approved by General Harrison,
had he been alive.

The Whig party gained a great deal in the election of 1840; but it lost
all by the contingency which made John Tyler president of the United
States. Why he was ever named on the electoral ticket is itself
inexplicable. He distinguished himself only by virtue of his mistakes,
from first to last inexcusable; and the biography, by the son, is
distinguished only by innuendos and a current of bitterness which
destroy its value as historical authority. This is much to be regretted;
because an unprejudiced life of John Tyler has long been needed.

That portion of the volume which deals with Mr. Tyler's part of the
Peace Congress, and his share in the exciting events preceding and
during the first year of the war of the Rebellion, will arouse no
discussion. The letters which these concluding pages contain are
particularly valuable, for they show the state of public feeling in the
South at that time. Notwithstanding our adverse criticism of certain
portions of this volume,--and we have plainly stated our reason--we
still welcome the work in its completeness. It adds much to our stock of
knowledge, lets in light where light was needed, and is withal
commendable as an addition to the material data of our national history.

[Footnote 8: A book of New England Legends and Folk-Lore, in Prose and
Poetry. By Samuel Adams Drake. Illustrated. Boston: Roberts Brothers.]

[Footnote 9: Life and Times of the Tylers. By L.H. Tyler, Richmond, Va.:
Whittet and Shipperson. 2 vols. $6.00.]

* * * * *

PUBLISHER'S DEPARTMENT.

Important Announcement.

The October number of the Bay State Monthly will contain, among other
articles of interest, a valuable historical and descriptive paper on the
enterprising and rapidly increasing city of HOLYOKE, MASS., the chief
paper manufacturing place in the world, and the centre, also, of other
important private and corporate industries. This paper has been prepared
by a writer "to the manor born," and will be copiously and beautifully
illustrated.

Another article of special interest and value will be the HISTORY AND
ROMANCE OF FORT SHIRLEY, built in the town of Heath, Mass., in 1744, as
a defence against the Indians. The article has been prepared by Prof.
A.L. Perry, of Williams College.

The series of papers illustrative of NEW ENGLAND IN THE CIVIL WAR, and
which will command the attention of all classes of