MAY 1, 1866.

years, sailed yesterday in the Cunard steamer Asia! "It has been said that his personal friendships from Boston for a European tour of a few months. sometimes lend a glow to his critiques; if so, it is a His place will be supplied by a gentleman whose fault which only proves that his heart is as sound excellent literary culture and practical experience as his head. His labors as editor of the 'New Ameriin journalism eminently qualify him for the post. can Cyclopedia' reflect the highest honor on his Meantime, in the absence of our esteemed fellow-scholarship and literary tact, taste, and assiduity. laborer, we are sure that our readers will be grati- Mr. Ripley is about to visit Europe for a few months; fied with the subjoined testimonials to the manner and no member of the editorial fraternity in New in which our literary columns have been conducted York will be followed on a recreative tour by the under his superintendence, from "The Boston Tran- warm sympathy, sincere respect, and best wishes of script" of April 12:a larger circle of intelligent, loyal, and attached friends.”—N. Y. Tribune.

"On the evening of the 10th instant the twentyfifth anniversary of the establishment of 'The New York Tribune' was celebrated by a dinner at Delmonico's, at which the survivors of the brilliant corps of writers connected with that journal from its origin assembled to indulge in mutual reminiscences and congratulations. The scene, the occasion, and the men were alike illustrative of the energy and the results of American enterprise, intelligence, and talent. The career of each individual, present or deceased, and the history of The Tribune' itself, as rehearsed by its founder, suggested a world of interesting associations. Countess d'Ossoli (Margaret Fuller) and the transcendental philosophy, Hildreth and American history, Wm. H. Fry and music, Geo. W. Curtis and social criticism, Bayard Taylor and the literature of travel, Charles A. Dana and the War Department in the late civil conflict-were but a portion of the subjects and careers which this newspaper festival recalled and emphasized.

The

MODIFICATIONS OF INTERNAL REVENUE TAX.-It is stated in despatches from Washington that the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means will shortly make a report recommending various modifications in our system of Internal Revenue, among which, it is said, that the tax on general manufactures is proposed to be reduced from six to five per cent., and that the entire tax on certain articles of production and materials be removed, including, among other things, books, maps, charts, and all printed matter and book-binding, paper of all descriptions, and the productions of stereotypers, lithographers, and engravers.

LEYPOLDT & HOLT's American and European Bulletin will be found by, book-buyers and librarians to be very convenient. It furnishes a monthly list of the most prominent English, French, and German publications, with occasional notes on Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and other foreign books, any of which will be supplied by the publishers.

"But our sympathies were irresistibly attracted to the most accomplished and least ambitious of the guests, who succeeded Mr. Greeley as President, MR. CARLETON, the publisher, has lately returned when the former gentleman retired to give his old from a trip to Peru, made for his health, bringing partner, McElrath, an opportunity to discuss 'The with him a little book of sketches, similar to those Tribune's' course and progress without restraint. which he published last winter as "Our Artist in We could not but remember the admirable influence Cuba," but with more variety in them, and cleverer exerted upon literary taste and philosophical disin execution. He also has in press a new book by cussions by George Ripley-in a community where Edmund Kirke, entitled "Adrift in Dixie," which the interests of both are so overlaid by politics, will be ready in a few days. A small volume by a industrial enterprise, and material luxury. A gen- surgeon of the East India Company on “ Epidemic tleman and a scholar, in the best sense of those Cholera," and a new English novel called "Recommuch-abused terms, is a style of character every-mended to Mercy," are also on the eve of publicawhere and always benign and useful; but more so tion by him. in connection with the press of New York than we are apt to imagine.

"Mr. Ripley is perfectly equipped for the mission he undertook as literary editor of The Tribune.' Thoroughly versed in ancient and modern literature, in theology, in philosophy, and in belles-lettres, he is one of the very few American writers whose knowledge justifies his vocation. Not less desirable for such a task are his broad, liberal, comprehensive mind, his catholic sympathies, his patriotic interest in the genius and culture of his native land, and the kindly, courteous, humane instincts of his nature. How much he has done to clarify the misty conceptions of the people on subjects of a psychological nature, to elevate their standard of judgment as to works of pure literature, to enlighten their appreciation of modern history and poetry, and rectify their crude judgments of popular fiction, it is impossible to realize-so steady, faithful and unpretending have been his efforts and his influence. "No American critic gives so complete and just an idea of the book he reviews, so full a description of its object, traits, and tendencies; no one is so utterly free from partisan bias, or throws himself so heartily into the author's sentiment or science, in order to reproduce their essential spirit and vital significance. A rare and precious volume might be compiled from the columns of The Tribune' wherein he has so freely and discriminately uttered is more elaborate commentaries on current and tandard literature.

A BOOK RECOVERED. - In "Much Ado About Nothing," Beatrice asks Benedick if he had said that she was disdainful and had her wit out of the" Hundred Merry Tales ?" This was a book containing a century of quips, narratives, and repartees, which young ladies in the reign of Mary and Elizabeth were expected to have read. Mr. Singer, a Shaksperian editor who did not know very much about Shakspeare, thought he had found this book in "Merry Tales and Quick Answers," which he reprinted in 1814, under the title of "Shakspeare's Jest Book"-which was not. The "Athenæum" says: "But this use of a wrong title was not Singer's chief mistake; for the work which he dignified with the poet's name, and which has borne it ever since, was not the book referred to in Much Ado.' And thereby hangs a curious tale. While the false 'Shakspeare's Jest-Book' was coming out from the Chiswick Press, the Rev. J. J. Conybeare, poking among the rubbish of a book-stall, happened to pick up an old volume with a thick binding of pasted leaves; which binding of pasted leaves, ou being wetted and parted. was found to contain portions of a true and genuine, but undated, copy of The Hundred Merry Tales.' Many pages were damaged; but, as luck would have it, more than one copy of the old chap-book, in the humor of which Queen Bess delighted, had been used by the binder, so that some pages were found twice over.

MAY 1, 1866.

A copy was put together from these pieces, with some few breaks and slips, and the large fragment, so oddly recovered, was given to literature by Singer from the Chiswick Press. From that day there has been no doubt as to what book was meant by Beatrice." A new edition, with introduction and notes by Dr. Herman Oesterley, has just been published in London, more complete than the first, from a unique perfect copy, printed in 1526, and discovered by him in the library of the University of Göttingen.

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.-The questio vexata of Mary Stuart's complicity in the murder of Lord Darnley, her second husband, is again discussed in a volume by Alexander McNeel-Caird, just published in Edinburgh, entitled "Mary Stuart, her Guilt or Innocence an Inquiry into the Secret History of her Times." Mr. Caird thinks her innocent, but his evidence is vague and inconclusive. One singular fact he states is the following:

"There is a notable gap in the documents at the State Paper Office of the time of Darnley's murder. For a month before, and almost a month after it, the reports of the English agents at Edinburgh have disappeared. These had hitherto been constant and copious, with the minutest information of everything that went on. The communications on this subject must have been numerous and important; how much so we can judge from their graphic fulness of detail at the time of Riccio's death. They may have been taken out to form a special collection; and if so, their discovery will some day tell the whole of this horrid tale in its naked and minutest particulars. But what if they touched some great personage?"

THE POET COWPER.-There has lately been advertised, in a London paper, to be sold to the highest bidder, an "authentic relic of the Poet Cowper." It is the identical chest of drawers immortalized in the Poem of "The Retired Cat." By the way, it may be news to some admirers of the poet that he always pronounced his name as if the spelling were Cooper, and his last biographer did the same, for we have seen a letter of his in which occurs the sentence, "Here I am at Bristol, having been Cooperizing [i. e., collecting materials for his edition of Cowper] all the way down from Keswick."

THE OLDEST MAPS OF AMERICA.-At a recent public meeting, in Burlington House, London, of the Royal Society and its guests, were exhibited facsimiles of the two oldest maps of America hitherto known, their dates being 1527 and 1529, respectively. These have just been published, with a large book, in which they are discussed and elucidated by J. G. Kohl, the well-known traveller; they will surprise all who examine them by the large number of places on the east and west coasts of America which were then named and laid down. The originals of these maps are in the Grand-Ducal Library at Weimar, in which city Mr. Kohl's book was published.

OBITUARY.-Among the recent dead are the follow

science.

PERIODICALS.

Bibliotheca Sacra. April.

ORIGIN OF "PICKWICK."-In the "London Athe-fifty-seven editions.) næum" is a letter from R. Seymour, son of the Mr. George Rennie, the eminent engineer, who artist who supplied the sketches for the first constructed the Namur and Liège Railway, and number of "Pickwick." It is apropos of the issue, wrote several important works on engineering by Mr. Bohn, of a new edition of "Seymour's Sketches," which, the younger Seymour says, imperfectly show the varied ability of the father. In this letter it is claimed that the idea and title of "The Pickwick Club" were the elder Seymour's, whose History and Theology of the Reformed Protestant plan was to give the adventures of a club of cockney Dutch Church (Elbert S. Porter, D. D.). — Our sportsmen; that he showed it to two London pub- Place in History (Rev. J. Seelye).-The Study of lishers, first to Mr. McLean and then to Mr. Spooner; English Literature (Rev. R. P. Dunn).—The Cathothat the latter had some idea of publishing it, and lie Apostolic Church (Rev. W. W. Andrews).wished Theodore Hook to write the letter-press; Brücke's Physiology of Speech (Prof. L. R. Packthat the first four plates were etched before the ard).-Regeneration-the Work of God (Rev. A. work was mentioned by Seymour, and that they Phelps).-Martyrdom, in the Apocalypse (the late were afterwards retouched and modified in some Rev. B. F. Hosford).-Notices of Recent German degree to meet Mr. Dickens' views, and that, for Publications.-Notices of Recent Publications. Bosthe benefit of his mother and family, the younger ton: Draper & Halliday. Seymour will immediately issue a complete edition Hours at Home. May. of his father's works, consisting of one hundred and eighty engravings, and a full account of the origin of the "Pickwick Papers."

MISS BRADDON, THE NOVELIST.-A uniform library edition, revised and corrected, of this lady's very sensational novels, is announced in London. Mr. BENTLEY, who lately purchased and now publishes "Temple Bar," has been put into Chancery by Mr. W. H. Ainsworth, the novelist. It seems that when "Bentley's Miscellany" was sold to Mr. Ainsworth, a condition was that, under a heavy penalty, neither Mr. Bentley nor his sons were to own or publish a magazine, except with Mr. Ainsworth's permission, which was not granted in this case. The decision of the Vice-Chancellor was that Mr. Bentley, if he continued to publish "Temple Bar," should account for the sales and profits until the question of law between himself and Mr. Ainsworth had been duly disposed of by a regular nisi prius trial.

How Old is Man? (J. P. Thompson, D.D.).-Notes on the Battle of Gettysburg (W. Swinton).-Kapiolani, the Heroine of Hawaii (R. Anderson, D.D.). -The Lessons of the United States to Europe (Prof. E. Laboulaye).-The Little Preacher.-Influence of the Reformation on the Scottish Character (J. A. Froude).-A Visit to the English Universities (Prof. J. M. Hoppin).-The Zambesi Expedition (The Editor).-The Lady of Fernwood.-Midnight on Mansfield Mountain (W. R. Huntington, D. D.).—The Decline of Solomon and its Causes (Rev. Dr. A. P. Stanley).-Italy (Prof. W. Wells). - The Way Home.-Jane Gurley's Story (Miss E. S. Phelps).The City of the Silent (Dr. A. Peters). New York: C. Scribner & Co.

The Catholic World. May.

Problems of the Age.-Glastonbury Abbey, Past and Present: the Rise of the Benedictines.-Saints of the Desert.-Christine: a Troubadour's Song. Jenifer's Prayer.-A Pretended Dervish in Turke

MAY 1, 1866.

stan.-Mater Divine Gratiæ.-Pamphlets on the The State of our Rubrics, as bearing upon new De-
Eirenicon.-Curiosities of Animal Life.-Poor and velopments in Ritualism.-The Church: Puritan-
Rich.-All Hallow Eve; or, The Test of Futurity.- ism: The Freedmen.-Schweinitz on the Moravian
Requiem Eternam.-Tinted Sketches in Madeira.- Episcopate.-The General Convention of 1865.-
The Catholic Publication Society.-New Publica- Notices of Books.-Ecclesiastical Register. New
tions. New York: Lawrence Kehoe.
York: N. S. Richardson.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine. May.

Atlantic Monthly. May.

Galena and its Lead Mines.-The Yosemite ValThe Harmonists. Abraham Davenport (J. G. ley (T. L. Wiseley).-Livingston's Last African Whittier).—Last Days of Walter Savage Landor: II. Expedition (A. H. Guernsey).-Cast Away.-The (Miss Kate Field).-To-Morrow (H. W. Longfellow). Flag that Talks (Charles Landor).—Armadale (Wil-Doctor Johns: XVI. (D. G. Mitchell).-Passages kie Collins).-Tom Lodowne.-Marriage à la Mode. from Hawthorne's Note-Book: V.-The Fenian Idea The American People Starved and Poisoned (Miss (Frances Power Cobbe).-The Chimney-Corner for C. E. Beecher).-Queen's Good Work.-Kate.-The 1866: V. (Mrs. H. B. Stowe).-Edwin Booth (E. C. Voices of the Night.-Longwood.-Editor's Easy Stedman).-Among the Laurels (Mrs. Akers) — Chair.-Monthly Record of Current Events.-Edi- Griffith Gaunt; or, Jealousy: VI. (C. Reade).→ tor's Drawer. New York: Harper & Brothers. American Quarterly Church Review and Ecclesiastical Register. April.

Priest, Altar, and Sacrifice.-Who were the Early Settlers of Maryland ?-Dr. Beardsley's History.

What Will it Cost Us? (E. H. Derby).-Mephistophelean (C. J. Sprague).-Mr. Hosea Biglow's Speech at March Meeting (J. R. Lowell).—Question of Monuments (W. D. Howells).—Reviews and Literary Notices. Boston; Ticknor & Fields.

BOOK NOTICES.

These are both published by Mr. J. Munsell, Albany, and they surpass in style, if possible, Mr. Munsell's previous efforts. Paper, press work, and typography are of the very first class, and the appearance of the volumes is creditable not only to the publisher but to the book-making art of the country. The contents, too, of the volumes, which are of an antiquarian and historical character, are no less attractive than their externals. One of them is a painstaking effort to gather together all we know of Henry Hudson. It is a contribution to our early history which will be relished by students in that department. The work first named is a republication of one which has long been out of print. It was undertaken originally at the suggestion of De Witt Clinton, whose family manuscripts, as well as those of General Van Schaick, were placed at the disposal of the author. Both volumes are appropriate contributions to the rare, curious, and elegantly printed series of antiquarian works which Mr. Munsell is issuing.

LAW.

The History of Usury from the Earliest Period to the
Present Time, together with a Brief Statement of
General Principles concerning the Conflict of the
Laws in Different States and Countries, and an
Examination into the Policy of the Laws on Usury
and their Effect upon Commerce. By J. B. C.
Murray. pp. viii., 158.
Philadelphia: J. B.
Lippincott & Co.

Mr. Murray's first chapter presents a brief sketch of the history of usury among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. The development of the doctrine in England, from the period of Alfred to the present time is then traced, followed by an outline of the subject in the Colonies and States of this country. The law of each State is referred to, and in the two concluding chapters the principles governing the conflict of the

laws and the general policy of laws of usury are discussed. The book is not, striatly speaking, a professional treatise solely for the legal fraternity, and to serve also as an introduction to the detailed but seems intended rather for the general reader, legal study of the subject.

A Summary of the Law of Marine, Fire, and Life Insurance, with Practical Forms, Modern Cases, and Computing Rules. Designed for the Guidance of Insurance Companies and the Convenience of the Legal Profession. By Charles C. Bonney. pp. xxi., 273. Chicago: E. B. Myers & Chan

dler.

The

Mr. Bonney's title properly describes the general character of his work. As a manual for officers and agents engaged in the actual business of insurance, it will be found convenient and serviceable. plan of the author is to state general principles in a series of propositions, and refer to, without quoting at length, the cases by which the proposition is sustained. While it cannot with the legal profession take the place of the valuable treatises existing on the subject, it may nevertheless serve the purpose of a ready reference book, which in many matters of current practice may render further examination unnecessary. A very full collection of appropriate forms is given in Marine, Life, and Accident Insurance, together with the Ansell computing rules. Bracton and his Relation to the Roman Law. By Carl Güterbock, Professor of Law in the University of Koenigsberg. Translated by Brinton Coxe. 8vo. pp. x., 182. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co.

This work is another evidence of the activity manifested by the German historical school of jurists. Having explored the continental sources of modern law, they are now applying themselves with the indefatigable industry characteristic of the race and profession to the sources of English law. They seem to be especially attracted in this direction by the consideration that in England, if any where in Europe, is to be found an independent self-developed system of jurisprudence. Protected by their insular situation and insular prejudices from the overshadowing influence of the civil law which pervaded the Continent, the English have been enabled more than any other modern nation

MAY 1. 1866.

English law, and upon the author, and contains valuable illustrations drawn from the civil law of the various subjects under discussion. One thing in this work has somewhat surprised us, the high authority accorded by our author to Dr. Biener. We had supposed Biener to belong to a class of writers not uncommon in Germany, who are remarkable rather for the amount of their learning than for their profound judgment and penetrating sagacity. Yet our author classes him with Gneist and names him with Savigny.

The translator's share in the work is above criticism, and he has greatly increased its value by his numerous and erudite historical notes. As a specimen of book making the appearance of this book does great credit to its publishers.

THE WAR.

The South Since the War; as shown by Fourteen Weeks of Travel and Observation in Georgia and the Carolinas. By Sidney Andrews. pp. viii., 400. Boston: Ticknor & Fields.

to originate and develop an indigenous system of laws. Still, the influence of the civil, law has not been unfelt even in England, and it is necessary to a thorough appreciation of the legislative achievements of the nation, that the elimination of the civil law doctrines incorporated in their system should first be accomplished. The time is now ripe for the performance of this preliminary labor, and the work before us is to be considered as a contribution towards it. It is but just to our author to say that his design is to ascertain not how little, but how great is the debt of the English to the civil law. With that object he selects Bracton's work as the earliest scientific commentary upon the English law. It is undeniable that large portions of Bracton are taken from the civil law, but it has been asserted that those portions are introduced by him merely by way of ornament and illustration, and are not to be considered as valid authoritative law in England at the time. Our author holds and we think conclusively proves the opposite view. His volume is divided into two parts, of which the first treats of Bracton and his work, and the second is a detailed investigation of the Roman law in Bracton's work. In the first part are discussed Bracton's life, the date of his work, its character, sources, and authorities, and the importance of the Roman law in Bracton. The chapter upon Bracton's influence in England is the most unsatisfactory in the volume, being mostly confined to a history of the editions and of the favorable opinions entertained of Bracton by later authors of eminence. Yet it is obvious that a just determination of the influence of Bracton upon the development of the common law is of great importance. Granting to our author as we are disposed to do that the Roman law contained in Bracton was valid authoritative law in England in Bracton's time, that Bracton was not an innovator who incorporated foreign law in a treatise upon the laws and customs of England, but a faithful commentator who stated the law as it then existed, the question arises, were the doctrines derived from the civil law, as laid down by Bracton, preserved in subsequent ages, and if so, did they remain unaltered, or did they participate in the growth and development of the rest of the system? This defect in our author the translator intended to supply in a note, but the design was afterwards abandoned on account of the great time and space required to do justice to the subject. We trust, however, that the translator has not relinquished his design, which indeed may well Occupy years to complete it, but which must be done by some one, and we know no one more com- A petent than himself, before the great question what is the amount of the debt due by the English to the Roman law can approach a solution.

The second part of the work is, as is indicated by its title, a minute examination of the Roman law in Bracton. Our space will not permit us to follow our author here. Suffice it to say he shows very clearly that a large part of Bracton's "Laws and Customs of England" is copied from the civil law, being taken either from the Digest and Institutes or transcribed from Azo, a commentator on the civil law, who was very popular in Bracton's time. One striking feature in this part of the book is found in Bracton's variations from the civil law, which are of constant occurrence. Another is his employment of civil law terms in a common law sense, of which dos, donatio, and præscriptio, are familiar

instances.

Mr. Andrews spent the months of September, October, and November, 1865, in the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, as the correspondent of the "Boston Advertiser," and the Chicago Tribune." Most of the matter which appears in the present volume has already appeared in letters to one or the other of those two papers. Campaigns of a Non-Combatant, and his Romaunt Abroad during the War. By Geo. Alfred Townsend. pp. 868. N. York: Blelock & Co. In the early part of 1863, Mr. Townsend wrote for the "Cornhill Magazine" a series of chapters on the rebellion, the result of his experiences as a correspondent. He has reproduced them here with some sketches of American life in Europe, and some European estimates of American life. The style is spirited, and the book is altogether quite an agreeable one of its class.

JUVENILE.

Rescued from Egypt. By A. L. O. E. pp. viii., 465. New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons.

In this neat little volume we have, in the blended form of lecture and conversation, a sketch of the life of Moses and of the lessons which it teaches. The work is written with the conviction that the Gospel is preached in the Pentateuch, and this impression is the paramount one sought to be conveyed by the book.

Nutshell of Knowledge. By A. L. O. E. pp. vi.,

224. New York: T. Nelson & Son.

In this little volume one of our most popular writers of juveniles seeks by entertaining narratives to impart some useful information about every day objects, and the attempt appears to be quite successful.

School and Home; or, Leaves from a Boy's Journal: a Tale for Schoolboys. pp. 383. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.

An English story of schoolboy life is here presented with such incidents as are well calculated to impress religious convictions on the minds of youth.

The Evil Tongue. By Nellie Grahame. pp. 213.
The Sunny Mount and its Peaks.
By the Rev. W.

P. Breed. pp. 216.
Bob Walker; or, the Boy who Couldn't Get Up in
the Morning. By Nellie Grahame.
The Presbyterian Board of Publication, Philadel-
It phia, has added these three volumes to their Series

It would be a mistake to suppose that this part of the work is a dry collation of parallel passages from Bracton and the sources of the civil law. is replete with commentary and criticism upon for Youth.

pp. 72.

MAY 1, 1866.