Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
REVIEW OF LATE ISSUES FROM AMERICAN
AND EUROPEAN PRESSES.
Magazines of the -FictioE-Popular
Literature TRANSACTIONS
Standard Works-New Music.

From DIR. James Henry Mclean, St Louis,
we have copy of bis volume on "Weapons
of War" DR.. Mclean is the inventor Of
numerous destructive artillery arms, and in
his labors has been aided by Myron Colony
of New Haven, Conn. The Doctor considers
these weapons to be so terribly destructive
that they amount almost to prevention of
war, and hence he names them Peace
makers" The work is freely illustrated,
showing all the new weapons in detail. A
glance at those views cannot but impress one
with the fearful death dealing qualities of the
weapons. They are in the main light maya
zine guns, with many barrels or many cham
bers which discharge great quantities of
bullets and by which raking fire can be
kept up. One of these is almost equal, APP
parently, to a brigade of infantry. The in
ventor also shows designs of protective works
for shielding soldiers, and all these are move
able and easily advanced as troops move
forward. He gives views also of new styles
of torpedoes. Lately the Army and Nary
Journal presented the most interesting of the
sketches and gave up to their consideration
much space. Whatever the merits Of the
Doctors inventions, they have awakened
deep interest throughout all advanced nations
and are likely to be thoroughly tested and
their true worth demonstrated. The author
of the book makes these claims il his effort
to secure universal peace: That explosive
projectiles should be made more certain and
terrible in their effects than they now are.
That torpedo should be produced which
should be Inexpensive and yet sure to destroy
the vessel assailed. That magazine cannon,
as well as small arms. capable of being fired
with lightning-like rapidity, to the extent OF
so rounds for cannon and more than 100
rounds for small arms, are necessary. That
battery guns which can fire broadsides of 20
to 40 shots at a single pull of the trigger, be
effective two, three, and it may be six miles,
and capable of delivering forty broadsides in
one minute, are necessity.
From A. L. Bancroft & Co., San Fran
cisco, we have new law book, law library
style, large Svo. and embracing nearly 700
pages Il is entitled 1.-THE United States
Mining Laws and the Decisions of the
Commissioner of the General Land
Office, and of the Secretary of the
Interior Hereunder" 1t is by D. K.
instructions from the General Land Office
and forms for establishing proof of claims !;
also, the decisions of the Supreme Court of
the United States under the mining Acts
The title sufficiently indicates the character
and scope of the work. Such a book is
needed. Under the mining laws of the
United States the same questions are rarely
presented both to the judicial and executive
branches Of the Government for decision.
In the former the questions usually relate in
some manner to the possession of the mining
claim. In the latter they relate to the acqui
sition of title in pursuance of the law and
decisions of the Courts. Experience has
demonstrated that the proceedings in the
executive offices involve the decision of many
delicate points of law and forms of pleading.
A peculiar practice has grown up under these
laws, both before the Courts and in the Land
Department The practitioner must receive
a special training i'll order to give good adj
vice to or successfully represent his client
And whether ne practices before the Courts
or in the Land Office, the mining lawyer
should have handy for reference authorize
tive citation of decisions-such as in this
book-controlling the action of the Court or
officer before whom he appears as the repre-
sentative of sutton.
"Anecdotal History of the British Par
lament" is the title of an Svo volume Of
over 500 pages from the press of D. Appleton
George Henry Jennings, and contains
sketches from the earliest periods to the pres
ent time, with notices of eminent Parlia-
mentary men and examples of their oratory.
The scantiness of available information on
the subject of the British Parliament, its
history and its leading men, is a surprising
fact, in days when historical writing may be
said to superabound. Much information is
to be found, doubtless in bulky volumes, or
scattered through the material of extensive
libraries but there is nothing for the general
reader comprehensive and readily accessible.
An attempt was made some years ago
to fill this want by Jennings 4
Johnston's book of Parliamentary Anecdote.
The success of that work gave encourage
ment doubtless, for the volume now under
notice, which is much more expansive, better
arranged and altogether superior volume.
Apparently this volume quite exhausts the
field-at least it has cleaned from the best
fields and comes to us not only as literary
compend, but is beside valuable digest,
which indexes in large degree the methods
and work of the English Parliament, al
though it is not to be compared to the elab
crate works of May, Elsynge, Hatsell and
Others in parliamentary rule and precedent;
indeed it does not aim to enter that field,
only so far as the expressed scope of the work
demands.
From A. l.. Bancroft & Co., San Fran
cisco, we have Harper & Bros volume by
Prof. A j. Symington on William Cullen
Bryant" with selections from his poems and
other writings. Prof. Synington in this lit
tie book has given to the literary world an
exceedingly interesting life sketch of Bryant
and an excellent aid to a critical study of the
poets works. He presents in concise man
ner the life career and writings of Bryant,
who was poet, editor, traveller, citizen and
philanthropist and who, though younger
than Dana, was nevertheless the patriarch OF
American poetical literature. Wherever
possible, he has left him to speak for himself,
and quotes freely from his correspondence
and writings, including in the former several
of his letters which now appear in print for
the first time. The author writes these
charming lines by way of introduction
"We earnestly hope that what we have here
lovingly written of William Cullen Bryant
may induce some who are passing by on the
dusty roads of life, to drink of the clear,
cool, perennial spring which wells up, for
their refreshment, in his pure and elevating
poetry"
From D. Appleton & Co., New York, we
have the Popular Science Monthly for
February, with these leading articles: "The
Development of Political Institutions" by
Herbert Spencer. "Origin of the Plow and
Wheel Carriage" by E. B. Tylor, +. r. S.
Physical Education" by Felix L. Oswald,
Nj. d. "Diet" Horses and Their Feet, y
by Sir George W. Cox. Domestic Motors, -
by charles NJ. Lungren. Gas and Electric
Engines" 1.-The Value of Accomplish
ments, !" by William a. Eddy. Darwin on
the Movements Of Plants, by Eliza A. You
mans. atmospheric Electricity" by Pro-
lessor FL. s. Carhart. "Optical Illusions of
Motion" by Silvanus P Thompson, B. A,
d. sc. Evolution of the Chemical Ele-
ments," by Lester f. Ward. "0nly a Vine
Slip" by Thomas G. Appleton. 1.-THE
November Meteors," by Professor Daniel
Kirkwood.
The art Amateur" for February Mon
tague Marks, New York;, is at hand. This
excellent journal increases in interest and
value with each number. 1t fills a wide
field, and one unoccupied until it appeared.
Its decorative art departments unsurpassed,
and its supplements of designs with this, as
with previous numbers are invaluable to the
panel, plaque and ceramic decorator. Its
chief aim appears to be the cultivation of art
tastes in the household. aa.sss -
The Sanitarian," for February "a. n.
Bell, New York; has been received. This
valuable journal, which we SO frequently
quote from. this month presents these lead
ing papers T" Memphis Sanitation and Quar-
antine," by G.. B. Thornton, NJ. D.; storm
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