e
works, one in twenty-five volumes, and another, illustrated by the best
artists of France, in twelve, made a contract with him by which he has
been prevented from any original publications. The term is now nearly
expired, and it is announced that he will at once issue three volumes of
poetry, and twelve of romances. He is now engaged in finishing a novel
entitled _Misery_, which is spoken of by those who have seen portions of
it as a magnificent work.

* * * * *

M. de St. Beuve, since October, 1849, the literary critic of _Le
Constitutionnel_, a writer who has pushed himself up in the world far
ahead of his merits, has published at Paris a volume, _Causeries du
Lundi_ (Monday Gossipings), which is no great things. These gossipings
are taken from the columns of that journal, where they are regularly
published on Mondays, and where we have occasionally had the benefit of
seeing them. If they were not written by a member of the French Academy,
and an eminent _litterateur_, we should say they were rather stupid, as
far as ideas go, and not very elegant in respect of style.

* * * * *

We had recently the _Cooks of Paris_, in a handsome volume, with
portraits; _The Journals and Editors of Paris_, in another volume, and
now one Paul Lacroix, sometimes called _bibliophile Jacob_, has
announced a _History_, _Political_, _Civil_, _Religious_, _Military_,
_Legislative_, _Judicial_, _Moral_, _Literary_, _and Anecdotic_, _of the
Shoe and the Bootmakers of France_. He treats of the ancient
corporations, their discipline, regulations, and of the fraternities,
with their obligations and devices, sketching the whole history of _La
Chaussure_. Shoemakers have been well represented among the famous men
of all nations, and the craft may be proud of Hans Sachs, Jacob Boehme,
Gifford, Bloomfield, Drew, Holcraft, Lackington, Sherman, William Carey,
George Fox, and a hundred others, besides the heroes of Monsieur
Lacroix.

* * * * *

_Bibliophile Jacob_ LACROIX, we see by the Paris papers, has also
discovered a _comedie-ballet_ by Moliere, written in 1654, and never
included in any edition of his works. It is entitled _Le Ballet des
incompatibies_, and appears to have been written by order of the Prince
de Conti, and acted before him by Moliere himself and other persons of
the Prince's circle. That it remained so long unknown is explained by