The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-17 00:00:00

()se way of marking the stages of a nation's
career is to note the number of battles that have
been fought ; but this is, fortunately, falling into
desuetude. Another, which is both more modern
and more rational, is to note the principal legisla-
tive measures which its Parliament or Legislative
Assembly has passed. Even this is open to the
objection that the nation which is the most pro-i
greasive may not have been agitated by any poli-1
tical contests. The like exception cannot be taken
to the literary record of national life. The record
lof the publisher is fraught with more precious
lessons than the roll of the War-office, or the
record of the Legislature. Every book has
a value which cannot be estimated except
when taken in relation to others, just as a single
stone may be of no importance, yet forming an ,
indispensable part of the cairn or pyramid. It
is the mass of books, each possessing greater or leas
value, which constitutes literature, and the whole
of the books published in any country during the
year is the collective contribution to the literature
of the nation. If we turn to the English Cata-
logue of Books for 1867 which has just appeared,
we have more reason to congratulate our country-
men on the quantity which has been published
than on the quality of the product. Upwards of
four thousand new books have gone to burden the
shelves of the British Museum. We look in vain
for many which deserve to be remembered with
pride. There is no imperishable history or splen-
did poem, no new system of philosophy or
startling critique on any old system of re-
ligion. Of works of fiction there are
hundreds ; but of great novels there is not
one. Indeed, there has been that stagnation
in the world of literature which has prevailed in
the world of commerce. But if originality has
had no scope, the reprinting of old works has
sufficed to give occupation to publishers. There
have been five new edition of the works of Scorn ;
sixteen of those of Snalaerraas ; four of those
of GOLDSMITH ; one of Braos's poems, while the
vitality of Hums is proved by the fact that four
editions of " Robinson Crime" have appeared,
one of them being specially adapted for
children. Knowing as we do how favourite a
task the translation of Homan has become, we are
surprised to find but one noted in this catalogue,
and that a new edition of Lord DERBY'S version. ,
DANTE, however, is more fortunate or the
reverie ; because seven translations of his
great work have been made. As this is pre-
eminently a Bible-reading country, we naturally
look for works relating to Holy Writ, or
for new editions of the Sacred volume,
and we find no leas than fifty-four. Works

TILE MEETING IN ST. JAMES'S-HALL.

the sense of the old and the new con-
stituencies upon the Irish Church question is to
be judged by the usual tests of opinion in a free
country. that is, by the number and character of
the public demonstrations on the one side and on
the other, it seems tolerably clear that the PalliE
filizro.Tra cannot be congratulated on the success
of his appeal to the passions and prejudices
of a bygone time. It may be, an unlimited
faith in the folly and credulity of one's fellow
creatures is not always the safest guide for the
government of a people accustomed to think for
themselves, and to think aloud. In France,
shaken by abortive revolution; and per-
petually
osculating between anarchy and des-
potism, where the political pusillanimity of
the middle class is not leas remarkable than the
disposition of all classes to regard authority as
some heathens regard their idols—with an abject,
yet mocking submission,—contempt for the in-
telligence and disbelief in the virtue of mankind
are, properly enough, the fundamental principles
of Imperialism. On this side of the Channel it
may be doubted whether a certain degree of
respect for the reason and conscience of the
community is not a desirable, and even &necessary,
quality in men who claim the confidence of Par-
liament, and enjoy the favour of the Crown. Mr.
DISILKLL has raised the double cry of "the Church
"and the State indanger," just as the French Minis-
ter of State raises the cry of " Society in danger" when-
ever his majority in the Legislative Body
begins to show the slightest symptom of indepen-
dence. M. Rot:rims, who has risen to power by
Battering the abject fears of French society, seldom
fails to elicit the response he calls for. But M.
'Wynn& has the advantage of addressing a house
of administrative nominees, imposed upon con-
stituencies that cannot call their souls their own,
whose voice is never heard in a public meeting, and
whose real sentiments can only be murmured by a
few faint echoes in the press. Mr. DDINAILI
is not quite so comfortably situated. His
ingenious devices to rouse a clerical and conserva-
tive panic are encountered by the scornful
laughter of a people inaccessible to childish alarms,
resolved to close a long account of wrong, and
athirst for justice.

The meeting at St. James's-hall last night I specially relating to religion number four-
in support of Mr. GtsnaroNs's Resolutions is sot I teen, and in connexion with that phase of re-
alm first, nor the last, expression of the public I ligious development styled Ritualism, there are
mind of England on what Lord RURSILL, speaking eighteen publications. In addition to those of our
from the chair, characterised as a " national I own literature, the principal works published in
mils of the greatest importance." From 1 the United States are included in this Catalogue.
OM end of the country to the other, and ! But these do not figure conspicuously. There are
eareislly in all the great centres of industry few of permanent value and general interest.
and intelligence, meetings have been held remark-' Altogether seventy-seven are clamed under the
able not so much for the unanimity of the audience I heading of America ; but the majority have
es for the diversity of the speakers. Anglican been written and published in England. On
churohmen have stood side by side with Prates- the whole, we regret that so little can be said in
tent nonconformists, and Protestant noncon- favour of the year 1887 as a year of intellectual
formists have been supported by Roman Catholics. : activity. Let us hope that a survey of 1868 may
So true it is that the most religious men an prove more gratifying to all who desire that the
literary glories of England should be perpetuated
better than their "cloth," and that there are trans-
and enhanced by succeeding generations of learned
eendant mem' mums in this world in
whose presence sect, and creed, and class, all and illuatrione men.
that divides and separate!, melt away.
Some personal aspects of the meeting last night Ir it be true that there are no funds at the dis-
mark in • most striking manner the prognms posal either of the Sheriffs of London or of the
which ideas of religions liberty and equality have RomeArthce which can be used for the defence of
accomplished within a single generation in this poor pri•unerd, it is certainly desirable that the
muntry, and attest the ,r.wth of a - want Ji.o. IA be supplied as soon as possible.
Pabli. spirit of enlightened reconciliation, Where the trial takes pleas, virtually if not is