BURIED MEMOIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 258, 29 October 1921, Page 23

BURIED MEMOIRS.

Latin poets were advised by one of ( their own fraternity to keep their manuscripts in their desks for at least nine years before offering them for publication, so that they might bring the judgment of maturcr years to bear on their more youthful effusions. This advice does not appear to have been adopted at the time it was given as widely as it might have been, but in our <wn day authors seem to have perceived the wisdom of the counsel, and many writers have adopted the custom of ' handing over their writings to the custody of the British Museum authorities to be kept by them for periods varying from twenty to sixty years. Only at the end of that time will thev bo available for consultation and, possibly, for publication. Thus Lord Esher has handed over his war diaries to be kept sealed till 18S1, while Lord Haig's papers, dealing with the operations on the 'Western front, are similarly deposited till 1040. There are now in all some eighteen sets of papers lying in the Museum with a lengthy time-limit attached. It is to be regretted that many other writers did not follow this example, and they might well have attached an even longer limit of time without any perceptible disadvantage to their own generation. In many cases authors have been prompted to deposit their manuscripts in this manner in order to avoid personal controversies; in others they have desired to avoid wounding the susceptibilities of persons still living. In one or two instances diplomatic considerations have led to delayed publication. But is it fair to delay the publication of matter affecting the living until after their death, when tbey can no longer defend themselves or offer explanation; Many of the manuscripts held by the authorities doubtless contain personal matter more or less damaging to the reputation of men and women in high positions. Surely it would be fairer to give them an opportunity of explanation rather than to feck to damage them in the eyes of the next generation when first-hand knowledge of the facts will be difßcul tto obtain. In connection with a large part of the papers at present held by the Museum it may well be doubted whether any good purpose would be served by their publication cither now or in the future. Many of them deal with ""savoury details of the private life of men of letters, men long since dead, and in these cases nothing but a vulgar Mriositv could possibly be served by dragging the family skeleton out of its cupboard. In this connection it is gratifying to note that the trustees! Mused to sanction the publication of] the Hobhouse diaries, dealing with the 1 private life of Lord Byron, and thev; Jiave given a similar refusal in the case. Ot the complete text oi the "De Pro-j a'Jndis." We may be quite sure that] luture generations will have their fill j oi indiscreet memoirs without burdening them with our surplus. Sufficient' ujto the day is the evil thereof. J