The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-08-03
THE ENGLISH PERIODICAL PRESS

The vast infericrity of American Periodical Lite
Fature in comparison with that Of Great Britain is
universally admitted, but the reasons assigned
for this wide difference do not appear to US
TO reach the case. Catch your fish before you cook
its an old and truthful saying, and il applies
with force to oil departments Of human life. In the
department. Of iterature there must be demand for
pure writing, or il will not flourish. There can be
no periodical literature without people whose tastes
run in that channel. The law Of supply and demand
controls the literary world as well as the commercial
world. But while these truths are admitted, ,hera
can be doubt that the literary taste Of people
can be wonderfully improved, in very shors space
Of time BY holding up before their eyes periodically
the very best specimens Of composition and sound
thought III true such an enterprise requires the
outlay Of large capital and the devotion to il Of the
first minds Of the country and thus the question be-
comes narrowed down to Of iaterest for no mat.
ter how signal the ability, human intellect can only
operate secondarily or BY the means which none,
affords In Great Britain, the time was, when the
public mind could not, would not sustain the publ
cation Of periodical literature. The learning and
wisdom Of more than century, after the art Of print,
ing was discovered, saw the light Of day only in
heavy books intended for the wealthy few. The seed
thus sowh was, however, not without its fruit ii
least among tho privileged classes in England The
Addisonian Age is the mother Of modern literature
The energy Of Addison and his compeers, backed BY
the wealth Of their noble patrons enabled them 70
inoculate the public mind Of England with love Of
periodical literature -nay, enabled them 10 direct
and moald the public taste 90 as to beget desire
for periodical literature, and to create the power Of
approaching i in all it's splendor as held up BY the
chasts and elegant pens Of that day.
Those writer's devoted their whole time and power
to the abors which produced the Spectator and it,
kindred publications. They did not rely solely upon
the fruits derived from the sales of their papers, but
they reaped largely and bounteously in the fields Of
wealth opened % them by the nobility and merchant
princes Of the day. Il Is true, there men among
the wits Of that age who suffered in poverty, yet
wrote ss though their pens were dipped in god, but
their condition was more owing to their personal
vices than to any neglect Of their ii, patrons But
amid all The suerings Of the possessors Of intellect
in the age Of Addison, the great work Of enghten-
ing the public mind never forgotten, never pei.
mitted 10 dag. Publishers were always found en-
dusd with the love Of pure writing and coveting The
immortality Of having their names associated with
the brilliant writers Of their age. Their money was
devoted freely to the spreading Of the sentiments Of
tho masters Of English Literature before the vast
public Of London and they now have their reward
In not only the grateful recolections Of all Brtons
but in the gratitude Of the enlightened throughout
the world At the present day. Upon the Iabors Of
these men, upon their sacrifices have arisen tho
mighty engine Of periodical Literature Of the nine
teenth century. And how does the English Period
ical'press Sustain itself II pours out money as
freely as tcater to obtain the works Of mems brains
---the best ,oorks Of gigantic minds. 1t will have
none Of the fruits Of little, Of shallow minds. This
isthe secret Of s success, Of the immense difference
between the Periodical Literature Of the United
States and Great Britain. When we take up either
Of the admirable Periodicals lying on our table,
We do 30 with the certainty of finding the precious
stones Of human thought all dug out Of the mines,
and prepared and polished for use with the lapidarys
art When American publishers will pay for the
productions of American minds in the same ratio,
they will find that their works will obtain circua-
ion Of which The most ssnguine little dream. Until
than We must be conen. to enjoy the republica ions
Of Messs. Scott & Co. On another occasion, we
will revert to the contents Of the number before us