New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-14

of monumental works which arc not usually pub
shed except at the cost of the State; yet this SO
far as we know, is private venture. As an expo
sition Of the internal economy and condition Of the
greatest state in the Union at period OF especial
prosperity it has high value, and value likely 70
be better and better appreciated with the lapse OF
time. For besides exhibiting the workings OF q
great piece of government machinery, 1t shows, In
its historical parts how the State has been gradt-
ally built up and by what progressive steps IL mas
reached its present development. III Will always DO
priced as convenient repository OF knowledge not
readily accessible clsewhcre and even the general
reader will find in it q surprising amount ana
variety Of interest
| The third volume only OF this enormous WORK IL
now ut hand, but the publishers have sent forth
with it specimen of the first, consisting OF lZo
pages of Governor Cornells contribution, history
OF " The Commonwealth The Governor presents
n narrative which is chiefly Political, his OBJECT
being to show the changes in the theory and prac-
tce of administration by which the existing system
of popular government was established the Con
stituton of the State of New-York being as he re-
marks the result of an experience oil TWO centu'
res The germinal principle" he adds " INC so'-
ercgnty of the People, was moro clearly enuhciatcu
in the Charter of Liberties two hundred years ago
than il had then been any other declaration Oh
their rights; but the best methods of enforcing INC
will of the People have been ascertaned only after
long years Of trial. Indeed, it may very well DC
that perfection has not yet been reached that new
evils may be tho outgrowth of existing methous'
and that changes will soon be necessary in order to
insure their correction" The paper is not MS
tory of parties but review of the development OF
noIiticol princpes and no one will find reason to
question the judicial impartiality of the writer OF
his freedom from partisan sentiment when he treats
of the controversies and personages Of his own
time The account of the administration OF the
colony especially in its earlier days, is laboriously
minute We know not where else to find i'll n small
space so exact an explanation of what the govern
ment of old New-York and Northumberland really
was.
The third volume opens with the section devoted
to " The Judiciary" This is from the pen OF MT.
Irving Browne, Editor of The albany Ldr Journal,
and has passed under the supervision OF judge
Folger summary of its contents will give 1alr
idea of the plan of the entire work. Mr.. Browne
furnishes in about forty pages an interesting
Judicial History of tho Commonwealth" divided
into chapters on the Dutch colony, the Enghsh
colony the period of the Revolution and the Con-
stituton OF 1777 the periods of the CONSTRUCTORS
of 1923 and 1916, and the judiciary article OF 10 u
Then follow biographies of the judges and officers
-
Supreme Court each with n portrait. Education
follows the Judiciary. Mr.. Daniel Pratt sketches
tie history of Primary Education" under the
Dutch, English and State governments; an account
of each of the Normal schoolsis furnished by lts
president or some other member of the faculty;
and the University of the State of New-York is
fully treated by Dr. David Murray, secretary OF
the Board of Regents. This last named contrlDu-
ton Is not confined to the Board of Regents, but
embraces history and description of each one OF
the thirty or forty colleges composing the Uni
yersity of the State. Academies arc similarly
treated. The 4" State Library" is the subject of a
contribution by Dr. Homes. its librarian, and tho
State Museum of Natural History" is sketched by
Dr. Hail. its director. Between forty and hfty
illustrations of these educational institutions are
presented, and there are portraits and biographies
of their presidents other chief officers, as well as
of all the regents. The third section of the volume
devoted to the connection OF Ncw-York with the
Federal Government, is by DR.. Chadbourne. Be
sides few historical preliminary pages it embraces
biographies of all the Senators and Representatives,
of the State in Congress, and these also are Illus
trated with portraits.