sary in the progress of the race as were a tes and the Sermon on the Mount; and t ing "to cure the deadly ills of nations by s The epic theme of that time could only l growth of the epic which has spread its every nation which has accomplished any limited to a single subject. Its quality the divine impulses of our own day. Th ancient Greeks did not rush more resist of heroic deeds of arms than our own do liorating conditions of humanity-toward were those who would shirk the tasks of there were doubtless, many valiant men sincerely averse to the spirit of their age drawn into the resistless current, and serv many true souls to whose tastes and pred wholly repugnant, are forced into its serv times amusing during our great national sembly the swinging of caps and waving radical sentiment or song, seemingly w owners, who in conservative meditations what sudden lunacy had fallen upon the lution less than a century ago are rehear ing eye by men who are shocked at such suffrage. The spirit of the age seems purpose. There is none, even, on whom than Carlyle the most notably stubbo task is appointed us; and no resistance w only be accomplished in this cause. the epic memorial of all this it is not for poraries to decide. The final decision which Darwin describes as establishing said that no contemporary has produced limity, and which reaches such a depth lished with a larger audience than the pre may complain of the architecture of his seems one of the rarest feats of adaptal and we may pathetically wish, as Carlyle Wilhelm Miester, "that its morals wer deal with heaves of Sears as an establish

W

Mr. Burroughs has been in intimate several years, and this little book records sketch is particularly valuable, and ther the various editions of Mr. Whitman's devoted to the poetry itself; and much t of American literature is introduced. received from the reviewers and literar

indeed, in terms not altogether complimentary. The style is condensed and full to overflowing with the most original thought. One could make a rare collection, even, of striking thoughts in isolated sentences; and the force and beauty of very many paragraphs, if space permitted their quotation, would prove the work worthy of eminent place in literature.

M. B. BENTON.

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG as a Philosopher and Man of Science, by RuDOLPH LEONARD TAFEL. Chicago: Meyers & Chandler.

IT cannot be said that the disciples of Swedenborg neglect any opportunity of exalting the fame or extending the dominion of their prophet. They have written biographies of him, issued vindications, published authenticated accounts of his wonderful doings, translated his chief works into English, printed cheap editions of them, and pressed his doctrines upon. the public in every legitimate manner. Dr. Tafel pursues a new method, which, in some respects, does not seem quite so legitimate or pertinent as those commonly adopted. He compiles, laboriously, from seventy-two miscellaneous sources, or as he calls them "authorities," scraps of testimony to avouch the scientific and philosophic merits of Swedenborg. The witnesses utter all degrees of eulogium from all degrees of eminence. They range the whole way from Balzac to Dr. Baur, from Gilfillan to Carlyle, from "The Idler" and "Douglas Jerrold's Magazine," to the "Christian Examiner" and the "New American Cyclopedia." Here are Emerson and Coleridge, Berzelius and Morell, the Penny Cyclopedia and the New York Tribune. We notice, not approvingly, that the most numerous citations, and the longest too, are from professed and well-known believers in Swedenborg's claims. Dr. J. J. G. Wilkinson is quoted sixteen times, Carlyle once, Balzac, Baur, Dumas, once; the Christian Examiner and the New York Tribune, once. Some of the authors speak merely as advertisers of literary wares; some as newspaper reporters and critics; some as popular lecturers and fine writers, whose opinion on the matters in hand is quite valueless. Some deal out very qualified praise; with others, the unqualified nature of the praise is a reason for distrusting it. One or two, — Mr. Emerson, for example, have expressed opinions respecting Swedenborg's pretentions, which would look oddly in contrast with the laudatory language which Dr. Tafel ingeniously extracts from their works. In fact, by diminishing all the questionable and impertinent names on Dr. Tafel's, list of vouchers, it would be easy to reduce his imposing array of witnesses to a small but respectable company, nearly all of whom are believers in the New Church dispensation. But allowing them all to stand and hold up their hands unchallenged, it is not clear to us how the claims which Swedenborg put forward, are to be advanced by their votes. The value of a Sear's discoveries cannot be tested by indiscriminate ballot. His vouchers must be weighed not counted. Nor does what these names prove, supposing them to prove anything, prove anything to the purpose, in our time. That Swendenborg should have anticipated so many scientific inventions and discoveries is no doubt very amazing, very unaccountable,

and stunning. Perhaps he did not antici friends believe: perhaps his anticipations resented. No matter: grant that they What of it? What link is there between prophet? What logic can deduce spiritu acuteness? How does the metallurgist i borg's claims as a philosopher be duly att a step would indeed be taken towards teaching. But this Dr. Tafel apparent part of the volume, treating of Swedenbo pies two hundred and sixteen pages; o philosophy, and three to his theology; th laneous averments touching his greatness tance of his physical, physiological and pages are taken up with an account of writings. This, Dr. Tafel, is not satis Swedenborg did in science: but science Swedenborg; does not even acknowledg most part has not found it out to this day authority in anatomy or in physics. His solely on his Seership. To his spiritual is a prophet, or he is nothing. Many of character call him insane as a teacher of revere him as a man of faith are profound physicist. And so was he himself. ate him than such a book as this of I more humiliate him, namely, the use of 1 sect, and the founder of a church.

Not

LEYPOLDT & HOLT, New York, have h lication of KING RENE'S DAUGHTER, an dable enterprise of giving to the America the best known poems of foreign literatu from the Danish of Henrik Hertz, t FRITHIOF'S SAGA is from the pen of a Both admirably fulfil the design of the p popular poems of foreign lands. The sir of Iolanthe, the blind daughter of King reader. The production of the Swedish manner, with tales and myths of the Nors old sorrows and joys of the passionate he lumes will be immediately followed by Goethe's HERMANN AND DOROTHEA, ar French, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, Ru ical production. Every friend of cultur hail with satisfaction the appearance of such treasures of song are set forth.

THE RADICAL.

DECEMBER, 1867.

TWO PICTURES.

HERE are two countries in regard to whose present state we want better knowledge to prevail. One of them is France. We propose to take a look at the condition of the French people; their material condition, their intellectual and moral condition. Why such topics have been selected is plain enough. For, if a nation gains ground in these respects, it gets higher and better. To use the great word of the nineteenth century, it progresses. But if in these respects a nation loses ground, it degenerates. And degenerate it

must.

First of all, in regard to the material condition of the French. Last year the New York Chamber of Commerce published a report upon the Paris Exhibition. They say:

"America goes to Paris, not to aggrandize France, but to improve herself by the study of the industry, the arts, and especially the civic administration of the other governments of the world. In such a study she might well seek to learn the processes of statesmanship by which the reigning sovereign of France has been enabled in twelve short years to double the assessed money value of his empire, raising it from one hundred and twenty-four thousand millions of francs in 1852, to two hundred and fortynine thousand millions in 1864. Nay, more, she might specifically ask how far that magnificent result was due to the wise and energetic prosecution of the great and vital works of intercommunication which have so greatly cheapened the locomotion of persons and property in France."

Here now is a fact of the first moment. It seems that within twelve years the national wealth has doubled. Foreign commerce has increased even more rapidly. Since 1851 it has tripled. From five hundred millions of dollars it has risen to fifteen hundred millions.

Another evidence of progress is that the number of steam engines in France increased from less than seven thousand in 1850, to twentytwo thousand five hundred in 1863.

Prosperity may be argued from readiness to lend. The French have subscribed to five government loans. The first was brought out in 1854, two in 1855, one in 1859, and one in 1864. In every instance the amount of money offered has largely exceeded the amount called for. The first loan amounted to forty-six million dollars. The offers were nearly twice as much. The second loan amounted to ninetythree millions. The offers were four times as much. The third amounted to one hundred and thirty-nine millions. The offers were five times as much. In 1859 the result was the same. But the amount of the loan brought out was less-ninety-three millions. The fifth loan amounted to fifty-six millions. The offers were fifteen times as much.

The time occupied in subscribing these sums has been short. It never exceeded twelve days. In the case of the loan last mentioned, it was a week.

Equally significant has been the large number of subscribers. To the first loan there were one hundred thousand subscribers, to the second one hundred and eighty thousand, to the third three hundred thousand, to the fourth seven hundred thousand, to the fifth five hundred thousand.

The character of the French and United States loans is so similar that it suggests comparison. An examination would show that in some respects we have an advantage over the French, that in others they have an advantage over us. One of the most important points of comparison is the number of subscribers. We have seen no complete statistics of the number of subscribers to the American loans. The French are certainly ahead in the rapidity with which their offers have been made. In the case of the last French loan, a sum of eight hundred and fifty millions a sum equal to a third of our debt was subscribed within a week. This gives an average of over one hundred millions daily. The greatest amount - if we mistake not subscribed in one day in the United States, was thirty millions. These few facts; the increase in the value of property, the activity of commerce, the popular wealth which has been poured out at the call of government, indicates, in a general way, prosperity. We shall now try to ascertain its causes. In the course of looking them out, various other evidences of prosperity will be met with.

The first cause which may be assigned, consists in the abolition of various regulations-regulations applying to trade and industry.