convents like those of the catholics, occupied by ghostly fathers clad like the Franciscans, and vowed like them to celibacy. They have the tonsure, rosaries, and holy water, and celebrate masses with solemn church music. These points of resemblarce struck the jesuit missionaries with such surprise, that one of them, Father Gerbillon, was led to believe that Buddhism was an offshoot of Nestorianism (an anachronism of at least 500 years), whilst Père Gremare, another of the reverend fathers, was convinced that the resemblance was the work of Satan himself. The grand peculiarity of Buddhism is, that it is history; contains a Dictionary of Biography and of Geography; and furnishes a sort of Classical Ency clopedia. It embraces, in short, all departments of human knowledge which are not connected with natural science. It has received an official testimony in its favor which there are no means of bestowing in this country, in being sanctioned by the Royal Council of Education, as a book for the use of the universities and public schools.—Tait's Mag. not only confessed by the majority of mankind, but SELECT LIST OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS. that it has also engrafted its dogmas on most other religions. We have traces of its existence among the ancient Egyptians, whose earliest form of religion was near akin to Brahmaism. We find that it had made its way, long before the promulgation of Christianity, into Chaldæa, Phoenicia, Palestine, Colchis, Greece, Rome, Gaul, and Britain; and again, after the diffusion of Christianity, we see Buddhism penetrating through Asia to the Altai mountains, and through Europe as far as Scandinavia. Foreign Quarterly Review. France. Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire et de Géographie, par M. Bouillet, Proviseur du Collège Royal de Bourbon. 12th Edition. Paris: Machette. 1843. The French have hitherto taken the lead in great works of reference, and for an obvious reason; from the universality of their language, they have looked to the market not only of their own country, but of Europe at large. Now, however, that the German and English languages are more extensively studied, while the demand for works of reference has at the same time greatly increased, the Teutonic energies have been brought into the field in a manner likely to shake the supremacy of "our natural enemy. The Conversations Lexicon and the great Encyclopedia of Ersch and Gruber, are taking the place, among those who read German, of the French works of a like class; and the Biographical Dictionary by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, bids fair to supersede the Biographie Universelle, which heretofore had so far excelled every English work aiming at the same character. The French, however, seem still to keep the lead in the smaller and more compact class of works of reference; such as the one now before us. The almost total absence of any portable work which may be trusted to for accuracy and scholarship,as a vehicle of general reference on biographical, geographical, and historical subjects, is discreditable to our literature. The little "Treasuries" of Maunder, with all their quackish air, are in reality the best works of the kind which we possess. It is evident, however, that they are the productions of a mere abridger, a man who knows nothing critically of the subjects on which he writes; and whose qualification consists merely in a power to abridge the more lengthy details of larger works of reference without making blunders. The work before us is of a very different character; and we would feel gratified if it were in our power to say that our own language possesses its parallel. The success which it has met with in passing through eleven editions, seems to have incited the editor to make increased exertions to keep all rivalry, in what must be a highly profitable work, at a distance. The whole of it is contained in a single large and very closely printed volume. It ranges over the whole field of GREAT BRITAIN. The Protestant Reformation in all Countries; including Sketches of the State and Prospects of the Reformed Churches; a book for Critical Times. By Rev. John Morrison, D. D. A Manual of Greek Prosody. By Rev. Lewis Page Mercier, B. A. A Treatise on Astronomy, displaying the Arithmetical Architecture of the Solar System. By E. Henderson, LL. D., F. R. S. Second edition, enlarged. The Last Days of Francis I., and other Poems. By John Thomas Mott. Prize Essay on the Evils produced by Late Hours of Business, and on the Benefits which would attend their abridgement. By Thomas Davies. With a Preface, by the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel. GERMANY. Uber Göthe's Spinozismus. Ein Beitrag zur tieferen Würdigung des Dichters und Forschers; von W. Danzel. Hamburg. Lehrbuch der hebraisch-jüdischen Archáologie, nebst einem Grundriss der hebräischjüdischen Geschichte von W. M. C. de Wette. Leipzig. Theodor Beza nach handschriftlichen Quellen dargestellt; von Johann Wilhelm Baum, Professor in Strasburg. Leipzig. FRANCE. Histoire des Romains et des peuples Par Victor Dusoumis à leur domination. ruy. Tome I. Paris. Notes sur ma captivité à Saint-Pétersbourg, en 1794, 1795, et 1796. inédit de Julien Ursin Niemcewicz, publie Ouvrage d'après le manuscrit autographe de l'auteur par ordre du comité historique Polonnais à Paris. Paris. Archives généalogiques et historiques de la noblesse de France, ou Recueil de preuves, mémoires et notices généalogiques, etc., publiées, par M. Lainé. Tom. VIII. Paris. Introduction à la Science de l'Histoire, ou Science du Developpement de l'Humanité. Par P. J. B. Buchez. Paris. REPLY TO E. LITTELL. (Will all who see this do me the favor to read it, as a defence of defamed character?) FROM my aversion to controversy, I abstained from saying anything in my January number which might be considered offensive:, but when character and reputation are assailed, it becomes every man's duty to defend them. Especially is this incumbent when, as in the present case, there are insinuations as to the profession to which I have the honor and happiness to belong-insinuations which can but recoil on the author of them. I shall say nothing, particularly, of E. L.'s appeal to the sympathy of the public-of his very generous offer to deduct ten or fifteen cents, (the postage which any may have paid,) from the year's subscription of those who will return the first number of the Magazine-nor of his dignified and very moral assurance to those who receive the Magazine, that they will "not be under any obligation to pay for it." Nor shall I, at present at least, enter at length into the history of the case, which would overwhelmingly upset the whole of his appeal. Allow me, simply, to say that a great portion of that appeal is not true, and that the whole implication of the thing is false. Any persons disposed to trouble themselves so far, can easily be satisfied where the truth and the right lie. Let it be noted, that his appeal consists wholly of his own averments; and of the untruth of some of them, the reader himself can convict him, by a reference to page 3 of my January cover, and to the "notice!" sent with it. But, why does E. L. thus thrust himself before the public? Is he the owner of the Eclectic Museum? Some persons would be glad to know the fact if he is, or has any interest in it. If he has not concealed his ownership from his creditors, Beaton Smith, and not E. Littell, was the owner when the contract to which he has referred was made and signed; or at all events, was so represented by B. Smith and himself. But I haste to a brief reply, leaving any full history of the case for future publication, if events should require it. I refer to his paragraphs in order. 1. The "large and well established list," of which E. L. speaks, consisted of about are 1,200 names to a work then suspended for 3. What is said about my "setting up a claim to the list, etc.," does not state the whole truth, and of course, makes a false impression. 4. The "very small sum" I offered for his interest, was considered by my friends and counsel, a perfect gratuity on my part, and so will it be considered by all, when the truth is known. 5. The "proposal by a friend" (which friend was B. Smith, the real or professed owner of this same list) to say what I would give or take,-for this was the proposalwas an unfair one, not only because I had assumed heavy responsibilities (the whole reponsibility) and had incurred large expenses on that year, which were yet to be met, to a great extent; but because they made no such offer themselves on their part. 6. I did submit, to the letter, to "the decision of the Arbitrators," as you will see proved below, and had I not been prevented by E: L. himself, should have executed it. 7. What is said about the reference to Chancellor Kent and Rev. A. Barnes, is not true. I here copy Mr. Littell's proposal made in writing: "I will refer the matter already decided by the Arbitrators to Chancellor Kent; provided that, when the decision shall have been made, the whole list shall at once become the property of one party or the other:" i. e., should he decide as the Arbitrators, that the list must be sold, then the whole was to become at once, the property of E. L. or B. Smith. My friends said, "No man should place himself in that situation; and with your responsibilities, he having none whatever, it is a shameless proposal. It is an unjust position and an unrighteous request." But mark! I did immediately write to E. Littell as fol 2 of the arbitrators," what I have there stated The arbitrators are not mentioned in the whole paragraph, and my meaning will be apparent to all, who read this brief “Reply." 14. What is said of the Vice Chancellor's lows: "I am now willing, as I ever have been, to refer the whole matter to Chancellor Kent, and to abide by his decision as to our proprieties and rights; and I will be at the expense of the reference." I also offered, feeling so confident of Chancellor Kent's decision, to give E. L. $100 more than I otherwise should," not doubting that, when the contract was if Chancellor Kent should decide as the Ar- made, it was the intention of the parties, on bitrators had done. its dissolution, to sell the whole right,” leads me to believe that the gentleman has not taken accurate, if any, notes of what the V. Chancellor did say. He said that “it was no doubt the original intention of the parties to do this, on the dissolution of THE PARTNERSHIP intended to be formed," and which E. L. declined forming. This I grant. This I have always believed. And even on the dissolution of our late "connexion," in which E. L. was a clerk on a salary, I proceeded to sell "the whole right," and was prevented by E. Littell, as the testimony below will show. 8. What he says about the Magazine having been "announced as a continuation of the Eclectic Museum, and distributed as such," is absolutely false, as the Magazine itself, and the notices accompanying it, will show. And in respect to the other assertions of that same paragraph, they will appear very different when the facts are known. As to the imitation, the decision of the Vice Chancellor, and the appended attestations of the auctioneer and others, will set that right. 9. "The purchaser of the list made affidavit"-He was not at the sale: and his agent, who was, made no affidavit. 10. What I answered, "under oath, that I had not sold the subsription list under the decision of the arbitrators, but under an entirely new agreement," I re-affirm: and the attestations below will prove the truth of the affirmation. I did not, in my answer, make oath "that the purchaser of the list had promised, by two gentlemen" (viz. E. Littell, and the agent of the purchaser) "not to interfere with the publication of Mr. Agnew's Eclectic Magazine," but that they assured me he would not interfere with my work. They both well knew my publication was about to be issued, and here is a trickish play upon the words Ec. Magazine. One of these "two gentlemen," I am persuaded, cannot testify contrary to all others who were present, and he has not. As to "Mr. Agnew's letters" to prove the contrary of his oath, let the public see them entire. I know what they are, and am willing they should be published. 11. "Mr. Agnew will be stopped." This, I presume, is intended to embarrass my accounts with subscribers: but let them understand that we feel firm, and are entirely without apprehension on this score. 15. What he says of my "imposing my work on subscribers to the Museum, as a continuation," is utterly false. Directly the reverse is true, as the Vice Chancellor himself remarked, saying, that "Mr. Agnew had taken sufficient pains to inform the public that it was not the same work." Besides the large name on the cover-title, and what is said on the 3d page of January No., of the Museum's having passed out of my hands. the very language about continuation, viz., "it will answer_as," shows that it is not the continuation. See, also, the "Notice !" sent out with the numbers and published in several newspapers: "We wish it distinctly understood by all, that we do not publish the Eclectic Museum, nor do we profess to publish that work, nor the continuation thereof." Let this suffice. J. H. AGNEW. Testimony. We the undersigned-being the only persons who were present at the sale, except E. Littell, E. W. Dunham, Agent of the purchaser of the Museum-list, and J. H. Agnewdo hereby declare, as we have already under oath, that Mr. Agnew proceeded to sell the list of the Eclectic Museum, without any re(3rd page of cover of E. L.'s Museum.) servations, according to the award of the arbitrators,-that it was thus sold, and bought 12. "The Vice Chancellor," says Mr. Lit- by J. F.Trow, another party than E. Littell's; tell, "did not undertake to decide what were that E. Littell then declared to J. F. Trov, the conditions of the sale." This makes a the purchaser, "that he had only bought a false impression. He did dissolve the in- list, and that he, having the books, would junction, because, as he said, "the evidence furnish him a copy. That the GOOD WILL as to the conditions of the sale, and these pro-was not sold, and that he and his party posed by E. L. himself, was such as to make would go on to publish a like work, and send it clear that there was reserved, to either of it to all the subscribers to the Eclectic Muthe parties which might fail to buy, THE RIGHT to issue such a work as Mr. Agnew has, and send it to the subscribers, and that in so doing Mr. Agnew has not imposed on the public, nor violated any right." 13. The next paragraph is not true. Our readers, by referring to what I have said "on the cover" of the January No., will perceive that I have not "stated as the decision seum, and get all they could of them." Mr. Trow then refused to take the property, and the auctioneer decided that it was no sale, that Mr. Trow could not be bound by his bid. Whereupon Mr. Littell and the agent of that party withdrew for a minute; then returned, and Mr. Littell proposed, "that there should be a second sale on these conditions, viz.. that the list contained in the mail books and the old title shall be sold, without the GOOD WILL, and with the understanding that the party which failed to purchase, should be at liberty to publish a like work, and send it to all the subscribers, and get all of them they could. This was agreed to, the sale thus conducted, and the old title bought by E. W. Dunham, agent for Dr. J. S. Bartlett, who himself was not present at the sale, and of course did not know the facts. J. W. MASON, JOHN F. TROW, GEO. A. LEAVITT. Affidavit of the Auctioneer. Josiah Richards, of the city of New-York, one of the firm of Bangs, Richards & Platt, auctioneers in the said city, being duly affirmed, deposes and says that he is the auctioneer by whom the sale of the name and title of the "Eclectic Museum" was conducted. That the offer was made by this deponent as auctioneer to sell the subscription list of the subscribers to the said Eclectic Museum and the name and title thereof-that the highest sum was offered by John F. Trow, and the same was struck down to him as such highest bidder. That immediately thereupon and before the sale was definitively closed, a question arose whether the good will of the said periodical, so as to prevent or hinder either party from publishing any work they pleased by a different title, and from soliciting the subscriptions of the persons named in the said list, in any manner thought proper, was included in the said offer for sale and bidden for by the said Trow. That it was then distinctly stated, and especially by Eliakim Littell, that such good will was not sold, nor authorized nor agreed to be sold, or words to that effect, and that he and his friends intended and should go on to publish a similar work, and send it to 3 the subscribers named in the list, and endeavor to obtain therefor all of the subscribers that could be obtained. That the said Trow represented that he had not so understood the offer, and thereupon the said sale and purchase was relinquished, with the concurrence of all the parties, upon the distinct understanding that another offer of sale should be made by this deponent, which should not include the good will of the said periodical or list of subscribers thereto, but ONLY the name or title of the work, together with the mail books containing the names of all persons who were theretofore subscribers thereto-and that upon such second offer, the said John F. Trow and Edward W. Dunham bid as before, and the highest sum bidden was offered by the said E. W. Dunham, and the same was struck down to him for John S. Bartlett, for whom he acted. And this deponent further says, that it was distinctly understood at the time of the said second offer for sale, that both parties intended to publish a similar work, and obtain all the subscribers thereto in their power, and the said sale was not to hinder nor prevent the party, failing to purchase, from using any other name than the "Eclectic Museum," or from obtaining any subscriptions in his power from any persons, whether included in said list or not. That the cover or embellishments of the cover, or the plate thereof, nor any or either of them, were in any manner sold or authorized or agreed to be sold, nor in any manner offered at such sale. And that the said Edward W. Dunham, the agent of the said complainant, was present, and fully aware of all the terms and conditions and reservations of said sale. JOSIAH RICHARDS, Affirmed, January 6, 1844, before me, J. N. CUSHMAN, Com. of Deeds. |