The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-08
LIT E RATUR
CRITICISMS OF NEW BOOKS

CRITICISMS OF NEW BOOKS.
TowNsEND's HISTORICAL RECORD AND ENCYcLO-
PKDIA OF THE GREAT REBELLION.
The aim scope OF this work Is to furnish to the
future historian of the great civil war such ample
data as will enable HIM to read the momentous
events which followed the election or Lincoln by q
contemporary light 1t Is not merely dry record
Of facts, but proposes to present the views OF the
actors and the public opinion OF the country az
they were found reflected In the daily press OF the
metropolis. Some Idea OF the value and extent
OF the undertaking may be formed when we
state that the series containing the records
OF the war, from the beginning to the present day.
VIII consist OF one hundred volumes. In order TO
MAKE work OF such gigantic proportions useful
as book OF reference the compiler Is preparing
index, which he calls an Encyclopaedia destined
to present q synopsis OF the "Reoordu with each
event, aocated under Its proper head. The matter
OF the work has been drawn principally from the
New iork press and such authentic publications. as
treated of the subject OF the war. Those at
all conversant with the labor Of historical
research among Old manuscripts and worm
eaten books, often bearing only remotely on
the subject on which information Is desired.
Will comprehend how important Mr.. TOwnsend's
'Record" Will prove TO future generations OF
writers, IN enabling them to Gull whatever informa-
ton they may desire on any important point of the
civil struggle with the facility that a banker con.
suits his accounts. 1t has been labor OF love with
the author, for otherwise he could never have toed
on for years as he has done without any en-
couragement except the knowledge Of the benefit
he was comforting on mankind. Such work
as this will engthen the lives OF the
great men of the future by rendering ua-
necessary tho immense waste OF time
which the want OF ready and reliable
information has hitherto imposed Oh historical
writer's. Some gentlemen, recognizing the import
ance OF this record, have agreed TO subscribe TO-
wards a fund OF Sl0,0e0 TO enable Mr.. Townsend TO
complete the work he has been so many years en-
gagged upon, and We hope that the list VIII soon be
Completely flied. IL Is In the interest OF history,
that great guide OF humanity, thai the labors SO
long and perseveringly carried on should be brought
TO successful termlnation Some Tears nave been
expressed that this work would find Its way TO the
British Museum, owing to the want OF interest
manifested in 1t by the public and even by the
learned societies OF America; but we can
not believe that there Is such lack or patriotism
IN our public bodies. The materials for American
history which we have here gathered together
are peculiarly the property OF the American people,
and on no should this useful national record
be allowed pass into the possession of foreigners.
! The following gentlemen have put their names
down for the sum OF 500 each on condition that the
full amount of $4,000 be subscribed towards
enabling MT Townsend to complete his very valu'
able contribution to the history of our country
Jackson S. Schultz John A. Dix, ]. J. Astor, Moses
| Taylor Wilson G. Hunt, John Taylor Johnston. Otis
D. swan, s. d. Chittenden, Marshall o. Roberts, r.
Townsend, Frederic De Peysler Theodore Roose.
welt, Adrian Isen, Samuel L. Mitchell. George Is.
Mcclellan, Peter Cooper ). +. b. Morse, $. p. Chase
w L. M
meyer.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS or
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION showing the
Institution for the year 1870. Washington: Gov
ernment Printing Office, 1871.
This document contans:--l. The programme OF
organization OF the Smithsonian Institution. 2. The
annual report OF the secretary, giving an account
OF the operations and condition OF the establish
ment for the year 1870, with the statistics Of collec
tions exchanges. meteorolOgy, &c. B. The report
OF the Executive Committee, exhibiting the imam
cial affairs OF the Institution including statement
of the Smithsonian fund-amounring, at the begin
! ming OF 1871 to S7l9477 Sl-the receipts and eX-
pendltures for the year 1870 and the estimates for
| 1871 4. The proceedings OF the Board OF Regents.
| s. A general appendix consisting principally OF
reports OF lectures transations from foreign jour
| nails or articles not generally accessible but OF
| interest to meteorologsts correspondents OF the
Institution teachers and Others interested IN the
promotion of knowledge. The general appendix Is an
| interesting and valuable miscellany, consisting or
| the following artcles:-Eulogy on Alexander Dallas
Bacne ny Professor Joseph Henry Secretary Of the
| Smithsonian institution; Lecture on Switzerland
| by Alexander Dallas Bache; On PLY sica! ODser-
vatory, by Professor Joseph Henry; The History OF
My Youth, an Autobiography OF Francois Arago;
Eulogy on Herschel, by NJ. AragO; Life and LaDors
or Henry Gustavus Magnus, from the Archives des
Sciences Physi ques ct Naturees, Geneva; Sketch
OF the Life OF Professor Chester Dewey by Martin
B. Anderson, Ill. d., President OF the University OF
Rochester; thoughts on the Nature and Origin of
| Force by william b. Taylor Induction and Deduc-
| ton, discourse by Justus, Baron Won Liebg, de-
llvered In the Royal Academy OF Sciences, Munich;
Address on the Relation OF Food to Work, and Its
| Bearing on Medical Practice by Rev. Samuel Haugn-
ton Dublin; hydrogen as Gas anu as Metal. Notes
| of Lecture delivered In tho Theatre OF the Royal
| Dublin Society by DR.. J. Emerson Reynolds; q
mastery Lecture on the Identification of the
| Artisan and Artist by Cardinal Wiscman The
| Diamond and Other Precious Stones; sixteen
1 Papers on Ethnology Four on Terrestrial Physics
and Seven on Meteoroogy. Manifes.ly the executive
officers of the Smithsonian Institution do not lose
sight Of its two objects, indicated by the Will Of Its
generous founder-"First 70 increase, and, second.
! to diffuse knowledge"
| LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.