New-York tribune., 1876-04-07
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF THE CIVIL. GoVEKN
MINT OF TIE UNITED STATES, DURING IFS
FIKST CENTURY. by CHABLLs LASsAS. Syo. PIP U16
Washington: James Angllm.

FIIsT CENTURY. By CHARLES LASsAS. syo. PIP G7e
Washington James Angllm
Mr.. Lanman's well-known " Dictionary OF
Congress" has made ;he basis of the present work
which embraces the entire civil administration Of the
United States including the names and public services
of the prominent who have been connected With he
National OF State Government OF the Republic during the
fist century Of its existence. Ia some Instances the
author mas also furnished sketches OF distinguished
military and naval officers whose eminent services have
given them place in the memory Of their countryinHn
The classes Of persons comprised in the biography
the delegates The colonial and continental congresses'
the senaOr representatives, and territorial delegates
Of the Federal congress cabinet ministers justices OF the
Federal courts officials OF the executive departments,
governors o. states and territories foreign ministers and
others who have held positions Of honor and trust in the
civil service. In addition to Tho biographical sketches
which number about seven Thousand, there tabular
records aud papers OF historical Importance containing
about eight thousand names making cum total OF M
teen thousand personal references the volume Tire
work gives evident proof of great diligence, oarerul
research and extensive Information. Many OF the per-
sons once ls considerable space in the attention OF
the public whose names here preserved, have since
passed into oLscuTity leaving few authentic memorials
f0i the Of the bCSaphcr In such cases, c"m-
pleenees Of dea is out o. tie question: nor ls N easy to
gltan with any precision, The most important facts
in the history OF the subjects ThoaIthor has aimed at ac
curacy points concerning which trivial errors are almost
prevented the minute eXactness which IS certainly dc
srable in works Of biography. For example. the
Christian Is seldom given in fun, and the birth
place j. Often Indicated by county, which IN the NORTH
ern states certainly is indefinite where the town and
not determines the residence Of person IN"
errors which VIII be noticed b. reader familiar
with special localities are OF great moment.
and could easily escape the attention OF even the most
yicant editor For instance. the lfe OF Fisher Anes
Was not written by the Rev Dr. RGkho'n, but 10y PfeS
dent Kirkland of Harvard College, George Ashmnn was
not born in F1ndforG Mass there Is no such town IN
that State; John d. Baldwin published valuable work
entitled prehistoric Nations" in 1859 and smother on
Ancient America" in 1873, instead Of being The author
OF Il work on ancient history not yet pHLii.hod saima
Hale Of Kcenc ~ H. did not die In 1906 NJ the age of
nineteen, a popular anthor aud held Office IN
Hampshire at least twenty-five years after thai
date; Nathaniel Hawthorne hardly spent his early life
on farm" although he retired 10 the country Tor some
months on account OF III health before entering college
nor did be reside year at Brook Farm, and then re
turn to Boston in cycn years bef0re TIE establish
Inent of that istitutionl Joseph Stebbins) Lyman
was bO IiamDden, Mas" nor is there any town
Of that naLie but In Greenfield, Franklin county As
the work is arranged in alphabetical aud not IN chrono
logical order, the tte Biographical hnndis' Is GiS
homer The author hes "Inade it point tc express
opinions Of living men, and but seldom 10 echo pablc
opinion IN regard to tue dead" good rule which 1t wa'
quite unnecessary violate by prOnpnncing fc fyoIte
humorous writer the late Ross browne, ga nan OF
superior ability and high character" no doubt per
fecly true remark but wholly snpcTiluous, when ~
nany conspicuous WORTHLESS die and are boPhphiacd
without O compliment Such defects however, do
not seriousy impair the value of tho work book OF
general reference and are consistent with great Gssduy
aud patience the part OF tho author, who has ey
6eutly sought his materials from the best accessible
sources and wrought them up into worthy historical
contribution to the centennial year.