The New York herald., 1874-11-01
General Review Of Late Eng
lish Works.
PROGRESS OF SCIENCE.
Tennyson - Palmerston - Crema-
tion-Art.
BRASSEY'S LIFE AND LABORS.

LONDON. Oct. 20, 1874.
Science Ia having its innings Just now In the
double form OF congresses and books While
fhere is general complaint or tue dearth OF other
iterature-novels only are really plentifu-all the
''ologiesr being ventilated In talk and print
fully as all the sismsn A scientific congress dis
cusses Oriental lore In London. while reli-
gous congress tries to persuade Christians to hate
one another little less bitterly at Bonn. We have
from the pen OF Mr.. William ChappeII, F. S. A.,
member OF the nrm OF musical instrument makers,
o volume on the "Hlst0ry OF Music" winch ought
10 popularize abstruse subject, while 1t Is quite
deep ana exact enough to satisfy students OF the
science and artists II has excited q good deal
OF discussion among the learned In such matters
and especially archaeological because Mr.. Chappell
maintains the derivation Of Greek music, to which
he dev0tes most Interesting section OF the work,
from Egypt. brisk polemic on this point Is at
present being carried on by some Lof the very
learned journals. but 1t has little general interest
whereas the book which has given rise to 1t has
much.
The latest publication by the Hakuyt Society is
Of unusual interest. 1t Is q translation by Rich
ard Henry Major of the much disputed Zeno mar
rative. under the title OF "voyages Of the vcne-
tian Brothers, Nic0lo and Antonio Zeno, to the
Northern Seas in the Fourteenth Century, The
narrative was published In 1858, at time when no
map including the outline OF Greenland existed.
SO lar az we know, though there is an improved
assertion by the Danish photographer, Admiral
Zahartmann (who denies the authenticity of the
Zeno narrative), that an old manuscript map,
which sets down the Greenland names in conform
ity with the Venetian geographer, is among the
treasures OF the University Library or Copen.
hagen; and the Admiral argues that Nicolo Zen0
the younger consulted this map and fabricated
the narrative and map which he asserted to be
derived from manuscripts and drawings BY his
distinguished ancestor OF the fourteenth century.
The preface to Mr.. hajor's admirable translation
contains very interesting account of the re.
searches which have been made by the officials OF
the Copenhagen University Library, results which
were procured BY tie jealous exertions OF Mr..
Major-who Is keeper OF the Department OF Maps
at the British Museum-with q view to discover
ing the map, or, at least, tracing its existence.
In both they have utterly failed and thus the chief
element In Admiral Zahartmann's charge Is
exploded; but that successful result Is
not held to dispose entirely Of the question
OF the genulneness OF the narrative. MIR.
Major holds It to be true, and he defends his
faith with ingenuity and learning which might
win adherance to much weaker cause. The
translation, although characteristicaly quaint is
exceedingly clear and easy to follow; and the ap-
pendix Is very interesting, especially when read
in connection with recent works on the Shetland
Islands. Mr.. Majors din1cult and important un-
dertaKing has had an indirectly interesting result
in having ELECTED from NJ. Gabriel Gravier the
well known French geographer and archaologst,
two tre atises on the Independent tracts chiefly
Norman and Breton, OF Western ocean discovery,
before Columbus. n. GraSier wrote his work IN
consequence OF the Inquiries addressed to him by
Mr.. Major while the latter was executing his
translation Of the Zeno narrative.
The most interesting announcement among
forthcoming books OF travel is that of Mr.. Ash
ton Dike's caucasian ana Central Asian Ex-
periences," an instalment appears in the Fort
nightly Rev,eo for OCTOBER. Mr.. Dixie has pur-
chased that able and influential periodical. The
proceedings OF the Congress Of Orlentallsts have
given an impulse to pathological literature which
VIII probably lead to the publication OF many valu.
able works. The printing OF the ancient tnscrlp-
uons il going on rapidly, and by Christmas the
results OF ali the researches which have been made
in Eastern countries, far the records Of their
architectural monuments are concerned, viii be
placed In q cheap and convenient form within
reach Of the public
The Rev. Fl. r. Hawels whose vague ana rather
blatant theology has been much too fashionable of
lase, has in the press volume which he calls
Coronation Prelude" Strange to say, this oddly
named production Is q touching love story in the
course OF which the conversations take charnel.
house turn, and the hero tells things marvellous
and dreadful concerning the state OF English
churchyards, exceedingly impressive and urgent
on the subject Of over-cro wding, mercless to the
abuses OF management and absolutely plain speak.
ing Throughout The volume contains some
touches Of horror which 60 beyond the limits OF
any permitted sensationalism, and, If 1t does not
produce disgust strong enough to condemn 1t to
ostracsm and oblivion, VIII support Sir Henry
Thompson's argument In favor OF cremation with
quite unpleasant force. Apropos OF this subject,
an indlscreet friend OF the late Lady AmDerley,
Earl Russell's daughter-in.law, has written
memoir OF ner ladyship, which has given no little
scandal to the unadvanced female community.
This friend is Mrs. Rose Mary Crayshay who some
time ago recommended the putting to death
oil sickly and defOrmed infants luna;ics and
old people, and who also strenuously advocated
the right or humanity to euthanasla as q substl.
tute for the ordinary methods by which this
mortal coli is shuflied OF She exalts the virtues
and talents OF Lady Amberley to the highest de.
gree, and then tells how she was buried in the
shrubbery OF her country house at the foot OF some
larch trees, in the immediate vicinity OF her favor
ite dog, in rough coffin, made by q village car.
penter, and that the only incompleteness about
the performance was that she could not pe ere.
mated and her ashes scattered over the flower
beds to increase the beauty and fragrance OF the
flowers she loved so well. We may come to this
sort Of thing in time. Things look as II we should
come to II within snort time; but at present it
Is voted rather startling.
TENNYsoN's WORK.
The Poet Laureate is now hard at work on his
"ldyl OF the Time of Boadicea." He is, however,
SO fastidious that we may nave to wait several
months yet for its appearance. He paid brief
visit to his former home at Freshwater last week
ana was looking very wen, but, as usual when he
is working completely dastran and unconscious OF
surrounding things. Contrary to the general ex-
pectation, Mr.. Browning's new dramatic poem has
not yet been announced.