The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-03


religion, fashion, picty folly, insanity, morals, so
ciety, trade, commerce, theatrcals, pugilsm, and
everything else, we lead the rest Of the country;
and that whatever is done here is initiated and
copied throughout the country. Other cities will
not be willing to acknowledge this; but it is
fact, a reality, notwithstanding. There is no de-
nying that what Paris is to France, or London to
England, or Pckin to China, New York is to Amc-
rca-the great heart and centre, the leading,
moving, and directing power Of the continent.
Philadelphia and Boston very nice little places
in their way, but they are no more, after all than
suburbs Of this vast metropolis. Is not this true
philosophy
The MONTHLY Observation-Disclosures LITE
RATURE-BRyAsT AND Internationally, on
the first of the month"; have been issued HuIefs
Monthly Maga>ins, and the Information. Il Mga- nc,
published by Strnger x Townsend. The former,
it is said, has now reached the enormous circua-
ton of sixty thousand copies this month, and the
latter has advanced already to about twenty-five
thousand copies Both are very popular, and as
they contain much entertaining and useful reading
matter, win continue on a successful career. We
observe, however, that there is thing in the
management Of these magazines which bctrays
constitutional principles which have been the foun-
dation of all the and prosperity of this coun-
try This is point which cannot be too rigidy
watched for the future, for it is important that the
youth of our country should not be led from their
allegiance to the patriotic principles of their politi-
cal fathers, who framed the early government and
constitution of our country.
In the present number of Hnprs' Monthly, we
/. Il
William G. Bryant. Mr.. Irving is entitled to
siderable credit for his literary works. and there is
a pleasure in discoursing upon his merits, or in
being instructed as to the qualities of his mind and
genius With regard to Bryant, as a poet, the
world has heard enough-and more than enough.
In his early years, he gave signs # being patriotic
poet, whose might be Of use to society. Lat
terly, however, he has abandoned the realm Of the
muses., and has become rabd and dangerous s,ti-
slavery man, to whom delicacy Of thought or OK
preston towards the patriotic men Of our times is
wholly foreign In fact, the great statesmen Of our
day. who are devoted to the Union, are daily as
sailed by him through the reckless political organ
which he presides. From the possession of a
higher literary reputation than Garrison, he may
be deemed, indeed even more dangerous than that
hater Of the sound constitutional statesmen Of the
day Several years ago, Bryant was prominent,
consistent member Of the democratic party; but he
has united with Van Burenin a terrible anti-slavery
crusade crusade now in its full career towards
exhibiting results which may be such as every good
citizen will dcplore.
When a person so notorious, therefore, as this
writer, has made himself offensive 10 ae eyes Of the
people, and particularly to every ovrrof that Mon
under which we prosper, it is strange that publish
should attempt to preserve the literary fame of
any such political agtators-of any man so hostile
in feeling to the continued prosperity of the country
and evidently bent on sapping that constitution
under the wholesome influence Of which We have
prospered and risen to such high national impor-
lance in the scale Of nations. Really, We cannot
understand what publishers propose to do by acts
in favor Of such authors. DO they intend 10 send
their books into the Southern market, or into the
families Of men devoted to the country, the const
tuition, the Union, and the common welfare of the
people If they do, this is very curious way to
effect their object, for it appears to Us that no true
lover Of his country viii be party in exalting such
authors above those whose talents and love of their
native land are not subjects Of doubt.
The truth, we suspect, is, that the publishers are
not sufficiently careful in engaging competent ed-
tors for thcir magazines and other literary works.
They indulge In an expensive cheap economy, by
employing small Mioateurs, who carried away
with the soIhstical political folles Of time, to
read over and decide upon the merits Of manuscripts
Recent works have satisfied that this is the case;
or why il IL that the old political land marks are
often treated with contempt, and that attempts
80 frequently made to misrcprcscnt the intentions,
and purposes, and patriotism Of the fathers Of our
inGe pendcncc our consultation and prosperity
There are seen, every day, in the newspa-
rers. particularly in those devoted to the ex-
tension Of abolition doctrines, exravagant notices
If the first volume Of The second series Of a work
puporting to be History Of the United States"
written BY Richard Iiildreth, author whose
fame hitherto has rested on the fact tina, he has
made one or two school books on history. in
which errors are much more prominent than
merits. Had Mr. Iiillreth confined his ambition
10 these small specimens Of historical literature
perhaps he would not have provoked any particular
notice; but when he grascly appears as a learned
historian, and virtually challenges criticism, our
first inquiries arc--What improvement has thi.
author made on the works Of those who have pre-
ccded him Has lac any new, precise, and reliable
facts And what il the philosophical design Of his
production! II i not our purpose to answer these
questions at present; but on turning over the
Gently published volume devoted to the admnistra-
tion Of Washington, We impressed with the ne
ccssity ofspplyng more rigid criticism to the books
issued from the press in this country. The tincture
Of abolition i strong in many Of the new publica-
tions. that Il l. quite time to inquire how far Is
to be used and to how many classes Of books il IL to
he applied, well how far publishers are to be
permitted to mslead the public by puas in the
journals.