Recollections of a Life-Time: or Men and Things I have Seen. In a Series of Familiar Letters to a Friend: Historical, Biographical, Anecdotical, and Descriptive. By S. G. Goodrich. In two volumes: pp. 554. New-York: Miller, Orton and Mulligan.

It would be quite without the bounds of probability, that Peter Parley could write a dull book. Peter Parley!--mention but his very name, and how the ears of the little people prick up! A new book from his pen, to them, is as eagerly sought for as was each successive 'Waverley Novel,' as it appeared, to 'children of larger growth.' And in perusing the volumes on our table, we have been confirmed in an opinion, more than once before expressed in this Magazine that he who can write acceptably for children, has that within him which must enable him to write to the edification of persons of more mature years. 'Mr. Goodrich,' as has been well, and with perfect truthfulness, remarked, by a contemporary reviewer, although a youthful-looking gentleman, is sixty-two years of age: (do n't believe it!) and in the half century covered by his recollecions, he has seen more than most men would see in twice that time. He has been famous in his way. In all the world there is no other individual who has published so many volumes, or done so much in the capacity of an author to govern the character and intelligence of the living age. As 'Peter Parley,' he is renowned on all the Continents. But his best title to an enduring reputation will be found in these personal memories, the most natural, genial, and entertaining that have appeared in this country since Franklin's. Mr. Goodrich has almost a daguerreian minuteness of agreeable description, and every body who has been familiar with the country life of New-England during the first half of this century will recognize the singular fidelity of his delineations. On this subject, indeed, his work will always be held in the highest estimation by competent critics. Simple, earnest, genuine. Every appreciative reader will perceive at a glance that the serious or gay experience of Connecticut, of 'the central flowery kingdom' of Yankeedom, is displayed in it just as it is, or as it was before railroads led so generally to the destruction of our local characteristics. Mr. Goodrich's father was a Congregational clergyman at Ridgefield, one of the most pleasant nurse-towns in Connecticut, and he lived here until he was fifteen. The outlines of his subsequent career, as publisher, author, legislator, traveller, Consul of the United States at Paris, etc., etc., are pretty well known. His personal qualities and the circumstances in which he has been placed, have made him acquainted with a great number of the leading men of his time, both abroad and at home, and his intelligent observation and skill in portraiture, have enabled him to introduce them to us in such a manner that we feel almost as familiar with their presence and idiosyncrasies as he is himself. His anecdotes are fresh, and excellently told, and his reminiscences of American literature and art--such as he alone could give us--are sympathetic, interesting, and judiciously written. Another journal observes: 'Peter Parley is the author and editor of one hundred and seventy volumes, of which over seven millions have been sold! He has crossed the Atlantic sixteen times, and made, perhaps, the acquaintance of more persons of prominence, and become

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familiar with more important facts and incidents, both at home and abroad, than any other American.' The literary critic of 'The Tribune' daily journal observes: 'Mr. GOODRICH has had a remarkable and interesting career. As an author and editor, he has published no less than one hundred and seventy volumes, the sales of which amount to the enormous number of seven millions of copies. He was a private soldier in the war of 1812 with England. He was a close observer of the proceedings of the Hartford Convention, and was personally acquainted with most of its members. He has crossed the Atlantic sixteen times, and was a witness of the French Revolution of 1848, and of the coup d'état of Louis Napoleon. With the variety of anecdote, incident, and description introduced in this work, by such a muster of pleasant narrative style as Peter Parley, it cannot fail to present great and various attractions.' We have but a word to add to this: and that is, that 'Peter Parley' has so well forseen, that a book to be a book, must be a book in a 'good book's clothing,' that he has taken good care (in which carefulness he has been laudably emulated by his publishers) to have his volumes appear before the public in their proper guise. The engravings some how (with exceptions) seem the débris of a chaos of 'cuts.'

There are few of the readers of the Era, and certainly none of them who are, have been, or had much to do with, children for the last twenty years, who are not familiar with the name of Peter Parley, and with the volumes that have borne this title. Many, however, may not know who Peter is, or was, or has been. Now, the veritable old man, once pictured with a crutch, who by his portrait (side view) is seen to be a very handsome-looking individual, beyond the shady side of fifty, Samuel G. Goodrich by name, has come forth, in his person, to tell the world about himself, his ancestors, kindred, friends, and acquaintances; what he has seen, and what he has not seen, and what he has not seen, but has heard. Of course, it is an interesting book--anybody may know that; for he is a keen observer of men and things, and has a very good faculty of presenting them to others. Some of the stories do not lose anything in the telling, and a few, we are inclined to think, have somehow got fastened to a wrong parentage. Our readers will no doubt recognise portraits of persons with whom they have been familiar--more so than the author--and instances will occur to them, as well as to ourselves, in which the judgment will be, that had he known his subjects better, he would have given a more faithful delineation. The work might have been compressed, as, in not a few cases, the notes supply no information beyond what is amply possessed, or which lies, in various forms and connections, in volumes of easy access. The gathering of facts of interest--many of them new, in reference to characters before but little known, but who deserve to be better appreciated, is often suitably performed; and we are glad to see such an addition to different phases of our country's history. The anecdotes which are intermingled help to develop character; the snatches of poetry, and longer pieces, render the work yet more attractive; and, with all the prolixity of certain portions, it is a book that will be read with much pleasure by the numerous friends and acquaintances of the author. There will no doubt be some variance of opinion as to the points of political reference--such, for instance, as the Hartford Convention, and the character and conduct of the Federal party before and during the war of 1812--but the author has stated his own views in a frank and manly manner, and has thrown light on particulars of the general subject; and, in the main, we believe his estimate of the state of affairs in these periods, and of the men who were then prominent actors, will be that on which impartial history will settle down as the most accurate in point of fact. The struggles of his literary life, the piracies he has suffered, and the necessity of proving himself to be himself, or rather Peter Parley, is only another chapter of the annals of successful authorship. There are always men enough who try to wear a borrowed plumage, and we are always glad to see them stripped of their ill-gotten guise, as in this case seems to have been most effectually done.

The illustrations of the volumes are in good style, and rightly are they put in, for a book by this author without pictures would almost set us to questioning its authenticity. The sketches of scenery, too, in prose and poetry, are pleasing, while the traits of character in such men as the poets Brainerd [sic] and Percival, and others, and the history of certain of the fruits of their genius, and the light so thrown on parts of the literary hist[o]ry of the past, will be regarded with gratification. Mr. Goodrich's observations are not confined, however, to our own country. Abroad, too, he has had opportunities to observe, and we find a pleasant record of his impressions of celebrities, then in the height of their fame, like Scott, Jeffrey, Lockhart, Chalmers, in Scotland; Brougham, Eldon, Hannah Moore, &c., in England; while in France, he presents us with some notices of the Revolution of 1848, and subsequent events, with the persons who bore part in them.

The volumes are thicker than they would have been, but for the large type and wide-leaded lines; but the author himself, so great a sufferer in his eyes, we presume, was determined that no one reading his reminiscences should have occasion for any complaints on this score. The work we doubt not will be received and read by many thousands who cherish kind recollections of his labors for them and their children, and desire to know more about him.

And now, all ye who have read or heard about Peter Parley, who have figured out, in your imagination, who and what sort of a man he might be, just step into any of the bookstores, buy the book, and see for yourselves.