New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-16
LITERARY NOTES.

Mr. Arnold Glover writes TO THE Athenrum
10 announce the discovery 81 lUng-lost manu-
script Of DIT Johnsons. the notebook containing
a portion OF the notes made by the Doctor IN the
course Of his visit To France With he ThTales III
1775. Boswell. who used the notes In his LIE
said that he had deposited the manuscript IN inc
British Museum, but Peter Cunningham could
not find I, there. and pointed out that only one
OF the manuscripts which Boswell GAINED 10
have sent to .he Museum could he found at that
address The notebook in question came INTO
the possession of Samuel Rogers. from him II
passed 20 William Sharpe. one OF his nepneWS
and exerutore and Il is now the property OF
Mr.. Shapes daughters. Mr.. Glover states that
Boswers Yersicn Of the notes is not entirely
accurate. and suggests tina: they may be printed
In full some day
We have always COntenGed that the cu't for
Mr. william Trnes, Henley was unJustihed and
absurd. that, instead Of beine n pillar Of con-
temporary literature. he is. for al his great
merits n 0lsint-erating force: but never OK
pected that II his own country. ut least, the
cIamor Of tho cult aforesaid would be disre-
gardcd and The prejudice. Lad taste and ig-
norance so often vc'led by this writer's insoent
tone courng%u,.sly exposed Mr.. Walter Slchel'
In The FortriGht!v." undertakes the fearsome
task and right we'll does hc acluit himself. CIV
ins good authority for his attack upon the first
volume Of Nj Hen,ey's Byron" Some OF MS
criticisms touch broad issues as when ne
charges Mr.. i5erley with more than ms
construction in describing Byron az the
"mouthpiece" Il the Regency. The timhTe OF
George Fourth's 'gerticmanlixencss' was am
malism venecrod with Sentimenlaiity. he says
evidence und5, the mask If vapiditv society
was Dresden china shop. with porcelain hhu
OF beaus and boxes. Of topeIa and BULLDOGS OF
satyrs and nymphs. OF fOpplsh swans ana SIM
perirC sheYherdessss Byron WAS the mao Dull
who dashed the crcckery Of that farrago to
fragments" But Nh Sichci does not deal with
broad issues alone. HIS attack is minute. as
witness this extract:
We looked not ony for a right and enlighten-
ing View OF Byron himself but also for a per
lection Of detail IN contemporary deineatlcn:
for breadth for intCrprejaiion ara i"i nnlSh.
Let us be frank al the oUtstt. In all regards We
have been wv;uliy disappointed In none. per
haps. more than in the last i'ut mat
the notes appe1Cec to TINS lirs' NoiuiHt
Of the letters should he constantly supshod anc
incorrect; sometimes nretentous and mislead,
ing usually Of at east secord impression. and
seldom scholariika OF solid. has been painfUl
surprise. At the same tive Ve recognize thar
Mr. Renlay has been beset with difi ulties. The
numerous misprnts the OCCasoNai after-inser-
tion Of matter in th@ wrong plac@. ana OF as
cgepcDcleS III separate pld''S NV S'h'i"'
s,ovenlness OF the whole. attest the forced man
mar r which the vClun,2 seems TO have been
rushed through the press Fer these defects
the publisher may be to blame. Nor must MI
Henley be censured for his lack Of new BY
roniana" Bat this very paucity should nave
made him scrupulous to verify statements ac-
cessihle to all. and his own foundation. lie has
lent his name Gordon Isleu' tho repast.
and cannot absOlve him Of its messlness-
especially now that nicely has become requ-
site for the dshing UP even q modern authors
CHARTER and verse We may add. are seldom
given--an absence inconsOnant with the spirit
of modern inquiry. 1t reflects small credit on
the ephemeral press that such a tragedy OF err
rors should have escaped observations
Verbal slips. grOtesQue as we shall see. to the
verge Of humOr. choice specimen minute OF
mistake might elude its cursOry gaze. for shall
low criticism is no microscope. But there are
also faults of omission and commission that in
feet the roots Of the "Dramatis Persona; and
there are further. examples Of an unperceptive-
ness inconsistent with Mr.. Henley's instructive
intelligence.