Hospital Transports. A memoir of the embarkation of the sick
and -wounded from the peninsula of Virginia in the summer of 1862. (Ticknor and Fields.)—The United States Sanitary Commission. A sketch. (Little, Brown, and Co.)—These two books are both Boston publications, and are compiled, the one at the request, the other by the permission, of the Sanitary Commission. The first consists of a series of most graphic letters—those marked A from the pen of the Secretary, Mr. Olmsted--those marked B by the Rev. F. N. Knapp —and those marked M by different ladies, amongst whom was the accomplished authoress of the other work above mentioned. All these persons were actually engaged ill the superintendence of the embarkation, and describe what they saw. The letters, however, might be readily paralleled among the various publications which the Crimean war elicited, but the sketch of the commission cannot. During the Crimean war we had only to supplement the action of the Government ; in America they had to organize a sanitary system, and then to overcome not only the love of routine of the army medical authorities, but also the inherent dislike of Americans to all centralized institutions. Every village wanted to look after its own. This, of course, broke down as soon as the armies began to move, but the commission has at last gained the entire confidence of the country, as is shown by the fairs in aid of its funds which are being held throughout the North. Another of its most useful achievements has been the establishment of homes for convalescents, where they are
taken care of till their pay can be got from the Government. But we must refer those who wish to know what the Commission has effected, how sound have been its principles of action, and how generously it has been supported, to the sketch itself, which is compiled with great judg- ment, is just the right length, and is written with elegance and sim- plicity.
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