Pre-dic'tion. A foretelling; a prophe-Sham'bles. A flesh-market; a butchery.

Prox-im'i-ty. Nearness; being adja- Sub'al-tern. An officer under the rank

Subjection; in- Tur'bid. Thick; muddy. Tum'bril. A kind of basket.

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF AUTHORS.

[Embracing the various authors from whose writings selections have been made for the Reader.]

Allen (Ethan), celebrated as a patriot general during the first year of the Revolutionary War, was born in Connecticut in 1787. After his bold exploit in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, in 1775, he was defeated in an attack on Montreal, and was made prisoner, and sent to England in irons. He was never engaged in active military service afterward. He died in Vermont, in 1789. He published a number of controversial pamphlets, and a narrative of his observations during his captivity. Baillie (Joanna), distinguished as a poetess and dramatist, was born in Scotland in 1762. Her dramas have a very high order of merit for the smoothness and regularity of their style, the originality of their plots, and the graphic force with which the characters are brought out. The tragedies of Count Basil and De Montfort have been especially admired. Miss Baillie died in 1851. Bancroft (George), one of the most eminent of American historians, was born at Worcester, Mass., in the year 1800. He early manifested remarkable talent, graduating at Harvard College with the highest honors at the age of seventeen. The publication of his great work, "The History of the United States," was commenced in 1834, and is still unfinished. Mr. Bancroft has filled several important political offices, having been Secretary of the Navy under President Polk, and having, as Minister-Plenipotentiary to Great Britain, represented the United States from 1846 to 1849. He is now (1872) Minister-Plenipotentiary at Berlin. Bellows (Henry Whitney, D.D.), an eminent American clergyman, was born in Boston in 1814, and graduated at Harvard College in 1832. Six years afterward, he was ordained pastor of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Church, in the city of New York. He was the chief originator of the "Christian Inquirer," a Unitarian newspaper commenced in New York in 1846; and, until 1850, was the principal contributor to its columns. His publications consist chiefly of pamphlets and discourses, all of which show high culture and extensive attainments. Dr. Bellows is a fluent and effective speaker, and a popular lecturer. He is at present (1872) pastor of the parish over which he was first ordained, his congregation now occupying the edifice known as "All Souls' Church." He is also the editor of the "Liberal Christian." Brodhead (John Romeyn), was born in Philadelphia in 1814; was Secretary of Legation at the Hague in 1839, and subsequently agent of the State of New York to procure historical documents in Europe. In 1846 he was appointed Secretary of Legation, under George Bancroft, at the Court of England. His principal literary work is the "History of the State of New York,"'-a performance of great merit and research.

Bryant (William Cullen), the distinguished American poet, was born in Massachusetts in 1794. His poetic genius was very early displayed, his verses written at the age of ten being considered worthy of publication. His poetry is of a very high order, both as to sentiment and expression. As a man he is universally esteemed for his active beneficence, unbending integrity, and kindliness of disposition. Campbell (Charles), was born at Petersburg, Va., in 1807. His principal publication is the "History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia," containing an

outline narrative of the events from the first discovery and settlement of the country down to the surrender of Cornwallis, in 1781. It is a work of faithful accuracy. Clark (Louis Gaylord), was born in Otisco, N. Y., in 1810. He obtained a very high reputation for literary ability by his editorship of the Knickerbocker Magazine, which was commenced in 1832. His contributions comprised in the Editor's Table were peculiarly rich in humor and genial fancy. In 1853 he published a collection of these, under the title of "Knick-knacks from an Editor's Table." His twin-brother, Willis Gaylord Clark, also occupied a distinguished place in the circle of American writers, and enriched the pages of his brother's magazine with his contributions. Cooper (James Fenimore), the distinguished American novelist, was born in 1789. At the age of sixteen he entered the navy as a midshipman, and followed the life of a sailor for six years. His writings are very numerous, including the "Leatherstocking Tales," and other novels, and the "Naval History of the United States." In his description of the sea, and the various incidents of a sailor's life, as well as of the Indians and their savage manners, no author can claim any comparison with Cooper. His death occurred in 1851.

Duganne (Augustine J. H.), born in 1823, in Boston, is the author of many popular compositions, both in prose and verse. The latter are characterized by much energy of expression and fertility of imagination, as well as an intense sympathy with truth, freedom, and humanity. Mr. Duganne is, at present, the editor of the "New York Republican." Everett (Edward), the celebrated orator and statesman, was born in Massachusetts in 1794, and died in 1864. His speeches were remarkable for their elab ›rate finish, peculiar elegance of style, and justness of sentiment; while his delivery was exceedingly dignified and graceful. Mr. Everett was for ten years a member of Congress, and for four successive years Governor of Massachusetts. He was also Secretary of State, and Minister to the Court of Great Britain.

Garden (Alexander, M.D.), born in Edinburgh in 1730, but a resident of Charleston, S. C., from 1750 to 1783; was the author of various medical treatises, and a contributor to scientific and literary journals. He died in 1791. Grahame (James), a Scotch writer of some eminence. His principal work is the "Colonial History of the United States," which was published in 1827. This work has been generally commended, although some of its statements have been called in question. Mr. Grahame died in 1842, at the age of fifty-one. With regard to him Josiah Quincy remarks, "To Americans, in all future times, it cannot fail to be an interesting and gratifying circumstance, that the foreigner who first undertook to write a complete history of their republic, from the earliest period of the colonial settlements, was a Briton, eminently qualified to appreciate the merits of its founders, and at once so able and so willing to do justice to them." Greeley (Horace), one of the most distinguished journalists of this country, was born in New Hampshire in 1811, and commenced life as a printer. The New York Tribune, which was commenced by him in 1841, has been for several years one of the leading journals of the United States. Mr. Greeley's style is vigorous and pungent, and his writings abound in useful information, addressed to the practical common-sense of the reader. His most extensive work is the "American Conflict," in which he gives, with considerable fullness, the events of that great struggle between the two sections of the country, together with the political and social causes that led to it. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of the United States in 1872, and died less than a month after the election. Greene (George Washington), born in Rhode Island in 1811, a grandson of General Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary celebrity, is the author of a "Life of General Greene," first published as a portion of "Sparks's American Biography," subsequently much enlarged. He has also published several historical and geographical works, as well as an edition of Addison's works, and contributed many papers on historical and critical subjects to the North American Review, Knickerbocker Magazine, etc.

Grimshaw (William), a native of Ireland, was born in 1782, emigrated to America in 1815, and lived for many years near Philadelphia. He was the author of the "History of England," the "History of France," and other elementary historical manuals, of considerable value for their general accuracy and judicious selection of material. He died in 1852.

Guizot (François Pierre Guillaume), a distinguished French historian and statesman, was born at Nîmes in 1787. His most noted works are the History of Civilization in France, the General History of Civilization in Europe, and Lectures on Modern History. He held several important government offices, among them Minister of Public Instruction, and Minister of the Interior, under Louis Philippe. After the Revolution of 1818, he escaped to England; and subsequently published several works of great interest and merit, among them, "Memoirs to Serve for the History of My Times." In 1837, he was intrusted by the government of the United States with the task of writing a history of Washington; and his work, entitled "The Life, Correspondence, and Writings of Washington," published in Paris in 1839-40, procured him the honor of having his portrait placed in the chamber of the House of Representatives in Washington. His style is characterized by correctness, vigor, and brilliancy.

Hamilton (Alexander), was particularly distinguished as a statesman; but his published writings show the same intellectual vigor and fertility as were evinced by his political measures. His essays contained in the Federalist are models of reasoning as well as composition. A carefully prepared edition of his works has been published by his son, John C. Hamilton.

Hawthorne (Nathaniel), was born at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1804. His numerous writings show fine culture and great originality of genius. The Scarlet Letter, as a highly-wrought fiction, composed with the most artistic finish, has no superior in the language. The most noted of his other works are Mosses from an Old Manse, the House of the Seven Gables, Twice-told Tales, and the Marble Faun, all of which are compositions of distinguished merit. He also wrote many educational works, in which he displayed a happy facility in adapting the style and treatment to the capacity of young minds.

Headley (Rev. Joel Tyler), one of the most popular writers of the time, was born in Delaware County, New York, in 1814. His principal historical works are Napoleon and his Marshals, Washington and his Generals, Life of Oliver Cromwell, and History of the Second War between England and the United States. These works are chiefly distinguished for their melodramatic descriptions and brilliancy of style, but in respect to accuracy of statement have been sharply criticised. Mr. Headley has also published many other works, of considerable literary excellence. Hemans (Mrs. Felicia D.), a celebrated English poetess, was born in Liverpool in 1794, and very early showed remarkable talent for poetical composition, publishing her first volume of poems in her fifteenth year. Her subsequent writings, which are very numerous, are characterized by great beauty, both of sentiment and expression. Her death occurred in Dublin in 1835.

Hildreth (Richard), a distinguished American writer and journalist. His chief work is a "History of the United States," which is especially valuable for its accuracy and directness of statement, its dignified but unpretending style, and the fullness of its information in regard to the political history of the country. This work was published between 1849 and 1855.

Holmes (Abiel, D.D.), born in Connecticut in 1763; graduated at Yale College, and subsequently was pastor of a church in Cambridge, Mass., for forty years. As an author he is chiefly known by the "Annals of America," a work of considerable industry and research, first published in 1805. It relates clearly and concisely, in the order of occurrence, the chief events in the history of the country, from its discovery, in 1492, to the year of publication. An enlarged edition was issued in 1826. Dr. Holmes died in 1837.