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OUR CONTINENTAL CORRESPONDENCE.

FEB. 15, 1867.

PARIS, January 4, 1866.

Ir irks me to tell you these stories. I like M. de Lamartine despite all his faults. I think France unjust to him; and when M. Guizot compares him contemptuously to a plant which constantly flowers and yet brings forth no fruit, I look at the violet, or the cape jessamine, or the honeysuckle. Who asks fruit from them? Man thanks God for their fragrance and color; the bee finds honey in them. Is the poet's fragrance and color less enchanting? Can't every noble spirit find honey in them? M. de Lamartine has borne no fruit? What did he on that revolutionary day when he commanded the crimson tide which brought the red flag and the scaffold of 1793 to retreat to their distempered caves? He had no army to sustain him; no police were there to master his opponents; tradition and the passions were against him; he had only eloquence to aid him, and with its prevailing enchantinents he wrought the magic deed. He is extravagant of money. Tis a grievous fault, as the world goes, but isn't it quite a common infirmity of genius? An accident happened the other day to him which explains, in great part, his pecuniary embarrassments. He gave orders, when he went to the country, that all registered letters should be placed in baskets in his study, and remain untouched until his return. Some three or four thousand had accumulated. They contained $8,000 or $12,000. The baskets which contained them were placed inconsiderately where chance directed. M. de Lamartine, on the eve of his return, ordered the servants to warm and otherwise prepare the house for his reception. A basket full of these valuable letters stood near the furnace's flue, and, after the furnace became heated, took fire, and the greater part of its contents was destroyed. While M. de Lamartine was in life's sunny hours he was accustomed to issue weekly an invitation somewhat in these terms: "M. de Lamartine begs Mons. N. or M. to do him the honor to spend the morning of the - inst. with him. M. de Lamartine will extemporize a landscape." His large drawing-room, beautifully furnished and decorated, was rather sombre. The guests were seated in chairs placed in parallel lines. M. de Lamartine sat on an armchair under a sort of velvet canopy, and was wrapped in meditation. Near him was a black ebony easel and a painter. When all the guests were in their places, a servant carefully and noiselessly closed the doors, and M. de Lamartine rose. The painter likewise rose and stood in front of his canvas. M. de Lamartine fixed his eyes on an imaginary horizon, and began to say: "On the right of the landscape a series of small hills-as it were waves of sandplanted with vines-crowned with nothing but some wild peach-trees, which throw no shade upon the vines." The poor painter's hand went as fast as a stenographer's, while perspiration rolled down his forehead. On M. de Lainartine went, throwing in the sun here, a rock there-yonder a waterfall, hard-by a cottage; beyond it the full moon-clouds all around. At last, almost breathless, M. de Lamartine exclaimed, "Look on this landscape, and tell me if it does not invite thought to spread its wings, and bear the soul as far as hope can fly, imagination soar!" The landscape was shown to the guests. They all poured holy on it. One vowed Raphael had never painted anything half so beautiful; another declared no museum possessed anything like it (which was true); this one begged for it; another said 'twas worth its weight in gold. M. de Lamartine strutted backwards and forwards, bowing, in his stately way, to the compliments paid him. It turned out afterwards that the artist, who so

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greatly exceeded Raphael, was a poor wretch of a house-painter, who received a dollar and a quarter for his pains, and who has, since M. de Lamartine discontinued his excursions into the realms of art, earned his living by painting signs. Is not all this French and funny? Does it not remind you of Cardinal de Richelieu, when master of France and almost of Europe, inviting all polite Paris to the Palais Royal to see his tragedy, and whisper in his ear that Corneille was a poetaster to him?

Did you ever observe that great writers rarely have a taste for bon mots? M. de Lamartine never made one in his life; nor did M. Guizot, nor M. Thiers, nor Mme. George Sand, nor did M. Victor Hugo. I read the other day (which suggested the obser vation just made)-" Leon Gozlan said to M. SainteBeuve, in my presence, Can you conceive Victor Hugo! In the midst of the Revolution of '48 a deputation of water-carriers called on him; he made them a most eloquent speech, but did not, could not put into it the least bit of fun, or one bon mot." It would seem as if this small-change of intellect belongs rather to those who have a till than to those who have a mine of intellect.

You know how extensive have been the enter prises of the municipal authorities of Paris-what new streets and squares they have opened, what houses they have torn down. The last new street opened-the Rue de Turbigo-revealed to us a house of the fourteenth century, which every lover of letters looks upon with interest. It is the mansion of the Dukes of Burgundy. Built by them in 1300 for their Paris residence, a new street in 1542 ran through a portion of it. They deserted it, and from 1542 to 1783 (from the reign of Francis I. to the reign of Louis XVI.) it was the theatre which saw the first performance of the plays of Corneille, Racine, Marivaux, Favart, Sedaine, the operas comiques of Gretry, Philidor, Monsigny, &c. 1 parposely omit Molière, whose first plays were performed as he strolled about France, the others at Versailles. The majority of La Fontaine's pieces were played at the Foire St. Germain; and I ought to have excepted Racine's "Esther," which was first played at St. Cyr. The interest awakened by this old relic of the past has directed attention to another interesting monument of the past-the ancient church of St. Julien le Pauvre, whose antiquity is lost in the obscurity of Time's long vista. It is certainly coeval with the French monarchy. Gregory of Tours speaks of it. The General Assembly of the University of Paris met in it from 12** to 1700. It was originally placed under the vocable of St. Julien the Martyr; but in the twelfth century it was dedicated to St. Julien le Pauvre likewise. A little to the north of the church stands a well, which was for centuries regarded as possessed of miraculous virtues. Its water is not now fit to drink. The inside of this church is said to be curious. I have never been able to discover the janitor, although I have made repeated attempts. It took me six hours to find the street, or rather alley, in which the church lies. Not a hackman or policeman knew it, and I only found it at last by going into every hole and corner of the neighborhood where I knew it was situated. It is at the back of a court-yard, which is occupied almost entirely by a carpenter's shop. There is some ground of reason to believe the municipal authorities will surround all the monuments I have mentioned with squares.

I notice on the booksellers' stalls (although they are still encumbered with the garish books of New Year's Day) H. E. Bouchard's "Annette Tandet, or Poitou Sorcerers in the Nineteenth Century,"

FEB. 15, 1867.

"Oh dear, no! that would not be fair; I force the
public to listen to me only one hour, and it has no
right to force me to listen to it a whole week."
The French Comedy has received a piece entitled
"La Valise de Molière ;" it is composed entirely of
lines by Molière, selected from his different pieces;
M. Ed. Fournier is the Chinese who had patience to
make this odd mosaic. . . Daniel Stern (Countess
d'Agout) is said to be writing her autobiography;
it will be contained in three volumes. The title will
be "My Conscience and My Life.".. The Literary
Men's Society have purchased a grave, and are about
erecting a monument to poor Charles Barbara.
M. Ponsard's health is most wretched. The Em-
peror has made him librarian of the Palace of the
Elysée, a place worth $1200 a year, and with a
suite of rooms in the palace, fuel, and lights.
M. Paul de Kock was recently invited by the Presi-
dent of the Caveau to join his brethren the first
night he acted as President. The invitation was
declined in the following note: "I heartily thank
you for inaugurating your term of office by sending
me your kind letter of invitation. I am most
sensible of your kindness, but I cannot avail my-
self of it. When I am in the midst of a company
of charming men and gay guests, I like to do as
the others, and not pout at my glass. Just now I
should make a wretched figure at your table. I am
again tormented by the gout. I like truffles, but
the gout can't bear them. I idolize champagne,
the gout has it and all generous wines in aversion.
Therefore I must shun the temptation; for I am no
Saint Antony, and could not resist it. Believe me,
etc. CH. PAUL DE KOCK.".. Frederic Soulie's family,
at the instance of the Literary Men's Society, are
repairing his tomb, which was in ruins. . . It is said
M. Edmond About is to receive some office from the
French government. Its character is not stated.

sketches of Poitou manners and customs; Capt. F. Bouyer's "French Guyana ;" "La Communion des Saints, or Our Brethren in the Next World," by the author of "L'Eucharistie Meditée;" Dr. Favrot's Mahomet, or Science among the Arabs;" H. de Ferron's "Theory of Progress;" Father Marin de Boylesve's "Problemes: Les Malices de la Science;" Prince de Tchihatcheff's "Asia Minor" (4th part, Geology); B. St. Hilaire's translation of "Aristotle's Heavens;" Dr. Bergeret's "Philosophie des Sciences Cosmologiques, et Critique des Sciences et de la Pratique Médicales;" C. Brillaud Laujardière's "Intoxication considered in its Medico-Legal Consequences;" J. Chautard's "Theoretical and Practical Exposition of the Sources of Heat and Light;" "Conferences Historiques," delivered at the Paris Medical School in 1865; Paul Deltuf's "L'Ordonnance de Non-Lieu" (a novel); E. Klippel's "Des Mots Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité;" A. Labot's "Convocation of the Etats Généraux and the Electoral Legislation in 1789;" P. Le Grand de La Libraye's "Historical Notes on the Annamite Nation;" Mme. Lozaouis's "Histoires Morales et Dramatiques" (with an introduction by Jules Janin); P. J. Lyonnard's "L'Apostolat de la Souffrance," or voluntary victims to serve the actual requirements of the church and nations, and especially of Catholic nations of Europe; J. Klackzko's "Etudes de Diplomatie Contemporaine," the European Cabinets in 1863-64; A. Pictet's "Les Origines Indo-Européennes ;" A. Poey's "Bibliographie Cyclonique," a catalogue of 1008 works, pamphlets, etc., published on whirlwinds, tornadoes, and cyclonic storms; Abbé Etsougeois's "Life of Gen. de Lamoricière;" A. de Quatrefages's "Histoire Naturelle des Annelés Marins et d'Eau Douce: Annélides et Gephyriens;" Abbé Riché's "Catholicism considered in its Relations with Society;" F. Gabriel Sagard Theodat's "Histoire du Canada et Voyages que les F. M. R. y ont Faicts, etc." (reprint); L'Ulbach's "Le Jardin du Chanoine" (a novel); and a beautifully illustrated edition of M. Michelet's "Bird," which drew from him this letter to the artist who adorned it: "Giacomelli's' Bird' reached us this morning. This will remain its name. It is a real marvel, and 'tis sometimes sublime. Mine. Michelet herself does not recognize her child in your picture of the man-body was borne directly from his house to the of-war bird. What talents, sprightliness, and resources you have exhibited in a most difficult subject! I shake your hands with the tenderest admiration. J. MICHELET." Mme. Michelet wrote a considerable portion of the "Bird." I am sorry to say her health is so delicate that her husband has been obliged to take her to Hyeres for the winter. Mme. Ch. Lenormant has published a novel by the late Countess de Boigne, which has produced a great deal of feeling in some circles of French society. A portion of Mme. de Boigne's family have protested against the publication. She died at the great age of 86, and her drawing-room was for years one of the celebrated drawing-rooms of Paris. It is said she submitted the manuscript to M. SainteBeuve, and it was by his advice she kept it by her unpublished. The novel (its title is "Une Passion dans le Grande Monde") is said to be her memoirs, and the Duke de Ragusa (Marmont), Mme. Recamier, and Mme. de Staël figure in it under pseudonyms... The Academy of Inscriptions and BellesLettres has elected M. H. Weil at Besançon, in place of the late M. Weiss; M. Heuzer at Rome, in place of the late M. Werchsmuth; and M. Dorzy at Leyden, in place of the late M. Fred. Wolf... Father Hyacinthe, the fashionable pulpit-orator of Paris, has been preaching a month at Notre-Dame. He has received 4000 letters from his auditors. Some body asked him if he read all of them; he replied,

M. Benjamin Georges Nadault, a nephew of Buffon, died a few days since at Montbard, 87 years old... M. Paul Duport, for many years a popular dramatist of Paris, the colaborer of Scribe, Bayard, Melesville, etc., the author of books" of Halevy's, Adam's, Ambroise Thomas's operas, died a few days since at the age of 69. He was a nephew of Duport, the celebrated dancer. By his express orders his

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graveyard, unhallowed by religion's benedictions.
M. Mourlon, a well-known law writer, is dead..
He was the author of "Le Traité théorique et pra-
tique des Subrogations Personelles," etc.
He was
only 56 years old. . . Some years since I went, at
the request of a friend, to Tresse's shop in the Palais
Royal, to purchase some $20 or $30 worth of plays.
Tresse is the dramatic bookseller of Paris. In old
times he had the monopoly of the publication of
plays. I wanted the parody of a piece brought out
thirty-six years ago. Tresse knew the parody ex-
isted, but could not recall its title. While making.
up my parcel, a man entered the shop who might,
without any change of costume or face, have played
the Apothecary in "Romeo and Juliet." He wore,.
though it was midwinter, summer attire; his beard
was uncropped; his look was lean and hungry.
Misery evidently was his companion. Tresse asked
him the title of the parody. He pressed his brow
with his hand for a moment, and then gave the
desired title. I rarely went to Tresse's, especially
of an evening, without finding him there. He never
opened his lips. He sat with his hat on, taking
snuff occasionally, and looking straight before him,
dismally as one can imagine. I had a sort of pity
for the poor fellow, as in imagination I traced him
from morning till night, buffeted by the vicissitudes
of the seasons, often keeping involuntary fasts.
oftener stung by the jeers of the vile (men are lil

FEB. 15, 1867.

curs, which instinctively bark at rags). I heard | dry until 1833, when he in turn was succeeded by this week his history. "Uncle" Duvernois was a Lawrence Johnson and George F. Smith. Mr. Johnsort of dramatic peddler. He would buy plays from son, a man of energy and enterprise, had introduced the publishers by the wholesale, and sell them to stereotyping into Philadelphia, and now both callthe smaller booksellers. It is said he was a hand-ings were incorporated. Ten years afterwards Mr. some fellow in his younger days, and there is a Smith retired; and in 1845 Mr. Johnson associated floating rumor he was once a play-actor. This was with him Thomas Mackellar, John F. Smith, and his external character. He knew every piece pub- Richard Smith, who had, as it were, grown up with lished, could tell you at once who published it, who the business. The foundry now quickly grew in imwrote it, and where and when it was played. His portance and won a wide reputation. A quarterly library contained every piece published in France periodical, entitled the "Typographic Advertiser," during the last eighty years. He never received edited by Mr. Mackellar, was (and still is) visitors. He had no servant; he was his own cook issued and circulated at home and in foreign and maid. All of a sudden he ceased to go his lands; while its finely-printed Specimen Books accustomed rounds. Tresse became uneasy, after showed that the foundry was making rapid prothree or four days, and entered his lodgings. He gress. Mr. Johnson died in 1860, and was suefound poor Uncle" Duvernois ill of a pleurisy. ceeded by his three junior partners, who, with Despite the protestations of the patient he ran for Peter A. Jordan, constitute the present firm, known a physician. It was too late. The disease made as Mackellar, Smiths & Jordan, under whose manrapid progress, and in a few hours the invalid died. agement the establishment has been brought to It had long been vaguely suspected he was far from rank at least equal with the first in the world. being as poor as he seemed. It was discovered after his death he possessed not only a very valuable dramatic library, but some $20,000 well invested. Contempt of mankind made him hide himself from their insincerity behind the impenetrable armor of

rags.

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Mr. Johnson occupied so prominent a place in the firm that the foundry was universally known as Johnson's Type Foundry, aud after his death his successors retained the name.

The last Specimen Book of this Foundry deserves a place in every good library, as a curiosity of letM. Jules Simon has in press two works-"Civil ters, if not a curiosity of literature. It is doubtful Liberty" (the organization of family, property, and whether any Specimen Book, even half so good, workshops) and "Baby Workmen" (a mournful has ever been brought out in any country-cerpicture of the life led by children forced to work tainly not either in England or France. It is very before they are eight years old). . . M. Edmond proper that this should be so, seeing that the first About has in press "The French Exhibition of Fine types ever cast in the United States were made at Arts in 1866.” . . The French Comedy is rehearsing Germantown, which is now an integral part of a one-act piece by M. Octave Feuillet. . . I did not Philadelphia. At present, Philadelphia type is credit the rumor, so often printed in our news-highly valued, and there are several type foundries. papers, that the authors of Paris intended to write the chief being the Johnson, and those of Collins & a Guide to this capital for the great exhibition. It McLeester, and Pelouze. seems I was wrong. The book is in press. All our authors but MM. Erckmann-Chatrian, all our artists but M. Gustave Doré, will contribute to it. The editor of the book, M. Ulbach, proposed to MM. Erckmann-Chatrian to write a description of the Hôtel des Invalides, which M. Meissonnier was to illustrate. They disdainfully replied, "Prithee, for whom d'ye take us?" and declined. G. S.

Mr. Thomas Mackellar, now head of the Johnson Type Foundry, is a man of letters, in more ways than one, having written two or three volumes of poetry, of more than average merit-thoughtful and natural, as well as harmonious and graceful. He is of Scottish descent, was born in New York in 1812, received a good education, having been intended for one of the learned professions, though circumstances compelled him to become a printer. He had employment in the office of Harper & Brothers, New York, when that firm was commencing as "J. & J. Harper," and literally used to compose "at case," with head as well as hand. At the age of twenty-one he came to Philadelphia, where he obtained employment at the type foundry of Law

NOTES ON BOOKS AND BOOKSELLERS. ' MANUFACTURES OF PHILADELPHIA.-Philadelphia has always been pre-eminent over other cities of the United States for the extent and character of its manufactures. This reputation has not been acquired by enterprise and skill in a few of the branches of industry, but is due to superiority gen-rence Johnson, and, in the very small leisure which erally. Knowing the interest that is felt in the subject of our manufactures, it is designed to give in the columns of the "Ledger," from time to time, as space will admit, notices of such manufactories in the city as have obtained prominence; which are not only celebrated at home, but abroad.

One of these is "The Johnson Type Foundry," the origin of which dates back as far as 1796, Archibald Binny and James Ronaldson having been the original proprietors. From a very small beginning the business increased rapidly, under the able management of the firm, so much so, that at the end of twenty years they were able to retire upon a competency, the work of their own unceasing efforts. Mr. Binny's skill was shown in the general improvement in type and increased facilities for their manufacture. The latter was specially shown in a change in the type mould, by which a caster could cast 6000 letters in a day with as much ease as he before could cast 4000.

very engrossing occupation allowed him, wrote verses which were published in the leading local newspapers. In 144" Droppings from the Heart," his first book, was published, and well received. In 1847 he published "Tam's Fortnight's Ramble" (his nom de plume was "Tam"), and in 1853 appeared "Lines for the Gentle and Loving," a volume whose beautiful typography was much admired. In 1866 he prepared a volume on praetical typography, "The American Printer." This work has met with unqualified commendation and acceptance, two editions having already been published; the third is now in active preparation. Its fame has passed into Europe, and trauslations from the volume are now appearing in French and Getman typographical papers. It has been repeatedly noticed and quoted from in England. The execntion of the work is unique and noteworthy.

In 1845 Mr. Mackellar was admitted into partnership with the late Lawrence Johnson, in whose After the retirement of Binny & Ronaldson, Rich-employment fourteen years of his active and useard Ronaldson carried on the business of this foun- ful life were spent. Perhaps Mr. Mackellar is the

FEB. 15, 1867.

THE second volume of Mrs. Mann's new edition

most literate, so to say, of all the type-founders of and will secure for the "Quarterly" the good-will this country; many of the type-setters have been of those whose support it seeks. eminent scholars. Aldus, the Venetian printer, was one of the most learned men of his time, and the Elzevirs and Stephenses were no less renowned. of the works of Horace Mann is ready for subscribers. The series will comprise five volumes, conFew of our readers, not of the "art preservative of arts," can form an idea of the many varying taining Mr. Mann's writings on education, morals, patterns of types that are made at this establish ethics and national policy. The "Life," recently ment. They comprise Roman and Italic, old style published by Walker & Wise, in Boston, properly and new style, broad and narrow, heavy and light, belongs to this collection, but may be had sepaplain and ornamented; music, Greek, Hebrew, Sax-rately. Mrs. Mann is doing good service to the on, old English and German, scripts or writing type; borders of many designs, elegant or massive; flowers in variety; stereotype and electrotype plates of cuts, tints, jobs, and books, learned, scientific, and polite; and every other thing that a printer requires in the business. An average number of two hundred and fifty hands find constant employment here, and to produce a type, nine different hands are essential, viz., punch-cutter, matrix-fitter, caster, breaker, setter, rubber, kerner, dresser, metal-mixer.

In order to make room for the largely increased business of the firm, a lease was taken some time since of Sansom Street Hall, which adjoins the foundry, and it has been fitted up in a very handsome and suitable manner. The buildings, five stories high, comprise 130 feet on Sansom Street by 100 feet deep on Swanwick Street, and contain twenty-three rooms.

The first floor of the main building forms a magnificent room, about 45 by 100 feet, and is used as a salesroom. The front part is cut off by massive, panelled walnut partitions, containing the private | office on one side and the clerical corps on the

other.

The second story back is occupied for making up and storing job type, the front as a printing-office for the use of the house alone. On the third floor are the matrix fitters, machinists, &c. Passing on upward, the third story will be found filled with a busy throng of setters, rubbers, dressers, &c., and in the upper story are the brass rule workers, &c.

Thus, every portion of the building, which for many years has been used chiefly for purposes of amusement, is now devoted to far different objects. The corner building and intermediate one are filled with workmen, and the whole establishment goes on with all the regularity of well-adjusted machinery.-Philadelphia Public Ledger.

cause of education by gathering up and preserving in this permanent form the wise suggestions and convincing arguments of her husband on educational and reformatory subjects. The volumes are published by Mrs. Mann, whose address is Cambridge, Mass.

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ROBERTS BROTHERS are about to publish a work which is likely to excite some comment. The title is "Ecce Deus: Essays on the Life and Doctrine of Jesus Christ." With Controversial Notes on Ecce Homo.'" The style of "Ecce Deus" is said to be like that of "Ecce Homo," and such readers as accept the doctrine of one book will like that of the other. The anonymous author of "Ecce Deus" states in his preface that it is not an answer to "Ecce Homo." It is hinted, by those who ought to know, that both books are by the same author, one being published in Loudon, and the other, "Ecce Deus," having just appeared with the imprint of an Edinburgh firm, perhaps the better to disguise the ruse.

A FIRST-RATE opportunity is offered to a capable person to take charge of the Stationery Department of a wholesale house. Address "Stationer," Publishers' Circular office, Philadelphia.

MR. MORRIS PHILLIPS, of "The Home Journal,” has associated with him, as co-editors and proprietors, Mr. George Perry and Mr. J. H. Elliott. Mr. Perry is known to the literary world, not only as a frequent contributor to the Journal, but as the translator of "De Valvrede," a romance published about three years ago, and also of "Fior d'Aliza." Mr. Elliot is a poet and essayist, residing in Brattleboro', Vermont. This accession to the capital and editorial staff of the journal will be accompanied by important improvements in the management of the paper, adding to its already superior attractiveness.

66 Liffith

ALLEGED VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT.-Mr. C. H. Webb has commenced an action against the Philadelphia " Evening Telegraph" for $5,000 damages, the charge being an alleged violation of copyright committed by that paper in publishing Lank," a travesty of "Griffith Gaunt," lately published in book form by Mr. Carleton. The Philadelphia paper, it is said, published the book entire, and without permission.-New-York Times, Feb. 5.

THE last number of "Notes and Queries" contains a number of letters written by the late Leigh Hunt to the son and grandson of his crotchety friend Hazlitt. They are not remarkable, though pleasant enough to read, like most that Hunt wrote.

A NEW religious quarterly has been started under the auspices of the American Baptist Publication Society in Philadelphia. The first number gives promise that this new organ will be worthy of the large denomination it desires to represent. The editor, in an introductory article, alludes with just pride to the liberality of the Baptists of this country in the endowment of the higher institutions of learning, especially those devoted to the training of the ministers. He thinks, however, that "those actively engaged in the ministerial office need means of continuous culture, that the impulse communicated by their preparatory discipline may not be soon spent and forgotten in the taskwork of life. Something to suggest and freshen thought, to invite investigation, to stir up the old enthusiasm, to allure into new paths of research: something to intends to visit the United States during the spring, keep the mind in communication with the prevail- and will leave London about the first of March. ing currents and tendencies of opinion, while yet faith in the eternal verities of the Gospel is His new work, "Travels in Ashary's Land,” is in strengthened. Something of the kind is needed, press in London, and will be issued at once, both and the conductors of the Baptist Quarterly' will there and here. In this country, Messrs. Appletons at least endeavor to supply the need." The first will be Mr. Du Chaillu's publishers, we hear. number of the "Quarterly" contains articles by Dr. Lamson, Professor Clarke, Dr. Lincoln, Professor Hovey, Dr. Caldwell, and the editor. The articles have a variety of interest, are ably written,

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MR. DU CHAILLU's New VOLUME.-Mr. Du Chaillu

SHAKSPEARE.-The Chevalier de Chatelain, who has published translations of "Macbeth," "Hamlet," and "Julius Cæsar" into French, has just produced a version of “The Tempest."

FEB. 15, 1867.

JAPANESE LITERATURE.-F. V. Dickins, M. B., has translated into English verse as many Japanese lyrics as fill an octavo volume, and published them in London.

"BELGRAVIA."-The Chancery suit, between two | London publishers, as to the right, from priority entrance of the title at Stationers' Hall, to issue a magazine called "Belgravia," has been ended by a judgment which wholly dismisses the case, and JULIUS CESAR.-The Rev. Scott Surtees, differing leaves each party at liberty "to publish, or not to in opinion from most historians, Napoleon III. inpublish." Miss M. A. Braddon's" Belgravia" con- clusive, contends, in a pamphlet which he has tinues to be issued, but we notice in the "Athe-written, that Cæsar never crossed the British næum" of January 26th the following advertise- Channel, but went from the mouth of the Rhine ment: "Literary property for sale. The right to to the coast of Norfolk, the East of England. publish a magazine under the title of Belgravia,' PSEUDONYME.-It is no secret that the author of a magazine of fashion and amusement, is to be disposed of. Particulars of editorial arrangements, &c., may be had of the publishers, St. Bride's avenue, Fleet-street, London, E. C." This evidently emanates from the proprietors of the other "Belgravia." It may be difficult to set a money value on "the right to publish a magazine" under a particular title, which right is judicially declared more

than doubtful.

No.

COTTAGE LITERATURE.-Mr. W. H. G. Kingston, author of many popular works of adventure for young people, now proposes to publish, monthly, 64 pages crown 8vo., with engravings, at fourpence (British) per number, "Taking Tales for Cottage Homes," each number complete in itself. to be "The Miller of Hillbrook; a Tale of English Country Life." No. 2, to appear in February, will be "Tom Trueman, the Life of a Sailor in the Merchant Service," to be followed by tales of Canadian and Australian life, adventures of a sailor, &c. The design is good; much depends on its execution.

PERCY'S RELIQUES.-Some weeks ago we stated that the orignial folio MS., containing 40,000 lines, from which Bishop Percy's "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry" had been compiled, had been recovered, and would be published in extenso. The London "Athenæum" says that the whole 40,000 lines are copied, and that 10,000 are in type. It adds: "Mr. W. Chappell is helping the editors with the ballad part of their work; but no news can be got of the second copy of King Estmere' that the Bishop mentions in his second edition, vol. i. p. 59. Can any reader tell us where it is? The copy in his own folio the Bishop tore out to send to the press, so that the second copy is now more wanted than ." Dr. Percy, whose friendship for Oliver Goldsmith was creditable to both, first published his "Reliques" in 1765. It is not improbable that these poems may have suggested to Chatterton the idea of imitating them in the poems which he attributed to Thomas Rowley, a monk of the fifteenth century. HOW TO READ CHAUCER.-Mr. Alexander J. Ellis contends that in reading Chaucer the final e of Chaucer's lines should always be sounded. So thinks our Professor Child, who is well read in ancient and modern poetry.

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SCOTT OPERATIZED!-Very lately was produced at the Théâtre Lyrique, Paris, a new three-act opera, with music by M. Devin-Duvivier, entitled orah." It failed signally, and the plot was taken from "The Highland Widow," one of the poorest and briefest of the Waverley tales.

GREEK BIBLE OF THE VATICAN.-In the Papal library is a manuscript of the Greek Bible, said to be more ancient than that of Mount Sinai. The Pope is having a fac-simile of it printed at the press of the Propaganda, intending to send it to the Paris Exhibition, to compete with the Bible of

Tischendorff.

THE "ALABAMA" CLAIMS.-Longman & Co., London, have published an 8vo. volume of "The Official Correspondence on the Claims of the United States in respect to the Alabama."

the "Chronicles of the "Schonberg-Cotta Family" is Mrs. Carter, an English lady.

SIR J. EMERSON TENNENT.-This gentleman, who was formerly Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, of which island he wrote an excellent book, has in the press, by Longman & Co., the London publishers, "The Wild Elephant: its Structure and Habits, with the Method of Taking and Training it." It will be illustrated with wood-engravings.

DR. JOHANN FESTENRATH has lately published two volumes of German translations of Spanish ballads, which are highly spoken of. He is said to have identified himself with the tone and temper of the Romanceros of old, from whose stores he has drawn most of his materials; the refrains and proverbs are said to be happily rendered.

MRS. EDWARDS, the author of "Archie Lovell," is to commence a new novel in the April number of " Temple Bar." Its title will be "Steven Lawrence, Yeoman," a reverse of the medal of "John Halifax, Gentleman." We presume it will be republished in instalments in some of our magazines or periodicals.

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MISS EDEN, author of "Up Country," has in the press A Lady's Glimpse of the Late War in Bohemia."

EUROPEAN LIBRARIES.-S. Natoli, the Minister of Public Instruction in Italy, has given some interesting statistics about the public and large private libraries of the different states of Europe. They are not, however, much of a guide to either the number of readers or the strength of the love of books in different countries, which would be known much better if we could tell the average number of books per house, and the number of times each volume is read. Of course circulating libraries are not included in S. Natoli's statement, though Mr. Mudie's is probably of far more moral importance to England than any of our great libraries, except perhaps that of the British Museum itself. Taking, however, the statistics for what they are worth, S. Natoli says that where Great Britain has 1,771,493 volumes in its public and large private libraries, or 6 to every 100 persons in its population, Italy has 4,149,281, or 10 to every 100 persons; France las 4,389,000, or 11.7 to each 100 persons; Austria per cent.; Russia 582,090, or 14 per cent.; Bavaria 2,408,000, or 6.9 per cent.; Prussia 2,040,450, or 11 1,268,500, or 26 per cent.; and Belgium 509,100, which is a very ignorant country, has public libra or 10 per cent. It is clear, therefore, that Italy, ries far beyond its proportional education, and also probably Bavaria, while Prussia, which is the most educated of all, occupies in this list only a middle position.

MEYERBEER." Itruensee," a tragedy, by Michel Beer, with the music by G. Meyerbeer, has been published in Paris with the piano-forte score, and contains thirteen musical pieces, including a long and elaborate overture and the familiar Polonaise. It was fully prepared by the composer long before his death, and is spoken highly of by musical

critics.

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