New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-02-01
=LIrERaRY R.4sc.aLIrK.

We have received from Msssrs. Garrett s.
Co., Of No. is Ann street, New York, copy Of
a book published by them, entitled g Mrs. Par
tington's Carpet Bag Of Fun
We are sincerely indebted to Messrs Garrett
for their favor, inasmuch as it affords us oppor-
tunity and occasion to express our opinion with
regard to one of the lowest, meanest and nasti-
est literary transactions which has occurred
since Curl was cudgelled in Grub street for an
otfense far less contemptible and we shall take
special care to comply with the request Of the
publishers Of g Mrs Partington's Carpet Bag
of Fun by sending them IS copy of the paper
containing our notice. that they may know
that the character of their transaction and its
merits are well appreciated as far as the work
travels which is its proof
The facts of the case, which have been
largely blazoned at the North, are briefly in
this wise: Mr. B. ?. Shillaber, of Boston, some
two years since edited in that city spicy little
paper called thes' Carpet Bag and wrote for it
number of sketches under the general head of
Sc Mrs. Partington's Sayings. These sketches
were of very amusing description, were very
highly appreciated at home and very widely
copied over the country. Indeed, it is proba-
BILE that most Of our readers are more or less
acquainted with the pecuharities Of sentiment
and language which made Mrs Darlington s
Individuality. There were, at first, few
imitators, but they fell so far short of the ORR
gina1 in excellence as to be little noticeable and
very ghort-lived. At the death of the " Car
pet-Bag" Mr.. Shillaber removed to the Post,
and carried with him the right and ownership
to the character he had created, illustrated
and rendered popular. 1t was acknowledged to
be his and gentleman would just az soon have
thought OF stealing Mr.. Shillaber's coat as this
extra good character with which he was blessed
In this state Of the case firm in New York
has been found willing to blaeken itself with
the theft Of Mr.. shillaber's property and man
brazen enough to lend his name as the editor of
a compilation which possesses none Of the merit
to be expected from its title, and can only rank
as a sort of literary cfodea marina and large
collection of condemned jokes. Aside from the
theft Of the title we observe theft of some of
the articles written by him who has the only
just and equitable claim to the name and conse-
quent credit of the publication. But by far
the greater portion of its contents consist OF
publishers and inane witticisms that died Of
old age and constitutional debility dozen
years ago. The work is completely riddled with
" illustrations, 7 which only illustrate the par
simeny of the publishers and the superlatiye
inability of the artist. Taken as a whole-the
rascality which originated, the folly and ieno-
rance which compiled and the ineompetency
which illustrated tive think this worl, has Mt
one quick plunge surpassed ali its infamous pre-
decessors and fathomed the deepest depths Of
literary nastiness.
We do not perceive any necessity for giving
the reasons which render this transaction pecu.
iarly reprehensible. They are as plain and
evident as those which make sheep.stealing and
kidnapping criminal; aud yet so thoroughly
contemplate as almost to merge the illegality
of the act in its meanness We know nothing
Of Mr.. shillaber but by his writings, and moth
ing Of the Messrs, Garrett but by their works );
and have been actuated in our notice only by