The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-10-07

lOoA WV ~AAOnS AotiOuo NAIos
Stowe pleads as an American before
Americans. She fearlessly shows to
} her countrywomen the picture Of them
selves, and they accept it, praise it,
purchase it. 1t is a very notable cir
cumstance, the extraordinary circula-
ton of this book in America. The
worst aspects of American society have
nowhere been portrayed with more
merciless humor than in Mrs. Stoves
protest against Slavery; but the book
gives no offense, because it is genuine.
1t is not merciless in spite, but in the
vigor of genial wrath against things
evil. Mrs. Stowe writes out Of warm
heart, and appeals to generous emotions.
These are quite as prompt to rise over
the way in the United States as here in
the United Kingdom and Mrs. Stowe
has found, therefore, many thousand
of readers-;t is even said that she
counts by this time as many as hun
dred thousand purchasers. Her sue
cess in America, in short, corresponds
to that which Mr.. Dickens finds in Eng
land, because, like Mr.. Dickens, whose
influence We trace in many pages of her
book, she has spent great wealth Of
genius in the service of humanity, and
in her severest mood has written as
one who by the right of love is entitled
to the privilege of censure."
We find the following in The London
Times of the 18th:
GAS everything connected with this
extraordinary book has now become
matter of interest, the following sketch
of its introduction to this country may
De interesting to your readers: An
early copy was sent from America the
latter end of last April to Mr.. Bogue,
the publisher, was offered by him to Mr..
Gilpin, late of Bishopgate-st. Being
declined by M. Gilpin, Mr.. Bogue
deferred it to Mr.. Henry Vizetelly; and
by the latter gentleman it was eventually
purchased for us. Before printing it,
however, as there was one night allowed
for decision, one volume was taken homo
to be read by Mr.. Henry Vizetelly, and
the other by Mr.. Salisbury, printer, of
Bouverie-st The report of the latter
gentleman, the following morning, to
quote his own words, was, 1 sat up till
four in the morning reading the book,
and the interest I felt was expressed
one moment by laughter, another by
tears; but thinking it might be my
weakness and not the power of the
author that affected me, l thought I
would try the effect upon my wife,
rather a strong-minded womau) I
accordingly woke her up, and read
few chapters. Finding that the interest I
of the story kept her awake, and that
she, too, laughed and shed a tear oc-
casionally, l settled in my mind that it
was book which ought and might with
safety be printed Mr.. Henry Vizet-
elly's opinion conceded with Mr.. Sails
bury's; and to the latter gentleman it
was con6ded to be bought out instantly.
The week following the book was pro-
duced, and an edition of 5000 worked
off, 1t made no stir until the middle of
June, although we advertised it very
extensively. From June it began to
make way and sold at the rate of 1000
per week during July. In August the
demand became very great, which went
IN increasing 10 the Goth, at which time
t became perfectly overwhelming. We
lave now about 400 people employed in
ome way or other upon the book, and
Ibout IL printing machines, besides
land-presses. The following is cor
ect statement of sales Illustrated
, lition, Is. 3d., 5th thousand original
edition, 2s. 3d., 30th thousand Rout-
edge & Co., Railway edition, Is, 95th
housand; Routledge & Co., Peoples
enny edition, 10000 weekly. Thus
bout $50, 900 copies of this work are
lready in the hands of the public,
7hile still the weekly returns of the sale
how no decline. In addition, also, We
cg to announce that 100000 copies Of
he publishers trade edition, (price 3d.,
andsomely printed in pocket size, and
or in six penny numbers) are
ow in the hands Of Messrs. Piper,
,rothers & Co., for immediate issue to
holesale dealers in periodicals. But,
! the same time, we must do ourselves
he justice to announce that Mrs. Stowe
as a direct pecuniary interest in this
extraordinary success. Our editions
re the real authors editions > We are
|, direct negotiation with Mrs. Stove,
nd we confidently hope that when ac-
cunts are made up we shall be in posi-
on to award that talented lady SON