The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-19

WEEKLY. zoo
From As Literary World
The Author of"PendsnnisS Reviewing his
Reviewer.
We have not yet had an opportunity to give
our readers an account of Mr. Thackeray's recent
Christmas story, the Kickleburys on he Rhine,
that book not having yet been republished here,
and no English copy being pnrchasable at the
bookstores The following exhibition of liter
AIRY fencing, however, will sufficiently indicate
by itself the position of parties. Mr.. Thackeray
writes Christmas book, - reviewed Ia q the
Thunderer," the Times newspaper. and, under
the advantageous cover of preface to second
edition, thus replies. We republish the entire
preface review and oil, AZ the most piquant lit
erary entertainment Of the day -
Any reader who may have fancy to purchase
copy Of this present second edition Of the HIS
tory Of The Kickleburys Abroad had best be
warned In time, that the Times newspaper does
not approve of the work, and has but bad
opinion Of the author aud his readers. Nothing
can be fairer than this statement; IL you happen
10 take up the poor little volume at a railroad
station, and read this sentence, lay the book
down and buy something else. You are warned.
What more can the author say! If after this
you wiH buy-amen Pay your money, take
your book, and fall TO- Between ourselves,
honest reader, 1t IL no very strong potation
which the present purveyor Offers to YOU 1t
will not trouble your head much in the drinking.
It was intended for that sort of negus which is
offered at Christmas parties and Of which ladies'
and children may partake with reffeshment and
cheerfdlnsss. Last year tried brew which was
old. bitter, and strong and scarce any one would
drink It, This year we send round mider tap,
and it IL liked by customers: though the crit
les (who like strong ale, the rogues y turn up
their noses. In heavens name, Mr.. Smith, serve
round the liquor to the gentlefolks. Pray, dear
madam, another glas; it is Christmas time, it
long, this sort of drink Come, froth up, Mr..
Publisher, and pass quickly roundD And, as for
the professional gentlemen, we must get a
stronger sort for them some day.
The Times gentleman "a very difficult gent
to please) is the loudest and noisiest of all, and
has made more hideous faces over the refresh
ment offered to him than any other critic. There
is no use Sinking this statement: when q
man haslbeen abused in the Times, he can't hide
il, any more than he could hide the knowledge
of his having been committed to prison by Mr..
Henry or publicly caned in Pall-Mall You see
it in your friends eyes when they meet you.
They know it. They have chuckled over it to
man. They whisper about it at the club, and
look over the paper at you. My next door
neighbor came to see me this morning, and saw
by his face that he had the whole story pat
aHemw says he, swell, l haze heard of it; and
the fact is they were talking about you at din
ner last light, and mentioning that the Times
had-ahem! -'walked into you.'"
MY good M, q say, and M will cor
roborate, if need be, the statement make here,)
here is the Times article, dated January 4th
which states 90 and so, and here is letter from
the publisher, likewise, dated January 4th, and
which says
aMy dear Sir-Having this day sold the last
copy Of the first edition (of thousand) of the
Kicklcburys Abroad, and having orders for more,
had We not better proceed to second edition ?
and will you permit me to inclose an order or" y
&C., &c.!
Singular coincidence! And if every author
who was 80 abused by critic had similar note
from publisher, good Lord! how easily would
we take the critics censure!
Yes, yes" you say; sit is all very we'll for
a writer to affect to be Indifferent to critique
from the Times You bear it as boy bears a
fogging at school, without crying out; but
don't swagger and brag as if you liked it"
Let us have truth before all. would rather
have good word than a bad one from any per-
son; but if critic abuses me from high place,
and 1t is worth my while, / will appeal. If ]
can show that the Judge who is delivering SEN
tence against me, and laying down the law, and
making pretence of learning, has no learning
and no law, and Is neither more nor less than a
pompous noodle, who ought not 10 be heard in
any respectable court, will do SO and then
dear friends, perhaps you will have something
to laugh at in this book.
THE KIcKLEBuRy's ON THE RHINE.
1t has been customary of late years for the
authors of the day-to put forth certain opus