The New York herald., 1870-05-07
LITERATURE.
CrItloisms Of New Books.

Christian Revelation. Translated from ala Bible
dams finae." BY Louis Jacoiot. New York:
Carleton publisher. tHN. 'f.lt 'r
While the views promulgated In the pages OF this
book are often illogical and sometimes absurd, we
think that they have not been treated with that calm
ana critical consideration which they deserve. NJ
Jac0lliot, though free thinker aud whose sent
ments are most repulsive TO us, is no atheist He
aims TO prove that the present civilization Of Europe
IL but the reflex of grander civilization which once
ennobled India and made her great His argument
In defence Of this position Is not without force and
will be read with curious interest 1t is when he
enters upon the religious topic and endeav0rs to
support his destical views by casting ridicue upon
all tnat we nave been taught to look upon
Us divine or inspired that he becomes feeble, and
even puere. India u to him the cradle OF religion.
Moses was but an ordinary mortal. endowed with
great intellectual faculties. The Old Testament Is
but the reproduction Of Hndoo superst which
date back to antiquity greater by many thousands
Of years than the Oldest dates assigned to the He
brews. Christ himself was but mortal. He partoOk
Of the divine essence not more than other men. In
short, NJ Jacolliot rejects tery every element Of
religion save the one great TACT OF the existence OF
God. Human nature revolts at his conclusions.
The very intuition which he condemns and rdicules
urges the normal mfud 10 shrink from the embrace OF
doctrines which have Tor elect the stripping OF God
OF every appliance which goes to make up The sum
Testament Which it never could have possessed had
It been merely collection OF Hindoo legends There
y . majesty, grandeur about the whole career OF
Moses which utterly bellies the assertion that he
duped the fsraeites into the belief that he was COM
manded by God to lead them from the midst Of their
Oppress0rs into the promised land. And when
come to the life OF Christ it's entire history, from the
birth to the resurrection IL OF q subliD-
ny which rises far above anything, real or
Jac0llot cannot treat Christ as he treated Moses
because the Saviour bora and died In the historic
period, ana we are not compelled 60 depend solely
He therefore treats Him as a mere impostOr, and
ascrbes to the apostles The carrying out OF designs
the very conception OF which would have been im-
dvinely inspired.
But the Whole animus Of the book Is to be found in
the authors detes.ation OF Christianity and admra.
u0n OF Brahminism. He accepts any authority
the Christian Is but corruption OF the Vedas. He
sezes upon certain smtarites In the text of the two
as proof aS% positive Of nus assertion forgetting that
out and forgetting that they perfectly consistent
with the claim that the one IL dvinely inspired
book and the other mere earthly production On
the whole we cannot recommend Mr.. Jacolhots
work to the public. Upon the educated
weaS.minded persons predsposed to sceUcIsm snS
inadety, who might fail victims to its speciOus
soning. We repeat that as part Of the great the0
spite of that, 1t was hardly worth the trouble Of
transatng, and Is certainly almost the last book we
would advise our readers to obtain.
PARIS BY SUNLIGHT AND GAsLIsHT. BY James II.
McCabe, Jr. National Publishing Company. Phil
adelphia. I.r .f Nh r-
This rather neatly printed and bound and hand
somely illustrated volume is said, on the title page
to be "a work descriptive Of the mysteries and mis-
cries. the virtues. the vices, the splendors and the
crimes OF the city of Paris" On glancing over its
pages We find it to be very ordinary work, full of
exaggerated pictures of Parisian life, taken from
books which are no authority and from the CORE.
spondence Of Bohemian writer's upon whom no re-
cal Aq r hQ horfo
personal experiences, he seems to have been more
assduous in his search for the vices than for the vr
tues OF Paris, his descriptions OF the former pre-
dominating throughout. The merit OF the work Is
confined to It's description Of the French capital and
this Is good. But beyond this we can say nothing in
Its i0v0r.
SELF-HELP; with Illustrations Of Character, Con-
duct aud Perseverance. BY Samuel Smiles New
York: Harper & Brothers,
There are books which, without being par
ticularly great or particularly original, serve
q good purpose for all time; and this Is one
Of them. The lessons 1t teaches are Of the
greatest moment to mankind, and the manner in
which 1t teaches them makes them agreeable to
learn .Self-Help' Is indeed, one Of the few books
extant which point out the path to earthly fame or
wealth, founded on perseverance and integrity, OF
which we never tire reading The Industry Of the
author In grouping together so many cases Of nOta
BILE men who have risen from 0bscurity to eminence
by their own and wholly or almost unalded, efforts;
The charming style IN which he writes and the moral
he draws from his record Of facts, make his book
desideratum. The present edition. which Is neatly
printed and bound, we heartily recommend the
public
The LOST DAUGHTER, published by I. B. Peterson
Brother, OF Philadelphia Is another volume TO the
handsome edition Of the works OF Mrs. Caroline Lee
HentZ. This edition merits popular favor The
printing and binding are good and the price low.
L'EcHo DE PARIS is the title OF book designed
N sunplv the atudeut with abundant vOcahularv
OF words and expressions in common use among the
French people and to aid him in obtaining command
OF the idioms OF the language" The work is oub-
every respect worthy Of recommendation.
The latest edition OF CEsAR's COMMENTARIES ON
THE GALLO WAR is that published by D. Appleton &
Co.. OF this city. 1t Is edited by Professor Hardness,
OF Brown University, and is supplied with explana-
tory notes, copious dictionary and map of Gaul
AS In all the other classical works edited by Profes
sOr Hardness, the greatest possible care has been
taken in C0lang the text from the several editions
now In use. We have no doubt OF this edition be-
coming popular with all teachers Of the Latin Ian.
RuaRe.
The latest method OF teaching ana learning the
German language is to be found in German
Primer" published by G. p Putnam 4 Sons, OF this
city. Its most prominent feature which is It's prin-
cipal merit s It's simplicity. The book is intended
for beginners, and for these recommend IL TO the
HELEN GARDENERS WEDDING DAY, VI Colonel
Floyd 'sWaras New York, Car.etonl ts one Of Ma
riOn sl'ends novels and is sufficiently exciting and
impron agle,o 'ascinate" the class ofpersons which
win Ieai It, There is the traditional dishonest guar
dian, the not unusual TWO brothers who love the
same 81 4, a murder, an extraordinary marriage
and tic inevitable happy conclusion. II all this
don't make up a first class sensational story we
| have no idea what will
| We suppose it rather late In the day to acknOw.
ledge the receipt OF u little book containing the
.sForm OF Service for the Two First Nights Of the
I Feast Of Passover New YORK, L. H. Frank, but
! our Jewish friends will doubtless need such book
this next year, and SHALL therefore, call atten-
| ton to 1t. We have here the Hebrew text with Eng
lish translation and several Illustrations descriptive
OF the events commemorated IN the Feas. OF Pass
| over" rt.
| BAKED BoNDs.--One Of those strange beings we
"read about has been found In the owner of mum