Text: Edgar Allan Poe (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), August 30, 1845, vol. 2, no. 8, p. ???, col. ?


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[page 125:]

Editorial Miscellany.

CAREY & HART will publish in October “Literature and Art in America, with an Introductory Plea for Copyright, Universal and Perpetual: by Rufus W. Griswold” — in one volume octavo.

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THE FIRST complete American edition of the Poems of James Montgomery, the chief of the religious poets of the nineteenth century, will be published in a few days by Louis & Ball, of Philadelphia, in two volumes, demi octavo, with fine illustrations on steel.

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MR. KENNEDY, author of “Horse-shoe Robinson,” &c., has in preparation the Life of William Wirt; and the Poet Dana is advancing rapidly in his Memoirs of the Life and Works of Washington Allston.

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LONGFELLOW and Bryant will soon have out illustrated editions of their respective poems.

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IT IS remarkable that the sturdy republican and puritan Milton — the most American of all writers, in his theories and feelings — has never yet found a publisher in this country. We are glad to learn that H. Hooker, of Philadelphia, will in a few days issue, in two large and elegantly printed octavos, his Complete Prose Writings, with an Introduction by Rev. Dr. Griswold.

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A PROFESSORSHIP of English Literature and Belles Lettres has been established in the University of Vermont, and the Rev. Wm. Shedd, of Brandon, Vt., an Alumnus of the institution, has been chosen to fill it.

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WE FORGOT to say, last week, that the “Schnell Post,” published in New-York, has, by a ministerial edict, been forbidden to be taken at the Cabinets de Lecture, of Leipsic. The exact reason of the prohibition does not yet appear.

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MESSRS. F. W. Thomas (author of “Clinton Bradshaw”) and Judge A. B. Meek, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., (now at Washington,) are about to establish a Monthly Magazine. We know both parties as men of talent.

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MR. KENDALL is proceeding with his Life of Jackson.

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OUR FRIEND of “The Germantown Telegraph “ (a very excellent paper) asks us, with much pertinence, why we call our sheet “The Broadway Journal” when it is published in Nassau street. Be it known, that we originated in Broadway — were merely seduced by circumstances into Nassau street pro tem. Our destiny however is Broadway. It is Broadway to which we speak. We shall get back to Broadway at our earliest convenience.

Talking of titles; — while the very respectable “Telegraph” demurs to our “Broadway” moiety, two or three Prints not quite so respectable (at least in common sense) object to the “Journal” half. “A journal,” say they, “is a daily, and nothing else.” The word “journal,” to be sure, from the French journće, was a term originally applied to a daily record of events, and was precisely equivalent to “diary” — but in common with a multitude of words its primitive meaning gradually amplified itself, until it vanished altogether. A journal now is merely a record, generally speaking and for the primitive meaning we fall back upon “diary.” [column 2:] The argumentum ad absurdum will soon reduce our inquisitors to reason. If primitive meanings are to be adhered to, we might maintain that Mr. T —— is no sycophant merely because he is not in the habit of discovering figs.

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SOME TIME ago we published, as the composition of William Gilmore Simms, a little poem called “ The Whippoorwill.” It belongs to Dr. Bird, of “Calavar” memory.

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THE MISSES SEDGWICK (nieces of the authoress) have established a school at 42 West Washington Place. Their accomplishments are well known, and of their capacity for the task assumed, no one acquainted with them can entertain a doubt. The Mirror says justly:

The name of Sedgwick alone is a recommendation for a school: it is associated with candor, benevolence, and knowledge of the physical and moral laws, and we believe it is rarely in vain that one of a name should show such excellence; it kindles aspiration and imparts life to others who bear it.

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“HERE THE journeymen,” says the last number of Graham's Magazine, “place two scales upon one another at right angles, thus X.” The sentence is a fine exemplification of the expediency of” letting well alone.” It would have been wiser to stop at the “right angles.”

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AN exchange paper says: —

“In the United States Gazette of Friday last, we find, credited to the London World of Fashion for July, a story entitled ‘Mary, or the Blighted Blossom.’ It looked to us at once like an old acquaintance; and on turning to our files we found that on the 19th of February last was published in this paper, credited to the Buffalo Daily Gazette, a narrative headed ‘ Mary, or the Triumph of the Heart over Itself,’ which is word for word, so far as we continued the examination, the same as the ‘ Mary’ first noticed, and which we have a dim recollection of having at the time copied from the U. S. Gazette. This is only one instance among many in which British periodicals have appropriated to themselves, without acknowledgement, the productions of American minds.”

Very true: — and, what is more, it is astonishing to see how a Magazine article, like a traveller, spruces up after crossing the sea. We ourselves have had the honor of being pirated without mercy — but as we found our articles improved by the process (at least in the opinion of our countrymen) we said nothing, as a matter of course. We have written paper after paper which attracted no notice at all until it appeared as original in “Bentley's Miscellany” or the “Paris Charivari.” The “Boston Notion” once abused us very lustily for having written “The House of Usher.” Not long afterwards Bentley published it anonymously, as original with itself, — whereupon “The Notion,” having forgotten that we wrote it, not only lauded it ad nauseam, but copied it in toto.

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ROBERT DALE OWEN, in a late letter to “The Tribune,” fully exculpates himself from the charge of having plagiarzed [[plagiarized]] a song, bodily. He says:

I published in the year 1887 [[1837]], a historical drama, entitled “Pocahontas,” indulgently noticed by the press at the time, and in that drama, introduced the Song in question (at page 76.) To this drama notes were appended, and the note to page 74 read as follows;

‘Tis home where’er the heart is, &c.

“This Song is altered from some fugitive ballad that pleased me at the time that I read it, and has remained in my memory; though I have forgotten or never knew, the author's name.”

I need hardly add, that the lines appeared in the ‘Chaplet of Mercy,’ as mine, equally without my consent or knowledge; sent thither, doubtless, by some friend who may have seen the Song in the little work in question, and had overlooked the disclaiming note. [page 126:]

[[ —— ]]

TO THOSE wishing a neat wedding, visiting, or business Card, we recommend Valentine's Card Engraving and Printing establishment, No. 1 Beekman street. His work is neatly, and even beautifully executed, and his charges are moderate.

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STRANGERS visiting New York will find at Johnson's (formerly Holt's) Hotel — (the Pearl Street House) — as fine accommodations as at any in the city. The arrangements, throughout, are excellent — and we really can call to mind no similar establishment where as much true comfort is to be obtaided [[obtained]] in conjunction with so much of respectability and economy. Mr. Johnson, the host, is one of the most gentlemanly men in the world.

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MESSRS. BURGES & JAMES, of Charleston, S. C., have in press the [[“]]writings of Hugh Swinton Legaré,” to be prefaced by a sketch of his life. There will also be a portrait. The work will be in two volumes, containing Selections from Mr. L's Contributions to the Southern and to the New York Review; Detached portions of his Diplomatic Correspondence; A Journal of the Rhine; Orations and other Miscellaneous Matter — together with Private Letters. The same publishers propose also to issue “ A Selection of Miscellanies in Criticism and Literature, by William Gilmore Simms” — in three handsome volumes duodecimo.

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“FREDERICA BREMER,” says a late Liverpool Albion, “ will shortly pass through Liverpool, en route for the United States.”

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MR. MATHEWS’ “Big Abel and Little Manhattan” will appear in September, as one of Wiley & Putnam's “ Library of American Books.”

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A VERY PRETTY poem, which (unfortunately for us) we did not write, appears in Wednesday's “Tribune” with the initials E. A. P. appended.

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THE BARON VON RAUMER has published his long promised work on the United States. An English translation will immediately appear.

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MR. JOHN BRITTON, the eminent antiquarian and topographer, has produced sixty-six volumes, containing 1866 engravings of noted accuracy, and costing in the outlay $50,000. A subscription has been opened for a memorial to be presented to the venerable topographer, and £300 have been collected.

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The commencement of Brown University is to be held on the first Wednesday of September. The oration before the Society of Undergraduates will be delivered by Rev. Mr. Lambert, of New Bedford, Mass., and a poem by R. S. S. Andros . Dr. Hawes, of Hartford, Ct., will deliver an address before the Society for Missionary Inquiry, and on the afternoon of Commencement day, an oration before the Phi Beta Kappa Society will be pronounced by Rev. William R. Williams, D. D., of New York city.

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WE THANK the New-York Correspondent of the “Cincinnati Gazette,” for the gentlemanly tone of his reply to some late pettish comments of our own. We saw only a portion of one of his letters. Had we seen more, we should at once, through the precison and purity of his style, have recognised a friend.

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HON. EDWARD EVERETT and family have taken passage in the Liverpool steamer for Boston of September 4th. [column 2:]

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MR. Henry Erben, who is building an organ for Trinity Church, says that thirty men can get inside one of the pipes.

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Mr. Jocelyn is said to have completed a fine portrait of Gov. Baldwin, of Connecticut.

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LIBERAL BEQUEST. — The late Captain Joseph H. Dwight of Oxford, N. Y., bequeathed nearly all his estate to the Roman Catholic Church, for a new College. The bequest is supposed to be worth $15,000 or $20,000.

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TO CORRESPONDENTS — We are somewhat at a loss to comprehend A. M. J. [[I.]] of Attleboro’. To what previous poems does he allude? We thank him cordially for his last favor. It shall appear forthwith. The rhythmical information desired is unattainable in book form. See meanwhile one of the three numbers (we believe the third) ofThe Pioneerpublished at Boston by Mr. Lowell.

The length ofBlanche,” excludes it for the present.

Sleepis on file.

To D.N. of Utica — The address desired, is Boston, Mass.


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Notes:

This review was attributed as being by Poe by W. D. Hull.

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[S:0 - BJ, 1845] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Criticism - Literary (Poe?, 1845)