The New York herald., 1871-12-21
LITER URE.
CRITICISMS OF NEW BOOKS

fine education, warm human sympathies and
the ioftlest aims, Miss Sedgwick became no less
distinguished In literature than beloved ana
revered In domestic and social life. Born in 1889
and dying at the ripe Old are OF seventy-elght. in
1867, she survived all the brothers and sisters OF
family OF uncommon talent ami worth. Her father
Theodore Sedgwick, was a Massachusetts, Member
OF Congress when washington President, and a
lawyer and Judge OF distinguished reputation. The
life OF Catharine was passed chiefly az Lenox and
Stockbridge, IN Berkshire county, amid that charm
Ing scenery OF the HOusatonic Valley OF which the
book before us contains so many graphic touches.
Eminently social and hOspItable, and highly attrac
tive In person, manners ana disposition, she
alone OF her sisters preferred to remain single,
and drew around her through life = wide
circle OF attached and appreciative friends.
In 1922 appeared her FIRST work-"A New England
Tale''-which had marked success and led TO the
production Of "Hope Leslie" 'Thc Linwoodsn
"Clarence," "Marrled ana Single" ana other works
OF fiction, besdes two volumes OF European travels
and series Oi smaller sketches which became
more widely read than any oil these, under the titles
OF "Live and Let Live.n "The Poor Rich Man and
the Rich Poor Man" and "Means and Ends or Self
Training" For the copyright OF ''Ciarence" Miss
Sedgwtck received $l.200 which was very large
sum for any book forty years ago. These works
ali marked by freshness and purity OF style, and
tributed much to the elevation OF taste and manners
In the earlier generation for whom they were
written. Miss oedgwick early acquired disrelisn
for the Cavlnisic theology which so strangely per-
vaded New England from the days OF the Puritans.
An excellent aunt, who was very fond OF ner, said
ne day, as they were parting. uafter MISS
Sedgwick had become an av0wed Unitarian,
"Come and see me as often as you can,
dear, for You know, after this world, VIC shall
never meet again" She tells this story OF Rev DR..
Bellamy, famous divine:-One or his parishloners,
who was was a notorious scamp, came TO him, say
ing, in the parance Of the divinity that most pre-
vailed In those days, 81 feel that have obtained o
hope" The Doctor looked surprised. ~ realize
that am the chief OF sinners" continued the hypo-
crite. Your nelghbors have long been or that opin
ION, rejoined the Doctor. More cant followed until
the man capped the eli max with, ~ feel willing to
be damned for the glory OF God" .Well, my
frlend," said the Doctor, impatienty, al don't
know anybody who has the slightest objection"
We get occasional gmpses of famous people III the
letters OF Miss Sedgwick Webster. DR.. Chan.
ming, Kossuth, Miss Martineau, Fanny Kemble, &c.
She meets Louis Napoleon in 1887 and describes
him as "the young man whom have recently seen,
and who is unpretending, sensible and indescrDaby
ugly" Fenimore Cooper she characterized as a
strong aud unceasing taker, belligerent, out good
humored, and perfect John Bull in shape dimen
sions action, even to The grOwl." She visits Vir-
ginla and the White Sulphur Springs In 1888, and
writes thus OF her impressions-
We iound q delightful breakfast awaiting us and
hnc venison steaks. Nenlson Is the staple meat of
this part OF the country, and Is not like the dry,
half.fattened, uncooked meat that our epicureans
feast upon. The country tverns Of Virginia are the
beau tdent OF inns, shaded quiet and clean, with
the greatest abundance OF the prime luxuries OF
life, and, above all, attendants good anu plentiful.
This Is one good of this horrd blight OF slavery y
which seems TO me far worse since have seen IT,
The Vrginans resemble strlklngly our plain coun-
try New England people. They are better man
nered, more frank and cheerful.
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL. BY
William Elder. Philadelphia: Henry Carey Baird,
1871. 8vO PIP. 36I
This is not u book to be dismissed with q hasty
reading The ripe fruit OF long life OF reading and
reflection and discussing In O thoughtful ana sug
gestive manner the leading questions OF political
economy, DR.. Elders book does credit 10 MS Indus
try and conscientousnes5 r not In all respects TO
his sagacity In his modest preface the author tells
us how he was deferred from calling his volume
s.Polltical Economy" though 1t Is nothing more nor
less than that by the fear oil frightening away read
ers and by the dispute into which the
writer's on that subject have fallen In like
manner ne could not persuade himself to call 1t
ssCauses OF the Wealth OF Nations,u though thau is
what he understands himself to have treated, but
by an amable weakness he fell upon the more gene.
raj and, as we think, questionable title which heads
this notice. Dr. Elder Is Philadephan, OF ripe
perience statistical and economic science, having
been for years at the head OF the Statistical Bureau
OF the Treasury Department. During his recent
years OF retirement from Official station he has been
engaged IN celebrating his views the topics here
skifully handled. He acknowledges ms great oblI-
cations to Henry @. Carey whom he virtually calls
his master) to Frederick List and to stephen Col
well. When he adds that he is largely IN
debted ito Horace Greeley and to the domestic
and foreign correspondents OF the Tri6une,n for
valuable Information, 1t Is plain to see what drift
his discussions take. That his book a strong
plea for protection to home industry Is conclusion
which results from the very liberal praise bestowed
upon these, Its American high priests and cham
plons.
But DR.. Elder has not confined himself to a
derence OF the protective doctrine, although It
dominates his system. He discusses at length the
question OF population and Its laws OF Increase
wages, sources OF wealth. money and exchanges,
commerce, domestic and foreign, guarantysm and
cooperation. lie has even chapter on
ssecret socieues," which gives many facts that
Will be new to most and interesting 10 all. While
repeatedly and nationally denying to political
economy, as taught In the books, the name or rank
OF science, H. Elder makes some strange asser
tons as to the true method OF dealing with Its doc
times. Thus no boldly justi1es Napoleon l. In hts
suppression OF says great work on political econo-
NV because, for5ooth, It's doctrines were favorable
to free commerce with foreign nations:-
MY other protector, is Napoleon Bonap arte.
anoat In 1884. In 1903 J. b. say published his
"Treatlse on the Production, Distribution and Con-
sumption OF Wealth. In which he metn0dized the
Irregular mass or envous and original speculatiOns
OF Smith, and gave TO the ewborn science the
form and order which has ever since governed the
method OF cultvattng Its schemes. When Napoleon
subjected IL to his practical style OF criticism he
said ..If an empire were made or adamant political
economy would grind 1t TO powder.n lie prchi0ited
It's further publication IN France for dozen years.
He saw that the logic OF the work was spcc0us. and
he knew that 1t was perniclous; ana, beng too
busy with the government OF nation TO enter the
lists as q uisputant, he interdicted the book.
After this IL Is not strange TO find our author de-
tending the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, those violent
last resorts OF an inexOrable tyranny, sound po-
lltIca measures The national policy which begins