The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-10-17
THE ES s..
SATURDAY MORNING. OCr. IL. 1874
Recent Publications.

Recent Publications. %
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, FROM TIE Dis
covERY OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT. By
George Bancroft. Vol x Boston: Little, Brown
& Co. For sale by Loring, Short s. Harmon.
Forty years ago George Bancroft published
the first volume of his History Of the United
States. In this year 1874 he brings his great
and noble work to fitting conclusion with
the recognition of the independence of the
United States in November, 1882.
The tenth and closing volume, just pub
lshed, chronicles the events of the four years
from the fourth of May, ITS to the thir-
teenth of November, 1882. His position as
United States Minister at Berlin has given Mr..
Bancroft access to the archives of several for
eign nations aud to many important docu-
ments and much valuable correspondence. By
the aid of these he has been enabled to throw
light upon some hitherto obscure phases of
the War of Independence, such as the alli-
ance with France, the attitude of Germany
and Russia, and the negotiations for peace. s
In this last volume the style of Mr.. Ban
croft has undergone no perceptible change.
He exhibits the same genius for details, the
same patient research, the same power Of rap
id and mastery generalization, the same ten
dency to philosophical disquisition and florid
rhetoric which marked his earlier volumes.
There are fewer statements and inferences
which are calculated to provoke criticism, and
more discoveries in the field of original inyes-
tigation. The work, as whole, does not call
for review now, but the concluding volume
can be commended as worthy ending to the
industrious and loving labors Of a lifetime.
THE GENESIS OF NEW ENGLAND CHURCHES. By
Leonard Bacon. Harper & Brothers. publishers.
For sale by Loring, Short s. Harmon.
This is book written to defend by the his
torical method the polity of ofcongregationalism.
DIR. Bacon, whose lucid and vigorous style
needs no description, has here massed and
presented to the public much valuable infor-
nation not generally accessible concerning
the planting of churches in the New Eng
land colonies, and, by way of introduction re-
views in succinct manner the process by
which the original Christian church was es-
tablished. Incidentally he emphasizes dis
tinction OF great importance and which is too
much overlooked between Puritans and Pill
grims, Nationalist and Separatist,- Puri-
tans believing that a Christian nation is a
Christian church, and the Pilgrims contend.
ing for separation between church and
state. In one particular DR.. Bacon's method
is open to serious objections. He says, ''The
words, written or spoken, of the actors in the
story are often introduced for the sake of
bringing the reader into closer connection
with the men whom describe and with their
times-but, in SO doing, l have not always
deemed it necessary TO transcribe with scrup-
ulous exactness every pleonasm Or tautology,
and every careless mislocation of words in the
construction of sentence That is to say,
he gives the speech of those ancient worthless
translated into Baconian elegance, in order
that the reader may know them better! The
style is the man, and the style, the ipsissima
uerba OF these men should have been pre-
served.
The POLITICAL PERSONAL, AND PRopaRry
RIGHTS OF A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES
By Theophilus Parsons, LII. D. Hartford: S. s..
Scranton s. Co. For sale by subscription.
The distinctness of statement and admira-
BILE method which characterize Professor Par
sons books make them useful to the unpro-
fessional as well as the professional man.
His statements of principles are always di-
rect and clear, and he combines rigorous ac-
curacy in technical detail with that clearness
OF style and comprehensive grouping which
go to the making up of a popular manual.
The book under consideration is divided
into three parts. The first treats of consti-
tutions, state and national, and of constitu-
tional powers; the second of personal rights,
of the writ of habeas corpus, of freedom of
speech and writing, of suffrage, and of the
domestic relation; the third of property
rights and business relations. In this third
part wills, contracts, rules of partnership,
deeds, bonds, agency, insurance, transporta-
ton aud other matters are discussed, and
forms of legal documents to be used in the
transactions of business are given, In an
appendix we have treatise on the rules of
organization and procedure in deliberative
assemblies, and a glossary of the law terms
in common use.
The book promises to meet general need,
containing, as it does, valuable and well di-
gested information concerning the funda-
mental principles of our government, and our
own personal, political and property rights.
THEORY OF FINE ART. By Joseph Torrey. New
York: Scribner, Armstrong 8 Co. For sale by
LoriDg, Short s. Harmon.
Natural taste and inclination, a residence
abroad, and thorough education and broad
culture in art have eminently fitted Professor
Torrey for the work be has undertaken. The
volume under review consists of a series of
lectures delivered by him while professor in
the university of Vermont. That these lee
lures form an admirable treatise upon the
theory of fine art will be readily acknowledged
by the critical reader. The subject is treated
both historically and philosophically, and the
authors own observations in European gall
leries are made good use Of. The idealty of
art, the culture of the imagination, the rela-
ton Of art to nature, the standard of tsste,
sculpture, painting, music, poetry, and archi-
lecture are dwelt upon, and freshly and lov-
ingly treated. The style is clear, concise and
picturesque, and the matter is admirably ar
ranged. We gladly welcome this effort, so
worthy of success and eminently adapted to
command it, to stimulate art study in this
country. The book deserves very general pe-
rusal.
The LILY AND THE CROSS, A TALE OF ACADIA
By James de Mile. Boston: Lee & Shepard. For
sale by Francis Coffin.
A book from Professor de Mile is always
welcome, if only on account of its delightful
extravaganza. The present venture has no
such deep, and it may be said improbable,
mystery as was found in the pages of the
"Cryptogram," but it is bright and fresh and
vastly entertaining, The story is story of a
schooner which bears the odd title of "Rev.
Amos Adams, ,"but which is commonly known
by the shorter name of "The Parson." Its
captain, 'Zion Awake Jordan,''i one of those
absurdly amusing characters which De Mile
loves to paint. There is a pretty story of love
and adventure connected with the cruise oil
the "Parson" to the romantic land of Acadia.