Judge Cooley's New Work

" Michigan, a HUtory of Goverments," by Thomas Mcliityre Cooley, is the title of a new work recently published by Judge Cooley. It is one of the series of "American Comraonwealths," edited by Horace E. Scudder, and in the mi mis of residents of this state is probably the most interesting of the series tlmt has been or will be iasued, for it treats of tlie lilstory of our state from its inception as a territory down to the present time. Itis more than a hintory of this common wealth however, for in the relation of the story of Miehigan's history, the author has interwoven many bri.'liant desa iptions of the laws which have been enacted from time to time for the government of this people. Some of the passages seem a trifle singular, in view of the factg as they now exist. Speaking of the period following the ignomlnious surrender of Gen. Huil at Detroit, and the close of the war, the author says : " Michigan needed to be better known. The country knew almost nothing of it, and the common belief was that there was a fine belt of territory on the eastern border, but that the interior was a swamp wliich might well be abandoned to fur-bearing animáis and the trappers and liuntura Thio holtpf wan eountenanc ed by the geographers of the day; for even Morse, who was considered authority, gave it currency in the books which were made use of in colleges and schools." And this erroneous idea has not yet been wholly eradicated from the average eastern mind, as occasionally down easters now come to Michigan expectlng to behold swamps and low lands with mosquitos, miasma and fever and aguearising like unto ¦Jersey mosquitos to greet the corner with open anus. Of the old wild cat times, and the peculiar methods then adopted: " The banks created utider the general banking law were appropriatelychristened by the public " wild cats," and it was easy for any one to obtain thelr billa who could give reasonable assurance that he would circuíate them at a distance and keep them afloat. The lank commissioners when they entered upon the duty of inspection encountered, as was to be expected, a combination, organized and vigilant.to deceive and mislead them. The specie found by them at one bank was sent by hurried journey ahead of them to be counted at the next; 'gold and silver flew about the country with the celerity of magie; its sound was heard in the depths of the forest, yet like the wind one knew not whence It came or whither it was golng.' It was (bund in some cases that large packages of bilis sent to a distance for circulatlon were not entered on the books or reported; that the books were intentionally prepared for deception; that kega of specie kept for show nd credit were kegs of nails with a little silver on the top," etc, until the great crash came. The history of the Mormon church in Michigan is given ; and also an excellent review of the school system, etc, etc. In speaking of the scènes prior to the ate rebellion, the author refera to the meetings which were held in various places. "At Ann Arbor, the seat of the state university, Dr. Henry V. Tappan, its eminent a'.id respected president, addressed the nssembled people, impressing upon hem with great forco and eamestoess the neceessity of the union to the peace, proserity and happhiess of the people of all he states, and the dnty of erery cltlzen to defend it at any necessary sacrifice." The succeedingparagraphs teil of Michlgan's action tn the war. All through the work are interesting passages of our hlstory, and the closing chapter glves a dissertation upon constiutional law that is highly instructiyc as well as entertainlng. Judge Cooley has written with a fucile pen; and has woven the history of this commonwealth into an entertaining volume that does honor to hls name.