The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-09-01
rnlpaY MORNING. sErrEMprR ], 1853.
NEW PUBLICATION.


NocrEs AaBRostAs.E.--Mr. James Wood
house has laid upon our table q literary trta-
sure in the sNoctes Ambrosiane tof Black
wood by the late John Wilson, editor oil
Blackwoods Magazine, and Maginn, Lock
hart, Hogg, &c, with memoirs and notes by
II. shelton Mackenzie, D. c. L., editor OF
Shells Sketches of the Irish Bar. The
work is issued in handsome style by Red
field. 10 Nassau street, New York, and is
enbellished with engravings which consist
of a fine portrait of Wilson, with character
istic full length sketches of the other wri-
tiers. There is, besides, fac-simile OF a
page of THE NocTEs in Professor Wilson's
own writing. The editor states that he has
endeavored to render this edition complete
by introducing the celebrated Chaldee Manu-
script, full of satire and libel, which first
brought Blackwood's Magazine into notorie-
TWAS suppressed as soon as published
and has been so scarce that the only copy the
editor had ever seen, and ne had long sought
for il, was that from which he makes the pre-
sent reprint. A satirical poem, never before
reprinted in America has been inserted, IN
which there is a notice of every living Bri-
fish author of note, in the year l522. Brlef,
but sufficient explanations are given by the
editor of the persons, localities and circum-
stances mentioned in 1.-THE Noctes,' task
for which he is peculiarly qualified, having
passed the greater portion of his literary HE
in England and Scotland and having familiar
acquaintance with most of the individuals
and events treated of in the work.
The celebrity Of Blackwood's Magazine Is
principally due to the Noctes AmbroSa0ne,
which were commenced in March, 1s22 and
ended in February, 1885. Wilson, Lockhart,
Hogg, Sym and Maginn were the principal
contributors, but Wilson was chief; chief
in labors, and chief in power and versatility
of genius-the presiding, the pervading. the
inspiring spirit. "They are full of informa-
ton, abundant in personalities, violent in
politics, somewhat dictatorial in literary mat
tiers, but always able, acute, bold and elo'
quent." sin the thirteen years during
which The Noctes were appearing Wilson
xand Maginn were in their glory and triumph.
VI MIN IL ull8nt DC saiu tnal
'tHe ran
Through each mode of the Tyre and was master OF
ALL"
"Critic and rhapsodist, poet and story-tel-
ler essayist and wit, he was remarkable
man during ali these years. 1t seems as if
he could play upon every instrument in the
vast orchestra of thought. He had the pc
culiarity, and splendid one it was, of being
at once one of the greatest writers and bril-
liant orators of his time John Savage
speaking of this extraordinary man, in the
Citizen, says: "He walked the earth as
Titan and the step became him. Look at
him brawny chested broad shouldered, fire.
eyed, lofty browed, trumpet tongucd monster
OF six feet two, with body capable of great
Incidence or immense exertion; and a face |
changeable as the climate of New York. |
Look at him in bis study when the fever of |
composition was upon bim-his celtic locks |
flowing about his round, full head, like tan
gled halo his eyes cleaning like a pan
theirs; and a hirsate beard adding grim, |
wild force to his expression. Verify, the man
looks like an inspired buffalo, or wild boar. |
bowling out his hinge lyrical soul, or driving |
his tusks into and crashing his teeth in a |
critical phrenzy over some satanic Montgom- |
cry. He deals his blows as though he felt |
their force himself, and knew that each was |
a leveller
For sale By M. James TVOodAousc, book-
seller, Main street,