JUNE 15, 1866.

try's heart. Twill be the communion of genius | Academy, an esteemed author and an eloquent with universal suffrage. I do not know whether professor of the Sorbonne), and an honorable in past times the petty newspapers have not some self-reproaches to make as far as you are concerned, but I know very well the earnestness, the departure of M. de Villemessant, and his desire to go as far as Guernsey effaced all cloud from the past, if the past had a cloud. . . . . So nothing remained but a great writer and an editor proud to agree to an enormous sacrifice to attest his sympathy. I bitterly regret this appeal, which would have touched your heart, is interrupted and adjourned. At Lacroix's desire I became the introducer of these gentlemen. I am ready to go with them by way of England so soon as you may express desire to talk with us about this business.

I return most painfully disappointed by being so near and so far from you. Be good enough to reply to me at Paris, and to excuse this scrawl. Fatigue, the annoyance of disappointment, and an inn's pens, ill serve my desire to convince you. Wholly yours from the bottom of my heart,

L. ULBACH."

When M. Ulbach returned to Paris, he wrote M. Hugo a much more explicit letter, and a few days afterwards received this reply:

:

mention was made of M. A. Bazin (the author of a history of Louis XIII.). I mention these particulars to show that M. Malitourne might have reached academical honors and rank had he been so minded. He was allured by newspapers (those sandy beaches where no flowers grow, and where the most eloquent thoughts traced are obliterated by the next tide!) and by society from these paths. Dr. Veron says of him, in his "Memoirs :" "M. Malitourne is above all a fascinating talker. He divines the impressions and the thoughts which flash across the mind of those who listen to him, and while playing with these impressions and thoughts he vivifies them with one of those piquant and just phrases which he makes it his business to find. He said of M. de Chateaubriand: He is of all republicans the republican most devoted to the monarchy.' He remarked during the Restoration: 'I shall be easy about the destiny of our legitimate princes when they come to think themselves returned to our country and not to their country.' In the midst of the great commercial and industrial advance which marked the last years of Louis Philippe's reign, M. Malitourne pretended Louis "HAUTEVILLE-HOUSE, Tuesday, Feb. 27, noon. Philippe had succeeded rather to M. de Villele than "MY ELOQUENT AND EXCELLENT DEAR BROTHER: I to Charles X. I asked M. Malitourne to recall some received your two letters together, and I at once of those witticisms which he so often introduces in reply to them. I do not hesitate; although the his familiar conversations. He replied: "It is with arguments you advance are all beautiful, noble, my mind as it is with money-I have never been and excellent, and although such magnificent offers able to bring myself to write down my expenses.' were never before made to an author, I must decline M. Malitourne wrote first in "La Quotidienne," then them. In my opinion the requirements of art in "Le Constitutionnel," "La Charte de 1830," "Le have precedence over every other consideration, Messager des Chambres," and in "Le Moniteur Paris." and I look upon it as impossible to cut this book He contributed frequently to "La Revue de Paris," into feuilletons. It is consequently a regret I must and with M. Leon Gorlan and M. Nestor Roqueplan express; I add thanks to it. I see with pain several wrote "Les Nouvelles à la Main," a small periodical newspapers and a portion of the public attribute to which appeared in 1841 and which contained admime an aversion from this mode of publication which rable sketches of the public men of that day. He I am far from feeling. I have on this subject was likewise a contributor to "Le Dictionnaire de la neither a deliberate opinion, nor any prejudice; Conversation." When M. Ladvocat, the famous pubillustrious names have warranted this excellent lisher (after enjoying for years an enormous income method of publication. It is an admirable form of he fell to be box-opener in one of our minor theatres, publicity which is both popular and literary. died in a hospital and was buried in the Potter's "Ocean's Laborers' (and you will be of my opinion) Field a few years since), purchased, in 1826, the is ill suited with it; but this mode of publication papers of Mme. Ida St. Elme, he engaged Malitourne may probably be well adapted to the novel, 'Ninety- to put them into book form. He composed the three,' which I am now writing. I close the letter famous "Mémoires d'une Contemporaine," which apquickly in order that it may go off; the first polite-peared in 8 vols. between 1827-28 and ran through ness is to prevent the reply being waited. So three two editions at once. This work is one of those of you came to St. Malo! How I regret the ocean prevented your crossing! How Hauteville-house would have opened wide both its doors! Your friend, VICTOR HUGO."

The neurological list of the fortnight is quite full. M. Malitourne, who was from 1820 to 1855 one of the most brilliant talkers, " diners-out," and a very brilliant writer of Paris, has been carried from the insane asylum, where his wrecked intelligence and body have been stranded these ten or eleven years gone, to the graveyard. He first appeared in public in 1820, when he wrote an essay on "Parliamentary and Forensic Eloquence." The French Academy had proposed this subject for one of its prizes. An old lawyer, one of the few survivors of the ante-revolutionary bar, M. Delamalle, sent in an elaborate work and secured the prize. M. Malitourne obtained the second prize. The following year the French Academy offered prizes for the best "Eulogy of Le Sage." The first prize was divided between M. Malitourne and M. Patin (the author of an esteemed work on the Greek tragic poets, a member of the French Academy, and now Dean of the Sorbonne); the second prize was given to M. St. Marc Girardin (a member of the French

many adroit compounds of fiction and truth which are to be found in French literature under the title of "Memoirs." Memory, imagination, the paste-box and scissors contribute in equal shares to these historical novels, which are made sometimes to serve party, but chiefly to sell. Malitourne justly felt himself capable of higher undertakings than the preparation of such hashes. He determined to depict contemporary passions, vices, frailties, and virtues. He would say: "I should like to be a sort of La Bruyère of our epoch, if it be allowable for a man of sense to have such an ambition." He divided the plan of the work into chapters not unlike those of La Bruyère's characters, and had written several chapters, which he read to his nearest friends. He was making sensible progress in this work when the revolution of February occurred. The terrible agitation which followed this deplorable event interrupted his labors. His mind became unseated. He continued to mix in general company and to write occasionally in "Le Constitutionnel." It is even said he wrote Dr. Veron's Memoirs, which appeared in 1853-54. The malicious said, when Dr. Verno received promotion in the Legion of Hono he ought to receive an order whose motto should b

JUNE 15, 1866.

Honi soit qui mal y tourne (Evil to him who Mali- | burgh, 1778. The best edition, no doubt, is that of tournes), and then put into currency this dialogue Graliam Dalzell, Esq., advocate, giving the original after poor Malitourne was carried to the madhouse: orthography, printed in two volumes, in Edinburgh, "Malitourne has been sent to the insane hospital." 1814. This, then, is only another instance of the "Gracious! you don't say so! It must be a cruel embarrassment caused by giving titles instead of blow to Dr. Veron!" "Indeed it is! He has lost his names. mind." This allegation is wholly unfounded. He and Dr. Veron had been intimate friends all their lives; bachelors both, both connected with the press, both fond of good living and sparkling conversation, they became in course of time as intimate as brothers. To Dr. Veron's honor be it said, when affliction befell Malitourne he undertook to supply all his wants, and Dr. Veron's purse mitigated, so far as might be, the misfortunes of Malitourne's terrible condition. I believe it was in 1954 or 1855 M. Malitourne was carried to Charenton. He retained, in that mournful asylum, his gentle character and his graceful intellect; he was fond, even to the last, of books, and still delighted in the conversation of well-informed people. He knew where he was, he knew why he was there, but indulged in no lamentations. He looked so old and so broken as not to be recognized by those who had seen him ten years ago. He had forgotten all he once knew so well; memory was a blank, and at times he was afflicted by the hallucination of being hopelessly stark-naked, although he had covered himself with overcoats and cloaks. He was born at L'Aigle in Orne County in 1795, and seems to have passed a happy childhood and youth. An uncle, who had been before the Revolution a Benedictine monk, and whom Malitourne spoke of as a man of learning, good sense, and sprightliness, educated him with particular care, and indulged the brightest hopes of his nephew's career, for Malitourne gave early evidence of his rare talents. He came up to Paris in 1816. He was 70 or 71 years old at his death. I ought to give a parting word to M. Boyer and to M. Avond the other deceased of the fortnight. Space fails me. They, too, spent the best part of their talents on ephemeral publications, and so their names, too, were written in running water.

By referring to Robert Chambers' "Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen," I find that Lindsay was born about the beginning of the sixteenth century, a cadet of the noble family of that name. Chambers says of the Chronicles, "They present a strange compound of endless and aimless garrulity, simplicity, credulity, and graphic delineation... He describes events with all the circumstantiality of an eyewitness, and with all the prolixity of one who is determined to leave nothing untold, however trifling it may be. . . . The earnest and honest simplicity of the good old chronicler is exceedingly amusing. . . .Where he is corroborated by other historians, or by an association of well-known and wellestablished circumstances, he may be trusted, but where this is not the case, his testimony ought to be received with caution."

PITSCOTTIE.

G. S.

IT is likely that many readers of the CIRCULAR have been interested by Sir Walter Scott's allusions to "old Pitscottie," and have wondered that in no other reading do they find reference to pages which he regarded with so much favor. One of the passages in which Scott refers to this chronicler occurs in a letter inserted in "Lockhart's Life of Scott," and contains these words: "The pages of Pitscottie, where events are told with so much naïveté, and even humor, and such individuality as it were, that it places the actors and scenes before the reader." (Vol. 7, p. 154.) My attention to this matter was roused anew two or three years ago, by searching for the name Pitscottie in vain, in several books where it seemed just to expect it. Not only was it wanting in Watt and Lowndes, but specific bibliographies of British history, such as Nicholson and Macrary, gave no satisfaction. The entire resources of the Boston Public Library, and the intelligence of its officers, were appealed to in vain. So extraordinary and tantalizing a result seemed to admit no other solution than the conjecture that the quaint chronicle might never have been printed. In this bewilderment I remained till a few days ago, when I accidentally observed that Robert Lindsay, laird of Pitscottie, wrote "Chronicles of Scotland, from 21st of February, 1436, to March, 1565." To this was added a continuation, by another hand, till August, 1604. The whole was published, in folio, Edinburgh, 1728, and again in duodecimo, Edin

When it is considered that, included within the limits named above as belonging to his chronicle, are the battles of Flodden Field and Pinkie Cleugh, and the eventful reign of Mary Stuart, the gossip of such a person as is described above may well be supposed interesting. F. V.

NOTES ON BOOKS AND BOOKSELLERS. PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. By Benson J. Lossing. Vol. I. Geo. W. Childs, Philadelphia.-One of the works in which the skill of the draughtsman and engraver has been called in to illustrate the text, with most advantage to the narrative, is Mr. Lossing's history of the war just ended. It is seldom that such a careful compilation of facts, and such correct artistical embellishments are to be found in the same book. There is not a page in it which has not one or more explanatory engravings, the fidelity of which can be at once recognized. Although the pictorial features of the work are those which will first attract attention, they must not be allowed to eclipse its literary merits. We can assert with truth that it is the first conscientiously written history of the war that has been given to the world since its close. It is neither one-sided as to its facts nor as to its conclusions. Mr. Lossing, as a loyal man, of course cannot be expected to justify the course of the rebels; but every plea which has been urged in favor of secession, every extenuating circumstance which has been advanced in justification of the extreme measures resorted to by them during the war, finds a place in his narrative. It is thus we understand the duties of the historian; and it is a gratification to us to find that they are so understood by the historian himself. The work in its typographical features is a credit to the American press. It has been got up with a fastidiousness and a recklessness of expense which few but printers can appreciate. A choicer, daintier, or more attractive object for the drawing-room table could not well have been devised.. It is all the more entitled to our admiration because it combines literary with artistic excellence, and constitutes a monument to the patriotism, self-devotion, and heroism of our soldiers the like of which has not hitherto been built up.-New York Herald, May 29.

S. AUSTIN ALLIBONE, D. C. L.-It gives us great gratification to announce that Dr. Allibone has completed the second and concluding volume of his "Critical Dictionary of English Literature, and British and American Authors, living and deceased, from the earliest accounts to the middle of the

JUNE 15, 1866.

JUNE 15, 1866.

worse than they found it. He describes the French | pleted his romance of "Armadale" in the June soldiers as little better than thieves and assassins. number of the " Cornhill," it is announced that TENNYSON ILLUSTRATED BY DORE.-It is stated that Miss Thackeray will commence a new story in the Gustave Doré has finished a series of thirty illus- July number. trations of Tennyson's "Idyls of the King," which he was commissioned to execute by a London publisher. As Doré does not know the English language, Tennyson's blank verse was translated into French prose, and on this somewhat subdued text Doré had to work.

ALEXANDER SMITH.-This Scottish poet, whose "Life Drama" excited a sort of furore on its publication in 1853, and who now is only thirty-five years old, is writing prose tales and sketches for two English periodicals, "Good Words" and "The Quiver." Since 1854, Mr. Smith has held the secretaryship of the University of Edinburgh, an office for life, with $1500 per annum salary.

GUSTAVE DORE.-This artist, whose genius and industry are alike marvellous, has supplied fortythree illustrations to the "Authentic History of Captain Castagnette," written by M. Manuel, a French author, and just translated into English. It is a story of the Munchausen class, and the hero, of the Bobadil family, is a ludicrous braggart, who applied artificial contrivances to repair the ravages of war, until scarcely a bit of his original person remained to him. The book is amusing, but the illustrations chiefly give it value.

ART UNIONS.-On the motion of Lord Robert Montagu, the House of Commons appointed a committee to inquire into the establishment and operations of Art-Unions in England, and upon their effect upon Art. They report that the engravings issued by these Associations are generally indifferent, and that they have encouraged the production of inferior painting and modelling. It is expected that these institutions, in consequence of this unfavorable report, will be strictly placed under the laws which prohibit lotteries in the British Empire.

POPULARITY. It is announced that of "The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green," an amusing book which caricatures rather than describes college life at Oxford, ninety thousand copies have been sold. The author, whose nom de plume is "Cuthbert Bede," is the Rev. Edward Bradley, and was educated, not at Oxford, but in the University of Durham.

IRELAND'S SHAKSPEARE FORGERIES.-There was to have been sold in London on the 7th ult. William H. Ireland's own Collections relative to the Shakspeare forgeries, with the "Confessions" in his own handwriting. It may be remembered that Ireland pretended to have discovered numerous manu scripts by Shakspeare, including two entire plays, called "Vortigern" and "Henry II. ;" that Dr. Parr and other littérateurs fully believed in the authenticity of these papers; that "Vortigern," purchased by Sheridan, was produced at Drury Lane Theatre, in 1796, where it failed, with John Kemble in the leading part; that the two plays were published in 1799; and that Ireland's Confessions," which appeared in 1805, revealed the history and mystery of the whole elaborate and specious forgery. Ireland died in 1835, and the manuscript of his

66

"Confessions" must be of no small interest to

Shakspearian scholars. It is singular that in the duced by Ireland, the signatures of the poet, of "Shakspeare" documents manufactured and proLord Southampton, and of Queen Elizabeth were curiously unlike any of the originals, of which numerous fac-similes had been published.

JENNY LIND. This great vocalist's appearance at the Dusseldorf Musical Festival, this year, will be a farewell one. She is now nearly forty-five years old, and wishes to retire in her prime.

GEORGE BANCROFT.-The Lincoln oration of our great historian, delivered before Congress, has been republished in London.

committed to the Tower in 1688, enriched and illustrated by most interesting personal letters, now first published, from the Bodleian Library."

VICTOR HUGO. It is stated that Victor Hugo has lost £15,000 by the recent failure of a London bank.

NOBLE AUTHORS.-Among the recent English announcements is the "Memoirs and Correspondence AGNES STRICKLAND.-This historian of the Queens of Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere," who died of England and Scotland has just completed, in last year in his ninety-third year, after over sixty-one volume, "Lives of the Seven Bishops who were four years of military service, and was supposed to have been the oldest soldier in the world. This biography is written by his widow (an accomplished Irish lady, daughter of Dr. T. Gibbins, of Cork), and Captain W. W. Knollys.-Viscountess Enfield has just published "The Dayrells: a Domestic Story," which is critically commended as and honest in intention, and full of good morals for young people of a marriageable age."-And Lord De Ros has nearly completed "Memorials of the Tower of London," a subject hitherto much neglected, not having been treated with any degree of fulness in Mr. Brayley's pretentious" History of the Tower," though agreeably in several of Mr. Harrison Ainsworth's historical romances.

"pure

DISRAELI. A sixpenny edition of the "Curiosities of Literature," by the elder Disraeli, is now publishing in London. It is reported that Mr. B. Disraeli, statesman and man of letters, will speedily

be created a British peer.

"GEORGE ELIOT."-Miss Marian Evans, who writes under this sobriquet, and has published nothing since "Romola," has in the press a new novel entitled "Felix Holt, the Radical," the scene of which is in one of the midland counties of England.

MISS THACKERAY.-The eldest daughter of the late W. M. Thackeray was author of "The Story of Elizabeth," published as a serial in the "Corn hill Magazine." Mr. Wilkie Collins having com

Isa."

ISA CRAIG. This lady, born in Edinburgh in 1830, Centenary Festival in 1859, there being 620 comwon the first prize for her Ode recited at the Burns published for her a volume entitled "Poems by petitors. In 1856, Mr. Blackwood, of Edinburgh, Social Science Association, he secured Miss Craig's When Mr. Hastings organized the National help as assistant secretary. She has resigned that office, on the occasion of her marriage, and the members of the Association have presented her with a silver tea-service and salver, suitably inscribed.

paintings by this great artist have just appeared in J. M. D. TURNER.-Engravings of two of the finest London. One, engraved in line by William Miller and his last and finest work, is "The Bell-Rock Lighthouse during a Storm:" the other by William Chapman, the only pupil of Miller, is "Ilfracombe Devon."

SILVIO PELLICO.-Lady Georgina Fullerton has translated the "Life of the Marchioness Guilia Falletti of Bazolo," the posthumous work of Silvio Pellico, author of "Le Mie Peigione." It will be published immediately.

JUNE 15, 1866.

A PRIMITIVE SUBJECT.-M. Gounod, the musical now announced in London "A Century of Painters composer, who was making a new opera on the of the English School: with Critical Notices of their time-honored subject of Romeo and Juliet, has | Works, and an Account of the Progress of Art in discontinued his labors in that direction, and is said England," in two volumes, by Richard and Samuel to be "writing the history of Adam and Eve." Redgrave, both well-known artists. J. SHERIDAN LE FANU.-A new novel by this writer, whose "Uncle Silas" is well known and valued here, is announced by Richard Bentley, London. Its name is "All in the Dark." Mr. Le Fanu, one of the great Sheridan family, wrote the eccentric and thrilling poem "Shamus O'Brien," which was originally recited in this country by Samuel Lover, who did not exactly claim, but never distinctly disclaimed, the authorship.