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Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "New Publications." 14 March 1846. The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, and Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 16 March 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.

New Publications.

GENERAL HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION IN EUROPE, FROM THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE TO THE FRENCH REVOLUTION: By M. Guizot, Prime Minister of France. With occasional notes by C. S. Henry, D. D. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 200 Broadway.

This work occurs in the substantial and excellent "Literary Miscellany" of the publishers, and perhaps it is quite sufficient to add that it is fully worthy of the place it occupies. Its republication in this series cannot but prove most acceptable to the public, and profitable to the publishers.

In defining the term "Civilization," as he understands and uses it, M. Guizot remarks:

"Two elements, then, seem to be comprised in the great fact which we call civilization; two circumstances are necessary to its existence: the progress of society, the progress of individuals; the melioration of the social system, and the expansion of the mind and faculties of man. * * * * Such, if I mistake not, would be the notion mankind in general would form of civilization, from a simple and rational enquiry into the meaning of the term."

And to give a history of the progress of civilization, as thus defined—dwelling more particularly, however, upon its development in a social point of view—seems to have been the object of the author in the present work. The preface, by Professor Henry, contains some useful hints concerning the best mode of acquiring a thorough knowledge of history, and his critical "Notes," scattered through the body of the work, add very materially to its value.

THE FARMERS' DICTIONARY: A vocabulary of the technical terms recently introduced into Agriculture and Horticulture from various sciences, and also a COMPENDIUM OF PRACTICAL FARMING: the latter chiefly from the works of the Rev. W. L. Rham, Loudon, Low, and Youatt, and the most eminent American authors. Edited by D. P. Gardner, M. D., Honorary Member of several Agricultural Societies. With numerous illustrations. Harper & Brothers, publishers, 82 Cliff street, New York.

Our agricultural friends will need but a glance at the title of this work to be convinced that it is one of rare value—yet they will form a very inadequate idea of its actual merits, if they judge of them from a perusal of the title page alone. Although not without some practical knowledge of farming operations, we have been surprised at the number, variety, and completeness of the definitions here given—and yet the editor says he has "taken only those words in common use among farmers, and which have become somewhat fixed by being frequently introduced into essays." But if the book is valuable as a dictionary of words and phrases, it is doubly so on account of the short practical treatises scattered through its pages, forming the "Compendium of Practical Farming," alluded to in the title-page. In this department, the work seems perfect. No branch of the farming business has been neglected, no desirable information upon the subject omitted. Nothing is wanting, either, in the way of illustrations¹—and in short, we believe the book as a whole, is decidedly the most useful one ever published on this subject.—It contains nearly nine hundred pages, and is handsomely printed and bound. Price, in muslin, $1 50—in sheep, $1 75.

JESSIE'S FLIRTATIONS; By the author of "Kate in Search of a Husband." Harper & Brothers.

Fops and flirts are our especial detestation; and as the title of this book (No. 76 of the "Library of Select Novels") seemed to indicate that Jessie was one of the latter, we came very near giving it the go-by with a simple announcement of the title. A lady friend at our side however, insists that conduct like this would richly entitle us to a pair of boxed ears; and come to think of it, all who have read "Kate's" history would probably entertain the same opinion. To be serious the story seems to be a very attractive one, and we have no doubt will abundantly repay a perusal.

No. 51 OF THE "ILLUMINATED BIBLE," extending into the XVIIIth Chapter of Revelations, is this day published. Another number, we presume, will complete the work.²

TABLE TALK: OPINIONS ON BOOKS, MEN AND THINGS. By William Hazlitt. Second Series. New York: Wiley & Putnam.

This is a dish of discourse upon all sorts of topics, served up in the author's happiest style. There is a most sensible and entertaining essay on "The Main Chance," which in itself is worth the cost of the whole volume—then there are others upon "Coffee House Politicians," "Patronage and Puffing," "The Picturesque and Ideal," etc., etc., all of which appear to be equally attractive. The book is published as No. LIX of Wiley & Putnam's "Library of Choice Reading," and sold at the low figure of fifty cents.

"TRAVELLING LETTERS, Written on the Road," (Part I,) by Charles Dickens, is also published by Wiley & Putnam, uniform with their Library. Price six and a quarter cents, and cheap at double the money.

"THE ARTISTS OF AMERICA" is the title of a new work by C. Edwards Lester,³ which ought to have received an earlier notice. It is published in numbers, at twenty-five cents each, by Baker and Scribner, 145 Nassau st., N.Y. Three numbers have already been issued—the first containing a portrait and biographical sketch of Washington Allston,⁴ the second of Henry Inman,⁵ and the third (just published) of Benjamin West⁶ and Gilbert Charles Stuart.⁷ The mechanical execution of this work is in the very first style of the art, and we trust it will be patronized as its merits deserve.

Notes:

1. The book's title page gives the title as The Farmer's Dictionary. Illustrations include highly detailed engravings and diagrams of a wide variety of farm-related items, including plants, animals, insects and equipment. The level of detail in the illustrations reinforces the detail-oriented nature of the dictionary entries. [back]

2. Whitman comments twice more and in greater detail on illustrated bibles in later reviews in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, first on Virtue's Illustrated Family Bible (October 12, 1846) and then on Harper's Illuminated Bible (October 21, 1846). [back]

3. Charles Edwards Lester (1815–1890) was an American writer, statesman and diplomat. The book's full title was The Artists of America: A Series of Biographical Sketches of American Artists; with Portraits, and Designs on Steel. In the Preface Lester explained that his goal in writing the book was "to make our Artists and their Works better known to their own countrymen" (v). The work's patriotic intent was graphically reinforced on the title page, where the letters of 'America' in the book's title were boldly embellished with the stars and stripes. Each chapter was accompanied by a portrait engraving of the artist executed by the Scottish-born Charles Burt (c.1823–1892). [back]

4. Washington Allston (1779–1843), painter, poet and a leading figure in American Romanticism, was known especially for his dramatic subject matter and use of atmospheric light and color. [back]

5. Henry Inman (1801–1846) was primarily a portraitist. In 1878 Whitman met his son, John O'Brien Inman (1828–1896), also a painter, whom he commissioned to paint copies of two photographic portraits of his parents for inclusion in Specimen Days. Inman's paintings occupied positions of authority in the parlor of Whitman's Mickle Street home. See Ruth L. Bohan, Looking into Walt Whitman: American Art, 1850–1920 (University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2006), 67. [back]

6. Benjamin West (1738–1820) was an accomplished and highly influential portrait and history painter born in colonial Philadelphia. Following his move to London he became, in 1792, the second president of the highly respected and influential Royal Academy of Arts, the preeminent artist-run training and exhibition space in London. In this role West served as a prominent mentor and advisor to three generations of American artists studying abroad. [back]

7. Gilbert Charles Stuart (1755–1828) was a highly regarded portrait painter, best known for his iconic portraits of George Washington, including one which was later engraved to appear on the one dollar bill. Later chapters discussed painters John Trumbull (1756–1843), James DeVeaux (1812–1844), Rembrandt Peale (1778–1860), and the sole sculptor in the group, Thomas Crawford (1814–1857). [back]