New-York tribune., 1868-12-31
HSE SCRIPSIT.

IPSE SCRIPSIT
At the present season Of festival and OF the
domestic iinancialitics, the father Of the family
Is chiefly interested in those autographs of the
butcher and the baker which give legal value
to the words Received Payment" Thus at
tested, and, as it were, beautifully rounded,
this phrase, so tantalizing in naked md un-
subscribed condition, becomes one of the most
charming in the English language, for, when
pronounced, it is really more grateful to the
ear than the longest Greek compound or the
softest Latin diminutive. A large autograph
ical collection of this character goes far to es-
tablish the moral connoisscurship of its pro-
prietor; and although its interest may he some
what limited it will afford pleasant reading to
tho possessor at least through tho month Of
January Unfortunately. these are autographs
which cannot be purchased at public
vendue; full price must always be
paid for them; they are never to be
had at a bargain; they are not of kind to
provoke competition; like the papers in the
pocket-book which is being perpetually lost,
they "are of no value except to the owner;'
and they need not be locked up, for the
arrantcst vrtuoso VIII experience no tempta
ton to pilfer them. Still, Mr. White, the
baker and Mr.. Chops, the butcher, may be
proud of the value of their subscriptions when
they read that, Mt recent sale in Astor-piace
the autograph of the great John Tyle' wrought
but City cents, and that OF the still greater
Fernando Wool tenpence only, while the sign
manual of Daniel Webster went for three-and-
sixpence, and that of Robert C. Winthrop for
something less The signature of the man who
said that language was given to us to conceal
our thoughts, the poet Goldsmith having said
the same thing before him, brought only one
dollar. IL is Il little sad to find that Sir Robert
Walpole's signature was sold for but half
dollar, but "Fernaudo Wood !" disposed of for
one dime, restores the equilibrium of emotion
The passion for collecting the autographs OF
the greatly good, the infamously celebrated the
notorics nobodies and the first, second and
third sOmebodies of their age, Is like all relic
hunting, aud exposes its devOtee to the chance
OF becoming prey to his own enthusiasm and
Of being outrageously swindled though he will
hardly be wholly impoverished while Fernando
" Woods sell for ten cents each. But nobody
ever looked over great collection of auto
graphs without an uncomfortable impression
that some of the most interesting of them were
forgeries souvenir Of this kind, to be worth
much, must be like Cpsar's wife. 1t would be
a pleasure we can readily suppose. to have an
undoubted Claude upon ones wall but should
q great critic come to look at it and pronounce
it spurious, the subsequent agonies would
be in proportion TO the previous rap
lures. We all know that hundreds of
pictures, the work of journeymen copyists. are
sold every year in this city with immortal
names tackled to them. Wherever there Is
demand for old masters there will always be
n full supply; and something like this probably
is true of autographs We would not awaken
any feeling of disappointment or OF haiasslng
doubt in tho soul of the man who lately bought
the autograph of Fernando Wood for ten cents.
The price, it is true, considering the article,
was rather high, but the probability is that the
signature was gcnuine-at least, we do not be-
live that tho ex-Mayor will deny it, unless II
great deal more than ten cents can be made
out OF the denial. But people who think chat
they have autographs OF Goethe, of Schiller, of
Napoleon Bonapate, and of Byron, must not
stake their whole happiness on tho genuine
character of their treasures. Manuscripts pur-
porting to be from the hands of the first two,
we understand, arc constantly manufactured In
Germany. Autographs OF Napoleon, except,
perhaps the great "Nn scawled upon official
paper, are exceeding suspicious. ard even the
great NJ itself is easily inflated. Autographs
of Byron have been simulated to such an ex-
tent that they are, ii we may use the express
sion a drug in the market. There was warn
ing at the very sale we have mentioned III the
autograph Ms. of Hamlet. by William Henry
Ireland who was very sldllful in these mat
tcrS, and who did forge an entire tragedy which
ho pretended was by Shakespeare
We have often thought that it would be n
kindly act upon the part of great men to de-
vote certain hours of their retirement to the
manufacture OF II large number of autographs,
to be placed in the hands of trustees and dis
posed of after the death OF tho writer's for the
beuelit of their families or of s0mo charitable
institution. MIR. Andrew Johnson, for Instance,
will soon require some light employment to so
lace the solitude Of private life; and we have
reason to believe that writing Andrew John
"son" or "a. Johnson thousands ot times on
hundreds of sheets OF paper would be found by
him oougcnial occupation. Probably. ut most
salos these signatar,s would blSg from two ia
! five cenls each. und tho nuulGtr of thcm might
| DO indefinitely multiplied IL autographs "