The New York herald., 1879-03-17
BOSTON BOOKS.

- : ''
BOSTON BOOKS.
LIFE OF BUTLEE-suMMER NOVELS AND PROM
IsED PUBLICATIONS.
BOSTON, March 49, 1870
"He has tho brain of a Franklin the frmness Of q
Jackson. the intellectual force OF Bacon the inte-
rity Of an Aristides and the ripe scholarship OF .
Cushing" With these modest words of commepda-
ton closes the first chapter Of the 'Life of Benjamin
+. Butler" by T. A. Bland. NJ. D., volume to be
published in a few weeks by Lee Shepard. and
probably destined to create little discussion in
Massachusetts, and to be the of much wrathful
letter writing by generals Of the army. politicians
and citizens of Baltimore and New Orleans. It
fair to suppose that the book is intended
as auxiliary Of General Butler In the
next gubernatorial canvass, and possibly
in the Presidential canvass of $780, and few points
from it may be interesting His occupation of Balt
more. It seems. won him profusion Of high COM
pliments and grateful thanks-from Secretary Cnmc-
ron, Notwithstanding the violent reproof which the
''three hundred pound thunderer." General Scott,
gave him for it. His defeat at Great Bethel
caused by blunders Of which lit needless re-
peat the history" land many blunders of greater
magnitude have been made since. but this the
first, and 1t attracted universal attention" More
over. the failure to win the battle not really
General Butlers. but General Pierces, to whom he
gave the command because he was formerly his
senior officer in the Massachusetts militia. The
author thinks 'thst the greatest misfortune 70 the
country resulting from this affair was that through
the exaggeratoDs and OF tho pub
lie press at q time whom public attention was
tired almost exclusively upon him. 1T served to cast
shadow upon the fame or the grestest general then
in tho service. concesltng temporarily his real
merits.
After Great Bethel General Butler. being relieved.
without being assigned to duty anywhere else."
instructed to report at Washington. first cap
tured Fort Hatteras and then went homo to recruit
soldiers. Here he found that he had been "check-
mated by the willy old sschem. Tecumseh." and that
the Massachusetts regiments were promised to GEN.
ersl Sherman. His obtaining . recruiting commits
sion covering all Now England led to quarrcls be-
tween him and Govornor Andrew. in consequence OF
which General Dix carried out General Buffers plans
for clearing the rebels from tho peninsula. and got
the glory which should rightfully rest upon the
head Of General Butler. The story of New Orleans
is told at great length. and In the same
spirit that evinced by Mr.. Parton. and tho oft
pea4ed accusations that General Butler mado any
profit out of his occupation of the Crescent City
rcpclled together with the tale Of the silver spoons
and tho general orders defended in terms that
make it reasonably evident that General Butler does
not mean to win Southern favor by making any
apologies. The failure of the Dutch Gap Canal pro-
ject is thus explained
But thirty feet remained to be cut to reach twenty
four miles OF Richmond. and this thirty be-
tween two and three feet OF water running. At
this point the officer in charge OF the work in
his forco strong enough to hold the river against the
rebel gunboats. Thus, whilc General Butler was
vigorously opening channel through which he
of rpl, ,cl dpe MA brav
Commodore got frightened out Of his top boots at
the possibility that the rebels might take IT into their
heads to avail themselves Of this opening to get ut
him. General Butler says, II was opening the door
to lot the dog get ut the wolf bat was ordered to
keep II shut lest the wolf should get at the dog.
The blame Of tho Fort Fisher blunder is laid upon
Admiral Porter. by whose order fire simply
kindled on tho forccastle of the powder vessel.
which. whom IL burned down to the powder, exploded
small portion of It, aud blew the rest into the sea-
where, of course. it never burned. The chapter on
General Butler financial rcformer Jays that he is
statesman after the type of Cuvier. Franklin and
Jefferson, and quotes his arguments at length. and
that which treats OF him ''as friend of the work
ing CLASSES is principally made up of extracts. In
the last chapters the assertion that Massachusetts
voters wero compelled to vote for Governor Talbot
Ia repeated. and II Is stated tlat Senator Thurman
has testimony to that effect. In closing
the author says:-
''His fame is world wido. His words and his ac-
globe. He IL feared and hated among the aristoc-
racies OF Great britain, OF tho Continent and OF
Western Asia ~ well as OF America. He is honorod
and rcvercd By tho liberty loving pooplo OF oil
classes throughout tho world"
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Tho first announcement OF summer novels comes |
FROM ID. Lothrop Co.. who will begin the idle |
Hour Series" with Poor Papa" story Of tho |
wS y
The author lis Mary L. Porter. OF New Orleans who
Is better known as writer OF plays than Of fiction.
fl IN huy rtYst.s
crlors and representing the shore OF ako above |
which bends blue sky. and from which grow roeds
and cattaiis. Lizzie W. Chanpncy, the wife OF |
'Champ," the artist. has In press book for sunday
school concerts and other tertainmens in which
shc has included not only great deal OF good work
readings; sketch from Warmers being a |
Boy" and tho dramatizcd version OF Pilgrims
Progress. which Gcorge Macdonald made for tho per-
forrnarce Of his wife and children. Miss Yongc's |
''Iistory OF England" has just been published by
Lothrop n 60 from tho original plates. and that Of
"ltomo viii be ready In about u MONTH In u few
weeks they will issue ''5x Little Rebels" by Kate
Tannatt Woods. the oditor Of "Ehrichs Fashion
dren OF different families who spent the time OF the
war in Northern cities and In Washington with the
tho fathcr OF the other Tho story OF thor childish
adventures IL made fairly interesting and the nun IL
simple aud not forced. The next number Of WIDE
A~dke tho magazine published by this Arm, will be
specially remarksblc for it's pictures. several OF
which will be by tho new crayon process.
Hcughton. Osgood h Co. will issue Mrs. Clara
Erskinc clements ARTISTS of the Nineteenth Con-
tury next week, In two octave volumes. viii
contain biographical sketches OF over two thousand
artists. The southern Statcs" In Poems of Places.
will appear at about the time, and little later
Will come reprint of John c. Hamilton's History
OF the United States" as traced in the works VI
Alexander Hamilton and his contemporaries This
work occupies octave volumes. "The English
Language by Harris H. Greene. principal Of Dread
Seminary is also announced by Houghton. Osgood
Co. 1fton Co. have nearly really 'Old Point
Lace" by Miss Hale. Iorins makes no announce
onts having quite enough 10 do ~ answer the calls
for Mr.. HoSeils Lady Of The Aroostook.'