New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-01

in It's scholarly fulness. The publishers and
editors have left nothing undone to give their
venture all the dig lity possible. 1t is pleasant
to add that this dignity has not rendered "Bblio-
graphical at all heavy or dull. In this issue as
in the first, there is the most judicious mngng
Of serious with vivacous topics. The first article
is thorough study of English illuminated manu-
scripts from the twelfth TO the fourteenth CEN
fury and the last is brilliant little monograph
on an Eliza bethan bookseller. Mr. L. Maunde
Thompson writes with much erudtion in the
first Of these productions. Nj Sidney Lee is dis
cursve picturesque and amusing in the second
So entertaining is Mr.. Lee that while his sub
ject is less photographed than any treated in
this number of the quarterly. 1t proves the most
absorbing. the hardest to leave. In support Of
the contention that 1.-The Elizabethan publisher
played more effective part in he production Of
literature than the publisher Of almost any other
epoch" Mr. Lee adduces the of one Edward
Blount born in London in 1864. and cells the
story Of that booksellers many adventures. The
relations between author and publisher were
not at all what we make them now. and Bount
was in his way, an arrant pirate. He took his cue
from Ponsonby the London stationer to whom ne
was apprentced. and who seems to have thought
nothing Of launching unauthorized the hrs'
printed edition Of Sdney's "Arcada.' one gaSps
before the cool inlpudence of Ponsonbys dealings
with Spense~ and later before Bounts own I'M
perial audacty. Mr.. Lee assures us that most OF
his heros publications were undertaken without
the writer's supervison-Often even without MS
knowledge and at times in actual iehance OF MS
wishes" But your heart warns TO him just the
same II was Blount who brought out FIorlo :
rich old translation Of Montague; IT was Biount
who published Hero and Leander" after its
ff,,eyc xt,th Cf
and Daniel he was Interested in the introduction
of Continental literature to England bringing out
Shelton's celebrated version Of Don QuiXote {;
| and finally. he was the leading spirit in that en-
terprise which led to the publication OF the iirst
| folio of Shakespeare His career is of unfalter-
ing interest TO the book lover from start to fnish
| and Mr.. Lee unfods it with admirable neatness
and enthusiasm. The paper gives fresh SIDE
| light on the literary life Of splendid era
Other writer's in this number Of "B!Dhograph-
ica'' are hardly amusing as Mr.. Lee saVihS'
| perhaps Mr. Dobson. in his sketch OF last
century collection. the Bibotheca Meadiaha'
but Mr. Morris Is equally instructive on ola Ter
man woodcuts. and Mr. Robinson and MI pu'-
Ter both have some sympathetic notes on i'alah
work BY Mr. Macray there is continuation vi
the quaint abstract he has been making OF dedi-
cations to Englishmen by old foreign authors ana
editors His list is brought down nearly 10 thc
| present century and is, therefore fresher ana
more piquant than the rather dry instalmeht
/ ubicb anneared three months ago. II is a COM
| mendabe mass of work that photographed
sets forth good in quality and ample In quantity,
and the publishers deserve once more the most
| cordial recognition Of their efforts.
Mrs Humphry Wards new three-par' "o'e
o..o .Tba Story Of BESSIE COstrel is 10 Appear