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secure him a position among the ablest rulers of his country-by the side of Henry IV., of Richelieu, of Napoleon. And whatever political or social changes France is destined to undergo, we do not anticipate that she will ever cease to look back with

respectful admiration upon Louis XIV, as alone representing and embodying a very brilliant epoch of her development-an epoch, however, which has passed utterly away, and which, fortunately for mankind, it is forever impossible to recall.

PRODUCE OF THE PRINTING PRESS.

AN intelligent bookseller, who has been many years conversant with the industry of the great literary hive of London, has made the following computations of the productiveness of the British press. There is every reason to believe them quite accurate, however astounding.

The periodical works sold on the last day of the month amount to 500,000 copies, the amount of cash expended in the purchase of which is $125,000. These go into the country in 2,000 packages, few remaining behind over the day. The annual returns of periodical works amount to $1,500,000.

The number of newspapers published in the United Kingdom in the year 1843, as ascertained through the Stamp Office, was 447; the number of stamps issued, which determines the number of copies issued during the year, was above sixty millions and a half. The proportions were as follows:

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60,592,001

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tion addressed to the Pope in 1471, by Sweynheim and Pannartz, printers at Rome, they bitterly complain of the want of demand for their books, their stock amounting to 12,000 volumes; in the petition they gravely say: "You will admire how and where we could procure a sufficient quantity of paper, or even rags, for such a number of volumes," And yet, about 1,200 reams of paper would have produced all the poor printers' stock of books! Such has been the change in less than four centuries. The estimated annual sales of different publications are as follows: New books and reprints, Weekly publications, not newspapers, Monthly publications, Newspapers,

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$2,178,000

500,000 1,500,000 6,250,000

$10,428,000

31,692,092 In 1743, only one century ago, the sales 17,058,056 of books, periodicals and newspapers hardly 339,500 amounted to $500,000 per annum. The in5,027,588 crease is twenty-fold. The reason is found 6,474,764 in the diffusion of knowledge. The whole course of English literature has been that of gradual and certain spread from the few to the many-from luxury to a necessary; as much as the spread of the cotton to the silk trade. Henry VIII. paid what was equal in our day to $30,00 a yard for a silk gown for Anne Boleyn. Now the thousands buy their silk gowns for fifty cents a yard. The printing press has done for the commerce in literature, in its various forms, what the mule and the Jacquard loom have done for the commerce in silk; it has made it accessible to all, at the same time it is sought by all. Can a stronger argument be framed for a moral, intelligent and Christian press, when the universal mind is formed by it, and it controls the world? What are a thousand eloquent living voices by the side of it?

The number of different papers published in Great Britain does not compare with the number in the United States, which exceeds 1,000; but the circulation of some of the London papers is immense. The average price of the English papers is five pence each; so that the sum annually expended in newspapers is about $6,250,000; above six millions of dollars. The quantity of paper required for the annual supply of these newspapers is 121,184 reams; some of the paper is of an enormous size. The difference in reading matter and in the extent of reading in three hundred and seventy-five years is seen in the follow facts. In a peti

From the New Monthly Magazine.

THEODORE HOOK.

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THEODORE HOOK may be said to have been nurtured in a hot-bed of talent, wit, and dissipation. His father was a musical composer and an established favorite, for upwards of half a century; first at the Mary-le-bone Gardens, and, lastly, at Vauxhall. His mother was the author of at least one theatrical piece, 'The Double Disguise," played with success at Drury Lane in 1784. There were two brothers, James and Theodore, and the elder, although sent to Wesminster School, and afterwards to Oxford, where he graduated and took holy orders, and became ultimately Dean of Worcester, still exhibited throughout life the wit and vivacity of the stock, and the same indications of the family taste for the drama and authorship. But James was blessed with advantages which never fell to the lot of Theodore; in his case the inebriety of wit was sobered by a regular education, and the exuberance of animal spirits was restrained by the ties of his sacred calling, which were further strengthened by an early and happy marriage. Who," asks his biographer, the Rev. R. H. Dalton Barham, "does not lament that such a boon was denied to Theodore ?"

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The first school that Theodore, born on the 22d of September, 1788, in Charlotte Street, Bedford Square, was sent to, was a sort of "seminary for young gentlemen," a green-doored, brass-plated "establishment," in Soho Square. Subsequently, he went to Dr. Curtis's, and thence to Harrow, but with little or no real advantage, and, as his biographer justly remarks, a sufficient reason for his want of success is to be found in the confessions of "Gilbert Gurney," where he says, with evident reference to himself: "My school life was not a happy one. I was idle and careless of my tasks. I had no aptitude for learning languages. I hated Greek, and absolutely shuddered at Hebrew. I fancied myself a genius, and anything that could be done in a hurry, and with little trouble, I did tolerably well, but application

I had not."

And who can fail to discover throughout life, and even in employments less distasteful to him, traces of the same haste and impatience of labor? Theodore soon left Harrow, and the death of his mother, the only one who could restrain the youth's exuberance of spirits, left him in the charge of a worldly, pleasure-loving father, who at once employed his son's talents in writing songs and plays. The success of his first farces, and his love of fun, soon established Master Theodore's reputation, both before and behind the curtain, and he became at this early period of his life, the pet of the green-room, and at the same time, by his incessant indulgence in practical jokes, the plague of the property-man and of all the minor officers of the establishment. Even Liston himself was made one of the victims of this besetting propensity.

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"Of course (says his biographer) he had his | of advice given in the John Bull many years

imtators:

'The charming extempore verses of T—s's,' for example, will not readily be forgotten; another gentleman also found reason to remember his attempt at rivalry. Ambitious of distinction, he took an opportunity of striking off into verse iminediately after one of Hook's happiest efforts. Theodore's bright eye flashed, and fixed on the intruder, who soon began to flounder in the meshes of his stanza, when he was put out of his misery at once by the following couplet from the master, given, however, with a goodhumored smile that robbed it of all offense:

'I see, sir, I see, sir, what 'tis that you're hatching, But mocking, you see, sir, is not always catching?

This is a kind of success which is, how

ever, pre-eminently evanescent. Men endowed with such gifts must be content, like actors, whom they in a measure resemble, with the applause of their contemporaries; they have little to hope for from posterity; and in Hook's case scarcely a record has been kept of any one of those performances which used at once to delight and astonish the circles in which he moved. "Mrs. Muggins's Visit to the Queen," stanzas written in the John Bull as a satire upon the Brandenburgh House drawing-room, is described in the "Quarterly Review," as also by Mr. Dalton Barham, as most approaching what Hook used to improvise on a festive evening, and as conveying to a person who had never witnessed that marvellous performance, a tolerably accurate notion of what

it was.

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after his own connection with the drama had ceased.

The name of Theodore Hook became, however, most notorious, even at this early period of his career, for his performances off the stage; for that series of practical jokes or hoaxes, of which his biographer remarks, that inexcusable as they must be considered, they were so inexpressibly ludicrous in effect, as well as original in conception, and were carried out with so unparalleled a degree of impudence, as to provoke the dullest of mortals to mirth. This is saying very little for them. Many of these hoaxes were far from original in conception, although often much so in the manner they were carried out; and the sense of humor which they of commiseration for the man who would excite is as frequently mingled with a feeling amusing instances of Hook's practical joking so expose himself. Most of the more have been detailed, and with but slight embellishment, in " Gilbert Gurney," which is indeed little more than a record of his own mad doings, loose thoughts and feelings. Others have appeared in the very entertaining Reminiscences of the late Mr. Mathews," by his Widow, and a few have been recently printed in the "Life of Thomas Ingoldsby.'

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feature, and involving equal impudence, That an occurrence similar in the principal though less of humor, than the well-known projection of the line of the Paddington Canal across a gentleman's lawn, and the subsequent dinner did take place, the biographer tells us, is undoubtedly true, only that the venue is to be laid in the neighborhood of Soho Square, Frith Street, or Dean Street, both at that period places of comparatively fashionable residence.

66

Lounging up one of those streets in the afternoon, with Terry, the actor, the nostrils of

"And who were your company-heigh, ma'am ; the promenaders were suddenly saluted with a

ho, ma'am?

And who were your company, ho?

-We happened to drop in

With gemmen from Wapping, And ladies from Blowbladder-row-Row. And ladies from Blowbladder-row."

Mr. Barham records very little of Hook's doings on the stage, whither his constitutional predilections and early associations led him for awhile; but a more faithful, yet at the same time a more ludicrous picture of the miseries and mortifications incident to a play-actor, was never penned than a letter

concord of sweet odors arising from a spacious area. They stopped, snuffed the grateful incense, and peeping down, perceived through the kitchen window preparations for a handsome dinner, evidently on the point of being served.

"What a feast!' said Terry. Jolly dogs! I should like to make one of them.'

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he was immediately ushered by the servant, as an expected guest, into the drawing-room, where a large party had already assembled. The apartment being well-nigh full, no notice was at first taken of his intrusion, and half-a-dozen people were laughing at his bon-mo's before the host discovered the mistake. Affecting not to observe the visible embarrassment of the latter, and ingeniously avoiding any opportunity for explanation, Hook rattled on till he had attracted the greater part of the company in a circle round him, and some considerable time elapsed ere the old gentleman was able to catch the attention of the agreeable stranger.

"I beg your pardon, sir,' he said, contriving at last to get in a word; but your name, sir I did not quite catch it-servants are so abominably incorrect and I am really a little at a loss-'

"Don't apologize, I beg,' graciously replied Theodore; Smith,-my name is Smith-and, as you justly observe, servants are always making some stupid blunder or another; I remember a remarkable instance,' &c.

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No, I dare say not-you said four in your note, I know, and it is now, I see, a quarter past five-you are a little fast by the way; but the fact is, I have been detained in the city-as I was

about to explain when--'

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"Pray,' exclaimed the other, as soon as he could stay the volubility of his guest, whom may I ask, do you suppose you are addressing?'

Whom? Why, Mr. Thompson, of courseold friend of my father. I have not the pleasure, indeed, of being personally known to you, but having received your kind invitation yesterday, on my arrival from Liverpool, Frith Street-four o'clock-family party-come in boots-you see I have taken you at your word. I am only afraid I have kept you waiting.'

666

No, no! not at all. But permit me to observe, my dear sir, my name is not exactly Thompson, it is Jones, and—'

"Jones!' repeated the soi-disant Smith, in admirably assumed consternation; Jones-why surely I cannot have-yes, I must-good heaven! I see it all! My dear sir, what an unfortunate blunder-wrong house-what must you think of such an intrusion! I am really at a loss for words in which to apologize-you will permit me to retire at present, and to-morrow'

"Pray don't think of retiring,' exclaimed the hospitable old gentleman, 'your friend's table must have been cleared long ago, if, as you say, four was the hour named, and I am only too happy to be able to offer you a seat at mine.'

"Hook, of course, could not hear of such a thing-could not think of trespassing upon the kindness of a perfect stranger-if too late for Thompson, there were plenty of chop-houses at

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hand-the unfortunate part of the business was, he had made an appointment with a gentleman to call for him at ten o'clock. The good-natured Jones, however, positively refused to allow so entertaining a visitor to withdraw dinnerless. Mrs. Jones joined in solicitation, the Misses Jones smiled bewitchingly, and at last Mr. Smith, who soon recovered from his confusion, was prevailed upon to offer his arm to one of the ladies, and take his place at the well-furnished board.'

"In all probability, the family of Jones never passed such an evening before. Hook naturally exerted himself to the utmost to keep the party in an unceasing roar of laughter, and make good the first impression. The mirth grew fast and furious, when, by way of a coup de grace, he seated himself at the piano-forte, and struck off into one of those extemporaneous effusions which had filled more critical judges than the Joneses with delight and astonishment. Ten o'clock struck, and on Mr. Terry being announced, his triumphant friend wound up the performance with the explanatory stanza:

"I am very much pleased with your fare, Your cellar's as prime as your cook; My friend's Mr. Terry, the player,

And I'm Mr. Theodore Hook!'"

That there was love of notoriety, as well as of fun and a little commendable ambition, in these displays, may be shown from another case of a slightly different character. Accompanied by a friend in the Treasury, who had provided a gig, drawn by a white horse, Hook made what he used to call a "mononag" excursion into Wales, of some weeks' duration.

"Every thing passed off pleasantly enough; fine weather--magnificent scenery--a stream to be whipped one day, a mountain to be climbed the next a mine to be explored at one spot, a Druid temple to be traced at another. Castles, cataracts, and coal mines, all inviting inspection!

"Ah!' said Hook, as they lounged along one bright morning, this is all very well in its way -very delightful, of course-plenty to look atbut then, somehow, nobody looks at us!-the thing is getting a little dull, don't you think so?'

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"His companion assented. Well, we can't go on in this manner,' continued the other; I must hit upon something, and get up a digito monstrari somehow or other.'

"And at the next town from which they started, his friend had a taste of his quality in that line, for having procured a box of large black wafers, he had completely spotted the snowy coat of the animal they were driving, after the pattern of those wooden quadrupegs which, before the diffusion of useful knowledge, used to form the studs of childhood. The device fully answered its purpose, and the happy pair drove off, attracting, throughout the remainder of the day, the gaze, wonder, and unqualified admiration of Cadwallader and all his goats."

Neither the gigantic Berners' Street hoax, perpetrated in 1809, nor the trick of calling in a friend to throw a coach or a cab fare on his shoulders, are original conceptions. The first was, perhaps, redeemed from the common-place by the development given to the plot, which included among the dupes the Lord Mayor and the Duke of Gloucester; and in the second, great resources were exhibited when the friend picked up to pay, being as unprepared for any pecuniary transaction as Hook himself, the carriage was made to convey the unhappy pair to the house of a medical man, to whose charge the coach was ultimately committed upon an imaginary professional case.

Successful beyond his most sanguine expectations as a dramatist, and with actors at hand, and those his personal friends, both qualified and ready to embody his ideas, Hook, when barely twenty-one, took it into his head to give up writing for the stage, and commenced novelist; his first essay, "The Man of Sorrow," meeting, however, with but trifling success-a failure which was more than compensated for by the popularity of his subsequent works. Hook's life was, as modern society is constituted, remarkably chequered; at the same time that he exchanged dramatic composition for writing novels, he appears also to have quitted the green-room for the discreet halls of St. Mary's, Oxford; with what success may be easily imagined. The very ceremony of his matriculation was, as recorded in the "Ingoldsby Memoirs," well nigh stopped in limine. When the vicechancellor asked the candidate if he was prepared to subscribe to the Thirty-nine Articles? "Oh, certainly, sir," replied Theodore, forty, if you please.'

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It appears, also, from his biographer's account, that the very evening of his arrival at the university he began a course of carousing.

·

"On the evening of his arrival at the university," says our friend, "he contrived to give his brother the slip, and joined a party of old schoolfellows in a carouse at one of the taverns. Sundry bowls of Bishop,' and of a popular compound yclept 'Egg-flip'-the Cambridge men call it Silky,' to the nondem graduati of Oxford it is known by a nomen accidentale, which we have forgotten-having been discussed, songs, amatory and bacchanalian, having been sung with full choruses; and altogether the jocularity having begun to pass the limit of becoming mirth, the proctor made his appearance, and advancing to the table at which the Freshman

so in every sense of the word-was presiding, put the usual question-

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"A little disconcerted at the extreme gravity of the other, the proctor held out his ample sleeveYou see this, sir?'

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“Ah,' returned Hook, having examined the fabric with great earnestness for a few seconds, yes, I perceive-Manchester velvet-and may I take the liberty, sir, of inquiring how much you might have paid per yard for the article?'

"The quiet imperturbability of manner with which this was uttered was more than the reverend gentleman could stand; and, muttering something about 'supposing it was a mistake,' he effected a retreat, amid shouts of laughter from Hook's companions, in which the other occupants of the coffee-room, the waiters, and even his own 'bull-dogs,' were constrained to join."

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A youth of Theodore Hook's free and easy disposition, utterly unaccustomed to any kind or measure of restraint, and the companion of wits and "men about town," was not likely to become a very tractable son of Alma Mater; and after a residence of one, or at most a couple of terms, "an unlooked-for turn in his affairs" enabled him to quit Oxford, if with no great accession of honor or wisdom, at least without censure. These are the words of his biographer; there is the same indefiniteness here as we observe in the Ingoldsby memoirs, " or at most a couple of terms;" and as to "the unlooked-for turn in affairs,' we are not told what that turn was, unless we are to consider as such his introduction, "after a very slight probation, into the order of fashion," and his election as a member of the "Eccentrics," on the same memorable night with Sheridan, Lord Petersham, and others. An intimacy with lords, and dukes, and noble princes, mainly brought about by Hook's exquisite musical taste, and extending itself to the person of the Prince-Regent, also embraced a person much spoken of in the Ingoldsby memoirs-the Rev. Edward Cannon, no less celebrated for his wit and eccentricity than for his frailty and sad history. Between two such similar spirits a close intimacy established itself, but the favor of royalty was soon sacrificed by the latter's freedom of speech, which little cared for suavity to princes or their favorites. On being requested to give his opinions of an upright piano-forte, an instrument then but recently invented, he ran his hand, light as a lady's, over the keys, and threw himself back with a dissatisfied air.

"What do you think of it, Mr. Cannon?" asked Mrs. Fitzherbert.

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