d philosophy of Shakspeare should have seemed a perfect
monster to the one-eyed logic of Hume." Perhaps the finest answer to
the charge that Shakspeare was an unregulated genius, full of great
absurdities and great beauties, is contained in Hudson's ironical
statement of it: "He has sometimes been represented as a sort of
inspired and infallible idiot, who practiced a species of poetical
magic without knowing what he did or why he did it; who achieved the
greatest wonders of art, not by rational insight and design, but by a
series of lucky accidents and _lapsus naturae_; who, in short, went
through life stumbling upon divinities, and blundering into miracles."

By the publication of these lectures Mr. Hudson takes his place among
the first thinkers and writers of the country. He has that in his
writings which will make him popular, and that which will make him
permanent. It is unnecessary to say that a book so strongly marked by
individuality as his is calculated to provoke criticism. It contains
many things which will be severely assailed by those whose opinions on
certain theories of government and society are in exact opposition to
those of the author. Some positions, critical and political, which he
confidently states as settled, are still open to discussion. But take
the work as a whole, as an embodiment of mental power, and there are
few men in the country on whom it would not confer honor. It needs but
a very small prophetic faculty to predict for a work so fascinating
and instructive a circulation commensurate with its merits.

* * * * *

_The Military Heroes of the Revolution. With a
Narrative of the War of Independence. By Charles J.
Peterson. Philadelphia: Wm. H. Leary._ 487 _pp.
octavo_.

This is one of the most elegant books which has ever been issued from
the American press. The type is large and clear, and the paper is of
the finest quality. It is embellished with nearly two hundred
engravings, consisting of portraits of all the chief actors of the
Revolution, spirited representations of almost every engagement, with
numerous views of noted places. This, together with the picturesque
style in which the book is written, gives a peculiar charm, and leaves
on the mind of the reader impressions more vivid and lasting than any
other work which we have seen on the same subject.

The design of the work is to furnish brief analytical portraits of
those military heroes w