The New York Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1874, Page 3

LITERATURE. IDEAL OLD AGE.’ It seems to be @ general belief that a literary ‘vr scientific woman is not only a great deal Rappier out of the married state than in it, but that her mariage tends to decrease the happiness ef the man who becomes her mate, So widespread w this idea that there is a general upufting of hands when an instance becomes proved of a woman, renowned for intellectual gifts and accom- plishments, achieving and creating happiness as a wife and mother. The generai tendency to disbe- Meve in the combination of intellectual pre-emi- mence with conjugal happiness 1s not without pretty solid foundation, The history of literature and science is only too full of evidences of the misery ensuing from the mistakes made by intellectual men and women in se- Jecting partners in whom they thonght they Yecognized their proper afinities. Hence any contradiction of what appears to ve the general Tule is particularly grateiul to those whose ideal ‘of human telicity is the deep, calm joy of a happy Married life, of two beings whose natures are ‘Wedded to a degree infinitely more imtimate than that accomplished by ring and priest. There isa double satisfaction in welcoming the autobiography of Mrs. Somerville, because it gives illustration both to the rule and the exception, but yields am- Pler confirmation of the- possible sunshine of ‘wedded life, where the wife possesses recognized intellectual supremacy, than of the gloom and shadow. Mrs, Somerville was twice married, and on each occasion toa cousin. Her first husband ‘was Mr. Samuel Greig, Commissioner of the Rus- sian Navy and Russian Consul for Britatn. The Marriage took place in 1804. It lasted three years, g@t the end of which tlue Mrs. Somerville was left a widow. The entire history of these three years is disposed of in five pages of the autobiography, but @ few limes therein are a key to the first experience in marriage. She says:— My husband had taken me to his bachelor’s house in London, which was exceedingly sma)! ana ill- ventilated. I hud a key of the neighboring square, Where I used walk, Iwas alone the whole of the day, so I coutinued my mathematical and other pursuits, but under great disadvantages; for although my husband did not prevent me from Studying, I met with no sympathy whatever trom him, as ne had a very Jow opinion of the capacity of my sex, and had neitne? knowledge of nor in- terest in science of any kind, These lines were written by Mrs. Somerville More than 60 years aiter the manner of life alluded toin them was led. The irritation under which she must have labored had had more than halfa century to cool, and hence the temperature of the language. But, without any overweening senti- ment, it is easy to picture to one’s self the spectacle of the lonely wife bending over her books in soli- tude, and finding in Euler and La Grange the sympathy which 4 husband who “had a very low Opinion of the capacity of her sex and ‘‘neither knowledge 0! nor interest in science of any kind” found it impossible to bestow, *“whe second marriagé of our autobiographer be- stowed upon her the name under which she sub- sequently became Known to tue scientific world, It occurred in 1812, and was contracted with her cousin, William Sometville. The marriage was dissolved by the death of Mr. Somerville, nearly 50 years after, on June 26, 1860. So far as everything that could contribute to affection and happiness 13 to be taken into account, it was as ditferent from the first marriage as it is possible to conceive. On several occasions Mrs. Somerville comes out of the reticence in which she wraps her emotions and gives tribute to this second husband’s generosity and worth, as on paze 176, whea she says, with more than ordinary warmth, on tae occasion of her being elected honorary member o! the Royal Academy at Dublin, of the Bristol Pnilosophic Institution and of the Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle of Geneva:— Our relations and others, who had so severely criticised and ridiculed me, astonisned at my suc- cess, were now loud in my praise. The warmth With which Somerville‘entered into my success deeply affected me; jor not one in ten thousand would have rejoiced in it as he did. But he was of & generous nature, far above jealousy, and he con- aug patton life to take the Kindest interest in Is is, however, to Martha somerville, the @aughter, who frequently supplements her mother’s narrative precisely at those points where the need of additional information is most felt, that we are indebted for the iullest particulars in regard to Dr. Somerville’s approval and encourage- ment of his wile’s scientific labors, In one of the Pleasantest of her parentheses Martha remarks:— My father’s style in writing English was singu- Jariy pure and correct, and he was very fastidious on this sabject—a severe critic, whether in cor- recting the children’s lessons or in reading over the last proo: sheets of my mother’s works pre- vious to their pubiucation, ‘These qualities would have fitted him very well to write the history of his travels, but he disliked the trouble of it, and, ever having the slightest ambition on his own account, he let the time Jor publication slip by. Others travelled over the country he first explored, and the novelty was at anend. He was jar ha; pier in helping my mother in various ways, search- ing the hbraries for the books she required inde- fatizably, copying and recopying her manuscripts, to save her time. No trouble seemed too great ae he bestowed upon her; it was a labor of ve. This is certainly @ charming picture. It does mot often happen that aman possessing respect. able literary and scientific qualifications submits graceluily to be outshone by his wite in that sphere, Mediociity is more apt than absolute ine Capacity to breed envy. Dr. Somerville had spent @ great portion of his life in the American colonies, and had travelled extensively in South Africa, His daughter Martha tells us that, without being very deeply learned in any one especial subject, he was generally well iniormed and very intelligent; Was an excellent classical scholar, tuok a lively in- terest in all branches of natural history; was a good botanist and mineralogist, and had made, winle abroad, numerous valuable notes out of ‘Which it is easy to believe that a work o/ more than average significance and interest might have been compiled. To @ man with these accomplisuments much generosity was necessary to have prevented @ feeling of euvy of the brilliant woman who so completely outstrode him, Perliaps the most striking trait which this auto- biography evinces is the plain common sense and unpretending independence ot spirit of the author. The style is simple, but not dry, It occasionally rises into cordiality, but never becomes florid. Judged by this revelation alone, the author is felt to have been blessed with a fnely balanced organ- ization, in which the intellect, the sensibilities and the will were most symmetrically proportioned, ‘ahd found their lodgement in a healthy physical jrame, capable of protracted labor and always re- bounding lightly from the strain. She was 33 years of age, and already in the first twelvemonth of her marriage to Dr. Somerville, belore she had succeeded ip collécting a suficient number of books on mathe- matics to be entitled to the name ot a mathe. “matical library. These included the works of Franceur, Blot, Poisson, La Grange, Euler, Clair- auit, Monge, Callet and La Place. Nothing can hetter tilustrate her simpitcity of statement and characteristic straightforwardnes? ahd indepen- dence than her description of herself at this por- tion of her career. She says, referring to the little library :— I could hardly believe that I possessed such a treasure when [looked back on the day that 1 first saw the mysterious word “Algebra,” and the long coarse of years in which I had persevered almost Without hope, It taught me never to despair. I had now the means, and pursued my study with increased assiduity; concealment was no longer Possible, Nor was it attempted. 1 was considered eccentric and foolish, and my conduct was highly disapproved ot by many, especially by some mem- bers of my own tamily, us will be seen hereaiter. They expected me to'entertain and keep a gay house ior them, and in that cite were disap- pointed, As I was quite independent [did not care jor their criticism, A great part of the day L Was occupied with my chilaren; in the evening I worked, played piquet with my father, or played on the piano, sometimes with - ee a violin uccompant. Mrs. Somerville passed much of her life on the Dontinent, and was fond of wintering at Florence and Sienna. In company with her husband she paid repeated visits to France and made a tour through Germany. Wherever she went she waa entertained by the most distinguished men and women of the place, and was appointed honorary Member of nearly every scientific society whose Bianding made such appointment a@ distinction ‘Worth receiving. She did not shun genial society. On the contrary, the elements were so happily NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 1874:-TR united m ner that when fauguea witn 10ng-con- tinued and profound abstractions she could turn treshly to the world apd find a charm in the con- versation of those whose ways of life diverged widely from hers, Her accounts of her visits to France and Italy in 1816 and 1817 abound with anecdote of persons in all fields of distinction. Though as a rule she speaks kindly of those whom she mentions with any degree of minutencss, she can at times be severe, but her severity is al- ways accompanted with reasons which more than justify it. Thus she say: At Florence I was presented to the Count- ess of Albany, widow of Prince Charles Ed- ward Stuart, tie Pretender, She was then sup- sed to be Married to Alfieri, the poet, and had a Ind of State reception every evening. [ did not like her, and never went again. Her manner was proud and insolent, “so you don’t speak itatian; you must have had a very bad education, for Miss Clephane Maclane ‘here (who was close by) speaks both French and [Italian periectly.”” So saying sne turned away and never addressed another word to me, She describes Arago as tall and good looking, with an animated countenance and black eyes; of character noble, generous and energetic, and manners lively and even gay. La Place was not tall, but thin, uprignt and rather formal, dis- tinguished in his manners and with something of the courtier in him. He was incomparably supertor to Arago in mathematics and astronomi- cal science, but inferior in general accomplish- ments. In the large assemblage of philoso- phers to whom she was introduced she had expected a very grave and learned conversation. On the contrary, every one talked ina gay, animated and loud key, especially M. Poisson, author of “Treatise on Mechanics.” Visit- ing the theatre sne had the opportunity of com- paring Talma with John Kemble, and Mademoiselle Duchénols with Mrs, Siddons, The comparison in both cases was tn favor of the English artists. Mrs. Somerville, by the way, had, in her youth, seen Mrs, Siddons act in Edinburgh, and alterwards, when Mra. Siddons was an old woman, had heard her read in private from Shakespeare and Milton, Mme. La Place, whom she describes as an ¢légante, received the rising mathématicienne in bed, ex- quisitely dressed, after the manner of the fashion- able French ladies of that time. Lord Byron she saw at Venice at a reception of the Countess Albrezzi, but did not have any conversation with him because “he would not make the acquaint- ance of any English pegple @t that time.’ At Bologna she became acjuainted with the cele- brated Mezzofanti, whom she describes as a quiet looking priest, whose comversation was not re- markable and whose countenance evinced no talent, The religious views of @ character like Mrs. Somerville are always interesting, because they furnish a basis for judging how Jar a courageous, independent, well-balanced and splendidly en- dowed intellect may aepart from the average standard. The information she vouchsafes, how- ever, is not so full as those who reverence her genius would like to find, Writing in her eighty- ninth year she says;—~ Although I have been tried oy many severe af- fictions, my life, upon the wiole, has been happy. In my youth I had to contend with prejudice and liliberality: yet 1 was of aguiet temper and easv to live with; and I never imteriered with or pried into other people’s affairs, However, 1 irritated by what I considered unjust criticism or inter- ference with mysel', or any One Lloved, 1 could re- sentit flercely. I Was notgood atarzument. I ‘was apt to iose my temper; Wut I never bore ill will to any one or Jorgot th@ manners ofa gentle- woman, however angry I May have been at the time, But I must say that no one ever met with such kindness as I have done. never had an enemy. I have nevep been of a melancholy disposition; though depres#éd sometimes by cir- cumstances I always rallied again; andalthough Iseldom laugh [ can laugh heartily at wit or on fit occasion. The short times] have to live natu- ratly occupies my thoughts. In the blessed hope of living again with my beloved children and tlose who Were an‘ are dear to on earth, J think of death with composure and periect confidencs in the mercy of God. Yet to Who am afraid to sleep alone on a stormy night, or even to sleep comfortably any night unles§some one is near, it is a searful thought that ay nrit must enter that new state of existence quite @lone. We ure told of the infinite glories of that state, and I believe in them, though it is incomprehensible to us; but as I do comprebend, in some gree at least, the exquisite loveliness of ie visible world, TI consess I shall be sorrg to leave it. shall regret the sky, e ee with all the changes of their iaital coloring; the earth, with its verdure and iowers; but iar more shall { grieve to leave animals who have tollowed our steps affectionately for years, without know- ing their ultimate fate—though I firmly believe that the living principle 1s never extinguished. Since the atoms oi matter are indestructible, as far as we know, it is dillicult to believe that the spark which gives to their tuner life memory, a- fection, intelligence and fidelity, is evanescent. Every atom in the human frame, as well as in taat of animals, maderoes @ periodical change by con- tinual waste and renovation, The abode is changed, not its mbabitant. If animals have no future the existence of many is must wretched. Multitudes are starved, cruelly beaten, overloaded during life; many die under @ barbarous vivisec- tion. I cannot believe that any creature was created for uncompensated misery; it would be contrary to the attributes of God’s mercy and justice. Iam sincerely happy to find that I am not the only believer in the immortality of the lower aniuiais, Beautiful are the closing glimpses of this won- derful lite. In 1872 she says:— Iam now, in my ninety-second year, still able to drive out for several hours. Iam extremely deaf, and my memory of ordinary events, and especially of the names of peopie, is failing, but not tor problematical and scientific subjects. Iam still able to read books on the higher algebra for tour or five hours in the morning, and even to solve the problems. Sonetimes I find them diMcult, but my old obstinacy remains; ior if I do not succeed to-day I attack them again on the morrow. 1! also enjoy reading about all the new discoveries and theories in the scientific World and in all branches of science, A little later she writes:— Now that Iam in my ninety-second year I must soon expect the signaffor sailing. It is a solemn voyage, but it does notdisturb my tranquility. Deeply sensible of my utter unworthiness, and Poeuues, grateful for the innumerable biessings have received, I trustin the infinite mercy of my-Almighty Creator. I have every reason to ve thankiul that my intellect is still unimpaired, and, although my strength 1s weakness, my daughters support my tottering steps, and by incessant care and help make the infirmities of age so light to me that I am perfectly happy. These are her last words. And so we leave her dying in her slumber—a sleep within a sleep—on the morning of November 29, 1872, a little more than a year ago. Surely the last third of such a life illustrates the very ideal of ola age, an old age radiant with profound culture, unobtrasive re- ligion and ail the sweet amenities of a thoroughly feminine womanhood, * Personal Recollections from Barly Life to Old Age of Marv Somervilie; with Selections irom her Correspondence, by her daughter, Martha Somer- ville. Published by Roberts Brothers, Boston, MAURY'S PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. In opening and turning over the leaves of this beautiiul book, with its wealth of excellent, chaste and handsome pictures, it awakens a spirit of en- Joyment like that with which the travellez yg in- spited when from 4 neighboring jountain he looks down upon thé Broad, rich and tuxuriant “Royal Plain” of St. Domingo, If a more compre- hensive, instructive and attractive work of the kind than this, within the limits of 218 pages, atlas form, hay ever been pubjishea, in either hemisphere, we should be pleased to see it, It bears the tmprint of “The University Publishing Company, New York and Baltimore, 1873,” aud is the crowning work of the industrious and well spent life of the late and universally lamented M. T. Maury, for 16 years Superinten- dent of the National Observatory at Washington, Professor Maury says in bis Preface that ‘this volume, together with the tliree graded geog- raphies previously publishea and a@ treatise on Astronomy, forming the author’s contribution to the University Series of School Books, was com- menced in 18663” that “it isthe joint labor of his wife, daughters and son, and constituted one of the chief sources of their home recreation during their residence in England; that “there the best sources of information were kindly and Ireely opened to him; that “this, combined with the knowledge and experience acquired or pertected in the superintendency of the Washington Observa- tory, made the undertaking congenial and the oc- cupation ag charming as labora of love always are,’ and that “the aim throughout the series has been to strip these two most important branches— Geography and Astronomy~of dry details and mere technicalities, to popularize these fields of knowledge and to make them as interesting ana instructive to students as possibie.” So far, then, We build upon solid ground, The publishers | im their mtroauctory note ray that, previous to the last iliness of the distinguished author, “ne had just revised his manuscripts, the charts had been engraved and the proois had passed under his eye and the work of the artists and printers was well advanced”’—that “the present work is therefore the matured work of the untiring brain and hand that hed go long aud nobly toiled in the field of scientific research; that the work is at length given “to the educational public as a grand contribution to science and education,” and that to sive the work a dress befi.ting its high merit neither effo.t vor expense has been spared in its publication, The fine white paper, tne clear and beautiful type and the exquisitely Gnished charts and pictorial engravings, and the hindsome head lines which mark the divisions aud numerous sub- divisions ol the book, attest rhe trath of the pub- lishers’ statement touching its mechanical execu- tion, paper, engravings, typography and printing. It ts a work of high art and skilled labor, of which the publishers and the country may justly be proud, In the arrangement of the subjects discussed therein this work is first divided into six parts:— Earth, Features of the Land, Meteorological Phenomena, Phenomena and Life o! the Sea, the Life and Products of the Earth and the Ame ican Continent, Next we have the subdivisions of these main chapters, wnicn, we may say, embrace everything “in the heavens abuve, in the earth be- neath and in the waters (and fires) under the earth.” For example, under the general head of “the Earth” we are given the Earth as a Planet, Size, Distane? and Motions of the Sun and Planets, the Karth’s Motions, the Earth’a Dimensions and Weight, Velocity of the Earth’s Motions, Effect of Rotation upon Weight, Evidences of the Earth’s Sphericity, Change of Temperature with Distance from the Earth's Centre, Rang of Human Habita- tiou, Distribution of Land und Water, Northernand Southern Hemispheres Compared, the Antipodes, &c. Next, in considering the Crust of the Karth, we have, as far as discovered, its Chemical E e- ments, the Lessons Taught by Geclogy, the Earth’s Internal Heat, Rocks, Volcanic Rocks, the Ages of Volcanic and Plutonic Rocks, the Metamorphic Rocks, the Aqueous Rocks, Historical Geology; Silurian Age, or Age of kollusks; Devonian Age, or Age of Fishes; Reptilian age; ‘lertiary, or Age of Mammals; the Glacial Epoch. ‘Ihe vartous ages and stages through which our little pianet has passed, as infallibly recorded in the different lay- ers of its crust, are presented so simply and clearly that the dullest scholar may comprehend them, an thus be qualified to read on the sides of € cli or in the ascent of a mountain the history ot our globe through millions of years, Taking next the division on Meteorology, the phenomena of heat and light, climate, day and night, summer and winter, winds, deserts and circulation of alr, storms, calms and fogs, dew and clouds, rains ana rivers, glaciers and icebergs, maznetism and elec- tricity—all these things are so lucidly explained, in the simplest terms, as to open the profoundest mysteries of sctence to the general understanding. And go of all the numerous matters presented in the yolume. The charts, carefully drawn, beautifully en- grayed and skillully colored, are of the highest order of workmanship, and to indicate their value It will suMce to say that among them are a chart indicating the dis'ribution of rain over the earth and the rainless districts; a chart of the winds; a chart showing tue currents of tne sea and the Qrainage of the land; a thermal and tidal chart; a chart of the principal vegetable growths and chief staples; a chart of the regions producing cotton, sugar cane, coffee and tea, and of the distribution ot plants by altitude above sea level; a chart of the distribution of birds, beasts and fishes; a chart snowing the geographical distribution of minerals; achart showing the distribution of the races of men, and @ chart showing the principal industrial Pursuits of different countries. Such charts, or most of them, are to be found in othera tlases; but in this volume they have the peculiar merit of a distinctness of presentation which requires no research to grasp the details. Though given in a small compass,the subjects which they are intended to illustrate are visible at a glance. For exam. ple, in the chart delineating the currents of the sea and the drainage of the land, we take in at a giance the configuration of the continents, their drainage, interior and exterior, and those tre- mendous rivers of the sea wnich circle round the North and South Atlantic and the North and the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and those great currents which flow out from and into the Polar regions North and South, and the calm basins 1m the heart of each of the oceans named, around which these ocean rivers roll, and within which the suriace of the calm waters is covered for leagues with seaweeds seldom ruffled by a passing storm. In this single chart are presented the re- sults, the “fixed facts” discovered from the ob- servations, explorations and researches of seamen and men of science, which in their full details @ thousand volumes. Turning next to the abounding pictorial illus- trations of this delightful volume, they are unsur- passed as specimens of beautilul cugraving, even by the admirable works of the London Art Journal, Take as @ speci- men of the engravings of this geography that of “A Scene in the Carboniferous Epoch,” or that of a view of “The Grand Cafion and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone, in the Yellowstone Na- tional Park,’? and the critical reader will be satis- fied upon this point, There ts an old axiom which informs us that “there is no royal road to mathe- matics; but from the attractiveness of this book, among others lately introduced into our schools and libraries, there evidently is a more pleasant road through every fleld of learning than the old rough and unpaved tracks travelled over down to the living generation. Bat m this Golden Age of vrinting and engraving, even our dictionaries, with their pictorial illustrations, are male attrac- tive. How much more inviting, tuen, may be made by these modern illuminations a work devoted to the wonders of the wondertul little globe which we mmhabit and its sublime surroundings! And yet, after all, the chief attraction of this charming book is the simple and lucid style in which the profoundest scientific treatment of the subject is given to the student, blenaed with @ dommating faith im the Creator, We: will give a brief extract or two from the book in support of this statement. Professor Maury, in his observations on the ‘Silurian Age, or Age of Mollusks,"’ in speaking of our globe, says:—“Since first its suriace cooled there has been @ constant growth in thickness from the azoic rocks, and a constant advance to the higher forms of life. Aiter each period of slow change or violent disturbance we find in no case a return to lower types, dha fewer genera in the new strata, but even an ad- ‘Ance in that series which was to be crowned and completed by the creationof man. Through all tue preceding ages the world was beitig built and far- nished ready for the occupation of that favored being who alone Was endowed with reason and immortality. For him, age after age added to its store of plants and animals; the coal was stored in beds, and the metais in veins; the barren waters receded, and the earth was decked with beauty and stored with plenty for his occupation.” No evolution is here, no development from the mollusk to the monkey and from the monkey to man; but the gradual preparation of the earth for man, and his especial creation in the fulness of time to occupy it. But, again, in treating of the “Carboniferous Age,” Professor Maury thus explains the origin and processes of our coal formations:—“During this age a warm, moist and equable climate spread itsel! from pole to pole and covered the land from the Arctic to the Argtartic regions with @ tropical vegetation of the most vigorous growth and enor- mous proportions, Have you ever seen ferns growing with moss in the moist places and the cliffs of the rock? Except within the tropics they are now smujl plants. In those days they were trees, Among its fossils are specimens of single ferns 40 or 50 feet high, with many other plants and trees, the like of which are now nowhere to be found, Conifers and calamites are also abundant. At this stage in the history of our planet the in- teresting record (i. ¢., the record of the rocks) goes on to tell of floods and rivers, of subsidence and upheavals on the land and 1 the of convul- sions and cataclysms, during which these forests were swept away, submerged and covered with ud and silt, and the débris of what seems to be the wreck of a world. It is of these snaweiquw trees and plants that our coat felds are tormed, More thaa 300 species of fossil piants have been found in this group,” Again, discoursing of the San, the author says:— “The sun emits bon-luminous as well a8 lumincus rays. Its beams are composed alxo of cheuncal or active rays, as Well as rays of light and rays of heat, al of wh.ch can be separated by the prism. The rays of heat are at the red end; we cannot see, but we can feel them, The rays of light are most intense in the yellow; we cannot tee! them, but we can see them, The chemical rays are at the violetend, and these we can nvitier see nor feel. Nevertheless, highly important offices are assigned to them in the | hysica! economy. They make pic'ures; they heip to construct the woody bre jor the trees and lint for the cotton plant; to paint tne dowers, and to elaborate juices for the peach and perswne for the viviet, and nourish all plants and vegetables, and accomp! sh their mani- Jolu offices in the organic worid by the force of these little vibrations,” &c.—referring to those waves in which ali the rays {rom the sun are borne to its satellites, And yet again, says our author, tn his crowning labor of love, “The wouderiul geologic changes, extending through the ages, shou.d suggest to us the marvellous Power and Wisdom tnat controlled them, as out of seeming disorder and confusion evoived the harmony aud the beauty of the pres- ent ea'th. ‘In the beginning God created tne hcavens and the earth.’ It is He that worketh in such diverse ways and through so many geologic periods has stored the earth’s crust with its Precious treasures and prepared its suriace tor tue abode of His | ighest creatton—Man.” And thus, in closing this book—this beautiful Work of the scholar and the artist, this “grand contribution to science and education,” upon its strong foundation of the Rock of Azes—we com- mend it to the teacher for his scholars and to the general reader tp search of knowledge, particn- Jarly as it is presented with such attractions as to make the study of its pages a pleasant recreation. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. MACMILLAN & Co. have just published an artist's book of travel under the titie of “ix Weeks in the Saddle, a Painter’s Journal in Iceland,” by S, E. Waller. PROFESSOR JAMES HELFENSTEIN’S “Comparative Grammar of the Teutonic Languages” is Just out in London, and is the best historical grammar of the English, Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, Icelandic, Da- nish, Swedish, German, Old Saxon and Dutch tongues, THe Last BOOK of the voluminous Miss ©. M. Yonge is a lite of Bishop Patteson, of the Melane- stan Islands, in two volumes. The Bishop had a youths’ college and a little schooner in the Pacific, with headquarters in New Caledonia, whence he sailed about from island to island, intent on re- ligious and educational work, until he was mur- dered by the delectable savages, THE ARCADIAN defines a journalist as a man who spends the best days of his life in conlerring repu- tations on others and getting none himself. A New Book on Ashantee avd the Gold Coast, by Captain Brackenbury and Captai Huyshe, is on the eve of pubiication tn London, Dr. GEORGE McDoNALp’s new novel, “Malcolm,” deals partly with American and partly with Scot- lish life, It is being published as a serial in the Glasgow Weekly Herald, MR. HERBERT Spencer's third series of “Es- says—Scientific, Political and Speculative”—wil soon be out, A New Lonpon Daixy, to be called the Circle, will be commenced in Junuary, and devoted chiefly to local London news, Dr. SAMUEL Davipson has written an essay on a fresh revision of the Englsh Old Testament, He thinks all modern new versions greatly inferior to the existting staudard English translation, ‘THe GREAT NUMBER Of books written by English- Men and Englisuwomen, and the very small num- ber of works concerning England by Frenchmen, draws this remark trom the Atheneum:— The balance is unequal, Frenchmen are lament- ably loath tolearn anything about kngland, and, indeed, about anything beyond their boundaries. Engushmeawre a trife too eager to know every- thing which concerus Freachmen. A Cory or Lorp Lyrron'’s drama entitled “Cromwell,”? otf which only four coples were printed for the author, to use in altering or amend- ing, brought £11 at a recent London auction. M. Lovis VEUILLO?, the ultramontane editor of the Paris Univers, draws irom the Spectator this criticism :— Were he not one of the most pious men in Eu- rope he would be deemed one of the most proiane. The weaith, the strength and the bitterness o' his invective are amazing. He writes as it he kept an keumenicai council in hits ink bottle. His Christianity gives a new commandment, “fhat ti a man strike thee on the one cheek, thou shalt hit him back, and hit him hard.” Mr. W. W. Story has a learned article in the December Fraser on “Phidias,” showing that there is no proof that Phidias ever made any statues in marble at all, THE Saiurday Review laments that Tacitus, the most powerful and sarcastic of Latin historians, has no readers in England except among proies- sional scholars, ‘THE Spectator calls Mr. William Black's new nove}, A Princess of Thule,’’ ‘a beautiful and al- most perfect story.”? MRS. COWDEN CLARKE contributes to the Gentle- man’s Magazine some unpublished letters of Charles Lamb, which are delightful, A “New History oF RoMaN Lrreratvre,” translated from the German of Professor W. 8. Teuffel, is iikely to supersede tts predecessors. Mr. R. A. Proctor, whose “Border Land of Science” was recently issued in London, is the Most prolific of modern scientific writers, Mr. James W. Gerard, Jr., has just given to the public, in the compass of a volume of about 800 pages, an apparently complete review of the whole real estate system of this State, from the early colo nial period to the present time. This involves, of course, a full consideration of the English common Jaw imported into the colony and prevailing here, not only under colonial rule, but until modified or changed by subsequent constituttonal or State legis- lation, In connection with realty in this State, the principles of the “civil law,” as administered under the Dutch provincial government, from which many titles to land in the State have been derived, is @ necessary branch of investigation, The legal instrumentality by which lands vest or are transferred, the Incidents pertaining to the various interests or estates ia land, the many liens to which fand has been made subject ana the tiietiiots of their removal are algo involved in a consideration of our present real estate system. Thoroughly to review and present in a practicable form subjects #0 important in their nature and involving 80 ex- tended lego-historical research as is necessary In their investigation and treatment is a task not only requiring @ thorough general knowledge of the subject, but mucn labor in detail. Mr. Gerard appears to have executed. with ability and fidelity the task imposed in reviewing the above subjects, Amona forthcoming works illustrating local American history is a new history of the State of Itnois, from 1673 to 1873, by Alexander David- son and Nernard Stuvé, of Springfield. Tue Rev. W. Gresiey bas published a book en- titled “friests and Philosophers,” which takes the side of orthodox religion against such scien- tifle writers as Darwin, Huxley, Dr. Carpenter, &e, Mr. CuARLES New has puolished “Lite, Wander- ings and Labors in East Africa,” which the Athena@un pronounces a crude, badly written and Unsatisfactory pook. Mr. Joun B, Lerronity’s new book on “The Higher Ministry of Nature” is pronounced by the Spectator to be a spasmodic and inconsistent pro- test against Darwinism. Messrs. CHAMBERS have in preparation a new edition of “Chamber's Cycloprdia,” bringing the work down to the dates of the last census in Great Britatu, Ireland and other European countries, PROFESSOR SPENCER Baynes, of St. Andrew's University, is editing the ninth edition of the “En- eyclopmdia Britannica,” in which it is believed that the publishers will invest a sum of not less than £200,000, The first volume will appear shortly. A NeW HAND Book OF PROVERBS AND QUOTATIONS, by James A. Mair, has been published by Routledge & Sons, Anybody who will commit to memory a tithe of thesa nagea would pass aa@ man af vast IPLE SHEET. wisdom, and might pecome the oracle of any coun- try town. UNDER the title of “The Stately Homes of Eng- land” Messrs, L, Jewitt & s, C. Hall bave publisnea an illustrated and descriptive book about the cas- tles and private residences of the English gentry, ‘A SHOP'S CREW SUFFOCATED. Three Men Dead and Two Others in a Comatose State from the Effecis of Coal Gas. WILMINGTON, N. C., Jan. 3, 1874. Early this morning inteiligence of the death of three seamen by the inhalation of carbonic oxide gas, caused by the burning 01 bituminous coal in the stove of a vessel in this harbor, was rife on the streets here. The particulars of the terrible accident are as follows:--About six o’clock this morning @ colored stevedore, who was to take the bajlast fiom the German barkanttne Adolph, which arrived here yesterday, went to the old Wilmington and Weddon depot wharf, where the Adolph is lying, and, fuding no one up on board the vessel, he aroused the mate, who was sleeping in the cain, and signified his readiness to proceed to work. ‘the mate repaired to the forecastie, where the sailors slept, to wake them up, and alter an unsuc- cessiul attempt to arouse them he essayed to get the door open, but in this he tailed, and finally wrenched it off its hinges. He entered the jore- castle and was at once compeiled to leave, as the gas was suffocating. Entering again in a few minutes, he found TWO OF THE MEN DEAD in their bunks, and three others with the spark of life nearly extinct. One of the men, the carpenter, Was found out of his bunk on the floor, where it 18 supposed he fell while attempting to make his way Out of his sieeping apartment, Assistance was immediately called, and the three meu W..o wer: yet alive were taken out and placed on deck, to receive ail tue benefits of fresh air, While the two dead men were being cut from their bunks messengers were (lespatched jor physicians, and inavery jew minutes vrs, Cutlar, Bellam Walker and Lane were by the side of the untortu- hove mca and doing all in their power to reheve them, ANOTHER VICTIM DEAD. Before the physicians arrived the cook, a lad about 17 years old, oue of the unfortunaves who were taken out alive, died, The two surviving men, Who are brotiers, are stili lying in a very precarious condition, and it remains to be seen Which will have tie supremacy, Ile or the poisou, THE SOURCE OF THE DISASTER. Upon examination of the stove in the galley, which is separated troim the seamen’s bunks by only @ thin board partition, a very large crack was disco. ered across the top, and it is supposed that the gas evuived srom the burning coul escaped through it, and worked its way through the cracks, Seams @nd crevices of the partition into the forecastle. ‘The vessel left Richmond about one week ogo. While in port there a supply of the Richmond coal, whicn 1s bitumimous, was laid in, and had been used since the departure of the vessel, ‘The men Were all very much fatigued last night. The vessel had leaked on the voyage irom Kichmond to this port, and the crew were completely worn out by their labors before retiring last night. It is supposed that tor some purpose the cook went into the galley and kindled the coal fire, unaware Of the danger from the effects of the gas in a close room, NAMES OF THE SUPFOCATED SAILORS. ‘The names of the three mex who are dead are William Nicholas shutte, of Zingst, Pomerania; Karl Freder.ck Theodore Kellemana, and Frederick Harmon Curistian Hoiz, of Barth, Prussia. ‘Lhose who ure now aovering between life and death are, as ubove stated, brotuers, One is named Hermann Christian Schutt and tae other Johann Heinrich Scuutt, bot of Zingst, Prussia. They are both married men, as was also one ol the ceceased. All five of the men were splenald specimens of physi- cal beauty, and they must have sormed a first class crew, The two brothers Schutt at nighttall were both lying in tue comatose state in which they had been jound, with but slight, tt any, appearance of im- provement. Physicians will remain by them to- hivht and do all Laat is possible. A jury of inquest Was empaneiled this afternoon, but adjourned over uniil Monday without reuderlig a verdict. this is the first case of the Kind that Nas ever occurred in Wimington. WHERE IS SHARKEY? Maggie Jourdan To Be “shadowed” by the Detectives, The excitement attending the rumored arrest of Sharkey in Philadelphia having subsided the police are at fault once more what to do to keep up the interest tu the matter sufficiently to conceal their own stortcomings. Since Sharkey disappeared irom the Tombs in such a surprisingly sinple manner the police, the detectives and the Tombs people have been entirely at fault as to where he is, and have resorted tothe same old games which were many times before employed in the Rogers and Nathan cases by guliing the public with @ rumor which alterwards turns out to be lalse. Thus Sharkey has been up town, and the saptent detectives have got him within a range of six blocks. The day following the in- formation upon which was founded this informa- tion proves to be incorrect. When again tne pud- lic becomes anxious for news of the lost one it is reported from some inland town that Sharkey has been seen passing through it, The day alter it is found that one man heard irom another man that he nad been informed somebody lke Sharkey had been to the place. ‘Tne sagacious jorce, having exhausted all these expedients, which have leit the whereabouts of Sharkey as much a matter of mystery as ever, have determined to employ another and a still staler metnod than any spoken of in finding the whereabouts of the fugitive from. jastice, They propose to “shadow” Maggie Jourdan, and, in the innocence of their hearis, believe that tne woman who let the prisoner go 1s not smart enough to keep away from him. They will spend anxious days and weary nights in “spotting” her laces of resort without the most remote proba- lity Of advancing their object one iota. Jn the meantime Sharkey is away, and seems likely to remain so if present appearances mean anything. Jt was stated yesterday by a (riend of Sharkey, and aman who appeared to believe that the mur- derer was now ail right, that Sharkey was in Mexico, where he had arrived saiely several days ago, He intended, said the informant to a HERALD reporter, to make his way to Central and provably South America, It is almost certain that Sharkey is not in this city nor within a trousand miles o1 it, THE GENET OHASE, There were rumors in the city yesterday that ex-Senator aud Assemblyman Harry Genet had been captured. A little looking around soon proved the faisity of this report, so absurd on the face of it. There is little doubt, and some of Mr, Genet’s iriends are free to say so, that the political fugitive is in Canada, where be is likely to remain, Several persons entirely wortuy of credence say they have seen him in Montreal, and insist tnut they could not be mistaken. In the meantime ex- pheritf Brennan has not given the matter up, and believes that he can capture Genet. His men are stil on what tucy believe to be the trail, and from day to day Mr. Brennan hopes jor the return of the lugitive. JUDGE DURELL'S CHARACTER, Additional Damaging Testimony Before the Committee. New ORLEANS, La., Jan. 3, 1874. The Durell Investigating Committee continued its labors today trom ten A, M, to half-past four P.M, The examination was principally confined to members of (he Bar who have been practising in in the Bankrupt Court. Attorneys Robert Mott, J. Ad, Rozier, John Finney and John H,. Kennard were each upon the stand. The evidence elicited was all of a general nature, relative to the various irregularities practised ta the Court and reflecting upou Judge Dureil’s habits, though hot to such an overwhelming extent as that developed yester- day. Charley Rhodes, the keeper of the restaurant fre- quented by Durell when on his bouts, was exam- ined, but Was as general aud non-committal as possible in his testimony, ‘Yhe popular opinion is that Durell's cause ts aleady lost, Cnited States District Attorney Beckwith is open in his expressions of opinion to that effect, and an ominous feeling of alarm per- vades the Custom House circles, United States Marshal Packard was also subjected to a long ex- amination this morning, but nothing concerning the nature of his evidence has yet transpired. ‘The Repudlican of this morning objects strongly to the examination being conducted in secret; but public opinion endorses the course of the committee. In addition to the foregoing the following wit- nesses were examined during the day:—Mr. Whit- ney, late reporter of the Picayune, with others, who testified directly in confirmation of Durell’s vad habits; Mr. Davis, of the late firm of Davis & Jackson, clothiers, who stated that he was forced into bankruptey by the Ring, which extorted $30,000 from him before granting bis discharge, and that out of over $100,000 of the assets collected Nis creditors received only @ pittance: also that while his store was under seizure Durell, Nortoa and Wells went to it and fitred themselves out with stocks of clothing. Confirmatory evidence was also elicited from the members of the Bar, concerning the large number of deeds issued nominally ior $10, Waen, m jact, the consideration received were very large amoupta that do not appear upon the recorda, BREACH OF PROMISE. A Fascinating Young Lady Recovers $15,000 for Her Wounded Heart— “He ‘'s a Fooling Thee.” {¥rom the Lonaon Daily News, Dec. 20,} At the Liverpool Assizes on Thursday and yester. day 4 singular case of breach of promise of mar- Tlage Was tried before Mr. Baron Pollock, the damages being laid at £10,000, The plaintif, a lady of 22, is the daughter of Mr. Nuttall, a Liverpool merchant and shipowner, who died last January, leaving a widow and five children, two of whom were daughters. In the spring Mrs, Nuttall ana her daughters went io stay for some time at Buxton, where they met tne defendant, Mr. George Henry Wildes, who was also staying there with some friends. Mr. Wildes, who represented him- self as wealthy and of good socia! position, was introduced to Miss Nuttall, and paid her great attention, finally proposing marriage. He was accepted, though he explained that he had beer married before, that he nad two chilaren, who resided with his mother in Lowndes square, Lon~ don, and that he had procured a@ divorce from his wife, The proposed marriage was approved ofion all sides, and Mrs. Wildes wrote in the most motherly, affectionate terms to the plaintim Ultimately the wedding was fixed for the th of October; but on the 3d of that month the defendang wrote to Miss Nuttall that he had had a meeting with his divorced wife, that people had lied to him about her and that he loved her as much as ever, in tact, on the 11th of Octover his REMARRIAGE TO HIS WIFE was published in the newspapers. Mr, Pope, Q. C., appeared for the plaintiff, and, having stated the above facts, said he did not wish to say a hara word of the defendant. While much might be said for him, while it might even be urged with truth that there was nothing in his remarriage with his first, wile, if he found his love for her sill constant, to call for any observation aerogative of nis charac- ter as a man of honor, yet the blow to Miss Nuttall was a very sad one. She, at all events, had allowed her young affections to be lavished upon hum under the statement that he loved her, The learned counsel then referred to the prospect of socig! advancement and settle. ment which the piaintit! had lost, and for which she sought compensation at the hands of the jury. The plaintiff, her mother and her sister were called and gave evidence to the above effect. Mrs, Nuttall stated that the deiendant haa told her he had an independent income oi £1,400 a year, and that he allowed £300 a year to his divorced wife, Forthe deience Mr. Charles Russell, Q. C., calied Mr, Richard W, Halse, of London, the defen- dant’s solicitor, who stated that, although the de- fendant’s total income was £1,650 @ year, he had to Pay £300 a year to his wile, £200 to his children, and other amounts, which reduced bis income to only £450 a year. Mr. Russeil then ADDRESSED THE COURT on behalf of the defendant, He had always thought it Was most incongruous to talk about bruise feelings and blighted affections, and yet in the nex! breath to talk of money damages as 4 solatium for itall, It was a matter o! as much pain t> Captain Wildes as it was to Miss Nuttall to come there. Granted that he had made the promise; granted that he had made it rasniy, inconsiderately and imprudently ; grauted that he had broken the prom- ise; what were the damages that he ought to pay ? It the jury thought that he had broken his promise for a base and sordid reason, even though he might not be able to pay one tithe, still let them mulct him in heavy damages; but if they thought 1t was a promise more honored in the breach than in the observ. ance, better a thousand times that it had never been made, or that, being made, 1t was broken. No one could say a permanent shadow had been cast upon the young lady’s life and happiness. She was young, attractive, fascinating; had all the spirit of healt, and the appearance of those charms calculated to please the most fastidious, and this was only an episode in ner life—an epl- sode of a painful and distressing character—but still only an episode. GEORGE TO ANNIE. ‘The following letters were read in the course of the proceedings :—~ No.2 CRouwett Prace, Soutn Kexstxcton, Oct. 3, 1873. My Dean Aynté—I tear the contents of this Jeter will cause you great pain and sorrow, but, nevertheless, must write it. Twas greatly annoyed at hearing trom, iy solicitors that your motier had proposed to delay the wedding becattse of the settlemenis, although Ro alters ations had taken piace on my side in them. I came up to town to ace about this, und fully, prepared to return to you and make you a kind and good husband. You may Temember gsking me it [ stil loved imy'wife, as Mrs. Willhams told you she thought (did. I said no, 1 thought not; and told you I loved you with, perhaps, not so. strong, but a quieter love, and this 1 believed. ‘I have never seen my wite for two. years and a halt, and thought that aivlove tor her was now gone from me}, Dutitisnotso. [have seen her again. She has been living very quietly and properly wah her mother and brother tor a long time, and people have lied to me and misstated acts. I love her as much as ever, and can only thank God that this meeting did not take atter our wedding instead of before, so as to spa much future misery, Had I not come to London 1 could 1 have seen her, and we should have been married, and should have met her atterwards, and what would have been the result? sndiess misery for you, her ana my- You will see tow that marriage between Us is im- possible and that our engagement must end. Pocr An- Ble! how sorry 1 am for you. but 1 shall ever marry now tnless I take back iny wite, and can only pray Go to soften the blow for you and let us tee! that it has been sent wich a good en’ in coming upon us now instead of hereaiter. I go abroad immediately, and teniam, dear Annie, stiil always your aftectionate triend, GLORGh H. WILDES, Cax Gwys, St.'Asara, August 15, 1873, My Dantune Gror have just sent Roberts to 58t Asaph with a telegram; am now about to devote 10 min- Utes solely and entirely’ to your own big self [1 am told, observed Mr. Pope, that bé is a une, big. handsome tel low, likely to attract the fancy of a girl), for I feel conti- dent you have nov been able to make out two wordscon- secutively in that alarming specimen of my penmanship I tavored you with yesterday afternoon, And so you really think that your mother will lke me. Do you know All Tteel half atraid to see her tor tear ‘the. original should tot inipress her so favorably as the photo but you will be with me, will you not?’ Andy tmy side 1do not think 1 shall have very par. Hy the way, I must not omit to thank you ude cologne. How good you are to me, and 1— how am I to repay you tor ail your kindness? Ican only do itin one way, by filling your life with sunshine, and with God's help, and not Alice, I willdo all in: my power, to make you torget the bitter past of at least jook back upon it without T should like photos of the children: if you hav ¥ to spare willyou bring Ve have not seen anything of Mrs. Williams since you left, Cue Gwyn not being. sut- ficiently attractive when ladies are its sole occupants, M her kindest regards to Captain Jones, to which kindest regards tell nin Ladd my spinster’s mite, and with dearest love to yourself, believe, always your own, ANNIE NUITALL. Serremnen 26, Dranrst Awnte—Your loving letter is irresistivle, and T sincerely hope nothing will prevent my coming to your marriage on the Lith of next month. Indeed, dear Annie, irom my own observation I feel convinced you will make deur George a loving wite, and make up to by a juture domestic happy lite for his past lite of e and disappointment. J already love you tor your ng manner towards myself, and feel that 1 shall an affectionate daughter hereaiter, sincerely trust no coud wil ever come between us, am, a8 you know, devotedly attached 10 George, and his happiness ismine, I shail look forward to our meeting with much pleasure ; and now, dear, please tell me if you Will hke @ ravelling bag or ® despatch box best, orit you have ent already, With love, believe me, ‘yours affection AGNES WILDES. tely, My Dran Mns. Nurrats—I was sorry that my brief visit prevented more than a few words between you and 1 gathered, however, from your remarks that yo ally with myself, dep= recate the hasty marriage ‘arrangements proposed by George and Annie; indeed, I, for one, cannot see how they are to be carried out, uniess, as you said, they are “to come together without a definite ‘understanding of their means, and that we can help thein afterwards.” Think a marriage under such circumstances would be unwise. L understand from you that Annie will not have anything at ali to add to Géorge’s now limited income. His habits, im my mind, are too set led for him to ‘ive m8 prudent way ; but he thinks differently, and justly saysit concerns himself and Annie most; aud we all agree to leave this question to the lawyers. For myself, t have, however, in order to prevent all misunderstanding, to say that, on his first marriage, I settled on my son ag much as I could spare, and that goes to his two children. Lhave since done what I could tor him; and, it he mar- ries, it must be without any expectation of heip from me, This Lhave thought tt my dnty to say to you. T hope, if they do marry on such small means, they will not be less happy; and } am sure your dear loving chilli is caleu- lated to make the happiness of any home. ive her my love. and, with kind regards to yourself and Miss Nuttall, Pam sincerely yours, AGNES WILDES, The'Judge having summed up, the jury retired, and aiter Some deliberation returned a verdict for £3,000 damages, VIRGINIA CONSERVATISM. Opposition to the Civil Rights Bill—If It Becomes Law Free Schools are to Dis. appear from the Old Dominion, RiciMoyP, Jan, 3, 1874, ‘At a caucus of the conservative members of tne State Senate held this eveniag resolutions were adopted reaMrming that plank in the party plat- form which declares, in substance, that the people of Virginia mean to ofer no “captious hostility’ to President Grant’s administration; but deprecates the passage of the Civil Rights bili as injudicious, unwise and likely to prove hurtful to both races, This action of the conservatives in the higher me about this imp branch of the Legisiature will, undoubt- edly, be endorsed by the members of the party in the House, and, jt is hoped, will have some influence upon Congress. How- ever, in View of the great probability of the passage of the Civil Rights bill, a prominent con- servative member of the Senate has introduced & bill providing for the assembling of a new State Constitutional Convention. It is certain that & great effort will be made to destroy the free School system of Virginia when mixed schools become wnavoidable by the operation of federal law. The only way to accomplish this 1s Ls amendment to the State constitution, and hence the desire for @ new convention. ‘bhe State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Superintendent of Public Schools of Rich- mond city, and a great majority of the conserva- tive members of the Legisiature, assert that the assage of the Civil Rigtts bill wilt be the dea Rieu Of the free shoul aystem im this city and 1 State.