The many thousands OF persons, Americans as well
as rshmen, who feel interested in the career OF the
late General Meagher will reJoice with US that to SO
trustworthy and competent writer as Captain Lyons
was intrused the duties OF his blographer. 1t was
to Captain Lyons labor OF love, as he states HIM
self, IN the Introduction to the work. Between
author ana subject there existed "a friendship
cemented in years gone by, and enduring all days,
even TO the sorrowful end"
Influenced, then, by deep, personal anection for
his deceased friend the author set earnestly to work.
and the result is biography upon which we can
bestow the highest praise. Beginning with sketch
Of the early life OF Meagher the work proceeds to
narrative Of the repeal movement in Ireland. InQ
:.ais Meagher, then d yoaag man barely past his
majority, entered with all the ardor and enthusiasm
Of his character Has gifts Of oratory soon made
MIN popular leader. The agitation continued until
finally. In the summer Of l84s he was captured with
arms in his hands in the county OF Tipperary, while
engaged IN an effort to array the peasantry against
the authority q tho BRITISH Crown, after 0Srien's
eloquent speech before being sentenced TO death,
the comnutatf0n Of bis sentence to Imprisonment
for life his exile in Van Diemans Land, his escape
and arrival In the United States are all narrated In
a clear, concise style.
The period between his landing In New York and
the outbreak OF the rebellion was passed by Meagher
In practising law and In an attempt at journalism,
for which latter profession, however lie was un-
fitted. Soon alter the secession of the Southern
States and the firing on Fort Sumter. he organized
the famous 'Irish Brigade" whose deeds under his
Citizens very prominent feature % in the work b.
fore Us is the fuf and animated description Of the
Meagnsr in it. This forms one Of the most Interest.
ing chapters 10 the book. The part taken by the
also We od IA with an Oh than oIowed IN
the career OF Meagher-his resignation and
su9ssanent return M to the army his services services
and the close OF his life by sudden death from acct.
dent we must leave the reader TO become acquainted
terestng 1t contains extracts from speeches
Of Mcagler and from his writings, and closes with
an authentic statement OF the sad accident which
cut short career full OF hope and promise.
AS we stated In the opening OF this notice, Captain
Lyons has written an admirable biography Of his
friend well worthy place in every library. We
therefore repeat our recommendation OF 1t to the
public as being as reliable and agreeable history Of
the life or General Meaghcr as can be Desired Tic
book IL admirably printed In large, clear type, on
tntad parer, and is handsomely bound.
SHERIDAN's TROOPERS ON THE BORDERS. winter
campaign on the Plains. BY DE B. Randolph
Keim. Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen Haiel-
finger.
Mr. Keim has written a very interesting book He
has chosen subject Of general Importance, and one
which, singulary enough has before been treat
ed in detail. Our knowledge OF what is now known
as the lndian question" Is vague and shadowy. Like
the famous Schlesw H0lsten question, it terri
bly, muddled up that it Is doubtful If there are any
men living who understand Ii, always excepting Of
course the Indian agents. and they the per-
sons In the world to whom should go for fnforma-
tion. But II MIR. Keim has not made our Indian
question much more intelligbIe than It was before
he wrote he has certainly thrown some light on the
auh nd f,oo Off thor xv1,i
does him credit as much for the literary skill dis
played III its writing for the intrinsic value Of its
contents Mr.. Kem's narrative Il the result OF six
months personal observation on the southern Pains.
He accompanied General Sheridan in his famous
campaign against the hostile savages on the
and during which, 1t Will be remembered, that Gen.
eral Custer, al the head of cavalry force, admins
tered severe chasttsement to Black Kettles band
Of Cheyenne Indians. This campaign Is described
with much minuteness and In q very spirited and
graphic style. was the good fortune OF the author
to visit various parts OF the country never before
travelled by literary men, so that all he writes is
fresh anq ney not only are the eysnts q tee cam
tains much interesting information regarding tie
habits and customs OF our aborieines and there Is
o an Pans anma'e9 picture Of the life Of soiGS. On
Troopers 6s the Borders' as most agreeable work.
In addition to i!s literary merits the Volume recon.
appearance, the excellence OF the type, paper and
binding used In Its manufacture, and the admirable
h .s ne 0o Of =
as the frontispiece and also letter from the GEN
eral 10 Mr. Keim expressing his opinion TO the
best policy TO be pursued towards the savages.
Ofa toleraby interesting character are the con.
tents OF small book entitled .sDaily Bread ana
Other Stories" published by the American Unitarian
Association and intended to serve o religious pur-
pose. There is undoubtedly large class OF persons
to whom the persal OF these stories Will afford great
happiness, and as the stories themselves are really
well written and entertaining We cheerfaliy COM
mend the book to the public.
Nothing short OF q stern conviction that we were
bound to read through a novel entitled equity or
Not Guilty" New York: Carleton. publisher),
enabled us to reach the end of the book. In this
WORK, which the title page tells us contains athe
true story Of Manhattan Wells." We have melan-
choy Illustration Of the weakness Of 'authors' and
The folly OF publishers more wish y.washy pro-
duction we have not read for some time. 1t
endeavors to resuscitate the old story Of the Man.
haitian Wells tragedy and quite fails. We Shall
really be sorry II any young nedgng Of an author is
raned by our criticism; but truth to tell, equity or
Not Guilty'' would never deprive reader Of sleep.