The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-27 00:00:00

LITERATURE OF TIE LOWER ORDERS.

BATCH THE 61EVENTII.
To the various serials enamerated in our last as the
available resources for the substitution of the deleterious
existing literature of the inferior chums, must be added the
various publications of Mr. Charles Knight. This publisher
has, indeed, no ordinary claims upon the confidence of the
public teacher in these matters. While the idea of creating
a popular literature was wereely more than a theory, and
the possibility of a cheap literature, at least a hazardous ex-
periment, he took a vigorous part in achieving both the one
and the other. For fourteen years Mr. dharles Knight pre-
sided, with refined cosmopolitan taste, and sorted critical judg-
ment, over that wonder-worker in the cause of general en-
lightenment—that pioneer in the path of all the high.clase
puple's periodicals which have subsequently appeared—The
lousy Meantime. That work has at length succumbed to
its rivals—but the interest which it excited, the read-
ing habits which it fostered, remain. It expired, as
all undertakings which are not vitally ex-panties in their or-
ganisation most tecessarily do, when the idea on which it
was based was worked out—when the state of popular feel-
ing and popular intelligence existing at the period
of its commencement, and to which it was peen-
' Harty adapted, were outgrown. But the Lime care-
jut taste, the same enlarged sympathies, the same
adventurous but prudent spirt, which conducted it through a
career of unexampled success, continued, and still continues,
to cater well and wisely for the popular wants. The cause
demand and thcap literature owes a debt of gratitude to
Charles Knight, which can sever be too fully acknowledged,
and the insisting upon which might seem to be enact of super-
erogation. But there is a pleasure to generous minds in
renewing the acknowledgment of an obligation ; and a gene-
ration is now rapidly rising up to whom the sense of services
rendered several years ago is little more than a tradition.
The lanes which are at present proceeding from the Lud-
gate-street press, and to which we would address the atten-
tion of the reader, are—The Industrial Library, The Land
we Live in, Hal .flow-swath I/bobcat Authors, The National
Reclopedia o Useful Knowledge, • cheap re-issue of
P • • History of England ; A history of England
since the Peace of 1816; The Pictorial Shakspere ; The
Farmer's Library and Cyclopedia of Rural Affairs; The
Pictorial Bible. All these works pawn the two essential
attributes which are required in books for popular and
cottage reading—high quality and low price; and may be
recommended in all cases where their substitution for an
inferior literature is practicable.
The Industrial Library consists of a series of admirable
guide-books to the different services in which the children
of the labouring classes may be brought up. For example:
"The Housemaid;" "The Ladies Maid ;" "The Oardener ;" "The Ploughman;" "The Groom;" "The Nur-
ser y Maid;" " The Maid-of-all-Work ;" "The Clerk," end
so forth. The necessary qualifications, duties, and responsi-
bilities of these, and other various situations, are emitted
out; and very plain, sound, and rregusut advice given
respecting them. They are written by experienced Femme,
contain a greet deal of accurate and useful information, and .
we will venture to say that there are very few persons wbo
would not benefit by their instructions—either of the class
of the employed or employers.
The Land we Live in is an attempt to form a literary end
pictorial sketch book of the British empire—not an elaborate
and minute topographical account on the plan of the cele-
brated antiquary, John Leland, but a stork which, when
completed, shall convey by means of letterpress and illus-
trations, by eminent authors and artists, a fair, and where
the importance of the subject requires it a full, descrip-
tion of the land we live in. In some respects it
is to be a sequel and counterpart to thc same
publisher's popular work on " Old England." What,
ever is moat venerable and pictureiej,e in the menu-
meets of the past—whatever is most magnificent and sug-
gestive in the creations of the present—whatever is most
beautiful and romantic in natural scenery, sod striking in
the characteristics of the people—is here brought together
and present, din line and letter. Mr. Knight 'spit is his
aim to seize upon the more prominent and most universally
interesting of these features--in
the desire to amuse as well
as to instruct—to advance all safe and benevolent progress,
and to nourish a just love of eountry. In the parts which
have hitherto appeared, we must acknowledge that this pro-
mise has been well redeemed. It is admirably adapted for
the reading of the better cluses of artisans and labourers.
The volumes entitled Half-hours with the best Authors
are also particularly well adapted for the use of the tame
darn. Indeed, we know of no more pleasant and profit-
able reading for all ranks—but it is pre-eminently the cue
with those who have net the command of a finsrate iibrary.
These halthours" are passed in communion with the must
celebrated writers of all ages and countries—with poets,
preachers, historians, dramatists, eons ists, and other mis-
cellaneous authors; the selections are made with nice judg-
ment and ample knowledge—Greece, Italy. England,
France, Germany, and America, are each representeu HI ex-
tracts from the productions of their distinguished was. The
translations are conscientiously rendered; and, in addition, a
short biographical sketch of each writer is prefixed to the selec-
tion from his works. The book is very handsomely printed
and; got up. Each volume is illustrated with fine en-
gravings : altogether it is probably the beat, as it certainly is
the cheapest, book of excerpts ever published.
The National Cyclopedia of Useful Knowledge is a re-
markable monument of enterprise, ability, and cheapness
combined, and well deserves the epithet of national.
Never before was such a work produced at such a price:
and no one but the bolder of the copyrights of the material
of the Penny Cyclopedia could possibly have entered on
such a venture. The last-named work is generally acknow-
ledged to be one of the best, if not the very best, book of
universal reference and authority existent. As its name
Implied, it was originally intended to form a book of gene-
ral information for the mosses ; but the execution far out-
grew the design. The ablest writers in the different
departments were engaged upon it. It forced its way into
the libraries of the rich and learned, and it became too large
and catty for the people. It was fourteen years in coming
out, filled nine and twenty ponderous volumes, and sold for
nine pound. in sheet. Now, however, the proprietor can
redeem his original intention. By a careful condensation of
the information contained in that work, and by adding new
articles so es to bring it up to the state of progressive science,
history, and general knowledge at the present hour, he is
actually forming a work whose appearance will constitute
an epoch in cyclopardign literature. Its cheapness is
marvellous—its ability not less so. It appears in weekly
numbers of sixty-four closely-printed pages of oc-
tavo —at threepence each being, in fact, twice
the amount of excellent matter, on sped paper, and
well printed, as is given of the veriest trash of
Hulysrell-
street for the tame money : To these who have not acmes
to • well-furnished library, this National Cyclopedia—a
library of no mesa extent and variety in itself—must be in-
valuable; and even to those who have, it would also prove a
no email economiser of time in giving clues to especial refe-
rences.
The Pictorial History of Englund needs no recommenda-
tion from us. The verdict of high criticism has already as-
signed it • prominent place in the standard literature of our
country. Its original feature is, that it is a history of the
people as well as of the government—of social as well as mi-
litary movements and events. It is only necessary to state
that the re-issue is sent forth at exactly one-half
the cost of the first editions—thus bringing it within the
reach of • much enlarged circle of readers.
TAe History of England since the Peace is an entirely
sew work, intended as a sequel to the foregoing, and re
blued in the same manner. The records of this period
have not hitherto been written. All general histories end
with the downfall of Napoleon ; but • generation has sprung
1111 to which events long subsequent to the battle of Waterloo
ere not matter of memory. Such a book had therefirc net d
le Is written ; and there are few person+ to whom the read-
* public could trust with greater confidence for a faithful
and judicious compilation on the sahject than to Mr.
Charles Knight.
TAs Pictorial Shakspere and The Pictorial Bible, are
Will which are already too well known and appreciated by
is• pablie to require any further notice here—other than
Illm ist that re-issues of them are now proceeding from the
e; street press. The Farmers' Library and Cycle-
Rural Affairs, is a deserving work; but, being in-
tended for a special class of readers, does not enter into our
odegery of literature, which may be judiciously substituted
for that of • noxious character amongst general readers.
No man has done mere for the people in his particular
sphere—and no man is more entitled to gratitude and sym-
pathy from all earnest movers in the cause of popular educa-
tion and improvement—than Mr. Knight. May he lire and
labour long in the same honourable arena.
of