The New York herald., 1870-04-02
LITERATuRE
C.rllIcls,n, Of Now Rocks.

~-~~~-~~>->~-~>~~-~~ Il
Criticisms Of Now Books.
HISTORY or ENGLAND, FROM THE FALL or woIsEY
TO THE DsFEAr or THE SPANISH ARMADA ~
James Anthony FrOude. u. A. Volumes XI. and
XII. New YORK: Charles scrbner Il Co.
The reader Of these and OF the previous volumes
viii share with that Mr.. Froude has brought
his history to close. II had been his Intention to
continue the work the death OF Elizabeth but he
abandoned this purpose because In describing ''tne
transition from the Catholic England With which
the century opened. tho England OF dominant
Church and m0nastaries ana pilgrimages, into the
England OF progressive intelligence" mis- object was
attaaed IN the narration OF the events that cuiin.
mated in the overthrow OF the Spanish neet. We are
somewhat inclined to take issue with Mr.. Froude ON
this conclusion OF his. The struggle OF Catholicism
for supremacy In England did not end until long
amer the death Of Eizapeth-not, In fact until the
battle OF the Boyne crushed forever the hopes OF
James II. We should, therefore, have preferred the
history continued through the reigns Of James and
Charles l., the Protcctorate OF Cromwell and the
rcigns OF Charles H. and James H. e1ding with the
accession Of William AND Anne Inc svsn.s o. ,sre e
put second in Importance 10 the schsm leu py
However, since we cannot have all we desire we
great praise 10 assert that Mr.. Eroude written
work which, In spite OF Its partsanship deserves TO
RANK with any history OF England extant. La lite
rary pont OF view his pages are as interesting as
ihe unhappy Mary, Queen Of Scots, been tod
with snch dramatic force aud elegance VI style
rs we have II in these volumes. But comparatively
| few persons VIII agree with Mr. Froude In the view
he taxes OF tile Queen or VIII consider that she was
Elizaoetn il must, however. be- admitted mat he
argues his case against her with cOnsuinnate skill.
captivates the reader The description oi her execu.
tion ANA the scenes belonging thereto Is uncquaed.
In nike manner the account ot the desruclon OF the
Spanish Armada is ep .endid pen painting tliat can
not fail Of admiration.
the great historical value .! THIS WORK Its only
merit. Mr.. Fi0ude5 style OF writing Is an ttrac.
non In Itself, and would win popularity on any sub
ject. II II unlike that OF any other historian tnat we
know or saving tlat OF Carlyle. To whose scno0l Mr..
| Froude belongs But the style OF that philosopher
| cannot equal Mr.. Froude's Ia finish aud elegance.
AS written In these v0iumes history i5 dVeitei OF
all drvncss and Is clothed IN gatb that renders its
study pleasure instead or task. On the wnole
we heartily commend this history TO tile public. IL
IS neatly printed ana bound, aud IL he'd as price
| which places II within the reach OF all
| TnE ANDES AND THE AMAZON: or ACROSS THE
| CoNTINENT OF SOUTH AMERICA. BY James Orton,
| NJ A. With map OF Equatorial America and
numerous illustrations. New York: Harper
Brothers.
! Professor Orton has contributed In this work a
valuable addition to our literature OF South Anle-
rica. His account Of Ecuador, OF her climate, re-.
sources, Inhabitants and government, shows tnat
while in that republic he was careful student OF
| everything that was worth studying. The same may
be said account Of the places and peoples
that he visited, including Brazil and the Bra
zlians, OF whom, by the way, he writes
in terms Of high praise. There is much that Is new
TO us the description Of the and customs
OF both whites and native Indians, and also. though
TO less extent in the description Of the appear
ancc OF the Continent and the fertility OF the soil
Undoubtedly tae work Is OF decided value and We
regret, because Of that fact tnat its literary
| ZION Is not better The subject matter Is careessly
and clnmslly arranged, and the Oook Is marred by
frequent attempts ut what ls termed sine writing
| sucn us descriptions OF sunset, sunrise, landscaps
scenery. NC, most OF which are poor For instance
is so absolute and actually oppressive" that yOl
| can almost hear the globe turning on lts axis. >
which Is something as absurd as Illogical IN Its at
feet Stiffness IL Is pity that Professor Orton should
nave yielded to what seems weakness Of his fol
flights into the sublime. He see;ns 10 have forgotten
| how rapidly one falls into Tie ridiculous But aside
fiom TINS anit, which we ADMIT IL o grave one. tot
| book ls We repeat, OF value for the sake OF I'll,
| information IL contains.
| LECTURE ROOM TALKS. A Series OF Familiar Dis.
courses on Themes OF General CHRISTIAN Expe
renee. Dy Henry Ward Beeeuer. New YORK: /!
b. Ford g. Co.
In these colloquial and familiar discourses MIR
Beecher il more successful in depicting the great
Of GOD and the beauties OF Christanlty than h,
Is In his more finished sermons At least 80 we are
led TO think from comparison OF the two. The sub
jecs discussed are illustrated extensively from tn,
personal experience or the speaker, ana though th
| fact is somewhat suggestive OF egOtism 1t must b
admitted nat all Mr.. Beecher say OF himself Is in
l
character Of the lectures thus ~ In the reverend gen
| tlemans well known style. There Is good deal o
pathos and hamor, ana the language II smooth ant
| agreeable.
| The RECORDS OF LIVING OFFICERS OF THE UNITED
STATES NAVY AND MARINE Cores. BY Lewis Il.
Hammersly. Philadelphia j. b. Lippincotr & Co
Tnls book supplies want that has long been felt
II furnishes for the first time biographical sketches
Of all living officers OF the United States Navy ant
Marine Corps and thus places ON the record the
services OF an able, gallant body OF men, to whose
| h0roIsm the country is indebted to q great exten
Tor the suppression OF the reoeion. There IL also
liOn and list OF the ships and onicers Participating
| IN the great battles. The work ls admirably con,
piled, aud ID printed aud bound in style deserving
| Ol praise.
HANS BRErTMANN's BALLADS have been publshe,
by 7. B. Peterson & Brothers In new, enlarge
and complete edition. We have once before ex
pressed an opinion the merits OF these ballads
and shall not repeat it. They have met with sue
cess that cannot be explained by the ordinary pre-
shall be contcnt with stating that the present ed
ton Is handsomely printed and bound and IL by IA
the best that has yet appeared.
FRIDAY NIGHT New York: once OF the Jects
MesSen0ey9 is a small volume, containing "a selec
ton of tales illustrating Hebrew fe," all OF whic
are interesting to read. We should. however, hav
preferred to see more OF them devoted to the socis
LIE OF American Jews, ana not so much space SUI
rendered narratives Of the oppression and perst
cution OF the chosen people In the Old World. How
ever, those that we nave are wei worth reading
ana we cheeriuily commend the book to the public
LIFE PICTURES OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORI
JESUS CHRIST boston: Patrick Donahoe) is trans
lation from the admirable work OF John Emanuf
Velth by Rev. Theodore Noethen. Its description
the characters Of the principal persons, either goo
ana death OF our Lord ls quite vivid and accurate
| irotestants alike with Cahoiics Will find In thl
book vast amount Of religious instruction.
|