New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-05-22
LITERATURE IN LONDON.
Iorcs NJ
LONDON, Friday, Nay ;, 1854.

From Our Own Correspondent
LONDON, Friday May ;, 1854.
Death has been busy with us ff late. One by one
has he stricken down Of our best men, and put
out some Of the brightest ght in the temple OF Lite
nature Wilson the last of the Titans is gone to the
grave and Taliourd too, smitten soemny the udg-
ment seat James Montgomery follows them. Will
son has lett US a memory that the world will not let
die end the name and works of Talfourd will live
far into the unfeatured future. he religious world,
doubtless Will also take of the reputation OF the
poet James Montgomery. trahscribe a few words
about Wilson from the pen of Thomas Arid, one OF our
greatest living poets in power and originality, though
little known and less read. lie knew Wilson well,
and what be says should be antidote great deal
! Of qoJ,mOroi,rie now in circulation:
He was sineularly modest and defercnal His
estimates IF life soyorey practical he not san
euine lie was not even hopeful enough Those VINO APP
IToachtd the author of the Noctes in domestic life, ex-
ong exchanges Of hosicrous gee found out their
mistake No writing for mere money, no dabblng IN the
penos of fame with this great spirit in its own negi-
gent grtndeugmodest quiet negligent because amid all
beauty ard joy of his world it stood rating and r1a-
dang on raster shores Than lac ty The seas 81 tu'.
Here are 2 few remarks on the celebrated Noctes
Ambrosiana:
In the Noctes Christopher in his Sporting jacket,
&C. have style of literature OF totally new class.
large and complete and unexpected dashed in upon ~ ut
once will out any forerunnlng dawn. We know Of no
other mind in ancient modern times, that could have
gi, such outburst Many OF the elements and IN
equally pid interchange and interfuson are in Tam
Shanfrr: but the afectionae and y.aning soemnes
are awaiting Nor in SHAKESPEARE himself where the
mnglng hues OF paIhos and hnmor beauty and terror,
simmer in their nierneiiDg quckness do we so invarG-
bly, find that reycrental awe of conscious spirit face
with the mysteries of life and death, which, IN al
Wilson's illusions, where the fun is most rotous, il
tie pervsding and prevailing element. This power OF
great mind rushing out all at from It's many sides and
strongest The ride of moral thoughuness might
well give something new and strange and unapproach
allie in literature.
Dickens has written his friend Talfourds - In Me-
norman in few noble words. Nothing could be
more opposite than the person and aspect of these two
men. Wilson was tall, massive, and the personifca-
ton of health and strength and he bore such an i'm
press of kngliness On him. Talfourd gentle,
meek. and had very little of the mastermind in his
appearance.
4 meeting has been held in Edinburgh with the
view of paying fitting tribute to the memory Of one
of scotland's nobest sons, and it was resolved to
"giye public and permanent expression to the feel
"ngs of admiration and gratitude with which the
"memory OF Professor Wilson, his genius and charac-
ter are regarded by the people of Scotland" Samuel
Rogers, the poet, and contemporary author with
Samuel Johnson, is alive and pretty well, notwith-
standing the newspaper rumor that he was failing last
Twenty years ago Magnn used to charge the Bard OF
Memory with living at prepcsterous Old age Among
otler relics Of the past might mention that the Old
TABARD OF Chaucer, the h0stelrie OF his Canterbury
pilgrims is about be removed. IL is situated IN the
Borough of Southwark If the present be not the iden-
teal house is pretty certain that It stands on the
lite Of tie old Tabarj, and that this old house was
never wholly pulled down, though alterations have
take place. The site will be obliterated Mod
ern has little reverence for our old poetic
shrines. Tie other day the house in Brook'st, iiol
born in which poor Chatterton committed suicide was
l.,,e nal.a 20 ff.afI aftarI
called The Talbot deaenerated from it in name.
Tie quantity OF recent publications has been iu-
meme Tie Publishers Circular gives upward OF
600 since the lst of January. aud that does not
chronicle oil. These include the good, bad and ndli
ieeLt, but there not many of very extraordinary
interest. VI. Quiet gives Us a second nsallment OF
hi. work On the English Revolution. The first
published by Boyne loI since. The second Is called
- Lie OF Oliver Cromwell" and contains the history
Of tie Commonwealth under the long Parliament and
Cromwell. But NJ Guzot has not succeeded largely,
and, with Carlyles magnificent work already written
on the subject do not much for the
opinions Of tie French statesman, who is not calcu
lated to appreciate our great Engllshman. We
lave yet only two volumes of the English
edition OF De Qunceys collected works. The
publication proceeds but slowly. A clear and
succ,nct sketch of Hungarian History and account
Of the recent struggle, by Emerc Szabad late Secre
taIy under the National Government Of Hungary and
published By Black of Edinburgh. is altogether the
best hook Oh Hungary that haye and written in
markedly good English. ApOther translation of Dante
lts appeared, done By Frederick Pollock, Esq, aud
called literal rendering. But Carys is still the best
that We lave and will long remain - Done is the
title OF a book which is very oppOrtuae welcome and
Interesting The title is Wsllack for National Songs.
These songs belong TO Walachia and Moldayia. They
very like a compound of Greek and Osianic. The
trans aior, Mr.. Grenvle Murray, says of them, The
"Done seem 10 me 10 have about them something Of
"Ossian only that, instead of belonging 10 4 slow,
grave. misty nation like the Scotch they the
"s,ucs OF people who live beneath a summer sky,
"sId wlose dreams are Of sunshine and lowers, OF
moons and stars and silver seas The spirit style
and scenery kindred To the Greek songs; il is in
form and mode Of expression that they resemble
cssian. They are graceful, naive, Wild and beauti-
full in rapid alienation. They have a peculiar and
Il arked interest for Us Just nOw, they come from
people among whom our couHtrymen have
gone Nth tie smoke Of battle closing round them.
They open up glimpses of the life and
If people who little known bur who worthy
Of larger place among the Nations if il only
for their writing and remembering such songs these
Hugh Miller. author Of the "Old Red Sandstone " &c.
and who will long be remembered for his heroic strug
giles in life. has published My School and School
- master; Or Story of Ny Education" Ii is por-
ti,n Of autobiography exqusitely told His expert
eIoes Of life have been severe but the Lad that
material within which is not Ia be crushed by suffering
but will resist the blows Of adverse circumstance
His mind ha. led him 10 pry into natures secrets rather
II ian to worship and sing her beauty And vet he can
he el0qent in her praise. He il living proof that
.nge may ccnrain within himself sOnIethlg more
than all tie books ia the word some uuQrterpd word