The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-09

uleraturS OF the day-a revolution, too, iiidt VIII
be hailed with JOY by every genuine friend oil mo-
rality and virtue and the best interests of the
munty 1t is very well known that during the last
three orfour years the country has been inundated
by species of cheap literature whose tendency,
no longer equivocal or matter of speculation, has
/ been discovered TO be of the most dangerous and
demoralizng character. We allude to the produce
tions OF Bulwer, Dickens, and others of that ilk,
OF the English school, and to the works of Eugene
cue, Paul de kock and other contemporaries of the
Partisan school Probably between two and three
millions OF dollars have been expended these
works by the reading population Of the United
states They have been circulated over the whole
length and breadth of the land-found their way
into every hamlet, and almost every farm house;
and thus the false and dangerous philosophy Of Bull
wer, and the loose morality of Sue have been IN
stilied into the minds Of thousands, there to ger
inmate and bring forth their appropriate fruits of
| error and crime
! But a counteractlng element now enters into the
| Held, through the agency OF the Harpers--a COM
pany OF publishers who have mingled in some de-
gree the cheap and nasty with the valuable litera-
ture of the age The Harpers are Christians, and
active men OF business-combnng, with considera-
BILE success, the rigid morality of the Calvnistc
school with the habits and knowledge of good bu-
slness men of this sublunary world These gen.
t'cmen have been engaged for some time past in
preparing one Of the beautiful editions Of the
Holy Bible, if not the most beautiful, ever publish
ed IL is called the illuminated and Pictorial
Bible" The publishers have had artists engaged
in the work for six or seven years past 4; and The
first number has just been issued. OF il we believe
no fewer than fifty thousand copies have been dis
dnT md, A.
calculated that of this beautiful edition of the Bible
nearly two hundred thousand copies will be circu-
lated throughout the country. The work will be
completed in fifty numbers, each Of which is to be
sold at the amazingly low price of twenty iiv.
cents 1t will be thus the cheapest publication yet
issued IN this country. The whole cost of getting
1t up will be about Sl5O,OOO, and the aggregate
amount paid by the public for the immense impress
sion TO be disposed Of, will be sum between two
and half or three millions of dollars, leaving to
the publishers princely fortune-the result of one
successful enterprise. And indeed this is the most
Popular-like movement In the publishing business
we have yet seen, and deserves TO be rewarded.
both on that account, and on account, also, and TO
still greater degree, of the infinite good which
must result from il.
Just let US reflect on the matter for moment
The beauty-the SURPRISING elegance of the work
will carry 1t into thousands of places where the
oracles OF God would be otherwise unwecome vsi.
tors. gentleman who made great many
visits on New Years day, informs us that he saw
the first number Of the work on almost every draw
ing room table. Thus the Scriptures will obtain a
circulation which all the efforts of the Bible Soc.
ETY. could not achieve. And what must be the ef
tect2 Why, the operation Of the genuine morality
of the Bible must soon be more widely difinsed
and more generally exhibited. The evil effects e
the deceptive teachings Of such philosophers as
Bniwer and Sue will be materially contracted
and the fimsy, glittering errors of so-called d.
vines will also be exposed, Can't too will find
new and powerful antagonism in many quarters -
The Bible itself-frce from the CLOSES of the
schoolmen and the twisting and mutllation of the
prcsts-is the true teacher, the guide With
the wider spread of knowledge of its lofty and e-
evating moraity--lts pure and holy precepas-iis
mud but persuasive admonItons-its gentle but all
powerful restraints, the people must be made bet
ter. ms is what we want. Not cant and pharl-
| saism-not hypocritcal observances--not long
players at the corners OF the strcets-nor costly
incense on the altar but the simple and pure reli-
gion which was preached on the Mount-ex, ound-
ed on the shores of Gallee-illustrated and exem-
p,ted at the grave OF Lazarus and the beds of the
sick and dying-crowned and glorified on Calvary,
when the heavens looked aghast and the veil of
the temple was rent In twain
A LITERARY CURIOSITY. Tue UNPUBLISHED LET
TIERS BETWEEN BURNS AND CLARrNpA.--This is "A
small but very curious volume which has been Just
issued in this city, and edited by Mr. MLehose, the
grandson Of the celebrated Clarinda, who formed
Platonic affection for Burns during his first visit
to Edinburgh, and between whom series of
letters passed part of which have been heretofore
introduced into the void, where they have created
good deal of interest.
1t appears, by the prefaratory matter TO this
volume, that Ciarinda, alias Mrs. M'Lehose, was
born in Glasgow Of respectable parentage. Her
maiden name was Agnes Craig. She was a very
beautiful girl considerably vain, and fond of So
ciety She was married in early life-at the age
of Ito Mr.. MLehosc, of the legal profession
After having had two or three children, and living
| few years together, they disagreed so much and
| their life was so unhappy, they separated he be-
came dissipated and went to London, and then to
Jamaica, where he died. She, having small
patrimony, resided in Edinburgh visiting religious
and literary society, and taking great deal of in
teres in all movements of that description. II was
during the first visit that Burns made to Edinburgh,
when he was taken under the patronage of the
litera there, he became acquainted with Clarinda,
and the correspondence commenced between then
which is contained in this volume, and which is
the most curious and unique we have ever seen
| The character Of the correspondence is amatory
aud platonic IN the highest degree 1t resembles
ia some respects the correspondence between Abe.
lard and Heloisa, but without any of its guilt and
crimnalily. Burns and Mrs M'Lehose appear to
have been trying experiments how near they could
reach by homeopathic doses TO the utmost boun-
Diary that separated virtue from criminality; and
upon that very extraordinary line they would daily
with both so that it was only after some time and
several prayers and hearing some sermons and cop-
| fessn her SINS that Mrs. M'Lehosc recovered her
former ground within the boundaries Of virtue and
common sense The letters Of Burns are very cha
racterislc of his natural refnements, occasional
! yulgariiy. great movers clustering sentiment.