New-York tribune., 1872-05-08
LITERARY NOTES.
Unabridged

rho ,,,,h,;obors of Webster's Unabridged
have ina, forwarded co copies of that work
for the market in Japan Elve OF Six nun"ie" ''''''
have been previously SOFA there'
Of "Olrig Grange,n the new poem just re-
r,ntcd by oscood Co. from the English edition, and
80 no,,oed in our columns The Aten@un remarks
"This "a We take IT. first attempt OF the authors lie
i NJ nrcsent Influenced In style by both Mr. browning
and Mr. Tenny son. may clearly be seen oy his o"A
verse The fragments have quoted happen 70 DC oie
IN the manner OF easier poet but 1t Is possDo 10
trace In many passages the effect OF Mr. Browning IN
yoIntions both of thought and language Inc mono-
gues are however, In meter whch Is, 5 as Ia, 40 I tho
Know original and is eminently well adapted 10 tne
ronIcai tone OF This part Of the poem. The quaint
Iot TO the ninth ne following the
:" en % 10 commonpsce expression, aud is at times
elective The invention, II suoh IL oe does tne autnor
m sv produce something as much better than Orig
Grange that is better than Va 'no
poetry that we have to read
William Henry Smith, the author of the
philosophical romance entitled Thorndae," and other
works Of similar import, has lately died in England at
the age of sixtythree. The following notices Of his III
srary character are from The AhenGWm;
He commenced life as barrlster of the Middle Tenn,
ne but his intense love of study and medtatOn Dacked
bv his constitutional shyness led him soon 10 Qt ms
profession and the town for country life KeswicR pc
Ing selected In the first instance az MS hoe luouRn
poet and philosopher rather than man OF action, n
sympaGhies with his Kind were OF inc keenes, me- nI
the steadfast aim of his life was TO leave the %ord @
richer in high thoughts and therefore better woa'n mind
ing in than he found IL. Possessing u Iue.
of an intensely religious cast, ana deVoiing
tt mainly 10 the Investigation OF mans relatl0ns 70
tue Iutne, lie was yet well balanced In lne!iect as
10 he ane to advocate with power and eoquence the n
man nature Of morality I'm opposition TO Cudworth hlS
iDiscourse on Ethics though little more than pam
phlet is still rene embered by many as having contrib
ned essentially TO their mental education on tins great
subject The late Prof Ferrer used TO refer TO Win
enthusiasm To the public Mr. Smith was best known by
his 'ThOrndae or, the Conflict OF Opinions WORK
published in 1851 IL ia full of subtle and profound
thought and expressed IN language OF exquisite beauty
aud tenderness. Its appeal is to the living nina am
conscience. against all traditions whatsoever nc cVu
imagine religion divorced from science. Tor 10 nun
science WAS but the knowledge OF COD throusn
the discovery OF the divine facts or Tue universe.
Neither could lac tolerate the notion tnat renSlVI
aud morality dependent upon longevity. -
ns have something that admire ana love LOT us om
,,ke' he SAYS ia 'ThOrndae,' or what Is eAlchucu
,xlstence to me II have love for others mere no
nety 10 God here what account can WISH or eXpect
lat my existence should be perpetuatedF win an MS
nllos0phic skepcism he was not one TO only iantiy
trnst te larger hope He fast friend or the iate
lameuted Nj. Maurice and there was remarkable re-
,mbance betNeen the characters OF the two men bu'
while Mr Maurice devoted himself 10 formal theology
William smith indnlged poetic side of divine ph
.osopny' His whole life and conversation Indicated
or rather sprang from, intense love OF nature ~
was In his silent with her that the thoughts
welcd up which found expression alike III bis speecl
and in his books, but especially IN tue latter as human
presence rather disturbed than aided their now'