New-York tribune., 1871-04-21
AMONG NY BOOKS. limo PIP. 30. EJusl, 4 Son

| A series of deSultory remarks on yarlous
subjects connected with the library and literature in
| general, forms the staple OF this very miscellaneous
volume It makes preension 10 methodcal arrange
ment connected sequence of thought but takes the
reader on an idle rambe through wide fields OF good
learning demanding little mental effort on his part and
evncing quite little the part Of the writer He evil
IDENTIFY regards books as recreation, rather than
serious study and has found pleasant amusement in
turning the pages Of celebrated authors Tie In
formal style Of his essays permits degree OF franRness
in the relation OF personal experience, which would be
ont Of place in more elaborate work His suggestions,
for the most part neither profound nor original
scarcely rising above the ordinary level OF conversation
among cultivated people, but their easy, familiar Gsw Is
not without certain charm and with largo class Of
readers win atone for their perpetual tendency 20 CON-
mon-paee. The criticisms his favOre works In which
the author freely INDUCES not especially instructive
loss analytic than sentimental in their character
and the expression Of personal feeling rather than Of
general prncples,-but his pages abound In literary
gosgip, anecdotes Of and books. that arc often
curious and sometimes novel, and stories Of strange Pr
vete experiences In almost every part OF the world to
which the fates have borne the widetraveled writer
Two OF the most attractive essays In the volume de-
voted IN part TO the remembrance OF Thackeray for
whom the author to have cherished tender affec
ton as a man, less than fervent admiration as
novelist In his estimate Of the character OF the
noble Englishman, he reaches O tone OF composition
Sir Walter Scott died just when there stepping
on the stage of active Me-hs career to bo shorter
than Sc0ts-the only ono who, when the final verdict
OF criticism comes 10 be recorded claim to be his
equal This too said when, in the gush Of sepsiby
which sudden death is apt to let loose, the world is
mourning over the fresh grave Of one who claimed to
be fival. The only high writer of fiction since the
days OF Scott is be whose Sust not his bones in the
Abbey who, soyen years ago, died sleeping III LIS bed
whose children two motberless girls sorrowed meeyj
whose family treasures were not greedily divided ;
whose walls were not covered with pictures from his
works, for bo was too modest FOR that; who had
been visitor in America without either sanderng or
Gattering who shed tear for desolated land-and
left behind him, with those who knew him personally
sweet and lovely memory which literally blossoms in the
dust" Even In this pathetic eulogy, however, the au
thor cannot refrain from airing the antipaes which
often crop out his pages, OF which his prejudice
against Charles Dickens affords striking example. His
aversion defenders Of the Union IN the Rebel war
Is equally conspicuous He never loses an opportunity
TO express his admiration for tho heroes Of "Lost
Cause" and his contempt for the men by whom their
designs in behalf Of national ruin were successfully re-
sisted His greatest strength, indeed. s shown In the
utterance OF personal tastes which OF importance
TO the public while points Of universal interest In letters
and the conduct Of life, which the experience OF age
might furnish valuable hints passed over In silence
The whole volume is soteDod by vein OF sadness that
excites the sorrow rather than tie sympathy Of the
reader pointing TO OF disappointment in which
the trace life has been and lost" and few cheer
full reooectons remain to brighten the passage to the
grave.