and will take ten years to complete. A first part of 400 pages containing the letter A is promised for 1882, the remaining parts to follow at regular intervals. As this dictionary will deal especially with the history and development of words, the help of individual scholars is asked in reading works in which variations are likely to be found, from the earliest times to the present day. Dr. Murray has prepared a list of the chief books which he would like taken up at once. Readers can also be supplied with slips bearing the printed date, author and title of their books, so as to save mechanical labor as much as possible. Communications should be addressed to Dr. Murray, Mill Hill, Middlesex, N. W., England. A thousand readers are wanted to complete the work as far as possible within the next three years. The reference-list of books at the end of the dictionary will also record the names of their readers. For books before the present century it is important to read first or early editions to get the author's spelling, which is of course part of the history of the language, and those who cannot themselves read but can present or lend early copies of seventeenth or eighteenth century books-almost any-will bestow valuable aid. American and colonial readers are asked, besides sharing the general work, to read those recent books which show the additions made to English in their respective countries, as received names for physical features, productions, etc. Local dialects, English or American, will not be included. Ten years hence it may be possible to begin a Dialect Dictionary, uniforin with this work, so that the two together may constitute a corpus totius Anglicitatis, a full repertory of all English speech from New Zealand to California.

THE POSTAL BLUE-BOOK. THE official compilation of "The Postal Laws and Regulations of the United States of America," prepared, in pursuance of the act of March 3, 1879, which appropriated $20,000 for the purpose, under the direction of Messrs. A. H. Bissell, law clerk of the department, and T. B. Kirby, private secretary to the PostmasterGeneral, is just ready for issue, and advance sheets are before us. It makes an octavo of 454 pages, and is the most comprehensive guide possible to postal affairs. Among the features are a reference-index to the Revised Statutes of the United States, a glossary of technical words used in the service, and an appendix giving an abstract of the former postal laws of the United States relating to postage and mail matter, and a close index of 50 pages. The book contains also a chapter on official and postal telegrams, with a list of the companies who are obliged to transmit messages at government rates, and both the Treaty of Paris and the detailed regulations thereunder. The work of distributing to postmasters will be begun at once, and it is probable that it will be in the hands of every postmaster by the middle of next month. In the preparation of the new work many of the best officers in the service, both at Washington and throughout the country, have made valuable suggestions, and representatives of the public have been widely consulted.

The compilation, as a specimen of digesting and indexing, is exceedingly creditable to its editors and to the Department.

PHILADELPHIA LETTER.

ATLANTIC CITY, July 14, 1879.

THE general dulness of trade has enabled the care-worn and hard-worked members of the book-trade to take their long-looked-for vacation of two weeks. Your correspondent is now enjoying his, and is sojourning at the Mecca where all good Philadelphians deem it their duty to spend a few days of the year at least. Atlantic City is our nearest sea-shore point, and thither the trade generally wend their way during the summer months, from Saturday night till Monday morning, and as much longer as possible. All members of the trade visiting the city during the summer should not fail to include Atlantic in their trip. The Union News Co. of New York have the monopoly of the Camden and Atlantic Road news business; not only do they supply the latest novels, papers, etc., but also candies manufac tured by themselves-a new branch of the book business. We noticed the entire absence of the Franklin Square and Seaside Libraries. Trade in the city seems to be slowly picking up, and the number of new publications under way betoken a hopeful feeling which we hope will not prove illusive.

Mr.

Messrs. Marcus Ward & Co. are busily engaged in preparing for the fall trade. Mr. John Glenn has just returned from London and Belfast, and has brought back with him a large and fine assortment of stock for the holiday season, especially of Christmas Cards. These are the finest ever produced by this house, there being an assortment of nearly four hundred styles to select from. Their sale in this country has largely increased, and they expect it to be fully twice as large this year as last. John Glenn will attend to the wants of the Eastern trade, while Mr. John Stoddart-for many years connected with the London house-will do similar service for the Western trade. He is now in Canada, and goes through to California and Australia. Mr. Alfred Ireland, the general agent in America, is always at his post in Philadelphia, and will take pleasure in furnishing all information possible to the trade. The second volume of The New Plutarch series is just published in London, and will soon be received here -"Judas Maccabæus, and the Jewish War of Independence," by Lieut. C. R. Conder, R. E. This volume will be of special interest, as the subject-matter is seldom treated of in a popular manner. The previous volume, "Coligny." has met with great success both here and abroad. This house has also prepared packets of cards, in handsome wrappers, with original verses and texts written and selected by the late Frances Ridley Havergal.

Porter & Coates will soon publish "The Children's Book of Poetry," compiled by Henry T. Coates. This will be the largest and most complete work of the kind ever published, containing poems carefully selected from the works of the best and most popular writers for children, as well as many of the most popular pieces by standard poets intended for older children. It will contain over one hundred and fifty illustrations, engraved by Lauderbach, Rea, Filmer, and others, from drawings by Gustave Doré, Millais, Harrison Weir, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Giacomelli, and other distinguished artists. It will be elegantly printed by Ashmead, and contain about 500 pages 8vo.

We do not know of any similar work that equals this in completeness and beauty, and it will, without doubt, obtain as great a populariity with the youthful readers of the country as did the "Fireside Encyclopedia of Poetry" with the older ones. They have nearly ready "Holiday Times," a profusely illustrated juvenile, a companion-book to "Happy Days" and "Merry Times;" "The Garland," a collection of religious poems by Eliza P. Gurney; and, in the school-book line, Sharpless' "Geometry" and Brown's "Algebra."

Mr. H. C. Lea has in preparation an American edition of Reynolds' System of Medicine." This work, recently completed, has acquired, since the first appearance of the first volume, the well-deserved reputation of being the work in which modern British medicine is presented in its fullest and most practical form. Its large size and high price having kept it beyond the reach of many practitioners in this country who desire to possess it, a demand has arisen for an edition at a price which shall render it accessible to all. To meet this demand the present edition has been undertaken. The five volumes and five thousand pages of the original will, by the use of smaller type and double columns, be compressed into three volumes of about three thousand pages, clearly and handsomely printed, and offered at a price which will render it one of the cheapest works ever presented to the American profession. A new work by Austin Flint, M.D., is also in press, Clinical Medicine," a systematic treatise on the diagnosis and treatment of disease, designed for students and practitioners of medicine. The preparation of the work has occupied the author for several years, and it is presented as embodying the results of prolonged observation and experience under opportunities more extensive than often fall to the lot of the physician.

in the army.

Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co. have but few announcements for this month, in comparison with that of last. A very important work is now passing through the press, and will be ready in the course of a few weeks, "Instructions in Rifle Firing." The late international and state contests have aroused a great deal of interest in the use of the rifle, and especially The lack of any official course of instruction has been severely felt, and hence the present work, which has been prepared, by command of Brigadier-General S. V. Benet, Chief of Ordnance, U.S.A., by Col. T. T. S. Laidley, also of the same department. It will be a 16mo, with many illustrations. "The Cross" is the title of a new book of poems that will appear about the same time. Mr. Charles F. Richardson is the author, whose work is said to be possessed of great merit.

"The New American Reading Charts," just published by J. H. Butler & Co., are finely printed in bold, clear type made expressly for the purpose. The matter is pleasing and attractive, and the illustrations are appropriate. In Nos. 15 and 16, and in the phonic spelling exercises of the other charts, silent letters are indicated by being graved out and printed lightly. Directions for the teacher are printed on most charts. These, with additional matter, will be issued separately as a companion to the charts, ,and will be furnished with each set without extra charge.

C. E. B.

"CHEAP READING."

lar usefulness, of the cheap libraries, on the IN speaking, with appreciation of their poputext of a letter to the Brooklyn Eagle describing the dulness of regular publishing in Boston, Harper's Weekly goes on to say:

"Is the American reprint of fair form and moderate price to disappear altogether? This is a very serious question for the universally reading Yankee nation.

"The key to the situation, however, is evident Heretofore authorized American reprints have been made upon terms satisfactory to the authors and agreeable to the buyers, and the authorized editions have been respected by other publishers. But this respect has vanished among certain publishers. If an American pub lisher had issued a neat and reasonably cheap edition of M'Carthy's History, paying him a handsome percentage, the market would have been flooded within a week with a republication so cheap that competition would be impossible. Of course, under such circumstances it becomes equally impossible to pay the author any percentage. Everybody suffersthe author, the American publisher who would gladly pay if he could, and the American reader who wishes a good book in a good and perhave paid large sums to the best English aumanent form. For some time publishers, who

thors for the republication of their works, have seen them issued immediately in the cheapest form, and such publishers naturally defend themselves by cheap issues, but, as we have said, at the cost of inability to pay the author. There is no remedy for the author or for the American publisher, except some understanding by which the American author may choose his publisher in England, and the English author his publisher in America. This is the arrangement which the leading English authors desired to make seven or eight years ago, and it is one which is essentially fair, under the circumstances, toward all interests concerned. A recent form of the proposition has received very general approval, and the inability of American readers to find any other than temporary forms of English books will doubtless show them that they are interested in the question as much as the publishers whose gloomy forebodings are

described in the Boston letter."

THE COMTE DE PARIS' HISTORY.

So many inquiries have been received as to the remaining volumes of the Comte de Paris' history of our civil war that we are permitted to publish the following extract from a letter (June 15th, 1879) addressed by the Comte de Paris to Messrs. Porter & Coates:

"I return to-day to my usual work, which is presently the account of the battle of Chickamauga. My going three times to Spain in less than fifteen months, once for a marriage and twice on the occasion of great domestic sorrows, has greatly delayed my work, which becomes more arduous as I get more documents and more information. I shall soon begin the account of Grant's Chattanooga campaign; but with the minor subjects, such as the siege of Charleston, the legislation, etc., I cannot expect to have my next two volumes ready to be put into Mr. Levy's hands before the end of this year. These two volumes will be printed

Anthology" and "Selections from the Greek Elegiac Poets" are in contemplation.

a

S. C. GRIGGS & Co. have in press "Clinical Lectures" from the French of P. Jousset, Physician to the Hospital Saint-Jacques, at Paris, translated by Dr. R. Ludlam, of Chicago, with copious practical notes and additions; "Latin Prose Composition," with references to the leading grammars, by Elisha Jones, author of Greek Prose Composition" and "First Lessons in Latin ;" "The Orator's Manual,' practical and philosophical treatise on vocal culture, emphasis, and gesture, with selections for declamation and reading, by Geo. L. Raymond, Professor of Oratory in Williams College. Also "A New Method for the Study of English Literature," by Louise Maertz, which has received the commendations of Prof. Moses Coit Tyler, of the University of Michigan; Pres. Abernethy, Rutherford College; Prof. Whitney, Beloit College; and many others. HARPER & BROS. have just ready the useful little volume entitled "Readings from English History," edited by J. R. Green, author of the "History of the English People. This little book is intended to assist the labors of both teacher and scholar while pursuing that branch of study, universally pronounced "dry" by all young students. Mr. Green says in his preface: In their zeal to cram as many facts as possible into their pages, the writers of most historical text-books have been driven to shut out from their narratives all that gives life and color to the story of men." It is to brighten the text-books that Mr. Green has made his selections. Choosing passages on important events from the works of the best authors of Europe and America, his design is that these extracts shall be read aloud by the teachers in connection with the text-books, thus adding interest to the study as well as inducing familiarity with the works of leading historians. Each extract is furnished with a short introductory paragraph, and copious notes explain all allusions likely to confuse the student.

BUSINESS NOTES.

AUTHORS AT WORK.

PROF. BOYD HAWKINS announces a work on Early Man in Britain and his Place in the Tertiary Period," in which he aims "to present a vivid picture of man and his surroundings. from the time of his first appearance in Britain to that of the Roman invasion."

SIR SAMUEL BAKER is engaged in writing upon the spot a volume entitled " Cyprus as I Saw it in 1879," which will record the impressions derived from six months' travelling up and down the island in a gypsy wagon. Macmillan & Co. are to be the publishers.

46

MR. SUTHERLAND EDWARDS is preparing for sians at Home and the Russians Abroad." immediate publication a work on The Rus

PERSONAL MENTION.

MR. E. C. SWAYNE has just returned from Europe, where he made a very successful busisold as well as bought a large amount of books. ness trip for Messrs. E. P. Dutton & Co., and

HUMORS OF THE TRADE.

A BUFFALO Correspondent writes: "In our show-window we have displayed, among other things new in the book line, a new book lately issued by the Catholic Publication Society, having the full title rather prominent on its sides, History of the Mass, by Father O'Brien.' The book attracted the attention of a passer-by, who stepped in and wanted to know the price of the book in the window called 'History of Massachusetts.' Of course, as was to be expected, we were at a loss to know what was meant, and stepped to the door to see the book in question, when, lo, it proved to be the History of the Mass'! The caller was presently non est."

A RECENT inquiry at this office was for the publisher of "Ala Bazam on Population." It was some time before it was discovered that Annie Besant's book was meant.

-The copartnership existing under the firm name of H. T. Johnson & Co., manufacturing stationers, is dissolved, E. H. Adams retiring. The business will be conducted by H. T. Johnson, under the old firm name.

PITTSFIELD, MASS.-O. J. Copeland has bought out C. C. Childs & Co., books, etc.

STAMFORD, CONN.-Arthur W. Smith has purchased the book and stationery business of John R. Butler.

NEWARK, N. J.-J. O'Connor & Co., publishers of Catholic books, have failed. Liabilities are reported to be $4187.18; assets (nominal), $4175.18.

MOBILE, ALA.-The Mobile Stationery Company, of which James E. Sherman is manager, has been burned out.

ROCKFORD, ILL.-J. B. Howell, bookseller, is succeeded by E. L. Ames.

ALMA, MICH.-H. A. Blackman, drugs, books, etc., has sold out to George C. Waller.

WORDS.

IN the convenient arrangement of the Catalogue, in the fidelity and thoroughness of its literary preparation, and in the rare typographical good taste of its mechanical execution, a contribution is presented to American bibliography of no common practical value, and which challenges the favorable attention of booksellers, librarians, compilers of literary works, and readers of books in general.-New York Tribune.

It is unnecessary to repeat the praise which this admirable enterprise elicits at each new stage of its progress; but it is well to remind the general purchaser how far the Catalogue is from being confined to original American works. The admirers of Moore, for instance, will find recorded here a great choice of editions, of which some are only nominally American-Nation.

WE are very much pleased with it, and hope the balance of the work will be ready soon. It is indispensable.

ULRICH & KINGSLEY, Buffalo, N.Y.

and published together. As soon as a single sheet is printed and corrected it will be sent to you, so that you will receive the first a long time, perhaps nine or ten months, before the two volumes are given to the public. The same will be done for the maps.

"If people believe that I have given up my work, they are greatly mistaken; but if they imagine that it is an easy task, they are still more mistaken.

"Whenever you think it necessary to have a letter from me establishing that you are the only authorized publishers of the English translation, I shall be ready to give it to you. For the present it seems to me that the letter published at the beginning of your first volume is quite sufficient for that purpose."

AMERICAN ART TEXT-BOOKS.

THE text-books for art education by Prof. Walter Smith have been an important factor in that improvement in this department of education in which Boston has been the centre. The publishers, Messrs. L. Prang & Co., have for some time been engaged in preparing a revised ́and re-worked series of these books, arranged in primary, grammar, and high school courses. The whole series will include 20 books, carefully planned and graded, besides teachers' manuals, cards, etc. In these, the various divisions of this branch of training-free-hand, geometrical, perspective and other drawingare treated distinctively and yet with a view to the single end of the series, and it is believed that the new series will be a decided step in advance. The new books will be ready in September, but the old series will also for the present be kept on hand.

OBITUARY.

JOSEPH CUSHING, JR.

JOSEPH CUSHING, JR., one of the best known Baltimore publishers and book sellers, and for many years partner in the firm of Cushings & Bailey, died at Bedford Springs, Pa., July 6th, aged 73 years.

Mr. Cushing was born at Amherst, in 1806. Four years later his father, Joseph Cushing, left Amherst for Baltimore, and established a bookstore at the latter place. In 1829 the deceased and his brother John became members of the firm with their father, under the firm-name of Cushing & Sons. In 1836 the brothers took entire charge of the business, the style of the firm being Cushing & Brother. In 1850 Mr. Joseph Cushing, Jr., Mr. John Cushing, and Mr. Lewis E. Bailey established the present house of Cushings & Bailey. Mr. John Cushing retired from the firm some years ago; a short time after Mr. Joseph Cushing, Jr., retired, leaving the business to his son, Joseph M. Cushing, and Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Cushing was an indefatigable worker, giving up his time and energies both to his business and to the community, in which he was held in great respect. He was a director of the same savings-bank that his father was president of, and was also a director of the Merchants' Bank of that city, and was a manager of the Peabody Institute, as well as of the Maryland Bible Society and Baltimore Dispensary. I

of Green's

ONE of the most notable educational experiments of late years has been the lecture seasons at Chautauqua Lake and the home work done in connection with this system. Over 5000 copies Short History of the English People" have been required by students in the Chautauqua system, which has also a literature of its own, in the Chautauqua Text-books, published by Phillips & Hunt.

MACMILLAN & Co. have in preparation a new series of " Classical Reading-Books" for the lower classes of schools, and at a low price, selected from the best Greek and Latin authors. Each volume, containing about 120 pp. 16m0, will consist of a short introduction, text, and full elementary notes at the end. An effort has been made to obtain for the series good scholarly work, and an endeavor will be made to illustrate each author from all the various points of view brought out by modern learning. Besides representative books from the Eneid, Homer, etc., to be published at once, "A Select Latin