1861, and section 9, Act of July, 1862.) subject to a duty of thirty per cent ad valorem and eighteen cents per pound. Your decision is hereby affirmed. I am, very respectfully, S. P. CHASE, Sec. of the Treasury. TO CHARLES JAMES, Esq., Collector, San Francisco, Cal. OLD BRONZE BELL METAL-SO STYLED. Treasury Department, March 4, 1864. SIR-Messrs. NAYLOR & Co. have appealed. under date of February 24, 1864, from your decision assessing a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem, under the classification of Metal manufactured not otherwise provided for," on 147 pieces of (so styled) "Old Bronze Bell Metal," imported per Steamer" Ballona" fro n London. The Appellants "claim the legal right to enter the article in question, free of duty, as Old Bell Metal,' provided for under section 23 of the Tariff Act of March 2, 1861—the said article being com nercially known as of that description, and as such it should be admitted free of duty." The clause in the section under which the appellants claim to enter the article in question, is as follows: Bells, old, and Bell Metal." The article imported by Messrs. NAYLOR & Co. is parts of broken canuon, and, as appears by an assay, contains: This composition differs materially from that known as "Bell Metal," which ordinarily is composed of 78 parts of copper and 22 parts of tin; though it is not unusual to vary, in a slight degree, these proportions, and sometimes to introduce an admixture of other metals. Any alloy of copper used for the manufacture of cannon cannot strictly be called Bell Metal." I infer from your report that although the article has once been manufactured. it is now old and unfit for any other purpose than as a raw material to be reworked. Your decision is hereby affirmed. I am very respectfully, TO HIRAM BARNEY, Esq., Collector, New York. MOVEABLE PICTURE BOOKS. Treasury Department, March 5, 1864. SIR-JOHN WILEY has appealed from your decision assessing duty at the rate of 35 per cent, ad valorem, as “ Manufactures of Paper not otherwise provided for," on certain "Moveable Picture Books, imported by him. The appellant claims to enter them, as, he alleges, has heretofore been the practice, at 20 per cent. ad valorem, under section 8 of the Tariff act of July 14, 1862, which (6th clausé) is as follows: "On books, periodicals, pamphlets, blank books, bound or unbound; and all printed matter, engravings, bound or unbound, illustrated books and papers, &c." The appraisers report: "Our objection to such classification is that move able figures on each page render the article something more than a book, and which might, with great propriety, be classified as a toy." Samples of the books in que tion have been submitted to this department for examination, and I am of the opinion they are clearly embraced in the comprehensive language of the clause in the 8th section of the Act of July 14, 1862, above quoted. Your decission is hereby overruled. I am, very respectfully, S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury. TO HIRAM BARNEY, Esq., Collector, New York. PAPER. Treasury Department, March 12, 1864. SIR-Messrs. B. & P. LAWRENCE have appealed from your decision assess ing duty at the rate of 35 per cent, ad valorem, on certain " Paper" imported per Steamer" Australasian" in January, 1864. The appellants claim that the article in question being "unsized paper used for printing purposes, and being made in books." is entitled to entry at 20 per cent, under the 5th section of the Act of March 3, 1863, which provides" that in lieu of the duties now imposed by law, there shall be levied and collected upon printing paper unsized, used for books and newspapers exclusively, twenty per cent, ad valorem." The use of the word "exclusively" in this section restricts the operation of it to such paper as is unquestionably fit for and used for books and newspapers. A sample of the article in question has been submitted to this department. It is very thin paper, and is not the kind used for the printing of "newspapers;" it is unsuitable for such purpose, as it could only receive a proper impression on one side; nor is it used for the printing of " books" of the general class for the diffusion of knowledge. I am of the opinion it was properly assessed by you under the 13th section of the Act of July 14, 1862, which imposes 35 per cent on "paper hanging, and paper for screens or fire-boards; paper, antiquarian, demy, drawing, elephant, foolscap, imperial, letter, and all other paper, not otherwise provided for." Your decison is hereby affirmed. I am, very respectfully, S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury. TO HIRAM BARNEY, Collector, New York. DECORATED PARIAN WARE. Treasury Department, March 19, 1864. SIR-Messrs. D. P. IVES & Co. have appealed from your decision assessing duty at the rate of 40 per cent, ad valorem, on certain Decorated Parian Ware," imported by them in the "Bravo," on the 21st January, 1864, and claim "that under existing laws, said goods are only liable to a duty of 35 per cent, because by section 12, Tariff Act of July 12, 1862, the assessed duty of 40 per cent is levied on "Decorated China and Porcelain Ware,' only This department is advised, that the Parian Ware imported by you is a kind of Porcelain Ware, differing ohly from the ordinary ware in being of a finer quality, by the employment of a soft and more fusible felspar in its composition, in place of Cornish stone. I concur in the opinion, that the article in question is properly classified as "China and Porcelain Ware, ornamented or decorated," at 40 per cent, under section 12 of the Act of July 14, 1862, and your decision is hereby affirmed. I am, very respectfully, S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury. To J. Z. GOODRICH, Esq., Collector, Boston, Mass. 1864.] The Book Trade. 401 THE BOOK TRADE. Faith and Fancy. By JOHN SAVAGE, author of "Sybil, a Tragedy." New York: JAMES B. KIRKER, 599 Broadway. Washington, D. C.: PHILIP & SOLOMON, 1864. Over a dozen years ago the Democratic Review, reviewing a book of poems by the author of the volume now before us, received the young writer with commendable cordiality, and recognized in him a power which would make itself felt in the future. The same article embodied a hearty testimonial to Mr. SAVAGE's poetical ability from one notably capable of appreciating as well as illustrating the power of song-Miss ALICE CAREY, the distinguished poetess. Since that period, Mr. SAVAGE, though fre quently contributing to periodicals, has not appeared in book form as a poet; a facin itself somewhat remarkable, when we take into consideration the many volumes which have been put forth within the decade having no stronger claims on the public than might justly be set up for the anthor of "Washington," " At Niagara," "Winter Thoughts," "The Muster of the North," and many other pieces embraced in the modest looking little book under notice. Our author's reticence in this respect is the more to be wondered at, as the great success which attended his tragedy of "Sybil," in almost every city in the country, would have warranted an earlier selection from his poetical portfolio. However there is no accounting for the whims and vagaries of that class of scribes who come under the head of " veritable." Ambition is sometimes of such an over-sensitive nature, as in its yearning for the most perfect means to achieve an ideal, to everlastingly postpone that which it as constantly desires to ac complish. COLERIDGE presents a sad instance of this. Some of his poems lay in his desk for fifteen or sixteen years. CAMPBELL did not glut the market with his verse, yet produced enough to build a lyrical immortality. TENNYSON after his first publication, took many years of self-analysis and thought before he again threw down his guage to the critics. And among our own poets BRYANT and HALLECK are known not so much by the quantity as the quality of their writings. Some poets like WORDS WORTH, BYRON, MOORE, SHELBEY and LONGFELLOW write frequently, much and well and others of not inferior intellect give us their writings, like angel visits, few and far between. It is difficult, without expending more time than the discussion would be worth, to account for the backwardness or forwardness, so to speak, of the one or the other class of poets. Suffice it that Mr. SAVAGE's modesty or tardiness, coupled with the fact that he has himself betimes interested the readers of the Merchant's Magazine in articles of a semi-literary and statistical nature as well as the merits of his book, induces us to go somewhat beyond our usual limits in notices of this nature. Mr. SAVAGE inscribes his volume to the Honorable CHARLES P. DALY, in comment datory and affectionate appreciation of that gentleman's, " generous efforts in behalf of Letters, Science, Humanity and Justice"-and in the dedication lets us into the secret, doubtless, of the influences which inspire himself. He says that every person who writes poetry makes his reader the confidant of his hopes, woes, experiences, or sensations; for he adds "if he aspire at all to transcribe or embody the feelings which evoke or prompt human action, he cannot help writing largely from his own hearts blood, and in the hues it has taken by contact with Men, Faith and Nature." This accounts for the subtle, sensitive, picturesque and passionate character of many of the principle pieces in the work. They bear distinctive marks of being studious and philosophical observations of life, and landscape, of art, men and books, guided and illuminated by that insight which amounts almost to intuition and gives the poetical mind its power over lesser organizations. The "Muster of the North" has been widely copied apd quoted. Taking it, not as an expression of political faith; but as an historical and poetical photograph of what the COUNT DE GASPARIN calls the great uprising, it has all the characteristics of the thrilling epoch. It throbs with emotion and commotion from the first line to the last, and sweeps you breathlessly along on its bounding measure. It is difficult to make an extract from it, the atmosphere of concentrated action so surrounds the whole. It is full of scenes for a DARLEY to illustrate or an EASTMAN JOHNSON to paint. With various degrees of excellence the poems entitled "The Plant of the Wild Flower," "The God Child of July," "St. Ann's Well," and "At Niagara,” not only exhibit a "deep love of nature," but a powerful art in depicting some of its tenderest as well as its most turbulent phases. "The falls" are treated in an equally forcible manner, the poet's expressiveness. changing into that solemn cadence suggested by his feelings. The longest poem in the book is "Dreaming by Moonlight," a dialogue between two students. Leon, a literary aspirant, and Pictor, an artist. These young men talk on art, poetry, ambition, critics, and the various hopes and longings which fill the hearts and heads of young aspirants in general. It is written in blank verse, and evinces a mastery of this mode which gives us confidence as to the author's powers as a dramatic writer. The poem is philosophic, imaginative and descriptive, and will repay perusal. We regret that want of space prevents us from giving some extracts, but with the above reference to its merits and coutents, recommend the work, which has already gone into a second edition, to all lovers of true poetry. Rhode Island in the Rebellion. By EDWIN STONE, of the First Rhode Island Artillery. This work consists of a series of letters written in camp and on the battle field, the author being surrounded by the scenes which he so vividly describes. It is more an account of personal experiences, than an historic record of events, and, therefore, possesses a peculiar interest. The author does not, however, altogether contine himself to those facts, of which he was himself an eye-witness; but makes a judicious use of important official documents, to which he was fortunate enough to have free access. His account of the gallant part taken by the brave little State, and its patriotic young Governor, in which he naturally feels an houest pride, will strike a sympathetic cord in the breast of every true Rhode Islander. The appendix gives an historical account of the various Rhode Island regiments and batteries, which cannot fail to be interesting to all who were ever associated with them. History of the Romans under the Empire. By CHARLES MERIVALE, B.D., late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. American Edition. D. APPLETON & Co. The third volume of the American edition of this most valuable work is now offered to the public. It embraces the period from the assassination of JULIUS CESAR, to the formal inauguration of the empire under OCTAVIUS. The troubles caused by the violent death of CESAR; the funeral harangue of ANTONIUS, which excites the people against the conspirators; the attack made upon ANTONIUS by CICERO; the victory of the Senatorial party in the two battles before Mutina, followed by the two engage mente at Phillipi, which resulting in disaster to the Republican arms, led to the suicide of CASSIUS and BRUTUS, are related in a manner exceedingly graphic and interesting. The policy of OCTAVIUS, with regard to Egypt, and the self-destruction of CLEOPATRA, after her vain attempt to ensnare him, are well narrated. But what renders this volume peculiarly attractive, is the fact that it treats of that period in the history of Rome, which is coeval with the commencement of Christianity. When AUGUSTUS was holding the reigns of government in the imperial city, our Saviour was perform ing His deeds of mercy, and proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation to the Jews. Judea at this time was a Roman province, and the treatment of that country by the Roman Emperor, cannot but be extremely interesting to the Christian reader. The last two chapters contain an account of the various offices of the government; the priviledged orders; the Senate and the Knights; the finances and the military establishment of this extended and heterogenous empire, at the time of the inauguration of the new order of things. This history bridges in a substantial and agreeable manner, that chasm which has till now existed between the termniation of Dr. ARNOLD's learned work, and the period when GIBBON takes up the story of the eternal city. It is not too much to say that Mr. MERIVALE has executed his part in a manner worthy of the distinguished connection in which it stands. The American edition is very neatly gotten up, and the present volume is enriched with a beautiful map of Rome. It is a work that should ornament the shelves of every man who takes pleasure in classical literature, or has any desire for historic information. The Management of Steel, including Forging, Hardening, Tempering, Annealing, Shrinking and Expansion; also the Case-Hardening of Iron. By George Ede, employed at the Royal Gun Factories Department, Woolwich Arsenal, England. American edition. D. APPLETON & Co. It would, indeed, be strange if twenty years of practical experience and hard study did not qualify any man of capacity, to give some valuable information concerning the pursuit to which he has so long devoted himself; how much then may we expect from him, who, like the author of this charming little book, is led by a knowledge derived from a thorough scientific investigation, to give to others the result of his long experience in this interesting art. This little work of Mr. EDE is essentially practical. It does not attempt to show how certain experiments confirm certain preconceived scientific theories; but its object is (and it is an object it adheres to,) to tell the practical workman how he may accomplish what he wished, so as to produce the best article in the most economical way. It treats of the management of steel under all its different forms, and gives many valuable hints with regard to forging, hardening, tempering, and annealing. It is not one of those thick, double-columned, finely printed volumes, which frighten by their size, and look so dry: but like a true gem it requires but little room, and can be carried in the pocket, and read during odd bits of leisure time. It will be found exceedingly useful if not essential both to him who makes the working of steel a daily labor, as well as to him who, interested in the art, pursues it only as an agreeable recreation. VALUE OF CURRENCY AS COMPARED WITH GOLD. THE Metropolitan Marine and Fire Insurance Company, (a company, by the way, which has met with remarkable success since its organization.) advertises to pay losses in gold, when the premiums are paid in gold, and publishes the following compartive table, showing the relative value of currency and gold. The table is very conveniently arranged, and will be found valuable for reference: TABLE SHOWING THE VALUE OF CURRENCY AS COMPARED When Gold is sold for Cur The disc't on U. $100 in Cur S. L-Tender rency will buy When Gold is sold for Cur WITH GOLD. rency at Currency is in Gold. rency at 53.49 do 46 51 |