The Portland daily press., 1888-04-14

! fectly to the present position Of the science
or branch of knowledge to which they be-
long. Other articles have been carefully re-
yised and modernized. The first volume
contains several hundred articles not con-
tanned in the corresponding volume of the
original edition. Special attention has been
paid to American and Colonial subjects, the
more important articles on America having
been written in the United States by Ameri-
can auhors. The work has been done under
the supervision of Mr. David Patrick, who
with a competent literary staff has been sew
eral years in preparing this new edition.
Chambers Encyclopedia is too well known to
need commendation, but the scope and char
acter of the work are set forth in the origin
al preface which is subjoined:
The general character OF the work is indi-
Gated by the title-A Dictionary of Uniyer-
sal knowledge. The several topics are not
handled with view to the technical instruc-
tion of those who have to make a special
study Of particular branches of knowledge or
art. The information given may be charac-
terized as non professional, embracing those
points of the several objects which any intel
ligent man or woman may have occasion to
speak or think about. AT the same time
every effort is made that the statements, as
cally accurate One great aim in the work
has been to render it easy of consultation.
1t is expressly dictionary in one alphabet,
as distinguished on the one hand from a col
lection of exhaustive treatises, and on the
other, from a set of dictionaries of special
branches of knowledge.
The first volume extends from A to Beau
fort and contains many helpful Illustrations.
The price is SO. philadelphia: j. B. Lip
pincott Company; Portland: Loring, Short
& Harmony
American Statesmen. Gouyerneur Morris.
By Theodore Roosevelt There are but few
services more important which writer can
render his country than to produce volume
which shall perpetuate the memory of a man
who is fairly reekoned among its founders.
All nations of note honor the names Of the
men who laid broad and deep the founda-
tions on which they have been built. Fifty
years ago this service was rendered by the
late Jared Sparks. of whom Mr.. Roosevelt
speaks in no very complimentary terms.
But we can tell Mr.. Roosevelt that relatively
to the times Mr.. Sparks did his work as well
as the authors of American Statesmen are
doing theirs to-day. Mr.. Roosevelt, how
ever, is nothing If not critical, and we are
happy to say that he often criticizes fairly
and to the point. In this volume he has sue
ceeded in producing a life-like portrait of
his subject, and vigorous sketch of the peri
cd to which he belonged. Not only Gou-
verneur Morris, but John Jay, the Clintons.
Robert Morris and many others are brought
before us and made to live again. By the
aid Of our authors pen we are able to repro
duce the weary years of the Revolutionary
age and to appreciate the great work which
our fathers did in achieving our indepen-
dence and consolidating the rival States into
grand and abiding Union. The last task was
more difficult than the first, yet 1t is not gem
orally SO regarded. Few persons of the
present day are aware how serious was the
danger from which the Union saved our
country. Our writers and orators have
dwelt continually upon the hardships of the
war, but have said comparatively little Of
the difficulties which beset the States after
their independence was formally acknowl-
edged Washington was the most infuen-
tial in the second crisis as in the first, and in
both, he was ably seconded by Jay, Madi-
son, Franklin, Morris, and many others.
The particular service rendered by Morris
was in connection with our finances which
were in wretched condition. Gouverneur
and Robert Morris, after Hamilton were the
men to whom we owe most for our hercu-
lean efforts to avert national bankruptcy
and to elucidate the principles by which
alone the credit of nation can be main
talued and its wealth increased.
Soeiallv Morris was most agreeable man.
the centre of wide circle by which he was
much admired. His eye was bright and his
form elastic. He was fond of gaiety, and a
sworn enemy of asceticism Above all he
loved his country and served 1t well.