Report on General Literature. 



75 



scarcely now be called for, in these later days of literary 

 activity, wherein the doubtless more precious manuscripts 

 of the Vatican, and Imperial Libraries and of the British 

 Museum are allowed to remain undisturbed, in their coat- 

 ing of gathered dust. 



The critical mind, therefore, observing how little of com- 

 parative value can be gleaned from all the harvests of the 

 past, and how, in later days, one book constantly surpersedes 

 another, frequently containing within a few pages, a careful 

 digest of many that have gone before, becomes very toler- 

 ant of the winnowing out of past centuries, and learns to 

 admit the fact, that the collected literary wealth of the 

 world can be condensed into smaller compass than is gene- 

 rally believed. And it will, therefore, also readily admit 

 that, until the labors of centuries have been required to 

 furnish us with the treasures we now enjoy, it cannot be 

 anticipated that any one year should renew, or even, in 

 any marked manner, influence or improve our literature. 

 But for all that there is much which we have a right to de- 

 mand from any single year ; while throughout its whole 

 calender course it may not produce an immortal work, it 

 ought to exhibit much that might maintain a recognized 

 position and influence during its immediate generation. 

 There is a broad and happy position in letters between 

 fame and utter worthlessness. There is the literature 

 which instructs, comprising in its limits philosophy, science, 

 and history ; and, in this domain, each year should produce 

 some notable instance, wherein, by novel theory and ex- 

 periment, or tasteful compilation, a satisfactory advance 

 can be effected.. And there is the literature which enter- 

 tains, comprising poetry and romance ; and here also, there 

 should be something shown to betoken increase of taste 

 and cultivation. But, in each department, as regards either 

 the accession of laborers or the result of their labors, the 

 past year compares sadly with many that have gone before. 



