The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-02-06
rhs Great Bo. Festival In Boston.


AT leagth we have report Of the recent great
Festival. given by the younger literoteTs OF Boston,
to the immortal Boz, at Papauti's, place where
roast pig is done. two at time. Ii such an event
had TAX IN place in New York, il would have been all
reported in the Herald next day-but Boston has to
take two or three days TO put in her pickles.
In another part of our paper, the gems and da
monds of the occasion will be found-omitnng all
,be lesser suecies of egotsm, lwaddle, fudge, and
foolsry.
The speech made by Dickens is capital lin a
ure vein-aud ends with sensible view OF prac-
tcal ma,,er-internaliona copyright Among the
rest of the speeches, there is too much OF Pickwlck
too much of Sam weller-too much nonsense
Mr.. Bancroft took philosophical view OF passing
events-but his speech is very badly reported. The
song of Straws" is capitalize letter Of Washing
ton Irving smple-that Of N. P. Willis very maize.
From W llliss pc cuar taste and genius we believe
that he has poor opinion of the police report, or
locoioco school, which Dickens has made classical
and popular. But Willis finds Dickens a lion, and
he accordingly takes hold Of his tail, on the high
way TO Immortality, and intends to kick up dust
TOO, as he joys through the journey.
The truth is, that all these dinners, speeches. In
vitations, balls suppers, oysters, clans, hsn' ana
roast pigs, open up new mine In Inc phhosoPhy
of human nature, which Is fresh even to Dickens
The popularity Of Boz in this happy land must aston
ish even himself. This popularity-ths American PC
puarity has been produced entirely by chap gene
rally denominated the Rev. PARK BENJAMIN, Is
qure, who has not been placed on the Boz Commit
tee here, although he is more entitled TO IL man
some who are figuring in that list, as well as IN that
of the bankrupts. Park Benjamin first started that
class Of weekly literary periodicals, called the man.
moth Sheets" price six pence, the same as
shave at the Boz BARRIERS. He projected the
st Brother Jonathan" whose principal feature was
the early and rapid republication OF Bozs works, al
cheaper rate than the Harpers or other booksellers
did the business. The Brother Jonathan, nc
yeltv. rose TO circulation Of Is 600 in few weeks
AMI rushed over the country like wild-fire. Park,
however, got into quarrel with some one, lett the
" Jonathan" started the "New World" on the
same principles, and pretty nearly Knocked the
Jonathan into cooked hat where IL remains 10 this
day, while the " New World" took its place, and
finished the business, by making Dickens what he is
among the yeomanry Of the whole Union, lion,
tiger, or q rhinoceros r
This is the real and principal reason that Dickens
writings are % well known. The higher classes Of
literary fashionables never read Pickwick and Co. !;
and, accordingly. there is terrible rush upon the
circulating Libraries for every work Of Dickens, in
order to prepare themselves for the approaching
grand ball.
IfDickens is indebted to any man in this country
for spreading his name and fame, it is to Park Ben
jamn, and almost to him alone. We have no great
liking for Park. He is partly deyi-partly human !;
bat the devil must have his due, from US, I'M
less we mean to cheat him, and take the benefit Of
the act, as our friend " Of the regular army" Is
doing
So, 90 and read the proceedings.