Annals of North America. By E. Howland. (Sampson Low.)—The compiler
of this bulky volume deserves credit for having produced a useful work of reference, with a very carefully prepared index. He has given us, in chronological order, a very brief account of all the most important events in the United States, the British provinces, and Mexico, from the year 1492, in which Columbus discovered America, down to last year. We have, too, by way of appendix, a copy of the famous Declaration of Independence, without which, we suppose, any work on America would be deemed incomplete. Mr. Howland's preface shows that he is full of admiration for the achievements of his countrymen, and he regards the history of the United States as an epitome of the development of the human race." Indeed, his brief introduction abounds in pompous platitudes, and of course the preamble of the Constitution of the United States is a "matchless statement," and a " golden sentence " which cannot be too often repeated. What the next hundred years will do for his country, and in what the " notion's life and labours " will then cul- minate, he is quite unable even to imagine. No doubt great and admirable results have been already achieved, and we only hope that Mr. Howland is not too sanguine in expressing his belief that it is the destiny of America "to illustrate to the nations the method of attain- ing industrial independence from the domination of the money-power, which threatens the world with the re-establishment of a worse feudal- ism than that of the sword." Mr. Howland, it will be seen, possesses, in common with many of his countrymen, the gift of a fine style. We have only to add that wo could wish the few illustrations with which he has adorned his book were rather less poor and common-place.
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