New-York tribune., 1898-11-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
FRAGMENTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

rr,cNr\Te OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE WRITINGS CT. THOMAS JEFFERSON son
collected and edited ny rau' ,xiceV' w ;eG G p.
Putnam's Sons.
THE LIFE AND CORREsPoNDEN,.CE n3i. Tt
speeches Edited by his grandson Charles ~
i>ins. NJ y IL. D crrino. VOL v o''a'O'
A GODCUlID or WASHINGTON. \ Picture of
ths Past BY katnarige schuycr SsY,er ss,Hsr,,n,,oo
For private circulation only. octave pp O'i'
r Tennyson NeeF.
The ninth volume of Mr.. Ford's edition or 'ne
works Of jefferson comprises letters ana o'he'
writings Of the period between 1907 and 1910 IN
elusive 1t covers the closing scenes of Burr
conspiracy the Embargo. the long controversy
with England over the rights or Ahle'iC"" S''
men eliminating in the War OF lsiE monroe
return from France. his quarrel with Nau'soh'
which !, reo1ired all Of Jenerson's dexterity TO
suhdue. and Jefforsons retirement al Mo"'-
cello The beginnings Of what after"aTd TOOK
form, AZ negro colonization are shown IN some oi
The letters there is repeated allusion to aua"s
IN tho Louisiana Purchase and TO the eNplora-
,iors ~ Lewis and Clark and Pike. Jencrsoh
exhibit. his peculiar pessmsm. that OF man
who had used newspapers rather unscTupulous-
~ in his time but who always coinpa,nco III 'he
greatest dismay when he felt th" predatory
claws Of other writer's. His bitter ana cynicai
review Of Patrick Henry's career is one OF the
papers in tho volume
Dr King. ffth volume 81 Rufus Kings hfe
and writings covers the same period. 1t often
Give the reverse Of the medal 90 which the
shove volume Of jefferson presents the Repuo-
ncsn side In those DAYS the Federslists were
for A while hopeful Of gaining Monroes as-
slstance But the publication of his letters 10
jefferson made him impossible As an ally. Polt-
icsuy this volume OF Kings papers presents a
ricturo OF tho almost tragic decay OF great
marty While King belongs 10 this party ana
jefferson is the creator Of the new politics OF the
Nation vet the one cannot be more despohdeh'
than the other about the training OF the coming
American. II seems that the Republic has sur
viv.d some dire diseases King was one OF the
first OF Yankees 10 feel the wounds in1iCtsd pN
the eloquent imported Irish patriot. lie endured
The pain with heroic indifference so far as the
,ublic Of his time was allowed to Judge. His re-
nlv IA Thomas Adds Emmet written. but
was laid aside for posterity. He permitted nm
self TO be drawn into the political contests or
\eN-York State more by party loyalty thah ny
any hope Of the future. In fact. he saw very
clearly that the Federalist ideal governmen. by
the educated classes was not 10 be realized. ana
predicted that in future the politics Of the c'uh-
Wv would be divided between the moderate
1a,oocrate and the Democratic extremists. lie
might sav now gerhaps that more OF Federal
ism, survived than he thought possible
The ample pages OF Mrs. Bakers imposing
volume display wealth Of material for history
some Of which has not before beer published
They will be scanned not only for Information
about the Sohuylers. the Van Rensselaers ana
the Van Cortlandts. families most intimately de-
scribed. but also for episodes in the lives OF many
prominent personages in the past of the Nation
and O. New-York state. Mrs. Baxter has ar
ranged her material. whether quoted or Original
IN such a way 20 give a sequence to thN mol
dents related Sometimes date fixes the aul-
tud, Of group Of contemporaries. sometimes
the hospitalities OF an ancient mansion serve 70
bring them together. or again tney fall into place
beside each other distinguished members or
some profession In this way the reader IS
made ACQUAINTED with the traditions which
Catharine van Rensselaer, Schuyler inherited.
,he society in which she moved throughout her
i,eo and her opn personal traits. or these last
Mrs. Baxter writes How VeN remember my
grandmother Although approaching the close
q life she vas distinguished by tail. erect
figure Of uncommon grace, a noble and impress
siVe Countcnanoe. a dignity o. manner no; 10
be acquired by art or study-that everywhere
commanded respect, warm. generous heart: a
ne,er-faiiing courtesy, and 4 charm in conNer-
sation that attracted all ages. Her voice still.
youthful in tone. had lost none Of the sweetness
Of earlier days" In the illustrations OF the book
there j. a Neritab museum OF portraits and
relics. the art and life Of old days Thus the
book is 4 miscellany. hut interesting one
where innuncra bic topics are related - single
onaiity.