LITERARY NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6473, 25 November 1881, Page 6

LITERARY NOTES.

A new Russian journal, tho Volmojs Stovo bat appeared at Genova. Its conductors announce that they are neither Revolutionists nor Reactionists) the ends they aim at are liberty with order, constitutional freedom, and self-government. . . Arrangements (says tho Pall Mall Budget), have boon completed for holding the fourth congress of tho International Literary Association in Vienna. Tho congress will be opened on Sept. 20 next, and will close on the 20lb. Tho municipality of Vienna have invited the members of the congress to a banquet on tho opening day. Among recent acquisitions of the Manuscript Library of the British Museum are papers relating to tho British Museum formerly belonging to Sir Joseph Banks } Register of correspondence relating to the embassy of Sir William Norris to tho Great Mogul, 1693-1702 | fragments of a “Biblia Tauperum ’’ of the fourteenth century, and a Final Concord concerning lands which formerly belonged to Shakespeare. Charles Dickons is not forgotten (says an English paper), as we had conclusive proof a abort time ago. Walking through Westminster Abbey wo saw the memorial slab over the groat novelist’s grave covered with flowers, and wo learned from an attendant that visitors from all parte of England come to the Abbey to drop a flower upon Charles Dickons’ tomb. This Is true fame. The conqueror, the statesman, and tho inventor are forgotten, save in their works, but tho loving hands that scatter flowers upon this grave belong to hearts which have been deeply moved and to memories whioh do not fade. Tho September magazines contain several articles on Doan Stanley. Miss Julia Wedgwood in tho Contemporary and Dr Story in Good Words both write on the late Dean, bat tho most interesting paper is that by Mr Augustus J. 0. Hare in Macmillan, The author of the article on “The House of Lords ” in Fraser is said to be one of the members for Brighton. According to the Aihsnasum, the author of “The Private Secretary " concluded in this month’s number of Blackwood , is the writer of “The Battle of Dorking,” “The Dilemna,” and “The True Reformer.”

Yiotor Hugo, rtnurkt the Parisian, during his lifetime has survived no lew than 76 immortal men. . Thu* out of the 89 members of the Acad6mio Fracyaiie who were “ immortals” when ha was elected, one is still living— M. Mignet; 38 are dead, namely : Fastoret, Brifaut, Scribe, Mole, Bonald, Guizot, BaourLormain, Oasimir, Delavigne, Guiraud, Borante, Fongerrille, Laouee de Ousaae, Philippe do Segur, Thiers, Charles Nodior, Filotz, Salrandy, Lebrun, Laoretelle, Boumet, Oampenon, THourens, Fraysrinous, Chateaubriand, Lamartine, Alexandre Duval, Fourier, Tisaot, Yillemain, Say, Etienne, Dupatty, Boger, Droz, Jouy, Yiennat, Boyer-Collard, Dupin. To these must be added 87 Academicians, whom Victor Hugo has seen elected since 1861, and whom be has survived, namely: Ancelot, Fonsard, Outran, Saint-Benve, Jules Janin, Ampere, Provost Faradol, Giatray, Saint Seine, Taillandier, Yatout, Berryer, Jules Favre, Alfred de Musset, Alfred de Yigny, Montalembert, Bomusat, Merimee, Tocqnaville, Larcordaire, Biot, Lomenie, Carn, Yitet, Saint-Maro Girardin, Claud Bernard, Fasquier, Ballanche, SaintPriest, Cousin, Dupanlonp, Ssoy, Patin, Empis, Duvargier de Hanranne, Littre. One aspect of the tariff between England and France should not be passed over without comment. It is proposed to increase from 10 francs 40 centimes, at which it now stands, to 60 francs per 100 kilos, the internal paperduty upon books, music, newspapers, periodicals. and printed matter generally that pass the French custom house. The levying of the tax will amount to a virtual exclusion of English newspapers, magazines, and all cheaper forms of printed literature. How heavily it will weigh is shown in the fact that a penny newspaper, with the cost of postage, will have to be sold in France for fourpence. A correspondent communicates to the Spectator the following anecdote of the late Dean Stanley, having been an eye-witness of the incident, and perhaps the only person present who would be likely to relate it. About three yean ago, on Whit Mondayone of those occasions when the dean delighted to mingle with the groups in the Abbey, drawing their attention to points of interest and beauty that might have been missed by working-men, or explaining the history of particular monuments —a woman and her two children, boy and girl, were lingering round Henry the Seventh’s ohapel. They were not exactly belonging to the artizan class, bat poor evidently, and with an air of straggling respectability. As they chanced to come near the Dean, who had been talking to others, the woman timidly asked him if it woe "true that some little princes were buried in the abbey.” Immediately he took them to the chapel, where are deposited the remains of the two princes murdered in the Tower, and spent some little time talking to the children, especially asking if they were learning English history at school, upon which the mother answered with pride, pointing to the boy, " Oh, yee, he learns his lessons, and ho is going to be a preacher!” The quick sympathy of Dean Stanley woe roused at once, and with that enthusiasm which kindles young minds, and is never lost upon children, ho said, "Then he ought to see John Weeley’s monument—cone with me.” We followed him to the aisle where the monument ie placed, one of many othere added during during Dean Stanley’s time, and there he pointed out, to the small, white-faced boy of 12 years old or so, the image of the man he was to emulate, and epoke of the goodness, earnestness and zeal of Wesley. Surely the enthusiasm with which it was done, shown in voice and manner, can never be forgotten by those children, and was as characteristic of the man we mourn as was the quickness of his unfailing sympathy ?