The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-25
LITERATURE IN ENGLAND.

LITERATURE IN ENGLAND.
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LONDON, Jan. O., 1875.
The publishers are very active; their lists are
very long, but there are not any books Of very
striking or remarkable interest in the higher
orders OF literature. We cannot expect to have
the season which opened with the "Grevills Me-
moirs'' and Lord Dlll!ns's "Palmerston and Peel''
kept up with equal brlllancy and interest, and we
must accept quantity rather tnan quality, espe-
cially IN the literature whether serious or light,
especially adapted to the 'festive time" which has
passed this year under climatic conditions Of the
most detestable kind. First and foremost we fnd
the first volume OIL Mr.. Theodore Kartin's
"LIrE OF THE PRINCE cUSsoRr;''
but shall merely say that mere the book IL
thought worthy Of MIR. Martins we'll known schol.
arly ability and that 1t has been produced with
out any tendency to sycophancy which a weaker
or less capable man might have displayed. 1t is
somewhat strange to ind Theodore Martin. the
brightest and wittiest of the two colsaoorateurs
who gave to the world the charmingly humorous
Ballads OF Don Gautier" becoming oourr
bio0rapher in his later days; but 1t shows that Mr..
Martin Is as versatile as he Is choice.
SIR SAMUEL BAKER
in "lsmailta" has produced the most popular
travel book Of the dav, though there Is, no DOUBT,
general feeling Of dissatisfaction and dlsappoint
ment at the comparative failure OF the expedition,
which was hailed with so much enthusiasm when
1t as undertaken. The fact remains, however,
that a government, under the authority Of the
Khedive, has been established a. GOndokOro, now
called 1smaa, TO the temporary expulsion Of the
routes OF African travel, and that the lines nave
been laid by Sir Baker In which "Chinese Gordon"
must WELD system OF honest trade and clviiza-
tim IL ia Or n in hat ha
is to be assisted in this by Aboo Saved, most
pestient villa n. and
NOTORIOUS SLAVE HUNTER,
who was the deadly and efreCtua enemy Of the
Baker expedition, and whom 1t Is much to be
regretted Sir Samuel permitted to live. AS Bakers
nrman included the power OF capital punishment
1t is pity he didn't exercise 1t on this rufian.
Aboo- saved is now actually holding an impor-
tant position under Gordon, though his vilany has
been exposed to the khedive This mysterious
arrangement may, perhaps, have been made on
the strength OF the proven bal diction. ''et thief
to catch thief" On any other supposition 1t IS
quite inexplicabe. The big book Is not writ.
ten and some OF the illustrations are clever. some
o! them OF most exciting interest. such as some
years ago would have been considered appropriate
Tor an edition OF Baron Munchausen,n but which
are hardly startling after Anderson, Stanley and
Schweiuitrt.
Among the latest works which illustrate TN
EPoCHs OF HISTORY
with the careful ulness of detail which Is character.
isJic -four epoch, are two which are likely to
be largely used in schools, and which are well
fitted to replace the dry epitomes which have
hitherto been considered sun1cient. They are
Mr.. II. Sc ebastian's "Eve Of the Protestant Revo-
luton" in which ne contrasts the motives and
the action Of the Reformation in Germany and In
Tn and Mr. adj "a int
ter Is o charming book, as attractive as 1t is
learned, and much more bright and simple in
style than might have been expected from the
author OF the "Aryan Mythologies."
OF all the countries In the world Portugal IS the
most difficult to invest with interest either on
count OF It's typographical attractions, its actual
position, or its historic associations. II the old
saw which ascribes happiness to country which
has no history be correct Portugal ought to be
ellcitous little place. Tor 1t counts for nothing In
any overt sense. ana Its existence Is practically ig
nored. Lady Jackson, who edited the memoirs Of
her late husband, sir George jackson, most ad-
mira bly,, and who Is known clever writer In
several periodicals, has just written an account
OF her travels in Portugal, under the title
"FAIR LUsITANIA"
which induces her readers think that the general
neglect and want OF interest in the country Is q
mistake; that there Is much natural beauty and
great wealth OF associations there for whoever
shall investigate them.
The consent Of the government to the organizes
ton OF an
ARCTIC EXPEDITION
has Afforded general satisfaction, put the scien.
tinc societies into high spirits and produced
number Of fresh contributors to the already
volumnous literature OF the subject. Among the
latter is a highly interesting brochure by DR.. Pc
u
Is IN the form OF a letter, written from Gotha,
where DR.. Petermann resides, to the President OF
the Geographical Society. In this letter most
honorable mention ia made OF Captain Hall and
the astounding results obtained by that intrepid
investigator, who is admitted to have
OPENED UP, sIMPL1FfED AND RENDERED PRAc-
TICABLE
the future solution OF the great question on which
geographers are intent. DR.. Petermann's commu-
nication Is just now very Interesting for he Is an
authority wnom no chiefs Of expedition would
like TO controvert. He withdraws his previous
vehement opposition to the Smiths Sound route,
and announces that the greater navigability OF
the Arctic seas In all parts being satisfactorily
proved TO him lie now distinctly approves before
hand OF any route direction that may be decided
on Tor q new expedition by British geographers.
We are looking out here Tor the translation OF
DR.. Gerard Rohlls new book, "Dutch Alrca.n 1t
is to be hoped 1t will be better translated than his
Morocco" lilo has not been adequately sup
ported by tho German government, and mas there
fore been unable to make any collection OF speci-
mems OF natural history or any astronomical ex-
pcrimens. He has done many wonderful Things
in the way OF exploring, entirely at his own
expense and he received IN aid OF his exploration
Of Lake Tscnad only the SHABBY sum OIL 1850 tha-
lers. This wretched parslmony Is very Ill placed,
wnen the extraordinary talent OF Dr. Rohlfs Tor