The Portland daily press., 1881-08-01
Famous Modern Manuscripts.
Works by Great Authors. and Prices
They Have Sold for.
From the London Daily Telegraph.

From the London Daily Telegraph.
Even in the cases of "Viyian GRAY" and of
"Coningby," which are generally regarded as
Lord Beaconsfeld's best novels, it is doubtful
whether their manuscripts, if offered for sale,
would fetch anything like the price at which
Sir Walter SCOTS 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 argues little for the
taste of the modern generation-thet Sir Wal
ter now finds few readers. Nevertheless, the
day is probably far distant when the author of
the Waverley Novels will cease to be regarded
as the greatest master OF fiction, perhaps, that
the world has ever seen, or at any rate, that
Great Britain has hitherto produced. The
manuscript of "Waverley" is preserved as one
OF the proudest relics that Marlborough can
boast, and even if England fails to appreciate
the surprising merit OF the Wizard of the
North"-which we do not believe-the United
States C .me gladly to the rescue when the
manuscript of "Guy Mannering,' was in the
market aud secured the precious treasure at
cost of $50 guineas, it Is doubtful whether
Guy Mannering" would last year have been
knocked down for the highest price ever Civ
en- for manuscript of that kind were it not
that in the long and splendid list of British
authors and poets Sir Walter ranges next in
general popularity to the immortal Shakes
peare. Debates are often heard in literary cir
cles as to the novel which in manuscript would
command the highest figure, and the verdict
generally arrived at is that Sir Walter Scott
Oliver Goldsmith, and Charles Dickens consti-
tute the narrow and select field of authors fit
to be entered for such a race. Differ
question whether .sWayerley,, "The Vicar
OF Wakefield" or '"rhe Pickwick Papers,
would win in such competition, and across
the Atlantic it is probable that 'Uncle TOMS
Cabin" would not be without supporters who
claimed for it a title to rank with the three un-
dying works which we have just named Ger
tainly no work Of fiction in the English lam
guage has been more often translated, or has
had more copies of it sold, than sUncle Tom s
Cabin but on the other hand, Mrs. Beecher
Stowe has never been regarded in England
with the same eyes Of affection which are con-
! stantly and increasingly turned upon her three
| dead predecessors in the field of fiction. There
| is however, little likelihood that this much
| debated question will ever be brought to a
| practical test. The manuscript of 1.-THE Vicar
| of Wakefield" has long ago persisted, and the
same may probably be said of 'Uncle Tom s
| Cabin" The manuscript of "Waverly" is not
| likely to come into the market SO long as Ed
| inboro flourishes, and that of "The Pickwick
| Papers" has been bequeathed by Mr.. Forster
! to the South Kensingston Museum and will
become the property of theBritish nation upon
the death of his widow, who has, in the mean
| while generously permitted it, and its brother
| manuscripts from the same pen, to be exhibit
ed upon the same spot where they will be per-
manently enshrined. Three only of Charles
Dickens's manuscripts have been offered for
| sale-the Christmas Carol" which was pur-
| chased by Mr.. Harvey, of St. James street, for
ESQ, and resold by him for $3.50; 1.-THE Battle
| of Life" which he has now on sale, and sour
Mutual Friend" which was purchased by the
late Mr.. Hotten for $3.50, acting, presumably,
On behalf OF Mr.. George W. Childs, of Phila-
delphia
Poems of the first class are apt, at this mo-
! Rent, to bring high her prices in manuscript
than novels of the same rank. Thus, in 1867,
the manuscripts which belonged to the late Mr..
| Cadell, the welkknown publisher, came into
the market, upon which occasion 1.-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 William
Fraser gave 200 guineas for the manuscript of
"Marmion," and further the large sum of 250
| gulneas was given in 1915, by the same enter
prising and appreciative gentleman, for Gray s
rescript of the "Elegy in a Country Church
| yard,' which is, perhaps, the most popular po-
EN- in the English language. That such a
price should be paid for four quarto pages OF
| writing suggests what an incredible sum the
text OF Hamlet" traced by Shakespeare
| own hand, would bring, were it possible for
| Messrs. Christie a Manson, or Messrs. Sotheby
! to submit it to public competition. 1t is by no
| uteduS tu0 IedSt laSCludllnS attribute IN the
character of the immortal bard of Stratford up
on-Avon that he seems to have been utterly
unconscious of or indifferent to his own match
| less fame.
In his Memorials of Westminster Abbey"
Dean Stanley recites that Edmund Spenser
died in King street, Westminster, and was in
tered in "Poets' Corner" hard by. ellis
hearse," adds the Dean, twas attended by
poets, and mournful elegies, together with the
pens that wrote them, were thrown into his
| tomb. What funeral was that at which
Beaumont, Fletcher, Jonson, and in all prob
ability Shakespeare, attended, What grave
in which the pen of Shakespeare may be
moldering away!" If but one line, undoubt.
ly written by that pen, could be offered fol-
sale, the world would see the estimation in
which the greatest poet since Homer is held by
mankind. Meanwhile, it is creditabe to that
sense of admiration for great men which DIR.
Arnold urged his pupils to cultivate "as one Of
the highest incentives to noble deeds'' that the
manuscripts of works destined to live command
| increasing prices all over the world. Not long
since short poem from Burns's pen brought
| 70 gulneaS, and although manuscripts have
| hitherto attracted little notice at the Hotel
Drouot, in Paris, let but an early edition Of
Moliere or Montaigne come into the market
and the hammer will not fall until the Due d
Aumale and more than one member of the
great house of Rothschild have fought out an
eager battle for its possession.