New-York tribune., 1868-09-21

" of singular merit and value7 The remainder of
the sory-that is, about eighteen-twentieths-is Mr.
Reades work. AS TO the charge OF plagiarism,
nothing can be more conclusive than Mr. Reade's
demonstration of the essential originality OF ms
book His declaration that he never read nor heard
of lie POrtqeWiile Rouge, the French play which
ne was accused OF steahng would De satisfactory,
without his elaborate analysis OF the unhkenesses
between the two. There Is believe, no grave quar-
rel between Mr. Reade and Mr.. BOucicault on account
of the different dTamatiZatOns of the novel. The
references TO Mr. BOuccaut III Mr.. Reades letter
both friendly and generous, and their dispute rs
rather professional than personal 1t originated III
the determination of MIR. BOucicault TO reject from
the play certain situations of the novel which Mr.
Reade considered essential TO the success OF the
drama. Convinced that his cOIdbordeWs version
would be a failure, Mr. Reade resolved on separate
play of his Mr. Boucicault got the start OF him
on the London stage, so that the genuine play was
lrou ght ont nj eeds while the spurious one was
acting on the Holbom boards in London. The failure
of the latter was not more decided than the success
of Mr. Reade's own play in the provinces 1t drew
large houses in Leeds and i'll Manchester and paid
good profit into the theatrical treasury 1t is dong
still better at Glasgow, and Will be brought out IN
America by Mr. Clark of the Walnut Street Iheater
in Philadelphia. The play now acting under the
name of Foul Play" in New-YOrk and elsewhere
is l am told, neither Mr. Boucicault's nor Mr..
Reades. but hash of the two.
Mr. Reade's new story III The GdtdrV ought TO he
the more welcome to American readers because It's
author is one of the few literary men III England
whose friendship for the Union stood the test OF the
Rebellion. He is almost the only Democrat know
in England. AS a writer his diligence and hdehty
are remarkable Before he wrote Hard Cash he had
collected q library of information on the special
abuse-private lunatic asylums-what that book was
meant to attack. friend who has penetrated INTO
his sanctum describes II as presenting curious
assemblage of notebooks and sCTap-bOoks, arranged
and classified with precision which reduces n great
mass of miscellaneous facts extracts, and documents
into the order and accessibility OF a collection OF
The editor of Tie Star Mr.. Justin Mccarthy, sailed
yesterday for America, in the Hermann, one of the
North-Germ LlOyds admirable steamships, from
Southampton. Mr.. Mccarthy has been the chief
editor of The Star since the amented death of Mr..
Lucas, whose principal assistant and writer he was
during the early part of the Rebellion. For some
time before Mr.. Lucass death his health was so
certain that great share of the editing OF The Star
tell on Mr.. Mccarthy, in whose hands rs cordial
friendship for America was always steadily mann
taincd just before his departure Mr. McCarthys
colleagues presented him an address Tegrettlng their
temporary separation, and expressing cordially the
regard and great respect which they all hold him.
Several gentlemen not on the staff of The Star were
present by invitation at the reception OF this address
Cyrus Field of New-YOrk, and one American
journalist The two latter assured MIR.
Mccarthy that the editor of The Star would be cor
daily welcomed IN America. And as lie goes TO
lecture well as to travel that he was sure OF ind
ing audiences eager TO listen to an Engllshnan who
had stood by us in the dark days. Mr.. Mccarthy,
independently of his high rank III Journalism, Is
known in recent literature as a fresh and vigorous
writer, of wide culture and sympathies. His late
volume of essays Con AHOrt, Is "A book of genuine
criticism, dealing mainly with French and German
literature 1t includes essays ON Noltalre. Goethe,
Schiller, B6TangeT, FreIligrath, Henri MtrgeT and
Victor Hugo. Two high authorities. The Idt--DdN
Go2de and The Daily Nacs, agree in ascribmg TO 1t
very unusual merit The Necs says: .,.. -. ,..,,..
Mr. Mccarthy has given much attention To foreign
literature especially to that OF the two leading countries
of the Continent and IS evidently well qualified 10 slt IN
critical Judgment on the great inteects of those neigh
boring lands wellToad man. who has not only rtad
but thought for himself and who possesses the hf OF
no waste of time To study and in these days OF diluted
twaddle' mscaed essay WIRING u - leiiei 20 CONF
volume fun OF matter as the present Inc au
tnor does not simply throw OUT nunsI rS % S r'G Sn in
unworthy mtcrprets the minds of several men who have
helped TO form the intellect Of modern Europe
Everything has been against the cab sulke-the
public the railways, the season, ana even The weather.
Under a sunny sky London gets on surprisingly wen
without its cabs. The strike began on saturday; tins
is Wednesday and every day has been dry and warm.
The top of an omnibus IS delightful, ana you may
have your luggage by your side II YOU are gong toa
railway station The railways get on perfectly we'll
There plenty OF cabs at all the stations III
yesterday morning when few OF the privileged
drivers struck against the ChaIlng Cross station.
The company at once hlled tier yard win
BrOughams caleChes, waROnnettes, and luggage vans
If the strike should last long enough and include any
considerable number of the privileged. nothing would
be easier than 90 organize special omnibus services,
Oh the Continental plan, which is cheap and sensible
Whether II last depends wholly oil the success OF
of the outsiders IN getting the insiders TO make com
mon cause The cab-Owners who nave no con
tracts with the railways and are not allowed to wait
inside the stations for fares, are making immense
efforts to induce their more favored rivals 10 JON
their movement. Ii Is not likely they VIII succeed
They boast of having entlced away 100 ont oi DO
but more than that number OF outsiders nave aDan-
doned the strike aud plying for hire about the
streets as usual. Discipline IS growing lax among
the macontents. A certain number were assigned
to Waterloo, since that station has always admitted
ali decent cabs payment of a penny. lhey pear
placaTds Z" For Waterloo only, but saw seNefal OF
them drive mp with fares aud luggage to Channg
Cross itself The cab stands that we're empty on
Saturday and Sunday began 10 I'LL yesterday, ana on
any Of the great thOrOughfares west OF Temple Bar
a cab could be had by little waiting. The truth ~
the drivers have struck against the wrong party ii
they have grievance II ls against tne railways, put
in order 10 redress il they make war on the public
Nor would they be any better OH If they succeeded
since the owners would demand the extra shlllg OF
Two which cabby might earn by getting access 10
station. Worst of all, perhaps the public Is out of
town. If the managers of the strike hoped that "A
pressure would be brought TO bear Oh the railway d
rcctors by people who suffered for want OF cabs they
chose the worst possible time. The people who
would most feel the inconvenience, ana VINO could
make their protest heard. are far from London.
Everybody is out of town who can get away. lbe
clubs are deserted half the theaters closed, and
there is an odd advertisement OF the Lyceun this
morning informing its patrons that during the cab
strike the rule requiring ladies and gentlemen to be
i'm full dress In the stalls and boxes will not be
forced. IL is enforced III respect 10 gentlemen,
except at the opera and ladies are considered To COM
ply with II by going without bonhets' c. W. 8
MIR. ROEBUCK's DEFENSE.
To ne Editor Of Tie London TtBes
/ seldom remark upon public criticism on my
public conduct but the present occasion is In my opn-
iOn important and your miscoucepon OF the purpose
and effect Of the speech lately made at the Cutters
Feast SO remarkable that led depart from my
usal course of conduct and 10 endeavOr you right
and correct that MISUNDERSTANDING which AIN sure was
wholly unntenti onal. You seem TO assume that IN
tended 10 dsparage the United States and that did in
suit her Minister by the remarks made Now, 10 notice
first the last mentioned have the best authority
servaiions He full well that had been active IN
preparing for him warm welcome TO sheffield. chat