poets of the eighteenth and
nineteenth century, which we have every reason to believe will merit
success. A similar enterprise is announced, just now, by the
Bibliographical Institution of Hildburghausen, under the title,
'Bibliothek der deutschen Nationalliteratur,' edited by Heinr. Kurz, in
weekly parts of 10 sheets, at the price of 12 cts. each. Even an
illustrated edition of the Classics will be presented to the public, in
consequence of the expiration of the copyright. The Grotesche
Buchhandlung, of Berlin, is issuing the 'Hausbibliothek deutscher
Classiker,' with wood-cut illustrations by such eminent artists as
Richter, Thumann, and others; and the first part, just published,
containing Louise, by Voss, with truly artistic illustrations, has met
with general approbation. But, above all, the popular edition of the
poets, issued by G. Hempel, of Berlin, under the general title of
'National Bibliothek saemmtlicher deutscher Classiker,' 8vo. in parts, 6
cts. each, seems destined to surpass all others in popularity, though not
in merit. _Of the first part (already published), containing Buerger's
Poems, 300,000 copies have been sold, and 150,000 subscribers' names have
been registered for the complete series. This immense sale, unequalled in
the annals of the German book-trade, will certainly induce many other
publishers to embark in similar enterprises._"--Truebner's _Literary
Record_, Oct. 1867.

Judging from this, there will, five years hence, be a million of families
in possession of the works of Schiller, Buerger, Goethe, Herder and others,
that thus far have been compelled to dispense with their perusal. Sad to
think, however, they will be of those cheap editions now so much despised
by American advocates of monopoly privileges! How much better for the
German people would it not have been had their Parliament recognized the
perpetuity of literary _rights_, and thus enabled the "great and wealthy
house" of Cotta and Co. to carry into full effect the idea that their own
editions should alone be published, thereby adding other millions to the
very many of which they already are the owners!

At this moment a letter from Mr. Bayard Taylor advises us that German
circulating libraries impede the sale of books; that the circulation of
even highly popular works is limited within 20,000; and that, as a
necessary consequence, German authors are not paid so well as of right
they sh