The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-21
LITERATURE.

his Note Books (lT1l-lSG2l Eched by H. \. Scuo-
der Philadelphia: Porter x Coatos-
1t is not often that wc come the recoectons
OF an unknown man that are SO well worth pcrusal
as this of Mr.. Brecks. In bright little IN
PRODUCTION, by Mr.. Horace r. Scuddcr, We are told
that this book given tho worli because Of tho
great reputation OF the author hui because he kept
complete journal during OF tho most interesting
periods OF our history. Mr. Brock came Of an ola
Boston family and he connected with the An
drews of that city and the Loyds and Aspinwais OF
New York; consequently his associations were with
the best people IN tho country Mr. Brock began DIS
diary in tho year 1900 and when nearly sixty years
old he undertook to arrange his recolectons IN or
Derby for his own amusement Ho also wrote MS
"reminiscences of several years previous TO that time.
HIS diary is full Of personal experiences anecdotes
oil contemporaneous celebrities and comments on cur
rent events, apd on the books no read. The larger
part Of the prevent volume devoted to the recoec
lions The book docs pretend to add Important
facts history but adds in two or three INSTANCES
TO our acquaintance with historical facts Mr. Brccs
says very little about mis- personal history, but piupses
Immediately into hts recoections oil other people.
The account OF naval encounter in Boston harbcr
throws u now light upon an old subject He SAYS
s.The Revolutionary War brought many French ships
Of tho limo aud others into Boston, some-
times TO reat and sometimes to escape
10 have permanent agent 10 collect supplies Tho
French King nonorcd my father with that appoint
nent, which he held until tho peace, greatly to the
satisfaction of the several commanders with whom he
held He sold their prize goods negotiated
their bills OF exchange aud furnished the ships OF war
with all they wanted Ho entered upon this business
about the year 1779 II WAC In the summer OF the
following year, l think, that two or three French
frigates were lying at anchor IN the harbor when
there appeared of the lighthouse another irigae OF
that nation, conveying two ships with spars and
naval sent arounc from Newport Tor the use OF
the squadron in Boston. Before this convoy could
roach the lower harbor II was overtaken by British
nrty.gun ship (the sasittairc think), and an en-
gagement was forced the Frenchman IN order TO
save his storcships Making therefore, signal Tor
them to take shelter In the harbor he prepared Tor
battle. This he did with considerable confidence,
although his ship mounted only thirtytwo guns, be-
Cause he saw his countrymen at anchor faw mics
of with an overwhelming force. anu very naturally
counted upon their immediate aid With the
hope, then OF speedy and the certainty
OF hor convoy getting safely into port. the Ma
gicenne--ior tho frgate callcdcalmiy awaited
the attack of the British cruiser. II was anc morn
Lg; both ships wore close with tho lighthouse; the
whole town In motion, and all tho heights were
crowded with people ran with the rest and reached
menccd ana kept up with spirit for an hour when
the Frcnchman struck Those around mo who had
glasses permitted me look through them OCCASION
ally II appeared to spectators that when the boats
had passed between the ships each vessel was occupied
with throwing the dead and rehting tho rigging
All this consumed some hours. In the meantime the
:rews of the frigates moored in Boston harbor wore
busting shore to get supply oil bread and other
matters that might easily have been dispensed with
for half day. bat until they were regularly and fully
EQUIPPED Tor cruise they would not stir. perfectly
remember the commolon that prevailed among my
faihcrs clerks, agents. bakers aud vicuallers, all
striving expedite the departure OF these ships The
anxiety of the ,ownspeoplc too was excessive, and
rcmars-s were made every quarter on the
sluggish behavior OF our allies.
AT length, about Eve O'Clock IN the afternoon when
the Englishman aud his prize out Of sight,
friends weighed anchor and commenced the chase,
which lasted until they reached Halifax, ut which port
the captor and captured ship had arrived tho day
before. The Frcnchman returned to Boston in about
ten days, leaving the minds OF the people OF that
town very fattcring opinion OF their vigilance o.
courage do not ind any OF this battle either
in Gordon's, Stcdmans Marshalls histories OF tho
Revolutionary War, yet II event witnessed
by thousands and OF character sufficiently important
for historical Twelve years after this engage
While sitting the boa. at Harwich that took me on
board the packet passed u frigatc that
dereolng repairs. the stern Of which written
'Magcicnne II the very vessel just alluded 10 -
Mr. BrecS's report OF Judge Peters Of the
nrrest OF Colonel Flower Is interesting in Itself and
portant from historical point Of view Mr. Breck's
book. while II is distinguished by no great literary
merit, Is written in agreeable manner, and VIII be
found n very entertaining companion.
lpoIs AND IDEALS with an Essay on Christianity
by Moncure Daniel Conway, NJ. A. New York.
Henry Holt Il Co.
Mr.. Conway's '.Idols and Idcals' consists of series
OF essays the agonism OF religion and SCIENCE
with concluding essay, OF greater length than any
other in the book, on "Christianity.n wherein the
writer cndcavors show that tho Christian religion Is
salt that has Lost its savor-that is has been unver
sally rejected by the iutc OF tho present gen.
Grafton and Will soon be swept away In every nation
where civilization reigns. Mr.. Conway holds this
mendous revolution and tho approaching triumph or
science as facts that require proof and no depores
The pessimisi speculatons OF those Engshmcn who
fear that ''tho downfall Of crccds Will involve the
downfall OF tho social and political institutions which
have grown up along with the crceds" He has no
apprehcnsions OF unhappy result upon tho masses
OF such sweeping away OF the old faith, when tho
interests OF ruth clearly demonstrate necessity
OF "cean sweep fore ana AFT and 1t Is tho duty or
he disci pies OF Darwin to ply the broom with sub
time disregard OF consequences.
Notwithstanding Mr. Conway's positive assurance
that tue intelligence OF England is divorced from tho
established religion and that the religion itself vir.
tually dscsabshed when has become detesinble to
Carlyle, there are many intelligent persons both in
England and America who will continue to believe in
tho stability and eternal youih OF Cnrstiapity and
who cannot DO convinced that its Fundamental doc
irines have seen their day and declined that ali
without distinguished defender oil known compc-
tcncy ald disinterestednesa" Mr. Conway speaks Of
Christ us great man aboring under popular deiu
sion" and alludcs, with the conscious pride
Of superior VISION, to the "unsuspcct:ng
confidence" shown IN many OF Ills teachings
and regrets that He lacked the knowledge be