THE NATIONAL QUARTERLY REVIEW. ▲ LITERARY AND CRITICAL JOURNAL OF THE FIRST CLASS, EACH NUMBER CONTAINING OVER 200 PAGES. PUBLISHED IN MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER. Established 1860. EDWARD I. SEARS, LL.D., Editor, Proprietor and Founder. The liberal patronage extended to us, even during the gloomiest period of the late rebellion, and which has been steadily increasing since the restoration of peace, affords us the most grati. fying proof that, in subjecting to fearless and searching criticism whatever has a tendency to vitiate the public taste, and exposing charlatanism of all knds, we enjoy the approbation of the educated and enlightened in all parts of the country. Nor have we to rely on mere inference. Were we to avail ourselves of private letters em phatically commending our course, we could fill an octavo volume with the briefest extracts from those of distinguished men and women, including authors, artists, lawyers, distinguished church dignitaries of different denominations, chancellors and professors of colleges, principals of academies, seminaries and schools. We assure all who have thus encouraged us that we will exert ourselves more and more in the future to merit their confidence and esteem. While it affords none more pleasure to do justice to the merits of good books, we shall continue to criticise those of the opposite character. A notice in a paper, which must necessarily be brief, may be more appreciative than the character of the work noticed deserves, and yet not imply any dishonesty or bad faith on the part of the editor; but if a Quarterly does not make some attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff, but praises every book it notices, it is simply a puffing machine and not a Review. We do not make this remark with the view of depreciat ing any other journal, or finding fault with the manner in which it is conducted, but simply to show that, if our criticisms sometimes seem harsh, it is not because we are actuated by persona! feeling against any one. In proof of this our readers will bear us testimony that under no cir cumstances have we ever made any attack on private character; that if we have denounced men of all grades, parties and sects, we have, in every instance, confined ourselves to their public acts; nor shall we do anything different in the future. All subjects of public interest will continue to be fully and fearlessly discussed in the REVIEW, but without impugning any body's religious creed. As long as we have control of its pages, we shall oppose bigotry and intolerance, whether Protestant or Catholic. Talent and culture wit: always be welcome to our pages, and, as much as possible, encouraged. Education in every form, including art and science, will receive prominent and friendly attention; and whatever seems calculated to retard or vitiate it, whether under the name of a text-book, a painting, a seminary, a gallery, or a college, will be subjected to fearless, but fair and temperate, criticism. While aiming at being cosmopolitan-doing justice as far as possible to what every nationality has contributed to civilization and human progress-the NATIONAL REVIEW is decidedly American in feeling and sympathies, and unalterably attached to our free institutions. But far from being the organ of any party or sect-while disclaiming to be either partisan or sectarianwe shall continue to treat the individuals of all parties and sects, according as their publi conduct may seem to us to merit. In short, no pains or expense will be spared to render th work worthy of the character assigned to it by the leading organs of public opinion at home an i abroad-namely, "The best of American Reviews.'' FROM NOTICES AND REVIEWS OF OUR THREE LAST NUMBERS, BY LEADING JOURNALS. **Vassar College and its Degrees is a merciless unmasking of an educational sham, deserving the gratitude of all friends of true education."**-Christian Standard, Cincinnati, O. **No one can take up the two American quarterlies without feeling that while the one is the organ of a clique, and bound down and restrained by the narrowest Puritan sentiment, the other is broad, generous, and catholic in tone, and world wide in its sympathy. The North American and its little sister, the Atlantic Monthly, think of the world from what Lord Bacon would have called the Cave, and treat the world as if Boston were really the hub of the universe. The National Quarterly takes a nobler standpoint, and, from its grander elevation, makes juster observations, and arrives at more correct conclusions." -New York Herald. "Our Millionaires and their Influence,' is a powerful and well-merited castigation of the mere money-makers, the railroad rogues, the gold market speculators, who override society in the New World as well as in the Old."-Phila. Press. **"Those who have passed the summer in the covert out-of-town trysting places of fashion will, of course, read with avidity, "The Ethics and Esthetics of our Summer Resorts."✶ ✶ — Philadelphia Inquirer. "The number of the very manly, independent and fearless NATIONAL QUARTERLY REVIEW which closes the year fully sustains the reputation that this quarterly has made. More than any other this review bears the impress of one mind. Its proprietor, Dr. Edward I. Sears, is also its editor, and the criticisms of the periodical he has always kept from the control of cliques or of special interests."-Western Bookseller. "Broad, liberal and learned in its tone and contents, it also fulfills the functions of a high order of journalism by piquant criticism and review of current events."-Cincinnati Chronicle. **The entire number, hackneyed as many of the subjects are, is so carefully worked up and so thoroughly studied that all is fresh and readable." **-Newark Advertiser. "In the new number of the National Quarterly Review there is an article in which literary brigandage of a humbler kind is exposed. The writer is dwelling upon the scandalous treatment to which guests are subjected in many hotels (Summer Resorts') and the high prices they are compelled to pay for abominable food and accommodation. How is it that such hotels get custom at all ?**-New York Times. "Some particularly fearless and original opinions heretofore expressed in the NATIONAL have established an almost personal feeling of respect and esteem between its readers and itself. Of this kidney are the views expressed by the author of the paper in the present (December) number on Our Millionaires and their Influence.' The writer puts into words what many of us have been feeling for a long time, that the sluicing of money into the channels guided by a few cap. italists is going to have the gravest effect upon national honor and progress."-Phila. Bulletin. first or second number of the National Quarterly Review. To Contributors. All articles should be received at least a month before the day of publication Contributions from all parts are equally welcome; they will be accepted or rejected solely according to their merits or demerits, their suitableness or unsuitableness. CONTENTS OF NO. XL. MARCH, 1870. I. RABELAIS AND HIS TIMES. II. NATIONAL ORGANIC LIFE. III. LOUIS XI. AND HIS TIMES. IV. OPIUM AND THE OPIUM TRADE. V. ERASMUS AND HIS INFLUENCE. VI. THE FRENCH CRISIS. VII. A NEIGHBORING WORLD. VIII. OUR CRIMINALS AND OUR JUDICIARY. IX. NOTICES AND CRITICISMS. AGENTS FOR THE NATIONAL QUARTERLY REVIEW. The Review may be had of the following Agents: NEW YORK.-New York, Sinclair Tousey, General Agent, 121 Nassau Street. Rochester, D. M Dewey. Buffalo, J. S. Hawks. Troy, S. T. Hoyt. CONNECTICUT.-New Haven, J. H. Pease. Hartford, F. A. Brown. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.-Washington, Taylor & Maury. ILLINOIS.-Chicago, John R. Walsh., KENTUCKY.-Louisville, J. W. Clark and F. A. Crimp. MAINE.-Portland, George R. Dennis & Brother. Augusta, Edward Fenno. PENNSYLVANIA.-Philadelphia, James K. Simon, 33 South Sixth Street, General Agent fo BRITISH AMERICA.-Kingston, C. W., T. W. Robinson. Montreal, B. Dawson & Son. Que bec SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $5 A YEAR IN ADVANCE. |