The Portland daily press., 1876-04-15
Magazine Notices.

The April number of the North american
Revieao, published by james r. Osgood & Co..
contains five essays, nearly all upon American
topics. The first article, from the pen of Will
liam f. Pool, is entitled, DR.. Cutler and the
Ordinance of 1877. This is the most note
worthy contribution the number contains, and
is valuable addition to the literature of that
movement. The Ordinance was passed by the
Congress of the Confederation, sitting in New
York in July of 1887, "for the government OF
the Territory northwest of the River Ohio"
Mr.. Pool undertakes to dispute the statement
of Mr.. Webster that Mr.. Dana was the author
of the Ordinance, and attributes its authorship
to DR.. Manasseh Cutler. He traces the con-
nection of DIR. Cutler with the Ohio Company
and their vast land purchases, and claims that
the Ohio purchase and the Ordinance were
parts of one and the same transaction, both of
which were before Congress and under consid-
Grafton at the same time. The Ordinance is
condensed abstract of the Massachusetts Con-
stitution of 1880, and there was no intimation
that Congress intended to form it on that
York on the 9Th of July, eight days before it
was passed. The idea was as new to Mr.. Dana
as any member. DR.. Cutler was Massachu-
setts minister, man of varied accomplish
ments and pleasing address. He was next to
Franklin in scientific attainments and was an
author of valuable treatises on astronomy and
botany. All of which eminently qualified
him for the mission.
In the second article Mr.. Lewis 81. Morgan,
pndar fifIo of UMonfnzuma's nippor - havipo
in mind the second volume of Mr.. Herbert III.
Bancroft ON The Native Races of the Pacific
States, discusses the institutions and customs
which were universal in the Indian family and
existed, presumptively, in the Aztecs. The
other articles that follow are: The Consular
System of the United States, by Charles Hale.
Chief Justice Chase, by Isaac T. Read6eld,
and weighty article upon The Reform o.
Local Taxation, by David A. Wells.
Hdrper's Magazine for May opens.with an il
Illustrated article on Southern Colorado, in con
nection with the recent explorations by Lieu
tenant Wheeler. Mr. LOSING contributes al
interesting paper on Major Andre. Rebeccs
Harding Davis, in the second part of Old Phil
adelphia, gives some novel and characteristic
glmpses of the Revolution. Professor Lock
wood concludes his series of illustrated paper
on the Microscope.
The subject of Household Art, treated b!
Harper, is resumed in the present number
The first of a series of illustrated papers OF
Modern Dwellings; their Construction, Decor
ation, and Furniture. is contributed by II
Hudson Holly, the well-known architect, ant
is profusely illustrated.
Under the title of Cardinal Mephisto Junius
Henri Browne contributes a brief sketch Of
Caesar Borgia. The portrait accompanying the
article is engraved from RaphaePs celebrated
picture in the Palazzo Borghese at Rome.
Including three of Woolfs humorou!
sketches in the Drawer, this nnmber contains
eighty engravings. Among the illustrated con
tributions is ballad entitled Naoman a Leg
end eff the Hudson, by Bishop Cleveland Coke
An original dramatic sketch, Gabrielle ant
Adriana, by Barry Cornwall, is for the first
time published.
Ofcourse the supreme feature of the Maya
zine is George Eliot's Daniel Deronda, of which
an entire book is given; but the space allotted
to this brilliant novel does not interfere will
the usual variety SO characteristic of every
number of Harper. The Publishers announc,
the commencement of new serial story il
the Juue number, by Mrs. Dinah M. Craik, en-
titled The Laurel Bush; an Old-fashionei
Love-story.
The Easy Chair breaches familiar sermon
on social ambition; shows the danger of Fight
ing the Devil with Fire, and among othel
things. has word for country clergymen. The
other Editorial Departments are as interesting