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566
Notices of New Publications.
[June,

modifying influences, into the present humanity.

Some would here say, 'Then we must expect monkeys to be evolved into men, in the processes of years;' but Mr. Spencer would reply to that, probably: 'The man-monad and the monkey-monad are originally or specifically different. Yet, on the other dogma of transmutation, why not the specific monkey-monad be transmuted into the man-monad?

It is not intended to pronounce Mr. Spencer's evolution theory positively atheistic, for it still leaves a place for a God, far back of all organisms, to create the cells, from which are evolved all moulds and plants, animals and man. This may be all that God did, and it may be as sublime a manifestation of power and of wisdom to create minute, homogeneous monads capable, by inner forces and external circumstances, of rolling themselves out and up into the highest intellectual specimens of humanity; but it is not, at least, an idea of power so appreciable by the evolved humanity in general, as the old one of the old Revelation.


America and her Commentators, By Henry T. Tuckerman. New-York: Charles Scribner. 1864.

Mr. Tuckerman has, in this volume, done the reading public a good service, and more especially the student of American history. It is a 'serviceable' aid to the investigator to be able, at once, to go to some bibliotheca, in which he shall find the titles of those works suited to his wants.

And if these be accompanied by a little judicious criticism, all the better. Such is the present volume. Its chief end is to be a guide to authentic sources of information in regard to the United States, and the author has, on the whole, well accomplished his object.

We might object a little, perhaps, to its one-sidedness in some respects, and to its incompleteness; yet It is worthy of general approbation and circulation.


Thirty Poems. William Cullen Bryant. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. 1864.

To announce were enough. Has our own Bryant, first poet of our country, put forth 'Thirty Poems'? Then is America ready to read. Allow a passing word of commendation of his 'Translation of the Fifth Book of the Odyssey.' Having often read it in the original, we are free to say that this rendering into our idiomatic English brings the reader into a closer communion with the spirit of the original than any other extant.


Hints to Riflemen. By H. W. S. Cleveland. D. Appleton & Co. 1864.

This, as might be presumed, is not a book for only riflemen; for, whilst it is, at present, a work of great national utility, it also imparts knowledge adapt-ed to interest every intelligent mind. It is by a practical sportsman, experienced in the use of the rifle, and contains descriptions of various kinds of rifles, their characteristics, and comparative merits.


My Cave-Life in Vicksburgh. With Letters of Trial and Travel. By a Lady. New-York: D. Appleton & Co. 1864.

This is one of those books coming up out of the seething-pot of this terrible tribulation which is worthy of all confidence, and interesting to every reader. There is no fiction about it; but the lady tells her unvarnished tale of Cave-Life in Vicksburgh in so simple and Christian a way as to make us see and feel the events of each passing day. Of this book it may safely be said: 'Truth is stranger than fiction.' We heartily recommend it to all.


Christian Memorials of the War; or Scenes and Incidents illustrative of Religious Faith and Principle, Patriotism and Bravery in our Army. With Historical Notes. By Horatio B. Hackett. Boston: Gould & Lincoln. 1864.

Professor Hackett is already known to many of us as the author of 'Illus-