The New York herald., 1874-09-28

coveries has been shown In the efforts of the
Austrian government to solve the problem Of the
North Sea. Harper 4 Brothers send US hand
some volume OF "Arctic Experiences. - being the
narrative OF Captain George Z. Tyson's wonder
iul drift on the ice noe" history OF the Polaris
expedition. the cruise OF the Tigress and rescue
OF the Polaris survivors. This book Is edited by E.
vale Blake. OF Brooklyn. The typography Is un-
usually good, and there are about eighty honest
and attractive illustrations and maps, including
portraits OF famous men who have dared the bleak
splendor OF the icy North IN their yearning for
fame. There Is also an exceedingly valuable
chapter of Arctic chronology, giving in concise
form the dates OF discovery and investigation from
S22, when Gunnib0rn. the N0rseman. sailed from
Iceland to Greenland, down to 1873, when the
Tigress arrived in Brooklyn. For six hundred
years the Norsemen were the only navga-
tors who seemed to penetrate the Northern
American seas. and 1t Is not until 1496, lew
years alter Columbus discovered America. that We
mud the Cabots passing the Arctic circle. II Is odd
to note that IN 1778, when we should have sup
posed all England to be terrified at the idea Of the
Declaration OF Independence anu Washington IN
arms against the crown, there was still calmness
enough in British counsels Tor parliament to 0ner
q reward OF 100000 for the discovery OF any
through passage TO the North Pacific, and $25, 900
to any one getting within one degree west OF the
magnetic pole. Captain Tyson impresses us, from
the glimpses we. have Of him in this book as man
OF courage. drmness, good sense and wide knowl
edge OF those mysterious northern lands
The Harpers send US also a book that should be
OF the books OF the season. called "The NImrod or
tue Sea, or the American whaleman," by william M.
Davis" 1t is small compact volume with many
illustrations. Mr.. Davis Is one OF those hardy
Long Island mariners who sailed Tor the whale in
% hpt no w a w q n
Amer can industry. and Nantuck ct sat proud in
ner Island home as mistress OF the OIL world. But
Nantucket has fallen into shufiing premature old
age, her sons and daughters are In other States,
silence and decay hover over her rOtting wharves.
The glory OF the whale fishing is over and nothing
remains but for william NJ. Davis anu the other
mariners to tell the yarns OF the past. There is
much curious Information in this book about the
rise and progress OF whale fishing from $780, when
the boats went from the beach to catch whales, un
til 1851 when the whaling eet OF the United States
numbered go vessels England and France together
having only seven. The war, however, gave this
commerce fatal blow-one Confederate ship
built with English money, the Shenandoah, burn
ing thirty -iour whaling ships after the war was at
an end. Mr.. Davis mas given US q mos interest
ing ana useful book one that boys Will read with
staring eyes through the long winter nights and
think about long after going to bed
" hile In these northern regions OF adventure we
must not overlook Major Buffers "Wd North
Land" the story OF journey IN winter with dogs
across Northern North America. Tuis volume Is
handsomely printed by Porter & Coates, OF Phlla-
delphia, ana contains Illustrations and q route
map. Major Butler is known to US from his
volume, the "Great Lone Land" describing the
Red River country. His portrait IN the lroutis
piece of this work shows an honest, kindly, bull.
hold onII fh htpH
once the jaws were cllnched. The author seems
to travel from the thirst for adventure II cannot
rest from travel" he tells on his title page. 81
Will drink lie TO the lees" II am become
q name ior always roaming with hungry heart"
The Major started from Fort Garry, in Manitoba,
pushed north as far as Athabasca Lake, thence
along the Peace River to GermansOn and south to
New Westminster, on VancOuver's Island.
His only companion was an Esquimaux
dog, and part OF this journey
was tran OF $50 miles through the dense
forests OF New Caledonia. The dog was
named Certvola. and he quite wins US as
we accompany him. We should take him from
his picture to be nonest intelligent dog,
"clean-imbed, strong-woolled. deep-chested,"
with .'the largest share OF tail" never fighting
"pitched BATTLE" but holding on to his supremacy,
with an immense skill for catching two pieces OF
meat at once. His special aversion was brass
band, his great delight butchers stau. The
Major thinks so mucn Of Ceri-V0a that he writes
poems to him. and Tor our own part we should ike
TO see him member OF Congress or the Governor
OF some Southern State. He would insure US an
honest administration. The Majors adventures
are OF a purely personal character, written with
freedom and without preence He adds q valu-
able chapter as to the best route TOR q Canadian
Pacific railway The conclusion to which he ar
rives the true passage to the Pacific lies lar
north OF the Frazer River, and thar the true pas
sage to the Rocky Noun tains lies lar north OF the
Tete Jeune Pass.
We nave received from Sampson, Low Co., OF
London a work. by Thomas J. Hutchinson. called
1.-TWO Years in Peru with an Explanation OF Its
Antiquities" This work Is In two large volumes,
and contains q map, by Daniel Bonera, with nu-
merous illustrations. Mr.. Hutchinson was for some
time British Consul at Callao and his work is Q
valuable contribution to our knowledge OF those
interesting countries Weed, Parsons d Co., OF
Albany, have printed . hancsome guide book to
the Adirondacks, from the pen Of s. K Stoddard,
! full OF information to all who care to visit this
! wild country. TuInbul Brothers, OF Baltimore.
have published 'The Chronicles OF Baltimore" q
complete history Of the town and city from the
earliest period to the present time. The au-
thor OF the work Is Colonel J. Thomas
ScharL q member OF the Maryland HIS
torical Society. The book Is full OF Information,
comprehensive, minute in detail, mainly an ex-
haustive compilation OF facts Interesting to cti-
zens OF Baltimore and all who are concerned In
the growth OF that splendid city. These local his
tories are OF the utmost value In enabling us to
sum up the aggregate OF our national power and
advancement, and we cannot give 100 high praise
to the patient, modest historians Ike colonel
scharL Thompson Westcott OF Philadelphia, and
others who have achieved those eats OF investiga-
ton. city like Baltimore Ia something more
than city. IL is tho ripe growth aad expression
| of large and, in our American economy, most
interesting section OF the Unlon and these chroni-
cles will enable Us to comprehend moro clearly iss
past and enter more largely into its hopes for the
| future.
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