The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-24
NEW YORK HERALD MONDAY, JANUARY "a, 1859

We know that half million of sheets are sent out
weekly from one Office, laden with the great
! thoughts of the greatest minds Of the age.
| IRON the Newark IN. J) Journal.]
| THE New YORK IRpGEK-The number OF Bon
ner's LEDGER for this week has been received.
No. Of the Everett papers is an III
tensely interesting article on Donats comet, which
alone is worth years subscription to the LEDGER;
hut Mr.. Eyeretts learned yet popular articles by no
means comprise the entire literary talent which
the gifted and pure minded Mrs. Sigourney, the
peerless American w.t. Sake the brilliant Prentice,
to say nothing OF the fine poems from the highest
acknowledged American sources. 1t is too late in
the day. we believe, to talk of Edward Everett, or
| any other American scholar rs degrading his posi-
| ton by becoming contributor to the popular
press The example Of Addison, the father of Eng
lish classic literature, and his witty compeers, in
making newspaper the medium of commune
| cation with the public, has been followed by
| the leading minds of all European countries
| since that day; and we may say, without
hardly probability of being contradicted, that
| nearly all of the distinguished men of our coun
try in every sphere of distinction, have, at some
period of their lives been contributors to the popu
| lar press. Indeed, very few men of sense or intel
ligence are apt to underrate the importance of this
| mode of communication with the public; and to
| specify familiar instances OF the fact would only
occupy our space to prove what IS wen known ana
| obvious. We have not been able to view Mr.. Eve
| retts course as q writer for the LEDGER with any
of those feelings of distrust and regret which are
expressed by few OF our respected contempora-
| res Our first impulse on reading the announce
| ment of the engagement between Messls. Everett
and Bonner, was that OF surprise; but it was only
transient and momentary, and this feeling soon
| gave way to one of admiration at the shrewd-
ness exhibited by the proprietor OF the LEDGER
and the frank patriotism Of Mr.. Everett, who,
| in the spirit of true American republican
ism, probably deems nothing human beneath
him which takes hold Of the popular heart
of humanity and reaches the ear of the people.
| The LEDGER, by its immense circulation among all
classes and in all sections OF the country, answered
this reqniston, and Mr. Everett, in his pursuit Of
! the noble object to which he has devoted whole
years of his valuable life accepted the liberal terms
| offered him; and in few words the result of his
| decision may be stated:-The sum of $4,000 is Sc
cured to the purchase of Mount Vernon; the LEDG
Err is improved by Mr. Everetts fine essays, and the
taste and knowledge of the million readers of that
| paper CORRESPONDENCE improved. These papers
will not decrease the popularity of their author with
| the people; neither will he be led to regard the
people with less favor from his weekly communica-
ton with them. All parties concerned are benefit
| ted; nobody is injured. Bonner makes money and
| regulations; the Mount Vernon Association put
handsome sum in their purse; the people are profit
| ted, and everybody reads the LEDGER. This is
( great country and republican country, too.
from the Washington Globe
| TIE NEW YORK LEDGER.-The commencement
|
| Papers in the New York LEDGER has deservedly
inaugurated new era of prosperity for the already
| prosperous Bonner. Regarded either as master
stroke of business enterprise, or as the effect of
patriotic feeling, his contributions to the Mount
Vernon Fund, in consideration Of the literary
trbutons of Mr. Everett to his paper, is worthy of
all praise, and of the substantial reward which he
| will certainly receive from the people 0fthe Union.
Personally, day of light reading is long since
! past; and we have, therefore, never made
selves acquainted with the merits or defects
| either or both, as it may be-of the LEDGER. We
| are, however, Of opinion that Mr.. Bonner is too
| honest and good man to harm his readers know
| ingly for any consideration of profit
But however all this may be, we are henceforth
numbered among the regular readers of the
LEDGER at least of that part of it contributed by
| Edward Everett for we admire his beautiful
| thoughts and equally beautiful periods too much
| ever to let them pass by without enjoying them.
His easy learning, his entire command Of the best
expression of which language is capable; his excel
lent taste in the selection arrangement and treat
| ment of his subjects and the wondrous skill with
which he gives to his most elaborate works all the
smooth charm of spontaneity, all unite to make up
a combination of graces yet unattaned by any 9TH
| er living man. No man who has read can forget
the sweet light shed by his learning taste and fancy
on the vast variety OF usually dry subjects treated
by him in his address at the Inauguration of the
Dudley Observatory. How vivid and instructive
was his narrative OF the early expedition Of Henry
| Hudson and the settlement of Albany; and how
glorious his description of the heavens in the early
| morning! We remember having seen not long ago
report ola short and seemingly offhand speech made
| by him when Unexpectedly called on at an
| agricultural show. Remarking that he was
| unprepared for speech, having been pressed, as
| were, into the service, he entered easily and ma
turally into beautifully clear history of our dis
| putes and late war with Great Britain, in conse
/ quence of the forcible impressment of seamen
| by British armed vessels. Foreign as the subject
| was from the matters Immediately under the eyes
and in the minds of his hearers, they must surely
| for the time have forgotten all else in proud con-
/ formulation
| painted in burning words by him who had himself
been part of the great battle for national rights
| which he thus rehearsed.
| Such is slight instance of the intellectual and
moral influence which the tongue and pen of Eve
rett exert in their unceasing labor of patriotism.
That influence is always used for justice and right,
for religion and charity; and we can lose nothing,
but profit much, by placing ourselves within its be-
Inefficient circle. Apart, then, from all thought of
aiding thereby the enterprising Bonner, who de-
serves all he has made and is going to make from
| his publication, all should purchase the LEDGER
who, by the reading of the Mount Vernon Papers
would place themselves in mental association with
the most accomplished of Americans.
From the Mount Vernon Record
The annals of literature, aflluent as they are in
| striking illustrations of unwearied labor and high
| minded devotion to lofty purposes do not supply
/ any parallel to that remarkable instance of pa
trotic and generous Standardization recently afford
ed by Mr.. Everett, in favor of nationalizing in
perpetuity, the home and grave of Washngton-of
| him, the Father Of his Country, who was
Good without effort, great without fee
After having successfully filed the highest offices
| in the Union and his native State-havng repre-
sented his country with eminent distinction in
/ foreign land--havng achieved illustrous repu-
| tation in every branch of literature which he
| touched-having won the merited eulogy of being
the first of living orators-having retired from
the tolls of public life, in the fond expectation of
| closing his brilliant career among the lifelong
| friends whom he had made, the relations who love
as much as they honor him, and the books whose
| accumulated wisdom have passed into and become
part Of his inquiring and capacous mind, he sud-
denly emerged from his retirement, just when
its sweets had become familiar to him, and devoted
| all the energy Of opening manhood, to one great
concluding purpose. What drew such man from
the lettered ease which he had won by years of
| active labor? What placed him once more before
the eyes of the millions who inhabit this mighty
| country? 1t was neither the love Of gain nor the
| lust Of power-nether the allurements of vanity