CRITICAL NOTICES.

A Chronological History of New England, in the form of Annals; with an Introduction, containing a brief Epitome of the most considerable Transactions and Events abroad, from the Creation. By THOMAS PRINCE, M. A. Boston, N. E. Printed by Kneeland & Green, for J. Gerrish, MDCCXXXVI. A New Edition. Published by Cummings, Hilliard, & Co. 1826. 8vo. pp. 439.

THE republication of this excellent work is entitled to a respectful notice, and a grateful acknowledgment. It reminds us of one of those streams, which, after disappearing and holding a long subterraneous course, reappear unexpectedly, to the surprise and delight of the observer. Nine decades,-to speak in chronological style,-have elapsed since the first edition of this Chronology was published. Its merits have always been well known, but never duly estimated by the community. The author's character for learning and talents was well understood by his learned contemporaries. Ten years after his death, Dr. Chauncy observed of him; "I do not know of any one that had more learning among us, excepting Dr. Cotton Mather; and it was extensive, as was also his genius. He possessed all the intellectual powers in a degree far beyond what is common. He may be justly characterized as one of our great men." It was, therefore, on good authority, that the late worthy author of the "New England Biographical Dictionary" remarked of him, that "he was one of the most learned and useful men of his age; " and we want no better authority than his own, for the additional remark, that "he would deserve this character, if he had never published any thing but the Chronology."

The work, however was not so well received, as to encourage him to finish it. From the "Design," which he published in 1728, the people of New England expected their own early history. It was, indeed, stated in the "Design," that the New England Chronology was to be published together with an Introduction, containing a Brief Account of the most remarkable persons, transactions, and events abroad; 1. From the Creation to the Birth of Christ, according to the computation of the best chronologers; 2. From thence to the Discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus; 3. From thence to the Discovery of New England by Captain Gosnold." This "Brief Account" was extended, in the first edition, to upwards of a hundred pages. Hinc ille lachrymæ. It might be very useful as an epitome of all history, sacred and profane; but it disappointed

the expectations of those, who were looking only for a history of New England. It cost the compiler immense labor, and had the unfortunate effect of retarding and curtailing the principal work. His own account were enough to appal a German. "In my prefaces to the several periods and the following notes, I observe the writers with whom I agree and differ, and also some of the greatest difficulties. And, as I would not take the least iota upon trust, if possible, I examined the original authors I could meet with; and some of the articles were so perplexed, as it cost me a fortnight's labor and thought before I could be fully satisfied. The mere tables and calculations I was forced to make, would compose a folio." What scholar, adamantine as Origen, would choose to throw away the products of such profound researches, such intense labors! The author acknowledges, that, in this Part, he exceeded his design; and intimates, that he was solicited to enlarge the remainder. "In the Introduction, I observed this rule, that the nearer I drew to the later ages wherein we are concerned, the larger I made my periods; and in the process of this work, was gradually led on and persuaded to exceed my first design, which was to have the five later periods near as short as the two former.* By the time I had finished the Introduction, I found so great a number of historical manuscripts, both old and new; containing all sorts of records, both public and private, religious, civil, and military; that our printed histories are but a small part in comparison with them, and made me still more ready to yield to the solicitations of others, to enlarge my design, and give the public an abridgment of them.'

Of the exactness of the first part of the work, entitled "Introduction," we have no doubt; and, without having examined it throughout, would not question its utility. With such chronologists on our shelves, as Bede, Usher, Petavius, Tersellinus, Alstedius, Scaliger, Du Fresnoy, and Blair, we have seldom had occasion to consult this "Brief Account;" but to those who have not access to large chronological works, this may be very convenient and useful.

The New England Chronology is divided into two parts. The first part extends from the 20th of March, 1602-3, to the beginning of the New England colonies, in the settlement of the first in Plymouth, on the 31st of December, 1620. The second part

*The three periods, mentioned in the " Design," were subdived into seven. The two first, containing five pages only in the present edition, come down to the death of Samuel and Saul, in the year of the world, 949; the five last, containing 68 pages, come down from that time to the beginning of the reign of James I. in 1603, being 802 years.

was to extend from the beginning of these colonies, in 1620, to the settlement of New Hampshire, in 1640; but, in the first volume, it terminated at the 28th of September, 1630. Three additional numbers, of thirty-two pages each, published in 1755, brought down the New England Chronology to the 5th of August, 1633. These numbers, but few copies of which are to be found, were republished in the "Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society" in 1818. "The present volume contains the original first volume, with the corrections and additions made by the author, together with the whole of the supplementary numbers, and is therefore the first complete and uniform edition of the work that has been published.”

Of the work, as now presented to us, we can speak in terms of high commendation. It is printed with a new type, on good paper, making a neat octavo volume of 439 pages, 333 of which are New England Chronology. After collating this edition, in many artieles, with the first, we are persuaded that great care has been taken to print it correctly, and to insert in their proper places the author's own additions, which were subjoined to his first volume. A few literal errors have been detected; but too inconsiderable to deserve notice. Proper names are of more importance than common words; and we observe, p. 111, "Dr. Dayton" is, in Prince, Dr. Layton; and, p. 116, "Sketwanoes" is, in Prince's Additions, Sketwarroes. Several of the abbreviations of the cited authorities, are, in the present edition, judiciously altered, rendering them more obvious to the reader, and saving him the trouble of looking after the entire names, wherever explained. The editor, in his last note, styles the author, "Dr. Prince." However justly he merited that honor, he never received it. Such honors were not so easily acquired, nor so profusely distributed, in his day, as in ours. Nor did he need this distinction. The name of Prince alone, in our literary republic, associated as it is with talents and genius, learning and piety, is incomparably more honorable than the highest academical or regal titles, without them.

We cannot dismiss this article, without expressing the pleasure we have felt at the reappearance of this inestimable work in its present lucid form, and in one entire and respectable volume. Under all the disadvantages of the first edition, we were in the habit of consulting it; and rarely found occasion to distrust it, in an iota of our New England history. We rejoice, that, at length, it has acquired the attention which it deserves, and its author, the honor which he merited. It is a subject of congratulation, that our age is doing to both the justice, which the preceding withheld ;

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but which the sagacious of that age expected from us. temporary historian,* who was a very competent judge on this subject, remarked; "It gives me great concern, that Mr. Prince's Chronology has been so ill received. I look on it as an honor to the country, as well as to the author, and doubt not but posterity will do him justice."

The reader will find in Mr. Prince's Preface, an account of some of the very numerous original manuscripts and rare volumes, which, in a long course of years, he collected in Europe and America; but an adequate idea of the extent of his collections cannot be formed, without a sight of his own manuscript catalogue of the New England Library. The invaluable remains of this library belong to the Old South Church and Society in Boston, who have permitted a selection of the historical books and manuscripts to be deposited in the Library apartment of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Of the manuscripts, relating to the New England Colonies, a sufficient number was collected to make ten folio volumes; which are now standing in the Society's room. An account of the Prince Library is given in the seventh volume of the second series of the Collections of the Historical Society.

It is only from such materials as these, that an impartial history of New England can be composed. The more frequent the recurrence to these original sources, the more effectually will the errors of foreign and even American historians be corrected, and their misrepresentations be refuted; and the more assuredly will justice be rendered to the great and good men, who laid the foundations of our Commonwealth. The time for this work of equity and charity has come. The magnanimous example of a highly respectable foreign Review, in vindicating the Puritans, is already followed. Truth is great, and it will prevail.

Original Communications made to the Agricultural Society of South Carolina, and Extracts from select Authors on Agriculture. Published by order of the Society. Charleston. Archibald E. Miller. 1825. 8vo. pp. 316.

THE publication of this work is one of the results of that attention, which thinking and intelligent men in various parts of our country are beginning to devote to agriculture, and which has

* The Rev. Elisha Callender, author of a Century Sermon, which contains an excellent summary history of the Colony of Rhode Island.

done so much to raise it from its late depressed condition, and to add not only to the respectability, but to the productiveness of the pursuit. The committee of the Society, under whose superintendence this work was compiled, began by addressing letters to those persons in the State of South Carolina, who had been most distinguished for their success in agriculture, desiring them to suggest such modes as in their opinion might conduce most to its improvement. The auswers received to these letters were not very numerous, but perhaps as much so as could be expected, considering that our citizens have hitherto, for the most part, followed blindly the old processes of husbandry practised by their fathers, and are now only just beginning to observe and reflect for themselves. Some valuable communications were, however, procured by this method, and these form a respectable portion of the work. The remainder consists of such selections from the best agricultural writers in our own and other languages as are adapted to the climate and productions of South Carolina. It is obvious, that, in the common agricultural compends published both in this country and in England, there is a great deal which has. no application to the latitude of South Carolina, and that many topics interesting to the inhabitants of that State, are altogether overlooked. The compilers of this volume were, therefore, obliged to consult those works which relate to the agriculture of countries whose productions are the same with those of their own State, and particularly works illustrating the agriculture of Italy and Egypt. Some of these are in foreign languages, and few of them are generally in the hands of our citizens. From these works, a variety of useful matter has been gathered for this publication, and placed within the reach of the community.

The Operative Mechanic and British Machinist; being a Practical Display of the Manufactories and Mechanical Arts of the United Kingdom. By JOHN NICHOLSON, Esq. Civil Engineer. First American, from the Second London Edition, with Additions. In 2 Vols. Philadelphia. 1826. 8vo. pp. 488 and 361.

THESE Volumes are very neatly executed, and contain some valuable additions to the English edition of the same work. Experienced and skilful mechanics will not expect to find much that is new to them; indeed they are usually somewhat in advance of their science, as laid down in the regular treatises. Improvements in the modes of operation among the practical