of Calhoun, Webster, and Clay, as statesmen. He says that it would be hard to say which of these would command, in America, the highest praise, "Boston would declare in favor of Longfellow, New York in favor of Bryant, if there was not a dissension in favor of Halleck, and the South would yield the palm to Poe." In the criticisms of Dr. Herrig, Poe is considered as far behind Bryant and Longfellow, but between his eulogistic comments upon these last two writers, it is almost impossible to distinguish. Indeed, we do not know why any one should endeavor to say which of these authors shall be considered greatest. Each, in a different way, has the highest claim to the admiration and praise, not only of his countrymen, but of all those men in every nation, to whom the English language is familiar.

countries, Switzerland offers the most instructive lesson to any one investigating educational systems and institutions." The different results of different systems may here be easily traced; and this ad

This want of a general account of these different systems is now about to be supplied. The first volume has just appeared of a work entitled, "Das Erziehungswesen der Schweiz," which will soon

give to the public all the information they desire in

regard to the methods and results of popular education in that country. In the part which has already appeared, full details are given in regard to the school organization of the six following cantons, Zürich, Berne, Luzern, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, and Zug.

So far as we have been able to examine this work, it appears to be very complete, giving a systematic

notion of all the educational institutions of the the highest seminaries and universities, with parcantons we have named, from the primary school to ticulars also in regard to normal schools, deaf and dumb institutions, private establishments, &c., with recent official statistical tables. It is certainly the best book upon Swiss education which has ever appeared, and we shall look eagerly for the succeeding volumes. The authors are Grunholzer and Mann, both practical instructors, and their work has just appeared from the press of Kiesling, at

Zurich.

esting, suggestive, and valuable criticisms; and Germans who study the selections which are given, can not fail to receive a favorable impression of the variety, power, and brilliancy of vantage to the traveler is still further increased by genius which the new world has manifested. the fact of there being in different cantons such There lie upon our table the early volumes of great differences of religious belief. The observer, another work now in progress in Germany, he continues, may here witness "the highly satiswhich also promises to be of great utility in ex-factory solution of the various difficulties arising tending a knowledge of American literature. It from differences of religious belief existing under is the publication, in separate volumes, of the the same government." "Standard American Authors," under the superintendence of Dr. Karl Elze, at Dessau. A new volume is to appear every month, printed upon excellent paper with rare typographical accuracy, and sold at the very low price of half a Prussian thaler, say thirty-seven and a half American cents. The first volume of this series contains the poems of Bryant, which were We regret that the limits of our columns do reprinted by permission of the author. The not allow us to show the style of criticism in second and third present the autobiography of which the orators and historians, and other Franklin, with a Continuation by Jared Sparks. prose writers of the United States, are discussed. Volume 4th gives part of Longfellow's poems, But although this article has already been too 5th, 6th, and 7th are to give others of his writlong, we cannot forbear to speak of the Selec-ings. Other announcements will soon be made. tions which form the body of this work. In the The series is well planned, and the volumes Introduction, we are surprised at the apparent which have appeared already are printed in a familiarity with all our literary history, which most creditable manner. They merely give the Dr. Herrig manifested, but in his Quotations of original text of the author without either note the masterpieces of American Literature, we or comment. must either wonder at his limited knowledge, or at his singular judgment. Not only are the specimens which he quotes often inferior or unfair examples of the author's style, but it is impossible to trace any rule in the selection of writers who are honored with a place in the body of his work. Thus, for instance, Fisher Ames and Wirt are very properly mentioned among our earlier political writers and speakers, but neither Adams, Hamilton, nor Patrick Henry is spoken of. Among living men in this class, we find Sumner but not Winthrop, Benton but not Choate, D. D. Barnard but not Seward. All the pulpit orators referred to, are Buckminster, Porter, Fuller, Channing, and Blagden, but it is not clear why Edwards, Dwight, Mason, Beecher, A general account of the systems of public educaand many more of not less power, are entirely tion established in the various cantons of Switzerland, has long been desired, not only by the friends overlooked. As a traveler, Schoolcraft is quoted, of popular instruction in that European republic, but Stephens is not mentioned. Tuckerman is but by those in other lands to whom such subjects prominent as a poet, but Hillhouse and James are a study. The difficulty in collecting educational Russel Lowell are not alluded to. The latter, information in that country, has arisen from the although in the foremost rank of younger poets, fact that each of the cantons has its own school we presume to be, from the blunders above re-organization; so that, in a population of about two ferred to, unknown to the German editor. Mrs. Stowe is quoted and Miss Warner is not, though the latter, in our judgment, is more deserving of a place among novelists than Mrs. Sigourney, who, strangely enough, appears in that group of of writers as well as among the poets. Did our limits allow, we might mention many more of these incongruities which we cannot help considering quite as bad, and not as pardonable as those remarkable ones which are found in the gallery of distinguished men at Sydenham, or in the lists which cover the walls of the Bibliotheque St. Genevieve, in Paris.

Notwithstanding these objections to the volume of Dr. Herrig, we repeat our commendations of its general excellence. Americans who examine its Introduction will find many inter

AMERICANS AT OXFORD,

Those of our readers who have read Mr. Bris

In this connection it may also be interesting to mention that the Tauchnitz edition of so called "British Authors," published at Leipsic, now includes twelve volumes from the pens of six American writers, Cooper, Irving, Hawthorne, Stowe, Warner, and one anonymous person, the author of the Lamplighter, which is ted's spicy but superficial comments upon the comone of the last additions to the series. Each parative merits of British and American Universivolume appears in a size and style correspond-ties, must remember the account which he gives of ing to the famous Tauchnitz editions of Greek and Latin Classics, and is sold at a correspondingly low price.

EDUCATION IN SWITZERLAND.

million and a half persons, twenty-two different sys-
tems require examination. The Tagsatzung, or
general government of the Helvetic Republic, like
the congress of our own country, has nothing to do
with popular education; and does not even collect
the annual statements in regard to the expenses,
the number of pupils and scholars, the number of
schools of different grades, and other important
particulars of public instruction, which are issued
by different separate States.

On the other hand, it is well known that the land
of Pestalozzi, Fellenberg, and Vehrli, stands high
in the general diffusion of knowledge, and in the
excellence of its methods of instruction. Mr. Kay,
an exceedingly intelligent observer, who visited
many of the countries of Europe a short time since,
for the purpose of studying the condition of the
people, remarks in his "Education of the Poor in
England and Europe," that, perhaps, "of all

his taking a degree, after five years' residence within the venerable walls of the University at Cambridge, England. The laws required him to express assent to the thirty-nine articles of the Church of England, and to take an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty, the Queen. The first of these conditions has so long been conformed to "with mental reservations," by members of the high church party, that it probably required no great sacrifice of principle in our

countryman to avow at least as much belief in those doctrines as many of the English profess. How to retain his American citizenship, and yet to satisfy the second condition of the University law, was a more difficult problem, which it required all his well-known mathematical genius to solve. It is enough here to say, that he took his degree, but that very few, if any, of his countrymen have cared to imitate the example which he set.

Citizens of the United States, and especially those

not agreeing with the doctrines of the Episcopal church, have, in fact, until quite recently been excluded from the English Universities. They might, under some restrictions, hear certain lectures, but participating in the rights, privileges, and honors of Oxford and Cambridge "men," has been, except for such as Mr. Bristed, quite out of the question. That this has worked well for our country we have no doubt, for the attractions offered in an English University, without the drawback of a change of language which an American experiences upon the continent, might have taken away many students from our own colleges, and materially weakened their prosperity. Now that our institutions are so firmly established, and the facilities which they

offer for advanced instruction have become so good, there is but little importance to our countrymen in the partially open doors which in future Oxford and Cambridge exhibit to us.

It is interesting, however, to inquire how the recent reforms in the English universities affect the position of students from the United States.

tairs von praktischem Interesse sind, gave no partic-
ulars in regard to any plans and charts but those
which had a strategic value.

Impressed with this deficiency, as we learn from
the preface of their work, the Royal Institute re-
ferred to have undertaken, from their own resources
and by correspondence with geographical and topo-
graphical bureaus and societies, to prepare a com-
plete Cartography, or description of the charts of
every country. Although they have long been

A gentleman, who has recently been in Oxford, has acquainted us with the result of his inquiries upon the subject. The information which he gives was obtained from an official source of high author-engaged upon this enterprise, the difficulty of obity, and may, therefore, be considered as perfectly The following are its most important

reliable.

points:

“Henceforward, a student from the United States may matriculate in the University of Oxford without taking any oath whatever, or signing any religious articles. He may also take the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, without oaths, subscription, or declaration of any kind, but not the degree

taining all the information they desired has pre-
vented until now the publication of any portion of
the work. Finally, they have commenced with the
formation in regard to the various and beautiful
Austrian Empire, and are now giving detailed in-
maps which have appeared in regard to that coun-
try, for the great part under the direction of its
government. Although the publication of the Re-

of Master of Arts, nor any higher degree. He may take
'Honors' at the several University examinations.
All
Prizes and Public Scholarships would be open to him, and,
in a very few cases, scholarships in particular colleges.
"Degrees conferred by American colleges are not recog-
nized at Oxford, the only universities which are recognized
at present being Cambridge (Eng.) and Dublin. A Bachelor
of Arts from the United States cannot, therefore, be admit-A. UNIVERSAL ATLASES AND MAPS OF THE World.

pertoire commences with Austria, that country, in
the final arrangement of the work, will occupy
another place, and accordingly each country is to
have a separate paging.

ted in Oxford, ad eundem.

It is intended that the classification of the whole work shall be as follows:

B. EUROPE. General and partial maps.

Reviews, Notes, &c.

HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN, FORMATION, AND ADOPTION
OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES;
with Notices of its principal Framers. By
GEORGE TICK NOR CURTIS. In two volumes.
Vol. 1 (8vo. pp. 518). New York: Harper &
Brothers.

It is one of the many regrets linked to Mr. Webster's memory, that he did not live to write, as he had designed, the history of the Constitution of his country. Of all men, he was the habits, and whole character, and especially by best fitted for the noble task by his nature, his profound study and comprehensive, wellmatured views of that great code of civil govthe early statesmen of the republic, and to ernment, which was so laboriously framed by which he had himself, during his long public life, held so near and important relation as its expounder and defender. We have, however. the agreeable reflection that this task, now worthily executed by another hand, was commenced and carried forward under Mr. Web-

“Cambridge (Eng.) is believed to be identical with Oxford C. GERMANY, or the Germanic Confederation without Prus- ster's immediate advice and encouragement.

in all these regulations."

While we rejoice at the triumph of the liberal party in England, in gaining these and other concessions which are of the highest importance to Dissenters in that country, we do not consider that the recent reforms are likely to affect many students in this country. We believe that those who thoroughly pursue the course marked out in our only two complete Universities, at Cambridge and New Haven, and in some of our other institutions, will be as thorough scholars, and have a better education than most of the graduates at Oxford or Cambridge, in England. If an American student goes abroad at all, he will usually find far more advantages in Germany than in England.

A NEW CARTOGRAPHY, OR REPERTORY OF ATLASES
AND MAPS.

We have already alluded, in a previous number of this journal (ante, p. 619), to an excellent cartographical work, of which the first number has recently appeared at the Hague, under the superintendence of the Royal Institute of Engineers in the Netherlands. An opportunity having since been afforded us of examining this publication, we are sure that those of our readers who take any interest in geographical science, will be glad to learn more particulars in regard to the work alluded to.

D.

sia and Austria.

1. General maps.

2. Particular maps of the different states, Bavaria, Wur-
temberg, Baden, Saxony, the Hanseatic cities, &c.
AUSTRIA.

2. Particular maps of different states.

Already, before his health began seriously to decline, he had communicated with Mr. Curtis in regard to the labors, in which the latter was then engaged; but especially during those last months of lassitude and illness, when, with all his own personal and official cares, he had always so much time and so many kind thoughts for others, he endeavored to impress upon him the importance of the work which he had undertaken, and to aid him in its execution. "Being with him alone," says Mr. Curtis in his preface, "on an occasion when his physician, after a long cousultation, had just left him, he said to me with an earnestness and solemnity

K. OTTOMAN EMPIES, with the Principalities of the Danube, that can never be described or forgotten: 'You
Greece, and the Ionian Republique.
have a future; I have none.

L. THE NETHERLANDS, with the Grand Duchy of Luxem- History of the Constitution.
bourg.

M. PRUSSIA.

N. RUSSIA, with Poland.

O. SCANDINAVIA (Sweden, Norway, and Denmark).

You are writing a You will write that work; I shall not. Go on, by all means, and you shall have every aid that I can give you.'" Shortly after this interview, the great statesman passed away from the world, and he

P. THE SWISS CONFEDERATION.
Q. ASIA. General and Special maps, including those of on whom had fallen these impressive words
European colonies in Asia,

Most of the charts mentioned will be of a later date than 1800, as those which are earlier have for the most part been superseded by those which are more exact. Special charts which are on a scale of less than 1: 500,000 will not be described, nor will

It is entitled "Repertoire de Cartes, publié par l'Institut Royal des Ingénieurs Neerlandais," and it will appear in occasional parts of thirty-six or forty-general charts on a scale of less than 1: 1,500,000, eight octavo pages, well printed upon good paper, from the press of Van Langenhuysen. It is written in the French language, and will probably have a wide circulation.

unless in some exceptional cases.

Each chart, so far as possible, will be minutely described. Its size, scale, designer, engraver, publisher, date, original price, and present value (in francs), will all be mentioned, together with critical comments upon its character and relative import

ance.

66

went on to do the task, thus enjoined him, with a newly won earnestness and fidelity, as if under the inspiring influence of prophetic sanction. We can well believe that 'that injunction," from such lips, not only "became to him an ever present admonition," but also furnished the noblest and purest incentives to effort; and doubtless often, amid the press of daily cares, and the toils of research or composition, those solemn words, so solemnly uttered, came up again to supply fresh stimulus and infuse new activity.

The work to which, under such auspices, Mr. Curtis was called, was very much needed; it will fill, and we hope satisfactorily, a very important and hitherto unoccupied place in the history and literature of the country. Historical notices and views of the Constitution have found place in general histories, and in the biog

The importance of its publication was suggested by the difficulty of finding in any existing catalogue information concerning the general or special value of charts and atlases, or even concerning the scale So comprehensive a design as this is deserving upon which they are constructed. Two works have of the utmost encouragement, and we hope that partially supplied this want, but one of these, Von those among our countrymen who are able to conOesfeld's Kartenfreund, was never completed, on tribute information concerning American charts account of its author's death, and the other, pub-and atlases, will feel called upon to comply with lished by the Etat-Major of Prussia, under the title the modest request of the Royal Institute of Engi-raphies and published writings of its founders; of Ubersicht derjenigen Karten, Situations- und Fes-neers in the Netherlands, by forwarding to them but no special historical work, devoted to the tungs-Pläne von Europa, welche für Deutsche Mili- such particulars as may be in their possession. unfolding of this great theme, has till now been

union of the States of which they are citizens." Towards the close of the volume, the style rises in dignity and eloquence, with the increasing interest of the theme, when the reader is at length introduced to the great Convention of 1787, and surveys, with the author, that assemblage of gifted, wise, and good men. This part of the work, in which the author sketches the character and services of the principal frainers of the constitution, has great merits, and, for the majority of readers, will be the most attrac- President Woolsey's notes are models for all tive and interesting. These sketches are, in our commentators who prepare the classics for our judgment, admirably drawn; brief, straightfor- colleges. There is everything to assist, nothing ward, discriminating, dwelling only upon essen- to relax. His object is to help the student, and tial points, and very happily written. We have he does not forget this in order to display his been particularly interested in the sketch of learning, to inform the public how many books Hamilton, whom the author introduces as "that great man who, as a statesman, towered above all his compeers, even in that assembly of great men." Our space will not allow us to enrich our columns with some passages, from this and other chapters, which we had marked for insertion.

Sketches of the Lives and Judicial Services of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. By GEORGE VAN SANTVOORD. New York: Charles Scribner, 1854. pp. 533. It is a singular fact that, among a people so fond of biography as are the Americans, the life of only one of the five eminent public men who have occupied the high station of Chief Justice of the United States has hitherto been written. John Jay, the stainless patriot of the Revolution -the eminent statesman and incorruptible dipPresident Woolsey's reputation as a Greek lomatist of the age of Washington, the first Chief scholar and a commentator on the Greek classics Justice, is the only one whose life and services is too thoroughly established to need any assist-have been fully chronicled in the literature of ance at our hands. The present edition of his the country. It is to supply this obvious defi

ciency that the work before us has been under- sketch of the quiet and almost purely profes- before. He gives, so far as we have seen, no taken. It is the carefully prepared production sional career of the present Chief Justice. The explanation of the loss of this charter, and of a lawyer and scholar, who evidently appre- leading parts of his life and his brief diversion makes no mention of the manner or the place in ciates the nature and value of historical re-into national politics during the administration which it was at length discovered. The planters searches, and is withal, familiar with the public of President Jackson, are fully and impartially of Cape Anne, after various vicissitudes, removed men of the country and the changeful policies narrated, together with an outline of his ser- to Salem in 1627-a year or more before the that have marked our successive administra- vices in the high position which he now adorns. arrival of Endecott, whose commission supertions. In bringing together, therefore, the facts Along with these sketches of the Chief Justices seded that of Conant, and whose colony hencerelating to the lives of the Chief Justices, he has whose lives form the proper subject of the forth became, in local tradition and history, the also aspired to trace the history of the Ameri- work-it also contains, in a series of marginal original Colony of Massachusetts Bay, until the can Judiciary as exhibited in its highest tribunal, notes, brief but valuable notices of a large num- mistake is corrected by the discovery of the and to present an outline of the constitutional ber of the eminent men who have been inti- document here published. Mr. Thornton's narjurisprudence of the country. In this most mately associated with the Supreme Court, rative of the settlement at Cape Anne indicates worthy. aspiration he has attained a very credit- either as Associate Justices or as Attorney Gene- research and a wide acquaintance with the origable success, and has furnished a volume which rals. A volume thus prepared, we cannot doubt, inal sources of New-England history, but he will prove a valuable addition to the library will be regarded as a valuable addition to the evidently wants skill as a narrator, and practice alike of the lawyer and the general scholar. He literature of American history. It may well be as a writer. The book, however, is worthy of has placed before us, as well as his materials-in followed by others which shall sketch the lives of a place in any library of American history. some instances not very copious in personal de- all the judges of that high court, and by another The Voice of Letters, &c., &c. By Joseph B. tails-would allow, the characters and public still, which shall contain the biography of the Manning, A. M. (Munroe & Co.) We are told services of Jay, Rutledge, Ellsworth, Marshall, successive Attorney Generals. Such volumes to set our light on a candlestick. Mr. Manning and Taney—who, in succession, have occupied would not only gratify the popular curiosity has placed his under the thickest bushel measure the distinguished post of Chief of the National respecting men who have occupied these high he could find. We believe his intention is to Judiciary, and in connection with the biographi- positions, but they would also make known to vindicate the English vernacular pronunciation cal sketch of each one, he has also presented a all classes of the people, the details of the consti- of the Latin, and to show that the English may brief review of the great causes at whose trial tution-and the practical workings of the Ame- be written by a uniform system of characters. they were severally called to preside. rican judiciary. He attempts (if we have guessed rightly) these ends by some twenty-seven pages of the sorriest The Landing at Cape Anne; or, the Charter rhyme we ever saw on good paper. Every of the First Permanent Colony on the Territory other page is ornamented by the same, rendered of the Massachusetts Company, now discovered into the uniform system of English orthography, and first published from the Original Manuscript. where we are treated to such charming forms as With an Enquiry into its Authority and a His-"letehrz" for "letters," and "bihrbarus" for tory of the Colony, 1624-1628, Roger Conant, "barbarous." Certainly, Mr. Manning is origiGovernor. By John Wingate Thornton. "Ob- nal. We do not believe any one will dispute scura promens." (Gould & Lincoln.) Mr. Ed- with him the patent for expressing the a of ward Everett justly remarked, in his recent "father" by "ihr." Whether Mr. M. has proved letter read at the celebration of the New York the English vernacular pronunciation to be the Historical Society, that "no great branch of correct pronunciation of the Latin we really literature has been so successfully cultivated in cannot tell. The waters were entirely too America as History." The impulse which has muddy for us to venture on a full draught, even been given to historical inquiries and historical though some drops of the Elixir of Life had lain composition, especially within a few years past, concealed in the mass. As to the uniform sysis truly surprising. It pervades all portions of the tem of orthography, everybody was aware such country, and is producing everywhere most val- a system was very easily constructed, and seveuable results. Eager explorers are now looking ral systems far more respectable than Mr. Maninto every hiding place which by possibility mayning's have been produced. The major part of contain memorials of the past, and, as fast as the volume is composed of a series of chaotic they are found, are either giving them to the notes, and the whole conglomeration is prefaced public or laying them carefully away for the use by four pages of inimitable wordiness. of the historian of the State or of the nation. Fanny Fern's new book, Ruth Hall, tells the Of this spirit of historical inquiry, the publi-story of the struggles and successes of an aucation of a recently discovered charter of the thoress, and it will, of course, be taken as a passage ancient colony of Cape Anne, in Massachusetts, of autobiography, whether it is so acknowledged is an interesting fruit. The document, of which by the writer or not. The curious public, who the volume contains a fac-simile of the original long ago settled the question, "Who is Fanny draft, speaks for itself, and is undoubtedly a Fern?" will begin anew to discuss her history charter of earlier date, and gave rise to an ear- and her relations, and will busily trace out likelier plantation in Massachusetts, than that of nesses and analogies between the story and the Endecott at Salem, which has been usually real life. How much of it is fact and how much reckoned the first. It appears to us to settle fancy, we neither know nor care, but we are the fact that the colony of Massachusetts Bay, sure it must have been a bitter experience of in distinction from that at Plymouth, was first life that could lead to such a book, which sneers settled in 1624, at Cape Anne, instead of 1628, at religion, sees no kindliness in humanity, and at Salem; that Roger Conant is entitled to be con- admits not the strong instincts of natural affecsidered the first local Governor of the colony, and tion. It makes some pitiful disclosures, unwitnot John Endecott, as is ordinarily stated. Be-tingly perhaps, of a heart that has lost all trust yond this, the volume of Mr. Thornton contains in God and confidence in man, that has been Scarcely less interesting, is the author's little that is important that was not known soured by misfortune, and angered by unkindness.

Of the Chief Justices thus far, the grand historical interest, without doubt, centers around the life and labors of John Marshall, the fourth in the honored succession. He presided over the Supreme Court for thirty-four years-more than half the period of its entire existence he has left the traces of his calm reason, his penetrating sagacity, and his unswerving justice upon the whole fabric of American jurisprudence. His three predecessors—all of whom were appointed by President Washington, — completed their terms of service within the first ten years of the existence of the government, and to a great degree, before the difficult questions of constitutional law had been submitted to the decision of the tribunal of dernier resort. Marshall was appointed by President John Adams, in 1801, and held the office till his death, in 1835. The interval which elapsed between these two dates is that in which the national judiciary assumed the high position which, we fondly hope, it will maintain forever; and this position, commanding and glorious as it is, proclaims the character and genius, the fidelity and patriotism of the great Chief Justice. During these thirty-four years, there were associated with him men of the highest judicial abilities the country has produced-but, among them all, he was the acknowledged chief, not only in station, but in all the resources and acquirements which constitute intellectual power and moral worth.

The portion of the present volume which is devoted to him, is filled with the greatest interest to the student of constitutional history, and presents a form of intellectual and judicial character over which the intelligent reader will most delight to linger. It presents a full and very interesting account of his labors both as a statesman and as a jurist, which cannot be too strongly commended to the attention of all who aspire to places of eminence and power.