A POPULAR WORK. (The result of fifteen years' unremitting and conscientious literary labor.) "HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK." By MRS. MARTHA J. LAMB. It embraces more varied and authentic information, upon a greater number of important subjects, than any other historical work of the same size in the English language, and is as fresh and readable as any work of fiction. To the generation now coming upon the stage of affairs it is of priceless value, and its influence in creating and cultivating the public taste for historical reading has been already so marked as to be apparent even to the most casual observer. No family can afford to be without a copy. The New York Tribune said of it as it came from the press :-"The whole work is marked with the higner qualities of historical writing. The personal sketches which it presents of several of the prominent characters of the revolutionary period indicate minute research and exact discrimination. Mrs. Lamb gives abundant evidence not only of a profound, but of a singularly intelligent study of her authorities, and she has used her materials with the acuteness and discrimination which betray an equal degree of sound culture and good sense. Her acquaintance with the European politics of the day, which form the frame-work, or rather the foundation of her history, is turned to excellent account, giving a breadth and solidity to the narrative which is admirably blended with the prevailing grace and dignity of her style. Her frequent touches of personal and family history add the charm of biographical description to the historical incidents. The city of New York forms the central point in contemporaneous history, and well deserves the elaborate and beautiful memorial thus wisely consecrated to its progress. Harper's Magazine pronounced it:-"A piece of historical painting which, for brightness of color, disinctness of outline, and general truthfulness in detail, deserves the highest commendation. There is scarcely a phase in New York life or an incident connected with its progress and history which Mrs. Lamb has failed to reproduce with attractive fullness." Rev. Dr. R. S. STORRS wrote:-"I am impressed afresh, every time that I open it, with the remarkable combination which it presents of excellent and attractive qualities. The immense mass of materials which it contains, gathered with indefatigable labor and patience, has been wrought by the author into a graphic and fascinating narrative. She delightfully combines an easy grace of literary skill with diligence and perseverance in collecting information from all quarters and corners. While her volumes are replete with the results of careful investigation, they show as well the fine touch of the practiced hand of a cultivated woman-in the biographical sketches, and the dexterous tracing of family history, which are deftly interwoven with clear and large accounts of public affairs; in the swift glimpses at the changing manners of successive times, or at picturesque incidents of social life, which serve often to illuminate the large panorama of the general story." Rev. Dr. W. R. DURYEE wrote:-"It is no volume compounded from previous histories, as too many so-called historical works are, but it is a complete digest of information gathered from original sources, such as colonial documents, family genealogies, personal letters, and home traditions. We wonder every time we look into these noble volumes at the research, patient and persevering, which is shown on every page. The manner in which the story is presented seems to us to be fully equal to the style which charms us in Macaulay and Froude, although there is not the slightest imitation of any master. Fact is linked to fact, family feeling changes into political history, the city and the nation act and react on each other, and still the story flows on clear and interesting through the generations. The concise, yet complete presentation of the course of events in our Revolutionary War and in the war of 1812, is simply a masterpiece of condensation, a history within a history." has so Rev. Dr. GEORGE E. ELLIS, in a recent comprehensive and scholarly review of the work, published in four successive issues of the Boston Transcript, wrote:—“A reader cursorily glancing over Mrs. Lamb's pages and noting the running titles, might infer that she was writing the history of the country at large, in its public affairs and movements, rather than confining her attention to the city of New York. But the two themes, like the warp and the woof, are wrought inseparably together. Out of all the wealth of matter and subject which she diligently gathered, Mrs. Lamb seizes felicitously upon the salient themes for narration or description, and covers her instructive and brilliant pages with the substance of history. Dividing the continuity of her narrative by paragraphs, now descriptive of the private, social or professional character of the most eminent citizens (of the several decades) and their relations to each other and to public affairs, and now taking note of the development and beautifying of the municipality itself, Mrs. Lamb steadily holds the thread which gathers all details into their place in our national annals. All through her pages we see evidence of patient, faithful and exhaustive research, of impartiality of spirit and judgment, of comprehensiveness of view, and of exceptional felicity in style. For this great historical work the splendid and prosperous city whose rise and growth she has so admirably chronicled owes her a large debt of gratitude and appreciation." It contains 1,620 royal octavo pages, and 313 illustrations of the most unique and valuable character, It is bound in either two or four volumes. Sold only by subscription. 4. S. BARNES & CO., Publishers. 111 & 113 William St., N.Y. City; 34 & 36 Madison St., Chicago. BOOKS. Specimen Full-page Illustration from Mrs. Lamb's "HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK." WASHINGTON RECONNOITERING.-NEW YORK, FROM THE NEW JERSEY HEIGHTS, IN 1781. BOOKS THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO THE HISTORY, GENEALOGY AND BIOGRAPHY OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS. TERMS, $2.00 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE. This publication is now in its sixth year, having gained in public favor since its commencement. It is invaluable to the Historian and Genealogist, covering a field not occupied by ordinary periodical literature, and is in every way an admirable table companion for the scholar and for all persons of literary and antiquarian tastes. It has met with general approval and already forms a storehouse of material not accessible in any other form. With the July number (No. 1, Vol. 6), we shall continue the abstracts from the Jamestown, R. I., Records, and also the Records of Trinity Church and of the Society of Friends of Newport, R. I. Several interesting and valuable historical documents have been contributed for the next volume. The first and second volumes of the Magazine have become so scarce that they can be supplied only as odd numbers can be picked up here and there. The publishers will receive orders for them, however, which they will endeavor to fill as rapidly as possible, and in the order in which they are received. Vols. three, four and five can be furnished on demand. Subscribers for the next volume should send in their names at once, that we may know how large an edition to print. Send all orders and communications to R. H. TILLEY or the NEWPORT HISTORICAL PUBLISHING CO., The office of the Magazine has been removed to the Dealers supplied by the Rhode Island News Co., rooms of the Newport Historical Society, Barney St. Providence, R. I. THE AMERICAN. A National Journal of Literature, Science, the Arts, and Public Affairs. PHILADELPHIA: WEEKLY EDITIONS, SATURDAYS. ***The Sixth Year will begin October, 1885. THE AMERICAN has now established a more than national reputation. Its contents consist of original matter, written for its columns. It is not the reprint of a daily newspaper. **THE AMERICAN has 16 pages, handsomely printed on toned paper. Subscription, $3.00 per annum; $1.50 per six months. Specimen copies sent free. All communications should be addressed to Offices, 921 Arch St. THE AMERICAN, Post Office Box 924, Philadelphia, Pa. ΙΟ |