The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-05
TsAe Literary Wesaa.

Creeley, Chevalier Wikoff, and Q sister Of N. 2. |
willis, Who, under the title Of "Rath HAIL. has I
served up the domestic privacies Of her family.
Literature has BEEN dishonored, for Q temporary
advantage, by . few pabishers who have re-
sorted TO the George Robbins style Of advertis-
hg. No respectable author would regard any
Increase Of bis income a. . compensation for tho
undignifed manner in which many works are now
brought before the public. The value Of advertising
nay be injured by its abuse, and experience will
soon teach people TO avoid works issued from
houses by whose advertisements they have once been
taken In. The effect, thus far, has been to SECURE
for many miserable novels, like the anti-slavery sto
W OF 'Ida May J" for example, . sale until recently
altogether unparalleled. No work by Scott, Boil liver,
Cooper, or any Of the great masters Of fiction, was
ever half so "suo ,essful )" to use the language Of the
hade, a. this dull and common place affair, by
q maiden lady Of Portland, now residiog IN
Cambridge, near Boston. Nor has any production
Of Miss Sedgwick, Mrs. Kirkland, Miss M ;Insosh, or
Margaret Fuller, ever sold rs well a. Mes. Anne L.
Shepherds "Fashion aud Famine" the Letters OF
Jonathan Slick, Of Slickvnle," or Mrs. Earring
toms "Fern Leaves.' This absurd advertising sys-
tenn is beginning to be understood. Il Is not suit
abb for the class Of people whs buy books. Il will
do better for Perham's Gifts.
The lovers OF good books will be delighted to learn
that our gre at historian, Mr.. Prescott, has at length
completed the important work which, for ten years,
has occupied 30 much Of his attention The History
r. the R.,gm Of Philip the Second the history Of
The beginning Of the decline, as his Ferdinand and
Isabella was of the end Of the rise, Of the great
ness Of the Spanish monarchy. Iuheriting the vast
possessions and powers Of his father, Charles the
Fifth, Philip devoted his best energies TO the sup
preston Of the Protestant religion, alleging that he
had rather be without subjects than be . King OF
heretcs." One Of his wives was Queen Mary, Of
England, who was far less bigoted and more merci-
fat thar himself. Mr.. Chambers speech denying the
temporal supremacy OF the Pope is not very happily
Illustrated by the fact that his Holiness invested
Philip with the sovereignty Of Ireland when Eliza
BETH established Professionalism In her doplnions-
Of course releasing the Irish, by a bull, from their
allegiance TO her. No age before the rise Of Napo.
hon was 30 prolific Of remarkable personsges as
that Of this celebrated monarch, whose own casrsc-
Der was one demanding for It's proper exhibition the
finest and highest qualities Of historical criticism.
Mr.. Prescott will be found equal to tho difficult duty
he has undertaken. 1t has been his happy distioc.
tion, hitherto, that, upon whatever scbjects he has
written, his works have at once taken q just and
enduring precedence Of all Others. His new psr-
liz WIN mOiib u Jill ~ "a WA AAA0i
success OF his histories of Ferdinand and Isabella,
bexiCo, and Peru, and will be an additional justlf
cation of the judgment Of Humboldt, ths. he ia the
greatsst of all living historians. The materials for
IL he has drawn irom the principal archives and
private libraries Of Earope, especially in Spain,
where the libraries OF the descendants OF tbs old
statesmen of Philip the Second have been thrown
open to him. They amount to nearly ten thousand
hho pages Of manuscripts, besides everything OF
importance that has been ever printed on the sub
3ect and the period. We learn that the work will
be In three volumes, and that the frs. Ia already
tsreotyred, go that the whole may be expected
fson the publishers during the spring.
Washington Irving viii give MS, through Lis
Pabfsber, this week, q new and charming misosl.
hny, under the title Of Wofsrt's Roost. Its chsrao-
Ter, perhaps, may bs best described by saying that
Il Is Q second "Sketch Book" It win be recolle, II
ID that nearly fifteen years ago-bsforo Mr.. Irving's
appointment ss Minister to Bps;n-he was IN aer-
stood 70 be indus,Iiously engaged upon q Life Of
Washington. We are happy to state that this work
Is low nearly finished, and that it viii be imms-
diateIy given to the press. 1t cannot be said that
the Father Of his Country has, thus fH, been emil
nsntly fortunate in his biographsrs. Mar. hall and
Sparks are able, and must ever rank high as authori-
les; hut, with ali their merits, they are heavy to .
degree which renders the reading Of them anything
rather than 8 pleasant pastime. Mr.. Irving viii
sive 10 lot cIIy the history Of the soldier a1d
salesman, first In war and first In peace" but .
portraiture Of tie man who was first tn tho hearts
Of his c~ountrymen." This work, indeed, will be .
delight for the young and the old, as fascinating "a
q roman 20, but as carefully considered, with re-
specs to truth and justice, as can be demanded by
The most judicial reader. It win be in three
large volumes.
Undoubtedly one o the most accomplished, honora.
BE and altogether respectable public characters this
country has ever produced was the late Mr.. Henry
Wheaton, whose long and distinguished career -
. diplomatiss is not less .favorsbly known among
statesman than his masterly works illustrative Of
The laws Of nations among scholars. These elaborate
productions, which have been every shere reoog.
nized as Of the highest authority, from the period Of
their first publication, together with his "Iuquiry As
70 the Right Of Search" hi, History Of the North.
MEM (entirely rewritten and greatly enlarged Q
short time before his death), and al his other his
tosicsl, judicial, literary and miscellaneous writings,
are soon TO appear, under the title Of his Complete
Works, with q Memoir, by his friend Mr.. William
Beach Lawrence, than whom no man Is more COM
peknt, from his personal intimacy and similarly
various and thorough scholarship, 70 do him the
fullest Justice. We understand that Mr.. Lawrence
has consented TO read q paper on the life, labors
and character of Mr.. Wheaton ct the mex. meeting
Of the New York Historical Society.
The first and tenth volumes OF 7Ee Works Of
John adams, completing the series, are In press,
and win be issued together during the spring. Mr..
Charles Francis Adams, by whom they are editei,
hss thus far executed his duties In the mos. admi-
ratle manner, 80 that we cannot help feeling some
regret that he has decided not TO procsed imms
distsIy with the preparation for he press Of the