Report on General Literature. 



85 



and which could easily be compressed, with advantage, into 

 half its present bulk. In its published shape, it will pro- 

 bably be read by but few, and before many months, be 

 consigned to the upper shelves of libraries, there to rest 

 with Congressional Eeports and Documents. But, inasmuch 

 as it treats upon a phase of history, which for a while will 

 probably enjoy no other such suitable commentator, and is 

 written partially from direct and personal observation, 

 and further, inasmuch as the struggle in Paraguay, though 

 now seeming comparatively of little importance to us, may 

 become more so, as our interests with that country are 

 hereafter better developed, the work cannot be held value- 

 less to the archives of our land. Secondly, we would refer 

 to a new and extended edition of Parkman's Conspiracy 

 of Pontiac. Those who have made themselves acquainted 

 with the pleasant style of this painstaking author, will 

 admit that we are not giving the work too high a place, in 

 speaking of it as one of the prominent productions of the 

 year; and there can certainly be no dispute as to the 

 importance to our native land, in thus making timely 

 compilation of facts, which, for want of the necessary ar- 

 rangement, are already becoming somewhat traditional, 

 rather than historical, and, in time, would altogether fade 

 away from memory, were it not for the indefatigable ex- 

 ertions of a few such writers as the one of whom we are 

 now speaking. Lastly to be noticed comes a little foreign 

 work, Paris in 1851, by Tenot, published before 1870, 

 indeed, but only, in that year, given to us by suitable 

 translation. It is, in some respects, a singular volume. 

 The author, distinguished in the higher and more influen- 

 tial circles of the French press, has here given a complete 

 and exhaustive account of the great coup d'etat of Louis 

 Napoleon, exposing, both from official documents and 

 from the testimony of eye-witnesses, every step in the pro- 

 gress and culmination of that remarkable conspiracy, 



