The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-20

ahe w Aihefcah crtcs the best eXDOsitloDs ol tueT
genius The late DR.. Andrews Norton, of Cambridge,
compiled the first edition Of the Essays Of Maca1.
lay" Emerson soon after cleaned from the English
periodicals In which they were originally printed
the Essays of Carlyle" DR.. Furness followed in
Philadelphia with the Noctes Ambrosianan and
Professor Wilson's Essays" and we have since
had in succession the productions In this class Of
jeffrey, Sydney Smith, Talfourd, Stephen, Alison,
and De Quincy-all before the authors or their pub
fishers dreamed of such publications, though in
every case here referred to English editions more OF
less complete, have followed those printed in the
United States or all these writers Macaulay has
been the most popular, and next to him De Quincy
The venerable "opum eater was living in OBSCURE.
ty and upon very meagYs income, when Mr..
Fields conceived the idea of bringing out complete
and uniform edition Of his contributions to tn. peri
odcals Of the last half century; but now, through
the good Offices of his Boston friend he finds his
fame renewed, and his works, by common consent,
received into the body Of British classics and his
cash receipts account OF them greater than in the
freshness and fitness of his remarkable powers.
Three new voume-the 18th, l4th, and 15th--which
Mr.. Fields has prepared for the press, are to be
published in few days. They will contain Els
says on Philosophical Writers and other Men OF Let
ters.n and Letter to Young Man" and other
papers.
DAVID HOFFMAN, j. U. D., for many years an nj
nent lawyer in Baltimore, where he published his
Illegal Outlines, y" Course Ct Legal Study and
other professional works, besides Vator,"
Thoughts of Grumbler,H and some smaller literary
compositions, has brought out in London two i'm
mense octayos, closely printed OF work to consist
Of six under the title Of "Caitaphlus, the Wander
ing Jew 1t is most reconcile history Of society
manners, opinions, and affairs from the time OF
Christ supposed TO be written by that mythical per
sonage to whom the Saviour, according TO the traai
ton, said Thou Rhalt larry till come" In the
course Of his adventures Cartaphlus makes several
visits TO America, and he reveals the most famous
secrets aud unmasks the most mysterious personages
treated of by the historical critics. with frequent In
geDuity and continual displays Of curious learning.
Mr.. Hoffman's work Is fruit Of many years Of study
and reflection, and ii is probably more yollminous
than any other in the English language produced in
this century. 1t may be doubted, however, whether
this is age for spch ponderous and numerous 70
Tuned performances; few works extending to more
than brace Of duodecimes are apt, now a.dayH, to
become popular.
Among the most important works in preparation
for the coming year is an American Biographical
Dictionary by several hands, to embrace not only
such characters as have resided in the United States
but the chief historical personages Of Mexico anA
British and Russian America. The only work Of this
kind now In the market is the Every poor and very
pious'' collection Of New England obituary notices,
by DR.. Allen, volume in which every country par
son who ever preached "election sermon" is care
fully embalmed for the OBLIGATION o. well as the in
struction of coming ages. The forthco ming work
will include compact and careful memoirs o. every
class OF public men, of every part of the country,
with discriminating notices Of the most eminent
scholars, litter ateurs artists, discoyerers &c,
Capt. MARCY, u. S. A.. whose Perilous adventure
and supposed massacre in the region occupied by the
Camanches, year or two ago, created 50 general
and painful an interest throughout the country has
just comp eted at Washington the printing of nj
report 70 the War Department respecting his geo
graphical discoveries and his various and importan
scientific observations. ThoAe who remember Capt
Marcy's admirable discourse, soon after his return,
before the American Geographical and Statistical
Society reported at length in the HERALD OF the
morning after is delivery, will be delighted at the
prospect of obtaining his more particular narrative
from the government press The volume will consist
OF some 500 pages, amply Illustrated with maps
and engraviDgs
Mrs ANNA Coma MowATr has published her
"Memoirs of an Actress" with sufficient ceverness,
and little of that spirit of thu confessional
sary in autobiography The authoress of Fashion,
&c. might have made not merely readable but avery
delightful volume.
We regret 10 learn that among the MSS. lost by
the destruction Of the publishing house of HarperS
Brothers, was an elaborate life Of vonderIyn, the
painter, written by gentleman almost constantly
with him in his last years and possessing every ad-
vantage for omposing his memoirs. For twenty
years after yanderlyn became the protege of Aaron
Burr he WAS intimately ,isted with many of the
most remarkable characters of that period, and his
conversation was apt to be rich in cnrious and re
markable "reminiscences Of his life in Pari. and else
where, particularly during Burr's exile.
Mr.. GEORGE p. MARSH, our late Minister 10 Con-
tantinople, brings home . work TO which he has de-
voted the time not occupied by official duties while
he has resided in the East, Mr. Marsh is well known
as one OF the most accomplished scholars OF the day.
and is likely TO win more aurels in literature than
in diplomacy or politics.
No where else are cheap books and periodicals. apt
to be so worthless as with us. The " Family"
Drawing Room and ether magazines, sold for u
dollar dollar and half or two dollarsl year. are
for the most part filled with the feebest trash i'm
aginable; and the cheap newspapers ar. for the
most part CHEAP and nasty" or made up Of scksn.
ing sentiment, or malice, envy, and uncharitable-
ness. They order these things better In Europe In
Germany and France writer's of the most eminent
abilities contribute to papers for the people, and
iu Grea. Britain Chambers Journal Houseiod
Words, and two or three other low priced period
calls occupy the most profound and refined intsllects
n, rIaSn that III III
Words il so well supported at home as The proprie-
tors have no copy money from the American edition,
which, happily promises t. supplant nearly all our
native chambermaid and fast boy serial publications
Of the same or a lover price. Household Words is
in all respects superior 10 any literary miscellany
predused in this country and II s extremely pronta