New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-13
LITERARY NOTES.

To-day's Critic has good portrait of the Rev. W.
N. Baker, the author OF His Majesty Myself and
Blessed Saint Certainty" and also entertain
ing sketch of his life.
A new study OF the character and writings OF the
poet Burns will lie published in brooklyn III Oc-
toler. 1t is by Mr. Andrew Mclean, who Will mann
tain that Burns not only the greatest poet Dom
in the eighteenth century but also one OF the best
of men,"
Mr.. Oscar Browning lays down Mr. Oscar Wllde's
new book of poems :" IN the conviction that England
is enriched with poet" He admits, however,
that the richness is potential like that OF green
banana picked untimely for instance, and that for
the present England must be charitable and pa
TENT"
The boys of the Edinburgh Academy on July %
gave representation of the "Antigone" of Sophie
cles, with the music of Mendelssohn. The last
and possibly the first performance of this Greek
play in Scotland was given about thirty-six years
ago, when the title role was assumed by Miss Helen
FAUCET.
Spain and the Spaniards," by that clever Italian
traveller, Edmundo de Amics which is said to be as
brightly written as his Holland" and more richly
illustrated, Will he published in this country early
in the autumn by G. p. Putnams Sons. The same
firm has in hand three other books of travel:
"Norsk Lapp and Finn" by Francis Vincent jr.,
author of "The Land of the White Elephant;" "A
Scandinavian SUMMER" by Kate c. Tyler
writer; and Cuban Sketches" by James w.
Steele.
Fords Howard g. Hubert are temp orarly with
holding their "AmericanVersion" of the Revised New
Testament, so that DR. Hitchcock may correct
that crept into the first cast The legal advisers of
the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge announce
in The Academy that if this edition is offered for sale
in England they will take steps to restrain an in
frngement of the rights of their clients. The 4cademy
had previously said: I'VE apprehend that no copy
,,,to
this country" It now adds: " In the interests OF
the public only repeat our regret that the
American text of the Revised Version is not avail
able to English readers"
Science for Al, edited by Robert Brown, and pub
1ished by Cassell Peter e. Galpin, has reached its
twenty ninth part. The latest numbers well main
tain the high character of this periodical. Thor
Oughly popular it is at the time accurate and
scientific Most of the contributors well known
in the English world of science who treat
such subjects The Optics of Lighthouse"
"a Piece of Chalk" q" The Genesis of Sword" 30
Sun Dial" " Locusts and Grasshoppers,"
Feather" Flint" Animals Old and New" GA
Pinch of Salt" Cracks in the Earths Crust" etc.
In the later numbers, too will be found can Eclipse
of the Moon" by Professor Simon Newcomb, of
Washington, and " Venus and the Transit of 1882"
by Professor s. p Langley, of the Allegheny Obser-
vatory, Pttsburg-both admirable articles by two
of our leading astronomers geographically, Science
for Ill comes in very attractive form, being hand
Omely printed and illustrated.
An officer in the office of the Massachusetts Secre-
rotary of State has in his possession relic of Will
lam Penn which is described thus by The Boston
Journal: " 1t is volume, in the original bindin
which it had in the library of Penn in England en-
titled A Serious Apology for the Principles and
Practices of the People called Quakers against the
Malicious Aspersions, Erroneous Doctrines and
Horrid Blasphelnies of Thomas Fenner and Timothy
Taylor i'll tue Book entitled QuakerIsm Anatomical
and Confuted divided into two parts by George
Whitehead and William Penn The title page
bears the date 1871. Opposite the title page are the
Penn arms including non rampant and helaet
at the top, and the motto DUN Clavium teneam ;
at the bottom, the whole surrounded by an elabor-
ate border, underneath which is printed William
Penn, esq, Proprietor of Pennsylvania, 1903
There is also a printed slip with the following:
VIM Penn, Serious Apol ogy, with Second Part
4tO; original binding; LO ndon, 1878. PENIS own
copy with his bookplate, purchased at the sale of
the Penn Collection in London The book is ded-
Gated to the Kings, Northumberland and General
Governor and Council of Ireland The first part
which is written jointly by Whitehead and Penn
contains chapters on The Denomination of Quakers
the Trinity, Justification, Publication and kindred
topics The second part, entirely by Penn. has es-
says on Family Duties, Polity of Church and Gov
eminent. and accounts of prosecutions suffered by
certain Quakers. The snGularity of the latter is in
the of red ink to indicate the passages thought
to be most striking, the type and color reminding
one of the rubrics in ritual or missa This quaint
little volume is in fair ate of preservation and
said TO be the only one of the kind in existence"
c------------------------