Text: Edgar Allan Poe (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), November 8, 1845, vol. 2, no. 18, p. ???, col. ?

[page 277, column 2, continued:]

Editorial Miscellany.

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MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER, MR. HOOKER, WILEY & PUTNAM, AND INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. — The facts in this case are worth putting upon record as an indication of the movement in favor of International Copyright. — They have been brought before the public by Mr. Hooker's publication of a ‘Card’ and the ‘Imprimatur’ of Mr. Tupper, the book in dispute being the ‘Proverbial Philosophy.’ Mr. Hooker published an edition of this work before the author was generally known, issued it at a high price, and it was going off slowly when the author published a popular novel, ‘The Crock of Gold’, at first reissued in America in a shilling edition, and subsequently included in Messrs. Wiley & Putnam's Library of Choice Reading. Mr. Willis also began to write about Mr. Tupper, and meeting with him in England, gave a great impulse to his American reputation by telling the people in his letters that he was a brilliant young man, quite a vigorous plain spoken moralist (as his writings show) and that he was not at all dependent upon literature as a profession, being in the enjoyment of a city and country house, &c. &c: Then it came to pass how under different circumstances Pope had spoken a truth of human nature in his couplet —

Let but a Lord once own the happy Days,

How the wit brightens and the sense refines.

Mr. Tupper was not, indeed, a lord, but the imputation of wealth scoured the wit and purified the sense just as well. The public admired wealth, and also showed that it knew how to appreciate it, in calling for a cheap edition of the Proverbial Philosophy. A Bostonian wit, by the way, in a spirit of poetic enthusiasm similar to [page 278:] that which once induced a “gentleman of Oxford” to translate Milton's Paradise Lost into prose, got up an edition of the Proverbial Philosophy in prose too, whereby the printer was cheated out of his “fat” without the publisher, we presume, dining any better for the operation, either. Mr. Tupper brandished his ‘Imprimatur’ and held on to his price. Messrs. Wiley & Putnam are urged to print the work in the Library of Choice Reading. Respecting the interests of Mr. Hooker they leave it alone, when one day, without any previous knowledge on their part of the fact, an edition appears in exact accordance with the style of the Library. Then they become the purchasers of the plates, and by an arrangement with Mr. Hooker publish the work in the Library by his consent and for his benefit. In the mean time, however, Mr. Hooker suspecting unjust interference, had issued his card, and the “Courier” points the gun at Messrs. Wiley & Putnam. The explanation follows the charge, and here the matter rests, satisfactorily for all parties. The public get the book cheap, the piratical copy is bought up, and is now re-christened and doing good service for Mr. Hooker and the legitimate trade.

The moral of all this is threefold. First, that there is no adequate protection for the right of the foreign author, though it maybe partially defended by the “courtesy of trade.” Second, that it is impossible at present to sustain a book purchased of a foreign author at a price which Will give him and his American publisher any adequate return; and third, that the only cure of the matter must be the passage of an International Copyright Law.

Towards this end we have a right, energetic and manly assertion of what should be, by Mr. Tupper in his “Imprimatur”, similar in directness to a letter once written on this subject by Mr. Carlyle; then an eloquent remonstrance from Mr. Hooker, a divine and publisher, himself an author, pledging him to the work, and not least a recognition by Messrs. Wiley & Putnam of the sacredness of Mr. Hooker's contract with the author, by their treaty for the publication of the book.

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TOBACCO AND THE CLERGY. — The clergy, with most scholars, are great lovers of the weed. The smoke, they say, is the best lexicon to the intricacies of an old folio. One among the number, however, has turned traitor — the Rev. Benjamin I. Lane — and published his book on the other side. Per contra, we have according to Mr. Willis, the ladies assuming the cigar, the coquetry of the cigarito for the coquetry of the fan. and the following piece of poetry, written by a clergyman — argumentum ad hominem to the reverend author. The Morning News says:

It is fair to set off one divine as authority against another, so we give a poem, quoted in Washington Irving's Analectic Magazine from the European Magazine, of Sept. 1812, the second pan of which was written by Rev. Ralph Erskine, of the Church of Scotland, entitled —

SMOKING SPIRITUALZED.

PART I.

This Indian weed, now wither’d quite,

Though green at noon, cut down at night,

Shows thy decay;

All flesh is hay.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

++++

The pipe, so lily-like and weak,

Does thus thy mortal state bespeak,

Thou art e’en such,

Gone with a touch.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

++++

And when the smoke ascends on high,

Then thou behold'st the vanity [column 2:]

Of worldly stuff,

Gone, with a puff.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco,

++++

And when the pipe grows foul within,

Think on thy soul defil’d with sin;

For then the fire

It does require.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

++++

Thou seest the ashes cast away —

Then to thyself thou mayest say,

That to the dust

Return thou must

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

PART II.

Was this small plant for thee cut down?

So was the plant of Great Renown,

Which mercy sends

For nobler ends.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

++++

Doth juice medicinal proceed

From such a naughty foreign weed?

Then what's the power

Of Jesse's flower?

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

++++

The promise, like the pipe, inlays,

And, by the mouth of faith, conveys

What virtue flows

From Sharon's Rose.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

++++

In vain the unlighted pipe you blow;

Your pains in outward means are so;

Till heavenly fire

Your hearts inspire.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

++++

The smoke, like burning incense towers,

So should a praying heart of yours,

With ardent cries,

Surmount the skies.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

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THE COUNTRY PAPERS ON AMERICAN BOOKS. — Nearly every paper which comes to us has some cavil at American books, while the least particle of pretence is nourished and hugged and lionized, if it only come from some foreign Timothy Twiddlethought. It would be amusing were it not contemptible. The habit of mind which can see nothing good at home, whatever hypocritical ardor may be expressed, we may be confident has no true appreciation of what is good abroad. From the heart outward, from the home outward, from the country outward. Thus self discipline and self respect teach us to respect others; the good lather, the good son form the good citizen, and the love of country expands into the love of human kind. It is the weakest indication of old womanhood to strain the eyes at something from Paris, and turn up the nose at something, probably better, home-made.

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We copy the following just tribute to a man of genius from the “U. S. Journal.” We attribute it to the pen of Jesse E. Dow — himself a true poet and a judge of poetry.

POEMS, BY WILLIAM WALLACE. — We are pleased to learn that this gentleman has in press a volume of Poems, which will shortly be issued. This will be a valuable addition to our literature. Mr. Wallace is a true poet — one who has contributed largely to the literary reputation of our country. Even his earliest efforts were crowned with unusual success. A small volume of his poems, published some six or eight years ago, was received with more than ordinary applause. Many of the pieces contained in it bore the stamp of a powerful and fervid imagination, an uncommon depth of feeling, a profound, metaphysical force of thought, combined with Originality and acuteness of perception. Within the last three years he has written poetry of sufficient merit to entitle him to rank with the first poets of the country. “Perditi,” a metrical romance, first published in Graham's Magazine, contains passages, which lor forcible delineation of the passions, vigor of language, originality of conception, richness of imagery, and true pathos, will bear comparison with any poetry of the age. What could be more inspiring than his magnificent picture of the American battle-ship? The lovers immured in the dungeon of Lorra's halls is equal to any thing from the pen of Maturin. He has now [page 279:] a reputation — that reputation is gaining ground — and it will be his own fault it his name should not occupy a high niche in the temple of lame. Already he has been placed, by the ablest critic in the country, in a notice of his poem entitled the “Gods of Old,” on a footing with Schiller, and pronounced superior to Miss Barrett in the conception of his subject. This curious metaphysical production, so strikingly novel in design and execution, so replete with bold, piercing and original thoughts, will, we-trust, tie embraced in the collection. But of all Mr. Wallace's efforts, nothing has struck us with so much force, as his last, entitled “THE STATUARY.” It is, without doubt one of the gems of the age. The very groundwork is poetry — genuine and original. The execution, the novelty and beauty of the figures — the boldness, truthfulness, manliness of the language — the dread magnificence of the pictures presented to the eye — all are beyond praise. This poem alone would stamp the author as a man of high and noble aspirations, as a true poet.

By the way, the Express says, in referring to “The True Death,”

The poem, the masterly poem of Wallace, The True Death, is marred by the Tennysonism of its prefix and suffix. It is a beautiful performance, however, and worthy of this impassioned poet.

This is all nonsense — as usual with the “Express.” No man is freer from Tennysonism, or any other “ism” than Wallace. We presume The Express alludes to “mere,” the common property of all mankind.

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MESSRS. WILEY AND PUTNAM are about to publish, simultaneously with the London editions to be issued immediately, the Life and Letters of Thomas Campbell, by Dr. Beattie, his friend and literary executor: a new and complete edition of the works of Keats, with a life of the poet by Monkton Milnes; and a new book by Leigh Hunt, a companion to “Imagination and Fancy,” entitled “Wit and Humor.”

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THE SOUTHERN Monthly Magazine published at Charleston, and edited by Mr. Simms, will, we understand, be merged at the end of the year in the Southern Literary Messenger, to which journal Mr. Simms will be a constant contributor.

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WE WOULD call particular attention to the advertisement of the United States Hotel. The establishment is most admirably conducted by the Proprietor, Mr. Johnson, and has participated very largely in the extensive trade of the present season. As a recherche and, at the same time not expensive Boarding House for genteel families during the winter, we heartily recommend the United States.