to be first in the post-obit market. In all of them, however, especially in the Memoirs, Journal, and Correspondence of Moore, there is good store of pleasant gossip and information. The "Table-Talk" has preserved for us one of the most illuminating anecdotes of Mr. Coleridge that we can find anywhere; and the last Edinburgh Review has repeated the story in what it affirms to be a more authentic version. That Coleridge should have had the face and the manners to entertain two gentlemen who visited him with a "monologue " of his own, was to have been expected. But that two such men as Wordsworth and Rogers, as soon as they get into the open air, should first agree in crying, "What a wonderful man!" and then, after looking one another silently in the face for a little while, should agree that they did not understand a syllable of what he had uttered from beginning to end, affords a hint which some of his idolaters would do well to open doors with.

We have taken occasion several times to speak of Mr. Coleridge in a tone very different from the usual admiring one. Not expecting to allude to him again, we avail ourselves of this opportunity to say, that we adhere to every word that we have hitherto spoken of him, whether relative to matters of fact or to critical judgments. In one instance a playful form of representation was indulged in; but the substance of the article was in solemn earnest. This was received in some quarters with a growl, and even with a small tempest, of anger and scorn. The anger was doubtless honest; the contempt was an affectation.

Dred; a Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp. By HARRIET BEECHER STOWE, Author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Boston: Phillips, Sampson, & Co. 1856. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 329, 370.

THIS new story by Mrs. Stowe is receiving extravagant commendations and almost unqualified contempt from our numerous critics. The impression which we ourselves derived from its perusal is so confused and interfered with by the multitude of discordant opinions that have been expressed concerning it, that we can hardly pronounce our own fair judgment upon it. We can only say, that we read it with an interest that held us steadily to the page, unwilling to skip a line, except - and here we speak emphatically except when the pages were occupied with describing the character or rehearsing the rant of "Dred" himself. This nightmare monstrosity is an offence to us, a humbug, a most unnatural, impossible, unnecessary, and un

1856.]

Notices of Recent Publications.

475

available being, or what not? What could have possessed the eminent and able authoress to conjure up or to invent such a creature, is a problem past our skill in explanations. He answers to no reality, and unless he is taken as a sort of impersonation of the Nemesis, the avenging ogre of Slavery, he has nothing to do with the story. If Mrs. Stowe had put her quotations from the old prophets into the beak of a harsh-croaking crow perched on a scathed pine-tree over a camp-meeting, she would have been even more likely to have carried our interest with her than she does by a single thing said by her about Dred," or by him for himself.

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Bating only this nuisance in her pages, we offer our grateful thanks to her for their wisdom, their rich humor, their satire, and their indirect preaching of true humanity and true religion in place of fanaticism and stupid bigotry. It is very easy for the papers to say that the chief characters in the book are only reproductions of those in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." But the assertion is not true. Old Tiff is not Uncle Tom; nor is Nina, Eva; nor is Tomtit, Topsy; nor are any of her characters duplicated, any more than human beings of any stamp or genus are duplicated. Her new characters are all new ones. Fiction has no more striking or winning an embodiment than Old Tiff. He alone would stamp genius upon the work. When artists come to illustrate the book, and for that purpose make a study of its characters, scenes, and incidents, then they will realize, and those who shall enjoy their more successful achievements from their study will realize, what a world of rich, suggestive, and loving interest there is in the work. Old Tiff with his blanket, his dilapidated unmentionables, his spectacles, his vehicle, and cottage, Aunt Nesbit, Old Hundred, Nina, Milly, we long to see them in fit drawings. But let no one meddle with "Dred." Spare him, and spare us.

We suppose a fair purpose to be ascribed to the work is to present in all their entanglements and aggravations the practical difficulties involved alike in the existence and in the removal of slavery.

A Memoir, Biographical and Genealogical, of SIR JOHN LEV. ERETT, KNT., Governor of Massachusetts, 1678-79; of HoN. JOHN LEVERETT, F. R. S., Judge of the Supreme Court, and President of Harvard College; and of the Family generally. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, & Co. 1856. 8vo. pp. 203.

THIS book is not all that we hoped to find it when we first saw its announcement, but our disappointment ought not to

lead us to under-estimate its real value. We had expected. fuller biographical relations, illustrative matter in letters, documents, and historical narrations, and something more of that curious element of antiquarian treasures which gives them their chief charm to readers not personally related to the subjects of a family history. We have, nevertheless, a very valuable and a very interesting volume. It is the record of men distinguished alike for abilities, for virtues, and for high services; and, as is fitting, the women who shared their responsibilities with husbands, parents, and brothers find here their memorial. We commend the volume, therefore, for what it does contain. Faithful pains has evidently been engaged to insure accuracy, and they were worthy for whom such care and gratitude have been spent.

Essays, by THEOPHILUS PARSONS. (Second Series.) Boston: Crosby, Nichols, & Co. 1856. 12mo.

pp. 285.

PROFESSOR Parsons, in this volume of Essays, discusses six topics, The Seeming and the Actual, The Senses, The Ministry of Sorrow, The Sabbath, The Foundation of Duty, and Death and Life. A glance at this list of subjects suffices to show that the author is occupied with matters of the utmost pith and moment. He brings to them a deep faith, a vigorous, well-furnished intellect, and what is at once an advantage and disadvantage, the most entire satisfaction with the form of truth to which he has given his mind and heart. With such furnishings for his task, he could not fail to bring out a vast deal that all would accept; and for ourselves, though we cannot enter into the writer's peculiar views of religion, and go along with him in his loyalty to Swedenborg, we have nevertheless rejoiced in our communion with a wise and most Christian thinker, and are confident that we have gained light through our fellowship. In the first, third, and sixth Essays we have been specially interested. They are compact, clear for the most part, and singularly suggestive. The others we have not yet studied so carefully, but mean to do so. Our sympathy and admiration will not, we fear, be worth much to the author, for we go away from him just where the path is distinctively his own, and cannot read Scripture at all as he reads it; and yet he will suffer us to please and benefit ourselves by what we can accept, and to express the hope that we may meet him in a third series of papers so nobly conceived and thoroughly executed.

1856.]

Literary Intelligence.

477

INTELLIGENCE.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

By the issue of the first and the tenth volumes of the series, Messrs. Little, Brown, & Co. have now completed the publication of the Life and Works of President John Adams, by his Grandson, Charles Francis Adams. And a noble contribution is that which is hereby made to the rapidly growing stores of American biographical, historical, and political literature. We hope very soon to make such an exhibition of our interest in this work, and of our appreciation of its contents, as may be shown by an article upon it, enriched by extracts from its inviting pages. It combines materials of a varied character as regards personal and public revelations upon the ever engaging interests of human life at important periods when men of mark are actors. The biography, composed in part by the subject of it in an autobiographical sketch and in very copious journals and letters, is as complete a revelation of the inner elements of a true-hearted man and a sincere patriot, the growth of New England influences and of a republican training, as can be found upon our library shelves. The diplomatic papers, political essays, and official documents bear the stamp of the man, and a right noble stamp it is. We hail the publication of such works, and invite for them a large popular circulation, notwithstanding their voluminous character. They furnish wiser and better reading than do the pages of our frenzied and passionate political newspapers.

The same firm continue their beautiful edition of the whole series of the British Essayists," by three volumes containing "The World" and three more containing "The Adventurer." They have also added two more volumes to their series of the "British Poets," for the sake of giving us all the Poems of Thomas Hood. We have now four volumes of the works of this admired author, and the edition thus published by Messrs. Little, Brown, & Co. is more complete than any that has been issued in England.

An elegantly printed volume from the same publishing house gives us "Poems by William W. Story” (12mo, pp. 307). There is much variety of tone and subject in its contents, the sentimental and the descriptive being the chief elements of the versification. The author has well proved his artistic genius and power, and has a prescriptive right to make poetry.

Messrs. Ticknor and Fields have published a new and complete edition of the Poems of Matthew Arnold (16mo, pp. 336). Some few of these Poems may possibly be known to our readers through the newspapers whose editors use discretion in their selections for the Poet's Corner. They will be glad to have the volume at hand, as its contents convey the impression of a vigorous mind working with a degree of originality alike in the selection and in the treatment of subjects.

Redfield of New York has produced a handsome reprint, with Maps and Plans, of Arthur P. Stanley's admirable work on "Sinai VOL. LXI. 4TH S. VOL. XXVI. NO. III.

41

and Palestine." (8vo, pp. 535.) We have already, in a reference to the English edition of this book, spoken in the highest terms of its excellence. It is incomparably the best work in our language upon its own interesting subject.

Putnam & Co. of New York have published the third volume of the duodecimo edition of Irving's Life of Washington. The general verdict of the country has sealed the testimony which the critics have rendered to the charms of this work. We should say that it is destined to find a wider circulation among the schools and the families of our land, than any other historical or biographical work.

The same firm has issued an American reprint in one volume of the substance of Lieutenant Burton's admirable "Narrative of a Pilgrimage to El-Medinah and Mecca." (12mo, pp. 492.) The London edition, which appeared in three octavo volumes, has been slightly abridged and condensed, not in a way, however, to impair its value, and an introductory essay has been supplied by Bayard Taylor. The work is one of very great interest, and, what is more, is to be relied upon for its authenticity.

One of the most amusing of recent publications is also upon the East, under the title of "Oriental Acquaintance; or, Letters from Syria." By J. W. De Forest, published by Dix, Edwards, & Co., New York. (12mo, pp. 285.) It is good-humored, racy, and wise.

Messrs. John P. Jewett & Co. have published a work by Hiram Parker, M. D. (12mo, pp. 368), entitled, "The Harmony of Ages: a Thesis on the Relations between the Conditions of Man and the Character of God." We have not yet read the volume, but if the Doctor convinces us that he has found "Harmony" where Dr. Edward Beecher found so sharp a 66 Conflict," we shall hasten to make the fact known on our pages.

The ever-diligent mouser and lively narrator, Dr. Doran, gives us, through a reprint by Redfield, another work full of vigor and information, entitled, "Knights and their Days.' (12mo, pp. 479.) Knighthood in its dignity and its Quixotism is here portrayed by a master's hand, and much curious historical matter is presented in a pleasing form.

Messrs. Brown, Taggard, and Chase, of this city, have just published a new and revised edition of Worcester's Historical Atlas. Twelve Charts, printed with a great regard to accuracy, present the names, incidents, relations, revolutions, dynasties, and biographies, which compose the bone and sinew of history. We hardly need remind any of the high value of such a work.

Messrs. Crosby, Nichols, and Co. have in press:

"Christian Thought and Life." A volume of Sermons which Dr. Lamson, of Dedham, has prepared for publication, in compliance with the request of his parishioners.

"Pictures of the Olden Time,” by Rev. E. H. Sears.

Forrest on the Trinity. Edited by Rev. F. Huidekoper.