Before the Crisis. By F. B. Mott. (John Lane. 68.)—This
book deals (as its title suggests) with America before the out- break of the Civil War, and during the campaign of John Brown and his sons. It will probably be news to most English readers to learn that, according to Mr. Mott, the song by which we all most vividly remember the above-named hero was an adaptation of a plantation song :-
" My poor body lies a-mouldering in the grave, While my soul goes marching on."
The book is full of graphically told adventures ; but though these are exciting reading, the picture of slavery is even more interesting. The slaves depicted are under good masters, yet in spite of this the author shows conclusively how the characters of both owners and slaves were corroded by an institution which involved the absolute dependence of one human being on the caprice of another.
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