Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-27
BOOK NOTICES.

COL. JONES' HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
There has just issued from the press,
and will be for sale in Savannah in a few
days, work of peculiar interest to
Georgians. 1t is entitled, ''The History
of Georgia, by Charles G. Jones, Jr.,
Ii. d. TWO vols. s vo. PIP. 556 and $40.
Houghton, Miffiin g. Co., Boston, 1885,"
The result of a purpose long cherished
and faithfully carried out, these hand
some volumes now appear, and furnish
Georgians with the only accurate, reliable
and complete narrative of the first
half century of their native State.
Hewitt's, McCalPs, and Stevens
Histories of Georgia, with Whites
''HistOrical Collections, 'and Wright's and
Harris memorials of OglethOrpe,v have
all answered a purpose and have had
their day; but they are now not only
supplemented, but superseded by this
elaborate and admirable work. Georgia
has now history Of her aboriginal, colo
NAL and revolutionary years, which is an
honor to the State, and of which her peO-
pie should be proud.
The accomplished author is our former
tOwnsman, native of our seabOard, but
now a resident of Augusta, and is known
over the whole State and throughout the
South as one of its best scholars, and,
without exception, its most pro-
life writer. To our Savannah citizens,
who remember him so well, and who
value his former works in the historic
field, Col. Jones' new venture on larger
scale should be, as we think it will be,
received with warm and generous well
come. The readers of the antiquities of
the Southern Indians" of the 'Siege of
Savannah in 49," of the ''Federal Siege
of Savannah in 1884, of the Historical
sketches of TomOchichi," and the ''Chat-
ham Artillery" of the "Life of Commo-
dore Tattnall," and of the Dead Towns
of Georgia." will receive, with livelier
interest and warmer greeting, these noble
volumes, with their full, faithful and
glowing record of the past 80 years of
Georgia's life. 1t is the story of the latest
English colony in America, founded by a
Christian hero, never surpassed, who car
ried out scheme of the purest charity,
and it is filled with scenes of romantic
incident. devotion to duty and noble self
sacrifice.
The short space of fifty years witnessed
the founding of the first colony ever es-
tablished from purely benevolent motives,
its growth. through its colonial period.
and it's entrance, after eight years of rev.
dictionary struggle upon its majority as
3. free commonwealth. These are the top
les of the two volumes now published,
the aboriginal and colonial epOchs filling
the first, while the second treats
of the revolutionary period up to the
Inauguration of Lyman Hall as Governor
of the State in 1888. Georgia's honorable
career as an independent commonwealth
occupying an exact century to the pres
ent time--will soon be written in two
further volumes by the same facile pen.
Never have the events OF the half
century, from Oglethorpe's landing in
Georgia to the close of the struggle
for independence, been told with
such minuteness of detail, with such pre-
ciseness of facts, with such faithfulness
of narrative and with such charm Of style
as i'm this latest contribution to the his
t0rv of our State. GeOrgians have now
the chance to read the instructive record,
gathered from original documents, veri-
fed bv discreet judgment and clothed in
the most attractive dress.
And now TO help this literary venture
this gadqnunl opus of its distinguished
authorEwhich is to rebound so much to
the States honor, what mas the state
itself done? How has Georgia showed
herself appreciative of this proud monu-
meut? Behold and wonder! A year ago
a modest memorial from the author,
hacked by commendatOry letters from
such representative Georgians as Charles
J. jenkins, Alexander Ill. stephens, Joseph
E. Brown, Benjamin IL. Hill, James
r.. Lawton, Robert ToOmbs, John B. Cor
don and others, was laid before the
Legislature, asking for State sub
scription for 500 copies of this
expected history, by way of protecting
the author against loss, in meeting the
large expense of its publication. 1t sim
ply asked the State to assist her patriotic
SON in paying the freight on costly memo memo
Law on his mothers altar. This and moth
ing more. 1t goes without saying what
was the Legislatures response. Not
farthing of pecuniary aid nor an
iota of guarantee was offered or given.