THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, from the adoption of the Federal Constitution to the end of the Sixteenth Congress. By Richard Hildreth. 3 vols. Harper Brothers. The first part of this history, comprised in three volumes, and relating to colonial history, has been long before the public, and won for its author the reputation of a fair compiler. The first volume of the second part has now made its appearance, and professes to give a complete and detailed account of the United States in their social, political, intellectual, and economical aspects, during the exceedingly agitated and interesting period of the first generation succeeding the adoption of the Federal Constitution. The first vol., now presented, begins with a pretended account of the state of feeling and prevailing views in the different states at the moment of the organization of the new national government,-the origin of that division of parties by which the country ever since has been more or less agitated, and the echo at least of which still resounds in our ears. The work is by no means what it professes to be--a history. It is a very low order of political partisan publication. Mr. Hildreth appears to be utterly destiute of all the qualities of an historian. He cannot comprehend any general statesmanlike views-is moreover a fanatic of violent passions,-which are apparent in the distortion of every line. The three first volumes, which were a mere compilation of events of our colonial states, from other authors, had a certain degree of value. The crude speculations of a heated fancy in relation to the working of our new political system, are of no value, and are beneath criticism. PROTESTANTISM AND CATHOLICITY, COMPARED IN THEIR EFFECTS ON THE CIVILIZATION OF EUROPE. Written in Spanish. By the Rev. J. Balmes. Translated from the French. John Murphy & Co., 178 Market-street, Baltimore. This great work of Balmes, the illustrious Spanish scholar, whose demise some two years since was matter of national regret, will, without doubt, be eagerly sought. As a philosophical and learned work on the great religious divisions in the Christian world, it will be sure to command attention, and will not be read without profit. It handles in a masterly manner the great question of the respective agency of Protestantism and Catholicity in the progress of modern civilization and progress. The work is by far the most important of its kind ever published in this country. It is in fact a complete library in itself, condensed, and so arranged, as to bring the whole question within the grasp of the humblest reader. It appears most appropriately at the present time, and will, we doubt not, prove an instrument of great efficacy in the work of diffusing sound Catholic doctrine on the matters of which it treats. For the convenience of persons living in remote sections of the country, a limited number of copies have been done up in paper, so that they can be sent by mail to any part of the United States. Price in paper, $1 50; two copies, $3; four copies, $5. 64 COOPER'S WORKS. THE LEATHER-STOCKING TALES. Geo. P. Putnam, 155 Boadway. These tales are embraced in five volumes, whereof the 4th and 5th were published in January. "The Deerslayer;" "The Last of the Mohicans;" The Path-finder;" "The Pioneers," and "The Prairie," compose the life of Leather-Stocking-that immortal creation of Cooper's personifying the frontier life of the American states from their colonial state to their national grandeur. They depict, with singular clearness and force, the superiority of the white blood in its simple strength enamored of forest life, and struggling alike with the wilderness and the savage-forcing away for the advance of the more industrious, and less adventurous settler-while the less enduring nature of nations of the forest perishes by the way. This standard edition by Putnam, will be the Library edition for 25,000,000 readers. THE PLOUGH, THE LOOM, AND THE ANVIL. J. S. Skinner, 79 Walnut-street, Philad'a. This well-known work well sustains its interest in the hands of Col. Skinner. Its usefulness is, however, greatly marred through the ultra-protective theories promulgated by such imaginative speculators as Mr. Carey. The absurd folly of taxing producers of the national wealth, in order to bribe others to leave profitable for unprofitable employments, should not, in so otherwise respectable and useful a work, be addressed to the clear understandings of American farmers. SHAKSPEARE'S DRAMATIC WORKS. Phillips, Sampson & Co., Boston. No. thirty-one of this elegant edition, contains Titus Andronicus, with a fine steel plate of Lavinia. DER DEUTSCHE KIRCHENFREUND. Organ für die gemeinsamen Interessen der amerikanish-deutschen Kirchen. Herausgegeben von Philipp Schaff, Professor der Theologie zu Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. This is a monthly publication of high character, and it is a great credit to the German Theological literature of the country. It contains an interesting Address by Neander, on the mission of Güzlaff to China. It was delivered eight days before the death of the great Church historian. There are many other articles of interest. The work is to be had of Rudolph Garrigue, 2 Barclay-street. THE DOVE AND THE EAGLE. Ticknor, Reed & Fields, Boston. This is a very clever practical satire upon the hobby-riding propensities of would-bereformers, each of whom imagines that the object which perchance has attracted his feeble attention, is the only existing evil upon the footstool-and that reform, and that only, according to his plan, should henceforth solely occupy mankind. The subject is skillfully treated. PRINCIPLES OF TOOLOGY: Touching the Structure, Development, Distribution, and Natural Arrangement of the Races of Animals, Living and Extinct, with numerous illustrations. Part I., Comparative Physiology, for the use of Schools and Colleges. By Louis Agassiz, and A. B. Gould. Gould & Lincoln, Boston. This very valuable work has appeared in a revised edition. The high reputation it has acquired, does justice to the eminent source from which it emanates. Although simple and elementary in its style, it is full in its illustrations and comprehensive in its range: bringing information a half century in advance of all other elementary works on this subject, into the narrow compass proper for its intended object. It is elegantly and cheaply printed. FOREIGN REMINISCENCES. By Henry Richard Lord Holland; edited by his son, Henry Edward Lord Holland. Harper Brothers. These exceedingly interesting Reminiscences of Lord Holland are dedicated to Jerome Bonaparte, the only surviving brother of the great Emperor. It contains many new and pleasing anecdotes of that remarkable man. Recent events in France have called forth the publication, and imparted a new interest to it. JANE BOUVERIE; or, Prosperity and Adversity. By Catherine Sinclair, author of "Sir Edward Graham," &c. Harper Brothers. This is a very interesting romance of English life, and of a moral tendency. It is handsomely bound, and published in the neat and very cheap style for which the Mess. Harpers are so justly celebrated. L'AVENGRO: The Scholar-The Gipsey-The Priest. By George Borrow, author of "The Bible in Spain," &c. G. P. Putnam, 155 Broadway. This is certainly a very interesting story, well sustained, and of a racy style, but of a theological cast:-directing its attack against the Church of Rome with much bitterness. Mr. Putnam, it appears, contracted at a "high figure," in November, 1848, with Mr. Murray, of London, for an early copy of this work for publication, and has now produced it in his well-known elegant style. The publication has given rise to a controversy between his house and that of Harper Brothers. He alleges, that in violation of the usages of the trade, the Messrs. Harpers obtained an early, but incorrect copy of his reprint, and published a rival cheap edition, which is imperfect. The Messrs. Harper in reply, state their right to reprint, and also as a reason for doing so, that Mr. Putnain has republished their works; which, however, Mr. Putnam denies. A SCHOOL DICTIONARY OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE. By Dr. J. H. Kaltschmidt. In two Parts. 1st. Latin-English. Lee & Blanchard. This valuable School Dictionary belongs to the classical series edited by Drs Schmitz and Zumpt, and supplies a great want, viz., a Lexicon within reasonable compass, and at a moderate price. LOVE AND AMBITION: A Novel. By the author of "Rockingham." H. Long & Brother, 43 Ann-street. Messrs. Long & Brother have been very successful as the publishers of interesting new novels, in a well-printed and cheap style. The present vol. is of 160 octavo pages. |