The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-26
The Literary WorId,

with speculations in solid literary STOCKS ior
the coming year and the prospects Tor readers ars
upon the whole very satisfactory The rage exs'lng
some ten years ago for merely cheap literature was
productive of ultimate advantages though many OF
those who endeayored to promote It were made
bankrupt by their schemes, outraging alike both
taste and financial judgment; as not only novels,
but profound disqutions in history antiquities and
philosophy, were printed in immense editions at q
shilling even at sixpence per copy; and the pub
fishers 30 little skilled in their business a. an
parently 70 be equally intent upon cheapness and
uncouthness- expanding quite as much in the pro
duction Of huge quarto pamphlet As was necessary
for decent daodecimo or octave In consequence
copies Of books printed by Wilson, Winchester, and
their numerous rivals are at this time rare thu
the editions of Aldus; but those Issues of diugy
paper and miserable ink induced taste for better
things, widened immensely the habit of reading aud
the desire 70 possess libraries, so that after grid
iron and chest of drawers, bookshelf was ID
almost every frontier cabin city laborsrs lodging
the most indispensable article OF furniture; and the
accumulation of small libraries promoted demand
for respectable manufacture, so that, ever since
the book business has steadily aud very rapidly in
creased, and the styles Of printing and binding have
been improved in just proportion.
Nevertheless, there Is even now no branch OF in
dustry in which we have 80 little skill as In good
printing. We have made astonishing advances in
newspaper machinery, so that the presses Of the
HsRALp are beyond the competition OF all Europe;
but in fine book work we have made very little pro-
gress; indeed, there scarcely volume issued in
the United States last year correctly tastef1ly
executed as Bsrlow's Columbsd," published in
Philadelphia in 1908. We are sadly in want OF .
Pickering, al Orr, or Murray. The best examples
Of book manufacture in this country last year were
two or three government works printed by Lippn-
colt, of Philadelphia the New York edition of 1.-THE
Spectator and the Boston edition of Sir James
Macintosh, which is equaIed by the just issued ad-
mirable impression OF Hume's Incompatible History
of England. To these may be added the "Homes of
American Statesmen" a volume, upon the whole,
decidedly better in the mechanical than ia the lite
rary execution. These books are noticeable as in
dicaions of an improving taste, and the public
10 be congratulated on the prospec.of large num-
Der Of equally good editions in 1854.
Among the most important works illustrative Of
Abe history Of Europe during the career Of Napo-
leon viii be ranked hereafter the collection Of papers
left by Joseph Bonapsrte, and nov being printed in
Paris by Mr.. Malard, for many years resident of
BordentowD, New jersey where his family are still
living. Joseph Bonaparte lei copies Of all his own
letters and public papers, and every communication
OF public private nature received from his bro
ther during The revolution, the consulate, and the
empire. Mr.. Mailard was the private secretary, and
the most intimate friend aud cohfdant, of the ex.
king during his long exile IN America; and, accom-
psnying him o. his return to Europe, attended him
in / u last hours and received MS dying commands,
Of which none were more impre ssively delivered
than those relating to thess carefully treasured man
uscrpts, which he directed to aave published in fuu,
under the most competent and faithful editorshp.
Nearly year ago they were removed from Borden.
town to Paris, where they have ever since been in
process OF publication. They embrace an immense
number of letters from the Emperor, whose aston.
khing industry is illustrated by the fact that he ire.
queaty, in the midst of the most exciting affairs,
wrote from twe.ve 10 twenty letters a day with his
own hand besides all those dictated to his secreta
ries. Mr.. Mailard could find no editor capable OF
decipheriDg many Of these-the penmanship of the
Emperor being scarcely more legib,e than that OF
our Owe Mr. Rufus Choate; and ne therefore has
been compelled - remain himself 10 Paris, 10 super
intend the press. Three volumes have already been
completed, aud copies Of them have been received
by Mr.. Maillard's family. Five others will follow:
and when they Il -ished the whole series will be
eiventc the world This publication will be entirely
distinct from that of " The Works of the Emperor
Napoleon H. which are to appear under the direc
tion of the French government, in several folio
volumes, also in 1854. Mr.. Abbott must defer the
conclusion of his romantic and veritable "Life of
Napoleon" until this imperial edition Of his writings,
and these volumes, which MrMailard is editing, are
NIL issued.
Mr. John r. Bartlett, sinse he retired from the
Mexican Boundary Commission, has been industri.
6usly occupied in the preparation of Per,onsl
Narratives OF Explorations In Texas, Mexi,o, Cali.
fornia,h &C., which will soon be published in two
ample and excelently illustrated o,tavos. what.
ever the merit Of Mr. Bartlett's decisions on the
boundary question, it is not to be denied that he il
very thorough scholar, and in matters of ethDoogy
and most justly eminent. Among the
solid and permanently valuable books Of the presen.
year, therefore, this narrative will be conspicuous
and 1t Ia TO be hoped that it will induce Congress to
publish in q suitable manner the Commissioners
official report.
Count Gurowski, formerly, it is understood one of
the chamberlains OF the Emperor Nicholas, bat for
several years q resident OF the United States where
he is widely known learned acute aud brilliant
has in press Russia As II Is a
work which viii not fail OF large circulation, in the
present condition OF foreign politics.
The Rev. Dr. J. W. Alexander is printing Life
of Archibald Alexander, d D. the late eminent and
venerable head the Presbyterian theological school
at Princeton. The Alexander family has been a.
distinguished for sound learning and wise endeavor.
for the promotion Of religion and the general welfare
"a the Beecher family for brilliant Quixoti,m and
the advocacy Of all such novelties are calculated
TO disturb the public tranquility. Dr. Archibald
Alexander was one Of the most useful and truly res
peetacle men of his generation, aud the well known
abilities of his bographer assure us Of mos. inter
estibg account OF his career
Mr.. John K. Thompson, of Richmond, Va, is CO.
cupied with large work, to be entitled "A Survey
of the Literature Of the Southern States" II is
Of Mr. Cassus NJ. Clays notions that slavery is every
where fatal to intel eetuaI cultivation and writers az