The New York Herald Newspaper, October 19, 1875, Page 7

LORNE'S LOVE POEM. Queen Victoria’s Highland Son-in-Law Among the “Muses. “GUPSO AND MLIT A.” A Young Marquis Mounts Parnassus. The Marquis of Lorne, or to give him his full name and tities, John Dougias Sutherland, Marquis of Lorne, K. T,, M, P., Lieutenant Colonel of Argyllshire Yolun- teers, nas just written a poem of 3,000 lines entitled publishers, This is, we believe, the Grst literary effort | ‘of the young Marquis, and taking that into considera. tion the volume deserves more praise than if it was the production of a more experienced poet, “Guido and | Lita” reads like a prize poem by avery clever young | Oxon. It does not show great depth of feeling or pro- found thought, but gives evidence of a delicate taste and classic reading. The ldye of Guido ana Lita was true and honest, and their story shows how a noble knight may love a low born fishermaiden and be a much better man for it, Guido was a good-for-nothing cum- berer of the ground until he met Lita, Through her influence he was spurred on to be aman, and to be of some account in the world, With a little stretch of the imagination we can believe that the author’s own ex- perience was, perhaps, in his thoughts as he wrote. The pocm opens with a description of the scene of the | story :— Hail, Riviera! hail, the mountain range That guards from northern winds and seagon’s change | Yon Southern spurs, descending fast to be The sun-lit capes along the tideless sea; Whose waters, azure as the sky above, Reflect the glories of the scene they love! Here every slope and intervening dale, Yields a sweet fragrance to the passing gale, From the thick woods, where dark caroubas twine Their massive verdure with their hardier pine; And, ’mid the rocks or hid in hollowed cave, The fern and iris in profusion wave; From countless terraces, where olives rise, Unchilled by autumn’s blast or wintry s! And round ihe stems, within the dusky The red anemones their home have made, From gardens where its breath forever blows Through myrtle thickets and their wreaths of rose, Then follows a description of the place when the | home of savage hordes, But times have changed, and the people have become peaceful after having beaten back the Moors. Still they are ready for a fight should | the knayigh Saracens descend upon them. After paint- | ing the landscape in bright and vivid colors, the tramp of horses wake the mountain echos, and the hero, Guido, and his father appear in sight:— Now, on the road that leads from out the town, Appear two knights who slowly wend them down, Till reached the ground, where still the men-at-arms Practice the mimicry of war's alarins, But when among them wave the chief's gay plumes, Fach, in the ordered line, his place assumes; And Waits, with studied gaze, and lowered brand, Till every weapon in each rank is scanned. The elder knight, whose fierce and haughty mien In his firm stride and on his brow was seen, Was grizzled, swarthy, and his forenead worn By scars of fight andtime, not lightly borne; For the dimmed eye that gazed, deep-sunk, beneath, Showed that the spirit’s blade had worn its sheath; And that full soon the years must have an end In which, on friend or foe, that glance should bend. The younger man, who followed at his sido, Bore the same impress of a lofty pride. But all his bearing lacked the r:gid mould That in the elder of tough metal told; Thus as the sire, with patient care, surveys How every movement its trained skill displays; fhe son but saunters heediessly along, His lips just murmuring as they shape a song. His large gray eye was restless as the thought Phat fixed no pad in the mind it sought Dne jewelled hand was on his dagger laid, With pointed beard the other often played, ir swept from neck and shoulder curls that, flung In studied negligence, upon them hung. ‘et, though he seemed irresolute and weak, A flush of pride would rise upon his cheek, When his sire chid him, “as stripling vain— Almost unworthy of this gallant train,” a told him, if he cared not for such state, ‘o “‘go play Dall within the castle gate!” Then backward falling for a little space, A pain was pictured on his handsome face. The dark brows met, the shapely lips were pressed, fhe nostril curved, as if for breath distresssed, But, as a glistening wave that p Capen flies, From the cloud-shadow where its brightness dies, To travel, Inughing onward, as before, With not a sign of any change it bore; Did the light temper of the comely knight Forget in joyousness the father’s slight. As they rode along the father, to touch the pride and dre the ambition of his son, related the story of his own youth :— es at the last, through many a year of toil, ‘hrough the dread discord sown upon the soil, He reaped the profit of his stubborn will, And gathered power; until he won his fill f all for which a man of spirit strives;— But Guido’s genvle spirit was not to be fred by any old man’s tales, ~ Githe $4 # He but lazily would dream of deeds ra as, with other youths, rapt fancy feeds, nti] the thought to glorious action leads. jus little had he cared for aught beside e early objects of a boyish pride: His sports, his horse, his dogs; and now full grown, Less worthy loves seemed in his nature sown, And less a man than when he was a boy, A trivial foppery became his joy; Ee velvet stuffs, the fashion of his sleeve, { ‘is hat and plume, were what could please or grieve, Not a very strong character, it would seem, but a good fellow in the main. They rode along, chatting pleas- amtly, when the sky suddenly became overcast, the wind whistled shrilly through the trees, and the storm burst over their detenceless heads in all its fury, The author paints the familiar picture vividly :— Gleams of a wondrous light a moment stood Dn pallid sea and on wind-stricken wood, nd dazzling where they shone the vision’s sense, hey fled; and, chased by shadows as intense, Passed with the swiftness of the blast, and leaped From gulf to cliff—then to the crags, that heaped In grandeur ’gainst the flying skies, appeared Like to white ashes that the fire bas seared. And then the mists rolled over them, as black Grew heaven’s vault with darkest thunder wrack; ¥rom under which, increasing in flerce sound, A harsh and hissing noise spread fast around, @nd a low moaning, like a voice of dread, ‘elied, as if coming from the deep sca’s bed, The rain ran down, and, as the lightning flashed, In bounding torrents o'er the ground was dashed. From the dry hills the new-born fountains sprung, The narrow tracks with swelling waters rung, And, 'mid the turmoil could be faintly heard The heavy fall of distant land-slip, stirred To headlong ravage, burying as it flowed, Man and his works beneath its hideous load! Down its broad bed of shingle and of stone That the shrank river seemed ashamed to own. When, in the heat of the life-parching day, A febble streamilet, it scarce tound its way; hie dashed a brimming tide, whose eddies surged ill o’er the banks, the muddy foam was urged, Adding its roar of terror, e'er was spent ‘he rage of nature, aud her frown unbent! The old man was for going straight back to the castle dat some one suggested that a fisier’s hut was near, an he knights, with draggled plumes and wet garments, were glad to avail themselves of the shelter, They found the cottage andentered. The fisherman rocetved them with bospitality and dried their clothing at the Wiazing fire, while the good wife laid some fish and fruit ind wine before them. To help her at her task the tother called Lita. Then came pate, the ruddy light of her heartn’s flame, that it blazoned her young beauty forth, And seemed to love with all its charms to play, The fisher’s daughter, the pride of cape and bay, Whose loveliness, not such as in the North Blushes like sunshine through the morning mist, Was that of Southern evo, quick darkening, kissed By crimson lightnings of her burning day, f. maid whose arching brow and glancing eyes ‘old of passing, timorous eurprise; Whose tresses half concealed a neck that raised head that classic art might well have praised, ‘ramed with the hair, in glossy masses thrown m forehead whiter than Carrara’s stone, Her face's lineaments, clear cut and straight, Might show that sternness lived her nature’s mate, Did not the smile that over them would steal fie hi mood, as favorite, reveal; ise had not dimples on the sunburned cheek lelped the eyo’s merriment so oft to speak. D’er beauteous mouth and rounded chin there stayed itrength’s haughty sign, that power and will betrayed; ut broken by a gentleness of sout at through her steadfast gaze in softness stole, er form was strong and lithe, She came and made slight obeisance, as though half afraid; | song:— NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1875—QUADRUPLE SHEET. sen \t foIRs as you, who cannot caro For fisher maidens, with your ladies rare.” Guido smiled to himself at the good woman’s conf. “dence. Evidently love had sent an arrow straight into his heart. The poet moralizes a little on this subject and says:— Ab! who can tell if noblest impulse | Within the magic of the meeting eyes! Or, if the ruin of a life be where ‘The light falls softest on some golaen hair? When the storm had cleared away the Knights of ' Orles left the cottage, but Guido registered a vow that he would return sooner or later and renew his ac- quaintance with the fair Lita. This is quite a poetic description of sunrise;— Though still the air and chill—behold, behold The hues of saffron deepening into gold! Save where a sapphire band on ocean's bed Along the fair horizon lics outspread, Tus heaving surface takes the tints on high, | And wakes its pallor to a kindred dye! A moment more, and from the dusky bill The vapors fall, the lower glens to 1; | Then fade trom thence in many a changiag shape, * | To clasp the feet of every jutting cape; “Guido and Lita,” of which Macmillan & Co, are the | Till the tall cliffs’ descent into the Is merged in mist, that makes them seem to be Raised like the prows of galleys, that of yore Stretched their proud beaks above the surges’ roar, Another instant, and each doubtful shade Melts and then vanishes, as though afraid Of that great blaze, unbearable, the sun Sends o’er the world, proclaiming Day begun. Having once seen Lita, Guido could not be happy without secing her again, The sports that he had en- joyed became irksome. The truth is Guido loved, and for the first time, To be sure, he had never heard Lita speak a single word, but he know “that the voice would flow in harmony, nor give the ideal of his heart the lie,” He determined to revisit the fisher’s hut. With beating heart and throbbing brain he nears the | shore, He hears the voices of the men and women at work among the boats and nets. At last, In the full brightness of the blazing noon, Guido saw Lita standing on the shore. Upon her head and o’er her brow she wore Akerehief, pure and white, to turn the glare— From under which, escaping, the dark hair In its rich tresses flowed upon the vest That clothed her form from ankle unto breast, Poised on white foot that, light as foam-flake, fell Where sea and land in common came to dwell, She moved, encouraging with blithest cheer Each laggard loitering at the toilsome gear, Sometimes her litle hand would even twine ‘A cord, loop-handied, round the great rope line, ‘And her shghtaid, through their redoubled power, Would shorten wondrously the arduous hour, Until at last, the scanty harvest reaped, Its silvery piles upon the shore were heaped. This is very natural:— He had not thought to meet her thus among Her kin and neighbors, and his sense was stung By a commingling of delight and donbt. He could not dwell upon her ways without A shade of jealousy; for thougli the voice Rang in his ears and bade bis soul rejoive | He had but pictured her in quiet home, Not as one living here and there to roam: Taking her part in harsher task, and made A joy to many, but too oft displayed. And yet what modesty of manner glowed ‘Through the quick nature that her gesture showed; What honest impulse 'mid the girlish grace Lived in her word and shone within her face; K’en from her lips, when merriest laughter broke, What innate dignity her bearing spoke! Guido awaited his opportunity to see her alone, He walked through the olive wood and lingered near the path by which she would have to come to get to her home, He saw the dwelling he had learned to love; he gazed at the window which he knew must look into her room, It was not long before she came, She slackened her pace and made as though to pass him, but he, doffing his plumed hat, stopped the way and looked smiling into her face, Their words were few and commonplace, though he accompa- nied her to her father’s door, He did sum- mon up enough courage to take her hand, but She shrank away froin him, if not with fear Yet with a start, as timid as the deer Who first has seen the long accustomed food Offered by strangers, and in doubtful mood Retires, distrustful for a space, to gaze If it spy danger in their novel ways. ‘Again and again Guido came down from the castle and visited the cottage, Lita was evidently impressed and both were happy— And with no shame there passed before his view ‘That poorest triumph man can e’er pursue; ‘The careless conquest of affections true ‘That woman gives, not knowing she may rue! Lita, with a woman’s unselfishness, began to fear that perhaps it was not the best tbing in the world for the young noble that he should love a maiden so far beneath him. She believed in Guido, but thought that his love had gotten the better of his reason, so sho made him promise to feave her fora year. If at the end of that timo he stil! loved her he was to return and take her away with him. Guido used all the argu- ments and eloquence of a lover, but to no purpose, Lita was firm. Guido left her, but with a heavy heart. Her influence, however, had not been without good, and he busied himself with the affairs of state. The following verse, taken from a song containing six with the same sentiment, shows that the Marquis of Lorne does not think that a man, no matter how much a lord he may be, has any right to be of no consequence in the world:— Pride of lineage, pomp of power, Heap dishonor on the drone. He shall lose his strength who never Uses it for fair endeavor: Brief his hour! As was said further back, the country was at peace with the Moors, and those bloody monsters were al- most forgotten by the good people of Orles. One day Lita and a bevy of beautiful girls were out in the flelds making wreaths of violets and singing this pretty ‘The violet peeped above the snows First in Provence, when Christ arose; Each year it comes that we may see A type of His nativity. From near the season of His birth, Until His death it gems the earth; And sweet in humble garmenting— Jt wears the purple of our King! ‘They had hardly reached the last line when a Saracen crew pounced upon them and bore them into captivity. Lita was carried off by Sirad, the leader, who became instantly enamored of her beauty. She was taken to his castle and thrown into a cell to recover from her fright. While brooding over her troubles the door of her cell opened anda woman entered. This woman hated Sirad and gave Lita a cup of drugged wine to offer him when he should come to torment her {n the even- ing. Lita took it and did as she was directed. Sirad drank it to the dregs and tell back insensible, Thenthe woman led her out and she escaped back to Orles. In the meantime Guido, maddened by her capture, fitted out a squadron to attack the Moors in their own coun. try. Changed too by love is Guido’s stricken soul; Through his tried spirit have begun to roll The glorious lights, the mighty gales, that spring When waking Conscience stirs at last to ling Pollution from her, though it darkly cling. ‘When Lita got back to Orles she gave the old knight some valuable information, and not a moment too soon. ‘The Moors fitted out troops and followed her, and as Guido had so many soldiers with him, the prospects began to look black, Then she, in this extremity but made Calm by the peril she had well essayed, In clear and rapio narrative could tell The threats she heard, and what to her befell. ‘And thus it chanced that for his town’s defence, ‘The aged warrior counsel took, from whence Others had found in moments of distress ‘The strength of innocence and gentleness, And seeing she was resolute to bear In man’s misfortune woman’s heavy share, He told how straitly they were then beset, Nor found her cheek with idle tears grow wet, But kindle with quick blood as she inquired If feeble arms, by his example fired, Might not assist the fighters on the wall, She put courage into the hearts of men and women. She attended to the wounded and dying, and cheered all around her, The enemy, seeing that they are losing ground, begin to fly burning arrows into the town, And following {!\chts incessant seek the same High paths, and arching in wide curves the air, Fall crackling on the tiles, or lighting where The woodwork—wrinkled by the sun—is bare, Stick with dulled stroke; and anxiously aware Of the great peril menacing so near, The few defenders of the wall, for fear Of fresh attack, durst never quit their post, And thus inactive, marked with added gloom Tho flery messengers of coming doom. For a time it seemed as though the Moors were gaing to win the fight— But, springing o'er their prostrate corpses, who Comes swift, as though on winged foot he tlew ? Whose tall form with pailid fees that speeds ‘hen stood—a coarse robe tlowing to her feet, £ach limb round shadowed In the fitful heat, nd, hke the glow that lighted her, there sped ‘nrough Guido's frame a@ pulse that quickly fled, ‘ut leit his breathless gaze to feea upon ‘he figure that, to him, like angel’s shone, Even the old knight was aroused to admiration by so fuch beauty, and twitted his son for not being able to ake his eyes off her face, The mother, seeing the foung man’s mute worship, said:— Before the foremost whoro the yanguar’ Who passes now the bridge and now the gato,” And pauses only where the women wae” A piteous crowd on floor of court and stair— And seoms to seek, but s r one not there? Tho’ nambers press in every ~~ Letina & void without th ach passage eropty, and hrashe, Again to wander in the buroing oe ele Look, his wild eye at last shows gladness’ leam ; For by the church and near the fountains srowia “Ob, sir, we do not bh her fair looks to admiration. ‘ne Is she for whom he seeks, nor geeks in ¥: For Lita turns not from bis ‘arms gail Ned But soon hor hand points where bis father lies: And Guido starts and files to him, and tries ‘To chase the blood to nerveless fingers, laid Upon the handle of a crimson blade; Then notes how carefully a scarf is bound And fastened Srmly where the wound is found; Sees how the eyelids lift their heavy fringe And faintly life again the cheeks may tinge. ‘The lips so gray with feeble efforts smile, And Lita kneels by Guido’s side the while, ‘As looking on his son and on the maid— “Let nought against thy love for her be said.’ He slowly speaks, “She came to bind,my hurt, She brought the warning to our town inert, She reft the infidel of Sirad’s aid, Her timely. help the battle’s chances swayed; By her the fire throughout the day was stayed, And safe retreat ensured to wife and maid, What say these people—are they ours? My sight Grows din, © place me ‘neath the altar bright." And, borne by soldiers come from victory’s tight, They lay hit where afresh the candles burn Beneath the crucifix, that he may turn His dying gaze upon the death divine, At this exciting moment Count William, Provence’s sovereign lord, comes upon the scene with his caval- cade of soldiers and attendants. He 18 told of what the brave Lita has done and iistens with an eager ear:— When all is learned, the Count goes forth to stand Upon the church’s steps, and lifts his hand, And bids his troops rank round him on the’ place; And calls for Lita, who with blushing face Comes out to stand before him; and he speaks:— “Who now for glory or for honor seeks, Let him from deeds done here example take— Deeds of this gentle maiden—whom | mi ‘A lady of my land, and ask that she Attend my court; 'and Guido, as for thee Thou too must follow; till the realm be free Of heathen hordes, our swords must never sleep. Our name must be'so terrible, yon deep Shall yet refuse to bear upon its breast The fleets it brought to startle us from rest.” Thus by his love was Guido called to brave ‘War on the land, and war upon the wave, By love awakenod to a manly pride, In spirit, searched, and changed and purified, His bright renown o’er Christendom was spread ‘And lived where’er the light of victory sped, The time has come that where red battle burned Fair Peace again with blessings has returned, And mailed processions, banished from the field, ‘To white-robed trains the joyous town must yield, See where the church’s door is opened wide, ‘A stately pageant through its portals glide, Two kneel before the altar hand in hand, While thronged around Provence’s warriors stand, The prayer 1s said—then, as the anthem swells, A peal rings out of happy marriage beils, Grief pales and dies ’neath love’s ascending sun, For knight and maid have blent their lives in one, And thus the poem comes to be happy ending. There will be those, perhaps, who will find a political significance in this story, To us it is merely the pas- time of a gentleman of leisure and of parts, As a liter- ary effort it has no great rank. The author shows that | he is an amateur in every line, but he deserves credit for showing to the world that he could do more than marry a princess, Asa whole, it is the work of a mar- quis, not of a poet. AUTHORS’ RIGHTS. THE BRITISH ROYAL COMMISSION ON COPY- RIGHT—NAMES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE MEMBERS—INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, Lonpos, Oct. 2, 187 ‘The heart of Charles Reade is made glad, and stock in the ‘‘Association to Protect the Rights of English Authors”? has gone up considerably higher. Let us | hope that the news will have a corresponding influence for good on the co-operating New York Association of American Authors, The Royal Commission on Copy- tight has been appointed and will commence its sittings next January. On the whole it is a fairly representative body, though one searches in vain for a name upon the lst of members belonging to what may be termed the popular side of English literature, First and foremost comes Lord Stanhope, as well known, of course, on the American as on this side of the Atlantic, His qualifications for the office of President of the Commission cannot, perhaps, bo better Stated than in the words of Macaulay, who, in sum- ming up Lord Stanhope’s many excellent qualities as a writer, said that he possessed, in a marked degreo, “perspicuousness, conciseness, great diligence in ex- amining authorities, great judgment in weighing testi- mony and great impartiality in estimating character,” all most essential requisites to the discharge of the very diMcult duties which the noble lord has undertaken in consenting to preside at the meetings of the Commission. The various and conflicting in- terests which will be presented before it; the jealous regard which authors are supposed to have agaiust any interference with thelr special prerogative as teachers of the people, the supreme power of the publishers and the never-dying antagonisms of novel- ists, dramatists and theatrical managers, to say noth- ing of the perplexing law of original eomposition in re- gard to music, have, ‘each and all, to be carefully watched, handled and balanced, and no better man could have been chosen to command the confidence of all parties than the noble historian alluded to, LORD ROSEBRRRY. But why Lord Roseberry should have been selected for the special honor of sitting next him, as the only other representative of the House of Peers, no one but Sir Charles Adderley, to whom Mr. Disraeli relegated the duty of nominating the Commissioners, can tell Lord Roseberry has “dabbled” in literature a little; bat his chief qualifications to notoriety consist in his being a thorough judge of a horse, Added to which he bas displayed uncommon qualities of good nature in lending his name to every variety of ‘specu- lative design for improving the condition of the mil lion; and he has also sympathies of a special kind with art, music and the drama I am led to think that Lord Roseberry, who by the way is a young man, has been se- lected as the popular representative of the hoi pollot of English literature. He has presided at dinners a good deal, and commands the confidence of members of “the Savage.” His Lordship will render efficient service in cross-examining the less scrupulous of London publish- ers ag to tho prices paid to authors. Very interesting information will be forthcoming on this point, and un- loss my judgment misgives me Lord Roseberry will be the gentleman who will exact it It is well to have a radical peer competent to the work. Only the other day I was positively informed that the sum total of the money which Mrs, Lynn Linton recejyed from the pres- ent successors of the Iumented John Camden Hotten, for one of the best and most successful of his novels, was £7158 Now, a few pieces of information of this kind made public would largely increase the chance of se- curing Parliamentary sympathy, which is just what the authors want, and is just what Lord Roseberry can very Matorially aid them in getting, at least in the Chamber of Peers, But Lord Roseberry’s claims to sit next Lord Stanhope are very slight indeed, | INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, | International copyright is evidently to be the piece de | resistance of the Commission’s inquiries, no less thay five of its members having special ac- | quéfitance with foreign and colonial matters, | The first of these five, Sir John Rose, has had a long experience of officiat life in Canada, which will enable him to throw considerable light on the intricacies of the book trade between the United States and the Dominion. He should bo able to tell the commission how it comes about that the Canadian custom officials return 80 little of the ten per cent tax levied by the Domfhion government on reprints from the United States, London publishers say that moncy from this source would be a curiosity. Sir Charles Young, an. other gentleman of colonial fame, lends his assistance to inquire into the practical working of copyright acts States will be attacked from this quarter as well. But by far the most important appointment to the commis- sion in the interests of international copyright is the Hon. Robert Bourke. This gentleman, brother of the late Governor General of India, Lord Mayo, has the ad- vantage of being an author and a diplomatist both. His work on “Parliamentary Precedents” gives hin fair claim to the first — title, bot his greater honors have been derived from long and intimate acquaintance with foreign affairs. Majesty’s Under Secretary of State at the Foreign OMlice, and in this capacity he will be able to guide the commission through the numerous quicksands which beset the channels of “friendly communtcation” with forcign governments, We shall presently see whether he is one of the just and reasonable men who admit as self-evident propositions that a man’s recognized rights cannot be fully enjoyed unless they are associated with the right to be protected in the property which he may acquire. If Congress once admits this apparently self-evident trath the thing ig done, and we shall have a national convention. The government is determined not to be deficient in skilled men to present this view of what should at least be national law to any hostile witness who may como before the commission, for we have two other gentle. men sitting as colleagues of Mr. Bourke, dipfomats as well. Theso are Sir Drummond Wolff and } Sir Louis Mallet. both of whom, well versed in the in the far-off dependencies of England. The United | Mr. Bourke has the honor to be at present Her | languages and literature of Continental Europe, will be able to assist the claims of French authorship, and, if they have the mind, to bring discredit on the piratical undertakings of modern English dramatic translators, misnamed original playrights. THE AUTHOR OF GINX’S RABY. Last, but by no means least of the five who will have “4nternational copyright” in thelr special keeping, comes the immortal author of “Ginx’s Baby.” Mr. Edward Jenkins, M. P., to speak plainly, has “wrig- gled”’ himself on to the commission through persistent goading of Mr. Disracli, Ag a sop to Cerberus Mr. Jenkins’ name has been included im the Queen’s Com- mission, but his claims to being considered an author, ip the true meaning of the term, are about on@ par with those of the writer of “Dame Europa’s School,” and it is only through authorship that the honorable gentleman can be supposed to have a special knowledge of the intricate doctrine of copyright. Nevertheless, Mr. Jenkins is a man of some mark. He holds a prominent official appointment from the Canadian government, He is very plain spoken, and he claims to bave a personal experience of the dis- advantages English “authors” labor under through the want of an international copyright convention with the United States. Mr, Daldy, of the late well known London firm of Bell & Daldy, represents the in- terests of the publishers, and the appointment is in all respects a proper one. Mr, Daldy has no present connection with publishing, which leaves him perfectly unbiassed and free {rom any suspicion of self-interest, He alone, of all the Commissioners, has a knowledge of the practical part of bookmaking. His experience will be of value in adjusting the balances between what authors consider to be their rights and publishers theirs, He will, moreover, be able to disclose somo- thing concerning profit and loss, as applied te the deal- ings of pabli-hers with authors, and we shall, no doubt, be told for the nine hundredth and ninety-ninth time that the balance is not always on the most profitable side as regards the publisher. It would have been well, though, if Mr. Dalay had had a practical knowledge ot the working of American book agencies in London to aid in revealing some of the mysteries of those darkly hidden channels of com- munivation between English authors and American pub- lishers, which I very firmly believe bave much to do with the apparent disinclination of the American pub- Yshing houses to an international copyright with Eng- land. The name of Sir Henry Holland, M. P., son of the well known physician and traveller, seems to be a guarantee that medical science 1s not to be overlooked in the inquiry, and as an tmportant and profitable branch of bookselling is derived’ from the research of medical men, it is proper that their interests should be considered along with*thoso of other authors, Sir Julius Benedict, musician and composer, represents music; Mr, Farrer, a fellow of the Royal Society, and Secretary of the Board of Trado, with Sir F. Herschell, M. P., watches over the interests of tho scientists; while the well known writer and jurist, Mr. Fitzjames Stephen, will doubtless take care that Mr. Charles Reado’s pleasing theory of a “perpetual copyright” has ® good foundation in law and equity. The only other name on the list, unpretending though it is, has far greater claim to be there than almost any I have mentioned. Dr. William Smith, of the Quarterly Review, editor of the “Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities,” and of a vast number of “Students’ Manuals” published by Murray, to say nothing of the matchless “Dictionary of tho Bible,” {s tho last Commissioner, not in point of wealth of intellect, but in social rank, which has been very carefully considered, apparently, in the drawing up of the wonderfully worded commission from the Queen, POPULAR AUTHORS EXCLUDED. What strikes one most in looking over this list of names is the entire exclusion from it of the popular author element. Not one of those, for instance, who may be supposed to suffer most from the want of an in- ternational treaty with the United States, and who have this branch of their wrongs at their fingers’ ends, has been considered worthy of selection, Setting asido Charles Reade, whose crotchets and legal puzzles would upset the deliberations of the best constituted royal commission in the world, Wilkie Collins, Tom Taylor and the numerous other prolific English authors and dramatists have been wholly ignored, which, as Mr, Pepys would have said, ‘‘is very grievous to see,” CORRUPT CORONERS. CONTINUATION OF THE SENATE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONDUCT OF THE CORONERS—WHY AND HOW WOLTMAN BAILED CROKER—VENTI- LATING THE PROFESSIONAL JUROR SYSTEM. The Senato investigating Committee resumed yester- day its investigation. Senator Booth was the only member of the committee present, and he scarcely opened his lips during the entire proceedings. The ses- sion was to have opened at half past ten o'clock, and as that time Coroner Woltman, Mr. Toal, clerk of the Cor- oners, and other witnesses were promptly on hand, but the investigator did not put in an appearance until a quarter past eleven, Tho most important testimony taken related to the illegal bailing of Croker by Coroner Woltman, which was brought out very sharply by the exaiination, CHIEF CLERK TOAL AND HIS SALARY. Mr. Toal, Chief Clerk for the Board of Coroners—an Intelligent looking man, with a very ruddy face, was the first witness, Ho has been Chief Clerk since 1863, Most of all the important cases were adjourned over to the Coroners’ office, and about twenty or twenty-five, on an average, were closed there every week. Mr. Toal had to give a tedious explanation of the uso of every room in the Coroners’ building. He made tho startling admission that the cleaner, “an old lady named Mrs, Scully,” and the messenger, Healy, lived in the building and paid no rent to the city of New York, Mr. Toal owned frankly to receiving the snug littlo salary of $3,500 for keeping the “day book,” in which all the cases are entered, the ‘Journal’ contain- ing the results of the inquests and the Coroner’s vouch- ers, and for taking care of the business generally. ‘Hew many cases do you enter per day on am aver- 0” Ke Toal—About eight per day. “How many reeeipts are given per quarter for prop- erty found on dead persons ¢” Mr. Toal—Seven or eight. Coroner Croker had 290 cases in the first quarter of 1875. Mr. Toal said, in cases where property was returned to relatives imme- diately after the inquest, no record was made, “You say you received $3,500 a year.” Mr, Toal—Yes, sir. “Do you receive all of that salary?” Mr. Toal—Yes, sir. i ‘“Doesn’t some of this money go into the “Coroners? pool,” and isn’t some of it divided with them ?”” Mr. Toal (emphatically)—Not a cent of it, “Isn’t some of it used for paying the expenses of the office #”” Mr. Toal—Not a cent of it. CORONER WOLTMAN ON THE STAND. Coroner Woltman was examined in regard to the bailing of Croker. He said he found Croker in the sta- tion house in the Captain's room. “Did you consider him ag being in arrest?” Coroner Woltman—No, “Did you take measures to discharge him?’ Coroner Woltman—No, sir; I took bail from him, “If he wasn’t under arrest why did you take bail?’” Coroner Woltman—No more than that I wanted him imprisoned if he did tho shooting. “Who notified you to go there’? Coroner Woltman—Dr. McWhinnie, the Deputy Cor- oner, and Mr, Thomas Cooper Campbell. “Whom did you see in the station house?” A DISTINGUISURD COMPANY. Coroner Woltman gave a long list of ominent public men who had rallied to tho assistance of the mighty Croker—Tihomas Murphy, Alderman Billings, John Kelly, Mr, Clinton and Mr, Fellows. The Coroner said the officer who had arrested Croker first accused a man named Maxwell of having shot Mc- Kenna, but finally refused to make any charge against anybody. He did not hear of any charge having been made against Croker and did not know that O'Brion haa made such a charge, He therefore deemed it his pag to take bail from them for the amount of $2,500 each. “Didn't you discharge them ?”” Coroner Woltman—No, sir. “Well, what did you take bail for then"? Coroner Woltman—So that they should appear before me whenever I wanted them. After the death of Me- Kenna I took a second bond from them to make them ap) at the inquest as witnesses, ° ‘he Coroner explained that the first bond wag to hold them as witnesses to await the result of Mo- Kenna’s injuries, and the second (which was furnished after his death) to attend the inquest, The bonds were not made out separately, but the old bond was by era- on and interlineations made to serve as a renewal nd. “Didn't the blotter show that these men wore charged with murder ?”” The Coroner—I didn’t read the blotter. “Do you, a8 Coroner, claim the right to bail i» the charge of murder” ‘The Coroner—No, sir. “Then your position is that you didn’t know there ‘was a charge of murder against Croker 7” The Coroner—Yea, sir. “And, finding witnesses to amurder, yon did not even look at the blotter with tp ONE tees if any of them were charged ‘The Coroner—I the officer, “Sad you not heard statements that afternoon that they were supposed to be the murderers ?”” The Corouer—I bad heard rumors to that effect. ‘Had you not read the afternoon papers in which they were charged with murder?” The Coroner—No, sir 7 I didn’t read the papers. rounds did you ba pl rene 1s friends?” ne areeinpsaionr aie @ Coroner, after a great deal of wriggling, ad- mitted that he issued hts warrants at ‘leven scloek o0 the same night, simply on the statements of Croker, the two Hickeys, &c.; that they (O’Brien and his iriends) were also present at the shooting. 4 MODEL BOND, “Do you consider such a bond as this, which you sabpeg ees altered, one on which judgwent could be made no other inquiries, except from The Coroner—Yes, sir: I do, Coroner Woltman’ gave an account of the inquest, and said he obtained the jury by going along Third ave. nye from house to house, accompanied by Captain ‘ynan, “The result of the inquest was the discharge of all parties ?”? Coroner Woltman—The result of the inquest was the verdict of the jury. “Well, that led to their discharge??? Corouer Woltman—Yes, sir. After the inquest Assistant District Attorney Russet] informed him that another man named Mara had been shot, which he did not know until that time. “Why did you take Captain Tynan along with you to summon the jury?” Coroner Woltiman—Well, everybody knows that if one has a policeman along it has more force, “Why has it more force ?? Coroner Woltman—Well, the policeman enforces our demand. In case parties are ugly it’s well enough to have somebody with you to take your ‘Mr. Toal was recalled—He was present at the station house when Coroner Woltman came back trom the hos- pital, While he was there Mayor Wiekham, Mr. Kelly and Mr, Cooper Campbell were present, ALL THE CORONER DID was to inquire of several policemen who were standing round in the Captain’s private room whether there were any charges against these men. Officer Smythe said that he had been ordered to arrest Croker b: Senator O’Brien upon the charge that Croker had strucl him, Thereupon the bond was drawn up by the wit- ness, He was sent for later in the afternoon to prepare the warrants for the arrest of Croker, Hickey, &c., and they were all brought before the Coroner that night. He had no instructions from Coroner Woltman to post- pone their arrest till next day. The bond was changed, the bail being increased from $7,500 to $10,000 for ail the parties, Colonel Drake de Kay, a clerk in the Comptroller's Office, a small, stim mag, with luxuriogg red whiskers, testifed that he had ‘examine’ the papers of the coroners’ oftico for the first quar- ter; they charged over $21,000 for 820 cases; By an examination of the inquisitions he had found that the coroners had charged for summoning a jury whether one was necessary or not and that the’ professional jurors made up 1,250 of the 5,000 reported names, ‘Albert Napoleon White, keeper at the Morgue, appeared 206 times as juror, Joseph Fogarty 186 times, B. Barke 175 times, J. J. McDonald 118, &c. Out of the 820 juries the residences of only 100 are given in the inquest papers, Coroner Kessler being the only one among the coroners whose juries are thus set forth clearly with their residences. In several cases there were juries of Jess than six (the number required by law) and in thirty- five cases the Deputy Coroner served as a juror. in ten cases there was no certificate of the attending phy- sician, and one-half of the 5,000 signatures of jurors on not to have been signed by the persons in ques- ion, CORONER KESSLER COMMENDED, Do you find the same state of affairs to prevail among all the coroners? Mr. De Kay—From the papers it would appear that those of Coroner Kessler were the most accurate aud ‘those of Coroner Croker the least so, SUGGESTIONS OF REFORMS, The witness was asked to suggest reforms in the management of the Coroner's offica He gave it as his opinion that the election of a reputable physician as a Coroner from each Assembly district, with fees one- half of the present rates, would give an economical service if placed under the supervision of the Board of Health, e law should be amended so as to exclude cases in hospitals and institutions where the cause of death 18 well known, and the inquest has been unneces- sary. It had been the practice of the coroners to hold inquests in such cases, and 1h fact in every case’ which they could possibly get hold of. If the Coroner were always a physician the Deputy’s fees would be done away with, and being in his own district, where he was well known by ali the residents, he would not be so likely to hold supertluous inquests, for he would soon be found out, Messrs. Booth and Davenport adjourned till Wednes- day morning at half-past ten o'clock. M’CULLOCH’S TRIAL. AN AMUSING SCENE AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS YESTERDAY—COLONEL KERRIGAN ON THE STAND. Another ludicrous and highly amusing scene was witnessed in the trial room of the Central Department yesterday during the continuation of the interminable McCulloch trial. All the Commissioners, with the ex- ception of General Smith, who was otherwise engaged, sat on the bench, and Mr. McLean conducted the prose- cution, Mr. A. Oakey Hall representing the defence, When the name of James E. Kerrigan was called the irascible witness of the previous trial advanced to the stand and, with an ominous look, kissed the book, Smilingly the counsel to the Board proceeded to in- térrogate. Wrathfully the witness opened the flood- gates of his indignation and, like a steam engino broke loose, shot ahead at an alarming rate of speed. There ‘was no stopping the trrepressible ex-Congressman. In vain tho President rapped for silence; in vain the counsel to the Board protested against the harangue; Kerrigan had determined on speaking, : “What is it coustitutes a board of police?” he begat ‘Whore {s your fourth member, General Smith? Why is he not here doing that duty for wnich he is paid? Snoaking into the city treasury once a month and drawing salary is not the service the public demand.” ‘The Board of Police Commissioners were guilty, he said, of compounding felonies. How was it they ‘dis covered the stolen watches of Thurlow Weed, Sheridan Shook and Assemblyman Alvord? How about the rob- bery of Mr. Corbin’s house, and where went the $1,000 worth of stolen property but in the cellar of a police captain? “In the name of the public I demand the thieves,” shouted the witness, aud he glared at the astonished Commissioners with a glare that was not at all pleasant ‘Witness !”” roared the counsel, ‘‘confine yourself to — my questions. Were you in the Brower House on the— “None of your business where I was. This Board is not a legally constituted body, Two of its members aro now under charges, and——"» Commissioner Disbockey—There, thero! we've stood this long enough. Mr, Hall, do you desire to question the witness ?, Coui lall—No, sir; the gallant and oratorical Gotonel, so far as 1 am concerned, may retire to his home, ‘Another desperate effort was mado by Counsellor McLean to get some evidence from the witness, and he finally succeeded so far as to elicit the admission that he has knew nothing whatever about the case on trial, Much disgusted at this admission, CommissionerMat- sell ordered that the voluble witness be taken from the room, and the order was complied with just as the Colonel had started on another strain of forensic denun- ciation of the police, While on bis way to the door he turned back once or twice and audibly expressed a strong prophetic conviction that the entire Board would speedily be ejected in a similar manner, Commissioner Voorhis directed that the counsel bring the contempt of the witness before the Supreme Court without delay, William Corkran, a police reporter at the Central Department, Wok the stand and swore that David J, Twohy handed him a list of reputed panel houses in the precinct of Captain McCulloch, ali of which, on mvesti- gation, turned out to be false, ‘The witness also stated that he had been offered a bribe to testify against Cap- = McCulloch, but he ordered the man to leave his office, Twohy was called to the witness stand and cross- examined by Mr. Hall. His testimony, instead of damaging tho defendant, strengthened his case, . Twohy admitted haying a poem seated feeling of hatred against Captain McCulloch, wanted to disgrace him at any cost. He confessed that this hatred might bias his judgment. He nad pursued McCulloch for many months and he intended to pursue him tothe end. The two ladies who had testified in refutation of his evidence bad perjared themselves. He had further evidence against Captain McCulloch he would like to produce, bat it would take some time, The caso was adjourn until Thursday next to give Mr. Twohy another chance. DILLINGHAM. The junior partner of the suspended firm of Lee, Shepard & Dillingham has bought the stock and good will of the old concern, The difficulties of the New York branch of the firm are thus ended. The Boston branch appears to be making a satisfactory gettlement, ‘Ata meeting of its creditors yesterday it was id to accept twenty cents on the dollar, payable in from three to twenty-four months from next November, the last threo payments to be secured by indorsements, STATUARY FOR THE CENTENNIAL, Six cars laden with statuary from the Cameron Iron Works, New York, left Jersey City on the Pennsylvania Railroad, ast evening for the Centennial buildings in Philadelphia, A SERIOUS FALL. Alexander Patten, aged sixty-three years, residing at No, 23 Ninth avenue, accidentally fell down the base- ment stairs of his residence, afternoon, and received serious injuries on the head. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where it was also found his ribs bad been fractured by the falk LEE. SHEPARD & was 000; the courts at Key ‘Tho vessel will that three af ar dino «0 WALL STREET NOTES. WESTERN UNION ASSETS—A DIRECTORS EXPoOs URE—WATERED STOCKS LEAKING— BONDS SOLD TO PAY A DIVIDEND—GOLD EXCHANGE ELEC< TION—MISSOURI PACIFIC AND DENVER AND BIO GRANDE. The exposé in Sunday’s Heratp of Western Union Telegraph affairs was a sad blow to the friends of that corporation. The stock of Western Union declined to a low point, on account of the analysis of the recent report. By an error the affairs of the American Dis trict Telegraph Company were confounded with those of the GOLD AND STOCK TELEGRAPH COMPANY; but the aftairs of the latter, as represented by it® owners and friends, are in no wise complicated with Western Union. The writer had an interview yesterday with one of the founders and directors of the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company and received the following information :— “The Western Union company does not own a4 share in the American District corporation, but owns about 50,000 shares of our stock. This stock, however, did hot cost the company $100,000, and perhaps not one penny. President Orton, in his report, speaks of the 47,000 shares of our company owned by the Western Union as,worth par, whereas not one-third of that amount, I am sorry to say, could be realized on it; ifail the assets of Western Union are estimated in the same way I am sorry for the company, The Gold and Stock Telegrapt Company originally started with a nominal capital of $200,000. In a few months this capital wag increased to $500,000, then to $1,000,000 and finally to $1,250,000, at which figure Mr. Orton found \t—thor- oughly watered, Now comes & SECRET HISTORY OF TH® STOCK. “Mr, Orton threatened that if his company did not obe, tain an interest he would introduce the Phelps printing instrument, which was a rival, and over which he had some control. Frightened by his threats the orignial cor- | porators agreed to give the Western Union a share, and the stock was doubled—watered, in fact, $1,250,000 more! The only compensation the Gold and Stock Tel- graph Company recoived from the Western Union was tho right to distribute subscribers’ reports of foreign and domestic commerctal news by printing instruments instead of by manifold pencil slips, as had previously been done by the Western Union under the name of THE COMMERCIAL NEWS AGENCY, “The Western Union got $1,100,000 of the stock to add to ita wonderful show of assets represented by 47,000 shares of stock, Mr. Urton might, by the same show of fairness, take to the Western Union company a lot of second hand stereotype plates upon which schoob books were printed a few years since and put tiem in as assets when they were worth no more than oid type metal But the worst feature of this affair remains to be wold. Five hundred thousand dollars’ worth of their bonds were SOLD AT FIFTY CENTS ON THE DOLLAR. “This was to raise $250,000 with which to pay of some old debts, or to enable the Western Union to pay its late dividend—I am not sure which. Before the company was taken by the cormorant Western Union it was able to pay its stockholders a legitimately earned. dividend; now, with its rivalry of the Manhattan Com. pany, Ido not know where the next dividend is to come from.’? Lake Shore continued to be purchased yesterday by the late pool in te notwithstanding strong parties were selling. Pacific Mail was stromg on account of the arrival of a new screw steamer here—the City of New York—belonging to the line. It is understood there are favorable statements in regard to the business of this company about to be put forth, but awaiting them, and examining them in com- parison with the Vieo President's late letters, it will be time enough to indulge in rosy anticipations. AN ELECTION AT THE GOLD RXCHANGR resulted in the selection, it is believed, of the following! officers:—President, James B, Colgate; First Vice President, E. Bragew; Second Vice President, EB. @. Arthur; Treasurer, R. 'L. Edwards; Secretary, 'W. Westcoit; Execttive Committee—J. F. ’ Under hil, © Morreno, H RR, Moore, W. R, Bend, James Curphey, J. S. Cushman, ©.’ Hare rier, Julius Hallgarten, DeWitt ©. Lawrence; Finance Coummittoo Eugene 8, Ballin, George D. Arthur, James Seligman, W. Harman Brown, L. Christian Meye: Arbitration Committeo—Townsend Fox, G. A, Fan- shawo, J. B. Cross, C. Knaubiauch, of Clarkson, Com- mittee on Admission—John Houe, Jr.; Cortlandt M. Taylor, E. W. Goold, Thomas Robbins, Jr., G A. Grymes, William McClure. MISSOURI PACIFIC. The Committee of the Missouri Pacific stockholders convened at the office of A. B. Baylis, and organized by choosing that gentleman as chairman, and . T, Timp- svn secretary. The committee transacted no business, Dut adjourned to meet to-morrow at twelve o'clock im conference with the directors of the Atlantic and Pacific railroads, DENVER AND RIO GRANDE RAILWAY. The seven per cent gold coupons of the Denver and Bi Grande (narrow gauge) Railway and the six per cent gold coupons of the Central Colorado Improvement Company, both heretofore paid at the banking house of Messrs. Duncan, Sherman & Co., will be on and after November 1 by Messrs. Rhtten & in, No. 6% Exchange place. A six per cent dividend on the stocl of the ‘Kational Land and Improvement Company, o: oan Springs, has also been declared and is being THE ERIE STATEMENT. MR. JEWETT FILES HIS ACCOUNTS WITH THU COUNTY CLERK. The long expected statement of Receiver Jewett of the affairs of the Erie Railway Company, was fled yesterday in the County Clerk’s Office. It embraces receipts and disbursements from July 1 to August 31, inclusive. The document covers 109 immense pages, and bas voluminous schedules annexed, The follow- ing are the totals:— Receipts. Disbursements. Balano0ieesnessosesesessseseoarsscsn cs QUGG08 8B ‘The following are the principal items in the state. ment:— DEBITS. H. J. Jowett, Receive $373,502 4 Traffic balances, paasen; 171104 99 35 00 4,223 0T 2317 23 500,644 60 1,761,206 90 asweseees 336,370 43 Labor and materials. 9,585 10 Interest accounts. . 8,514 62 General office rolls labor, 87,546 86 6,926 53 234,548 14 34,617 27 148,199 27 1,778 34 406 69 forerret to bs 709 04 } rawbacks 184,305 81 Water account 5,414 TL Incidental ex; 10,823 70 Premiam on gold (Mar 368 58 Incidental expenses 4,774 44 Construction account (ol 11,516 06 Traffic balanges, freight. 655,063 87 Rents........+ 59,876 96 Water account 8,978 19 Traffic balances, pass. 66,565 56 Interest — see aeie ec Repairs to iron briages. . Labor and soean told} ey = Trackage account (old). ...... Salaries and expenges of agencies (ora) 21,023 8s | Salaries and e: SEES of agencies (now). 17,648 71. PRUE, siseest scassieiy 68,345 92 General office ‘exponses 1,090 78 Loan account (old)... 677,081 01 General office rolls, labor. 60,891 42 Supplies. oe 289,482 04 Lighterage § 12,146 12 Interest and principal on real estate. oon = Legal expenses. Line rolls, labor fe 890,485 64 Drawbacks and overchar; 91,481 03. Lighterage.... 10,107 72 | Construction ac 2,531 82 Insurance. 2,454 2% Gaslight. 4,244 27 Purehase of cars (0! 4,071 OL Interest on Erie Railway Mortgage 4,656 00 Injuries to persons... & 90 Fillstde coal and T account... 2 5 HOD secccsistorvve -$7,181, 760 96 creDITs. | Erie Raitway Company cash account....., 147,593 44 | Transportation receipts, freight (old ac- count)..... eves tesecesesecrsceese | 713,630 32 Transportation receipts, passengers (old account)... fi +. 87,516 02 Transportation 23, 786, Old surplus materials (old account). «+ 16,481 75 Transportation receipts, freight... 8,921,225 ‘Transportation receipts, passengers. 1,084,516 47 ‘Train service........ 50,759 82 Old surplus materials. «+ 48,976 43 Car key account. 55 00 Loan accoant,. * 821,539 40 Interest on sect — 58,084 46 ‘Transportation receipts, mails (ol it) 100,238 61 Sale of securities. . 1,546 07. ‘Transportation receipts, COUN)... eeerereereee 2,934 90 ‘Transportation receipts... 2,926 03 Total. cess veeeeee ++ $7,181, 760 96 THE STEAMER CITY OF WACO. ‘The steamship City of Waco, belonging to the Texan line, arrived at the dock foot of Maiden Lane yesterday morning, apparently none the worse for running ashore ter spur of Frenoh’s Reet, near Key West. Sho went eabore co ‘he moraiing of the 16th, was hauled off on the morning of the the ng which was i 328 338 es ult