good moral influence has made a book which is at once pleasing,
interesting and exciting."

From the _Constitution_ (Middletown, Ct.)

"A book of great interest and spirit, and one that brings out, in a
strong light, some peculiar traits of American character."

From the _Critic_.

"An unusually well-written and interesting book."

From the _Boston Saturday Evening Gazette_.

"There is a deal of promise in a new novel just out called 'GEORGE
MELVILLE.' It is a dashing, clever, well-written story; its characters
talk with animation and plenty of animal spirit, and 'the plot
converges to an issue' according to the most approved rules. It has
the American Stamp, and imitates no transatlantic author--a merit
worth noticing."

From the _New York Sunday Times_.

"Its style is graphic, careless, romping and fanciful, and it is
really captivating."

From the _Albany Evening Journal_.

"The style is lively; the dialogues frequent and effective; the graver
scenes well drawn and the book wholly what it purports to be--an
American Novel, characteristically descriptive of American Life."

From the _New York Sunday Mercury_.

"A book that will repay the reader for the time spent in its perusal.
A pleasant companion for Saratoga, or the sea-shore."

From the _Educational Herald_.

"Its descriptions and pictures are very graphic."

The following notice from the _Toledo Blade_, is so just and true that
we copy it entire:

"We had almost said, after reading this story, 'The good old days of
Cooper have come again.' It is really refreshing, in the midst of so
much literary pretension, to meet with something of real merit.

"The conception of the plot is admirable--the characters finely
portrayed--the scenery true to nature and the interest maintained
throughout. Its life-like pictures, as well as the style of its author
must commend it to every one who feels any interest in the revival
of a genuine, home-bred American literature. When such tales as
this reflecting on our own manners, scenery, morals and laws can be
produced, there is little reason that our fiction-writers should be
superseded by foreigners. A tale of equal merit with this, so neatly
told, so entirely American, has not of late been issued from the
press.

"The scenery of Central New York--a sail on the placid waters
of Cayuga Lake in summer, and across the ice which covers it in
winter--the picturesque views around Auburn and the grand sublimity of