New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A
IT. r6 Nn n rEiSS G AND PRocEE6
MOS OF CONGRESS EXPORTING 1T. By DAVID A.
MCKNIGHT. svo. PIP AS. ] b hppinc'tt q Go.
This is n book called out by the issue raised
IN the election OF President is the opinion oi
the autlfor that beautiful Electoral system exists III
yitng investigations challenging discussion and pre-
pared to v,ndcate the wisdom and saSacity OF It's
Founders" Mr. Mcknight historically traces what he
regards as deviatons from tie original usage From
1889 to the year 1921 he AYERS that the unquesidned
custom for the President OF the Senate 10
"declare the votes officially, whilst counting
was simply enumeration" From 1921 to 1861
it was generally held that was empowered 10
count" while counting used in the broader sense
Of canvassng." III 1861 began third period con
tnuing until this day. in which has been held the oc
that Congress possesses the right to count l. e. "
eDumerste as an affirmative oct; :" and that he"votes
are OF course the illegal votes, which thus devoyes on
Congress also the power to determine their esanty'
Mr Mcknight holds that the right 10 canvass exists
only neceSsdc rel and may be exercised only 10 save
the life OF the nation. He cries out with some
what unnecessary alarm that the Houses are al
vancng eeler,bus pedi6us TO sovereign author
ity over the Constitution itself" And he calls
upon "the American people to stopa moment in Their
absorbing pursuit Of the good things OF this life, and
take Retrospective of the situation at the foundation Of
this Government and of the change which ninety Years
OF political life have wrought in it." In discussing the
question Of the appointment of electors by STATE the
necessity OF an absolute determination OF what "a
State is in Constitutional is considered The
ineigbity of United States officers TO serve as electors
is also discussed at considerable length There also
careful estimate powers and duties OF the Electoral
Colleges, and discussion OF the subject OF the trans
mission Of the lists the President of the Senate Then
follows the subject Of their reception " Under
q righteous execution OF the Constitution says
Mr.. Mcknight, and when law Is passed defining the
exact of the State Government, which may claim
recognition at the reception of the votes dual feuns
VIII never present themselves The statute haVihgeN
acty defined what list shall be received, none other VIII
he made" Then follows the matter Of "opening the
certificates" and by "openng" Mr.. Mcknight under
stands the disclosure Of the Electoral votes by the
President of Senate" He denies the right OF can
wasting by Congress altogether, and says: The func-
ton Of a witness is to witness-Dothng more" Inc
right to count held to be vested in the President OF the
Senate alone. The remainder Of this volume contains
great number of precedens and historical references
and viii be found extremely convenient even by those
who do not agree with the conclusions Of the author He
has not altogether avoided partisan spirit which he
sudiousy dscaims; but ali readers desiring Informal
ton upon the subject will at least find his book an inter
estIng QUE
DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. BY W
DAVENPORT ADAMS svo PIP 1oe- Cassen' PETER q 'ai
The comprehensive plan of this work en-
braces variety of information such as is not usually
found in book Of reference IL comprises biographical
sketches of a largo number OF English and American
authors both among the dead and the living without az
tempting present complete details of their personal
or literary history; the titles of the principal poems
essays plays and novels III the language with brief no
tees and critical remarks together with selection
OF the more important productions in philosophy,
science, and general literature; familiar quotations,
phrases and proverbs, with references TO their ORR
ginal sources; and variety OF miscellaneous In
formation relating TO books and authors, form
hla irtar pofV
both for the student and family circle Thus opening
the volume at random pp so, 5 we find in addition 10
the regular biographical titles such notices as the TO-
iowing:-"BAD EMINESCE. By merit raised TO that
Paradise Lost, lines and 6, book IL" "BADoURA.
princess of China who becomes enamored of Camaralza
man al first sight (Arobtan NiahtS "BAFFLED KNIGHT
The or The Ladys Policy humorous ballad in the
Pepys Collection; reprinted in Bishop Percys ReiiqueS
Of Ancient British Poetry" "BAHLIF, HENRY. The
host of the Tabard Inn, CHAUCER's Canterbury Tales"
"BAJAZET A character IN Rowe's tragedy OF TAMER-
LANE" "BAALAAM, Sir in Pope's Moral Essays, epistle
ILL., is city knight whose identity does not seem to
have been ascertained. He is described as
"a citizen of sober fame,
Religious. punctuaI frugal, and 50 forth,
Constant at church and change; his gains were sure,
His gvings rare, save farthngs to the poor
As dictionary OF quotations the work is meagre and
unsatisfactory containing little If anything, from orig
inal sources in addition to previous compilations The
rroverb God tempers the wind 10 the shorn lamb Is
traced back from Sternes sentimental Journey" to
Herbert's Jaeuia Prpdentia,. but mention is made
OF its use by the old French writer, Henri Estenne,
I'm the year 1894 cups that cheer but inebr
ate correctly referred to Cowper who makes happy
use of the phrase in the fourth book of the "Task"
u7sD, but its original application TO the virtues Of
clearwater" by Bishop Berkeley in his Osiris" Q747),
noticed The execution OF the work. on the whole
is quite unequal many Of the articles show the marks OF
care and skill in their preparation Others are strkney
Tlf
attention and knowledge; suited rather 20 mslead the
reader than furnish hun with Trustworthy informa
ton With all its defects however it worthy of place
the library of reference but collection Of literary
curoses rather than compilation of great practical
utility.
A translation of Field Marshal Count MoHke's
Letters from Rssia, by Grace Egeow. forms recent
number OF Harper's Halfhour Series" and will be
read with interest account OF the experience Of
distinguished during official visit TO Russia
nearly twenty years ago, on occasion OF the coronation
of the Emperor Alexander ii. They written 10
female relative then IN Copenhagen and by some acct
dent selection from the series fell into the hands Of
Journalist of that city and published in the Danish
language. 1t is only within the past year that
they have been republished In German from
the original manuscripts with variety OF i'm
portant additions by the writer. With the special
authorization OF Count Motke, they have now been
translated by the daughter OF Mr.. John Bgeow, late
United States Minister TO France and viii doubtless at
tract attention OF the American public by their famil
lar details OF Russian life and society The grim Prus
sian soldier. at that time nearly sixty years old, des
cants on the scenes Of the great pageant and the Incl
dents OF every day life in the Russian capital with the
gayey OF young man. and the freshness and hlafty OF
his narrative have been admirably preserved in the
translation.
CoaStdntinople, by James Bryce (ffarpers
UaHour Series, is vivid historical and geographical
canal Turkey describing features