The New York herald., 1872-12-06
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.

The LONDON Spectator says the modern news
paper system breaks down at lengthy" docu-
ments; that it is impossible to secure the general
publication Of any long speech or official paper,
without condensation, except Premier's speech
in Parliament. The American Presidents Message.
1t says, 'ls, so far as we know, the only lengthy
paper which many journals reprint uerbdtfD and
a Cabinet Minister'S speech the only utterance at
home ever allowed more than half page"
THE SECOND VOLUME Of "Forster's Lie of
Charles Dickens" covers ten years. and gives an
account OF his work and his Italian holiday, with
many criticisms OF his on the authors OF his time.
II also narrates the conversion OF the great novel;
st from Unltaranism to the faith Of the Church OF
England. How 1t would have delighted him to tell
the story OF the Irish biOgraphers buIl who gravey
wrote, HE abandoned the errors OF the Church
Of Rome aud embraced those OF the Church OF Eng.
landt"
Messrs. HAcHETTE are publishing work on ORR
entail travel Which will be companion to the
Japan Illustrec' of Amedee Humbert. 1t is en-
titled V0yage ct Exploration en- Ind0 Chine enecte
par une Commission Francaise." 'fss.
TaE Spectator has compiled o tw0-column table
OF English Millionnaires," deceased since 1868,
embracing, 1T says s'the accou unit OF almost every
fortune exceeding G250OOo personality which has
been transferred by death within the past ten
years. The list embraces only ten persons who
left more than million $4,000, ,ooO), and the
wealthiest OF these was Giles LOder, OF London.
who left fortune OF ESQ 900. Mr.. George Pea
body, who Is in the list Tor 1860, is set down at
100000, but he had given away much more than
that before he died. The fortunes are all much
understated, ana take no account OF wealth in
landed estate, still more vast.
HERE rs DICKENS ACCOUNT OF an eccentric Eng.
lisnman, since famous for his magnificent edition
OF Dante:-
Another curious man is backwards aud forwards
here-a Lord yernOn-wh0 Is well informed,
great Italian scholar, deep in Dante and very
good-humored gentleman, but who has fallen into
match that takes place in Switzerland, accom-
panied by two men, who load rides for him. one
to fire or two minute for fourteen hours at
stretch without once changing his position or leav-
ing the ground.
LECTURERS IN CHINA give readings not nom their
own works, but generally from "The History Of the
Three Kingdoms" a chronicle Of Chinese history,
teeming with martial and romantic incidents.
In THE REIGN Of Edward the Sixth that blessed
and innocent tiger cub, the use Of a particular
Latin grammar was enforced by royal proclama-
ti0n. But English sovereigns and also subjects
have grown wiser since, and now there are as
many lawful Latin grammars as lawful dishes
ON the dinner table or lawful styles Of binding q
book.
THE AthenG7an says that Mr.. Stanley has made
good his claim to be a dscOverer in his new work,
and to have supplemented the work of his dis.
tlngulshed predecessors to an important extent.
THE Athen9um says Of Mr.. Jeaffres0n's new
book, 'Brides and Bridas," ''that the book cannot
fail to 60 straight to the heart Of every woman in
England. We doubt not that from the house
keepers room to the b0ud0ir these volumes will
be carefully scanned by fair eyes, Of all ages and
conditions, and will afford no less amusement than
instruction. The sketch given Of the progress Of
the art Of marriage from the early days, when, to
be woman was to be the common property Of
tribe Of savages to those In which capture by force
gave place to capture by captivation, may prove
rude shock to persons accustomed to regard mar
riages as from the first made in heaven"
Mr.. FRouDEs great 'indctment OF whole peo.
ple," as Burke said in his new work. "The English
In Ireland" Is thus criticised by the Athengaa,:-
For the sake OF our common human nature and
the ties of kinsp that unite us to Ireland in bonds
so intimate, we would not believe that all her
heroes were the detestable rufflans that are here
portrayed, nor that patriotism, generosity, truth
and decency did not sometimes find home within
her children's hearts. Yet it is scarcely too much
to say that the opposite of this IS the lesson which
Is taught in TINS latest contribution to Irish
history.