New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-29


eighteen hours. What was Mr.. Rakes doing with
these letters during the other fifteen?
The fight between him and the messenger com
panies is. at any rate. TO be fought out. Alr.
Rsilles cannot understand that anybody should
dare to stand up against him. but so ii Is. There
are able men in these companies, notably Mr..
Richard King; there is plenty of capital and,
what is rarer than capital courage. judicial
inquiry into the official claims will be had. If
the law is against the companies, they will go 10
Parliament to get the law altered. Either they
will establish their right to give the public what
il wants. or public opinion will force the Postofice
TO give it. though probably even then In far
less efficient form.
The publishers have been more active than the
rest of the world, and the week has brought forth
some good books. The House of Murray has now
been sung. The singer is Dr. Smiles, whose useful,
though hardly melodious books Mr.. Murray has
long published. 1t is the second John Murray
Byrons Murray, who is nominally, and TO somes
extent actually, the hero of these volumes The
impression one gets of him is that of an agreeable
and sagacious man of business, adventurous al
times, liberal to authors, and with a real regard
for literature We even hear Of his putting liter
ary merit before probable commercial success in
deciding whether he would publish books offered
to him. He could lose money without losing his
temper. The whole story OF his relations with
Byron with Scott, with Moore, with Disraeli, with
Hallam, with Loclhart, with Clifford, and with
many much less distinguished but still interest
ing men of letters, is here told with fulness and
discretion, based authentic documents. II is
in fact these documents, mostly original and here
toforc unpublished letters, which give these vol
umes their highest value. They are contribu-
tion TO the literary history of the century, book
TO put beside the recently published Journal of
Sir Walter Scott. They abound in "reminiscences,
and in sidc-ghts thrown sharply on men and
things having to do with literature. Tie present
Mr.. John Murray's account of the meeting be-
tween Byron and Scott in their publishers draw
ing-room in Albemarc-st., is an example. With
all these good things spread before us, it is un-
gracious to cricsc the laying of the table and the
ordering Of the feast Dr. Smlles's chief fault, so
rare that it deserves TO be chided gently is over
modesty. lie has cTaccd himself, but neglected
some essential duties of cditorship. The book is
Yuch in want of fuller explanations, notes and
calculations of all kinds, which reader not versed
in the literary history of the period must seek
elsewhere
Two little books on Sir Robert Peel have been
published lately, one by Mr. Justin Mccarthy. one
by Mr. Thursfeld. Mr.. Mccarthy and his manner
of work you know. His Peel is n slight per
formance. sketchy and popular. lacking in serious
ness, and not remarkable for Judgment: but il
may be read without WEAKNESS by those who
wish for surface view Of this very considerable
statesman. Mr.. Thursicld's work is Of a different
sort. He is an oxford man, Fellow of Jesus
College, and now and FOR some time past one OF the
editorial writers on "Thc Times He has dealt
with Pecls career as a whole. not merely with
those parts Of il which likely 10 attract novel
readers. Yet his book is not less readable than
his rivals. II has besides that kind Of value
which comes from conscientious inquiry and con-
sdered opinions. 1t is good and lifclike portrait
Of Peel, certainly the best now cxtant
That well-known writer. Mr.. Fraser Rae has now
published pendant to Miss Bayle's Romance
under the piquant title "An American Duchess y
As the number Of American duchesscs is, in real
life. limited. Mr. Rae takes pains 70 ma ke il clear at
the beginning that he has living parsonage in
view. His book does not need such advcntitious
help that. Like his previous essay in fiction
this is not so much novel In the ordinary sense of
that word a study of social life and character
II is full Of clever observation. Of clever writing Of
allusions and descriptions which imply know ledge
Of the world, Of portraits which suggest kenesSes
with acute and agreeable comment and with story
intervening enough to carry the reader easily TO
the end Of three very readable volumes
Sir Frederick Pollock, high legal authority
discusses the new Copyright act in the April
Contemporary Review Ills main object seems
10 be 10 cnlichtcn tie British author and the
British publisher and printer as 10 their rights
under this act. The rights of thc American
author in England are also considered, these being
indeed, condition precedent TO thc acquisition
of British right, in America. The act comes into
force with reference TO such foreign countries only
as grant copyright 10 Americans. This England
does now. in Sir Frederick Pollocl's opinion. Is
residence here necessary? After examining the law
and facts he says: We have given the cit
liens Of the United States all that can he given
in the way Of facilities for acquiring British
copyright. and. through the Convention Of 1}crnc,
European copyright also. We have valuable
consideration 10 offer them in return for any
further advantage to our own people Else
where he speaks of the act as purely voluntary
on the part Of the Legislature Of the United
States This is the first English recognition
have seen of that fact Sir Frederick
discusses also the probable effect of the
law when in operation upon English prin-
tcrs Like the eminent publisher whom quoted
a fortnight SINCE he does not think the compcti-
lion Of tie American printer likely to be very
serious The saving In time and convenience from
printing the same book twice over will, In his
Judgment, outweigh the expense as often as not
His remark OH the framing Of this law commend
TO the craftsman of il. whoever he may be: llav-
ing sometimes had occasion TO criticiSe the form Of
Our own statute> must admit that this time the
Congress Of the United States has attained "A pitch
of bad English, awkward and obscure construction,
and general clumsncss, wholly beyond any recent
performance of Parliament" This is distressing
and w0uld be more distressing still if Sir Fred
crck Polock's own English were beyond rcproach
c. W. 5.
ITALY AND THE WORLDS FAIR.
Rome. March 2o.-SignOr ChinIlni. the Italian Min
stcr Of Commerce. asked today by an Associated
I,...- cnrrosnnndent alnnt the dclaY IfnlXs ac-