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naturally carry them further; or trusting themselves to the perils of the ocean, it would not be at all strange if some vessel should be driven upon the coast of America. There are several items in these directions which show the progress of civilization at that early period. "There is a great abundance of whales; there is great fishing for the killing of them there; but not without the Bishops consent, which keepeth them for the benefit of the Cathedral." This and several other references to the church and bishops show that the Christian religion was established in Greenland long before the discovery of America by Columbus. These sailing directions give us some knowledge of the geography and topography of the country, the manners and customs of the people, and may yet be the means of unfolding some historical fact important to the world.

They have an interest also as being in the hands of Henry Hudson, the great navigator, whose name is impressed upon several portions of our country. Of Hudson but little is known, save his connection with three or four voyages across the Atlantic. De Costa says of him-"We know he was an Englishman, who had one or more children, though nothing positively certain can be gleaned in regard to his lineage. After a careful investigation, Mr. Read, in his interesting work on Hudson, concludes that he may have been the grandson of Henry Hudson, an alderman of London, who died in 1555, being one of the founders of the Muscovy Company. John, the son of the first mentioned Henry Hudson, was alive in 1618, living in London. It is possible that Henry Hudson the navigator was born within the sound of the Bow Bells. His whole life, as known to us, extends only through a period of four years. We see him first in the Church of St. Ethelburge, London, with his crew, receiving the sacrament prior to setting out on his first voyage, and we view him for the last time, drifting away in an open boat on the cold north sea.

"His first voyage was made in 1607, for the Muscovy Company, in search of a north-east route to China, along the coast of Spitzbergen. The second, in 1608, was for the same purpose, and led him to the region of Nova Zembla. The third voyage performed at the expense of the Dutch East India Company, was made in 1609. In 1610, he again sailed to search for a north-west passage, the expense of the voyage being borne by three English gentlemen, when he explored the bay and strait that bear his name, passing the winter of 1610-11 in the southern part of the bay. On the 21st of June, of 1611, he was set adrift with his son and seven companions, by a rebellious crew, in an open boat, never afterwards to be seen." Such is the history and fate, as far as we are able to learn, of this celebrated navigator.

The work before us does honor to Mr. De Costa, showing his devotion to historical research, which may give a cue to further investigation, and so lead to all-important results. The writer seems disposed to take nothing for granted, but to follow evidence wherever it may lead him. Such labors are vastly more valuable than the superficial explorations of some ardent enthusiast. We cheerfully commend the book to the attentive perusal of all lovers of antiquarian lore.

C. H.

Lectures delivered in a Course before the Lowell Institute, in Boston, by Members of the Massachusetts Historical Society, on subjects relating to the Early History of Massachusetts. Boston: Published by the Society. 1869. pp. 498.

This volume contains twelve lectures on as many distinct historical subjects, besides an introductory lecture of a more general character. We have not much faith in the feasibility of conveying historical information in the form of lectures. It is exceedingly difficult to frame a discourse which shall hold the attention of a miscellaneous audience, and at the same time represent the facts of history in their suitable fulness and proper relations. And there are few auditors, who can carry away, even under the most favorable circumstances, anything like an adequate idea of what the speaker intended to convey. If the lecturer strives for vivacity, he is tempted to deal only with the salient points of his subject, and consequently gives but a part of the truth. In history, as in a picture, the back-ground is not less important than the fore-ground to the completeness of the whole. If on the other hand he aims to give a full narrative of events, with their numberless qualifying circumstances, he makes little progress in the hour allotted, and is nearly sure to become insufferably dull. There is, in our judgment, an insuperable incongruity between the subject and this method of its treatment. The result is, in most cases, that an historical lecture, adapted to a miscellaneous audience, is an essay, or little more than the views or opinions of the lecturer on the theme he treats. When historical eras or subjects pass through the alembic of any human mind, and take the form of

an essay, they take also the coloring of that mind. This is true, of course, in a greater or less degree of great historical works, but eminently so and almost of necessity, where a subject large enough for volumes in compressed into thirty or forty pages. Historical essays may be truthful and valuable, but the degree of their truthfulness and value will depend entirely upon the qualifications of the writer, the breadth of his reading, the associations in which he has been educated, the natural fairness of his mind, or his tendency to narrowness and prejudice. To appreciate fully an historical essay we need a thorough knowledge of the author, and this we can rarely obtain. We regard the essay therefore as the least valuable of all historical compositions, especially for the young student, who is likely to accept whatever he reads with unquestioning trust. But for the advanced scholar in history, the essay is always suggestive, and sometimes productive of interesting and important trains of thought.

The historical lectures or essays in the volume before us have perhaps more than the average merit of productions of this kind. The introductory lecture is by the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, President of the Massachusetts Historical Society. It does not propose to discuss any great historical theme, but touches discursively upon a variety of interesting topics, and partakes more of the popular lecture and less of the essay than any of the others in the course. Mr. Winthrop contrasts the sterile soil and rough climate of Massachusetts with the richer soil and balmy climate of that part of southern Europe he had recently visited, and finds an ample compensation for our apparent physical disadvantages in the sturdy character and masculine energy of Massachusetts men.

But the most important and interesting portion of the lecture, in its historical bearing, is a brief enumeration of historical works relating to Massachusetts. While this survey is not intended we presume to be exhaustive, it presents a grand procession of historical writers, reaching back to Governor Bradford of Plymouth, and shows that Massachusetts has never at any time been careless of her own history. The lecture, as a whole, is eminently adapted to the place it occupies in the course, and will be read with interest.

We have already occupied all the space that can be spared at present. At a future time we propose to speak of some or all of the other lectures, as the importance of the subject and manner of treatment may suggest.

E. F. S.

History of Acworth, with the Proceedings of the Centennial Anniversary, Genealogical Records and Register of Farms. Edited by Rev. J. L. MERRILL, Town Historian. Acworth: Published by the Town. 1869. 8vo. pp. 306.

A good town history is a rare production. Of the numerous published histories of towns in New-England, very few are first rate; many are second rate, and many of no rate at all. No other literary works exhibit such a variety of plan and merit. The writing of histories of municipalities is a field of literary enterprise that does not often attract experienced and able writers. For this reason, among others, these undertakings are almost always performed by persons who have no other qualification than their zeal in the subject. A town history is often the first and last literary effort of a citizen, who measures everything by the narrow standard of his own limited sphere of action, and who never dreams there is more than one method of treating the subject. Hence the number of crude, immethodical histories of towns.

There is no greater mistake than supposing it an easy task, and one within the reach and capacity of most persons, to write a good town history. It is really an art more difficult to attain than that of writing a good novel. The rigid historical facts are to be connected together in their proper sequence, and clothed with just enough flesh to hide their roughness, and make a continuous, animated narrative. There is no room for cant or for fine writing, so called. The warp and woof should be good, plain Anglo-Saxon.

Persons should not undertake to write town histories without first making themselves acquainted with the methods, the arrangement, and the style, practised by others who have preceded them in the same field of labor. In no pub lications, perhaps, have there been greater improvements than in the composition and arrangement of town histories, and genealogies. In the pages of the REGISTER will be found critical notices of town histories and genealogies, as they appeared, and from these notices it will be an easy matter to gather which of them are regarded as worthy models. Until better ones are provided, they ought to be the guides.

Histories of towns in New-Hampshire are always welcome. They come slowly, but they bring good tidings of the olden time. Besides the one before us we hear of another published during the last year. It is a curious fact, worthy of notice here, that histories of towns in the centre and western part of the state, only, have yet made their appearance; and that these towns are young compared with those of the eastern part. While many of the towns on the Merrimac, and its tributaries, have their histories printed, not a single town on the Piscataqua has a written history. For nearly one hundred years, Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter, and Hampton, were the only towns in the province of New-Hampshire, and, strange to relate, we have, as yet, no history of any one of them. The Annals of Portsmouth is not a history, properly speaking, and does not cover the last fifty years. Not a single town in the county of Strafford, and but two in Rockingham, has a printed history. Something must be out of joint in eastern New-Hampshire. A railway ought to run through that district. Acworth is one of the towns that originated during the Wentworth dynasty. Its history extends over a period of one hundred years, commencing in 1766. Excepting the fact of its lying within the disputed territory, claimed by New-Hampshire and by Vermont, and being involved in that celebrated quarrel, its history is without a ripple from first to last. The events are few and unimportant, except to the town itself. Those who live there or originated there, will dwell with pleasure on them. The history of Acworth is comprised in one large octavo volume of three hundred pages, illustrated with many portraits done in many styles of the engraver's art. About one hundred pages are devoted to the centennial celebration, held there in 1868, in which the citizens distinguished themselves by the attachment and the interest they manifested, on this occasion, in their little town and its history. The centennial address is good; far above the average of such productions. Many of the speeches are characterized by good sense, and good feeling. We should have placed the account of these centennial proceedings at the end of the history, and not at the beginning. It was the last event in the history of the town, and was a fitting crown to the narrative.

The genealogies, at the end of the volume, are very full, so far as names are concerned; but dates are wanting, and, above all, a good and systematic arrangement. Everything relating to the first settlers of a town is deeply interesting; and many of their acts rise to the dignity of public importance. It is a mistake, therefore, not to give detailed genealogical accounts of the hardy pioneers of Acworth; the information can be obtained now better than hereafter.

With feelings of mingled pleasure and surprise we find mentioned here descendants of "old Henry Langstaffe," of Bloody Point memory, who died of an accident, in 1705, says Pike, "about 100 years old-a hale, strong, hearty man. Langstaffe's Rocks, so called, still vex the boatmen of Piscataqua river. His descendants write the surname, Lancaster, which accounts for our losing sight of old Henry's descendants.

This volume contains much information interesting to New-Hampshire people. It will, undoubtedly, have a large sale. It is highly creditable to the intelligence and enterprise of the citizens of Acworth, that they have crowned their centennial birthday with a history of their town. Generations unborn will yet rise up and call them blessed for this deed.

To write a book now-a-days, and put no index to it, is to "waste its sweetness on the desert air," so far as most persons are concerned. Readers in search of single facts, or groups of facts, have no time, or inclination, to read through a whole volume to find them. Most authors now consider this; and it is rare to see a new book without one. The publication of a book, without an index, ought to be made a felony without benefit of clergy.

C. W. T.

History of the Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770; consisting of the Narrative of the Town, and the Trial of the Soldiers; and an Historical Introduction containing Unpublished Documents and Explanatory Notes. By FREDERIC KIDDER. Albany, N. Y.: Joel Munsell. 1870. 8vo. pp. 291. Saturday, the fifth of last month, completed a century since the Boston Massacre, the anniversary of which was celebrated, for thirteen years, by the authorities of Boston with a public oration and other ceremonies. It was suggested, last autumn, by one of the newspapers, that on the one hundredth anniversary of the event, it should be commemorated as it had been in the olden time; and, about the same time, the editor of the present volume brought before our society a plan for the celebration of this event, but as our own silver anniversary was to be held less than a fortnight from the day, it was not deemed advisable to undertake any new project.

The revolutionary patriots of Boston were proud of their connection with this event, and certainly there is no good reason why their descendants should entertain a different feeling in regard to it. The prompt subordination to the law by the citizens under a variety of provocations, and the impartial trial which they gave to the soldiers who had caused the death of their fellow citizens, though these soldiers had been stationed among them to assist in depriving them of their ancient rights and privileges, show that they were in favor of liberty restrained by law. Their conduct on this occasion has elicited praise from the most impartial and discriminating writers. The citizens of Boston of the present day, or at least those in official positions, seem however to be losing their veneration for the men of those times. The city authorities took no notice of the event.

The present volume was intended to commemorate the centenary of the massacre. Besides this, the day passed without notice except from the newspapers which gave accounts of varying fulness of the occurrences which took place here one hundred years previous. Early in the next week, the colored citizens and their friends celebrated the event at one of their churches.

Mr. Kidder has given reprints of the official narrative of the town of Boston and of the trial of the British soldiers, both first printed in 1770. To these he has prefixed an historical introduction and has added explanatory notes. The Introduction contains some memoranda by Hon. John Adams, who was one of the counsel for the soldiers, relating to the evidence at the trial. These memoranda are here printed for the first time from the manuscript of the author, which for several years has been in the possession of the editor. They are an important addition to our materials relating to this subject. The narrative was prepared by a committee appointed by the town at a meeting held March 12, 1770, and was reported at another meeting a week later. James Bowdoin, Esq., afterwards governor of Massachusetts, was chairman of the committee. The other members were Dr. Joseph Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill, and Samuel Pemberton, Esq.

As to the importance of this event in bringing on the Revolution, the editor does not attempt to decide; but he contents himself with quoting the opinions of John Adams and Daniel Webster.

The present work makes a fine-looking volume, being printed in Mr. Munsell's usual neat style. It has also a good index. We hope that it will meet with a ready sale, so that the editor may feel that his labors are appreciated, and the publisher may be amply remunerated for the beautiful style in which he has brought out the book.

J. W. D.

Memoirs of Rhode-Island Officers who engaged in the Service of their Country during the Great Rebellion of the South. Illustrated with thirty-four Portraits. By JOHN RUSSELL BARTLETT, Secretary of State of the State of Rhode-Island. Providence: Sidney S. Rider & Brother. 1867. Quarto. pp. 452.

This is one of the many contributions by Mr. Bartlett to the family and local history of Rhode-Island. The plan of the author limits his notices to captains of batteries of light artillery, colonels commanding, brigadier and major-generals. The character and services of a hundred and nine officers are here portrayed. Forty-two of them are living, while sixty-seven are starred, and may be regarded as RhodeIsland martyrs in the late rebellion. The memoirs are more or less extended according to the material furnished, and the prominence of the subject, but the outline of the services rendered is in all cases clearly and fully drawn. The style is simple, lucid and direct, with numberless passages of rare beauty and pathos.

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The engravings are all on steel, and are good specimens of the art. Added to the portraits, there is a fine engraving of the landing of the Burnside expedition on Roanoke Island, Feb. 7, 1862." The letter-press and paper are excellent, and the mechanical execution of the work does credit to the press of the Providence Press Company.

The plan of preparing and publishing memoirs of the soldiers in the late war is a good one. Many towns and cities have erected monuments of stone to those who fell in battle or perished in the wars. This is well. There is a mournful pleasure in looking upon these mementoes: they speak of sacrifice and of gratitude. The heart of the present generation will always beat and throb in their presence. But time will work a marvellous change. They will cease to awaken in other generations the fresh and tender emotions which they now inspire in us. Monuments of stone or brass are not all that the sacrifices of our soldiers demand or deserve. The best monuments

are on paper. They unfold more fully the narrative of sacrifice and suffering. They are unwasting and perpetual. The carbon of the printed page is indestructible, and it will tell the story of bravery and endurance with the same fulness and vividness far down in the centuries to come.

It is important, therefore, that our government, whether state or municipal, should not forget to record and embalm in print the services of the young men whom they sent to the war. The record should be made at the public expense, should be personal, and as full as the most pains-taking historical talent can make them. They should be widely disseminated, and especially should they be deposited in all the great libraries of the land.

Such monuments as these would never perish, but would always be fresh and inspiring to the student and the patriot, and would be the best recognition of the debt we owe to our martyr-soldiers, as well as to those who survive.

E. F. S.

The Oneness of the Christian Church. By Rev. DORUS CLARKE, D.D. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. EPH. iv. 5. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1869. 12mo. pp. 105.

The readers of the REGISTER Who have perused the able biographical articles of Rev. Dr. Clarke, the historiographer of the N. E. H. and G. Society, will thank us for bringing to their notice this recent work of his in another department of literature. An analysis would be out of place in these pages. It will suffice to say that it is an argument against the division of the church of Christ into denominations or sects, and a presentation of the methods by which our author thinks that unity of faith upon all important points may be reached. Rev. Dr. Clarke proceeds on the axiom that Christ founded a Church, but He founded no sect. This admitted, he contends that there are no logical or scriptural grounds on which sects can stand, and that the only way of removing them lies in an harmonious interpretation of the Bible, as a common standard of appeal. He is convinced that "there are no theological or ecclesiastical questions now in dispute, among men who accept the Holy Scriptures as a Revelation from God," which honest and intelligent inquirers may not decide by the methods he describes.

The book, which is dedicated “To Christians of Every Name," is very suggestive, and shows that the author has given deep thought to his subject and has arrived at a thorough knowledge of it.

J. W. D.

Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather. A Reply. By CHARLES W. UPHAM, Member of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Morrisania, N.Y.: 1869. This volume, reprinted from the Historical Magazine, is a reply to Mr. Poole's article on "Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft" in the North-American Review for April, 1869.

The latter article is a trenchant review of Mr. Upham's widely known volumes on Salem Witchcraft, published in 1867, at Boston, by Wiggin & Lunt. The reviewer, having appeared before the public in an article commending Mr. Upham's history as " a monument of historical and antiquarian research," and declaring that "its author deserves the thanks of the many persons interested in psychological inquiries, for the minute details" which he has given of the transactions of 1692, endeavors in the North-American Review to retrieve the effect of his own and other similar commendations, by giving the public quite an opposite estimate of the value of Mr. Upham's labors as an historian of the phenomena and proceedings of that great delusion; the result, apparently, of the reviewer's investigations since his former criticism. In his later article, Mr. Poole concludes that "the History of Salem Witchcraft is as yet unwritten," and that "Mr. Upham's works must be regarded only as affording materials for such an history."

But the principal arguments of the reviewer are in defence of Cotton Mather from the strictures of Mr. Upham upon Mather's connection with and responsibility for the rise and progress of the mental endemic of 1692.

In attempting this difficult task, Mr. Poole excites our suspicion when he finds it necessary to adopt medieval views respecting diabolism, and to treat as objective realities all those phenomena which, in the present age, are universally considered by the most careful observers as subjective and imaginary. He is, moreover, constrained to accept, implicitly, the statements of Mather and his partizans, when in conflict with, to say the least, the equally probable statements of his contemporaries. This is not only a convenient, but a necessary method of exculpating one so unfortunately and peculiarly connected with the most painful and odious features of VOL. XXIV. 20

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