The New York herald., 1874-10-24

two srest armies should 50 long lie confronting,
each other with nothing more important to re-
cord than tne smoke which cured over forest,
above their camp kettles or along the track ol
their supply trains on one side. and nothing more
snrripg on the other than the ascents Of a.
balloon apretenderD for the service OF the army
ana the evening goose-step OF the regmentag
bands. presents 4 grotesqus picture OF war, and
justes she well-bred irony Of the prfnceD writer
He has lively sense OF humor, and aitnougn no
never allows IL to trespass the Limits OF very
strict courtesy II spreads quiet and almost I'M
perceptble coloring several places IN his mar
rative. Perhaps the best specimen appears In MIS-
description Of tho crowd Of expectant siRhtseers
who followed In the train OF McD0weis army To
witness the discontinue OF the rebels AZ But
Run. He gives very amusing picture In few
brief touches OF the flight OF three congressman,
street orators. photographers journalists ant
men OF all professions and parties, when the news
oil defeat came to the rear and general panic sec
IN. Other specimens OF the Compte de Paris deli
cate and gentiemany numor may be seen In ms
portrait OF Wilson'S Zouaves at the time OF their eu<
hstment: III his notice OF the brilliant zouavd
uniforms which made successful impressions
In our streets in the spring OF 1851. although they
often hung so ungracefully on the bony frames
and long limbs OF the Americans, and in his hu<
morous description OF Captain wilkes. OF Trent
fame consecrating his leisure amid the icebergS
OF the southern hemisphere to . profound study Of
International maritime law, and turning his
knowledge OF that inextricaDle labyrinth 10 ac-
count by the spirited biunder which brought his
country to the brink OF foreign war. But thd
heart OF the Compte de Paris responds as quickly
and much more freely to the touching ana tnd
pathetic, as wnen. for example, IN speak
ing OF the effect or the green nag
of Erin Iri
says:-"It Is necessary to have passed
through the trials OF exile to comprehend the
magical influence exercised on the heart OF man
by every symbol OF his distant native country and
among them the most expressive OF all, its nag"
THIS has evident color OF personal feeling, al.
though the language is general rnat writer wnu
had never tasted the bitterness OF exile might
have used 1T.
A characteristic excellence OF these volumes Is
the tone OF hDeralty which pervades them, the
readiness OF the author to recognize the full value
Of our free institutions and his constant attempt
at strict impartiality. He does full justice to
General Mcdowell, who was so unfortunate In the
nrst considerable battle OF the war; creditng him
/ with great military knowledge and accomplish
ments, and showing tnat it the fault OF others
that the batCle OF Bull Run was not federal
victory. The Compte de Paris knows that the
fighting the federal side was vigorous ana
hausted with fatigue, and that there was ond
point In the engagement when the success Of
| General Mcdowell seemed almost certain. 1nis
history IS not yet far enough advanced to declare
the authors estimate OF General McCellan's skill
in handling large armies on the hed OF battle; bus
in the differences between Mcclellan aud thd
President as 10 the routes for approaching the
| Confederate capital ne indorses the view OF Mc-
Clelan and thinks that the conduct ana orders Of
| the President were strange and unexampled.
This win probably be the ultimate verdict
Of impartial history, but the passions then
generated are so recent and the memory OF Llr-
| coin is surrounded with such halo OF veneraIion
on other grounds that the Compte de Paris incura
some dancer OF hostile American criticism. But
he writes for Europe and Tor posterlty and In the
spirit OF an inde pendent and enlightened Judge OF
events. 1t is possible that his constant sssocia-
ton with Mcclellan may have produced an un-
conscious olas; out until he publishes his account
OF the campaign against Richmond It would be
| premature to Judge. But the volumes before na
do not overprase Mcclellan, and In short pass
sage which looks forward to the close OF the con-
test, the only merit aimed for him is that of ski-
July organizing the Army OF the Potomac. We trans
late the passage :--"Hs laborlous character, mig
precise, methodica mind, and his extensive mills
| tary knowledge, peculiarly fitted him for the un-
grateful and dif1lcut task which fell TO him. He
| was the creaCOI OI tue ARMY OF the P0tpmac-oC
that army placed at the most vulnerable point
which, although paralyzed Dy the necessity OF COW
ering the capital, served the principal pivot Oh
military operations; which, often unfortunate,
was never discouraged and had It's recompense a
the end or the struggle in attaining the honor Of
| striking the decisive blow"
IL Is impossible brief newspaper notice t0
convey adequate idea Of the great variety OF
interesting matter contained In these volumes.
| They give every important point in our military
history from period prior TO the American Revo-
! luton; they describe the organization OF our
armies, modes OF equipment, transportation.
weapons, drill supplies; they discuss the changes
in military operations forced by the condguranon
and wooded character OF the country and its VAST
extent; they explain the differing character ana
composition OF the Northern and Southern popua-
ti0n and the advantages and disadvantages which
thence resulted in the prosecution or the war in
short, they aim to enable the reader judge Of tho
skill with which the game was played Dy putting
MIN in q position to estimate the value and en-
cheney OF the instruments. All the accompani-
meats OF the war and its whole physiognomy are
presented in lively coiors with characteristic de-.
tails, such, Tor example the army post ONCE the
letter writing OF the federal soldiers the activity
OF the newspaper correspondents. as well as tho,
strictly military operations. The naval movements,
also receive full notice, the effect OF iron.cla
ships and monitors is discussed with great inteli--
gence. These volumes are model OF perspicuous,
tasteful narrative, and they dlf1er from any pre-
vous history OF the war by the wide range or their
topics. -
THE LATE JUDGE CURTIS
Eulogium ON His Character by Attorney
General Williams in tho Supreme
Court and Chief Justice Wafte's Re-
ply.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2s, 1874.
In the Supreme Court to-day Attorney General