The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-25
FAMOUS MODERN MANUSCRIPTS.
Works by Great Authors and Prices They Have
Sold For,

| Sold For,
Even in the cases Of "Vivian Grey"
and "Coningsby," which are generally
regarded as Lord Beaconsfeld's best nov.
els, it is doubtful whether their manu-.
scripts, if offered fer sale, would bring
anything like the price at which Sir Wal.
ter Scott's holograph Of "Guy Manner.
ing" was purchased last year by Mr.,
Henry Stevens for an American client.
1t is said, and if true, the allegation ar.
gnes little for the taste of the modern
generation-that Sir Walter now finds
few readers. Nevertheless, the day is
probably far distant when the author of
the Waverly Novels will cease to be re-.
garde d as the greatest author Of fiction,
perhaps the world has ever seen, or at
any rate that Great Britain has hitherto
produced. The manuscript of Waverly
is preserved as one of the proudest relics
that Edinburgh can boast, and if England
even fails to appreciate the surprising
merit of the Wizard of the North, which
we do not believe, the United States
came gladly to the rescue when the man.
uscript Of Guy Mannering was in the
market, and secured the precious treas.
ure at cost Of three hundred and eigh-
ty guinesq. 1t is doubtful whether Guy
Mannering would last year have been
knocked down at the highest price ever
given for manuscript Of that kind, were
it not that in the long and splendid list
of British authors and poets, Sir Walter
Scott ranges next in general popularity
to the immortal Shakspere. Debates
are often heard in literary circles as to
the novel which in manuscript would
command the highest figure, and the yer.
dict generally arrived at is, that Sir Wal.
ter Scott, Oliver Goldsmith and Charles
Dickens constitute the nrrrow and select |
field Of authors fit to be entered for such |
a race. Differences of opinion prevail as |
w JhO NuObtlOu WuOJuCI UhH6ElY, line |
Vicar Of Wakefield or the "PiCkwick |
Papers" would win in such competition |
and across the Atlantic it is probable |
that Uncle Toms Cabin would not lack
supporters, who claimed for it title to
rank with the three undyiDg works we
ave Just named. Certainly no work of
fiction in the E. 'isI langu ce has been
q OF often trai 4 t, j. or b 4 d NOR
c pies of it 50 I IL Ulclr 70 ~ Cab
in; but, on the ern d, IL b. re cle.
Stowe has nev cen gar in Egg
land with the ss H.. eye LfaL ion that
are constantly and increasingly turned
upon her three dead predec ssors in the
field of fiction. There is, no Rever, little
likelihood that this much debated ques-
tion will ever be brought to practical
test. The manuscript of the Vicar of
Wakefield has long ago perished, and the
same may probably be said of Uncle
Toms Cabin. The manuscript of Wav.
erly is not likely to come into the mar
ket 80 long as Edinburgh fourishes,
and that of The PjckwiCk Papers has
been b queathed by Mrs. Forster to the
South Kensington Museum, and will be-
come the property of the Bri ish Nation
upon the death of his widow, who has
in the meanwhile generously permitted
it, and its brother manuscripts from the
same pen, 10 be exhibited upon the spot
where they will be permanently enshrin.
ed. Three only of Charles Dickens's
manuscripts have been offered for sale
the Christmas Carol, which was purcha-
sed by Mr.. Harvey of st. James street,
for ESQ, and resold by him for G250;
The Battle of Life, which he has now on
sale, and Our Mutual Friend, whiCn was
purchased by the late Mr.. Hotten for
G250, acting presumably, On behalf of
Geo. W. Childs of Philadelphia.
Poems Of the first class are apt, at this
moment, to bring higher prices in man.
usCript than novels OF the same rank.
Thus, in 1867 the manuscripts which be.
longed to the late Mr.. Cadell, the well
known publish(r r, came into the market,
upon which occasion The Lady of the
Lake, at 277 guineas, and Rokeby, at 1876
guineas, became the property of Mr..
Hope Scott. At the same sale Sir VIM.
Fraser gave 200 guineas for the manu-
script of Marmion, and further the large
sum of 250 guineas was given in 1875 by
the same enterprisiDg and appreCiative
gentleman for Grays resCript of the Ele-
" in a Country Churchyard, which is
perhaps the most popular poem in the
English language. That such a price
should be paid for four qusrto pPges of
writing, suggests what an incredible sum
The text of Hamlet, traced by Shakspere's
own hand, would bring, were 1t possible
for Messrs. Christie & Manson, or Messrs.
to submit it to the public COM
petition. It is by no means the most
fascinating feature in the character of
;he immortal bard of Stratford.upon-
Avon that he seems to have been utterly
of or Indifferent to his own
fame.
In his Memorials Of Westminster Alb
oey, Dean Stanley recites hat Edmund
spencer died in King street. Westmin.
ter, and was inferred in Poets Corner,
by. His hearse, adds the Dean, was at.
ended by poets, and mournful elegies,
,ogether with the pens that wrote them,
we're thrown into his tomb. What f1.
neral was that at which Beaumont, Flet-
,her, Jonson, and, in all probability :
Shakspere attended, What a grave in
which the pen Of shakspere may be
awayl If but one line, un-
written by that pen, could be
yfFered for sale, the world would see the
estimation in which the greatest poet !
IinCe Homer, is held by mar kind. Mean.
While, it is creditable to that ense Of ad. {
for great mean, which DR.. Ar
lold urged his pupils to cultivate ''as one
If the highest incentives to noble deeds" /
hat the anuscripts Of works destined
% live command increasing prices all I