New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE HALKETT-LAING DICTIONARY.

EOuton. a.,
The anonymous and pscudonymous literature
=, al o,yi,ized nations is considerable and its en-
tent and character at different periods help to marx
,ho nrsvalence OF certain dominant influences
THIS anonymity and pseudonymity naturally serve
ss shields and DISCUSSES 10 writers who have reason
IN dread either the heavy hand OF despotc CIVIL
government. or the often still more relentless pur-
suit Of a Jealous thcocracy. When no such urgeho
need for concealment exists, personal passion ana
sentiment are sufficient 10 suggest recourse 10 inc
same methods of maintaining an incogn'to. Inc
author who yearns TO damage the reputation OF
rival vet is ashamed TO Endorse manfully the
Islander and detraction with which he is rife; the
timd professional man who thinks he had made
valuable discovery which goes counter 10 some &C
cepted theory OF science; the theologan who hank
ers after polcmcs, but dare not deal the swash'
ing blows his soul loves over bis proper name:
ALL in Short who have special interests to promote
enmities to serve. sights TO avenge. have at all
times taken these means of securing publicity.
Authors of repute have joined the marked
throng and men of especial modesty have sunk
their personality under these friendly agencies of
observation. The history of England affords
peculiarly numerous examples OF anonymous lit
erature During the long religious or theological
controversies which for two centuries scarcely ever
lulled an immense mass of anonymous and pseu-
donvmous pamphlets poured from her presses. The
revolutions in government which marked the same
period afforded another opportunity for TINS Klho
of impersonal discussion: while in the age of Anne
and the first George, literature, poetry, politics,
the drama, each and all furnished topics for
shoal OF publications the anonymous or pseudony-
nous character of which served mainly TO inc1te
TO license of expression and virulence of temper
such as marked the earlier experiments in public
journalism. Considering the mass and Importance
Of English anonymous and pseudonymous liter
AZURE, and the need that has long existed for IT'S
arrangement. classification and calculation, 1t IS
surprising that until late in the present century
no serious or well-considered effort should have
been made TO deal with the subject it had
already been dealt with by France and Germany
Italy and even Russia The dictionaries of Bar
bier and Ouerad pointed ont the methods and lines
by and upon which the work might best be done,
and hundreds of scholars and students must have
felt the absence of such work continually. But
il was in $50 that correspondence in Notes and
Queries stimulated Mr.. Samuel IIalkett. keeper
of the Advocates Library, Edinburgh, TO take the
weghty enterprise upon himself, and even then it
seemed to be marked ont in almost special manner
for delay and misfortune.
At first the prospect was frightened by the
action of Mr. Henry b. Wheatley, F. s. A., who,
on learning Mr.. IIallletts purpose turned over to
him large accumulation of material prepared
by himself for the same purpose Mr.. lIalkett
laborcd diligently on his own account. but in 81
he died, leaving his work in embryo. Then Mr..
John Laing, librarian of the New College. Edln-
burgh. took up the unfinished enterprise and car
ried it forward until $50. when he in turn
removed by death. and as if to crown the cata-
logue of disaster the publisher failed. Bat the
III 70 no brot,
probable at one time. Miss Catharine Laing the
accomplished daughter of the last editor. devoted
herself TO its complc ion went carefully all through
the accumulated material kept by her father
some ready for the press. some only outlined
and in due time the final volumes were prepared
on the original lines, and the great undertaking
stood completed As published it occupies four
imperial octave volumes. considerable part of
the fourth volume is taken with index of the
names of all the anonymous and pSeudOnymous
writer's mentioned in the body of the work. with
references facilitating research. short eXamna-
ton of the dictionary will illustrate the difficulties
OF the undertaking. foremost among which must
be reckoned the propensity of anonymous writer's
TO take the same pSeudonymS. There are hun
dredS il not thousands, of instances of this. and
though in the aggregate. no doubt, much diver
sity is exhibited curious effectiveness of imagi-
to cling TO few types OF conventional char
actor. The historical student must be interested
by the plain testimony which is given by so many
of the works cited to the prevailing characteristics
of the periods in which they appeared. American
writers are, Of course under the scheme adopted,
quite largely represented though nothing like com
pletcness in this direction has been attempted,
would have been compatible with the general ar
rangement.
The leading principle followed has been TO in
sert as anonymous only such works do not
bear the authors real name either on the title
page in the text Il rule, II Is scarcely ncces-
sary to point out. which vastly increased the labor
to he done by the editors since it involved the
examination of the whole book, and not simply that
OF the title-pagc. The result, however. is GER
ta!nly to enhance the value and trustworthiness
OF IIalkctt and Laing's Dictionary, which falls
into its place as a standard and indispensable
work. and necessary addition TO every public
library and siderable private library in the c0un
Wy. The American publisher. Mr.. j. W. BOut0n. s.,
cured small edition OF the new Anonymous and
Pseudony nIs Dictionary tlHs summer and the
vicissitudes through which the work has passed,
however disastrous TO IFS editors and It's original
publisher have at least Injured 10 the benefit Of
American Librarians. collectors, and book-buyers
by enabling Mr.. BoutOn to offer il at little more
than half the price at which it is put upon the
English market. The need of such work for
the study Of English history and literature is OBJ
vious enough, but the American student will
lind in these volumes many helps to his re earcheS
also. In the Colonial for long time most
Of the printing Of American works done in
London or Bristol. AMI such names those of
the Mathers. HutchnsonS, etc. are to be found
here, while the sturdy Franklin figures in his
place, and Thomas Jefferson, Governor Norris
and many more rank men Of pseudonyms. As
the. only work Of the kind in English which APP
proaches completeness, the - IIalkett ard Laing
Dictionary pos esSeS an unique importance which
does not, in the nature of the case, require