New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-13

have talent, skll, knowledge and inteulgence-tne
reigning power having neither Of these qualities
developed TO any perceptible degree. One can e1'
cuse littlo Tom Moore for skipping and singing
under the protuberant abdomen Of the Prince OF
Wales; but we do not see why American authors
should relish this submission of their manufactures
TO such critical test. We do not see why Dir.
Buchanan should not be content with being Pres
ident without being, or pretending to be, that
most unfortunate and most praiseworthy per-
son, Critic. If We h,d, for the delectation
and solace Of our enemies, written book, we
should SILVER With modesty, if the thought came
over ma Of submitting i. to the President of the
United States Out Of consideration Of this feeling
and Of the high rates Of postage, which in despite
Of the franhing privilege, might be suspended when
orr manuscript went into the box, We should seek
for an Aristarchus nearer home. Other quill
knights, however, not being so modest as We are
do actually insist upon securing puff from the
President. And from that parsonage, the publishers
also having the fear Of losses before their eyes, and
the hope OF gain crowdng every ventrice Of their
hearts, do endeavor to extract encoInums They
reason logically. Five thousand readers may buy
book approved by his Excellency, whereas, if not
recommended by that Executive certificate, it
might be bought by only FIVE hundred. or possibly
BY only five. SO the boohmen take the place of
the honest rlIstics who used to send to the White
House the gigantic cheeses and the Titanic hams.
Wslking.st are of discount. snuff boxes are
nowhere Other than literary testimonials, whether
OF wood OF silver, of curd, or of pork, are of no
account at the Mansion. Books do there relume
their positively efectual fires and do knock the
minor donations into nothngness. ETempH gratia:
"W.sHrNGT0S CITY. Dec. s, 1851 !
"GrSTLTMEN: eve YOU many thanks The Songs thu
South and Romantic Passages in south Western History
vhrh you have had the kndnesto send to ne have bad put
httr time 70 lDk INTO these volumes lddd grammar M bc
oHANA> bn wha, have read feel quie assured yog forgot
torHta BY boyc tat rAat Mr. PsgsIDEST 'hs enjoy
both pleasure sid profit in their peTusal. ....,
yours, very respectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN"
This letter is addressed to certain book publish
ers in Mobile in the State of Alabama. Those
who are in search Of new and piquant specimens
of sensation literature, in the pcrusal OF which they
can enjoy pleasure and profit simultaneously with
the President Of the United States, must save their
shilngs for the attainment of the above fascnat-
ing work. We know, We feel, We suspect, We
imagine, We divine, that it must be thrilling, be-
cause although Mr.. Buchsnan has had but little
time to look into these volumes, he is certain that
they would delight and profit. We wish that Mr..
Is. had stated to the extent permitted by the lin
tied expression of Arabic or Roman numerals, the
average of ecstacy and the possible amount of In
formation to be derived from the study Of the
" Songs Of the South" We wish that he had
shown US into what arcana of wisdom we might
enter through the romantic passages" But We
regret to say that he is characteristcaly guarded
so that We are left to doubt whether in this great
book, any allusOn is made to the 90 romantic pas
saees" of Robert j. Walker, or Stephen A. Doug
recently performed in the dance of modern politics
by gentlemen from the South and West.
But We must do justice to our Presidential Me-
canss. A Mr.. Swan has written book about
Washington Territory. He picked out handsome
copy, and in Boston did h. have it bound, "elegant
~ bound" we are informed, sin red and gold, in
the chaste old English style" With this blbio-
graphic treasure he hastened to Washington.
Luckily he found the Delegate from Washington
Territory upon the spot and engaged at what price
is not stated that official. The author and the
Delegate proceeded to the White House, bearing
the book :. in red and gold" They We're permit
ted to 60 into the presence. They deposited the
work "in red aud gold at the Presidential feet.
Then it was that Mr.. Buchanan gave utterance to
the following lucid remarks:
fo the present Of this beautiful volume, and an
certain from The subject upon phich you hare prsnr
must be uscfVi and iHtreStng"
Now, who can sufficiently admire the critical
perspicacity of the President He is certain
that because an author has selected particular
subject his work must be useful and entertaining.
Alas then, for Du Bartas and Blackmore, who
both wrote stupid poems upon capital themes
We are afraid that Mr.. Buchanan's rule will not
hold. Suppose that Mr.. Skimpoe had written
book on the currency! Would it necessarily have
been any better than the queer thing recently put
out by Mr.. George Francis Train
1t is but too true II was fattering tale which
that h,issy Hope told us when she made us believe
.l.. 81 with which IVA ,xara thraa taned