National Republican., 1878-09-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE LIFE OF John FITCH, the Inventor Of the
Steamboat By THOMPSON WEsr,urr. Pliladel.
-phiG ). ". EppinCOt Washington. u, C.: h.
0M. Whitaker q Son.
John Fitch Is the competitor Of Robert Fui.
ton for the honor of having invented the
steamboat, and thus opened the door to
achievements in commerce AMI navigation
that were little dreamed OF one century ago.
II is cmtonded by the author that Mr.. Fitch
invented and put In practical operation ou the
Delaware River, as early as l5sj or 1870, a steam.
boat, which, II the claim Is justified, puts
the laurel on his brow as the real inventor of
steam navigation. 1t Is said that in 1890 he
equipped small boat with steam propcling
power and piled 1t regularly between given
points on the Delaware River, running with
the same regularity that steamers now navi'
gate those and other waters. Fulton's success
full experiments on the Hudson River were in
lso7. Symington invented n steam pleasure.
boat at Dnlwinston, in Scotland In 1901. The
life Of John Fitch Is an exceedingly readable
and interesting book, and well worth the peru
sal as an early history of the application of
steam t, purposes Of navigation.
MRS. GAISsBoRorGHs DIAMONDS. A s'ory.
| by JULIAN HAwTHuRsE. New York u. Apple-
ton a Go. Washington: Mohun bros.
This is one of tho new Handy Book Series,
and, as Its title implies, is all about splendid
outfit Of diamonds that had been brought from
India long before, and came to Mrs.
Gainsborough as an heirloom. We cannot ia
this brief notice unfold all the mysteries con.
ncctcd with those Jewels but by patient read.
| ing the curious can find full qualification on
the subject.
1 IIQrIDATED AND THE SEER By RupoLPH
i.iSpAS, author Of "G1riun Baldwin" "rhePhi.
| lOsnphers Pendulum" &c. New York: j. Ap-
| pieiOn $50. washlngtOn,D. {: MOhun Bros.
This is another OF the new Handy. Volume
Series. The tale opens with the Chinese re-.
bclIion IN $50. when the long. haired" Chi.
nose rebels under the leadership Of their "Ccl.
estial' King, Tai.plng-wang, "the lord cf
universal happiness" had left the southern
Province of Kwsngsi and penetrated far into
the Northern part Of the Empire. Nnnking,
Hangchow and Fosrhow had been DESTROYED
and the rebels were threatening Peking. Then
comes In the great anxiety of the English and
American merchants who had settled in
Shanghai since l-Ii, not on account Of their
lives anl property but for fear a profitable
trade In opium and silks might he interrupted
by the unsettled state Of the country. The
opening scene Of the tale is laid in the bowling
alley of the English club, where about twenty
young men were collected, all impressed with
the ilca that there Is little Of consequence be.
yomd silk in bales ready for market. The
merits OF the tale we leave with the reader, to
be ascertaincd by its perussl.
IL PARADISE. novel. from the German o.
i PArL HEY-E. IN two volumes. New York: u.
Appleton * TO. Washington: MUhun Bros.
The scene OF this delightful novel is in mod
eru Munich, and takes in the Franco. German
war, which leaves its impress upon the char
acter of the work. II is contcuded for 1t bS
just aud learned critics that II has been writ
ten with a stronger motive than the ordinar,
novel, and with marked care and ambition
for tho attainment OF excellence. 1t is claiinet
for it that "it Is not the novel OF a day bu
n real classic romance, ranking among the bes
! books of contemporary fiction writers" A re
rusai will no doubt realize to the reader all tina
is claimed for it. A glance shows ii to be iui
4 of interest.
FRANCESCA OF. RIMINI. \ Iocm. by. \. :. Il
1 Philadelphia: J. u. Lppincot 4 Co. Washington
+. NJ. Whitaker " son
No critical analysis can convey to the roade
any adequate idea of the true merit Of thi
. descriptive poem. That it has true meri
u cursory examination Of its contents estat
!. fishes beyond doubt. That It will richly re
II pay perusd it is easy to conjecture after a
| examination of its uOctic merit