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more or less erroneous.

ques

It has therefore often been matter of tion as to what they refer to. Some authors, especially Prof. Agassiz, have made identifications as best they could, and many of the genera first named in the Ichthyologia Ohiensis, owe their existence in literature to Prof. Agassiz's descriptions. These and all other identifications not positively erroneous, should be allowed to stand. As a general rule, where a diagnosis of either species or genus applies equally well to several, the accompanying name should remain for that to which the next succeeding author applied it, no matter what circumstantial evidence may be adduced to show that the object thus named was not under the eye of the original describer; and for this reason, because the erroneous character of the diagnosis will forever render it impossible to be sure as to what that author did really refer to.

Prof. Jordan has generally allowed the identifications by previous authors of Rafinesque's species and genera to remain, but not always. Where he has changed them, he has, in the critic's opinion, rarely improved matters.

In conclusion, it may be said that this work has many merits, but that it will fall short of the general requirement until its keys and generic diagnoses are recast. This may be readily done for a second edition, which will doubtless be called for.

ICA.

E. D. COPE.

THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE—1775-1783—THE FRENCH IN AMERLes Français en Amérique, par Leon Chotteau, avec une préface par Edouard Laboulaye. Paris: Charpentier et Cie, 1876. New York: F. W. Christern.

Among our strongest friends to-day are the French; and just as they gave us help and substantial assistance in the days of our early struggles, so to-day they give us that most flattering admiration, an imitation in many particulars of our own institutions. In this spirit such men as Laboulaye and others of his school have paid us the highest honor in seeking to establish in France a government based in part at least on our own example. Then, too, their praises of America are not the less strong because they look on the part borne by them in our struggle for independence, as the necessary prelude to their own revolution. From 1778 to 1783 is a period of French history which does honor to both nations. Humiliated by the peace of 1763, driven from the American continent by England, France waited for an opportunity which it found in the rebellion of the Colonies. It is to describe the part taken by France in the war that M. Chotteau has written his book; and it is the liveliness of his description, the originality of the material that he has gathered together, and the interest of our Centennial year, that gives his work its special value.

The book is defective in form rather than substance,-the author interjects his own slight personal experiences upon a recent visit to this country, into the narrative of an historical period of great dignity. The actual history of the time so familiar to all of us here is largely supplemented by the free use, given to the author by the Marquis of Rochambeau, of the large and valuable collection of original and unpublished papers of the Comte de Rochambeau, the commander of the French forces, and the friend and ally of Washington. It is to be hoped that his descendant will carry out his long-cherished purpose of printing all of these important documents, and that his stay among us as a member of the French Centennial Jury will have given him the opportunity of securing an American as well as a French publisher. Rochambeau is one of the most interesting, and yet least known, of all the representatives of France sent to our shores during the Revolution. Of the earlier and more enthusiastic champions of our independence, Beaumarchais, the representative of the mercantile adventurer who united money-making with love of liberty, and Lafayette, who gave to this country his strength and his manhood with self-sacrificing devotion, are the men best known. Beaumarchais had a hard fight to get his own again from Congress, and it is not clear yet whether he or Congress got the best of a bad bargain. Lafayette found his reward in the devotion and affectionate admiration of his new countrymen, whose faith in his virtue and greatness has long outlasted that of his own countrymen. The list of those who came here to offer their swords in support of the young republic includes men from all countries and of all degrees of excellence and badness; but of many of them little is worth knowing, and less need be said. In great contrast to these adventurers of all types, is the stately figure of the Count de Rochambeau, the representative of France in the glorious and closing scenes of the war. Born in 1725, he came here a man of mature years, experienced in war, and full of wounds and honors won at Namur, Lanfeld, Maestrich, Mahon and Clostercamp. Unlike Lafayette, who brought little but great zeal, and such substantial aid as his own fortune supplied, Rochambeau brought a large and well-equipped force, abundant means, and all the necessary appliances of modern war. His orderly books and official reports supply a full and detailed account of his troops and their respective officers. The details of his movements are given at length. While he was coldly received al Newport, he was warmly welcomed at Philadelphia; in September of 1777, his troops passed in review before the State House, where the members of Congress gratefully saluted each flag as it bowed before the majesty of our independence. With the Count de Grasse as chief of the French fleet, and the Marquis de Saint Simon, and others of the most illustrious names of France, the good people of Philadelphia became fast friends, and not a few of them took refuge here when the horrors of the French Revolution drove them to seek

shelter where they had helped to make a successful revolution, and a republic that was grateful to its allies. The siege of Yorktown is reproduced from the official records kept by Rochambeau and his staff; and the return of his troops to France, with the re. wards accorded to the commander and his officers, is fully described. Many of them distinguished themselves in the subsequent wars of their own country. Lauzun, duke of Gontaut Biron, served the Republic in Vendee, Corsica and Savoy, and was rewarded by being sent to the guillotine. Berthier and Dumas achieved greatness under Napoleon. Rochambeau himself escaped the hands of the executioner only by accident, and survived to a good old age on his family estates, where the name is still honored in his grandson, the present representative of the honors conferred on his ancestor by France and by the United States. The visit of such a man at such a time as this has a special value and significance, that could not be better marked than by the official publication of his family archives referred to by Chotteau. The suggestion of Senator Anthony that Congress should purchase all these papers is a timely one, and we trust that our National archives will be enriched by the Rochambeau Papers.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

Declaration of Human Rights as exemplified in the Natural Laws of Marriage, Legitimacy and Life in general, by Geo. J. Ziegler, M. D. Paper, 12mo., pp. 263. Philadelphia: Geo. J. Ziegler, M. D.

A Sketch of the Life, Character and Public Services of Thomas Jefferson, with some account of the aid he rendered in establishing our Independence and Government, by Thomas J. Davis. Cloth, 18mo., $1.00, pp. 179. Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger.

Darwiniana: Essays and Reviews pertaining to Darwinism, by Asa Gray. Cloth, crown 8vo., pp. 396. New York: D. Appleton & Co. [Porter & Coates.] The Universal Metric System; prepared especially for candidates for Schools of Science, Engineers and others, by Alfred Colin, M. E. Cloth, 12mo., pp. 49. New York; D. Appleton & Co. [Porter & Coates.]

The Ultimate Generalization: an effort in the Philosophy of Science. Cloth, 12m0., pp. 56. New York: Charles P. Somerby. [Porter & Coates.]

THE

PENN MONTHLY.

THE

OCTOBER, 1876.

HE military and diplomatic prospects of Servia have grown brighter during the month. While she sustained a great defeat before Alexinatz at the beginning of September, and has not driven back the Turks from her territory, she has at least prevented their advance by her successful defence of Alexinatz, and she has greatly strengthened her army by an influx of Slavonic enthusiasts, especially from Russia. The Panslavist pressure upon the Czar's government has proved itself strong enough to secure the removal of all restrictions upon the passage of Russian volunteers singly into Servia; and the Servian army is now a South-Slavonic shaft with a Russian spearhead. Nor does it seem likely that this will be the limit of Russian interference in behalf of Servia. For the first time, she has the conscience of all Europe-including that of all the Englishmen who can afford to keep a conscience-supporting her in her attitude of permanent hostility to the presence of a Tartar Empire in Europe. The Pashas and the Sultan's advisers have therefore listened to diplomatic urgency for a cessation of hostilities for ten days-putting forward, as part of their action, a series of demands as the basis of a permanent peace. These cover indemnity for the past, security for the future in the destruction of some fortresses and the Turkish occupation of others, and the general humiliation of Servia, whose prince must present himself at Constantinople for investiture. The Pashas have evidently learnt one thing from their English counselors, viz: that Europe will not consent to any extension or inten

sion of Turkish rule on European soil. Hence the absence of any demand for the complete reincorporation of Servia with Turkey.

In these negotiations, as in every previous step of the recent diplomacy, the English government supports Turkey against the united opposition of all the other great powers. Whatever may be the private and friendly remonstrances conveyed to the Porte through Sir Henry Elliott, no nation could give to another a more unqualified public support. All the Turkish demands have received her sanction; and since the united opposition of the other powers seemed to put them out of the question, she has herself proposed a new and hardly less severe schedule of terms for the termination of the struggle, in which the punishment of Servia is reduced to indemnity for the past and lesser guarantees for the future.

OUR country, through Mr. Schuyler, the United States consulgeneral for Turkey, has rendered a great service to the cause of humanity in bringing before the world a plain, impartial and official report of the atrocities inflicted by the Turks upon the villages of Bulgaria. His report has the more weight inasmuch as he has a European reputation as a diplomatist of the highest character and the most unimpeachable veracity. His report cannot be ignored or pooh-poohed by any statesman in Europe; and the story of Mohammedan atrocities which it contains would be simply incredible did we not know that not a single act he charges, not a butchery nor an outrage he speaks of, is in the least condemned by Mohammedan religious and ethical standards, while they are one and all parts of the traditional policy of the Turks. No public opinion in Constantinople, outside the Christian circles, is at all outraged by these disclosures. The Pashas cannot understand why so much fuss is made over so small a matter. They understand war as having for its legitimate objects all communities suspected of an hostile intention, with no distinction of age or sex; and for its means any act that can inspire terror, inflict disgrace, or in any way conduce to the end in view. As well protest against the discharge of a shell into the Servian camp, as against the wholesale violation of Bulgarian women and girls, the burning of villages, the heaping up hundreds and thousands of corpses, many of them the bodies of little children, in the streets of towns only suspected of hostile intentions. This is what makes the Turkish rule in Europe incura

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