LITERARY NEWS.
Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona : there were muscular. Christians be- fore Charles Kingsley. One such was Henry Brooke, author of "The Fool of Quality,' a novel which was long held in high esteem, but has been little known for the last thirty or forty years. The Rev. protago- nist of the M.C. of our day has with great propriety undertaken to edit a reprint of his predecessor's work, which Messrs. Smith and Flier an- nounce as just ready. The "Shelley Memorials," edited by Lady Shelley, the wife of the poet's son, will be published some time in the present month. They are intended to counteract the injurious effects of some recent biographie4 and to put the public in possession of all the- facts requisite to form a true and impartial estimate of the character and actions of Percy Bysshe Shelley, and will contain letters and documents of interest never before published. Amongst the latter is an "Essay on Christianity," calcu- lated, it is said, to present the poet's religious ideas in a very different light, from that in which they have been hitherto viewed.
Among other works to be published in June by the same firm are "A Personal Narrative of the Voyage of filet. S. Barracouta; " one of the squadron of Sir James Stirling, which sailed for Japan. te make a treaty of commerce with the Emperor. The narrative is that of the surgeon, Mr. J. M. Tronson—" Campaigning Experiences in Rajpootana and Central India duringthe Suppression of the Mutiny," by Mrs. Duberley, the wife of an officer of the 8th Hussars, who accompanied her husband through the whole campaign, as she had previously done in the Crimea— and "Elements of Perspective," a book for beginners, by the author of "Modern Painters."
A little book on Rifle Clubs, by W. H. Russell, the special mere* spondent of the Times, is about to be published by Routledge and Co.
We have received the prospectus of a new journal, called " L'Indi- pendenza Italiana," to be edited in three languages, Italian, French, and English. The nature and object of this weekly periodical are sufficiently clear from the title. It is established to report the progress made in the attainment of Italian independence. Professing to ba the organ of no party, it will candidly register every step made towards in- crease of liberty in the Peninsula under whatever government it may occur. It is to be published in London, and subscriptions may be for- warded to Mr. Jeffs, Burlington Arcade.
An extraordinary poetical feat is in process at Paris. The proprietors of the Librairie .Yourelle announce that they will publish every Satur- day "sixteen quarto pages of poetry," by M. Mery, descriptive of "La grande epopee militaire qui se prepare en. italic." The pros, pectus dwells particularly on. the fact that the muse of M. Mary will ale ways be inspired by the very latest news from the seat of wax. The first number on Premier Chant" of this poetical periodical, entitled " Napo- leon en Italic," appeared on Saturday last.
A new daily paper, "Le Journal du Peuple," is announced for publica- tion at Paris. It is to advocate an energetic war policy and the total real of the Treaties of 1816. The 'gaily edition will be of no loss than 200,000 copies, which are either to be sold or given away.
Anew novel by M. Arsine lioussaye, called "Mademoiselle Marian.ni," has just appeared. It paints in lively colours the morals and manners of modern Paris society. A clever sketch of Mr. Hume, "the Spiritual,* let," is among the tid-bits of the book.
M. Capefimm, whose pen has been dormant for some time, has come on more before the public this week, with a book bearing the simple title; "Mademoiselle de la Valliare," and described as an "Essay on Louie XIV. and his Court."
The Committee of the Literary Fund have for the present declined the offer made through Messrs. Dickens and Elwin, by a gentleman not named, but generally understood to be Mr. John Forster, to leave his library to the Fund, and bequeath 10,000/. for its maintenance. The conditions annexed to the offer appeared to the Committee to be such as would compel them to obtain a modification of their charter for the sake of a contingent benefit, which might never be realized. According they resolved by 13 votes against 7, not to recommend the acceptance of the offer to a general meeting.
"L'Essai de Philosophie Religieuse," is the title of a rather im- portant work published by Charpentier and Co. The author, M. Emile Saisset, traces the history- of modern philosophy from Descartes and Spiv noza down to Hegel, in the lives of the philosophers—somewhat in the manner of M. Lewes in his "Biographical History, &c."—and follows this up by a very original attempt at forming what he calls, 'la Theodicee du. Spiritualisme," ( Theodicee," the justice of God, as distinguished both from theology and theogony.) M. Alfred Michiels, a writer known. by some former historical works, has published a " Histoire Secrete du Gou.vernernent Autrichien." It is. an octavo volume of some 500 pages, and though interesting enough at the present time, contains nothing particularly new. Rather more important is another book of the same class issued a few, days ago by Bray and Co. It is entitled "Situation et Affaires du Be yaume de Naples," and, has for author M. J. Gendon, a gentleman well versed in the subject which he treats. He dwells strongly on the " Bir- ropean necessity" for reforms in the kingdom of the Two Sicilia&
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