The southern press., 1851-04-01
For the Southern Press.
Relics OF Scraps and Musings.-NO. 25.

BRITISH REVIEWS AND PERIODICALS.
The republication, in the United States, of Bri-
tsh reviews and periodicals in their present cheap
form, in consequence Of the want of an interna-
tonal copyright, and the habit of filling up our
own periodicals and literary newspapers with Sc
lectons from English publications. is in my opn-
ion, neither honorable nor profitable to our coun-
try. Every British review is without exception
the organ or exponant Of some great party or IN
erest in that country. One is radical, another con-
servative; one is patronixed by the established
church, another by the dssenters; one by the OIL
garchy, another by the liberal; and each and oil
Of these are more or less ene-sided and partial,
both in their pretended reviews of books and their
discussions on political or religious topics. They
certainly frequently, collect together gre at mass
of facts and information on variou, su tJecfs,
drawn from parliamentary reports and statistical
documents, but for the most part give them a col
orng to suit their patrons; and though the ia CTS
are true yet being all side, they rath sr
calculated to deceive than enlighten, and seldom,
if ever, exhibit fair view of any great question
affecting the interests or the parties of which they
are the organs. 1t is difficult, if not impossible to
get at the real state Of things in England or any
part of the world from these sources; for it may
be observed that they almost alwa US occupy them
selves with subjects which excite the public
mind and affect the immediate nte rests of the diff
ferent classes parties in the nted Kingdom,
and consequently invoke their pc rsona feeling to
n more or less extent Hence we get little
thing from them but what is distilled through the
alembic of prejudice or distorted by party inter
ests.
1t should also be borne in mind, that paying lit
tie or nothing for the COPYRIGHT Of these reviews
and periodicals, they can be, and are, republished
here much cheaper than original American conir
buttons can be obtained, and thus either greatly
interfere with, if not altogether Danish, similar
publications of native growth. They circulate
everywhere; are found in all our public libraries
and reading rooms, and give decided tone to pub
lie opinion, by influencing those who give 1t di
rection. We Judge Of the merits of our writers,
orators and statesmen by the criterion of British
estimation, and the dctum Of review, the tes-
tmony of an anonymous editor of a magazine,
settles the standard Of American genius beyond
all controversy. II is the tower stamp that gives
il currency even among ourselves and the Ameri-
can book publisher who aflix of these in
fallible specifics to his baniing, is pretty sure of
introducing it into the most fashionable society
without any other recommendation. Hence a
great portion Of our writers, looking to England
the of their reputation even among their
own countrymen, are careful to avoid giving of
fence to the court which is to decide on their ap
peal by displaying any unseemly patriotism or
attachment to their country and above all, studi-
ousy concealing their republican principles, if
they have any, and occasionally throwing in a
compliment TO the glory and happiness of England,
as a sop to the many headedCerberus that guards
the temple of fame. American literature is thus
subjected TO foreign tribunal, and it is therefore
not to be wondered at that it has never acquired
a national character, or reached vigorous orgi-
nality in style, thought or opinion. Nor will it
ever acquire that dignity, while it continues thus
subservient to the despotism of foreign jursdic
ton, equally influenced by national jealousy and
national antipnthy; equally interested in checking
the moral, mental, and physical progress Of new
world, which they have lost all hope of conquer
ing by the sword and are striving to subject
by the pen.
Among the most popular of these republica-
ons is Blackwoods Magazine, which it would
seem has been specially selected as a bonnie bouche
for the American palate from the fact that Of all
others, it is perhaps the most bitterly anti-repub-
lican, as well as hostile to the Americans, their
character governm ent and institutions. It's ed-
tor has acquired great reputation at home, and
as motter Of course here, by hard, dry vein Of
truly Scottish humor; savage hostility to all re-
forms in government; an arrogant disregard to oil
the decencies Of literary discussion; and above all
by losing opportunity of insulting the feel
ings ard slavering the good name of the people of
the United States, who scorn to be of the true
Spaniel breed, much giving to licking the hand
that smes them and fawnipg in return for kick