The New York herald., 1851-09-30

The Literary Werld. /.

country, while an unusual activity is visible in
every other department, there is an unprecedented
absence Of effort in the higher fields of literature.
Publishers are busy with new editions and collec-
tions, and with books Of science, but no great
works are announced by the masters to whom the
best half Of the world look for their pleas
joymeAt The Harpers have portion Of the ad-
vance sheets Of a new novel, by Thackeray; the
Longmans have disclosed, in letters to American
correspondents, that they have two new volumes
by Macaulay; Bulwer has nearly completed my
Novel;" and Dickens has given assurance to Strin-
Ter & Townsend, that when he writes new story
they shall have the advance sheets, for thousand
guineas, for their International. This is the SUBJ
stance of what we have respecting original works
Of high class, from London.
In the last year we have had memoirs of the
great geniuses, Southey and Wordsworth. Ofthe
Immortal company composed of these, and Scott,
Byron, Shelley, Keats, Campbell, Rogers, Mont
gomery, and Moore, the last three only remain,
and it is not unlikely that they will all be gone by
the end Of the year. Moore, for the last halt dozen
years, has been atoning his Tom Little rosebud
indecences by q course of Roman Catholic pc
nances, and for several months has been in mere
childishness, while his friends have waited with
deeorous patience the approach of the last fren iy
visiter; Rogers is feeble, and has lost all the
amiable boahomntie that made his breakfasts SO de-
hghtful; and the pious James Montgomery, who
en- the fifth Of next November will be eighty years
Of age is then to be crowned by his fellow-cizens
Of Sheffield, in q grand ceremonal-in preparation
of his death, perhaps.
Twice has England, which in this respect is alone
amorg the natiors-twice has England reached the
highest point in civilization and nte' lectual cut-
vation. Spencer, Shakespeare. Ben Jonsor, Mil
ton Bacon, and the illustrious men who vera their
associates, carried her literature to its zenith,
whence it declined, to be elevated again to the
same point in the last generation. Greece Rome,
Italy, and other nations, have hal their golden
age; only England has twice enjoyed its spleniors
There are signs that another such long nigh. will
follow as intervened between the Elizabsthan and
Georgian
In the United States, though for the most part
our colleges are below the proper condition OF pre-
paratory academies, we are by the state of learn
ing here, and other favorable influences approaching
fair footing with England for the next race. The
world looks to US for grtas poet. Bryant has
been read and appreciated by the elec in Eng
lard; and Longfelow, who writes sweet verses, ,
little way removed from the Haynes ayley school
sort Of nice musical sentiment which one is puz-
zled whether to describe as Haynes Baileyish or
Tennysoniar.-:s immensely quoted by cocknies, be-
cause. in the absence Of an international copyright
his works accessible to the refined cham per-
maid and milliner classes of society. Dana and
Whittier, who have masculine energy with but oc-
cssioral grace, are in higher key, and will for
some time yet be less read. In poetry, we have
done and are doin much; but it must be confessed
that We have only stars-we have no suns.
five take fair and really critical survey of
what has been accomplished in American literature
In the present age, We shall find that our authors.
whose Immortality is assured, are scarcely more
than half dozen-Cooper Bryant, Irving, Web
ster, Dana, Haleck, Bancroft, Prescott, and Haw-
thOrne. We can go back and take up the names of
Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklia-per-
haps two or three o,hers-but Of conte N por ,ries
the list cannot well be enlarged. The right Of
Daniel Webster to place in this category is
questionable as that Of Jove to his throne in the
Pantheon.
1--WE digress too much into the general-having
proposed for our readers only brief report OF some
particular novelties forthcoming from our prncipa
houses this fall. In the last paragraph we referred
to the great Serator and Secretary. We have seen
specimens Of the complete editisn Of his speeches
forensic arguments, state papers, and orations to be
issued in about month from this time, by Little
h Brown, of Boston, in six large and beautifully
printed octavos, edited by Edward Everett. There
viii be copies on paper Of extra size, imposing the
fne old quarto tones Of Wapoles time, and these
viii have Mr.. Websters autograph on t6eir title
pages; but the entire edition will be in style of
unusual typographical magnifcence. 1t is to be
feared, notwithstanding what some of the journals
contain the subject of his health, that in this col
lection ofbis works. Mr.. Webster gives us his last
will and testament-that his whole grand career is
to be submitted to posterity in these volumes.
Judge Levi Woodbury., whose ch inces Of q
nomination for the Presidency from the democratic
party, were thought about equal to Mr.. Webster
from the wings, began, at nearly the same time,
the collection an revision Of his writings and they
are nearly printed, in the same style, IN four
volumes, which probably will inelude a memoir
There are many people who would like to know
why Mr.. Calhouns work on the constitution Of the
United States and the theory Of government, is not
published. The Legislature Of South lrolina
foolishly appropriated $4,000 for this p1rpose,
when, though its sgeLts 10 their best endea
vors twenty times great circulation ad irfaence
would have been secured for the book by giving TO
leading book publisher The Ms, and one tenth Of
that amount in money Bds the work was ssereo-
typed, and we saw a complete copy Of il in print,
nearly year ago; ard for some reason which needs
explanation, il is net yet published The plates,
suppose, are subject 10 the control Of the
sionists in south Carolina. DO they fnd hat Mr..
Calhoun's last words robake their policy
In American history, several persons are engaged
on works Of considerable impor .an,e. Tns collec-
tion Of the writings Of John Adams, by Charles
Francis Adams, will extend to ten volumes,
Of which the second, third fourth and fifth are nov
published. The same editor will proceed immedi
ately with the works Of his father, John Quincy
Adams, which will be still more volumnous. Ths
publication Of the works Of Alexander lila milton,
which We are glad to see, notwithstanding the
shave to which the public has to submit in the
process, 10 nearly completed, and ~e believe the