The New York herald., 1874-07-23

.H0URS IN A LIBRARY"
MI. stephens Is TOO confirmed sceptic ana 100
much given TO a somewhat Affected cynicsm TO
be pleasant writer on abstract or on social
topics, but he is an admirable critlc-one who
despite the temptations which beset the htterdte~
by vocation, really reads honestly studies his sub
ject, and has thoughts as well as words upon IT,
The papers on Pope, Deioe, Richardson, Haw-
thorne Scott, &c were originally contributed TO
the CorgshW Magazine, and they now form very
readable volume, conversational in tone, little
whimsical sometimes, but not unpleasantly so.
Mr. stephens is not Of The force OF Sante -Beuve,
has he the fantastic brillancy OF Paul de SAINT
Victor: but in the combined incisveness and IN
tiD.ite OF hts style there is more OF French than
English habit and training Apropos OF this sub
ject the lifelong abors Of Jules Janin, the "Prince
OF Critics." suggest themselves. Never was there
a more untranslatable writer en- groS than he,
because form and the spirit OF his writings are
equally and exclusively French; but there might
be-we hope Will be-a judcious selec-
ton made from his iorty years. long con-
tributions TO the Deodts. They would form q
most useful basis for critical appreciation OF
French literature and drama during period
history in those two sections, will be here
after difficult to trace, owing to the immense iact
rlous overaying OF it and its frequent observation
by the dust OF political and social turmoil 1t is
Janns style continued throughout his literary
career. 1t was never affected by fashion, dis
turbed by haste, oeteriorated by the decline OF
public taste, or infested by slang OF any class or
cahbre The illnesses OF du chic or du cttea had not
the smallest effect upon him. he would as soon
have adapted himself to the argdt Of the haieS
as to that OF the cotltsses or the cerces,
and so the best aud purest French was
always to be found in the 1euiietons or
the premier JeatuetOaiste de la Ffance-as refined
and correct amid the ignorance and coarseness OF
modern blatant French journalism as 1t was ro-
bust, manly and rational amid the vaporing and
obscurity OF the ecole du romantisle which had so
strong a hold upon the public taste when Jules
Janin began to write.
The promised volume of poor
AIMEE DEsCLEE's LETTERS,
edited by Alexander Dumas-is 1t not time to
leave or adding JUS ?-has not yet appeared. Her
faithful servant, Catherlnc-she gives no other
name-who never left her from her childhood to
her grave, and for whose benefit the book will be
sold, has been decreed the prir mOnthyon.
BOOKS OF TRAVEL
Books OF travel are, as usual numerous. This
popular KIND of literature mas received fresh i'm
petus from the Ashantee war. The special CORE
spondents are republishing their letters in book
form in very alluring and we'll devised bindings,
and with considerable additions to the original
text. In most cases OF the kind the proportion OF
personal gossip TO actual history is so great as 10
render the records OF experiences with an army
in the field o! little value in q historical point OF
view; but in the case OF the campaign on
the Gold Coast the special correspondents
are not to blame for writing good deal about !
themselves for there was evidently most weari-
some monotony in detail. combined with general
uncertainty and woful lack OF that ''brilliancy" !
about the affair which furnishes forth the cor
respondents feast. Mr.. Frederick Boyle, In his
"Fanteeland to Coomassie" succeeds in arousing |
interest by dint Of his minuteness. He is charm
ing writer all sorts OF subjects. from the snakes
in the Pyramids TO the plenishing OF a boer's
wagon, and the brand-newesJ theory Of the crys-
talllzation OF South African diamonds. He has
made acquaintance with many eligible savages
and introduced them to US, and to HIN Borneo
botanical is as familiar as Kew Gardens to the
Cockney. He stands the test OF Ashantee bravely,
and turns what everybody is tired OF into treat.
Onlv we cannot help suspectin2 that Sir Garnet
WOsely, VINO is notortOusly not partial TO special
correspondents, would be glad to expend some Of
that very generous grant made to him Dy a
grateful Parliament under the auspices OF a
Still more grateful because personally obliged gov.
ernment, in buying up all the literature OF the
Ashantee war en- masSe. 1t would tax the powers
OF Babbage to reckon the number OF times Sir
of praise-in Mr.. Boyle's book; and as the General
was the life and soul of the expedition. SO he is
ubiquitous and omnpotent IN the record OF 1t. And
there Is Captain Buffers book to come and per-
aaps Captain Sir John Glovers but let us hope he
does not write books. Mr.. Bove possesses the gift
OF the picturesque in very high degree, and where
the other writers the last black war failed to
see, or at least failed to make their readers per-
ceive anything but harsh and squalid details OF de-
lay. perplexity, discomfort and danger Of defeat
by the sure process Of exhaustion, he shows them
q succession OF pictures, some terrible, some
bizarre, but all vivid, characteristic and amusing.
Mr.. Hubert birmingham, of the diplomatic SER
vice. gives the public the benefit Of his experiences
Of travel IN Greece and Turkey during two years
in remarkably pleasant book, which he hopes
may "become an extra companion to travellers in
those countries. Murray's Guide Books being
their companions in ordinary" This hope VIII
certainly not be fulfilled unless the book be pub
lshed for that purpose in a portable size. The
present edition Is huge, handsome and heavy, an
article De lure not de r0yage. The very first SEN
tence tracts, for 1t records how the traveller
reached little station, (which was no other than
Brindisi-the old Roman Brundisiom-where Virgil
died. and no wonder" The book is very amusing.
indeed, and full Of Information 1t is plain that
Mr.. birmingham read up his Greece and Turkey
after very thorough fashion. and he combines
the results much to the satisfaction of the reader,
whom he instructs but does not bore
"South by West; or. Winter in the Rocky Noun
tains and Spring IN Mexleo," is the too elaborate
title OF book OF travel written by young lady
who enjoys the advantage OF having Canon Kings.
icy for an editor. 1t is to be hoped that the au-
thoress--an intelligent observer apparently,
though she would have been much better out o.
many OF the scenes which she descrIbes-appre-
cates the privilege as highly as her patron does.
But especially 1t is to be hoped that the American
nation viii be duly penetrated with gratitude Tor
the condescension whicn leads the Canon to say
that he ''cannot help hoping that THIS book edited
with preface by nimsel0 may further that better
understanding between American and British citi-
which Is growing so fast Just now.n