The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-10-02
NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS.

millions, and as intelligent population as that OF
our own country, the number of readers should
be comparatively so small. Probably if the sum
totai even OF newspaper readers, in the State of
New York could be ascertained, we all should be
astonished at the very small proportion in com.
Parison with the whole population.
But the remark is more true OF books, and es-
Peclally OF such as are really valuable While
there is reading, who buy and read every val
liable and many valueless works, the number of
persons composing it is comparatively small. 1t
Is to these men alone that authors look for their
reward, when they publish works intrinsically
good, but not calculated to catch the public eve;
and upon them an author may safely depend for
handsome recompense for his labor, if it has
been to good effect. But the number OF read
ers should be greatly increased. The man who
writes good book, has conferred lasting bene-
ut on the world, and should be as well rewarded
as ne who invents an engine telegraph.
There is very prevalentidea that money ex.
pended for books is thrown away, as much as
money expended for Injuries of the table or plea
sure excursions. The error need not be dwelt
on 1t is sufficiently obvious that it is incorrect.
good, well selected Library, should as certain
ly form part OF the furniture of farmhouse as a
palace
tits somewhat interesting to look at the popu-
lar taste in this country, indicated by the COM
parative sale OF various works. This, of course,
indicates only the taste of certain portion OF the
people, but these are the only ones who give
any indication OF taste at ALL by purchasing books
We pass over the novel readers, who are found
everywhere, and who devour Unfortunately
every brown covered book.
The circulation of these books does not depend
on their merit, SO much on the season OF the
year in which they are published. Jane Eyre,
in the winter and spring, commanded sale equal
to twice that Of the Tenant of WildfelI Hal, pub
I'D LII
ten.fold the merit Of the former. So probably
Gowrie, perhaps James's best novel, is now
meeting slow sale, while Laurel Water, much
poorer affair, sold we'll, three months or so ago.
NO class OF works meet with reader sale than
Religious Novels. 1t would appear that no book
OF any kind has had so rapid a circulation in this
country, as Hawkstone, Puseyte novel OF the
worst sort. Does not this indicate something pc.
culiar IN the public taste; 1t is at least remark.
able that such a work, published in an expensive
style, should have larger circulation than nov
els OF lighter character which are got up in a
cheaper form. 1t is questionable whether the
indications OF taste thus given, are to be regarded
as favorable. We fear that the tendency Of re-
ligious people to read such works, in place OF the
really valuable theological works published, is TO
be regretted.
Again, we have a class OF works which meeta
certain sale in this country, but which should be
valued far more extensively. We allude now to
republications of works of refined literature
The Bellies Lettres of England have been unsur.
passed in the world. The Essays of Ella, the
works of Hazlitt the Indicator OF Leigh Hunt,
the Sketches of Blanchard, the witty works of
Kinglake and Tbackary, among prose writings,
take lofty position among works of elegant liter
ature. The Poems of Coleridge, Keats, Tenny-
son, Mines, and host of others the em-poet-
ic, Theological tales and erbs Of Topper;
the brilliant reviews Of Stephens and Macauley,
all these should find place in the hands of every
intelligent man in America. But they meet with
slow sale, to one unvarying class OF readers
There are some thousands OF persons who have
made acquaintance with modern English litera-
ture, and who keep it up. Exceptions exist in
favor OF such works as Eothen, and some of Tup.
per's, and few others. Public attention was
called to them, and they old largely.
Why have we not an American literature to
correspond with this class in England? We
have the men and the ability. 1t cannot be
doubted moment that the distinguished author
ofThanatopsis, could produce poem fully equal
to the most popular of European productions. We
see no reason to doubt that the author OF Ell Aara-
at has all the prose and poetic ability necessary
to make tragedian of the first order Assured
~ the pen that wrote the last touching Letter
from under bridge or the popular "Scrptural
Poems," could edit new Monthly Magazine
with some Of the ability OF Coleridge, or Words
worth, or Lamb. But their reply is, "Other
works will sell better in this market, and we can
make more at them."-.N Y. Jour. of Com.