Literary notes.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 28

Literary notes.

. „ "■ "•» , — - „■-• The authbrship/of both music , and' words' of the Natipnal.ijith'em is' disputed by jjh#,,, admirers of 'two inen-^-Dr John Bull .and, Dr" ",. .Henry <$irey.'.' Bull. is feported''to,'have''' composed both for a banquet given in honour" . of James I, at Merchant Taylors' Hall, 1606" } and in Antwerp -.Cathedral is a MS', copy of ■ music and words in the handwriting of Dr • Bull. , Dr Henry Carey was the composer of ■ "Sally in our Alley," and he -is 'alleged to have written" the Rational Anth'ern in '1740. ' -' The 'Empress s 'of''!A.ustria'* J has permitted Captain Auguste'd'Almstein ' ;to ' publish in ; 'book form excerpts from th£ diary kept by*' ■her' Maj esty' during' heir voyage' , to, 4h'e jEJast 'in the yacht ' Mifamare in 1885,. ,, Tlie title is " Excursion to' the, East ; , the voyage of the Countess, of Hoheneinbs," - that , being the* name under which the Empress usually travels. M , . _ , : From the mass of dramatic works .written, about half a century ago/ those. that are still acted can be counted on the fingers of a/ hand. Few plays can bear the test of Revival after a lapse of even -14 years from their pro~ . duction. — World. • > - • ' • It is quite the' fashion ''among reigning sovereigns to wield the literary pen, and' the cry is, 1 " Still they come."' The latest addition to the royal ranks of authors is the Emperor, of Russia, who' intends publishing .his diaries for the past 15 years. * The' task of illustrating them has, been entrusted to M. Ziohy, the Hungarian painter. : The, Queen of Italy lately sent a manuscript, under an , assumed name, to some Roman publishers < for insertion in a periodical. The editor, returned it with the Italian equivalent for the fatal,", declined with thanks." A' French ambassador who was aware that 'Queen Margaret was writing a novel asked when her Majesty's work would appear, when the Queen ingenuously confessed that' it had been refused. The story of its rejection," getting abroad, the Queen , received from three London publishers liberal offers for . the manuscript. Mr T. B. Aldrich, the editor of the Atlantic Monthly, has a dog trained to carry rolls of manuscript sent in by would-be contributors, and drop them into the waste basket. ( Old numbers of the ' Sun newspaper, containing an account of the Coronation, printed in letters of gilt, sell (Book-lore says) for about 10s. • Ancient prints of the Queen at ' her first " drawing room " have gone ' up in price about 500 per cent. The Commissioners on Historical Manu- ' scripts are at present engaged in examining" 1 ' the large and valuable private collection! of muniments belonging to the Duke of Portlard at Welbeck Abbey. . ■, The books in the British Museunj' are, bound oil a principle— historical works being in red, theological in blue, poetical in yellow, natural history in green. Besides this, each, part of a volume is stamped with a mark by which itcan.be distinguished as their,property, and, of different colours 1 ; .thus, red indicates that a book was purchased, blue that it came by copyright, and yellow ' that it was presented. / ? ' BOOKS ON DRAUGHTS.-Gould's Book of 1000 Problems, Critical Positions, and Games, post free, 5s International Match Games, England v. Scotland, with notes and portraits of the players':' " Cheap Edition, 3s 6d post free. " Will o' the Wisp " Game. Analysis of the 7—ll move, by W. Leggett, London, and Willie Gardner, Leeds. 70 Variations, with notes, post free, 9d. Only procurable in New Zealand from David R. Hay, Draughts Editor. -