The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-18
LITERARY NOTICE.


This is the eighth number Of this capital pub
LEGATION, and we have never yet noticed it as it
deserves. Some unaccountable difficulty, postal
or clerkly, has hitherto. prevented the receipt
of it in the way that courtesy has established
for the commerce Of journalists. Even the
number now on our table cost us a quarter. 1t
is worth the money, indeed; but the habit OF
editorial erehanges generates repugnsnce to
purchasing books and papers, however valua-
BILE, desirable, and cheap which we are glad
our subscribers are not troubled with. If they
knew and fully appreciated this communistic
sentiment of the editorial fraternity they would
understand what puff it is to say that we
have actually bought Putnam, and paid for it
with cash and, what is more to the purpose,
perhaps, they would value our unqualified
praise something higher for knowing that it is
not in any way purchased.
There are, luckily for reviewers, many ways
of knowing enough about q book to estimate it
fairly, without regular and thorough perusal
By all Of these, as well as by sufficient actual
examination, we are satisfied that Putnam's
Montkiy deserves the best word we can say for
it,
The Tribune, upon an evidently thorough ex-
animation, pronounces the June number, upon
the Whole, the best american Magazine sver
issued-a judgment which we cordially and ad-
visedly endorse Its intrinsic qualities richly de-
serve this high praise but there are other things
about it which greatly increase our regard for
the work In size and character of contents it
is first class periodical, and its authorship is
not stolen it pays its contributors, and it does
not humbug its readers with their reputation
otherwise and elsewhere acquired and deserved;
it is not engaged in the ugly business Of break
ing down our native periodical literature for
the million, by Cutting the market with more
pages than Graham and Cooley, while they
pay for their matter, and afford it for the same
money; and it is not 80 sneaking and slavish as
the great Pecksnifian monthly with which it so
generously and bravely contends for popular
support.
Especially we like Putnam, because while
thorship and something to encourage it the
pitch and drift of its articles put it into the
place that is waiting to be well occupied. We
do not say that its writer's fully reach the mark
that the publishers aim Of, but we do see that
the aim is well and steadily maintained, and
we cheerfully acknowledge that the best talent
Of the country within their reach is employed.
Unfortunately, our currency literature is in
the main, of the parasitic species; the colonial
character still clings to it. The Putnams are
doing what they can to deliver us from our de-
tendency, and we give them our thanks and
blessing for the effort The editor seems to us
to be all right, and growing at that and the
rank and file writer's make very fair show of
metal and manhood. The author of the Poti-
phar Papers, for instance, can't be beat in his
line and the writer of Works of American
himself that he knows there is no fixed poll
tical science, no absolute and Interchangeable
principles, that have yet been discovered"
This is exactly true Of the systems in vogue
of the systems for which tho snhjacts of his ar
ticle were renowned for knowing 30 much
about 1t was a bold, honest declaration of
the French Psychologist, Majendie when, in his
elementary book he wrote the chapter On the
Spleen in these words " Functions unknoUn,'
and there dropped it, and set about discovering
something to teach, instead of going on with
pages of nothing to say. 1t is absolutely funny
to think Of Clay, Calhoun, and Webster, get
ting an immortal fame out of an immortal
wrangle-immortal parte posi-, as well as a
parte ante! The next best thing to giving us
a system of " absolute and Interchangeable prin-
ciples," is owning up that we have none. That
will put the boys on inquiry, and leave the old
sters to hurry up the monuments and get on
the epitaphs-they will do for historical mile
stones, The Egyptians built pyramids to be
wondered at, not used ;; and then they built
palaces to lie in when they were mummied.
That was their only chance for posthumous
perpetuity. They didn't want to be buried
out of our sight they said, are sttH iive, and
they stuck to it. They are welcome to the
spice, and may keep it as it keeps them. The
Barnums will attend to them. But we want
men that will hold together without the
bitumen and bandages of antiquity. So, "more
power to your elbow" Messrs. Putnam & Com
pany, and let US have the best you can do, for
we need it badly K.