more important ones, and a superior mind can always invest them with a charm and an interest. It is a matter of congratulation to find the comparatively humble task fall into the hands of one whose education, experience in life, and appreciative knowledge of the world's history enable him to make the work more than a dry detail of facts.

Memoirs of the Rt. Rev. Simon W. Gabriel Bruté, D. D., Bishop of Vincennes; describing his Recollections of scenes connected with the French Revolution, and Extracts from his Journal. By the Rt. Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, D. D., Bishop of Newark. New York: 1861. 4to, 217 pp.

This volume, neatly printed by Munsell, in the style of his series, and illustrated by a portrait of Bp. Bruté, on steel, and illustrations on wood from his designs, is a fitting tribute to a man of more than ordinary worth. His recollections of the French Revolution, embodied here, are full of life, and excel most of the narratives we know, in giving a picture of that time. Bishop Bruté was a fellow-student of Bichat, in the medical schools of Paris, and carried off the highest prize; but embracing the ecclesiastical state, came to America. He was one of the founders, and long president of Mount St. Mary's College, Emmetsburg. As bishop of Vincennes he was one of the first to study and write on the early history of the West; and had not his career been too soon closed, would doubtless have rendered great service to future historians. As it is, his labors are known and acknowledged; and his library was one of the earliest and best at the West in books on the French colonies in North America.

Agricultural Survey of Somerset County, Maine. By Samuel S. Boardman. Augusta: Stevens & Raymond, 1860. 8vo.

THIS survey, prefaced by a topographical description of the county, and an article on its geology is apparently a very thorough work, and cannot but be of great local value. Its suggestions all

seem to be careful and well considered.

Mémoires et Documents publiés par la Société Historique de Montreal. Montreal: Duver

nay, 1860. Pt. 3, pp. 123-154. WE noticed, in our last volume, p. 254, the previous parts of these Collections, and are rejoiced to see the Society continue their regular publication. The position of Canada in regard to New York and New England, makes her history neces

sary for the correct understanding of our early border wars, as well as of early colonization in other States. The part now before us contain the Ordinances issued by M. de Maisonneuve, first governor of Montreal, from 1658 to 1664; and an account, by Mr. E. P. Taché, an eye-witness of the engagement on Lake Champlain during the Last War, defending the Canadians against the charges brought by James, in his "Naval Occurrences."

Virginia, especially Richmond, in By-gone Days; with a Glance at the Present: being Reminiscences and last words of an Old Citizen. By Samuel Mordecai. Richmond: West & Johnson, 1860. 12mo, 359 pp.

THIS work belongs to the class of Frazer's “Reminiscences of Charleston," Dr. Francis' “Old New York,"-not professed local history, but sketches without the dry details that the former must necessarily include. The present work shows the appreciation of its merit in the fact that it has reached a second edition, and in its present shape it is a most pleasing volume.

The Illustrated Pilgrim Almanac for 1861. Boston: Office of the National Monument. 1861.

THIS little work, beautifully printed and illustrated like its predecessor, and intended to advance a good work-the erection of the monument to the Pilgrim Fathers, has a claim on all who love to boast their descent from the passengers in the Mayflower and their immediate successors.

History of the town of Dunbarton, Merrimac County, New Hampshire, from the Grant by Mason's Assigns, in 1751, to the year 1860. By Caleb Stark. Concord: G. P. Lyon, 1860. 8vo, 272 pp.

IT is gratifying to see the historic spirit of Dunbarton, which by a vote of the town appropriates a sufficient sum to give each taxpayer a copy of this work.

The history embraces a period of little over a century. Dunbarton was settled from the north of Ireland, by what are in defiance of all ethnology called Scotch-Irish. The population, in 1850, was 915. The pioneer settlers were James Rogers, the father of the well-known Major Robert Rogers, of the Old French War, and Joseph Putney, who made a permanent settlement in 1749. Much of the volume is taken up with the town meetings; the rest is devoted to its ecclesiastical affairs, Revolutionary incidents, general history, more prominent residents, and genealo

gies. If other towns were to do as much, much valuable historical matter would be saved. On inquiring lately for the records of a town on Long Island, we learnt that on the death of a clerk some years since, they were left to the mercy of his dissipated son, and had disappeared. The loss was more than a mere antiquarian might lament, for they embraced the records of the deeds and conveyances of lands to the town for a considerable period.

Manuel du Libraire et de l'Amateur de Livres, &c. Par Jacques Charles Brunet. Paris: Didot, 1860. 8vo.

THE fifth edition of Brunet, more than half a century after the first, and still by the same hand! How many a collector has been guided by Brunet, made his collection, been gathered to his fathers, and had his library dispersed in Brunet's day. How few, like our venerable friend Allan, have used all the editions of Brunet as they appeared!

This edition will undoubtedly be his latest and supersede all others permanently. To American collectors it will be the edition of special value, as the works on America here receive something of the place which their present values and the mania created by competition for them demand. The first edition made no allusions to books bringing higher prices or being greatly sought in America, now such allusions are frequent. This does not apply solely to works on America. In every department the American collectors are now formidable competitors in the sales in Europe; and the orders sent abroad for rare works and fine editions have reached an enormous

amount.

Relation de ce qui s'est passé de plus remarquable aux Missions des Pères de Compagnie de Jésus en la Nouvelle France les anneés 1673 à 1679. Par le R. P. Claude Dablon, Recteur de College de Quebec et Supérieur des Missions de la Compagnie de Jésus en la Nouvelle France. New York: Presse Cramoisy, 1860. 8vo, 290 pp.

THE Jesuit Relations printed in the seventeenth century closed with Dablon's Relations of 1671-2. The editor of that volume however prepared two others; one for 1672-3, and the other embracing six years, from 1673 to 1679, which have all now remained in manuscript. The whole printed series has been reprinted, and it was desirable to have these also, so as to complete the work down to 1679. Mr. Shea has begun this by publishing the latter part in his Series of "Memoirs and Relations relating to the French Colonies in North America." The present volume, issued like the

preceding from Munsell's press, treats of missions throughout the French possessions of the time. The first part is devoted to the Ottawa missions, as they were called: that is, those in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, and to the Iroquois missions in the State of New York; the second part to the missions among the Montagnais and Algonquins, on the Lower St. Lawrence; the third part to missions in the colony, that of the Iroquois at La Prairie, and of the Hurons at at Lorette. After 1679 there remain only accounts of separate missions, no general one, for them all.

Life of Dr. Franklin. By John M. Norton, A. M., Rector of Ascension Church, Frankfort, Ky., &c. Claremont, N. H.: G. G. & L. N. Ide, 1861. 257 pp.

THIS life of Dr. Franklin is intended rather for younger readers, and like the " Biography of Washington," from the same pen, seeks to portray more fully the religious character. Mr. Norton is already favorably known by his lives of several of the bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States, and has most certainly great skill in this department, giving a high degree of interest and attractiveness to his sketches. There are in this volume views and points, that many generally overlook, in the estimate of Franklin's character.

Géologie Pratique de la Louisiane. Par R. Thomassy. New Orleans: 1860. 4to, 254 pp. THIS work as a geological treatise on the system of dykes, which it advocates, does not fall within our sphere of criticism; but it contains some historical matter, and a cartography of Louisiana, which, however, begins by omitting the maps of Marquette and Joliet, to whom he shows a decided hostility.

Among the papers relative to La Salle, is one which we find, on comparison with Membré's Journal in Le Clercq's "Establissement de la Foi," of which a translation has been given in the "Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi Valley," to be absolutely the same, so that Mr. Thomassy has but little ground to attribute it to La Salle himself. Besides, if we take it away from Membré, Hennepin stands ready to claim it, and has been so long a claimant that we would have to let him have it. Another document is more valuable, being a letter of La Salle's, or one of his Recollect companions, in 1680. There are, also, part of a letter of La Salle and of a letter of Tonti. M. Thomassy announces a life of La Salle; but we trust that he will extend his researches fully before attempting the work.

Miscellany.

HON. JOHN R. BARTLETT is printing 125 copies of the following work in royal 8vo, in the style of the Bradford Club: "A History of the Destruction of His Britannic Majesty's schooner Gaspée, in Narragansett Bay, on the 10th June, 1772, accompanied by the correspondence connected therewith, the action of the General Assembly thereon, and the Official Journal of the proceedings of the Commission appointed by King George the Third on the same.'

MR. JOHN MANN, died at Dover, on the 2d ult., in the 73d year of his age. He was the oldest printer and editor in New Hampshire, with the exception of Hon. John Prentiss, of Keene.

THE REV. NICHOLAS MURRAY, D. D., a prominent and active member of the New Jersey Historical Society, died suddenly on the 4th of February, 1861. He was a native of Ireland, and came here in 1816. He was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, at Elizabeth, from 1831 till his death, at the age of 58. In a controversy with Archbishop Hughes he used the pseudonym Kirwan," by which he was subsequently well known.

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He was interested in most of the leading religious and benevolent movements; such as the Bible and Tract Societies, Colonization cause, &c., was an active member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton Seminary, and a manager of the New Jersey Colonization Society.

A HISTORY of Marlboro, Vt., by the Rev. Ephraim Newton, and a History of Westfield, Vt., by Mr. E. W. Thurber, are in preparation.

DR. O'CALLAGHAN'S Catalogue of American Bibles will soon be issued from the press of Munsell & Rowland, of Albany, in one volume, royal 8vo, uncut, to subscribers only. The edition is limited to 150 copies.

It will give the titles to about fifteen hundred editions of the Scriptures; including those of Eliot's Indian Bibles of 1663-1661 and 16851680, in fac-simile copies of the Dedications with Initial Letters, a History of the Printing of those rare works, and a Table of Indian Errata discovered in several of the books.

tion; Aiken's Congress Bible, Thomas, Worcester and Boston editions, besides the most complete account and description yet printed of Carey's Philadelphia "Standing" editions.

It will furnish a full list of the American Bible Society's issues; of the Catholic editions in Eng. lish, German, French, and Spanish, including the Quarto Bible printed in the city of Mexico. Great pains have been bestowed in collecting the editions printed in this country in Hebrew, Greek, and the Indian tongues, and having had the benefit of the valuable Biblical collections of James Lenox, George Livermore, and George Brinley, Esqrs., and of several public libraries, it is expected that the work will be deserving of public patronage.

The edition is printed wholly at Dr. O'Callaghan's expense; and being limited, those desiring copies will do well to send in their orders early.

SNOWDEN'S beautiful works on the medals and coins in the Mint Collection, have appeared.

THE HON. CHARLES ADAMS died at Burlington, Vermont, on the 15th of Feb., 1861, in his 74th year. He was a resident of Burlington for more than half a century, and was a learned and successful lawyer during a long professional career.

At the time of his death he was engaged in preparing, at the request of the Vermont Historical Society, a history of the "Patriot War" (so called) of 1836-7, with whose public and secret history he was more familiar than any man now living. This history will be completed, we are glad to know, by his son, J. Sullivan Adams, Esq., the highly efficient Secretary of the Vermont Board of Education.

THE death of the venerable Dr. JOHN W. FRANCIS, is also an event to be chronicled in the Historical Magazine. A sketch of his life by a most capable hand, has been promised for our next number, and we therefore merely announce here the loss sustained by New York.

THE choice library of Zelotes Hosmer, Esq., of Boston, will be sold in May, and the catalogue is nearly ready. It is one of the finest collections of early English poets and fine editions of the great inasters of English literature. The copies are all in the finest condition, selected with great care during a period of many years.

VOL. V.]

General Department.

JOHN WAKEFIELD FRANCIS.

IN the recent death of DR. FRANCIS, on the morning of February 8, the city of New York, | and we may add, the whole country, has met with a great loss. He was generally known to the medical profession of the land; he had his friends in many eminent political men, while he was intimate with most of those engaged in authorship. Few men who have not led an exclusively public life, have been so widely beloved. Scarcely a stranger came to New York, on any errand connected with literature, who did not visit that residence of many years, No. 1 Bondstreet, and make the acquaintance of Dr. Francis. If he once crossed that threshold, he was sure of a kindly welcome, and some aid in his enterprise. This was all done in so simple, so kindly a manner, with so much heartiness and zest, that the visit was sure to be repeated, probably with the introduction of another on like errand; so that in the most quiet, natural way in the world, the Doctor came to be known to numbers outside the ranks of his profession, to which he was always a devoted adherent. In his later years he gave considerable time to literary composition in a series of productions, which, though doubtless he would have added to their number, had his life been spared, will be sufficient to justify to posterity the great personal regard in which he is held by his contemporaries. Being chiefly biographical, they afforded the writer an opportunity of exhibiting that genial living sympathy with character which was always his striking characteristic. The old saying, "I am a man, and nothing relating to man is without my regard," never had a better exemplification.

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lege, his apprenticeship being waived in consideration of his evident strong tastes for a professional education. He entered Columbia College, graduated in 1809, studied medicine under the direction of the celebrated Dr. Hosack, received his degree, and became the assistant and a partner in the practice of his preceptor. From that moment his career was steady and onward, as he availed himself of the unusual social, scientific, and literary opportunities which lay before him. For half a century there was not a liberal enterprise or a public event of any interest in New York, in which Dr. Francis was not in some way a partaker. Early uniting literature with his profession, he edited, in 1810 and 1811, in conjunction with Dr. Hosack, the American Medical and Philosophical Register, which was continued through four annual volumes. The journal gave a liberal attention to the scientific interests of the day, as steam navigation, then in its infancy, agriculture, &c., and had some valuable contributors in Fulton, Stevens, and Morris. Dr. Francis, also, early became a lecturer in the institutes of medicine] and materia medica in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the city, and in the medical faculty of Columbia College. At this time he paid his only visit to Europe, travelling through Great Britain, visiting Paris, and making the acquaintance of such great celebrities as Abernethy, Jameson, Playfair, Gregory, Sir Joseph Banks, Cuvier, and Gall. Recollections of these associations, to which time gave an increased interest, supplied many of the interesting anecdotes with which his conversation was stored in his later years. Rees, the editor of the wellknown Cyclopædia, was one of his acquaintance, and he became a contributor to that work, on American topics. On his return to the United States, he discharged the duties of his professorship in connection with the institutions already mentioned, till the foundation of the Rutger's Medical School in 1826, when he was for a while