The Review.
<< Bible Vindicated>> . A Series of Essays on American Slavery, with an Appendix. By Elder Jonas Hartzel Pastor of the First Christian Church, Davenport, Iowa. Cincinnati: John Boggs. 1858.
“The object” of the author's argument is stated to have been “primarily
to defend the Bible - more especially the Old Testament - against the oft-repeated
charge of infidel Abolitionists, that the book, so called by way of eminence,
was “the patron of American Slavery.” The essays were originally
written for the Northwestern Christian Magazine, and now, “revised,”
are given to the public in their present form. They present a very good summary
of the argument as to the character of the servitude of the Bible - not elaborate,
of course, like that of Dr. Cheever's masterly examination of the passages in
their original text and connection.
The attempt to vindicate American Slavery as it exists, with its abhorrent features of vice and cruelty, by the Bible, shows a hardihood that could find place only after long-wonted familiarity with it, conjoined with the lust of gain and love of power. It is well, therefore, to have set forth, in a simple and compact manner, the inconsistency of the whole system with the word of God. We hope our author's words of reproof and earnest exhibition of truth on this subject will not be without effect on some, and especially will aid to close the mouths of those who gainsay the clear and conclusive spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Old Hepsy, by Mrs. C.W. Dennison, with illustrations from designs by the author,
engraved by W. Orr. New York. A.B. Burdick. 1858.
A tale of Southern life, portraying some of the aspects of Slavery. The main
interest of the story turns on the fortunes and trials of a white slave girl,
or one so nearly white and so related as to exhibit, in its worst features,
the abominations of such a system. Mrs. Denison has doubtless been personally
conversant or acquainted with incidents similar to some of those here related,
and which she had delineated in a way fitted to impress candid and reflective
minds with their truthfulness. In a certain degree, her object is like that
of Dred; but the line of exhibited evils lies along another track, nor can the
execution artistically be compared to many passages of that powerful sketch
of human passion, in the midst of wrongfully-exercised powers. A number of the
persons in this tale are drawn with skill, and enlist the reader's attention
and sympathy. Aunt Mable, Maggie, Willis, Hepsy, Lawyer Kenneth, Marshall Randolph,
Henry, as well as Lucina herself, and the other nearly-white slaves, Ferd Keene
and Hollister, move along in the development of the plan, each with their individual
and strongly-marked characteristics. There are passages that address the feelings
with a natural, simple pathos of humble grief, though sometimes we meet also
over-strained impulses of infuriated passion, that rather injure than aid the
effect. Mrs. Denison does not confine the display of noble feelings to non-slaveholders,
but aims likewise to exhibit the influence, too, of conscience in the slaveholders
themselves, such as may be seen in the expressions of Marshall Randolph and
Maggie Willis; while, in Lawyer Kenneth, a Northern-born and educated man, she
furnishes a specimen of those who, when they have sold themselves to the system,
become worse than others whose first breath was drawn amid its influences.
The story ends with the triumph of right, the white slave freed, and the spirit
of oppression humbled as well as baffled.
Does the frequent issue of these Anti-Slavery tales indicate the progressive
power of this great cause among our population? We must believe it, and also
that, even though clad in the guise of fiction, many of the truths so garbed
- read, as they no doubt will be, by numbers from the South - must exert a power
to make them feel the debasing and injurious operation of a system so full of
outrage, and so wholly at variance with the humanity and religion of the Gospel.
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Oriental and Western Siberia; a Narrative of Seven Years' Explorations and Adventures
in Siberia, Mongolia, the Kirghis Steppes, Chinese Tartary, and part of Central
Asia. By Thomas Witlam Atkinson. With a map and numerous Illustrations. New
York: Harper & Brothers. 1858. For sale by Taylor & Maury, Washington,
D.C.
This volume of travels deserves to be classed with those of Barth and Livingstone's. It is not indeed so large as either of the others, but it is characterized by a like fidelity of communication of information, admirable tact in seizing upon the points of interest, and graphic power in presenting them. It relates, too, to a part of the world comparatively little known to our reading public. The larger Russian accounts are either in that language or the French; and, with the exception of Pallas and Ernan, scarcely any means of accurate knowledge, as to any of these portions of Russia, is within reach of these portions of Russia, is within reach of the general reader. Mr. Atkinson, in his preface, says that his account “relates to a country extending from Kokhan on the west to the eastern end of the Baikal, (Lake,) and as far south as the Chinese town of Tchin-si, including that immense chain, Syenshan, never before seen by any European, as well as a large portion of the western part of Gobi, over which Genghis Khan marched wild hordes toward the west - scenes on which no pencil has been previously employed - comprising a distance traversed of about 32,000 versts, (a verst is about three-quarters of a mile,) in carriages, 7,100 in boats, and 20,300 on horseback - in all, 59,400 versts (about 39,500 miles) in the course of seven years.”
Mr. Atkinson is an artist; and one great object he had in view was to take
sketches of the wild and varied scenery which fell under his eye. He secured,
he says, five hundred sketches, and some of these are given as illustrations,
to accompany the book. He visited the mining establishments and manufactories
of iron and steel in the Uralian and Altaian mountains, and furnishes many particulars
relating to these subjects. He has also interspersed his narrative with scraps
of history; anecdotes of individuals, and descriptions of manners and customs,
which add yet further to the value of his book. The scenes through which he
passed were most of them more than ordinarily fitted to awaken an interest,
and he paints them in language of rare felicity. Yet there is no attempt at
producing a sensation in the account of his adventures. He gives scientific
and statistical facts, as well as hunting and sketching adventures, tells his
story with straightforward mention of events as they rise, even while fully
conscious that he has material that could be wrought up, as some do their notes,
with plentiful use of epithets and terms, to excite wonder or admiration. In
this respect he is a fine model. He possessed superior advantages for the attainment
of his object, as he bore letters of high authority to various officers on his
way, to whom he was commended by the Government of Russia, with the charge that
they should afford him their aid.
The volume is printed in a similar style with that of Dr. Livingstone, from
the same American press. We are not certain whether all the engravings of the
English edition have been reprinted in the present one; and we notice some discrepancy
in the mode of spelling the names, (as, for instance, Uralian and Ouralian)
between the map and the text, which needs explanation. A number of the places
he mentioned as visited are not given at all on the route laid down in the map;
and in a few cases on the map, a mountain seems to have been the object of a
visit that is not described in the author's descriptions; so that, apparently
the book is only a partial selection of more enlarged materials and notes. We
believe (though we are not certain) that the original English edition was published
in two or three volumes; all of which may, however, be embraced in the single
volume before us. The work, we think, will take a high rank as one of value,
for its varied information, as well as popular adaptation.
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The English Language in its Elements and Forms; with a History of its Origin
and Development. Abridged from the octavo edition. Designed for general use
in schools and families. By William C. Fowler, late Professor of Rhetoric in
Amherst College. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1858. For sale by Taylor &
Maury, Washington, D.C.
The science of Grammar has made large advances within the last quarter of a
century. The labors of Grimm, Bopp, and Becker, in Germany, applied to the Indo-European
languages, as well as to the Latham, Kemble, and Barnes, in England, and others,
too, in our own country, have thrown much light on the character and structure
of the English language, and the laments by which it is related to various languages
or dialects, and thus developed its richness and fitness as a vehicle of thought
and feeling. More therefore is embraced in the grammars of the present day than
was formerly the case. Collateral subjects are introduced by way of statement
and discussion. This is well in a large work, intended for teachers, and as
a book of reference; it admits, however, of serious doubt, if for “general
use in schools and families,” a book so full as this of such varied literature
is enough simplified. A still further abridgment would be better. Many pages
will scarcely be read at all by children and youth, nor taught, except in some
of the higher schools and academies. For such, the larger Grammar might be sufficient.
The terms, too, though recognised by the scholar and philologist, are often
too learned for the beginner. The value of the book is therefore necessarily
limited mostly to those who have already gained a knowledge of the rudiments
necessarily limited mostly to those who have already gained a knowledge of the
rudiments of grammar, and to such as desire to prosecute their investigations
yet further. To these it offers a compendious summary of the results of the
researches of Latham and others, aiding the acute observations of Professor
Gibbs, of New Haven, to whom, as well as to Professor March, of Lafayette College,
the author acknowledges very justly his obligations for some of the best original
portions of the book, and important aid otherwise. These are often curious,
and for one who will give time and attention to them, no doubt may help to perfect
the pupil in his knowledge of his mother tongue; but few teachers, perhaps,
and fewer pupils still, will bestow the labor necessary, while more may be discouraged
by such a multiplicity of subjects from engaging with much readiness in any
of them. In the earlier pages, relating to the “historical elements”
of the English language, we notice some assumed facts rather too broadly stated;
at least Latham gives reason to question them. There are, too, occasional fanciful
speculations, such as this on page 9: “The word man in English means a
human being; but in the Anglo-Saxon original its meaning beside was sin, or
the sinful.” Man indeed means a human being; but it is man (pronounced
mawn or mone) that means sinful. Rask, in his Anglo-Saxon Grammar, states strongly
the necessity of the accent in fixing the meaning of words.
The general arrangement of the work is good, and the introduction of exercises
as usual, and of leading questions, better adapt it for schools than otherwise.
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Poems by Howard H. Caldwell. Boston: Whittenmore, Niles, & Hall. 1858. For
sale by Taylor & Maury, Washington, D.C.
A new name to us in the fields of poetical literature. It is a small, neatly-printed volume of 134 pages, the last six of which are notes, containing 24 pieces of various length, and written on subjects of diversified cast, including ancient and modern, Pagan and Christian story, as well as the lighter and more common subjects of common life.
Without being entitled to take a rank among our established poets, the author even in his probably little practiced pen shows that, by more attention and exercise, he may yet produce better things. There is an equality in the finish and accuracy of versification, as well as other characteristics of poetic style, in the different pieces. Some of them show more care and revision, we presume, than the others. None of them are of much length, and some of the titles are singular, as “The Star of Suicide,” “Tiberius at Capiarae,” &c. Tennyson, and perhaps Arnold, in one or two of the pieces, seems to have been his model.
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Slavery Examined by the Light of Nature. A Sermon preached by the Rev. George
W. Bassett at the Congregational Church, Washington.
This admirable discourse was printed at the request of many members of Congress,
and deserves not only their commendation, but a general circulation through
the country.
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The Lost Daughter, and Other Stories of the Heart. By Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz,
author of “Linda Rend,” &c. Philadelphia: J.B. Peterson. For
sale by F. Philip, 332 Pennsylvania avenue, Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Hentz is confessedly one of the best as well as most successful female writers of tales in this country. Now that she has passed away, too, the demand for her works shows that her's is not a mere ephemeral fame. We have heretofore alluded to her artistic talent and the various characteristics of her style, and to the moral aim and tendency of her works.
The present volume takes its name from the first of these tales, though it
is not the longest of them. The last one, “Aunt Patty's Scrap Bag,”
occupies more than half of the whole number of pages, and has also been published
by Mr. Peterson as a single volume. One of the pieces in the book before us,
“The Maiden of Judea,” is a poetical version of Jephtha's Daughter,
and there are also two other shorter collections of stanzas, called the “Snow
Flakes” and “Dr. Lara's Bride,” while three of the tales occupy
but about ten pages each, and one other some twenty more. It will be seen, therefore,
that the volume presents variety as well as interesting contents, to make it
attractive.