Text: Edgar Allan Poe (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), August 23, 1845, vol. 2, no. 7, p. ???, col. ?

[page 109, column 1, continued:]

Editorial Miscellany.

A late number of “The New York Mirror” contains a very fulsome “Resumé” of “The Challenge of Barletta.” This Resumé [what is a resumé?] is written very much in the manner of Mr. Lester, whom it compliments with great warmth, and no doubt (in Mr. Lester's opinion) with great justice. We are quite astonished, however, to find so respectable a journal as “The Mirror” degrading itself to the admission of obvious puffs from the pens of “ correspondents.” The article in question has the following passage:

“It must be read from beginning to end, and we do not believe any man can read the first chapter without reading on and reading it through. A certain critic has complained that the book lacks “autorial commaut;” rather a muddy idea — ne’est pas, dear General? He says it is “all incident;” and what else in the name of Walter Scott would you have in a historical romance? This is just what a historical romance is written for, says McCauley.”

We are the “ certain critic” here alluded to. The phrase “autorial commaut” as quoted by Mr. Lester's friend or self, is a falsehood — one of his 50,000. We defy him to show us in our critique anything resembling what he unblushingly attributes to us. The “muddy idea” is then only his own — and we never knew him to have one that was not. But will he be so good as to translate for the readers of “The Mirror” the phrase ne’est pas — and at the same time inform us who is the Mr. McCauley to whom he attributes so much rigmarole about historical romance?

As regards the impossibility of not reading Mr. Lester's stupid book through, the only impossibility in our case, and in all that we have heard of, has been to refrain from throwing the thing out of the window after being sickened to death by the Preface. [column 2:]

During a recent visit to Boston, we were agreeably surprised at the number of intrinsically valuable works on the counters of “the trade.” Why is it that so few of them are generally circulated in New York? A more liberal interchange of literary commodities would certainly prove beneficial to the two communities. We know not how it is, but few of the writers of New England exercise much influence beyond her borders; and, on the other hand, in conversing with men of letters in that region, we have marvelled at their ignorance of Knickerbocker authors. The evil would in part be remedied, if New York were regarded as it should be, as the London of America — and if all literary enterprises were here carried into effect. The facilities for distributing works, are far greater than any other of our cities can boast — and as a centre of opinion, it is the metropolis of the country.

Among other booksellers in Boston, whose publications deserve to be better known here, are James Munroe & Co. The inimitable “Twice Told Tales” of Hawthorne, were published by this house. Their circulation, however, has home no proportion to their merit. Hawthorne, it appears to us, has fulfilled all the conditions which should insure success, and yet he has reaped but a scanty harvest. He is a prose poet, lull of originality, beauty and refinement of style and conception, while many of his subjects are thoroughly American. He is frugal and industrious, but the profit of his writings are inadequate to his support. We trust he will embark his next work in this market and predict that it will be more lucrative.

Another beautiful work on Munroe's counter is “Flower and Thom Pieces,” translated from Jean Paul. Exquisite metaphors and wise suggestions on life abound in these pages. They have apparently escaped the notice of our critics, but richly deserve their attention. The school-books issued from the Boston press are eminently worthy the adoption of the friends of education in this State. Two in particular of Munroe & Co's. attracted our regard — the one an admirably selected Reader for young ladies, edited by William Russell , an experienced teacher and man of distinguished taste; — the other a little volume of devotional exercises for schools, compiled by Mr. Buckingham, the able editor of the Boston Courier. There is no sectarianism, and great felicity of arrangement in this volume. We may resume the subject of Boston books. Meantime we observe with pleasure that Ticknor & Co. have in press new editions of Keat's Poems and Lamb's Dramatic Specimens, and that B. B. Murray is about to re-publish Festus, by Bailey.

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THE PORTLAND Vase has been thoroughly restored by Mr. J. Doubleday.

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A BILL has been introduced by the British Government, granting Jews the privilege of holding certain corporate and other offices. We look upon this as the most pregnant item of intelligence brought by the Great Britain.

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Signor Vincenzo Devit, a distinguished professor of the college of Padua, has, it is said, made a discovery of great interest, in the field of classical literature. In an ancient manuscript in the library of that establishment, he has found a set of unpublished maxims by Varro, the illustrious contemporary of Caesar and Augustus, and friend and client of Cicero. — We may mention, too, on the faith of a letter from St. Petersburg, that Dr. Passelt, Professor of History at the University of Dorpat, being in the capital, has discovered, among the archives of the empire, eleven aurograph [[autograph]] letters from Leb uitz to Peter the First. They are written some in Latin, and [page 110:] some in German, — are all relating to matters of science,-and seem to indicate the existence of a continuous correspondence between the illustrious philosopher and the great Czar. They are about to be published.

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THE SUPPRESSION of the Order of the Jesuits in France has been the cause of a popular demonstration against the same order in Italy.

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THE HIPPODROME continues to attract all Paris. Bets are made as on a race-course. It is the grandest kind of amusement that has been attempted since the days of Ancient Rome; a building will be erected to replace the present provisionary one, which has the fault of being too much like a racing stand.

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MADLLE. Plessy quits Paris for St. Petersburgh, with a husband and an engagement of 45,000 francs per annum. She marries Monsieur Arnaud, a republican — a man of very opposite principles to those she professed.

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AT LENGTH a lighthouse is to be erected on the Goodwin Sands.

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WITHIN the last five years between 60,0000 and 70,000 ‘ancient’ pictures have paid import duty at the London Custom House.

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HON. ABBOT LAWRENCE has presented Boston the sum of two thousand dollars, the interest of which is to be expended in prizes, to be awarded to deserving scholars of the Public Latin School of that City. The act is worthy of the head and heart of the donor.

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WE NOTICE with regret the death of James Augustus Shea , Esq., a native of Ireland, for many years a citizen of the United States, and a resident of this city. He died on Friday morning, the 17th inst., at the early age of 42. A large concourse of friends and relatives attended his funeral. As an ardent republican Mr. Shea did much for the cause of freedom. As a poet, his reputation was high — but by no means so high as his deserts. His “Ocean” is really one of the most spirited lyrics ever published. Its rhythm strikingly resembles “The Bridge of Sighs.”

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THE “TABLET of Love,” on our first page this week, is the composition of Miss Phelps, (the pupil of the Litiz Seminary,) of whose precocious poetical talent we spoke in a former number.

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MR. LEWIS J. Cist, of Cincinnati, proposes to publish by subscription, a small volume of “Poems, Lyrical and Miscellaneous.” It will occupy about 200 pages, 12 mo — hand- somely printed and bound — price 75 cents. Mr. Cist has a high reputation in the West. We have to thank him for an original poem, which we shall publish in our next. His book will be issued by Messrs. Robinson & Jones, of Cincinnati.

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DR. JAMES M’HENRY, who resided several years in Philadelphia, and was known as the author of “O’Halloran,” the “Antediluvians,” Ac., died at Larne, in Ireland, on the 21st ult., in the 59th year of his age. Dr. M’H. was appointed United States Consul to Londonderry, by Mr. Tyler, in 1843. As a poet and author in general, Dr. M’Henry was underrated. He fell a victim to the arts of a clique which proceeded, in the most systematic manner, to write him down-not scrupling, either, to avow the detestable purpose. Some of the very best criticisms in Mr. Walsh's “American Quarterly Review,” were the work of Dr. M’H. His “Antediluvians” [column 2:] was heavy, and certainly gave no indication of genius — but it is by no means the despicable trash which it has been represented. It is polished, well versified, and abounding in noble sentiments. Altogether, it is the best epic which the country has produced. Some of his songs are highly meritorious.

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DAVID SEARS, of Boston, has given $5000 to the Cambridge Observatory.

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A NEW PAPER, of immense dimensions, has just appeared at Paris, under the title of L’Epoque. It is in the American fashion, and exceeds in size any of the English papers. It is not expected to exist long.

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LETTERS from Naples mention some recent discoveries of interest made in late excavations at Pompeii, particularly an extensive Necropolis. Beside one of the graves there is a seat, and over it is inscribed Clovatius, Duumvir of Pompeii. This is a family name hitherto unknown. Near it is a monument of fine Grecian marble, richly sculptured. The ground where these discoveries have been made is the property of Signor Vellucci, who pays so little regard to antiquities, that as soon as he hears of a grave being explored, he orders it to be filled up with earth or rubbish.

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THE MEAN of 168 observations, by three observers, upon transits of five different stars, gives 42 deg., 22 min. 49 sec. N. as the latitude of the Cambridge Observatory. None of the observations differed more than three seconds from this mean. The latitude of the same place as deduced from Mr. Paine's observations of that of the Unitarian Church in Old Cambridge, is 42 deg. 22 min. 46 sec. N.

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THE ROYAL PRINTING OFFICE at Paris, which already possesses fonts of type in upwards of a hundred languages, twenty of them oriental dialects, has added the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Attempts to re-produce them typographically have been made several times in England and Germany, but relinquished on account of the difference of size. M. Dubois has succeeded triumphantly, and has furnished drawings for a font of 1500 characters, 800 of which are already cast.

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THE CONGRESS OF BARDS, which will be held at Abergavenny in the Autumn, will, it is expected, be numerously attended; for, as there will be fifty prizes, for essays, poems, compositions, performances, &c., most of the poets and minstrels of the principality will compete. Mr. H. B. Richards, whose talents are well known both as a composer and pianist, has been appointed by the committee umpire of the musical compositions and performances.

SIR ROBERT PEEL has appointed Mr. Archibald Campbell, nephew to the poet, to an office in the Customs, as a token of his respect for the memory of Mr. Campbell.

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THE North Wales Chronicle states that a laboring man at Colden has constructed wings with which he has been able to fly a considerable distance. Some days back he flew from a hill in the presence of hundreds of spectators.

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WE have tried nearly every variety of Pen, both steel and gold, in the attempt to find one that should combine the flexibility and certainty of the old-fashioned “gray goose quill” with the durability of the metallic ones of the present day, [page 111:] and had well nigh despaired; but the pen with which we write this article, made by Bagley, 189 Broadway, has so fully realised all our wishes, that we consider it an act of charity to those who have been similarly troubled, to apprise them how they may get rid of one of the annoyances that check the free current of their thoughts when they would indite them for the benefit of others, or — their own gratification.