The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-12
Recent Publications.

LIFE oE ANDREW HULL FoorE, Rear-Admral
US. Navy. By Prof. James NJ. Hoppin Of Yale
College. Harper g. Bros. From Lo-ing, Short &
Harmon.
An octave volume of 400 pages with sixteen
fine illustrations gives an admirable history of
one of Connectcuts greatest men, and next to
Farrsgut, the most distinguished naval com
mander of the late war. The frontispiece is
an excellent portrait of the gallant old hero,
showing a strong, expressive and firm face,
piercing black eyes, heavy dark eyebrows and
hair, and full gray beard trimmed close
ly.
He came of a good old Puritan stock, and
appears to have inherited large share of their
obstinacy. He entered West Point in 1892, at
the age of sixteen, but was the same year
transferred to the Navy where he diligently
worked bis way up, commanding with dis
tinction on the African coast where he very
successfully assisted in the suppression of the
slave trade.
Inl1856 he won great credit by storming the
barrier forts near Canton. But his crowDing
triumph was the organization of the iron-c'ad
fleet on the Mississippi, in the rebellion, and
the capture of Fort Henry, which was the
beginning of our triumphs over the COnfeter-
acy.
The story is forcibly tod, and the character
of the man well brought out. COpious extracts
from his correspondence are given. which show
in a most favorable light the energies of the
naval department during that great struggle.
The letters of Gideon Welles are especially
good and would read rather strangely in view
of the abounding caricatures of the ''old man
of the sea-" with which we were entertained
during the war, had we Iot been so fully set
right by his own trenchant articles in these lat
ter years.
The appointment of Admiral FOote to the
command of the fleet off Charleston after Du-
poDt's unsuccessful attempt, is an evidence OF
the high estimation in which his services were
held by the department, and his death in New
York, of wounds received at Fort Donelson, on
the eve of sailing for that destination, was a
most glorious termination to an honorable lie
spent in the service of his country.
The Admiral was somewhat given to
preaching on subjects mott str ietly in the
line of his duty, but, nevertheless, history will
inserbe his name high up on the roll of fame,
among those whom grateful country delights
to honor.
FREE LANCE, IN THE FIELD OF LIFE AND LET
TIERS. By William Cleaver wilkinson. Published
by Albert Mason, New York. For sale by LOring,
Short, & Harmon.
Some of the eight essays, which are COM
prised under the above title have appeared be-
fore, in print. The subjects are as follows:
George Eliot's novels; LowePs Poetry; Low
ellis Prose; Lowel's Cathedral Bryants
Poetry; Bryant's ''Tliad;" q. S. Christian
Commission, and Erasmus.
Mr.. Wilkinsons criticisms on George Eliots
novels, are comprehensive and appreciatiye,
and his analyses of them careful and discrimi-
nating He attacks Lowells prose and poetry
rather harshly, and is very finical on the sub.
ject of grammar and construction, forgetting
sometimes in his structures upon Lowell, that
he himself is in many places, open TO the same
criticism. Mr.. Bryant has written so little of
late that the essay on his poetry is quite timely
and beneficial for this younger generation, TO
whom Bryant has become somewhat mythical.
Bryants 1liad comes in for great need OF
praise, which seems to US rather startling af-
ter the almost fierce invectiyes of the author
against Lowelps writings. The remaining es-
says are less important, but equally interesting.
efforts. in showing us where our favorite au-
thors are at fault and in helping us to a greater
appreciation, where they deserve it,
woLFs WILD ANIMALS.
The finest gift book of the season is THE
Life and Habits of Wild Animals" illustrated
by Joseph Wolf and engraved by j. ". and
Edward Whymper, with descriptive letter press
by Daniel Giraud Elliott. Harper & Bros,
New York. From Loring Short & Harmon. Ii
is large quarto of 122 pages, on very heavy
tinted paper, with 20 full page eDgrayings.
cut and worked in the highest style of the
art. The text was evidently prepared to IL
lustrate the designs, which it does very grace
fully. Mr.. Wolf, the artist, is described in the
preface, by sMr. Whymper, to be native OF
Rhenish Prussia, but resident of London
since 1S47, and man OF Pare talents. by sci
entific .naturasts he is considered unrivalled
in the power of delineating specific Characters
of wild animals. The picture of the gorillas
and that of tie wild boar are very vigorous,
and weird enough to suggest Dore. His buck
breaking through the ice, when pursued by
wolves, is very fine, though not so spirited as