REVIEW.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5670, 2 June 1879, Page 3

REVIEW.

Oor. First Century. By R. N. Devcns. Published by Nichols and Co., Springfield, Mass., U.S.

We have much pleasure in noticing the above work, which embodies a very complete popular history of the chief events which have occurred in the United States during the first hundred years of the existence of the American Republic as a separate State. We have looked through the volume with care, and have read with interest several chapters, and with the exception of a certain amount of “ highfalutin” about the eloquence of certain American statesmen, and a considerable redundancy and exuberance of style, we are prepared to commend it very highly. From an Englishman’s point of view there is a great deal of matter which were perhaps better expunged. Details of Morissey and Heenan’s prize fight, the murder of Dr. Burdell, and the homicide of the Hon. P. Key, with a full history of all the adulterous intercourse which led up to the final tragedy, are not in our eyes events of such historical importance as to be worthy of being placed side by side and upon an equal footing with the great civil war, the application of steam to navigation, the completion of the Atlantic cable, or of the Pacific railway. But American, and perhaps also colonial taste, is generally held to be less fastidious in these matters, and we therefore decline to pass so severe a judgment on the work as if it emanated from the English Press, and were dedicated exclusively to English readers. Before proceeding to speak of the numerous excellencies of the book wo must enter a protest against any such engraving as that which adorns chapter 47, representing tho distorted forms of three pirates who had been hanged for piracy and mutiny. As a sample of the word-spinning we take exception to chapter 4, on a Wonderful Dark Day, may he mentioned, it might certainly lie cut down to one-third its present length with advantage. The opening paragraph of the book affords such an excellent example of Yankee “ high-falutin” that we make the following extract : “ Defiance to tyrants was emblazoned in empyreal light upon her [the new nation’s] brow, and Freedom and Justice were frontlets between

her eyes. . . . But the People, as they descried the Eagle of Liberty soaring proudly aloft, breathed freer and took stronger heart as the clear ring of her voice sounded through the air, declaring with grandly rounded enunciation that ‘ all men are created equal.’ ” It is but fair to add that this is the only passage which we noticed, in which the language used is absurdly grandiose, in so far as our researches show. The general style of the work is clear, and the description of events and discoveries, many of which are related in the words of contemporaneous documents, is generally clear, graphic, and explicit. We marked numerous extracts for favorable comment, and will briefly refer to the most striking instances. The description of the conversation between the captain of the Merrimac, aud the U.S.S. Cumberland, when the latter was in a sinking condition, but the captain declined to surrender, and ultimately sank with all on board, is most interesting and thrilling. A life-like sketch is given of the great battle of Antietam, it which the Federal forces lost over 2000 men killed, 9400 wounded, and over 1000 missing, while the Confederates lost over 4000 killed, 18,700 wounded, and 5000 prisoners. Brief but telling anecdotes of individual adventures are cunningly introduced, and the scene is depicted in eight pages in a manner which leaves nothing to be desired. With like accurate precision the history of the completion of the Pacific railway is told. The scene is presanted to the reader with a vividness which is sure to impress itself forcibly upon the memory. An amusing instance of the occasional Americanisms, which call forth a smile from the English reader, occurs in this chapter, and we extract it whole to illustrate the vast difference between the English and American forms of our language. The telegraphic messages are being given which passed between Washington and the scene of the laying of the last rail—the last but one reads thus :—“ We have got done praying ; the spike is about to be presented.” We venture to say that the above message must have originated from a thoroughly American source. Mark Twain himself could not have done better. We have never read a better or clearer description of a sewing machine than that given in the book before us. Howe receives full credit for his original invention in 1846, but it is clearly proved that his idea had been forestalled, but not utilised, by a Mr. Hunt, some twelve years before, in 1834. Several anecdotes in connection with the discovery of the art of painless surgery by the inhalation of sulphuric ether are given, and a capital description of the invention of the cotton-gin, and the troubles of the inventor, attracted our notice, and deserve mentioning for the interesting form in which the information is conveyed to the mind. Most persons must have read similar descriptions at odd times, but American examples will be new to many.

In conclusion we desire to say that we consider the book a very valuable one for reference. Most remarkably full indexes, alphabetical and sequential, are supplied, and a classified list of great political events and an index to engravings are also given. By their assistance almost any historical event of importance can be readily referred to, and they add materially to the value of the book as a standard work of reference. The general get up of the volume is as good as could be wished, the type is clear, the engravings are numerous and good enough to maintain the reputation enjoyed by American firms, and the work displays great care and much research. It is full of information, and its chief fault, in our eyes, is that it is rather too long. No one would undertake to read such a volume right through, and inasmuch as it contains 1007 closely printed pages the most omnivorous reader can afford to skip a chapter here and there if he feels so inclined. The index alone covers 48 pages of small type, and this will convey some idea of the wide scope of the volume. We have endeavored to give a fair outline of the scope of the work in the hope that its merits may attract the attention we think they deserve.