For the limited purposes of this essay it will be sufficient to select for rapid review those volumes which are esteemed the best types of all that has been written, and present them for consideration. THE WAR WITH MEXICO. By R. S. Ripley, Brevet-Major in the United States Army, &c. New York. 1849. 2 vols., 8vo. This seems by all odds the best history of the Mexican War. As a military history it is almost faultless, and will probably remain an authority upon the military events of the war for all time. The author, who was born in Ohio, graduated from the Military Academy in 1843. His regiment, the Second Artillery, was sent to the Rio Grande, took part in the battles around Monterey in September, 1846, and was then ordered to report to Gen. Scott. In the reorganization of the forces he became First Lieutenant of the Second Artillery, March 3, 1847. He took part in the operations which ended in the capitulation of Vera Cruz and the occupation of that port by the American Army, (March 9 to 29, 1847,) and for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Cerro Gordo (April 17 and 18, 1847,) was breveted Captain. When Gen. Scott began his final movement upon the City of Mexico (Aug. 6, 1847) Ripley was assigned to duty as aide to Gen. Pillow, and was with that General in the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino del Rey, and also in the storming of Chapultepec, and for his gallant and meritorious conduct was breveted Major (Sept. 13, 1847). He was, therefore, an actor in most of the scenes which he describes, and held towards the superior officers of the Army relations which enabled him to comprehend what was done.