The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-10-01
Communications.
Ma. SHIRLEY,

book-shop, the head quarters of the literary
loungers of this metropolis, there was put into
my hands by that attentive vender of the wit
and lucrations of others, the first number of
new periodical publication issued at Philadel-
phia. Among the many ingenious modes of
getting money, which have been introduced of
late years, none has been so successfully adop-
ted, as writing books, and for the multitude of
those that are written, the world can hardly
contain them. With this multiplication oflight
and ponderous tones, there has grown up
practise very convenient for the fashionable
reader, by which the spirit of these volumes is
extracted and put into his hands in more tan
gible and buyabte form. Literary labours are
subdiyided, and those who can get no honour nor
profit in the original composition Of works Of
merit, may BOW reap both abundantly, by dis
scminatipg the thoughts of others in a cheap
manner disembodied Of the cumbrous matter "of
the earth earthly" which often gives dusty
eminence to tho labours of learned men. For
my own part feel very much obliged to these
condensers and reviewers, who save me the ex-
pense and labour of Purchasing or living and
reading the Numerous tales, dramatic poems,
novels and memoirs, which comes upon US with
rapidity thlt tires the patience and exhausts
the purse.-I cannot be sounfashionable as aot
desire to talk of the last work to critcise the
immortal unhnol7n, and endeayour to make dis
play of taste and conversational talent in adj
mring beautiful passages and descriptions, or
DETERMINATIONS between the various merits of
popular authors.
Such being common passion among almost
all classes Of readers, the labour saving ma
chinery ofmonthly magazines and literary mis-
cellanies afford to them wonderful relief 1t
was therefore with pleasure that | took the new
pamphlet, that before observed was profered
to me by my friend with curiosity and inter
This magazine is entitled the Museum, is con-
Quoted by Mr.. WALSH, the editor ofthe Nation
al Gazette, and proposed to be filed principally
by selections from foreign journals. The liter
airy character OF the conductor ensures il de-
gree of ability, which ca mot fail to make il an
lHleTCslug u@SAll hoih. TIC mist
contains selections from the new monthly mag
azne, the British critic, the Eclectic review,
and the most popular periodical journals of
Great Britain.
As these works have limited circulation in
this country, and as they contain many articles
that are not generally interesting, work which
shall incorporate the beauties of each into one
whole, and that not expensive, viii be doing a
valuable service TO the reading public" on this
side of the water. When | look around Johnson's
shop, and see the imposing array Of books
nelC and fashionable boots--and glance over his
long catalogue-I feel, very sensibly, the ne
cessity which demands an abridged form to this
literature, and which, while it relieves our time
from the burden Of perusing whole importation
of fresh works, will give US something more than
a title-page knowledge of their contents.-One
NAV as well be out Of the world, as not to know
what our kindred nation is doing for literature,
and the sciences and arts. And as we cannot
DENY that they possess fine taste and much ex-
ccllence in learning, and are withal very good
models IN style and matter, let us not be asham-
cd to kindle our lamps by their torches, rather
to borrow some Of their light to walk by, " in
tae world of mind"