The New York herald., 1871-11-10
LITE RA T u n E
Gritirisuus or New Hoetts.


FRANCE AND HEREDITARY MONARCHY. BY Jonr
Blgeow London ANA New York; q. Soribner
/ Co., ISL svo., pp so.
clear and wen written political pamphlet, aimed
at showing the folly OF expecting any stable govern
| ment In France from restoration OF the Napo-
leonic or any other dynasty. Mr.. Big Glow writes as
democratic republican. and his pages cont1m a
strong Indictment OF the Thiers government as too
reactionary ana conservative IN Its tendencies for
| the spirit OF the age
| TaE Ln'E OF JouN PENDLEroN KENNEDY. by
Henry 1. TnckermaD. New YORK: q. 4. Putnam
Sons. 1871. i2mo, pp. 100, with portrait
THIS biography OF a veteran American author and
politician, by one OF the most experienced OF our
living writer's, comes out promptly within the brief
period OF a year rom the deceaso or Its genital sub
)ect Mr.. Kennedy, though not great man, was a
good one, ana this very pleasant volume gives us
many gimpses OF his sunny and charitable dispos.
ton. Batting some needlessy long extracts from
private Iournal-that inevitable record OF triviatcs
ana commonplaces-the book is quite interesting.
MT; Kennedy's literary career began in 1920, with
the publication Of some light critical essays on men
and things in Baltimore, under the title OF ''rhe
Red Book" These appeared in periodical form
and were soon discontinued. But the vein was
anerward worked TO better purpose In
his Swallow Barn." which Is pleas.
ant photograph OF Old Virginia life
and scenery IN the DAYS before The war. In Horse
shoe Robinson'' Kennedy tried historical fiction
with success, writing tale OF revolutionary days
In the Carolinas. "Rob OF the Bowl' and the
"Annals of ouodlibet" followed. but as works Of
fiction they were comparative failures. The 'Life
Of William Writ was Mr. Kennedy's md0n,tns
OPUS, and upon It mis- reputation American letters
will chiefly rest.
Mr.. Tuckermann, while entertaining and ex-
pressing no cxtravagant estimate or the abi.
ties OF the subject OF hts biography, and thus
sparing us that prousion Of eulogy which dis
figures the lives OF 80 many public men, appre-
Ciates with discriminating pen Mr. Kennedy g
social and patriotic excellences does not over
rate MS services 10 the country It's literature The
life, as here tod, Is that OF prosperous and well
educated man OF AFFAIRS, who mlngles freely with
political movements, while always preerring his
quiet library and 'the still air OF delightful studios"
Favored signaly by fortune In this worlds goods,
Mr. Kennedy's chief labors might DO looked upon
rather In the light Of recreatlons than as task
work. We get now and then glimpse OF the po-
ltical events In which he was an actor, although
his TWO terms In Congress and his one years SER
vice as secretary of the Navy furnished no very
prolonged or prominent public career Here is "A
slight extract from Mr. Kennedy's journal about the
result OF the Plerce-scott campaign in 1867
| BALTIMORE, NOV. 2, 1s52--The day OF the Presi
! OcnLal ceCUOH. ~ DeBlHS WIN CLOUDY SKIES. 90
| and vote for Scott.
! After tea MI Barney sent for me. l go to his
| house. Here find Hubbard and Crittenden waiting
tho returns BY telegraph. They have already got
| them from Baltimore-0ver four thousand majority
! for Plercel shocking beginning. General Scott
and his sonn-aw, Colonel Scott caIl In and sit the
rest OF tho evening. More returhs-stll more over.
| whelming. Waterloo dcieat--a perfect hurricane
| Well. We laugh at the extravagance OF the vote
| against him.. II IL ludIcfous to SEQ how We are
beaten We have an oyster supper. The General
! n
punch. He talks great deal, In good numor, and
! we make the best OF our msrOrtunes. What total
defeat In our arlthmetcl Not one expectation nos
| been realized. stay nl twelve, and having heard
| enough-for We have the returns from Buffalo, De
| troit, Sandusky; from Vermont, from Boston--a
great many Others and all tellin. The same story Of
thorough ovcrthrow-i go home TO bed and sleep
| very sonndly III morning.
| The work is elegantly printed and on fine paper
| but we are sOrry to it disfgured Dy at least
| score Of msprints. indicating careless proof