The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-06 00:00:00

The Newspaper Pless of America.

" Griffith Gaunt" seems likely to attain the suc-
cess not only of a clever novel, but of a notorious
one. The outcry that has been raised respect-
ing its imputed indelicacy and immorality, with
the indignant rejoinder recently put forth by
the author, who threatens to prosecute his malign-
ers in the courts of law, has created a sudden and
extensive demand for the book, to supply which we
have already two rival editions in the field. One
of these bears the imprint of Mesrs. Ticknor and
Fields—an imprint which has become in almost
every part of the world the best guaranty for high-
toned sterling literary excellence. This is the legi-
timate edition, for which the author receives a hand-
some remuneration. It is brought out in very nice
style, the paper, type, and all the belongings being
such as the daintest lady might enjoy. The other
edition, we regret to acknowledge, comes from New
York. We say regret, because knowing the terms
entered into by the author and his publishers,
Messrs. Ticknor and Fields, we are forced to be-
lieve this rival edition brought out in defiance of
the common principles of honesty and honour—in
short, that it has been gotten by an act so thievish
as to justly exclude the perpetrators from the society
of all high-minded men. Saying nothing of the
trespass on the just rights of Messrs. Ticknor and
Fields, we pronounce this trickish appropriation of
the fruits of the author's labour a piece of vulgar
greed and plunder which should be spurned from
sight by every one who cares for the honour of the
American name. We trust no one, for the sake of
the slight difference there may be in the cost of these
rival editions, will give their preference to the wares
of this New York literary junk shop.—The.Home
Journal.

THE " LEDGER" DESPATCH OF THURSDAY.

As a matter of newspaper record we insert, in
another column, the bogus despatch published in the
Ledger of Thursday, and the comments of the press
on the same. Its true history will no doubt be at
once ferreted out by the proprietors of that journal,
and given to the public. Some one wrote the des-
patch, and through some party it was caused to be
published. If it be true that it came through their
regular correspondent, nothing can be easier than
to trace it to its author or authors. The New York
evening papers of Thursday, and the New York
morning journals of yesterday, were very severe on
our contemporary, and directly charge it with stock
jobbing motives. We sincerely regret this. Al-
though the eminent bankers who own the majority
of the stock of the Ledger are large gold operators,
yet they are too well known in this community to
warrant this suspicion. The hoax was one which
might easily have been practised on any journal
placing such implicit confidence in its correspon-
dents as does the Ledger. We are also informed
that Mr. McKean, who has ably conducted the
journal since Mr. Swain retired, was temporarily
absent from the city on Wednesday, and the perpe-
trator of the hoax, aware of that fact, may have
seized the opportunity as one favourable to this
speculating dodge. We do not imagine that Mr.
McKean would have permitted it to be inserted in
the columns of the Ledger, or telegraphed, in the
name of that journal, to other cities had he been
present. Our contemporary must not be deterred
from its enterprise in its search after news, but
should hereafter exercise greater care in the selec-
tion of correspondents and in the scrutiny of their
despatches.—Philadelphia Inquirer.

STelliE"lls ,
the oNou n''
pirateOF ofA
thePIRTE
Raphael Semmes,
Ala. bama, who
for his feats in robbing
and burning defenceless
merchant vessels, and for being well whipped by
Commander Winslow, of the
Kearsage, was made
by
an "Admiral"
the Rebel
Government, is get-
ting himself into somewhat of a trouble with the
people of Mobile. The latter, order to show
their admiration of the brave in
&of this sea
robber, transported with admiration,e"&c.,
to the hero, elected him, some months
and gratitude
months ago, Judge
of the Probate Court, an easy and fat office. But
the United States Government, which had ar-
rested Semmes for the violation of his surrender at
the time when the Alabama was sunk, and which
had discharged him reluctantly, because be bad got
his subsequent parole by a trick, was not willing
that this traitor should hold an
office which an mi-
pardoned rebel could not hold. A prohibition was
put unon his triumph, and he has not yet been
allowed to discharge the duties of the judgeship.
Meanwhile, there is trouble in Alabama ; there is
no Probate Court in Mobile. Men die, and admi-
nistrators cannot be appointed to administer their
estates. Executors cannot get letters testamen-
tary; creditors cannot get the money owing them
from such estates, nor can the debts due to deceased
persons be collected. Orphans and widows are
suffering, and there is great trouble because there
is no Probate Court. Were Semmes anything else
but a selfish fellow, he would long since have re-
signed an office which he will not be allowed to
hold, and thus have relieved the community. But,
as might have been expected from one who has
such a record, his only thought is to 4, take care of