The New York Herald Newspaper, December 28, 1873, Page 3

LITERATURE. The Newest Books in the American Market. ¥rs. Somerville’s Autobiography—Lewes’ ‘“Prob- lems of Life and Mind”—Miss Dickinson’s New Work of Fiction—Rising English and American Authors—Wilkie Col- lng’ “Dead-Alive” Completed— Howells’ New Italian Tale—A Fresh “United States Digest.” A Bird’s-eye View of Books at Boston. Bosron, Dec, 27, 1873. There is @ certain small but very interesting class of people about whom the general world knows very little. It is a class whose members are characterized by great refinement, deep cul- ture and charming social qualities, but not by those gifts or achievemefts which are apt to reach the ears and stir the sympathies of the masses, The late Sir Henry Holland belonged to this lim- ited and brilliant circle. The memories and recol- Jections of such people are sure to be fascinating, because by those means a number of eminent per- sonages are brought forward and a familiar anec- dota) light is shed over living characters whom we have been accustomed to see only through the mist of rumor and the vague effulgence of celeb- rity. The late Mrs, Somerville was one of those remarkable women of whom, while she was living, the general world knew next to nothing, but of whom, now that she 1s dead and her personal recollections have been so well edited by her daughter, everybody will be in- terested in hearing all that there istotel. The ‘work will be issued early in January by the Roberts wrothers, and I am able to inform the readers of the HERALD that it will be one of tne most charming specimens of personal recollection that, with the exception of the autobiographic sprink- lings of Sir Henry Holland, have been given to the English speaking public for some years. The style is as simple and unaffected as was Mrs, Somer- ville’s life, MRS. SOMERVILLE was a mathematician and an astronomer; but, as she remarks in a foot note somewhere in the pend- ing volume, an astronomer does not necessarily spend his life with his eye at the telescope. This autobiography is the autobiography, not of the se- vere student alone, but of a woman who was courted by the world and went much into the highest society ; who loved her husband, her fam- ily and her religion, and whose highest scientific attainments never seemed to lift her into that pride of reason which, offensive in anybody, is particularly ungracious in the gentler sex. When Mrs. Somerville died, some months ago, her newspaper biographers could not agree in regard to her age. The au- tobiography settles that point. She was born December 26, 1780, at the Manse of Jedburg, im Burntisland, a small and quiet seaport town, with little or no commerce, situated on the coast of Fife, immediately opposite to Edinburgh. ‘For twelve months she attended a school at Mussel- burgh. Her first impulse toward mathematics was caught from accidentally observing some figures in an algebraic equation in answer toa rebus at the end of an illustrated magazine of fashions. This was the spark that lit the latent train of which she was unconscious. She attempted to find relief by taking up Robertson’s “Navigation,” but, failing in this, applied herself for a time to Painting landscapes, an accomplishment upon which she was complimented by the author of Blair’s “Rhetoric.” By the by, Mrs. Somerville’s recollections are frequently supplemented in a very pleasant manner by the interpolations of her daughter. Itis to one of these that the reader 1s indebted for the information that as Mrs. Somer- ville advanced toward womanhood she became a Deauty, and was generally known as “THE ROSE OF JEDWOOD.”? The best likenesses extant of her are a bust mod- elied in Rome by Lawrence Macdonald, in 1844, ana acrayon drawing by James Swinton, in 1848. In her young womanhood she was o! graceful figure, below the middle size, with a small head, well set on her shoulders, a beautiful complexion, bright, intelligent eyes, and a profusion of soft brown hair. At this period the future student of the stars made her own dresses, even her ball dresses, and the modern literary belle (if there is such a being) wul learn with some contempt that these consisted of India muslin, trimmed with a little Flanders lace. Her incipient passion for isopermetricai problems did not lead her to disdain those of fic- tion, and long after the beauties of algebra first blinded her she continued to be subdued by “The Mysteries of Udolpho’’ and ‘The Romance of the Forest.” In 1804 she married her cousin, Samuel Greig, @ commissioner in the Rus- sian navy, He proved very unsympathetic so far as her scientific studies were concerned. After three years she became a widow and returned to Burntisiand with her two little boys. By this time she had studied plane and spherical trigonometry, conic sections and Fergusson’s “Astronomy.” She now attempted Newton’s “Principia,” but found it too dificult at that stage of her studies, Mr, Wal- Jace, with whom she became acquainted, and who Was mathematical teacher at the military college at Marlow, introduced her to Francoeur’s “Mathe- matics,” apd advised her to stuay Lacroix’s “Alge- bra,” ‘Ditferential and Integral Calculus’ and “Pinite Differences and Series; Biot’s “Analytical Geometry” and “Astronomy.” and other works by Poisson, Lagrange, Euler, Clairault, Monge, Callet and Laplace. By the time she had made this ex- tensive progress our autoblographer was 33. About this time she met Henry Brougham and became intimate with Sydney Smith, In 1812 she married = Mr. Somervilie; but matrimony did not interfere with mathematics, She appears to have made herself as thoroughly at home among the constants and variabies of wedded life as among those of algebra. Mer math- ematical enthusiasm excited the anger of some of her relatives, who discovered in her love for loga- rithms a mortal sin. Her acquaintanceship with Professor Jameson, pupil of Werner, incited her to the study of mineralogy. But her friends were not exclusively among scientific men. She visited Scout at Abbotsford, ana gives a most genial de- scription of the author of “Ivanhoe” as he ap- peared when acting host. In 1816, her husband being appointed a member of the Army Medica) Board, she went to live in London. Subsequently she visited Paris, and was lospitably entertained by Arado, likewise by Biot, Bonvard and Poisson, To those Who think that mathematicians and a tronomers converse in equations and express themselves in axioms and algebraic symbols it will be interesting to learn that the dinner tables of these philosophers wete among the most jclly of which Mrs. Somerville gives any account. Her sketch of Cuvier and his wife 1s graceinl, Cuvier thought that Madame de Stacl’s energy and not old age had worn her out, About this juncture Mrs, Somerville took up botany, and was encouraged in it by Candolle, Returning to London, se was present, by Babbage’s invitation, at the construction of his calculating macnine, she never completely lost that diMdence in society which she ascribes to seclusion in youth, and was immediately stienced in argument, though enter. taining convictions she felt were just. At “lorence she met Catalani, then living in retirenent as Mme, Valabreque. She formed a pleasant acquaint- anceship with Joanna Baillie, and about this time read Miss Austen’s novels with interest, -onfessing to & partiality for “Pride and Prejudice.’ At Mrs. Somerville’s house Sir Charies Lyell firet met the young lady (Miss Horner) who afterwards became Bis wife. Of all these people the autobiographer has something to say worth hearing. She values at about their proper standard Mrs. Opie and Mrs. Fry. Ugo Fascolo was one of her chance encoun- fers. About 1833 she published her “CONNECTION OF THR PHYSICAL SOIZNCES,’’ ‘epon which she was congratulated br Jetver by Miss aca aa aa aaa eae menaaeacacarmacaret a i NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1873.-TRIPLE SHEET. Fégeworth, Miss Berry, Lord Brougham, Mrs. Mar- cet, Admiral Smyth, Hallam, Lord Rosse, Sir John Herschel, Going to Paris avain she was enter- tained by Mme. de Montalembert, about whose eccentricities she relates a singular ane>dote, Mme. de Montalembert, it will be remembered, was the mother of Comte, Among Americans whom she met during the first half of her long career Washington Irving, Longfellow and the Sil- liman family made the pleasantest impression, At Florence she met an American authoress, who, she declares, treated her very rudely, and who, on that account, is made to cut a very sorry figure bestde Mrs. Browning. At Rome she met Cardinal Wiseman, then at the head of a college of young men, educating for the Catholic Church, who had their -villegiatura = at) = Monte Porzio, With this bref mention I have not got half through the book, but I have not space to say more than that the volume teems with anecdotes, all related in that fresh and simple style which, when it is the aecompaniment of old age—as it is in the case of Mrs, Somerville—proves that the old age is pure, vigorous, serene, kind and wise. Among other works which the Reberts Brothers Will shortly issue are Arthur Helps’ new Russian ana Siberian tale, entitied “Ivan de Biron; “Thorpe Regis,” a novel, by the author of “The Rose Garden,” an English work of fiction which adds to the belief that the number of really clever women taking to authorship is increasing. The publication of “The Laocoon,” by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, translated by Miss Ellen Froth- ingham, is deferred for the persent, and may not take place until the fall. Meanwhile a fresh edition of the poetical writings of “H. H.” has just been prepared by the firm. No confidence is violated in the remark that “H. H.” are the initials of Mrs. Helen Hunt, whose fugitive poetry has from time to time been admired in quarters where admiration 1s valuable, But fugitive poems, like fugitive slaves, are sometimes not worth cap- turing, and scarcely repay reclamation. The poems of “H. H.”’ do not come under that cate- gory, however. They are something very much more than prose in full dress, LEWES’ NEW BOOK. Very different from either of the books I have mentioned is Lewes’ “Problems of Life and Mind,” which James R. Osgood & Co. will have ready early in January. Mr. Lewes will not, perhaps, please a great many readers, but those whom he does please he will please greatly. The origin of this work dates as far back as 1836, when the author was only 19 years old—too young to have made any valuable advance in psychological studies. At that time he planned a treatise on the philosophy of mind, in which the doctrines of Reid, Stuart and Brown were to be physiologically interpreted. Mr. Lewes was not long in discovering, however, that that attempt was premature. He launched out into other studies, which occupied him until 1860, when he collected material for a work on animal psy- chology. Tnough then 42 he did not disdain to entertain the conviction that he was not entirely even with his theme. He therefore relinquished the work on animal psychology, and in 1862 began investigating the physiological mechanism of feel- ing and thought. He believes that psychology is Still without the fundamental data necessary to its constitution as a science and that it is very much in the condition of chemistry before Lavoisier or biology before Bichat. Inthe present work, what he first intended to make an introductory chapter has grown into a subsidiary work, the two volumes of which (all that are yet published) form but a portion of what is written, The chapter has ex- panded into a work and the work into a system, and that which was intended as a preface to psychology discloses itself as the foundation of a creed, The first volume—the only one quite ready for publication here—is divided into two parts. Of these the first relates to the method of science and the second to the rules of philosophizing. The first part consists of five chapters and 81 pages; the second of 16 chapters and 350 pages. A concise prelude to the second part is devoted to an expll- cation of the principles that underlie biostativs, psychostatics, the method of psychology, the bio- logical data, psycho-dynamics, psychological spec- trum, the sociological data and reasoned realism. The 16 chapters are generalized under the head, “Problem 1,” entitled “The Limitations of Knowledge.” The vast extent of the series of problems which Mr. Lewes proposes to elucidate may be divined trom a glance at the elements that enter into this initial one. Mr. Lewes is innately a Philosopher. His happiness depends upon his freedom to push his researches to the utmost limits of speculation, The subjects which Problem I, has presented to him are the principle of relativity ; the sensational and aé_ priori hypotheses; the sensiple, the extra sensible and the supra-sensible; the reality of abstractions; ideal construction in science; the laws of nature, the use and abuse of hypothesis; the passage from the abstract to the concrete; ideal construction in metaphysics; the search after causes; intuition and demonstration; axioms and their validity; necessary truths; mathematics and empirical sci- ence; certain peculiarities in Kant, and the part played by sentiment in philosophy. The readers of the HERALD will hardly question me when I say that “Problems in Lite and Mind’ will be rather heavy reading for all whoare not metaphysicians or amateurs in metaphysics. And yet, does not this intensely practical age need to be mellowed at the hands of the abstractionists? Take any principle of human action, and it ends in what tne practical mind sneeringly terms an abstraction, But I have never been able to understand why a sneer should be the inevitable accompaniment. If the stuay of abstractions can develop a satisfac- tory theory of human action and such an explana- tion of the relations between the finite and the infinite as a courageous and thoughtful man can accept with self-respect, Mr. Lewes has done a valuable service to humanity by his investiga- tions, POEMS AND TALES, Ofa batch of other puvdlications contemplated by the same firm one or two will probably be pos poned until the fall. Among these are Frithiol’s “Saga,” and “Cloth of Gold and Other Poems,” by Tuomas Bailey Aldrich, the last of which is under- going the author's revision, Mr. Aldrich’s story, “Prudence Palfrey,’ now publishing in the Atlantic | Montidy, is to be issued in book form in the spring. Parton’s “Life of Jefferson’? may also be looked for about April, Mr, Howells has just handed in the manuscript of a story of Italian life, the first in- stalment of which will probably be published in the Adlantic next July. Among republications are “Zelda’s Fortune” and “The Young Brown,” the latter by Mr, Grenville Murray, author of “The Member for Paris” and those bright and _pic- turesque letters from French watering places which appeared in the HERALD last summer. The second volume of Wilson’s “History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in the United States” will soon beready, The public will be interested in learning that a NEW RUMANCE BY MISS DICKINSON is in process of composition. The manuseript, how- ever, has not yet been handed in and the title has not been bestowed. Miss Dickinson’s habits as an author are too capricious or she 1s too much occu- pied tn other pursuits for it to be certain when this novel will appear. It would be indiscreet at this early stage to say more than that the theme has rejation to some public reformatory measure. Whether tie treatment, the plot, the characteriza- tions and the general literary merits are greater than those of “What Answer” are questions which I cannot undertake to decide. But in this connec- tion | am reminded of a pertinent remark made by a very distinguished pubiic female reader, who, on being discovered over Miss Dickinson’s first novel, was asked What she thought of it, “I think the next one will be better,” the very distinguished reader replied, I echo the wish implied in this opinion, I hope Miss Dickinson’s second novel Will be better than her first. Even so eioquent a lecturer can hardly afford to write two poor novels in succession, FROTHINGHAM’S “LIFE OF THEODORE PARKER” Will be out early in March. The theme isa noble one, and if it be handied as ably as the same author's “Religion of Humanity,” will be treated with the justice and reverence that are its due, Parker's influence has not dwindled in New Eng- Jand, The years which have elapsed since his death have converted his old Unitarian foes into friends and even gained him admivern if not adherents among congregations ranging themselves under more precisely expressed creeds. Mr. Frothingham has necessarily used a good deal of the material employed by Mr, Weiss, but the handling is emin- nently his own, A “Life of Mre, Barbauld,” py Mrs. Grace Ellis, and the only book that lady has ever written, closes the batch of Osgood books for the present, By the bye, this firm began to-day re- moving to its new quarters, at the intersection of Franklin and Federal streets, opposite the church where Dr. Channing used to preach, It may be worth remarking that the heliotype process now employed by the Osgoods is producing a result beyond their first expectation, The completed story of WILKIE COLLINS’ “DEAD ALIVE” will be issued by Shepard & Gill on Monday week. The plot was suggested to Mr. Collins by a printed account of a trial which actually took place in the United States in the early part of the present century. The names of the real criminals upon whom Mr. Collins has constructed his imaginary ones were Jesse and Stephen Boorn, and the name of the party whom they were tried for murdering was Russell Colvin, Subsequently the man sup- posed to have been murdered made his appear- ance. The report of the tria! was prepared by the Hon, Leonard Sargeant, ex-Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. Mr. Collins claims, therefore, that all the main incidents in his new story are matters of fact. But this claim is quite un- necessary, Mr. Collins, as a literary artist, ought to know that a fiction derives no added interest or value because the incidents men- tioned tn it really happened, Provided they might have happened, or provided the reader is begailed into believing they might have happened, the pur- pose of this species of literary composition is ac- complished, I will not dilute the interest of those who are reading ‘Dead-Altve’ in instalments by saying precisely what happens to John Jago, Am- brose and Silas, Mr. and Mrs. Meadowcraft, Naomi and Leirank. Enough to say that the end is bliss- ful for hero and heroine, “MUSIC AND MONEY”? is the title of another new fiction to be brought outin about a month or six weeks by the same firm. It is by Mr. Charles Barnard, and is a sequel to “The Soprano,” by the same author. “The Soprano” is a clever musical novel, relating the hardships and triumph of a young girl witn a rich voice but poor pocket. The novel was too technical in much of its language to be popular with unmusical readers, but it was strongly enough written to prove that the author had studied human nature and the graces of rhetoric to some extent as well as the art and science of music. He is a young man, and resides at Cambridgeport, where he edits “The Vox Humana,” a musical monthly. Shepard & Gill have also given dainty form to a poem, 72 lines in length, called “The Martyred Church,” and com- posed by Mr. William F. Gill. The poem celebrates the singular illumination of Trinity Church, Bos- ton, on the night ofthe terrible conflagration there November 9, 1872, is dedicated to the Rev. Phillips Brooks and contains five full-page illustrations by Hammatt Billings. For the further advancement of the popular magazine, “American Homes,” the firm has united with Charles H. Taylor & Co., and constituted “The American Homes Publishing Com- pany.” Among the writers engaged for the pend- ing year are Wilkie Collins, Louise Chandler Moul- ton, Gail Hamilton, R. H. Stoddard, Edward Eg- gleston and Mrs. Minnie Myrtie Miller. “A NEW UNITED STATES DIGEST” isarather important undertaking. Itis now in the hands of Little, Brown & Co. Hitherto this digest has been in 31 volumes. These, under tne editorial supervision of Mr. Benjamin Vaughan Ab- bott, are being “boiled down” to 12, e size wili be royal octavo, numbering 800 pages each. Volume first will be ready in January. The others will be issued quarterly. They will comprise a digest of all the various courts within the United States, from the earliest period to the present time. One important advantage is that when the series is completed there will be one general alphabetical index instead of 81, as at present. The great fea- ture of this firm is law books, but their other in- terests are nomerous apd valuable enough to be taken into account. Just now they are get- ting ready a “History of North American Birds.” There are to be 64 colored plates and nearly 600 woodcuts. The descriptions of American birds we have hitherto had have been ‘“‘American Ornithology,’ by Alexander Wil- son, published in 1814; “Ornithological Biography,” by Audubon, in 1838, and his “Birds of America,’’ 1844; Nuttall’s “Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and Canada,” 1832 and 1840, and a few other works having relation to local orni- thology. The present work is a description of what is known of the birds of not only the United States, but of the whole region of North America north of the boundary line of Mexico, Including Greenland on one side and Alaska and its islands on the other, Use of much material among the archives of the smithsonian Institute was allowed. The drawings of the full-length figures were made directly on the wood by Mr. Edwin L. Sheppard, of Philadeiphia, from original sketches taken from nature. The heads were done by Henry W. Elliott and Mr. Ridgway. There are also a few cuts drawn by Wolf ana engraved by Whymper. Mr. F. Baird and Mr. T. M. Brewer were also concerned in the getting up of the work. Another work, interesting in a very different way, is the “LIFE OF COLONEL TIMOTHY PICKERING.” ‘The first volume was published six years ago, and was written by his son, Octavius. Three more volumes, by Charles W. Upham, have since been added, These three volumes were published to- day. They are octavo in size, and average 500 pages each, Colonel Pickering was an ardent fed- eralist, and held high positions in the Cabinet of General Washington. Other enterprises in which Little, Brown & Co, are engaged are Dr. William Smith's “Ancient Atlas,’ to be completed in five quarterly parts, and the ninth edition of the “En- cyclopa@dia Britannica,” edited by Thomas Spen- cer Baynes, LL. D., and to be completed in 21 vol- umes quarto, But I have said quite enough at present to prove that the literary world here is not without str, THE ATMOSPHERE,' Camille Flammarion is well known as a popular writer on scientific subjec His aim is to supply to the masses sound information on abstruse sub- jects in an agreeable yet effective manner. If we look at the works of this author with severely scientific eyes we shall meet with many things de- serving condemnation, It is certainly @ fault, and a grave one, in a scientific work, even where it only claims to be a popular production, to have something stated as true which @ large part of the scientific world refuses to accept as fully proven. This kind of blot is too often found in the works of M. Flammarion. It may be urged in extenuation that the subjects handled so well and so brilliantly by this charming writer require anextent and accuracy of knowledge such as sel- dom fails to the share of a mere mortal. Unaer these circumstances the writer is very much at the mercy of those colaborers from whose knowledge- treasure he must draw, often without being fully competent to decide upon the exact value of what he appropriates, In the work before us some of the dangers inevitable to popular scientific works are absent. ‘The imagination of the French writer, whose chief aim was to clothe hard practical facts in the grace- ful drapery of well balanced phrases, has been curbed and corrected by the practical minded editor who superintended the publication of the English transiation. Mr. James Glaisber is super- intendent of the magnetical and meteorological department of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, and brings to the subject the practical experience and exact habits of thought to be looked for in & man occupying his position. He has not a particle of sentimental tolerance for his colaborer, but on all occasions, where any unsound or hetcrodox opinions are put forward, dlurts out his objections, and even condemnations, with amusing bluntness, Flammarion brought to the work much Imagination, a good deal of sound knowledge anda cheerful ana flowing style, which gives to strictly scientific subjects almost the interest of romance. Glaishor, on the other hand, is a rather cold. Dlooded, matter-of-fact person. wip more preciae ideas, and, possibly, a closer scientific training. With the true tlltberality of the plodding scientist he rather despises the charms of Flammarion’s style. And while he rejects some of his deduc- tions as unsound, he chuckles heartily over the cutting Of of some of the “fine writing” of the French author, which, to his thinking, compro- mises the dignity of sctence, Mr, Pitman deserves much praise for vhe translation, In preserving the clearness and neatness of expression ot the original text, and presenting the ideas in simple and forcible English, he has achieved a real success. The matter of the work ts still more deserving of praise than its manner. It presents us with vivid pictures of the world in which we move and breathe under aspects in which we seldom contemplate it. In the hurry and bustle of life few of us have time to pause and examine the wonders of nature which on every hand surround us. It is sufficient for most of us that we have air and sunshine, that the flowers blossom and the trees bloom, and that the earth brings forth its life-sustaining fruits, without our heeding the laws upon which all these wonders depend. The very title of M. Flammarion’s work will prejndice thousands against reading it. For these people the secrets of nature have no charm, because they have no acquaintance with the wonders in which we live. It never strikes them that in the one word, atmosphere, 18 involved the fate of humanity, and even our very existence; that the world, deprived for afew hours of the moist veil which Wraps our planet, would become a@ vast desert, an awiul solitude, whose stiliness would be unbroken by tread of breathing thing. The im- portance of @ subject that so nearly touches our very existence cannot, then, easily be overrated, and whatever may tend to spread among the masses correct ideas on matters of vital interest to our world deserves encouragement, Yhe study of the physical condition of the at- mosphere, its movements and tunctions, and the laws tnat regulate its phenomena, has in our time assumed @ most important position among the subjects of human research. And though the study is yet in its infaney the results already ob- tained from partial and insuMcient observations seem to promise in the future such knowledge of the laws which control atmospheric phenomena as will enable man to render subservient to useful purposes the scemingly lawless elements. Meteor- ology is comparatively a new science, struggling into life, but whose importance is already well recognized by the scientific and even by the com- mercial world. Yet we have not advanced far in our examination of the subject. Even the anal- yses of climates, seasons, currents and periodical phenomena can scarcely be regarded as termi- nated, or even arrived at a very satisfactory stage. In our own country and in England the impor- tance of studying the laws of atmospheric disturb- ance has been very generally recognized, and has led to the establishment of special bureaus charged with this duty. In both countries the value of storm signals in preventing marine disasters has been fully recognized. But, useful as meteorology has preved in this instance, we can form but a faint idea of its general impor- tance in our daily life from the contemplation of its wonders in one department, To form an intel- ligent idea of the influence the atmosphere exerts on our destinies we must look at it as a whole and in all its relations to the life of the terrestrial Sphere. Itisin this way only that the grandeur and absorbing interest of the subject can be appre- ciated, The atmosphere and its influences on cur giobe is the question of the day. It possesses for thoughtful minds the same kind of mterest as was felt in the seventeenth century on the subject of astronomy. Mr, Flammarion’s work presents the subject to the public free from the technicalities which render scientific books such a dreadful bore to the ordinary reader. Yet the amount of information conveyed in the spar- Kling pages of the brilliant French writer is so great as to render the work well worthy of peru- Sal, even by those who have already some ac- quaintance with the interesting topics upon which it treats. ‘he array of scientific facts laid before the reader are made palatable by the addition of well authenticated adventures, which give anima- tion to the work. The subjects follow each other in logical order, and page alter page unrolls to the mental vision some new wonder or explains the cause of some familiar phenomenon in lucid and forcible language. The tendency of Mops, Flam- marion’s mind is to make a picture of what he wishes to convey, So that the abstruse points may appeal to the perceptive as wellas. to the reason- ing faculties. In this he ts very successful, His descriptions are full of color. Many of the defects inherent to this mode of treating scientific sub- jects have been removed from the present work by the care of the English editor. What remains of doubtful or unsound matter is marked by notes, which warn the reader and place the more strictly scientific views before his miud. The work, there- fore, so far from having lost any of its value in the translation, has really become more valuabie, be- cause more reliable. It can, therefore, be salely recommended to such as desire to optain an insight into the economy of the world we live in without subjecting themselves to the strain of serious scientific study. * “The Atmosphere,” Translated from the French of Flammarion by Glaisher and Pitman. Pub- lished by Harper Brothers, New York. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. Way WILL PusLisuers, like James R. Osgood, of Boston, persist in printing such bald rubbish as James Russell Lowell's “The Courtin’,” especially with such elaborate illustrations as those of Wins- low Homer ? Tux Best Book ever published on foods and diet is that by Dr. Edward Smith, just out in Lon- don. It is full of facts about nutrition and the value of various articles of food as flesh producers. ‘There are also curious historical tables of the mar- ket prices of food in London at diferent epochs, “THE GALLERY OF LITERARY CHARACTERS,” illus- trated with sketches of the authors, by Daniel Maclise, has been brought out in London, and is for sale at Scribner’s, There are 83 portraits, among whom are Disraeli, Carlyle, Cruikshank, Ainsworth, Miss Martineau, Count d'Orsay, Walter Scott, Talleyrand and Charles Lamb, THE Saturday Review good-humoredly laughs at Dr. W. H, Russell’s “Diary During the Last Great War,” which, it says, “embraces everything, from the author's appetite to the battle of Sedan, and from the Crown Prince’s white breeches to the fallof Paris.” “The specific gravity of Mr. Rus- sell,” it adds, ‘when most condensed is equal to that of an ordinary writer when most expanded.” JOURNALISTIC NOTES, ‘The Moniteau (MO.) Journal has ceased to exist. A newspaper thief in Salem, Mass., paid $15 and costs. W. and B. Graham have again taken charge of the Osceola (Mo.) Herald, The State Rights Democrat oMce, at Albany, Ore gon, was partially burned on the 1otn inst. Senator T. C. Andrews has dissolved his connec- tion with the Columbia (8. C.) Union-Herald. Lyman J. McIndoe, proprietor and publisher of the Windsor (Vt.) Jowrnal, died on Wednesday last. Messrs. Montgomery and Mugford have retired from the Signal, the new radical paper recently started at Sedalia, Mo, D, L. McGary has retired from the Houston (Texas) Age, and his place has been filled by Colonel Gustave Cook, an old Texan, Louis W. Bishop, for many years connected with the Liberty (Mo.) Tribune, has purchased an in- terestin the Wellington (Kansas) Press, A paper catled the West Coast Star has been started in Mendocina, Cal. It ts edited by Colonel Pike, formerly of the San Francisco Chronicte, Wilbur F. Cornei has become an equal partner in the Salem (Oregon) Mercury. Mr. Cornel will assume the entire control of the mechanical depart- ment of the paper. Since the 1st of December eight weekly news- papers have suspended in Illinois, Six of them were named Journal, which appears to be a very unlucky title for a new paper. DEATH FROM MORPHINE, Pouauxgersig, Dec, 27, 1873, Lewis Coe, of the firm of Coe & Deyo, in this city, died last night irom ap overdose af mornnine, THE LONDON THEATRES. “QGRISELDA” NOT A SUCCESS. The “School for Intri at the Olympic. Mr. W. 8. Gilbert Prosecutes the Pall Mall Gazette---A Great Theatrical Scandal. ” Lonpon, Dec. 9, 1873. The series of promenade concerts which have been held at Covent Garden Theatre. under the | direction of M. Riviere, came to a close on Satur- day night, and are understood to have been very successful. This kind of entertatment was first introduced to the British public some 30 years ago by M. Jullien, and at once found favor, The young men delighted in the large, well lighted, well warmed salie, where, at the cost of a shiiling, they could promenade and stare at the ladies in the boxes and listen to the music of the day. But M. Juilien, though the most charming charlatan possible, was some- thing more; he knew really good music and liked it, and eventually he taught his patrons to like it and to look forward to those evenings when bits of Beethoven or Mozart were interpolatea be- tween arum polkas and British Army quadrilles. His successors have followed suit in this respect, and M. Riviere has been especially lavish in setting aside evenings for the performance of classical works. There is not the smallest doubt that the musical taste in England has vastly improved within the last quarter of a century, and one of the best proois of this is the attendance at the Monday popular concerts, where the very highest class of music, interpreted by such executants as Joachin and Hallé, is invariably given. The period immediately before Cnristmas is the slackest of all seasons with LONDON MANAGERS, though this week the provincial visitors who come up to the cattle show will bring much needed assistance to the places of amusement. The regular theatrical season is drawing to aclose, and the principal performers are taking their benefits. Miss Wallis, a novice, whose bright and clever acting as Cleopatra, has been warmly eulogized receiving @ very satisfactory tribute from her friends, It is understood that “‘Anthony and Cleo- patra” has done very well; put, as Ihave before ex- plained, Mr. Chatterton, the manager, does not expect to make money with his ante-Christmas season, but looksto the production of his pan- tomime to recoup him for all his outlay. I am afraid that Miss Braddon’s play of “Griselda,”? at the Princess’ Theatre, of which I have already written you, is not attractive. Mrs. Rousby has been ill, and her part has been taken by Miss Henderson, who plays it better than the original—she could not indeed play it worse—but who fails to invest the drama with any interest. Such a feat is, I fear, impossible, although arduous efforts are being made to bolster it up, and Mr. George Augustus Sala has lent his powerful pen to its support in an article in the current number of | “Belgravia.” The Olympic Theatre has produced a version of | Beaumarcnais’ ‘Mariage de Figaro,” under the title of “The School for Intrigue,” adapted by Mr. Mortimer, who is understood to be an, American gentleman and the proprietor of the London Figaro, It is not a particu- larly lively comedy, though it has been much improved since the first night by having the whole of the second act bodily cut out of it. One misses the lovely Mozart music which one is accustomed to hear developing in the intrigue, and the acting, to say the best of it, is only toler- able. The Count Almaviva has had only one rep- | resentative in my memory, and that was Signor | Mario. Who that ever saw him can forget the gal- lant bearing, the ineffable ease and grace dis- played hy that greatest o! singers and actors, who even in the drunken scene never forgot that he was a gentleman? Mr, Neville does his best, but he is somewhat too heavy and clumsy Jor the i character. Ofall men of the day i MR, W. S. GILBERT, the dramatist, gives greater occasion to prove that authors were rightly denominated the genus irri- tabile, Somehow or other he is always in hot water, quarrelling with managers, actors, authors and newspaper critics, His last feat has been to bring an action against the Pali Mal! Gazette for stigma- tizing his piece of the “Wicked World” as coarse,” “gross,"? ‘brutal,’ “offensive,” and simply indecent.” There was a great forensic | display, the Solicitor General being on one side and Sir John Karslake on the other, and the pre- siding Judge, Mr. Justice Brett, delivered an elap- orate charge. The jury gave a curious ver- dict, declaring that there was no indecency In Mr. Gilbert's play, and yet that the critic was quite right in saying what he did. Virtually, Mr. Gilbert thus loses the case and will have to pay the costs, which will probably amount to more than 2,500, The most annoying part of it to Mr. Gil- bert is that, it appears, the article in question was not written by ihe regular critic of the paper, but by an outsider, a very young man, who was per- mitted thus to bespatter Mr. Gilbert’s well earned reputation, And we have a scandal inthe theatrical world, such @ scandal as we have not had for years. All the coulisses, all the club smoking rooms, ail the five o’clock tea tables of those members of society who take interest in theatrical matters, are ringing with it. The hero and heroine are exceptional people—the lady an actress, ceie- brated for her beauty; the gentleman an actor, who has recently made a great step in advance as a juvenile tragedian. Howthe gentleman took apartments which he and the lady frequented, | and how the gentleman's wife found them there, and how an velaircissement ensued, is Known to everybody, excepting, of course, the lady’s hus- band. Nothing else is talked of just now, and as for detail we get as much of that as there was in Sir Benjamin Backbite’s story of the duel, when “the ball struck against the little bust of Shake- speare on the mantelpiece, and, glancing through the window, wounded the postman, who was com- ing to the house with @ double letter from North- amptonsbire.”” MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES. Handel's “Messiah” is shortly to be given in Paris, with French words, for the first time. Miss Jennie Hughes, concert vocalist, commences an engagement at the Metropolitan Theatre on Monday evening. Mile. Fernande Tedesca, a young American vio- linist, will play Vieuxtemps’ fantasia at the fourth concert of the Philharmonic Soctety. Theodore Thomas and his magnificent orchestra will appear at the grand triennial festival of the Boston Handel and Hadyn Society in May. A season of English opera, with Miss Kellogg and Mrs, Jennie Van Zandt as prime donne, will com- mence at the Academy of Music next month. Mrs. Caroline Richings-Bernard has organized an old folks’ concert party, who will make their first appearance, at Steinway Hall, on Monday evening, Mr. Jerome Hopkins, the indefatigabie director of the Orpheon schools, is preparing for his annuai Springtide Festival, at which a large chorus and orchestra will assist. The metropolitan theatres repeat last week's performances during the remainder of the holi- days. New Year's Day matinées are the special feature at all the temples of the drama. “Much Ado About Nothing” will be played at the Academy of Music on Tuesday evening in ald of L the funds of the Central Dispensary. The Dispen- sary last year did great good work among the poor, A schoo! for the study of operatic singing is to be | beauty. attached to the new “Music of the Future” Thea- tre, at Bayreuth, Bavaria. An inventor ts said to | Praeume be at work on a larynx preserver for the disciples of the new school. Mendelssohn’s family are said to have offered all te cotmporer’s MSS. 10 tho Reval Library ef Berlin, ————— on comiition that the government will found two scholarships of 100 thalers each for the encourage- ment of young musicians, Carlotta Patti has been singingin concert re~ cently in Liverpool, England. Her sister Adelina has returned from Moscow to St, Petersburg. Her first appearance at the opera was as Gilda in “Rigoletto,” She was welcomed back with ene thusiasm, A new drama of historical interest, entitled “General Laudon,” by Friedrich Kaiser, has met with favor in Vienna, As affording a number of tableaux serving to illustrate an important part of Austrian history, the drama appeals to popular appreciation, Vieuxtemps, the violinist, has again declined the airection of the Brussel’ Popular Orchestral Concerts, A severe rheumatic attack, from which he ts now recovering, has rendered it essential for him to remain quiet in his Paris home with his daughter and her medical husband, There are in France 337 theatres; In Italy, 3487 in Germany, 191; 1n Russia, 44; in Belgium, 34; in Spain, 168; in Austria, 152; in England, 150; in Holland, 22; in Switzerland, 20; in Portugal, 163 in Sweden, 10; in Denmark, 10; in Norway, 8; in Greece, 4; in Turkey, 4; in Roumania, 3; in Egypt, 2, and in Servia 1. Extravanganzas in which political caricature was the main object appeared to have rapidly lost their interest in London, “In the Clouds,” py Mr Gilbert A Beckett, one of the authors of the “Happy Land,” is pronounced a failure. The Duke of Cam- bridge ana John Bright were the individuals therein travestied, The Lord Chamberlain did not inter- fere this time. Mr. Reinhard Schmelz, a distinguished violinist and director of the New York Mdnnerchor, gave a very interesting concert on Christmas night at Terrace Garden. In the andante and rondo (klairer quartet of Beethoven) he was assisted by Messrs. Van Inten, Brandt and Werner. The solo vocalists on the cecasion were Miss A, Simon and Herr Sohst. The Mannerchor sang selections from Hoffmann, Abt and Billeter. The latest Parisian theatrical items are that M. Alexandre Dumas fils has brought out at the Gym- nase @ new comedy, called “Monsieur Alphonse.‘? The Odéon has produced “Robert Pradel,” a four act drama of M, Albert Delpit. ‘La Maison du Mari” has been revived at the ThéAtre de Cluny, supported by M. Laferritre, Mile. Lacressonitre and Mile, Alice Regnault. A novelty, “La Falaise de Penmarke”’ of M. Cresafulli, has been brought out at the Ambigu-Comique. ‘rhe short season of opera commenced by the Strakosch company at the Academy of Music on Wednesday evening was bronght to a close yester- day afternoon by a Yery fine performance of “Alda,’? which drew @ large house in spite of the inclement weather. The troupe will play at Cin- cinnati on the 29th inst., at St. Louis January 5, Chicago Janaary 12, Milwaukee January 26, and play a night ateach of the following cities:—To- ledv, Cleveland, Buffalo and Albany. They appear in Boston on February 2 and return to New York on February 16. During the spring season in this city “Lohengrin,” “Romeo and Juliet and other new operas in the répertoire will be produced. SYMPHONY THEODORE THOMAS’ CONCERT. The New York public gave, last evening, a very significant expression of the high esteem in which they hold the eminent services o1 Mr. Theodore Thomas in the cause of music and of their appre- ciation of his unequalled orchestra. Notwithstand- ing the horrible state of the weather—and a more unpropittous night could scarcely be selected— Steinway Hall was absolutely crowded, even to the second gallery, and Fourteenth street and Irving place were filled with carmages. It was, indeed, an ovation to the young maestro such as is rarely tendered by any public. The following programme was rendere’ Overture to Se Schumann Concerto t Spohr Mess hestra, Symphony «Ratt Erste Abt Andante Marsch Tempo. Dritte Abtheilung—"Wiedervereinigun: ‘ole.? Introduction und Bailade (nach G. Buerger’s “Leonore,* Allegro. Theme and Variations, » Scherzo, Septett. Finate, a teseeee Berlioz The symphony was the chief attraction, both on account of its novelty aud the high Bea nes of the industrious composer, whose pen nevér seems Overture, “Le Carnaval Romain". to tire. Mr. Thomas received it a short time since irom Germany and presented it for the first time in New York lastnight. The indefatigable com- poser, it is said, is now at work on a sixth symphony, without ceasing lor & moment irom his arduous labors. The symphony un- der review is a work of such magnitude and differs so materially from either its predeces- sors or the other symphonic productions of the modern school that an absolute opinion of its merits after a single hearing would not be a just one. Purists may censure the many departures from the strict symphonic forms which occur in this work, and yet many will be willing to pass over such on account of the grandeur of the effects produced even in those wanderings from the symphonic highway. Whatever may be the erratic character ol the treatment of the various themes at times, and the startling contrasts and the elaboration of the subjects almost to a degree of tiresomeness, the splendor and richness of the instrumentation cali for nothing short of the leartiest praise and admiration. Gottiried Buer- ger’s Well-known ballad, “Leonore,” which fur- ished Sir Walter Scott with materials for one of his iamous works, jorms a fundamental subject for the symphony, The very divisions, as given in the programme, indicate a nobie theme for any mu- sician. ‘the first part, “Happiness in Love,” illustrates in the beginning, dilegro, the passionate feeling of love, and in the andante the cali of a pure, noble affection. The music in those two movements is. the best in the symphony. The joyous, brilliant character of the allegro, with its showy episodes for the reed instruments, shows the great Vitality of the work. There is ite and “go” in this movement from first to last. And the execution—it wag simply wondertul. There is nov a laggard in this orchestra. ‘The first thing that strikes the ear is the nervous power and precision of tone of the strings. The diminuendos and crescendos of the violins, and the stroug, decided expression of the celliand basses gave such an elect tothe movement as it wouid be vain to hope for from any other orchestra. The lovely andante is a per- ject tdyl, in which glimpses of beautiful forms and Vistas of calm scenes of happiness are revealed tn the ever shifting instrumentation. A soio or obligato tor the French horn, with a quaint accompaniment of the reeds and the pizzicati of the stringy, is one of the most charming efects in this movement. An episode of passionate fervor is introduced in a minor key, With ® singularly beautiful figure for the basses, Peace returns to the lover's heart, and the last strains of the andante are so delicate and tender that the very instruments seemed to sigh, aud at the concluding chord “there was nothing ‘twixt tt and silence,” The second part, “Parting,” is a military march, indicative, probably, of the departure of the lover to the Wars. Jt begins with a curious plzzicato of the violins, which gradually leads to a magnificent climax in which the effect is absolutely overpow- ering. Interludes of a tender character typily the anguish of parting, and are broken in upon with boisterous tury by the thunder of the march with its triangles, cymbals, drums, et td omne genus. ‘The last part, ‘‘Keunion in Death,” is @ large work in itself, The themes of the preceding move- ments crop up occasionally, and the despair of Leonore for tue loss of her lover is vividly por- trayed, The Work grows weird and chaotic towards the end until the short andante van for the strings brings this remarkable work to & close. In this movement there 18 considerable straining after effect, not always successful, but there are also lovely eifects and themes of spiritual It is a work that wul command the atten- tion of every musician, The Spohr concerto, immensely diMcuit as itis and equally effective, was given With an effect that proved the talents of the two virtuosi. ‘The sep- tet was another surprise, and the works of Scha- mann and Berlioz gave the orchestra iresh oppor- tunities to achieve a triumph. Such a concert 18 worthy ‘of the director, his orchestra, the com- posers and the public that 80 nobly respouded to an invitation te such a feast of music, Mr. Thomas gives a matinée at Steinway Hall on Saturday, Jauuary 3, with the following pro- gramme — Qrerture, } Scherso, “Midsammer Intermezzo, the Dream’ Wes Mare! wea. “ih diesen hetgen Hatten,” "Magte Fantasia for violonce ilo ia Rhay Tot ise, No. 2 .Lisat ov rea mere Nos 2. thoven asia for hiaep... Parish alvers Jr, “0, Ruddier Than the Cherry” (Act and We. yeon We" Scherzo, “La Reine Mab, ou 1a Fee des Songer" Overture, Tannhaeuser.,.....+.