AMERICAN LITERARY Vol. VIII.-No. 1. GAZETTE "THE FEN 18 MUHTER THAN THE SWORD." AND Publishers' Circular. Issued on the 1st and 15th of each Month, at $2.00 per Annum in Advance, GEORGE W. CHILDS, PUBLISHER, Nos. 628 & 630 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA. FREDERIC MÜLLER, Amsterdam. HENRY LEMMING, 9 Calle de la Paz, Madrid. GUSTAVE BOSSANGE & CO., 25 Quai Voltaire, Paris ALBERT DETKEN, Naples. GEO. N. DAVIS, 119 Rua Direita, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Agent for South America. A. ROMAN, San Francisco, California, Agent for the Pacific Coast. STEPHENS & CO., 10 Calle Mercaderes, Habana, Agents for the West Indies. Subscriptions or Advertisements for the “American Literary Gazette” will be received by the above Agents, and they will forward to the Editor any Books or Publications intended for notice. TESTIMONIAL DINNER TO W. HEPWORTH DIXON, ESQ. NOV. 1, 1866. On Tuesday, October 23d, a testimonial dinner was given, at the Continental Hotel, Philadelphia, to W. H. DIXON, Esq., editor of the "Athenæum," the leading weekly critical journal of England, by some members of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and other leading citizens. This was a compliment well merited, for its recipient had "done the State some service," by vindicating the personal character of William Penn from the aspersions cast upon it by Lord Macaulay in his " History of England"aspersions repeated, with a show of elaborate argument, in an appendix to the second volume of the work, finally revised by the author in 1857, eight years after the attack had first been made. In 1851, which was as early as possible under the circumstance that Mr. Dixon had to obtain much of his materials from this city, his "William Penn, a Historical Biography" was published, with a special chapter, successfully defending the great Founder of Pennsylvania. For this voluntary service, solely prompted by his sense of right and justice, Mr. Dixon was gratefully elected honorary member of the Historical Society, and the Testimonial Banquet might be considered his inauguration festival. Mr. Dixon has travelled extensively throughout this country during the last few months, and is said to be again engaged upon a biography of a great man whose career is connected with its early history the gallant but unfortunate Sir Walter Raleigh. During the whole period of our late unhappy civil war, the "Athenæum," in his hands, consistently expressed its sympathy for the good cause of freedom. The banquet, superb in all respects, was partaken of by Mr. Dixon and some forty-five other gentlemen-representing the commerce, law, and literature of Philadelphia. Merchants and professional men, newspaper proprietors and poets, publishers and historians, novelists and critics, distinguished soldiers and acute gentlemen of the long robe, bankers and engineers, were here assembled—a body of whom any city might well be proud, discharging, with splendid hospitality, a public debt of gratitude to a foreign writer who had vindicated, without fee or reward, without prompting or solicitation, the honor of the illustrious dead. great success, and must form a most agreeable point of remembrance through Mr. Dixon's future life. For the information of our readers, we will here annex a few personal memoranda relative to Mr. Dixon. This gentleman was born on the last day of June, 1821, at Holmferth, Yorkshire, England. His first essay in letters was a five-act tragedy. He became literary editor of a paper in Cheltenham, also contributing to the London periodicals. He removed to London at the age of 25, and wrote a series of papers in the "Daily News" on the Literature of the Lower Orders, and another upon London Prisons. In 1849, he brought out "John Howard, a Memoir," written many years before-a work for which he could scarcely find a publisher, but which went through three editions in twelve months. In 1850 he was appointed a Commissioner for organizing the World's Fair of 1851; and in the latter year appeared his "William Penn, a Biography." At this time, he was much engaged on the "Athenæum"-its working editor, in fact, Mr. T. K. Hervey's health having latterly incapacitated him from sustained labor; and in 1853, on Mr. Hervey's retirement, Mr. Dixon was constituted sole and responsible editor-a post which he has continued to occupy to the satisfaction of the public and his own credit. In 1852, was published his "Robert Blake; Admiral and General at Sea." In 1861, he published his "Personal History of Lord Bacon; from Unpublished Papers"-a work which has been reprinted in America and Germany, and is being translated by M. Louis Blanc for publication in France. In conjunction with Miss Jewsbury, he wrote "Memoirs of Lady Morgan," whose literary executor he was. He has travelled largely throughout Europe, and his latest work describes the Holy Land as he observed it. Mr. Dixon is a barristerat-law, having been "called" by the benchers of the Inner Temple. In all respects he is a gentleman of high character, personal and literary. R. S. M. OUR CONTINENTAL CORRESPONDENCE. Paris, August 31, 1865. THE city of Paris has purchased the Hotel Carnavalet, giving 950,000 francs for it. We may soon hope to see the Municipal Library established there. The city has published the first volume of its history (an interesting volume it is), and it is said to be in treaty with Prince Czartoryski for his mansion, Hotel Lambert, where the Municipal Historical Museum will be placed. Do you know the meaning of hotel? Here, town mansions belonging to one family (a common sight in old times, quite rare now) are called hotels; the city mansion, or, as it is called by a pleonasm in London, the Mansion House, is here called the Hotel de Ville. Taverns are called Grands Hotels, grand meaning public. Respectable detached country houses are called chateaux. I make this explanation that you may not think Hotel Carnavalet an old tavern. It is No. 23 Rue Culture Ste. Catherine. It was built in 1548 by Pierre Lescot, Abbé de Clagny, and Jean Bullant, for the Sire des Ligneris. This family owned it only thirty years. It was bought by the de Carnavalet family in 1578. Androuet du Cerceau (the architect of Pont Neuf), Jean Goujon, François Mansard, and Van Obstal adorned it. It was reckoned the noblest mansion in Paris. Mme. de Sevigné bought it and inhabited it in October, 1677, and there this immortal writer died the 14th January, 1696. At her death it was purchased by After the Revolution, the family de Pommereu An Paul Estienne Brunet de Rancy, a former general. bought it; then it became the Government Books' Censors' office; next the Government Engineering Hon. Morton McMichael, Mayor of Philadelphia, occupied the chair, with Mr. John William Wallace, now reporter of the Supreme Court of the United States, also a member of the Historical Society, as vice-chairman. Without any preliminary toasts, the health of Mr. Dixon was proposed by the Chairman, soon after the banquet had been done justice to. Always eloquent, the Chairman was more than usually so on this occasion. His speech, brilliant and earnest, kept the attention of its auditors upon the qui vive from the opening to the closing sentence. The toast was honored with great cordiality, and suitably acknowledged by Mr. Dixon, who paid a hearty tribute to the memory of William Penn. At the request of the Chair, Mr. J. W. Wallace read, and presented to Mr. Dixon, a series of resolutions expressive of welcome, regard, and gratitude, which the Historical Society had unanimously voted to him, and was followed, in an able speech, by Mr. Horatio Gates Jones, one of the Vice Presidents of the Society. Other speakers, during the evening, were General Meade, Judge Hare, Messrs. Bayard Taylor, George H. Boker, Gillingham Fell, John Jay Smith, Joseph Harrison, Jr., Daniel Dougherty, Dr. S. A. Allibone, and Dr. Shelton Mackenzie. agreeable interlude was the recitation, by Dr. Benjamin Coates, of an excellent Ode to the Defender of Penn. In all respects, this entertainment was a NOV. 1, 1866. School; and lastly a boarding school. Would it not seem, from this enumeration of its tenants, as if Mme. de Sevigné's ghost attracted books and their lovers to the house? Her letters show she spent many happy days here. There are a great many objects connected with Mme. de Sevigné still in existence. The Chateau des Rochers, near Dinan, from which many of her letters are dated, is especially wealthy in these souvenirs. It is wonderful how little is lost. I saw a few days since on the walls a placard announcing the sale of 6000 addresses of newspapers, the cover bearing the name of the subscriber, and among them were newspaper addresses of the sixteenth century, and from this distant period of time to yesterday. Nothing seems lost in this world but man's life. 'Tis the only brittle thing on earth. I regret to record the death of Judge Warn Koenig, one of the most eminent judicial writers of Germany. He died at Stuttgardt in the 72d year of his age. We have lost, too, M. Roger de Beauvoir, who was for a great many years the "fast man" of Paris, and whose various adventures filled the public ear for many years. His early and prolonged dissipations gave him gout, rheumatism, and softening of the spinal marrow. These diseases have for years made him bedridden, or, even worse, chair-ridden. It has been five years since he quitted his chair; whenever he attempted to lie on his bed, he would suffocate. His name was Roger de Bully. When it was evident he was about to become notorious as the wildest fellow in Paris, one of his uncles made him change his name. Wild as was the life led by M. Roger de Beauvoir, he found time to write forty works-novels, plays, and poems. His best work was his first novel, "L'Ecolier de Cluny," which was published in 1832; the next in value were "Histoires Cavalières," Le "Cabaret des Morts," "Le Chevalier de St. Georges," and "L'Hotel Fimodan." Messrs. Michel Levy still have them on their catalogue. He dramatized with M. Melesville "Le Chevalier de St. Georges," and the play had an extraordinary run. M. Melesville was once asked what was M. Roger de Beauvoir's share in this play. He replied: "He lent me a hunting-knife for one of the characters." M. Melesville was unjust, for his color-bearer did unquestionably furnish the idea and the plot of the play. M. Roger de Beauvoir wrote with M. Lambert Thiboust another very successful play, "Les Enfers de Paris." He was happy at impromptu poetry. He married Mlle. Doze, the favorite pupil of Mlle. Mars, after living irregularly with her. The marriage was singularly unfortunate, and the quarrels of husband and wife filled our public prints and courts of justice with their scandals. He was extremely popular, and his funeral was attended by the majority of second-rate literary men in Paris. His wife died some years since in extreme poverty, and was buried at the expense of Prince Napoleon. Since I am with the dead, let me translate a penand-ink portrait of Alfred de Musset by M. Charles Monselet: "I was able to approach Alfred de Musset frequently, to be introduced to him, and to talk with him. His appearance was icy, rather indifferent than haughty; his movements were slow as those of an automaton; his eye was without projection; his articulation was difficult; and his conversation was empty, terribly empty! It seemed as if he was fulfilling the conditions of a wager, as if he was trying to play a joke upon his company. Nevertheless, I saw him with his best friends, with Arsène Houssaye, Capt. d'Arpentigny, and with other persons whom he could not possibly consider Philistines or indiscreet visitors. Alfred de Musset was the most uninteresting of men. The admiration I have always expressed for some phases of his talents allows me to express myself with this liberty. Add to all this an attire which was nearly always irreproachable (he must have taken at least three hours to dress, or to have himself dressed), a plain, round handwriting, rapid and elegant, without any of those tremulous lines which lead one to suspect fondness for drink, love of chess, and passionate fondness for legerdemain, and you will have before you that enigmatic, puzzling, inexplicable, coldly odd, repulsive person who bore the sympathetic and justly loved name Alfred de Musset. There evidently were two beings in him. The being who held the pen was the best, the true, the real man. Let us forget the other. Let us abandon that passion which makes us ask from artists a certain cordiality. Let us take them, not for what they are, but for what they are so good as to give us. Their essences are mysterious. And, to sum up my thought in one sentence, it is always prudent to distrust them." M. de la Pilorgerie has discovered in the Library of Nantes the first French newspapers printed, and he has republished them. During the expedition of Charles VIII. to the kingdom of Naples (1494), hawkers cried in the streets of Paris, the "Bulletin of the Grand Army of Italy." While this word "grand" is under my pen, let me regret translators do not render it by the proper English word, main army, instead of giving it grand army. It is stated the French Emperor will turn his attention to, indeed has already begun to collect materials for, a life of Charlemagne. He will probably do Philippe Augustus, Louis XI., and Louis XIV.'s life, each after the other. . . . It is said M. Louis Paris is about publishing a work on French antiquities in 10 vols. 8vo. M. Guérin and other lovers of the fine arts are about to publish engravings of all the valuable objects in the Napoleon III. Museum (ex-Campana Collection). . . . M. Lafferrière, the actor, announces that his memoirs will positively be published this winter. . . . It is said the French government has requested Dr. Veron to discontinue publishing his memoirs. . . . M. Champfleury has begun to publish extracts from his memoirs. ... He An article by M. Rénan on St. Francis of Assaz, published in the "Journal des Débats," has attracted a great deal of attention. It reveals his antipathy to material progress and to freedom. It shows he regards convents as favorable to great works (a favorite thesis with him), and raises our smiles to see his unequal standards of measuring truth. alleges the stigmata on the saint's body to have been frauds, and in the same breath admits the saint's song as unquestionably authentic, although the Italian original has been lost. The article is very curious. . . . The Minister of Public Instruction has offered prizes for the best papers on archæology published in the memoirs of provincial learned societies; for the best glossary of the dialect of any given district of France; and for the best memoir on the commerce and industry of any province or town during the Middle Ages. entitled "Democracy and Liberty." cien Biart and Ernest Daudet are writing, under the patronage of the French government, a diplomatic and military history of the French expedition to Mexico. M. Dentu, the well-known pamphlet M. Prévost-Paradol's forthcoming book will be .. MM. Lu publisher of the Palais Royal, has taken the contract of the publication of the catalogue of the Universal Exhibition; he gives $100,000 for the monopoly. He reckons upon making at least $40,000 by it. He reckons upon a sale of 1,000,000 copies at 20 cents (at the least); the cost of printing, paper, etc. will be $60,000; add $100,000. ... NOV. 1, 1866. logues is full of interest and importance. More attention should be paid to it, and the publisher who makes his catalogue bibliographic, artistic, and easy of reference will find it a practical benefit. IN the "London Athenæum" of October 6 is a communication in four columns, from Mr. Henry Stevens, criticizing most fiercely the "Bibliotheca New York. It is admitted in general terms that Americana Vetustissima," recently published in "the book at bottom is not a bad one;" yet parts of it are vehemently attacked, and various alleged blunders pointed out. GERMAN PERIODICALS.—Mr. Steiger, of New York, has issued a copious catalogue, not paged, of the periodical literature of Germany, in all its departments. The contents are classified under twentyseven heads, embracing theology, philosophy, medicine, fine arts, technology, physics, gymnastics, politics, free-masonry, and we believe everything else. It is a priced list, and Mr. Steiger is ready to supply the works to subscribers. He sells $200,000 worth, and pockets $40,000... It is said the French Comedy is about to play an unpublished piece by Beaumarchais. This rumor has been repeatedly current the last few years. .. Alfred de Musset confessed, some years ago, to a friend, he took the idea of his exquisite play "Le Caprice" from Crebillon the younger's "Les Hasards du Coin du Feu." . . . The Perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres has made his annual report on that learned society's publications. He says the third volume of the collection of the "Western Historians of the Crusades" will soon be published; the first volume of the Oriental historians (Arabians) will be published before the end of the year. The introduction will be extremely valuable. He hopes the first volume of the Armenian historians will also appear before the year's end. The volume containing the Greek historians is in press. The 23d vol. of the "Historians of France" will be sent to press towards the close of the year. The Collection of MSS. Charters and Diplomas relating to French history is still in preparation; no date is mentioned for its publication. The eighth and last volume of the "Chronological Table of Printed Diplomas and Acts" ad- the first number of this new quarterly induces us vances slowly. The 16th vol. of "Gallia Christiana" to believe that it will be a valuable addition to our will be published before October. The 25th vol. of legal literature. Such a publication has long been the "Literary History of France" will soon be pub-influential as it is in the country-has no periodical needed. The legal profession--large, important, and lished. The 21st vol. of "Notices and Extracts from MSS." will ere long appear, with the "Greek Papyrus of Egypt," and a translation of Ibn Khaldoun's "Introduction"; while the 22d vol. of the same collection, containing extracts and notices of French grammarians of the Middle Ages, is in press. The 26th vol. of the "Memoirs of the Academy" is in press; and two vols. of "Memoirs of Learned Men, not Members of the Academy," are likewise in press. G. S. NOTES ON BOOKS AND BOOKSELLERS. when the trade will pay much more attention to the THE AMERICAN LAW REVIEW.-An examination of We have had which represents its literature. COPYRIGHT AND CHEAPNESS.-Mr. Anthony Trol lope has read a paper in England, before the Social Science Association, on the subject of International Copyright. It contains nothing very new, and the old ideas are not expressed in a very striking manner. He says that he has found the publishers of this country favorable to an international system of copyright, but that the difficulty is with Congressa body which is not disposed just now to favor Eng lish interests. At the same time we see that some of our newspapers are asserting that English books are put into the market here at prices which compete with the American reprints. If present high prices are not reduced, and the burdens upon the publishing interest removed, this will soon be, if it is not now the case, and an international copyright may thus become practically of greatly diminished importance to English authors. As illustrations of the low rate at which books are now manufactured in England, we may mention that Mr. Tegg has issued an abridgment "Walker and Webster combined in a Dictionary of the English Language," for one shilling. It contains 428 pages, and is quite legibly printed. Messrs. Black, of Edinburgh, and Mr. Hotten, of London, each announce the Waverley novels at sixpence a copy; and the latter gentleman has completed arrangements for issuing, at an early date, the complete works of Shakspeare for one shilling. It is to be edited by Mr. Halliwell, and will contain the more important emendations of Dyce, Collier, and Staunton. To insure typographical accuracy, each word is to be checked off by five different readers. NOV. 1, 1866. "PHILA., Oct. 27, 1866. "MY DEAR SIR: It is good news that you are about publishing that monograph, so to say, of Bürger's Lenore, with variorum translations, on which you | have been so long engaged; and so successfully, that one knows not which to admire most, your persevering industry, or your literary taste. On no account omit to publish both of your own translations; first, because you profess to give all that you have collected; and, next, because for accuracy and spirit they will bear comparison with any that exist. "Yours truly, R. SHELTON MACKENZIE. The forthcoming "Variorum Leonora" of our friend | sire to expatriate himself permanently from "dear Mr. Lukens is well characterized by the following old England," but it seems to us he would not be letter:altogether unwilling to spend a year or two amongst us, should business considerations make it advisable for him to do so. We can promise him that we would not deteriorate upon a closer acquaintance. Among other literary enterprises, James Hogg & Sons will be known in this country as having carried successfully through the press the collected edition of Thomas de Quincey's Writings, under the careful revision of the English opium-eater himself. The "old man eloquent" had just about completed his task of revising for the press the fourteenth volume of his Works, when he died, a few years ago, and Messrs. Hogg have since sold the "C. J. LUKENS, Esq.' copyrights, &c. to Messrs. A. & C. Black, of EdinBANGS, MERWIN & Co., New York, offer for sale on burgh. Messrs. James Hogg & Sons are the publishthe 13th inst. a large collection of popular and stand-ers of that deservedly popular magazine "London ard books, appropriate to the fall and holiday season. Society," which, next to the "Cornhill," is said to They will also sell, at the same time, valuable stereo- have the largest circulation of any shilling illustype plates formerly published by Carey & Hart, of trated magazine published in the Old Country. We this city, including Lord Bacon's Works; Prose Wri- predict a good sale for "London Society" in this ters of America, by Griswold; Butler's Sermons; country as the work becomes better known, as it is, Butler's Philosophy; Reed's English History; Reed's par excellence, a magazine well suited to the tastes British Poets; Mrs. Sigourney's Poems, &c. of the majority of the American reading public. Its attractive, highly-finished wood engravings, from designs by the leading English artists, and piquant tales and sketches, cannot fail to make its gailycolored wrappers a welcome visitor alongside of Harper" or "Godey." We have seen the design for the next Christmas No. (extra), which is as bright and seasonable as ever. When we mention among the authors and artists such names as Mark Lemon, George Thomas, Mary Howitt, Tom Hood, Charles Keene, J. D. Watson, McConnell, "Lambeth Casual," the bill of fare will be seen to be an attractive one. Those of the trade who are not at present familiar with this magazine will do well to order a specimen copy from their New York agents. James Hogg & Sons also publish an extensive Catalogue of Popular Illustrated Juvenile Books, which Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co., of this city, can supply, and for a list of which we refer our readers to our advertising columns. We are glad we have met Mr. John Hogg, that his visit to this country has been so agreeable, and hope that we may soon see him again. W. HEPWORTH DIXON, Esq., has been spending some days in Philadelphia as the guest of his friend J. B. Lippincott, Esq., the well-known publisher. "CHRISTIAN SOCIETY."-We called attention, in our issue of September 15, to this new English monthly magazine of Religious Literature, Information, and Biography, and are now able to place before our readers the contents of the first No., which seem indicative of popularity for this new venture: First Words; The Religious Use of Travel; In the Country on an Autumn Sunday; Evenings with Friends and Books, a Discussion on the Religious Literature of the Month; Christian Hospitality; Salome's Prayer; Curiosities of Hymnology; Christian Society of Old England; True Site of the Holy Sepulchre People called Christians; The Pagan Christ; Phenomena of Modern Religious Life. As to the aim of this new magazine, we cannot do better than refer our readers to the written prospectus which appears elsewhere in our present issue, and where the scope is very clearly defined. Many of the best English writers who can give cheerful Religious Literature, and who are known by their books and by their contributions in such serials as “Good Words," &c., are associated with "Christian Society." A NEW NOVEL BY MARION HARLAND.-The numerous readers and admirers of Marion Harland's Works will be gratified to receive a new work from her pen. It is entitled "Sunnybank," and is her first continuous story since "Miriam," which was published in the fall of 1862. Her later volumes have been composed of briefer tales and sketches. The first book published by Marion Harland, and which at once admitted her to a place among the most able and successful novelists of our country, was "Alone." Within a few months of its publication it reached a sale almost unprecedented by any American book. "Sunnybank" will be published by Sheldon & Co., New York, who have now ready new editions of her other works. WE have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of another of our publishing friends from across the Atlantic, Mr. John Hogg (of the firm of James Hogg & Sons, London), who has been in this country for a month or two, combining business with pleasure. He has not been satisfied with spending his time in the large eastern cities, but has made a tour west and south to some of our young but active and rapidly increasing business resorts. When a man has visited, as we understand Mr. Hogg has, twelve of our principal States in the Union, he carries home with him a better idea of the wealth and resources COLONEL BADEAU has in preparation for the press of this country than years of reading would afford, "History of General Ulysses S. Grant, and His and the more of such visits we have from our in Relations to the War of the Union." This will untelligent friends across the Atlantic, the better for doubtedly be a correct and authentic history of our the peace and harmony of both countries. Mr. Hogg "greatest general." The author, being aide-despeaks highly of most that he has seen, and is camp to General Grant, will have unusual facilities especially gratified with the uniform courtesy and for obtaining reliable information of the movements kindness which he has met with here among all of our armies, and the final overthrow of the Rebelclasses of society-whether in the drawing-room of lion. It will be published by D. Appleton & Co. the "upper ten," or on board a Mississippi steamer; MCPHERSON'S POLITICAL MANUAL for 1866 has sold and says he will always retain a kind and pleasant to the extent of 20,000 copies since the middle of recollection of his pleasant intercourse with his July. This is about the heaviest single book sale "American Cousin." It is not likely he would de- in that time which has recently occurred. a |