State to the eminent genius and meritorious labours of one of our native citizens. Your Committee, therefore, have no hesitation in advising that this House concur with the Senate. "It is unnecessary that your Committee should dwell on the superior merits, as a literary production, of Washington Irving's Life and Voyages of Columbus; it has already received the stamp of public approbation, not only in this country, but in every part of the civilized world where English and American literature is known and valued. Some years of the life of the author were devoted to the preparation of the work; and, by a most assiduous study of original and unpublished documents, which, by his personal researches, he discovered in the libraries of Spain, he has been enabled to correct the errors and supply the defects of preceding writers. The production is worthy of the time and labour that it cost. In the accuracy and fulness of its narrative, the beauty of its varied illustrations, and the purity and vigour of its style, it is universally admitted to surpass all other works on the same subject; and your Committee are assured that they but repeat the opinion of all competent judges in pronouncing it the most valuable contribution that has yet been made to the rising literature of our country. "The abridgment of this masterly work by the author preserves in a great measure the excellences of the original the style is equally animated, correct, and flowing; and, while the substance of the narrative is retained, the interest is rather enhanced than weakened by the compressed form in which the facts are given. Its peculiar adaptation to the use of common schools will not be denied by any who have perused the work, and are competent to appreciate its extraordinary merits." The ollowing notices of this abridgment were extracted from various newspapers within a fortnight after the publication of the work. From the New York Evening Post: June, 1829. "The Life of Columbus,' abridged by Mr. Irving himself, has just been published. It will be seen, on examination, that this abridgment contains all the facts which properly belong to the biography of Columbus, and the author has ingeniously contrived to retain the most beautiful and striking passages of the large work. We have somewhere seen a suggestion that it might be used with advantage as a reading book in schools; and certainly, whether we regard the grace of style, the interest of the subject, or the purity and excellence of the moral suggestions, we scarcely know of any fitter for the purpose." From the New York Daily Advertiser: June, 1829. "From what we have been able to read, we have reason to believe that the clear, chaste, and beautiful style peculiar to our distinguished countryman will be found to be preserved, much to the ornament and value of the work; and we are of the opinion that most persons will rise from the perusal of the abridgment with a more clear acquaintance with the life, character, and discoveries of the great navigator, as time is not given for the interest to flag. To schools, and to youth, this volume will be paricularly acceptable." From the New York American: June, 1829. "We hope this book may become a standard one in every school in our country; and thus that the history of the first discovery of this continent-the most magnificent result of enduring courage and noble self-reliance that ever rewarded the efforts of man-may, in all time hereafter, be taught to its inhabitants through the glowing pages of an American writer.' From the New York Mercantile Advertiser: June, 1829. "It is precisely such a book as should be put into the hands of the young: there is a vigour in its style that never flags, and an attraction that is not weakened by a reperusal; added to which, there is a vein of moral sentiment pervading it which must commend it to every instructer." From the Boston Courier: June, 1829. "This work has been prepared for the press by the author himself, and may therefore be considered as, in some degree, an original work. It ought to be adopted as a class-book in academies, where it would not only be useful and entertaining as a piece of important history, but might be adopted as a specimen of elegant composition, and worthy of the imi tation of students who need an elegant and fascinating example of style." From the New York Albion: June, 1829. "It is quite remarkable to observe how fully the spirit of the origina. work is embodied in the abridgment. Every fact of importance is preserved, and there is no risk in asserting, that as a school-book, there is nothing extant that so correctly, and, at the same time, so beautifully presents to the youthful mind the tale of the fate and fortunes of the great Columbus." From the Philadelphia National Gazette: June, 1829. "Mr. Irving has done justice to his great work in this elegant and sufficient compend; and no one but the author could have accomplished the task so happily in all respects. We feel entitled and bound to recommend it to teachers of youth as a work eminently fit to be read in schools. For that use it possesses all the specific merits,-comparative brevity, romantic interest, beauty of diction, and valuable or necessary information." From the New England Galaxy: June, 1829. "In its present form, this work cannot fail to become popular, in the strictest sense of the word. It is not so large but that all may read it, and its literary excellence is of so high a character, and the interest attached to the subject is so commanding, that all will read it with delight. In this abridgment nothing of the spirit of an original is wanting: while no material facts are omitted, the story is condensed; it is less philosophical, but more animated; and the style, though less elaborate, is perhaps more vivacious and attractive. "We think we have heard, or seen stated somewhere, that Mr. Irving in this abridgment aimed at making a work proper to be used in schools. It is certainly remarkably well adapted to that use. Some of the principal schools in New York have adopted it, and we hope their example will be followed. The subject of this work, and the admirable manner in which it is treated, alike recommend it, and the size and price now form no objection." |