New-York tribune., 1867-03-13
LITERARY ITEMS.

Mr. James Edmiston, the author OF some sacree
lyriOs wen known to many, has recently died.
Mr.. Tennyson had the honor of an interview win
the Queen, at Osborne, on the 10th ult
Mr. Charles Lever the novelist, has been appointed
Nv Iard Stanley Econsul at Trieste he has Tor sono
years officiated in the same capacity al speA~"
Mr. Dickens has made his second appearance at
Manchester this season, when large audience assembled
"a hear him read his christmas CaroP and Ine BOY
at hngby." .
T+a "Historv of the Doctrine of Future Life"
hv te Rev. Mr. Algcr of Boston, is warmly commended
m Tas Saturday RecieW, which rarely speaks well OF any
BODY or anything; "The history Of the doctrine OF
Future Life in different ages and among different nations
count of which has hitherto been so far as we know
dsideratum in the literature Of natural theoIogy MT
Ager IA well fitted the task he has undertaken which
is performed in most beral spirit with less OF eonto,
yersial zeal and less bitterness OF are
found among theological writer's OF whatever school ana
with that OF thought and language wheh DeIs
topic 80 ,sSs aeSp Of human nature He discusses at
greater length than some readers VIII think necessary
mOrsty and evotes considerable space propositions
which thardy OF historical interest and IN egaIa 70
them are likely to be affected by treatise OF this
kind But the properly historical portion OF ms WORK
very full, very labOrous, and very interesting
The Saturday Reriep makes some comments on the
keaTth Of original works in American literature ascIbng
1t in part to the want OF international copyright:
AS an education somewhat more than elementary and
real taste for reading are much widely dffused
Ia America-epeciay IN the North and North
IN England might reasonably have expected tn ihe
number of original works produced among pOpulaton
aneady a little oatnumbering our own would not nave
fallen short of that OF Engish puDcatons
the Contrary the case that the contribution OF America
10 the literature Of tongue is comparatively
trng is not, think, to be ascribed TO any lack OF
leisure literary ambition ainonghe more cultivated
class Though hereditary fortunes are almost unknown
and large estates s said that the proportion OF the
men of lesure and moderate means not much less IN
the older States at least Of the North than in England
and the class of professional writer's very numerous il
Ia true that newspapers periodicals fiji larger
In American literature than In and occupy more
considerable share Of the attention OF the general reader as
might naturally be expected in country where all men
pocians and also that authors who IN this country
would rarely engage in journalism-poets antquares
and observation-disclosures IN the States as editors OF eaqng
newspapers, largely paid for contributions which
should hardly think adapted 70 the columns OF daily
paper But this is probably effect rather than cause
Of the scarcity of original American books men whose
natural inehnaons would lead them TO independent au-
thOrship turn 10 journalism because they find IL dcnt
70 atta anything like equal influence or remuneration
IN any ether way That which Mr.. j. s. Mill has said OF
England that man can hardly hope toinfuenee his gen
Grafton except member OF Parliament or the editor
Of a.LOndon 0urlof the injustice OF which remark he
Is himself striking examples in much greater meas
OF America. Few American authors, we believe,
make their books anything corresponding 70 the sums
which are received by popular English writers; and it
would be difficult TO name single man in the states
whose independent writings have exercised such an in
nnenee American thought as is produced by
preachers and journalists, by many leading English
Of this difference is probably be sought almost exclu
sively in that extensive piracy OF English books when
forms argea portion OF the book trade OF NeW1 OK,
Boston. and Philadelphia"