DR. MAGINN'S

MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS.

The Fraserian Papers.

THE ELECTION OF EDITOR.

[THE first number of Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country was published in February, 1830. The ability, personality, and audacity of the new periodical immediately gave it notoriety, and the publisher not only having had the good sense to advertise it extensively, but also to send a copy for review to every newspaper in the United Kingdom, it had the great advantage of receiving general notice from the Press. Its politics (ultra-tory) recommended it in some quarters, its literary tomahawking in others. At that time, the grosser personalities which had attracted attention in the early volumes of Blackwood had been mitigated, and MAGA mainly relied, not without cause, on its political papers, and the literary articles of Christopher North and the contributors whom he had gathered around him. The New Monthly Magazine, in London, had become weak and inefficient in the careless hands of Thomas Campbell. There was room, therefore, for a new and spirited rival, and, as the remuneration was liberal, a great deal of literary ability was attracted to the pages of REGINA- as Fraser was called, in the hope of rivalling MAGA [Blackwood], even in such a small matter as a sobriquet. From the very first, Maginn, Crofton Croker, L. E. L., Haynes Bayly, the Ettrick Shepherd, "Barry Cornwall" (under the alias of "John Bethel"), Robert Southey, John Gibson Lockhart, John Galt, R. P. Gillies, and many more of established literary reputation, were known to be among REGINA'S contributors.

No. III., for April, 1830, opened with an announcement on the back of its "Contents," the conclusion of which shows the audacity of the writers—the Rex in question being no less a personage than George IV., who, afflicted with a mortal disease, yielded "every thing for a quiet life," and permitted the Dux [Wellington] to exercise a power so vast, that the "Ego et Rex Meus" of Wolsey appeared again to be realized.

The announcement in question was as follows:

Aur Lecteurs,

And the World at large.

As the Proprietors of "FRASER'S MAGAZINE" are resolved to have the Work conducted upon the most liberal and efficient principles, they have declined to listen to the various private Communications from the first literary men of the day, for appointment to the honorable situation of Editor. A work of such superior eminence, embracing all that is great and good, is entitled to be conducted by the very first genius, whom this, or any other nation, can produce. The Proprietors, therefore, have resolved to Poll the Country, aliens or denizens, rich or poor, young or old, people or peers, subject or prince, and select the individual who, from intrinsic worth and merit, has best claim to the important charge in question.

Therefore Notice is hereby given,

That all Applicants for the Situation of Editor to "FRASER'S MAGAZINE" do attend at Freemasons' Hall, at One o' Clock, on Wednesday the 14th day of April, of this present year— bringing with them their testimonials and documents on which they rest their pretensions — that then and there the individual best qualified may be selected and appointed as aforesaid. Parties who cannot personally be present, are requested to transmit their Name, Address, and Note of Qualifications, by letter, POST-PAID - addressed to Mr. FRASER, Bookseller and Publisher, 215 Regent street—before Twelve o' Clock of the day.

Vibat Rex.

Rex! Pish!-That's gone by- Let us worship the new Dynasty — Vivat Dur!

Public expectation was set on the qui vive by such an advertisement as this. Nor was it disappointed. In the May and June Numbers of REGINA appeared, what purported to be, an account of the Election of Editor. This was written by Dr. Maginn, whose personal acquaintance with most of the literati whom he introduced, enabled him to describe them very accurately, and to hit-off, with considerable spirit and much truth, their peculiarities of manner and language. It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader, that Mr. Gurney, the short-hand writer, is identical with the Eidolon supposed to have stenographed the proceedings of the NOCTES AMBROSIANÆ of Blackwood. Mr. Alexander Fraser (no relation of the publisher), was a celebrated law-reporter, attached to the Northern Circuit for many years. His death occurred only recently, I believe. He was a Scotchman, and had been Lord Brougham's schoolfellow at Edinburgh.-M.]

The Election of Editor for Fraser's Magazine.

From Mr. Gurney's short-hand notes, corrected by Mr. Alexander Fraser, of Thavies Inn.

THE whole literary world was astonished at the liberality of our Proprietors when they beheld the advertisement in the last No., calling a general meeting for the election of an Editor. Nothing like it had ever been seen or heard of before. On all similar occasions, the corrupt influence and undue partialities of the booksellers have been ever exercised. The late Mr. Constable, to whom the literary character is more indebted for that sort of elevation which arises from remuneration than to all the trade besides, was not free from despotic inclinations. He appointed Mr. Jeffrey to the superintendence of the Edinburgh Review, without consulting any of his contributors. Mr. Murray, to whom literature also acknowledges herself a debtor, was not more indulgent in the appointment of the late Mr. Gifford; and his partiality for Scotchmen was certainly not free from blame, when he selected, in so clandestine a manner, Mr. Lockhart to succeed him. Mr. Colburn, in creating the sinecure of Editor

in-chief for the Lord-rectifying Campbell, has deserved well of all authors.* It is an example every bookseller cannot too soon imitate. Indeed, we trust that the Duke of Wellington will, by law, since he is so cutting down the sinecures of the crown, oblige every publisher to institute a pensionary. There is no sound political reason why there should not be literary pensionaries, as well as civil and military, and decayed gentlewomen of damaged quality. Ebony's connexion with Christopher North is suspected of being something equivocal. In that instance the Editor, it is understood, lords it over the Publisher. However, not one of all the members of the Stationers' Company, either here or elsewhere, ever thought of trying the effect of universal suffrage in choosing > an Editor; but the result has been such-the reform has been so radical, that the happiest general effects cannot but result from it.

The meeting was advertised to take place in the Freemasons' Tavern ; but, at an early hour, it was seen how inadequate the great hall was to contain even a tithe of the candidates and the contributors; for, by some strange oversight, preparations had been neglected to be made for the reception of the ladies, the number of whom, with short petticoats and blue stockings, who assembled at an early hour in front of the tavern, is incredible. Lady Morgan lost a spangled shoe in the crowd, the Princess Olivia of Cumberland‡ had her pockets picked, and Lady Holland was obliged to be carried by Sir James and Sam|| into the Horse

* Archibald Constable, the original publisher of the Edinburgh Review, and of most of the Waverley Novels; Murray and Colburn, respectively publishers of the Quarterly Review and New Monthly Magazine, edited by William Gifford and Thomas Campbell.-M.

† In Great Queen street, Holborn, London. The great room in which "the craft" perform their Masonic and festal rites, was much used, before the erection of Exeter Hall, in the Strand, for public meetings.-M.

"The Princess Olive" was a stout woman (married to Mr. Serres, a clever marine painter) who, on the death of George III., in 1820, claimed to be Princess of Cumberland, as legitimate daughter of Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, by a sister of the Rev. Dr. Wilmot. She had some personal resemblance, in bulk, to the elderly females of the House of Guelph, and many persons believed her pretensions to be well-founded. Neither the Royal family nor Parliament would admit them. She died, in poverty, in 1834, aged sixty-two.-M.

|| Sir James Macintosh and Samuel Rogers, the poet.-M.