Statesman’s Manual.
With the above for a leading title, Mr. Edwin Williams, of New York, ever indefatigable in collecting, arranging, and disseminating valuable political information, has prepared four octavo volumes, containing the whole of the Messages of each President of the United States, from 1789 to 1849. The book proceeds in order, and gives a biographical sketch of each President—an account of the inauguration—a history of the principal events of his administration. The leading transactions of Congress at each session during the period. So much, well performed, relates to each presidential service. The work is then rendered more valuable by the addition of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, Constitution of the United States, with notes and references; a brief history of the events and circumstances which led to the Union of the States, and formation of the Constitution; a synopsis of the Constitutions of the several States; tables of Members of the Cabinets of the various administrations, Ministers to Foreign Countries, and other principal public officers; Chronological Table of Political Events in the United States; Statistical Tables of Revenue, Commerce and Population; a complete List of Members of Congress from 1789 to 1849; a complete Index, or Analytical Table of Contents to the whole work.
We need scarcely go beyond such a simple statement of the contents of these four volumes, to satisfy every reader of this Magazine that it is a work for all hands. But we deem it due to the publisher, Mr. Walker, and the author, to say, that the work is well done, the facts are clearly set forth, and the statistical tables well digested. So that we may safely say that the work forms a brief but most interesting and satisfactory history of the country for the time, and no library should be without the book, and if any man has a house without a library, let him purchase these to begin one. The foundation, of course, being always laid by those hand books that lead and serve devotion, and a copy of Graham’s Magazine. Mr. John Jones, in North Fifth street, above Market, is the agent for the work in this city, and will receive orders for it from the interior. We mention this that people may know where they may be served, for we take it for granted that a work of such unusual interest will be universally called for. We ought to add, that the publisher has had the good taste to have the book printed on excellent paper, and clear new type, and has ornamented each division with a beautifully engraved likeness of the President of whose administration he is treating—and then the work is handsomely bound.
Proverbial Philosophy; a Book of Thoughts and Arguments originally treated. By Martin Farquhar Tupper, Esq., D. C. L., F. R. S. of Christ Church, Oxford. From the eighth London edition, embellished with twelve characteristic illustrations. Philadelphia: E. H. Butler & Co. small quarto, 391 pp.
Tupper’s Proverbial Philosophy has passed through eight editions in London. In this country it has been reprinted many times in a cheap form, and upwards of thirty thousand copies have been sold; indeed the work is so well known that it does not require any commendation from us. But this edition is deserving of especial praise. It is the first illustrated copy of this work published either in England or America. It is printed on beautiful white paper, as thick and solid as parchment. The type is large, clear and elegant. The binding is rich Turkey morocco, with massive paneled sides richly gilt. We consider it the most elegant published volume we have seen. As a holyday gift-book this volume will do credit to the tact and judgment of the presenter, while it is a most elegant compliment to the mind of the presentee.
Mornings among the Jesuits at Rome. By the Rev. M. Seymour, M. A. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1 vol. 12mo.
This is an exceedingly interesting volume, the production of a fair-minded tolerant man, and conveying far more accurate information on the spirit of Jesuitism than any work published for many years. It is composed of notes of conversations, held by the author with certain Jesuits whom he met in Rome, on the subject of religion, and especially on the standing controversy between the Roman and English Churches. Mr. Seymour, from the fact that he conversed with his opponents, and enjoyed their friendship, impresses the reader in a very different manner from those controversialists, who have never known the men whose system they attack, and who thus unconsciously confound doctrines with persons, and convert living beings into mere theological machines. Under every religious creed there is a human heart and brain—a truism which is so often overlooked, both in eulogies and attacks on different religious sects, that we must be pardoned for mentioning it.