editor’s table. 
261 
Repoet of the Commissioner of Patents for 
the Year 1845.—We have received this annual 
Document, and find it more voluminous than any of 
its predecessors—containing 1,376 octavo pages. 
Although forty-eight new patents have been granted 
the past year, for things relating to agriculture, the 
Commissioner adds that little of novelty has present¬ 
ed itself in them. The Patent Report, of itself, usu¬ 
ally makes but a small pamphlet. Out of the 1,376 
pages lying before us, only 89 are found necessary 
for this purpose. It has been the practice, however, 
for the past few years, to add a quantity of other mat¬ 
ter to it, on the subject of agriculture and the agricul¬ 
tural resources and statistics of the United States. So 
long as the articles added were ORIGINAL commu¬ 
nications to the Commissioner, and not before publish¬ 
ed, and were pertinent to the subject, and not too 
prolix, this was proper enough; but like too many 
things in this world, this report has sadly degenerated, 
and instead of the racy articles which made up the first 
one of this kind, we have a republication copied from 
the agricultural journals of the day, of a mass of mat¬ 
ter, much of which is the crudest stuff’we ever saw 
put into print—a disgrace to the papers where they 
originated, and a quadruple disgrace to the Document 
which has copied them. To point out these matters 
would require more space than we can devote to 
them 5 we therefore forbear, trusting that another year 
will show a great reform. We like to see agricultural 
information of a proper kind, furnished by the govern¬ 
ment to the people, and have no doubt of its being a 
legitimate object; but it is most unfair to plunder the 
agricultural journals in this way, and bring Uncle Sam 
into market as a competitor, with cabbaged goods. The 
expense of this document to the government, is enor¬ 
mous. One of the Senators in Congress, states it to be 
3114,000, out of which the printers, Messrs. Heiss & 
Ritchie, clear a net profit of $57,000!! ! Though 
legalized by Congress, this is nothing less than a 
shameful and outrageous plundering of the people of 
the United States, and ought not to be tolerated any 
longer by the National Legislature. We perceive that 
the attention of members of Congress has lately be¬ 
come aroused to the flagrant waste of money in the 
public printing, and if this document has the effect of 
assisting to promote a reform, then its issue will at 
least have had one good effect upon the community. 
If the farmers would look closer to their servants at 
Washington, we should have no complaints to make 
in these matters; but they, good easy souls, seem to 
think little of what becomes of their hard earnings— 
the people’s treasure—but go on, and sweat away, 
leaving the favored few to grow rich at their expense, 
while they themselves contrive to keep as ignorant as 
possible of their doings. In all future reports, we 
trust the Commissioner will be allowed to employ 
first-rate scientific and practical men, to assist in 
making them up. 
Connection of the Physical Sciences. —By 
Mary Somerville. Pp. 433. Price 50 cents. Harper 
& Brothers. Would that we could persuade that nu¬ 
merous class of ladies who spend so much of their 
precious time over exciting romances, to take up this 
work, written by one of the best of their own sex, and 
study it with the devotion it deserves. How it would 
ennoble their minds. What beauty, what wisdom, 
what goodness, it would teach them. It ranks high with 
European scholars, and we are not without our hopes 
that it may take the same stand with American. 
The Sportsman’s Library ; or Hints on the 
Hunter, Hunting, Hounds, Shooting, Game, Sporting, 
Dogs, Fishing, &c. By John Mills. Pp. 341. Price 
$ 1 . Lea & Blanchard. The author of this work has 
devoted nearly his whole life to the study and practice 
of the subjects of which he treats. This has enabled 
him to write a very original book, and principally from 
his own practical knowledge. One may consequently 
take it up with confidence, relying on the justness 
and soundness of his observations and directions in all 
sporting matters. 
Napoleon and his Marshals. —By J. T. Head- 
ley. In two volumes. Price $1.25 each. Baker & 
Scribner, 145 Nassau Street. The object of the author 
in writing this work, is declared to be, to correct the 
erroneous impressions that prevail respecting Napo¬ 
leon, and to group together some of the most striking 
events of that dramatic period when he was marching 
his victorious armies over Europe. Being gifted with 
a fervent imagination, Mr. Headley in doing this, we 
think, has gone to the other extreme, and given us ail 
the romance of war without its accompanying horrors 
and crimes. His style is brilliant and poetic; and 
whatever may be thought of his views of the subjects 
of his work, and his manner of treating them, the re¬ 
sult is, that he has doubtless made a highly popular 
and readable book. We understand that upwards o f 
4,000 copies are already sold, and that the work has 
gone to a fifth edition. 
Miss Beecher’s Domestic Receipt Book.—- 
Designed as a Supplement to her Treatise on Domes¬ 
tic Economy. Pp. 293. Price 75 cents. Harper & 
Brothers. Miss Beecher says that she has aimed at 
the following objects in this work. First , to furnish 
an original collection of receipts which shall embrace 
a great variety of simple and well-cooked dishes, de¬ 
signed for every-day comfort and enjoyment. Second , 
to include in the collection only such receipts as have 
been tested by superior housekeepers, and warranted 
to be the best. Third, to express every receipt in lan¬ 
guage which is short, simple, and perspicuous. 
Fourth, to furnish such directions in regard to small 
dinner-parties and evening company as will enable 
any young housekeeper to perform her part, on such 
occasions, with ease, comfort, success, &c., &c. A 
fair friend at our elbow, one who at least ought to 
know, declares that Miss B. has carried out her de¬ 
signs well in this book, and that it is the very best 
work of the kind for American housewives, within 
her knowledge. Having little experience in house¬ 
hold matters ourselves, we bow with deference to the 
above opinion, assuring our readers that they may de¬ 
pend upon it as likely to be more correct than any¬ 
thing we can give them. 
A Complete System of Book-keeping. —Simpli¬ 
fied and adapted to the use of Farmers. Embracing a 
Set of Forms of Accounts for all the principal branches 
of business of the Farm. Compiled, arranged, and pre¬ 
pared, by T. C. Peters. Price $ 1 . The author of this 
valuable work is himself a practical farmer, and 
knows well what is wanted for his brethren of the 
same occupation. We have seen nothing of the kind 
equal to this in its arrangement; and a single copy 
may last a large farmer for years, and enable him to 
keep his accounts with great ease and accuracy. 
Importation of Cattle. —A Short-Horn cow 
from the herd of Mr. Bates, of Yorkshire, England, 
arrived herein the packet ship New York, on the 13th 
ult. She is a light roan color, of fine form, and a 
great milker. Another cow from the same herd is to 
follow soon. 
A Delightful Country Residence. —By re¬ 
ference to the advertisement of Messrs. Cook & Smith, 
it will be seen that the late residence and grounds of 
Mr. Shaw, at Astoria, are for sale. It is one of the 
most delightful we know of, enclosed by masses of the 
most beautiful hornbeam and evergreen hedges which 
we have seen in America. Indeed, they would do 
credit to E ngland. The garden is very fine, and 
abounds with a profusion of the choicest kinds of fruit. 
The house and outbuildings are pretty and convenient 
