The native American., 1838-03-31
From The New York Daily Wing.
CHOICE FOREIGN LITERARY NEWS

A very singular book has recently made its ap-
pearance in London, which is entitled, 'Diary
illustration Of the Times of George the Fourth,
interspersed mAh original letters from the late
Queen Caroline, and from various other disfin-
guished personages. 1t comes from the press
of Mr.. Henry Colbourn one Of the most respect
able London publishers. 1t consists Of two vols.
Svo. II is long since work has appeared which
has produced so great $ sensation" as this
From the account given of it in the London peri
odicals, and the copious extracts which they fur
nish it is very clear that it ves with the scan
dalous chronicle published many years ago, which
was called ..'rhe Book The latter work prob.
ably many of my readers have seen. The s'Diary''
is not denied to be genuine by any of its many
assaans, but is declared to be, at any rate, i'll
timed at SO early period after the occurrence Of
the facts narrated, and to involve criminal breach
of confidence. Though, however, its genuine
is not conrovarted it is asserted that it con-
tains many gross slanders and arocous libels,
along with sufliciency of idle gossip. The dis
tinguished personages" mentioned in the title page
play no very creditable part in the Diary. Its
tissue of courtly folly, vice, and sheer depravty,
was hardly ever equalled in any production of the
press. Even among the many continental "Me-
moirs," which have been published at Paris and
elsewhere within the last thirty or forty years,
scarce single work can be found which surpass-
es this in point of scandal. The editor of dis
tinguished literary periodical in London, by whom
the work was seen before its publication, remark
ed in notice of it inserted in his columns that,
in all probability 'nether the dooers of the work.
nor its promulgators, would find that they had
spread for themselves bed of roses" In con-
nectlon with this notice he presented two or three
extracts from the book. One of the extracts con-
tanned story of certain Lady -, who was
said to have been instrumental of the suicide of
her husband, from whom she concealed their fe-
male child, fegnng its death, burying kid in
its stead, and behaving altogether so '.diabocalIy'
that the poor man went mad and shot himself As
1t happened, this number of the periodical day
or two after its appearance fell into the hands of
Cot. Webster, the son of the Lady referred to.
lie, with all possible despatch, called upon Mr..
Colbourn, the publisher of the DIARY" and wish
ed to have copy sent home to him at once. Be-
tore going away, however, he examined the books
to see if the extracts he had read were correctly
given.
lie pointed out the tale concerning Lady -
TO Mr.. Colbourn, who did not know him or the
application OF the tale, and said to him, ssAlow
me to tell you that am Col. Webster, a son Of
Lady Holland. to whom these remarks apply."
He then contradicted the details in some import-
ant points, and concluded by saying, "of nv fu-
ture intentions respecting the unknown author YOU
shall be duly informed" and took his leave. On
the same day Mr.. Colbourn wrote him letter
expressive of regret and offering to cancel the OBJ
lecnonable passages which had been pointed out
Vol. Webster, upon this, wrote letter to the ed
itor IN whose periodical the extracts had appeared
IN IN which he declared himself satisfied with Mr..
oolburn,s conduct, but said that he intended to re-
guest the name OF the author Of the Diary, with
view to demand satisfaction Of the person, if al