New-York tribune., 1889-10-18
NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS.

The third volume of Mr.. W. c. Ford's edition OF inc
writings of George Washington &c. p. Putnams sons
includes the correspondence Of the years l''o-i' 'O
The ceaseless worry and stress which washington D
during this period are indicated In neary every cor
The toi and strain Of energizng the sluggish ana I'M
practical Congress occupied his mind constantly anu
he had to be forever mplorng help even In those ue
tails the absolute necessity OF attention 10 N"i0"
should have been evident TO the duiiest pohuo'""'
The Congress, however which expected fIahhi'h az
Paris TO forward supplies without funds or ceolt'
looked IN the same way 10 Washington TO encounter
the British armies without arms or Ammunition
Throughout these letters he is calling for hreiooks ana
poyyder even moro urgently than clothing and pro
visions though these latter were hard enough 10 ob
tain Military operations were repeatedly prevented
sr postponed because of the insuhicency OF powder
Discipline was made difficult by the vicious plan OF
short enlistments, against which the commanderin-
chief vigorously protests; money, too, was sadly
lacking. There was no military chest 1t was found
necessary to detan the guns brought by enlisted men
WHOSE time was out though, as Washington fuefully
observes the measure looked like and was regarded
rs fiat robbery. Meanwhile the great captain got
The best of every thing. performed prodgies With
but means, and so, no doubt, confirmed Congress IN
the belief that his demands and complaints were anKc
everdrawn.
The twentieth volume of the Dictionary OF Ma
tional Biography Macmillan Coz includes the names
important and interesting biographies. Among these
may be mentioned those of John Forster oha"0s
James Fox, George Fox Lord and Lady h""a'
Though the latter considering the interest OF 'c SUI
5ect may be thought 100 bneD. Inc eui'or "i'''9 ~
admirable biography of Sir Philip Francis, going over
.u the Juntusp evidence and summing up decluedS
for the identity Of Francis with the mysterious eoio
,nondent Sir John Franklin, Fraser, twelfth Lofu
Iovat Sir Barth Frere. Sir Martin trobshcr' al "l1
carefully and adequately treated Inc sAe'on VI
Elizabeth Fry does not appear 10 us luii cno"s"' 80
ever She was woman who deserved the most
,heral representation Thomas ruler fuSci' 'o
artist. Gainsborough, General Gage parHclpS'or ~
American history Gait the novelist, Gambler inc
navigator are worthy commem0ratcd Alhohe uio
long list OF Gardiners the life of Stephen hlshoP Va
Winchester is most fully cbroncled Ihe rauer VIII
ngain note the large numbers of certain names, anu
the persistence with which certain families ana those
not generally of the higher nobility, come 10 the
front in public affairs of Mr.. Cations theories
OF heredity appear to be traversed by these strhg
examples. The great Dictionary has no" Tachea
the seventh letter Of the alphabet and II seems uouoI
sul whether it can be completed within hfty Voumes
but there can be no question as to the value ana
high quality Of the work.
We have received from Brentano the eleventh anu
twelfth numbers Of Mr. Bing's Artistic Japan the
English edition of which s we hope finding hperai
support in this country, for the publication has the
double merit of high excellence both literary ana ar
bstic and remarkable cheapness. No. IL opens
with an erudtc essay of Philippe Burty upon the
yapanese small sword fully illustrated The separate
plates include reproductions of sword onamehlanoh
falence decorative designs, bronzes kakemonos ana
figure piece by Harunobu No. Il has a paper
on "Ritsno and his school," by Ernest Hart IL
Illustrated from examples in his collection. Among
the separate plates a landscape from the Thirty
six Views of Fusiyama (IoluIsail, followed by fe-
production of two pages from the same artists FAMOUS
; Manr,ya in which his wonderful power of drawing
the human form the oldest attitudes and his strong
genius for caricauire. strikngly displayed a
bird and Flowers" from the school of shijo, is full OF
character and quiet taste. The double plate a
Night Fete by UtamaSO. is river scene illustrating
holiday life among the japanese people 1t is full OF
interest and crowded with activity and hGhthealted
fun There are usual among the separate plates
several which exhibit patterns in stun, drapereS
goods etc. and also reproductions of examples
Of wood carving and industrial designs of various
descriptions.