early education. Delicate state of health forbade his entering college as a student, and in 1833, he went abroad, and spent the ensuing winter in italy. He returned home, but in 1837, he again crossed the Atlantic, and spent the most of his time abroad in Italy. In 1845, he removed from Boston to New York, where he continued to reside until his death, excepting in the summer months, which he passed at Newport, R. I. In 1850, he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Harvard College, and in 1852, he visited London and Paris for a few weeks. He was a member of the New York Historical Society, and a constant and deeply interested attendant upon its meetings. His works, many of them first appearing in Magazines and Reviews, compose twenty-three volumes of various sizes.1

Mr. Tuckerman always felt a warm interest in the affairs of the people of Italy, and was widely known and beloved there; and he recently received from the King of Italy the insignia of the Cross of the Cavaliers of SS. Maricrozio and Lozzaro. The "Eco d' Italia" in a brief notice of his death said, "A life is ended, precious for its rare talents, and peculiarly dear to us Italians for the affection which Mr. Tuckerman ever entertained for the Italian. He was one of the warmest American friends of Italy. In that country he lived for a long time, and of it he wrote in divers monthly periodicals, and in the daily Journals. Himself a poet of distinction, he numbered among his personal friends those Italians who, unfortunately for themselves, were poets in this country: for example; Da Ponte and Maroncelli."

Mr. Tuckerman held intimate relations with all of the most eminent American writers of his time, and both himself and his writings are held in highest esteem in every part of the Republic.

SIDNEY EDWARDS MORSE.

On Saturday morning, the 23d of December, 1871, Sidney E. Morse died at his residence in the city of New York. He was à son of the Reverend Jedediah Morse, and brother of the eminent inventor of the Electro-magnetic telegraph. For

1 These are; (1) "The Italian Sketch Book;" (2) "Isabel, or Sicily, a Pilgrimage;" (3) "Rambles and Reveries;" (4) "Thoughts on the Poets;" (5)" Artist Life or Sketches of (23) American Painters;" (6) "Characteristics of Literature Illustrated by the Genius of (22) distinguished Men;" (7) "The Optimist:" (8) "Life of Silas Talbot;" (9) "Poems;" (10) "A Memorial of Horatio Greenough;" (11) "Mental Portraits; or Studies of Character;" (12) "Leaves from the Diary of a Dreamer;" (13) “A month in England;" (14) “Essays, Biographical and Critical, or Studies of Character;" (15) "The Character and Portraits of Washington, Illustrated with all the Prominent Portraits;" (16) "The Rebellion; its Latent Causes and true Significance; in Letters to a friend abroad;" (17) "A Sheaf of Verse bound for the Fair;" (18) "America and her Commentators; with a Critical Sketch of Travel in the United States;" (19) “Old New York, or Reminiscences of the past Sixty Years, by the late John W. Francis, M.D., LL.D.; with a Memoir of the Author;" (20) "The Critcrion; or the Test of Talk about Familiar Things;" (21) "Maga Papers about Paris:" (22) "Book of the Artists;" (23) "Life of John P. Kennedy."

almost half a century he had been an active and useful resident of that city. He was a model of a Christian gentleman in all his social relations, and his spotless life was ever a salutary sermon for those who came within the sphere of his influence, for it taught the great lesson that purity and integrity mingled with a love of God and man, exalt and dignities humanity.

Mr. Morse was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on the 7th of February, 1794; entered Yale College at the age of eleven years, graduated at fourteen; began a literary life at sixteen by writing a series of papers on "The Dangers Presenting from an Undue Multiplication of States," that were published in the Boston "Sentinel," the chief organ of the New England Federalists, and entered upon a long career of editorial labors when, on the invitation of his father and other clergymen, and several laymen he began the publication of the Boston "Recorder," the first of the class, in this Country, known as "religious newspapers." He had then studied theology and law, but better liked the vocation he had entered upon.

In 1823, Mr. Morse and his younger brother Richard established the "New York Observer," which is now the oldest weekly newspaper in that city, and a chief organ of the Presbyterian Society. He was its senior editor between thirty and forty years.

Mr. Morse, like his father, was the author of a Geography for schools which has had an immense sale. He was also an inventor. He and his brother patented the flexible piston pump when he was only twenty-three years of age; and in 1839 he produced the new art of Cerography which he never patented, and which remains a secret in his family. For a few years past, he and his son have been perfecting a most valuable invention for making rapid and deep sea-soundings. Upon that subject he had written until a late hour on the evening before his death, and when he arose to retire for the night, he was stricken with paralysis and died the next morning.

Mr. Morse was ever alive to all subjects which concerned the welfare of his country. At an early stage of the late Civil War he wrote and published in pamphlet form a remarkable essay upon the best method for subduing what he termed "The Slave-holder's Rebellion," based upon geographical and topographical facts. To statistical research and comparison he was a devoted student, and the amount of information represented by figures, which he had gathered and scattered for the good of mankind, it is difficult to calculate. A wise and good man departed when Sidney E. Morse died.

JOSEPH GREEN COGGSWELL, D.d. ll.d.

The RECORD is indebted to Mr. Frederick Saunders, first assistant Librarian of the Astor Library, for the following notice of Dr. Coggswell:

Amid the ceaseless activities of city life, with its feverish excitement and turmoil, we are some

times liable to overlook events which may be silently transpiring in its less frequented retreats. An instance of the kind recently occurred, which of itself, as well as for its important relation to one of the noblest institutions of New York, deserves especial notice. We refer to the demise of the well-known bibliographer and linguist, Dr. Coggswell, whose name has been so long and so honorably associated with the organization and history of the Astor Library. The untiring devotion, and industry which he evinced for this institution has been rarely equalled, never, perhaps, surpassed. Not only was he mainly instrumental in devising the plan of the library, he also made several trips to Europe for the purpose of collecting the literary and art treasures, which now enrich its galleries,— a task that involved no ordinary critical acumen and laborious research. Although his personal connection with the institution virtually terminated several years since, yet his deep interest in its prosperity was sufficiently manifested by his frequent visits to it until within a few weeks of his lamented decease.

He

Joseph Green Coggswell, as to his ancestral his. tory, came of Puritan stock; his progenitor, John Coggswell, having left Bristol, England, in 1635, settled in Ipswich, Mass., where many of his descendants continued to reside, and where the subject of our sketch was born, in the year 1786. graduated when twenty-one years of age, with Academic honors at Harvard University. He then made a voyage to the East Indies, as supercargo, visiting the shores of France, Italy, &c. On his return he studied and practised law; but after a few years, he relinquished that profession for a professorship at Harvard. In 1816, he again visited Europe, joining his friends, George Ticknor and Edward Everett, in studies at Gottingen and other German Universities. Returning to the United States, he united with George Bancroft in establish. ing upon the Etonian plan, a Collegiate Academy at Round Hill, Northampton; and ten years later, he took charge of a similar institution at Raleigh, N. C. He then after three years, returned to New York, and edited the "New York Review," one of the foremost of the critical Journals of its day.

Dr. Coggswell enjoyed the cordial friendship of Washington Irving, and of the other eminent authors of America, as well as of many literary

celebrities abroad, Humboldt, Goethe, Scott, Byron, Jeffrey and many others. He was also in daily intercourse with John Jacob Astor, during the later period of his life, and was, in company with Irving and Halleck, instrumental in arranging the plan of the great library which bears the honored name of its founder. When Washington Irving was made minister to Spain, he procured the appointment of Dr. Coggswell as Secretary of Legation, but no sooner was the appointment announced than Mr. Astor designated the Doctor Superintendent of the embryo library. This office he continued to fill, up to the time when his impaired health compelled him to resign it. The fitness of the appointment is abundantly evident by the fact that no such library has ever been gathered in so short a time, at so small a cost, and yet so rich in magnificent literary spoils from all parts of the world. Dr. Coggswell not only arranged the entire collection, but he devoted himself untiringly to its interests, and in addition achieved the Herculean task of constructing the voluminous catalogues of the 150,000 works which it comprises. He was, indeed, the genius loci of the Astor Library,-his tenacious memory always being prompt to answer any questions pertaining to its literary resources,-and no person could be more accessible and urbane in responding to such appeals. Were the requisite space at command many characteristic incidents might be adduced illustrative of his singular fidelity and punctuality in all his engagements, as well as his general amiabillty of deportment. In fine, he has like the munificent Founder, thus placed under lasting cbligation that large class of scholars who frequent and use the library. At length the press ure of advancing years compelled him to retire from this active service, and he returned to Cambridge to close up a useful and beautiful life of culture and exemplary service in behalf of learning and scholarship; the influence of which will continue to last, like the enduring marble bust to his memory, which graces one of the Halls of the Library. To those who had the privilege of his personal friendship, his memory will be cherished as a priceless benison; for he not only combined the maturity of wisdom with the gentleness of childhood, but the story of his life is replete with instruction and incentive to all who will peruse its record.

A Memorial of Francis L. Hawks, D.D. LL.D. by EVERT A. DUYCKINCK. Read before the New York Historical Society, May 7, 1867; 8 vo. pp. 40, with an Appendix of Proceedings, &c. &c., making a thin volume of 164 pages. The New York Historical Society lately caused this Me

morial to be printed, and so gave to the choice available treasures of American literature, a valuable addition. It is an affectionate tribute of a ripe scholar to the memory of a beloved friend and fellow laborer with whom he was long assoiated in scholarly vocations and the amenities

of refined social life. It traces, in beautiful outline a picture of the life-history of Dr. Hawks from his birth at Newbern, North Carolina, in 1798, through a benificent existence of almost three score and ten years. A graduate of the North Carolina University in 1815; a student in the eminent law school at Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1818; admitted to the bar of his native state in 1821, we find him elected to a seat in its House of Commons when he was in his twenty-third year. In 1829 he was ordained a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and thenceforward the vocation of a Christian Teacher was the chief business of his life. How zealously he labored in pastoral duties; how eloquently he preached the Gospel; how actively he engaged in every good work, religious, moral and intellectual that secured his coöperation, and how his brain distilled, and his tongue and pen incessantly distributed for the good of his fellowbeings, the elixer of sound instruction is set forth in this volume in vivid colors spread out with the delicate hand of an artist engaged in a labor of love. It is a perfect portrait in miniature of the life of one of the best and most useful men of our day, and ought to have a wider circulation than the limited edition of the Historical Society will allow. In the appendix is given a complete catalogue of the Library of American History that belonged to Dr. Hawks. It was purchased by William Niblo from the family of Dr. Hawks, and by him presented to the New York Historical Society.

The Life of John Pendleton Kennedy, by HENRY T. TUCKERMAN, I Vol. 8 vo. pp. 490. In his Will, Mr. Kennedy requested Robert C. Winthrop, of Boston, Josias Pennington, of Baltimore, and Henry T. Tuckerman, of New York, to collect and superintend the publication of such of his writings that were in print and in manuscript as they might "deem worthy to be collected and published." He directed that all the literary materials he might leave, should be placed in their hands, or in those of any one of them who should oblige him by accepting the commission.

A private letter from Mr. Kennedy to his wife, and the expressed wishes of the other gentlemen named, assigned that duty to Mr. Tuckerman. It was to him, a most pleasant task. From his young manhood, Mr. Kennedy had been his friend; and he entered upon the performance of the duty with zeal, for it was a labor of love to the generous Tuckerman. And the last literary labor of his life was the preparation of the volume we are considering, and of two others of the series. With the proof sheets of the last of these he was busied when he was summoned to join his friend in the Better Land.

The volume under notice, "is largely composed of a brief Autobiography of Mr. Kennedy, his correspondence, and quotations from his diary. These tell much of the story of his life in the most charming and authentic manner, while that story is completed by the Editor in a judicious connection of

these memorials by intermediate narratives, and analyses of Mr. Kennedy's character and writings. His correspondence was with the leading men of the country in politics and literature, for he was a Statesman as well as a Scholar. His own letters reveal the most genial temperament; and with the testimony of these and of his intimate friends concerning his character, we feel what one of the latter has expressed, that "such men as he, at once so genial and so intellectual, with a fascination alike for young and old, ought never to die."

The book is a most attractive one for all classes of readers. It is illustrated by a portrait of Mr. Kennedy, and a view of his residence at Ellicott's Mills.

Historical Collections of the American Colonial Church, Edited by the Reverend WILLIAM STEVENS PERRY, D.D. Two volumes of this series of important works have been issued. The first is entitled "Papers relating to the History of the Church in Virginia," and the second "Papers relating to the History of the Church in Pennsylvania." The last of these volumes was published at the close of December, 1871. Only a very limited edition of each has been printed, and that of the first volume was nearly exhausted at the beginning of January. It is now announced that "The Early Journals of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States"-"the Church" above alluded to-will be republished under the editorial supervision of Dr. Perry, by the authority of the Convention lately held at Baltimore. Two volumes will comprise the Journals, and one will contain the Editor's notes and illustrative matter. Applications for the work must be addressed to the Editor, Geneva, N. Y.

Local Histories. HENRY ONDERDONK, JR., of Jamaica, Long Island, has nearly ready for press a Supplement to his "Record of Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk, Queens and Kings Counties, on Long Island," with an index of almost two thousand names. Also a "History of the Rise and Growth of the Society of Friends on Long Island, and in New York City." Also "Long Island in the Olden Times," being a collection of fragmentary passages intended to illustrate the public and private life of the early settlers. These three works will have each an index of every name occurring therein. The materials, in a few instances, have been taken from very rare old books, but mostly from ancient documents that have never been printed.

Mr. Onderdonk has kindly furnished for the RECORD, a series of very interesting papers, with illustrations, concerning the early history of the Society of Friends or Quakers, on Long Island, and in New York City. He would be glad of an opportunity of consulting, "A Relation of the Labor, Travail and Suffering of the Faithful Servant of the Lord, Alice Curwin." Printed in London, in 1680, quarto.

The need of a fair and reliable repertory of historical information has long been pressingly felt in this country.-Burlington, Vt., Free Press.

We have found it interesting from the first page to the last.-Courier and Tribune, Iowa.

The RECORD promises to be a valuable medium for collecting together and preserving the history of the past in this country, which in many essential points, is now so rapidly slipping from us.

Wilmington, N. C., Journal.

It is a valuable work. There is a fascination about the thought of looking into the past and seeing how our ancestors acted, built, lived, wrote and thought.

Miners Journal, Pa. To those who are interested in the incidents connected with the early history of the United States the RECORD will supply a long felt want. Nashville Union. We gladly welcome its advent; and predict for it an important place among our Magazines.

Newport Daily News.

It is the most attractive publication of the kind that has been attempted in this country, and in make up and matter will commend itself to students everywhere.-Litchfield Sentinel.

The fact that the Magazine is to be edited by Benson J. Lossing is a good guarantee that it will be rendered interesting in its various departments. Syracuse Daily Journal.

The number before us is a splendid production, abounding in racy articles and curious facts in the history of the country.- West Tenn. Plain Dealer. It contains a great variety of papers of value. New York Evening Mail.

It is enough to say of it here where Mr. Lossing's name is a household word, that no man could be found better qualified for such a post. We predict for the new monthly a success measured only by its merit.-Poughkeepsie News.

The number before us is a very interesting one, and so far as it goes fulfills the promise of its editor. Engravings of places, persons or things treated of form a pleasant feature. It is handsomely printed, the contents well arranged, and the articles interesting.-Yonkers N. Y. Gazette.

A periodical of this character has peculiar value. The name of Mr. Lossing makes sure that this one will be what it should be. The first number is well filled, and the publication is a handsome one. Methodist. N. Y.

The RECORD in the peculiar field marked out for it will have no competitor. Evansville Ind. Daily Journal. We have looked over its forty-eight beautifully printed pages with much interest.

Genesee Republican.

Unlike other publications of the kind, this supplements its antiquarian and historical information and discussions with illustrations thus greatly increasing its value.-Cleveland Herald.

The first number is full of interest to antiquarians and lovers of history, and we contemplate a very valuable publication. There are a large number of illustrations, full of antique interest, and the magazine fills a vacant space, and opens so admirably that it ought to be insured at once a wide circulation.-Laurence, Mass., American.

Those who remember the "Field Book of the Revolution," edited by Mr. Lossing, about twentyfive years ago, will be prepared to expect great things from his new enterprise.-Paterson Press.

Mr. Lossing's name is a sufficient guarantee that this new periodical will be of real value, and of a high literary and artistic character.

Exeter N. Y. News Letter.

This is a most useful monthly, and will be a work sought for every library.-Lewistown Gazette. It will be a valuable addition to the historical literature of the country.-Springfield Advertiser. All the articles deserve a careful and thorough perusal.-Binghampton Republican.

The first number contains many valuable articles and a large amount of quaint and curious information.-Columbia Advertiser.

It is gotten up in excellent taste.

Xenia, Ohio. Gazette.