New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-17
FOREIGN LITERATURE.
PUBLICATIONS IN ENGLAND.

NoIDs " LITERATURE AND DOGMA
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oP THE THfBrSEl
LONDON Dec Ca work Of the very highest IN
terest 10 every student of English literature il
nonnced by Mr.. Edward Arber, the well known
editor of series of cheap and good reprints of early
English books. II is nothing less than Transcript,
page for page of The Registers Of the Company Of
Stationers of London between ljjf-lGi0. Mr.. Arber
Justly saws that these registers (which are still down
to this day the registries Of all new published books
are and ever will be the foundation of English DID
biography and the chief authority, for their period,
IN the history of English Printing, constituting tho
one authoritative record of First Editions OF the
great age Of English letters. Most of the Poems
Interludcs and Plays here 10 be found ana tho
earliest voyages 10 the East Indies and the pubca-
tons relating 10 the settlement of America. In
fact" adds Mr.. Arber. there Is nothing like them
anywhere extant in any foreign language 81 early,
precise so volumnous. certain, and therefore 80
authoritative" These Rcgstries have been the de-
sire and despair of English scholars and book-co-
lectOrs the mere sight of them is favor; they are
actually the private property OF the Stationers Com
pany, which could and grant or withhold tho
pri ilege of examining them and should they perish
the loss would be simply irreparablc.
Impressed by such considerations, others before
Mr.. Arber have contemplated the task of publishing
them. or a part of them. in some shape Some two
having obtained permission, purposed to reprint
them down 10 100. with Mr. Furnivall and Mr.. Riv-
ington clerk to the Company as joint editors. But
that Society from want Of funds and abundance OF
other work, was obliged 10 abandon the project,
and it was handed over to Mr.. Arber. On eXamina-
tion however, he found that it would not be pos-i-
BILE TO print edition OF the $1,000 entries between
1851 and 1900 in any form that would pay expenses.
The attempt was therefore relinqushed. Then Mr.
Rvington set himself TO copy the entries and within
year had actually copied the Book Titles in Regis
ter 4. and half those in b. several thousands IN all;
after which the increasing duties of his Office
PEELED him to stop. Oppressed says Mr. Arber,
" with the value Of the work and the danger always
hanging over the registers. he began in June Of that
year fresh textual copy of all that the company
would permit to be transcribed, partly for bis own
use partly for the British Museum; finally also for
the public in the shape now announced
The conditions adjudication deserve attention and
are based on such sound photographed principles
| that book publishers in England and America who
pretend to issue editions of luxury rarity viii do
well to mark them The Transcripts will be COM
prsed in four thick volumes. of about 5000 pages in
all, of which there Will be printed 400 copies and no
more: to w.t. Il large paper, the remainder small
and for 80 copies of the large paper and 800 of tho
small subscriptions are now invited and 10 Of tho
large and 100 small reserved for America till tho
end of the year. No copy viii he supplied to any
bookseller for resale The name of each subscriber
will be printed on the tite-page of each OF his vol
umes, and on the back of each titlepage. Mr.. ATbcr
will write in words the number of the Transcript
corresponding TO that III the printed list 50 certify
ing to the identity o. each volume issued. On tho
day of the issue of Vol. all copies not then sub
scribed for and accounted for in the printed list OF
that volume. will be destroyed. That | call suit
IN the Subscribers that tho
value of their property shall not be deteriorated by
subsequent issues and it is. am sorry TO add in
fragrant contrast with the usual practice OF Englsh
publishers who issue photographed books For
other particulars must refer to Ir Arbers very lux
and interesting circulars. adding only that the prco
of the four volumes in large paper is E5l; snaI
paper f2l. The Transcript will include all entries
relating to books between 1874 and 1910; all other
entries touching the of individual printersp
binders, publishers and other members OF the Cons
pany: the dinner-bills, ljj5l5js. with some Other
similar items aOrding data for the history OF wages,
prices of food &c. III London.
Mr. John Fiske sometime Lecturer of Harvard
College author of Myths and Myth Makers wbd
has been some months in London appeared last Sun-
dav as a lecturer at South place chapel in Mr. Con-
ways pulpit. | don't know whether Mr.. Conway
would allow me to call 1t pulpit, OF whether L
should say desk or platform When was asked tn
20 was told that there would be next 10 nothing IN
the shape of the usual Sunday services that eiher
prayer or singing or both had been given up But
could not 90. and | do not speak positively. Mrs
Fiskes lecture was " the ease stated AZ between
special creations and evolution" and his second, I'D
be given tomorrow, will be on Natural Selection"
hear the first highly spoken of by competent per-
sons.
Mr. Fiske is hard at work on his new book. tho
title of which is to be Outlines of CosmC Phllos-
ONLY based on the Doctrine of Evolution" Most of
il has been read the shape of lectures to studentd
at Harvard and to small audiences of literary peo-
pie i'll Boston, that the general drift and purpose
of it are well known to those who take an interest,"
in Mr.. FIskes views. He is now revising the whole.
and celebrating it. The book will contain general
presentation of the whole doctrine of Evolution,
as applied not only to forms of lfe &C. but also To-
mental phenomena, to society, &c. and will mako
some new contributions to the question of the origin
of man. 1t will discuss the religious bearings Of tho
Doctrine of Evolution, and include a thorough and
wholly adverse criticism of the claims Of the Posi>
tive Philosophy to stand the representative ~
modern scientific thought. Christianity, II may bd
added is not to be attacked and the author, whild
admitting that his book may in some respects he
called radical declares II to be, ON the WHOLE cons
seryatiye But suppose the days when people who
care for scientific inquiry could be turned aside by
fear of radcasm are pretty well passed away The
shrieks come from different class who can neither
be much helped nor harmed by mental effort Of any
kind Mr. Fiske is well known to be, or to haya
beenla pupil of Mr.. Herbert Spencer, and his press
ent work will be largely based on the teachings Of
that eminent thinker, but yet with abundant claima
to independence and originality. 1t will be pubs
lshed simultaneously in London, IN vols. cr svo..