The New York herald., 1863-12-03

| IeIegrdph Mr. Saia S the last OF long ant
iilustrious line OF writer's who have come to ths
United States upon similar missions Thirty
or forty years ago we had visit from Captain
Basil Hall, who knew nothing but ships, and
consequently thought himself capable OF
critcising everything. His book about US was
fine specimen of bad abuse. 1t died long ago
and so did he. Selah! Then Mrs. Trollope came
over with FaLny Wright, and started milli-
merry store at Cincinnati. Her bOnnets would
not sell, and 30 she began to make books. Her
frs! effort was an attack upon America and the
Americans, who had not taste enough to admire
her bOnnets We had rather buy her bonnets
than read her books. Selah
Fanny Kemble followed Mrs. TrollOpe, and
pitched into US savagely because we did not
use finger glasses. 1t is cOnsoling TO know that
she also pitched into her husband, although that
poor fellow did use finger glasses. Slavery was
the rock upon which Fanny and her worse half
split and the United States have initiated the
example on grand SCALE Selah! Old Cap
tain Marryatt was next in order. The Captain
was half seas over half the time, and allowed
himself to be dreadfully quizzed, especially by
Western men, who never told word Of truth
in those days except by accident We are hap
py to say that they have since reformed Selah
About the first literary visitor of any note,
however, was Dickens, then in the height of his
popularity. Sir Walter Scott never came. Lord
Byron threatened to come. Tom Moore came and
behaved himself like poet and gentleman.
He was even complimentary enough to affect
to discover something poetical about Canada,
which is as difficult as to get blood out of a
stone. Selah To return to our muttons
Dickens was totally overcome by his reception
here. He had just been London reporter,
did not know how to dance, and we gave him
plenty Of balls He made himself ridiculous,
and so did we. That would have ended the
matter had not he seen fit to caricature and
sneer at us. This did not come with very
good grace from the recipient of our extrava-
giant hospitalities, and some i'll feeling was the
consequence. 1t has all blown over years ago,
however, as all i'll feelings should. Selah
De Tocqueville, a Frenchman also paid us
visit and perpetrated a book about us some
time since. His book is very sensible and phi
losophical and appreciative. Selah Martin
Farquhar Tupper, the author of good deal Of
very feeble poetry, was also here, and is to
this day favorite with many strong-minded
women and wesk-minded men, boarding
school misses and irreclamable old maids.
Selah Then came lot of small fry, of
whom we shall say nothing at present,
as we have larger game for our candle. Thacke-
ray gave us lecture tour, and suffered con.
siderably from the HERALD, our steamboats, and
our American ladies, to oil Of which he pleas
antly refers in recent writings. Just after this
war broke out Mr.. Anthony Trollope arrived,
| and wrote another book aboutus. 1t was much
better than bis mothers, and could not very
well have been otherwise. Selah! Then Bull
Run Russell made his appearance on these
shores, and afforded us food for mirth for many
months. A more thoroughly confounded and
amazed Englishman never returned to his native
isle after seeing foreign parts. Selah After
Russell came Maekay, also sent out by the Lon.
don Times. Mackay is a good-natured poet
and eater OF puddings, but his letters are
mere rshssh of the trash, twaddle and bun
combe Of the copperbead press. Russell's let
ters were at least amusing and original;
Mackays are as patchvorky as an old-fashioned
bed quilt and as fat as stale beer. Selah!
Really we must ask Mr.. Sala's pardon for
wading to him through such q mass Of rubbish
and rubbish makers as these; but it is as we'll
that be should know who have been before him
and whom he has to surpass.
Mr.. Sala is q literary man, well known in
London and beginning to be known outside Of
London He commenced his career upon
Household Words, and has lately edited Temple
Bar, magazine, and the Daily Telegraph, a
paper which has twice the circulation of the
Times. OF this newspaper he will be q sort of
rowing correspondent, writing when he likes
and what he pleases. He has considerable
talent, and can rattle off an article upon any
subject at an hours notice and in very reada-
bic style. Our advice to him is either to be-
lieve everything he hears in this country or
| to believe nothing at all. Perhaps the former
course is the better. At my rate it is easier,
and will result in funnier and more popular
letters. As for understanding us or
our institutions, or what We are about,
or what we shall achieve, the sooner
| Mr.. Sala gives up that idea the sooner he
will sleep soundly and recover his peace
Of mind. We do not understand ourselves.
We push ahead like locomotive, without any
settled track before us. The events of every
day astonish us as well as the rest Of the world.
We only know that what is to be will be, and
that it is our duty to push on and to believe
we shall bring up all right somewhere at some
time. The people who live in the year 2l63
will comprehend us thoroughly; but we are
rushing on so fast now that the people Of 1868
are obliged to rush ahead to keep up with us.
Instead Of using our brains TO think and re-
fleet, we have trouble enough to prevent them
being completely turned by the rapid rate Of
our progress II Mr. Sala could get as far
ahead OF us as 2l63, aud write from that stand
point, he would make bis reputation. If, on the
contrary. he sits calmly down and tries to play
the disinterested observer, we shall pass him