The New York herald., 1873-12-08
Err A T u R E .
LATEST ENGLISH BOOKS.
Review OF the Productions-London
Literary Gossip-N the Great
Minds Are Thinking Of-The Cuba
Question Among the Publishers.

LONDON, NOV. 10, 1873.
Mr.. John Stuart Mill's autobiography is the most
imp p1rtant among recently published works; but IL
cannot be said to be in any sense satisfactory. IT
is very ill-edited-indeed 1t has supplied the PaU
Man Gazette with material for the exercise OF those
functions OF reproof and instruction which II Is
never unwilling to administer, by Its short
comings in this respect. IL contains many
blunders IN sense as well as in form, and the in
terspersed phrases In the German tongue are
"misused damnably.n 1t is OF unattractive ex-
terror, horribly suggestive OF law reports, printed
In paragraphs; in short, a book TO choke or any
public less hungry than ours to read what the
most impressive OF the great thinkers OF the time
has said about himself, and the mental and
physical processes and influences to which
he was subjected. The upshot OF 1t ALL
when curiosity has peen satisfied, Is, that
Jonn stuart Mill was a very unhappy man;
fortunate in not knowing how unhnppy
he was because he never had any standard
OF sound and wholesome human happiness by
which to measure his own stunted experiences
and eccentric theories. The picture OF his child
hood Is at once painful and ludicrous, and the
portrait of his ather an impersonation OF cold in
human nthilism, is revolving to minds which refuse
TO believe that man was made for philosophy
Alone The story OF the mental processes which
have produced wide and deep an effect upon
the age is most interesting, but also painful,
because always bearing traces OF the unnatural
repression OF the thinkers childhood and youth,
and falling into the opposite extreme OF wild ex-
aggeratiOn OF the one only strong feeling to which
he was allowed a full and perfectly unquestioned
sway. This feeling his extraordinary admira-
tion Of his wlfes genius-admration to which he
gives expression in terms OF almost incredible
hyperbole Now, Mrs. John Stuart Mil was doubt
less clever woman; there Is proof OF that
in the way she managed her first husband, as
narrated by her second, and in the fact tnat Mill
says he seriously believed her to be the intellectual
superior OF all creation, including himself and
Thomas Carylel confession OF faith which only
very clever woman could extract from husband
and philosopher.
But there Is concensus Of testimony in cor
rOboration OF this wonderful dctum, and people
are inclined to believe that, beyond the above
mentioned feats and the writing OF not remark
able pamphlet ON "Womans Rights,'' the phoenix
was case OF fetch. The chapter of Mills autobi-
ography which is devoted TO his short parliament
airy career is Unexpectedly meagre, and by its
clear Of tone creates the impression that
he took but slight interest in practical politics and
really possessed the philosophical attribute i'm
partalty. 1t is IN word, twilight book all
through.
THE GEoGRAPHERs AT WORK.
The public pulse is being felt again by the
geographers in the interests OF Arctic exploration.
SIR Robert McClure's death has revived the Old
controversy concerning the discovery OF the North
west Passage, and the McClureites and the Frank
linites are making statements and counter-state-
ments on behalf of their respective clients, while
the publication OF two interesting Arctic books,
and the recent incident OF the visit OF the rescued
crew OF the Polaris aids in arousing public atten
tion to the demands OF sailors and sapdns
that England should no longer stand aloof
from Arctic enterprise. Last year an attempt
was made to induce the government to de-
spatch an expedition by the Smith Sound
route, but Messrs. Lowe and Goschen would
not hear OF it. Was not the Challenger
raking up the secrets OF the deep at
very great expense? and was the British
ratepayer likely to respond to the further
demands Of experimental service, even when
backed up by patriotism So the deputation, a
very numerous and influential one, withdrew dis
gusted. The incidents OF the voyage or the Poaris,
the respect and admiration which American enter
prise and the individual daring and devotion
which are exhibited in the expedition OF Captain
Hall, whose death is deeply lamented here, have
all cumulated to stir up fresh interest, to arouse
a spirit OF emulation and to set the Arctic people
looking out for spring with eagerness additionally
keen by reason Of the motive that they hope the
government will be induced to sanction an eXpedi-
tion next year. In this sense both the new Arctic
books are written; by Captain Wells,
who urges to Spitzbergen, the other by Mr..
Clements Markham, Secretary OF the Royal Geo
graphical Society," who is enthusiastic over the
Smiths Sound route. Captain Wells' book en-
titled, "The Gateway to the Polynia, or Siberian
open Sea- contains charming account OF voy-
age to Spitzbergen with full details of the animal
ifa in hal n1ariu II n world
Markham's is practically history OF Arctic expo.
ration from its earliest times including very inter-
estng but for the most part melancholy records OF
the brave discoverers, followed by the wonders
told OF the Poaris, and by well argued plea from
that history OF which the second part is looked for
here with much interest, in lavor OF our once more
entering the lists OF national competition for the
prize at the top Of the Pole.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Another kind OF explanation in another part or
the world has produced a wolk which is giving the
anthropoogists and ethnologists a great deal to
talk Of to say nothing OF the believers the quasi
science OF phrenoogy. 1t is called "A Phrenologst
Among the Todas and is the result OF a close
and prolonged study OF primitive tribe IN South
India. 1t is most curious book, and conveys
notion OF organization and order much higher than
we are accustomed to associate with any prn-
itive tribes, and at the same time OF life, within
snort distance of British settlement widely apart
from that OF any of the natives OF India, who are
included among our subjects, as that which was
lived in the buried cities OF Mexico in the days
when they had a history.
TRANSLATION.
A book OF a very different kind OF interest is Mr..
Van Laun's translation OF Taine's History OF Eng
lish Literature.n This is of the very few trans
lations which one reads with perfect satisfaction,
in which the essence is thoroughly preserved aud
permeaes the FORM IL is not likely to be popular
book, because OF the inevitably technical arrange
ments to which even NJ. Taine, who was in many
respects SO original thinker. subjects his work.
1t takes some resolution to break through the
breastworks which are thus set around the citadel
OF thought, but, for any one who stuoies French
analy tical literature, 1t is worth the trouble.
MYSTERY.
There has been good deal OF talk preliminary