New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-16
LITERARY.

The late visit Of the Prince Of Wales and his suite
has given great impetus the study of the Peerage
and British Family History though by sort OF fatal-
| ity. scarcely any of the numerous articles which
abound ON the subject are free from The most
| ordinary mistake was to make the Duke Of Newcastle
descendant of the well-kuown duke of the same name
in the last century, mmortalized by Horace Wsipoe
and Maesuay, and who left posteriy. The present
Duke is of an entirely different stock So much If the
subject encountered by the vena misrepresentation Of
the Burkes and other peerage writer's atthere is only
one modern book in which the positive truth Is told
respecting the claims Of families 10 ancient descent
This is an elegant volume, by Mr. Evelyn Philip Shr-
lev, NJ. p. for Warwick, /" The Noble and Gentle
Houses of England" which has just reached second
edition Its canons are severe but consceniiousy car
RED out and its object is to record every family now
existing in England which has subsisted in position
of "estate and worship in the male line, and was 70
seated at the commencement of the Sixteenth Century
OF before A. ID. 1900, when the devastating Wars OF
the Roses were Just over, and before the changes
attendant on the Reformation had made havoc of the
old landed gentry. The number Of families that pass
this ordeal in all England is between 300 and 400 and
the results of the investigation very curious,
some counties being without single resident family of
gentry that assert such claim
An interesting letter has appeared among the
foreign correspondence of The AheaGam, from
gentleman who describes how he was at the moment
seated in state the sole readergifted by special per-
mission with TO the archives of Span in the
Economically situated Castle of Sinancas. lie the
signature &C. b." which might be taken for George
Borrow, only that he speaks Of arriving Z" in his
carriage" which, may be certain, Borrow, unless
sadly changed since his days Of wild eqnesiriansm,
would never do. The extent of this famous national
collection of archives is almost bewilderng contain
ing more than 900 Lgo'oS or bundles of docI-
ments each containing from twenty to hundred and
fifty separate papers, according 10 their size. The coll
lection in its perfect state of order and accessibility,
offers example TO countries that consider themselves
more enlightened than Spain. Contrary to the usual
opinion the writer ncqus the French Of much inten-
tional damage while they in possession of these
historic treasures-aways excepting some three hun
dred egatOs carried off TO Paris and forgotten 10 be
returned SO much has been done for the elucidi
ton of Spanish History in the United States than in
any other country, that it is very probable "G. b.
may be come NewYorker or Bostonian emulous Of the
fame Of Motley and Prescott.
Much good amentation has been wasted on the
supposed loss to the country of the Shakespearian
treasures of Mr.. Burton, the comedian, the sale of
whose library has recently taken place. As the -Four
Foios" the gems of the collection) secured by
Mr. Edwin Forrest, well most of the other rare
editions of which he was not already possessed it
turns that the eremads against the national want
Of taste were in this instance unfounded. Indeed the
very handsome sum realized by the collection about
as 600 aproof OF ndiscrminae appreciation, rather
thnn Of neglect or parsmony, as II may be doubted
whether the library would have brought within 900,
n &, ,,;ll EoI;n
of Shakespeare's Works" p623) was knocked down
for $375 fair market price, considering its condition
and reparations by fac-siniles, while many of the
Others sold for extreme prices and throughout tue sale
of two weeks duration, there scarcely book in
any respect given away" and probably colec-
ton containing the same amount Of what a severe
critic might call rubbish was ever sold here. This il
gratifying thing for the loves OF choice books, for
which NewYork at this moment presents one o. the
most active markets in the world.
A new edition of the curious work of Robert
Alfred Vaughan, Hour with the bystics" has just
appeared in London. The amented young author died
soon after the issue of the first edition. that the
Of revision has devolved his father, DIR. Robert
Vaughan the biographer Of Wycklfe, and editor OF
The British Quarterly Review. 1t il advertised for
reprint by Nesss. MaItien Of Philadelphia, in conjunc
ton with the Essays, Reviews and Memoir Of the
Author" also prepared for the press by Dr. Vaughan.
work of somewhat similar character, as dealing with
the jewellers in the mysterious by-pahs Of science,
is announced under the name, /" Curious Things
Of the Outside World" II will contain researches into
the history of the Roscrucisns from the days Of the
famous adept, Robert Fluid and his disciples. Though
the name ia Familiarity known, the subject has scarcely
been handled by any English writer, and offers
tempting field for original investigation. The author
is Mr.. Hsrgrave Jennings who has written singular
book, /" The Indian Religions or Results of the N.Y.
terious Buddhism"
The second edition of bIsx Mdllers L" History OF
SsnscIi Literature has appeared within few months
of s first publications. demand that may with
tainty be pronounced uneXampled for work of that
character. Prof. Miller will not be- indicted into
the SanHert Chair Al Oxford for which he is the moot
prominent candidate, unopposed Mr.. honier Will
Hams, rival scholar and author Of English Gram
of the Sanscrit language has put forth rather Is
violent manfeso Of his claims 10 the position a. q
practical promoter Of the study Of the language and
better versed in it, really classic literature than Max
Miller whom he accuses Of undue devotion to the
Vedac writings, the interest Of which is chiefly archeo
logical, and not TO be pursued so exclusively without
conflicting with the purposes for which the Professor
ship founded by Col Boden, who left his SDrtune
for that purpose.
Mr.. Ruskin has Just made characteristic appeay-
in print, iii defense of the recent poetcal volume
Of his friend, Coventry Patmore, entitled Faithful
Forever" Tie reviewer of The Critic" had, in dis
charge Of his duty stgnstized the work instance
Of the simplest aud siest csss Of domestic des, and
ceItainly the specmens he gives seem beaF ont the