The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-30


Is In itself gem. Captain Kidd acquires manli-
ness which was never before accorded him. Old
Giles Corey Is shown ~ man OF marked traits. The
wcntworths are touched 18th such gentle and dell.
cate art that they possess interest it would be I'm
possible to accord to "Long John""the Hon.
John wentworth, or Illinois," Mrs. Spofrord calls
him. The Legends OF New Eng and" Is just such
book As one would care to have at hand for an Idle
hour, and almost any sentence picked Out at ran
dom Will Sufficiently engage the attention to COM
pei the perusal OF page This If a rare merit and
fully justines the collection into volume OF these
sketches, so full OF personal and historical reminis
cences Of the Old fashioned New England towns on
the Eastern Railway.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: lrs OFFICERS AND
THEIR DUTIES. ny Ransom II. GIlet. New York:
Y2olwor'h, Alnsworth Co. 1871. l2mo., PIP.
The object OF this book-by an ex- member OF Con-.
gress rom this State, who has also been Register
and Solicitor OF the Treasury Department
Is TO furnish plain manual OF infor-
nation to the citizen "a to the sub-divi
sOns OF the general government in all Its
departments. Such book was much needed, az
little TO be found in print respecting the organaa
ton OF the greet and intricate departments at Wash
ington, ana people having business there are fre-
queDtly at disadvantage from the want OF Il few
lines OF guidance, which, known beforehand would
them much trouble and loss OF time oy inquiry.
In reference to the duties and divisions Of business
In various branches OF the civil service the work
has the advantage of having been compiled by one
who has had practical experience as an oflcer In a
department, and il. perhaps, in the main correct,
though far from being full and explicit as desra
bic in the information conveyed. We note with re-
greet as well surprise that the author content
ed himself with copying from old statutes or docu-
menus out OF date many important statistical facts
which should have been verified either by visit OF
investigation to Washington or by letters OF inquiry
This simple course would have spared
the work the discredit of dffusing and
perpetuatng erroneous statements Nearly the
whole statement for example. Of the salaries re-
ported as paid to officers under the government Is
an anachronism. On page 2S6 we are informed of
the creation OF department OF education" by act
OF March 2, 1857, with commissioner whose salary
Is 81, 900.
1t Is now more than two years since this So
called department. was reduced to bureau Dy
Congress- and the salary cut down to $4,000. We
are told on page 1893 that the salary OF the Associate
Justices OF the Supreme Court is $4,000 Mr. Gillet
although lawyer, appears to be unaware that these
salaries were, many months since, increased to
$4,000 each. On page 1877 the author informs US that
1t is the duty OF the Chaplain OF the House of Repre-
sentatves to conduct religious services In the House
every other Sunday "ln practice the Senate Chap
lain attends on the intervening Sunday ana performs
the ike services" Mr.. Glllet's information would
doubtless have been correct had he printed 1t when
himself a member Of Congress-; but 1t is well known
to all who have been recently IN Washington
during the sittings OF Congress that there have
been no Sunday services by the chaplans Of Con
gress, in either House or Senate for many years
privileges of the President of the United States Mr..
Glllet tells us that "under a statute he employs a
private secretary and a steward at the public ex-
pense." brief consultation OF any OF the legis-
lat1ve, executive and judicial appropriation bills
for several years past would have shown that the
President employs several secretaries and short
hand writer at the public expense, "under q stat
ute." The salaries Of nearly all the officers OF Con-
gress greatly understated having been increased
three four years ago from the figures given in Mr..
Gillet's work. The table of successive heads OF de-
partments, with the dates OF their appointment to
Office from the foundation OF the government, Is
quite valuable, AMI would be still more so had the
compiler taken the trouble to ascertain and prin,
tile dates of appointment OF Secretaries Boutwell,
Rawlings, Belknap and Robson.
BEHIND THE BARS. Boston, Lee & shepard. New
York: Lee, Shepard & Dillingham;. 1871. l6mo,
PIP. 800.
This Is an anonymous and q melancholy book. In
1t are opened with great force and occasional elo
quence OF style the sad and difficult problems OF the
actual and the proper treatment OF the IL Is
not, as might be inferred from the title continuous
narrative OF individual experience. though the
editor seems to imply IN the preface inaJ 1t all
written by who has BEEN an actual patient in an
asylum. This we take leave to doubt. It Is
rather series OF searching criticisms upon the
methods OF treating mental alteration. The drift
OF the WORK may be Inferred from the following
definition given by the author:-"ln an
asyum-a place where insanity Is made -
Many vigorous protests against the system OF
mechanical restraint which even yet dis.
graces these institutions are found scattered
through It's pages and duly enforced by practical
Illustrations. The author lays down the axiom.
"Let mistakes be made rather than moral restraint
shall be effected by physical MEANS" Here Is one
OF the writer's Illustrations, drawn from the history
Of George the Third OF England
Royalty know, was not exempt from the
harshest usage. Mr.. Massey in his history OF Eng
land, gives the reader woful picture OF the uuroya
and barbaric treatment OF the sovereign, in lfSS
when DR.. warren pronounced him a settled lunatic
The King was moved by the spirit which possessed
him TO talk increasingly; he is said to have talked a
one time for nineteen hours cOnsecutively but We
| forced into the straight waistcoat, deprived o
| the sight OF his family and refused the common
| use OF knife and fork But DR.. Will
| freed him from this unnecessary bondage
| allowed him to use knife and fork, addn!
.to this favor the poite nope that he should have
! the honor OF dining with Ills Majesty, and eveI
| offered him razor TO shave himself Win. He wa
| then permitted to see his queen ana the Processes
| Although the court physicians struck with ter
rOr at tn csc innovations of the prescribed system
| happily Tor its encouragement the King in u few
| weeks regained his reason. Assuredly this was
royal road 10 reform. and should have opened manl
! paths Tor emulation
| HISTORY OF FREDERICK THE SECOND CALLEI
FREDERICK THE GREAT. BY john $. G. Abbott
With illustrations. New York Harper d Bros
1871. Svo., PIP. 5S4.
This is one of parson Abbotts industrious but no
always trustworthy compilations oil history. The
STYLE of historical narrative most affected by tni
writer is illustrated in the very first line OF the pre-
face to the present work, in which he tells OF 'th
wild and woundrous events OF the past" For tn,
staple of the volume the facts on which the nara
tive IS based, Mr.. Abbott Is chiefly indebted TO th,
great work OF CARLYLE, which is monument OF his