The Portland daily press., 1899-06-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


The Jsoksonlan Epoch. BY Charles H.
Peck. (New York: Harper s. Bros;
Portland: LorinR, Short s. Harmon.
The Jacksonian Epoch began with the
battle OF New Orleans and ended with
the death Of Gon. Harrison and Ethe sue
cession of Mr.. Tyler. The conspicuous
figures were jackson on the one side and
Henry Clay on the. other, and Mr.. Peck's
work is largely history of the political
contests between these two men .snd the
parties they rrpresepted. jackson con-
csived an enrnity for Clay on account Of
his criticism OF the formers conduct In
the Seminole war, and from that time ON
life that snmity increased. 1t was not
political merely, but personal, and 1t rem
dered the contest over the United Etates
bank excsedingly bitter and malignant.
In many ways the epoch which this
history covers was the most important In
the early years of the Republic. Politi-
cal parttisanship grew under jackson to
q strength bsforelunknown. and the peo.
pie became enlisted 10 public affairs far
beyond what had been the case previous
ly. The struggles In Congr ess over the
United States bank and the public lands
ragged 1ercely throughout Jackson's ad-
ministsatien with Clay. the leader of the
opposition, pitted against Thomas h.
Benton who marshslled the jackson
forces, and gave opportunity for some OF
the most stirring debates ever listened
to In the Congress Of the United States
MIR. Peck's narrative is characterized by
fairness and impartiality. aud an evident
desire to do justice to the motives Of both
sides In the long continued and bitter
controversies Of which his work treats.
Incidentally we get glimpses of Webster
and Calhoun, but the central figures Of
the book are jackson and Clay.
The Biographical Edition Of W. NJ.
Thackeray's Complete Works. with Bio
graphical introductions by his daughter,
Anne Ritchie, in thirteen volumes. Bal
lards and Misosllanies published In
April, completes this very valuable
edition Of Thackeray's works. This last
volume contains Lifs Of the Author,
by Leslie Stephen and bibliograpy,
with illustrations ry the artists. George
Cruikshank and John Jeech. The 'front.'
is2iece Is portrait Of the author By SAM
uel Lawrence. 1t has long ard inter
esting Introduction by Mrs. Ritchie.
with number of family portraits and
numerous Illustrations; also letters writ
ten by Thackeray and by members Of
bis family. Mrs. Ritchie's introduction
to each volume lie Of great interest, pre-
senting many letters from her fathers
pen; some Of them written at the time
he was writing his greatest works and
Others when he was writing and deliver.
ing his lectures in England and America.
In the Introduction to Philip. there are
numerous letters which Thackeray re-
oeived from his more illustrious friends
and contributors, when he was the guild
ing genius of the Cornhin Magazine.
The introduotions to these thirteen vol
umes taken together, constitute the only
authentic biography Of Thacksray in ex-
istence. Mira Richie throughout these
introduetions has PRESENTED many inter
esting details of her fathers daily life,
delightful extracts from his letters, notes
and diaries and unpublished fragments
Of his works. Added 10 all these the
pleasant recollections OF her own, brings
the author very near to us. In giving
to us this true picture of her father. Mrs.
Ritchie has made valuable contribution
TO literature The volumes ara bound in
dark blue with the authors initial many
times repeated. The type Is clear and
both text and illustrations are well print
ed. New York and London: Harper
Brothers. (Portland: Loring, Snort 8
Harmon y