The New York herald., 1874-12-20
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.

Shakespeare's character OF Cardinal Wolsey, as
has recently been shown, is copied almost Uer-
batim from Campion's "History OF Ireland,'' writ
ten in 1871.
MIR. Percy Fitzgerald has written gossipy two
volume book. entitled, .srhe Romance or the Eng
lsh Stage.n II Is .ull OF anecdote Of the kings
and queens OF the greenroom.
The Rev. W. D. Parish has in the press "A Die
tionary OF the Sussex Dialect" which will contain
OF Sussex surnames.
The American Historical Record o Philade-
phia monthly, edited Tor TWO or three years past
by B. J. Losing, Is TO be enlarged and lis name
changed to P0uer's american Monthly.
The historical spirit, although steadily growing,
does not seem yet adequate to the support OF
distinctive magazine.
The wife OF Professor Fawcett, OF Oxford, tread
ing in the footsteps OF Miss Martlneau has pub
rsned a volume OF '.Tales In Political Economy
which are really interesting.
The Baron de Hubner, IN bis "Rambles Round
the World in 1871" which Is written In an easy
and animated style, gives US the best account OF
Brigham Young and Mormondom which has yet
appeared.
A new translation OF Thucydides by Richard
Crawley, just published in London, possesses great
literary merit and the notes have much historical
value.
Mr.. Tom Hood Jr editor OF the London Fun,
died recently, at the age OF iorty.
Another English edition OF Edgar Poe's works,
edited by J. 3. Ingram, has appeared In Edinburgh.
The next volume OF Scribner's very successful
and popular bric.a-brac series Will be the
'Greville Memors,n nicely hasned into series OF
fresh and racy anecdotes.
American ambition In architecture Is illustrated
by the rapid publication or many expensive books
4 4
quarto entitled 1.-The Picturesque Architecture OF
Switzerland illustrated BY the heliotYpe process.
That much pointed and delightful book Whites
Natural History OF Selborne," mas appeared IN
new edition, with Bewick's engravings.
A splendid new history Is In the press OF H. O..
Houghton 4 Co., entitled "Boston, Past and Pres
ent,n which vii, be finely illustrated with por.
traits OF prominent citizens.
the London journal, Public Opanion, after In
serting score or so OF letters on the Catholic
controversy IN successive issues gives notice tnar
/, IL will print no more letters on that subject.
| The earliest known poetcal valentines were
written by Charles, Duke OF Orleans, A. D. l4l5.
They are IN the library OF the British Museum.
/ The saturday ReuteD finds in Mr.. Bancrofr's
4 tenth volume not q single eloquent passage. THIS
is peculiarly hard on Mr.. Bancroft. "Tne nara.
tlve," says the Reyc,c, "stagnates throughout at
dead level OF weartsome medlocrity."
| DR.. Samuel Davidson, the learned biblical
scholar, will soon print his new translation OF the
, New Testament, from the latest Greek text OF
/ Tischendorf.
concordance to the works OF Robert Burns is
! promised by Mr.. MIKE. OF KimarnocK.
/ The AthenGurn says of Mr.. Thomas Bailey Aldricn,
whose poems 1t reviews, that they are ..among
the dantiest and most delicate work America has
yet given us, and that II Mr.Aldrch's place is not
with the immortals he is at least on the slopes OF
Parnassus"
Mr.. J. G. wooos "Man and Beast Here and
Hereafter" Is two-volume study In natural
history, highly curious and entertaining. All he
can produce, however, on behalf OF the immor-
taity OF brutes Is this sentimental am con-
vnced that any creature which s capable OF suffer.
ing nas that very capacity. its passport TO the
eternal life, for which its sunerings are but a
preparation"
Mr.. J. r. Green has written "A Brief History oil
the Engnsh People," illustrated with maps and
chronological tables, which is model OF historical
condensation.