oyne was of opinion that he was, for
he complimented him for his behaviour on that occasion. We notice some
misprints in the volume, a thing almost unavoidable in a book of this
size; one or two are glaring ones--but these can be corrected in a
second edition.

The narrative of the war, in all its relations, is well told. It gives
a comprehensive picture of the rise and progress of the contest, and
abounds with much new matter, showing a thorough knowledge of the
great history of that period. We notice many anecdotes which we have
never before seen in print.

The public has long needed a good popular history of the Revolution;
for Batta's, and others of that stamp, are too long; and, beside, much
new light has been lately thrown on that portion of our annals. We
have such a book here, and it is for this reason that we hail it with
peculiar pleasure.

We cannot close this notice without quoting the following somewhat
remarkable passage from Mr. Peterson's preliminary chapter, which was
evidently written long before the late events in Europe--more than two
years ago, according to the preface.

"It is evident," he says, "that the old world is worn out. There are
cycles in empires as well as dynasties; and Europe, after nearly two
thousand years, seems to have finished another term of civilization.
The most polite nation in the eastern hemisphere is now where the
Roman empire was just before it verged to a decline--the same system
of government--the same extremes of wealth and poverty--the same
delusive prosperity characterizing both. _Europe stands on the crust
of a decayed volcano, which at any time may fall in._ The social
fabric in the old world is in its dotage." Part of this prediction has
already been verified, and we wait with impatient expectation for the
fulfillment of the rest.

* * * * *

_Old Hicks, the Guide; or Adventures in the Camanche
Country in Search of a Gold Mine. By Charles W. Webber.
New York: Harper & Brothers_. 2 _parts_.

Here is a book "to stir a fever in the blood of age"--full of wild
adventure, and running over with life. It seems to have been composed
on horseback. The sentences trot, gallop, leap, toss the mane, and
give all other evidences of strength and activity in the race of
expression. The author fairly gives the reins to his thoughts and
fancies, and they sweep along the dizziest edges of rhetoric with a
jubilant hip! hip! hurrah! We have rar