and pamphlets lie on the floor for want of shelfroom, to the blow at the best interests of American book publishers and book-makers by the revision of the Forty-seventh Congress, the action of the National Legislature has been hostile to the literary interests of the United States. Millions are freely voted away for the alleged improvements of rivulets and forming harbors among mountain ridges; hundreds would be grudged-could not be obtained-for the preparation of a catalogue of all the books ever published in America. The greatest nation of book and newspaper readers on the globe does not elect reading men to enact its laws. Great Britain and Germany will have their great catalogues completed long before the utility of such a work in intellectual America will strike a majority of United States Congressmen.

AMERICAN MAGAZINES IN ENGLAND. From Blackwood's Magazine.

It was exceedingly clever, what inay, perhaps, be called smart, just at a moment when English authors were placed by a new efflorescence of piracy in a worse position than ever on the other side of the Atlantic, that the American periodical should have invaded our shores. But so it was. It has made, we believe, a successful invasion, and not without deserving its success. For the American magazines which England has accepted with cordiality are excellent in illustration; and if their literary qualities are not the highest they have at least a certain novelty and freshness of flavor. There are, however, certain results of their introduction which are more important than the possibly ephemeral success which a public, more free from prejudices in favor of its own than ever public was before, has awarded to them; and these are first the revelation of some American authors little or not at all known in England; and second, a full perception, hitherto possible only to a few, of the claims of America in literature. These claims we have hitherto been very charitable to, as the early clutches of a great literature about to come into being, though as yet somewhat stunted and not of lavish growth, at the laurels of fame. But few, perhaps, were aware how little consideration was was thought to be necessary, or how entirely sure our transatlantic relations were of having attained a standing-ground of certainty much above that vague platform of hope.

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.

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A CORRESPONDENT of the N. Y. Times is responsible for the following statement: Apropos of literature I am told that the London copyright committee who are supposed to be acting for the profession' in this country have accepted the American proposals in regard to international copyrighted editions circulated in America being printed in the United States. This, I am assured by one who ought to know, disperses the last point of difficulty between the two countries, and that we may really look forward to the passing of an act which will be satisfactory to authors on both sides of the Atlantic. 'The clause will be maintained,' says my informant, giving the author only six months for the reprinting of his book, which will work badly so far as young writers are concerned. Take Anstey and his Vice Versa" as an example: it was quite six months before he knew that

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his book was a success. American publishers will not risk taking up a book until they know whether it is likely to be a paying enterprise here, and so the young author will be sacrificed.' My friend forgets that the history of modern literature records many instances of English authors becoming popular in America before the Old World had discovered their talents. A copyright law once in action, any shortcomings can be corrected in the future."

BOOK STATISTICS.

AN inquiry made by the Chicago Standard of the Librarian of Congress, Mr. A. R. Spofford, regarding the number of books published each year for a series of years in the United States, brought the following reply:

"Permit me to say that not even an approximate answer is possible. The reason is that no possible standard exists by which those publications which are books, and those which are not books, can be discriminated. Of the 6000 to 8000 annual copyright entries of what are called books, many hundreds are such things as directories, hotel registers, trade lists, dime novels and song-books, elementary school-books, and Sunday-school literature of ali descriptions. Many hundreds more are simply reprints or new editions of old works."

On which the Standard comments thus:

Literature, by J. M. Walden; What We Read and What We Should Read, by Rev. N. B. C. Love; Pernicious Literature, by Jas. M. Freeman; The Evils of Indiscriminate Novel-reading, by Ross C. Houghton; Methodist Biographical Litera: ture, by W. B. Watkins; Historical Literature of Methodism, by Francis S. Hoyt; The Literature of Bible Study; Theological and Doctrinal Literature; Our Sunday-school Helps, by Newell S. Albright, etc., etc. The catalogue of books covers nearly 100 pages, and contains works of history, travel, poetry, fiction, religious works, Bible-helps, etc., selected from the publications of our best publishers. (Walden & Stowe.)

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FICTION READING.—Lists of Novels: Abbott, L., and others, Hints for Home Reading ;" Hubbard, James M., "The Public Library and the School-children [Lists of Objectionable "Best Reading Novels]; Jones, Lynds E, [1876-1882]; Leypoldt, F., Reading Diary of Modern Fiction;" Perkins, F. B., "Best Reading" [1876]: Perkins, F. B., "Best 100 Novels" [Library Journal, 1877].-Historical Novels: Allen, W. Francis, Reader's Guide to English History" Boston Public Library," Chronological Index to Historical Fiction."-Books for Young Readers: Buffalo Young Men's Library, "Books for Young Readers;" Illinois School Report, 1873-4, Books for School Libraries ;" Peoria Public School Report, 1881, "Suggested Reading" Smart, J. H., " Books and Reading for the Young."*-Consult also the catalogues of the Boston, Brooklyn, Quincy, Roxbury, and other libraries, and the following periodicals: Library News, Literary World, Literary News, Library Journal, Critic, Saturday Review, Athenaum, PUBLIshers' WeekLY, and others.-Library News.

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we,

THE ACTS.-One of the most important additions to the literature of the Acts is the revised American translation of Meyer's "Critical and Exegetical Hand-book to the Acts" (Funk & Wagnalls). It contains two lists of works dealing with the Acts-one by the author, the other by Dr. W. Ormiston, the American editor, including the works referred to in his notes. Some critical remarks on the most prominent books are made in the preface." In the recent editorial on Helps to the Study of the Acts,' says the Sunday-School Times, "indicated briefly the merits and defects of that work; it is now sufficient to mention that, in spite of the characteristic faults of Canon Farrar's writing, this work is one of the best for popular study in the line of the present lessons. The new edition (Cassell's) is certainly a marvel of cheapIt is a duodecimo of nearly 700 pages, it contains all the notes and indexes of the larger editions, and it is strongly bound in cloth. crown all, the price is only 75 c. [pap. 40 c.]. In this cheap form Canon Farrar's book, ought to attain a very wide circulation among Sundayschool teachers and Bible-class leaders." (See also Cues, Feb. 17.)

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To

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ENGLISH LITERATURE.-In "A Key to a New Method for the Study of English Literature (Chicago, Griggs) Miss Louise Maertz refers, by page and chapter, to several books for the stu dent, which supplement her teaching, and which enable the instructor to enlarge upon each of

Times.

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the topics touched. The system, according to the Critic, appears to be a good one. The textbook of English literature, to which this is a key, has been received with general favor, and is being rapidly introduced into schools." The Story of English Literature," by Miss Anna Buckland (Cassell), according to the Athenæum, "does not profess to enter into any critical examination of the works of English authors, far less to deal with the philosophic history of thought, but is intended for those who come quite freshly to the subject, not as critics, nor even yet as students, but with awakening intelligence. For this purpose the book is admirably adapted, and it is eminently calculated to arouse an interest in our literature among the young. "-"A Hand-book J. Trimble (Eldredge), is according to the N. Y. of English and American Literature, by Esther quite good enough in its way: far superior to many, it perhaps is the equal of the best. Its brief statements of political and social history, in connection with each literary epoch, were excellent things to do, and as a whole, the work has been compiled in a painstaking manner."-Ten Brink's" Early English Literature (Holt) is, according to the Boston Advertiser **a minute and scholarly history, reaching from the days of Hengist and Horsa to those of Wycliff. The last author described is Langland, of whose very accurate and spirited account."-" Land'Vision Concerning Piers Plowman' there is a marks of English Literature, (Appleton), is warmly recommended by the St. by H. J. Nicoll James' Gazette, which says that "it is fuller than most with respect to the later developments of English literature, and the author is at his best in this portion of his work, which is provided with a chronology as good and as full as any student can desire."-The second volume of Baldwin's "Introduction to the Study of General Literature," just published by John E. Potter & Co., is devoted to prose. The plan is the same as is adopted, in the first volume for poetry. The books referred to are not arranged chronologically, but grouped in classes. At the end of each division is a list of references which are of the greatest value to the student and general reader. It includes works in all departments of literature which have a direct bearing upon the subject treated in the preceding pages. The style of each author is described and its peculiarities are exemplified by illustrative quotations.-Perry's "English Literature" (Appleton) is, in his own words, "by no means a history of the literature of the last century; many important authors, like Prior and Smollett, have but a word given them; Fielding receives no full discussion; and many other writers are not even mentioned. My aim, however, has been rather to supplement the histories by pointing out, so far as I could, the more evident laws that govern literature. I have accordingly tried to show the principles that went to the formation of the literature of the last century, and also the causes of its overthrow" The Critic says, "The analysis is often clever, the criticism sometimes unique, while the anecdote and percontrived to work in a great mass of material, sonality are always interesting. Mr. Perry has particularly in relation to obscure writers and obscure rivulets of influence, such as diligent rummaging in old libraries supplies. He has given a piquant charm to his work, not by any means supplied in the half-dozen works lately contribu ted to the criticisms of English literature.”

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*To these should be added Miss Hewins' "Books for the "just published, and mentioned under the "Cues Young." in the issue for Feb. 17.

OBITUARY.

GEORGE W. DAVIDS.

GEORGE W. DAVIDS, of the firm of Thaddeus Davids & Co., the well-known ink manufacturers, Nos. 127 and 129 William St., N. Y., died at the Grand Union Hotel on April 4, under circumstances that lead to the belief that he committed suicide. The police insist upon this, although there is no known cause which might have influenced this action, and although his friends claim that Mr. Davids was in the habit of using laudanum medicinally, and may have taken an overdose. Mr. Davids was born in this city in 1835, received a common-school education, went into business with his father, and soon became a member of the firm. His domestic relations are said to have been of the happiest, and his temperament a cheerful one, although of late he suffered from gout. Mr. Davids was Treasurer of the Stationers' Board of Trade, and one of the trustees of the Board of Trade and Transportation.

GOOD WORDS.
From the Library News.

FROM a bibliographical standpoint—that is, as treating books as, books, whether they be scientific, literary, or otherwise-the regular literary journals will not satisfy the inquirer wishing to know at least the name of each book that is being published on certain subjects. For that information he should turn to the journals published for that purpose. Of these the Literary News and Publishers' Weekly are the chief. Each has features not possessed by the other, and each has its special admirers. Both are trustworthy and comprehensive.

On the other hand all those interested in libraries and those wishing information as to the choice of books, from men competent to judge, should devote themselyes to the Library Journal. Its articles are written with a perfect knowledge of the wants of the public and excellent judgment as to the value of the publications in regard to which it expresses an opinion. It is a trustworthy guide, especially for those who have access to public libraries, and wish to be advised in regard to the selection of books.

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Spinoza's Ethics," by Hale White, who had the advice and assistance of Dr. J. Hutchinson Sterling, of Edinburgh.

P. BLAKISTON, SON & Co. have in preparation a work on "The Cinchona Barks, Pharmacognostically Considered," by Friedrich A. Flückiger, of Strassburg, translated, with some additional notes, by Prof. Frederick B. Power. The work will contain eight handsome lithographic plates.

MACMILLAN & Co. will publish shortly a new edition of Dr. James Martineau's recent work, "A Study of Spinoza," and a new translation of

AN English-Spanish and Spanish-English Dictionary is begun by Nestor Ponce de Leon, at No. 40 Broadway, containing the words and phrases used in the applied sciences, industrial The "Diccioarts, fine arts, mechanics, etc. nario Tecnologico" shows for its first part 48 · bapages, large octavo, and goes as far as digeon." The price of each part is 50 cents.

J. R. OSGOOD & Co. will publish April 15, Mary Hallock Foote's story, "The Led-Horse Claim," with illustrations by herself. This novel, during its serial publication in the Century Magazine, aroused such keen interest by its wonderful and realistic pictures of wild life on the border, and among the Rocky Mountain silver mining camps, as will no doubt insure its success in book-form.

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SCRIBNER & WELFORD expect to issue shortly "Round a Posada Fire," by Mrs. S. G. C. Middlemore, with 21 illustrations by Miss E. D. Hale; Nights at the Play," by Dutton Cook, author of "Hours with the Players," etc.; also 'Society Novelettes," by F. Č. Burnand, H. Savile Clarke, R. E. Francillon, Joseph Hatton, Richard Jefferies, and others, with illustrations by R. Caldecott, Linley Sambourne, M. E. Edwards, and others.

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