ard to the leading
measures of governmental policy, combined with such prevailing fairness
of mind, and such a high degree of literary skill and mastership.

Regarded as a contribution to the historical treasures of which American
literature can boast such rare wealth, Mr. Greeley's work may challenge,
if not perhaps unqualified, sincere and respectful commendation. His
style is eminently his own. Familiar with the best models, he follows
none. Although aiming at vigor and popular effect, rather than at
graceful and polished elegance, it shows a remarkable sense of the power
and aptness of words, and an unusual command of the resources of
expression. He does not hesitate at a certain quaintness of phrase which
gives an antique air to many of his sentences; but he is never dull,
never languid, never commonplace, always free, emphatic, and racy. The
purely narrative portions of the volume are truly excellent. In the
immense range of his productions as a journalist, to our thinking, Mr.
Greeley has written nothing better. Compact, sustained, and enlivened
with a choice variety of coloring, the story as it comes from his pen is
uniformly clear even to transparency, and never fails to read with
singular interest, while it abounds in fresh and novel information. He
cannot always resist the temptation to a little episodical pleasantry;
but his humor is never ill-timed, and often mercilessly effective by its
keenness and truth, though for the most part genial and good-natured.
Sometimes, however, we notice a mischievous delight in calling attention
to the dead flies in the apothecary's ointment. The author's sincerity
of conviction and honesty of purpose are apparent on every page of his
work, and give it a sterling, permanent value, irrespective of its other
merits.

In the selection of his materials, Mr. Greeley has made great use of the
speeches, messages, letters, and other public documents relating to the
different branches of his subject, the essential points of which he
often interweaves into his narrative, though in all suitable cases he
does not scruple to present from them full and copious citations. In
most instances which involve the opinions of his political antagonists,
he has confined himself to the latter method. Impressed with the
difficulty of exhibiting the views of an opponent with fairness and
accuracy, he has wisely preferred to employ the very language of his
original authorities, wherever the exercise o