to be divided between the city and State, the city to receive £1,000,061 and the State £3,000,000. The same provisions applied to both the cities of Boston and Philadelphia.

The first period of 100 years having now elapsed, the city of Boston has swollen the nucleus of the bequest to about $400,000. In Philadelphia the fund held by the Board of City Trusts has only reached the sum of about $100,000. The suit has for its object the distribution of this fund to the heirs of

Franklin, descended through his only daughter, Sarah Franklin Bache. It is estimated that there are over fifty of these heirs in Philadelphia and vicinity. The suit has been instituted through Albert D. Bache, Paymaster U. S. N., stationed at League Island, one of four great-grandchildren of Richard Bache, who married Franklin's daughter, and in whom her estate became vested after her death. They are heirs in the direct line, and one of them has thus been selected to represent the petitions to the suit.

MY OWN STORY." By Joaquin Miller, author Songs of THE SIERRAS," "THE DANITES," etc. Published by Belford Clarke Company, Chicago.

"This book is the story of my life among the Indians; and yet it is not the story, not the half of it." So says the author by way of explanation. One must not read it expecting a prosaic narration of events as they fell from day to day; but, bearing in mind that Miller, with all his faults, is essentially a poet, we must look for the touch of the poet in every line. We do not find an apology for those years of youth he spent in the camps of the savages; nor is there any suggestion that the writer felt the need of such. He made his home among them because he had no other home; he loved them because they were true friends in an hour of need; he defends them because he feels and proves that there is much to be said upon their side. The book suggests Joaquin Miller upon every page-and not to have done so, would have been to throw doubt upon the authorship. Looked at from any standpoint, it is a work to stir the blood and move the thought. A thread of romance runs all through the story; the details, often prosaic enough, but made to live and glow under the poet's touch. "A LIFE'S RETROSPECT: AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF REV. GRANVILLE MOODY, D. D." Edited by Rev. Sylvester Weeks, A. M., D, D. Published by Cranston & Stowe, Cincinnati. ($1.50).

Dr. Weeks has wisely judged that some explanation should precede this Retrospect, so that the reader who did not have a personal knowledge of Granville Moody, might understand him before entering upon the

story of his busy, useful, and eventful life. In these prefatory words, and in a concise and thoughtful introduction by S. M. Merrill, we have a verbal photograph of one who was not only great in himself, but a great power in the day and generation in which he lived.

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"For half a century and more he was a prominent participant in the affairs of Methodism, working with all the energies of his enthusiastic nature for the upbuilding of the kingdom of righteousness, and no one who knew him will even suspect that he lacked a single element of loyalty to God, to his church, or to his native land. He entered into the ministry at a time when ministers of his denomination had to be strong and forceful men, and he was not one content to be an idle spectator. He could not be silent when anything that he did not believe to be good and true, and for God's kingdom, was asserted in his presence, and," as Dr. Weeks says, one familiar with the Miami Valley, could trace his itineracy by the doctrine be combated-Calvinism at Oxford, Universalism at Montgomery and Westchester, Socinianism at Franklin, Radicalism at Lebanon, and intemperance, Catholicism and disloyalty in Dayton, Springfield, Cincinnati and Piqua." While Dr. Moody, follows of course, the line of his life labors in this autibiography, he incidently relates much that all readers and writers of history should thank him for, concerning the times and regions in which he lived. As colonel of a regiment, he laid aside the implements of one form of warfare to take up those of another, and in both cases he was a loyal, earnest, and courageous man. A fine portrait of Dr. Moody adorns the work.

"U. S. AN INDEX TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Historical, Geographical and Political. A Handbook of Reference, combining the Curious in U. S. History," Compiled by Malcolm Townsend. Published by D. Lothrop Co., Boston. ($1.50), Perhaps the searcher after the odd, the unique, and the curious in the history of the United States, might not find the answer to every question he might ask, in these five hundred closely printed pages, but a glance at the table of contents, would persuade him that if that one answer was not there, all the rest for all possible questions, had been provided. Mr. Townsend has demonstrated the truth of his declaration,

that the History of the United States is packed with curios." He has also explained how he came to make this unique selection: "The mass of curious facts, coincidents, and information items from which this book is evolved, is the accumulation of years of research, study, and scrap-book making; it is the result of patient delving into unexplored regions of fact, and the opening up of undeveloped mines of figures by one who has found in such work alike a fascination and a pastime in the midst of duties quite foreign to such labors. In the form adopted he has aimed to classify and intermix with the curious the instructive, and with the entertaining the inspiring, so that, if possible, one may leave this hand-book-whether the searcher be American voter or matron, or the boy or girl who is the keenest questioner in the history class at school-a wiser inquirer and a better American for the information here obtained."

The lines of information covered are geographical, political, historical and miscellaneous. One cannot undertake any statement of sub-divisions, as the field becomes altogether too broad. The periods of time embraced, lie between prehistoric days, and the year 1890. The space covered, is from Maine to California. Upon one page we find the dates of States admission to the Union;

upon another, the great seals of the States, then, here and there, such odd information as the history of wampum, the derivation of the dollar mark; coin facetiæ; money slang; Indian tribes in the States; medals awarded by Congress; a history of the postal system; wars of the United States; war statistics, etc., etc.; saying nothing of such information of a more general nature which one would naturally expect in such a book. Many illustrations and colored maps serve also to convey information upon many interesting points.

"THE OHIO VALLEY IN COLONIAL DAYS." By Berthold Fernow, honorary and corresponding member of the historical socities of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc. Member of the American Historical Association, etc. Published by Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany. ($5).

This volume concerning the great Valley of the Ohio, in which so many important events occurred in the early days of our country, comprises No. 17 in Munsell's Historical Series—a series that increases in value. with each added publication. Mr. Fernow is well known for his careful historical researches. He finds a congenial field in the great territory drained by the Ohio, and presents some heretofore unknown material, which will cast new light upon various questions of importance; and, "beyond that," he adds, "it is only an arrangement of already known facts, scattered through a library of books on the subject."

Mr. Fernow commences his research at the very beginning. "Who was the first man of European race, to see the waters of the Ohio Valley?" Was it Ferdinand de Soto, the Adelantado of Cuba, upon whom Emperor Charles V. had conferred the title of marquis of all the lands, which he should conquer on his expedition to Florida, in 1539? Like many other careful men, the author contents himself with raising the interesting question, throwing upon it all the light obtainable,

and leaving the verdict to each man who shall peruse him. From this primal standpoint, the narrative is carried forward with a wealth of information and degree of entertaining description, that steadily holds the attention of even a casual reader. The first chapter relates to the discovery of the great Ohio Valley; the next to its geography; the third to its Indian owners and Occupants. Then comes an account of the beginning of the struggle for supremacy, the transfer of control, first to the French and then the English, the Indian wars, and the developments of civilization. Following the narrative is an extended appendix, in which many documents of more or less value are prosented; extracts from the journal of Rene de Brehan de Galinee, the missionary of St. Sulpitius, who was one of La Salle's companions; papers relating to the Ohio Company, from the archives of the Board of Trade and Plantations in London; a census of the Cherokees in 1721; a letter from the Earl of Dunmore to the Earl of Hills

borough; one from Sir William Johnson; and many other important documents which throw light upon the period and region under consideration. Several points of special importance in this really valuable work, have been summarized by the publisher as follows: A hitherto unknown manuscript makes a claim of discovery by Connecticut parties in 1659. The chapter on the cartography of the Ohio speaks of, probably, all maps which give even the slightest indication of the rivers. The history of the Indians, who hunted in the valley, is as exclusive as it could be in a work not treating specially of the aborigines. The author differs somewhat from Harrison, Gallatin and Baldwin in their accounts of the Ohio Indians, and gives a complete history of the erratic wanderings of the Shawanoes, whom Mr. Francis Parkman calls "the puzzle of the historians." The chapters about the troubles and wars between the English and French can, of course, give nothing new except in letters

and papers, hitherto not known. Among these the documentary history of the Ohio Company, organized by Washington's brothers, is specially to be mentioned. A concise account is given of what the colonies on the seaboard did in the conquests of the Ohio Valley from the French and Indians.

"THE COLORED MAN IN THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH." By Rev. L. M. Hagood, M. D. Published by Cranston & Stowe, Cincinnati. ($1.25).

The author of this history of the colored people in the Methodist Church, himself of negro blood, finds his warrant for its preparation and publication in the fact that, so far as he can discover, no attempt has been made to historically preserve an account of the relations between that people and that church. "There are," he explains, "many cogent reasons why such a history should be written. From the time of the landing of a cargo of twenty African slaves at Jamestown, Va., in 1620, until this hour, the colored man has been the subject of much discussion. Touching his status as a man, there have always been two sides; one in favor of enslaving him, and the other objecting to enslaving him. Both sides of this vexed question Lave always been represented within the church. The fact that there has always been a majority in the church opposed to enslaving him; that therefore the church early enlisted in the cause of his emancipation-has kept up a continuous though bloodless warfare within the church." Because of this feeling within the Methodist denomination, the colored people were drawn toward it; and Mr. Hagood has made it his purpose to prove that, so far as this one question at least goes, "the heart of the Methodist Church has always been right." He has collected a great deal of information, going back to the very beginnings of our country, and following the line up to the present day. All his conclusions may not be accepted, for he is compelled to go over ground long in controversy,

and discuss questions by no means settled, but he pretty conclusively proves two things; that the colored people of America are on the upward road, and that the Methodist Church has ever been a noble ally to them, whether as to emancipation, physical needs or educational and religious efforts. The work is illustrated, a portrait of the author serving as frontispiece.

"BISMARCK IN PRIVATE LIFE: By a Fellow Student." Translated by Henry Hayward. With Portraits. Published by D. Appleton & Co., New York. (50 cents).

No one tires of hearing of this strange and wonderful man, who has carved for himself a great name in the world's history; and he is one of the few of whom endless anecdotes of an unique nature may be truthfully told. No one can undertake the reading of this book, without going through to the end. The writer is certainly well acquainted with his theme, and has told many vivid and entertaining stories not hitherto in print. One gains a clearer glimpse of the man Bismarck, in the perusal of this little work than he could in whole volumes of more imposing biography.

"STORIES OF THE CIVIL WAR." By Albert F. Blaisdell, author of "The Study of the English Classics," "Child's Book of Health," etc, Published by Lee & Shepard, Boston and New York.

Mr. Blaisdell has not attempted even an outline history of the war, his purpose covering only a book of stories for home and school use-not to crowd the mind with facts,

but "to arouse in the younger generation a lively interest in the brave men who fought in the war for the Union." The selections have been carefully made, the stories told with rare judgment and skill, and the illustrations are many and fine. It is a book one can safely put in the hands of the boys.

"THE TAKING OF LOUISBURG, 1745." By Samuel Adams Drake, author of “ Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777," etc. Published by Lee & Shepard, Boston and New York. (50 cents).

Mr. Drake's latest addition to American history, forms a volume in Lee & Shepard's admirable series "Decisive Events in American History." He has condensed this remarkable episode of our history into a brief story of unusul interest, while the publishers have done their part in making that story clear, by a number of illustrations and maps.

Pamphlets and minor publications received:

"IN TRUST, OR DR. BERTRAND'S HOUSEHOLD." By Amanda M. Douglass. Published by Lee & Shepard, Boston. "THE UNION STATE: A LETTER TO OUR STATE RIGHTS FRIEND." By John C. Hurd, LL.D., author of "THE LAW OF FREEDOM AND BONDAGE IN THE UNITED STATES,” "THE THEORY OF OUR NATIONAL EXISTENCE," "THE CENTENNIAL OE A REVOLUTION, BY A REVOLUTIONIST." Published by D. Van Nostrand Company, New York.