blameless and praiseworthy private lives; with a remarkable degree of poetical genius; with the noblest patriotism and the truest Christian devotion, they have won the first grand distinctive features for

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.

American poetry, and
given their countrymen
works which will not
only remain a perpetual
source of holy inspira-
tion, but immortalize
much that is noble,
heroic, and worthy in
American history, and

thus hand down to fu

JOHN G. WHITTIER.

ture ages the inspirations of the deeds, principles, conflicts, and victories of the past and the present. America has many poets, some of no ordinary brilliancy, - but Longfellow and Whittier have won a place in the affections of the people which their contemporaries cannot hope to reach.

Now, in conclusion, let me congratulate myself upon having written a "Preface" that will probably be read in preference, at least, to any other portion of the work, and add simply this. The present work is partly compiled, and its author does not wish to claim for it any very great degree of excellence. It is, undoubtedly, a useful and valuable book for those unacquainted with the subjects treated. The writer very much desires that American readers will pass over the first introductory chapter, which is intended only for Canadians, and which has been inserted, much against the author's wish, to satisfy demands of the publishers in the Dominion, who seek to increase their sales by the favorable newspaper criticisms and other matters included in that article."

CHARLES R. TUTTLE.

TUTTLE HIS EARLY HOME AND LIFE-HIS WORKS-HIS CRITICS GENERAL
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DOMINION OF CANADA.

1. MY DEAR READER, this is the age of Canadian histories, and it has been inaugurated within the past two years. I knew it would come two years ago, and predicted it then, in Montreal, not that I was in any sense a prophet, but that I had had experience of a sort which justified this conclusion. I will confess to the conviction that I have never performed any task as well as it has seemed to me that many others might have accomplished it, and yet my work, with all its imperfections, has had hosts of imitators. Some six or seven years ago I began a "History of the United States, in State volumes." By the time the first volume was ready for the market, two other parties were in the same business; but I pushed on vigorously, out of forty States succeeded in covering Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Kansas. It seemed to me, at one time, that half the authors and publishers in the United States were engaged on State histories. The late Rev. John S. C. Abbott, one of the most prolific of American writers, gobbled up Maine and Ohio. Another gentleman, whose name I forget, probably because his book did not figure prominently enough to make an impression on any one, ran off with Massachusetts. The case of Pennsylvania was precisely similar, only

and

that two works were brought out for that State at the same time. A gentleman in my employ, knowing more than his master, resigned his position and published Missouri. Thus it ran, until every State could boast a history of itself, while many of them gloried in three or four. Being myself the first to commence this illustrated State history work, it was not difficult, with such an experience, to predict that this imitation would follow me into Canada.

2. And what has been the result? Why, already histories of Canada are coming thick and fast, until it seems that it would be necessary for their publishers to deal with them as with patent medicines, saying, "None genuine unless marked," etc. Now, I do not mean to indicate that I was first in the field as to a history of Canada, and yet I believe mine was the first popular work illustrated and sold by subscription. Certain it is, however, that my work was but the precursor of many others; for behold! they come! I could name them, but dare not extend a free advertisement to a competitor. However, there are a few things which I desire to say soberly. In the first place, if the history or histories of Canada which I have written give satisfaction they will be sure to receive their full share of public favor; and if they do not they will be neglected, just as they should be. I am quite ready to meet a friendly competition, but will not consent to quarrel over the field with any one. It remains, therefore, only for me to state that I have two separate works in the market: one of two large quarto volumes, with elegant steel engravings, ranging in price from fifteen to thirty dollars a copy, according to binding; and another smaller work, the present one, complete in one octavo volume, at a price within the reach of all. Therefore I have a high and a low-priced book, each produced at considerable expense, each entirely separate and independent from and of the other. There is not so much as an illustration in one that appears in the other in the same form. The plates of each work are entirely different. To place these works upon the market a large sum of money has been expended, in all over forty thousand dollars. The future alone will answer as to the wisdom of this investment; but until I have been, in some measure, reimbursed, I shall expect, even in the face of any and all other works, sufficient consideration for my own to secure for them an impartial examination; and this expectation is based on the many and great sacrifices which this great undertaking has imposed upon me.