NOTES ON LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4983, 13 March 1877, Page 3

NOTES ON LITERATURE AND ART.

, At Aix lately there was unveiled a statue of Mirabeau.

The death is announced of the celebrated Russian naturalist, Von Baer. Mr. Samuel Timmins has undertaken to prepare and publish an account of the public life of the late Mr. George Dawson. Earl’s picture of “ The Otter Hunt” is now on exhibition at the' Stereoscopic Company’s Gallery, 54, Cheapside. Mr. Millais is painting a portrait of Mr. Carlyle, which will appear in the next exhibition of the Royal Academy. ’ The annual by the authors of “ The Coming K will not be published till after Christmas. The title is “ H upon E ; or, the Modem Inferno.” 1 The publication of Dr. Russell’s “ Tour of the Prince of Wales in India,” which had been announced for December, has been unavoidably postponed till the middle of January. ' Hr. Wm. Small’s picture, “The Wreck,” which was in the Royal Academy-Exhibition this year, is now on view, in London, for the first time at the Marine Picture Gallery, 142, New Bond-street.

The “Life of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield,” issued in weekly parts, will cease to appear in that form, and be published, with considerable additions, in two volumes, (luring December. The composer of “ Eli”' and “ Naaman” has been engaged for a considerable time in writing a third oratorio. We have reason to believe that the Biblical subject chosen by. Sir Michael Costa for his book is that of Joseph.

The Academy understands that the first volume of Mr. HerberTSpencer's '“jPimciplea of Sociology” is completed, and may* be looked for before Christmas,-'lt will fprm the sixth volume of the Syntqetic.philoßophy. ; The death is announced of" D. Laurent de Lara, at the age of seventy.. He was for many years Fellow of theMooiety of-Arts and an illuminating artist to ithe Queen. The deceased gentleman was the first who introduced modem illuminating into this country. 1 The Scotsman states that a meeting has been held, in Glasgow to .consider the desirability of establishing an annjial assemblage in that city of the poets who are resident in the West of Scotland, and it is proposed that the first meeting shall be held oh the 26th December.- - The ultimate object is to form a society which shall embrace the whole of Scotland.

Notes and Queries states that M. Vapereau, editor of the Dictionnaire des Contemporains,” is,now editing a “ Dictionnaire Universe! des ( £itteratures.” This will include the literature of all ages and countries, books, authors, and those who' have exercised any influence on literature. The publication, which began last month, will be completed in May, 1877 ; the various parts will form a volume of about 2000 pages. ' Messrs. Hachette are the publishers. . Al-S colossal bronze bust' of Mr. Horace Greeley, which , has been erected as a monument over his grave in Greenwood Cemetery, NewiYork, mainly by the working printers of the—United States, was unveiled •on the • 4th instant. It is 4 ft. in height, resting upon a granite pedestal 10ft. high. -Upon one side of the pedestal is a tablet of bronze, on which Mr. J Greeley is represented as a compositor, standing employed at the case, and upon a slip at his side is a paper ‘bearing the date “ New York, 1831.” Upon two other sides are, also m bronze, a plough, a pen, and a scroll, the fourth side containing a .bronze tablet, with the following inscription :—“Horace Greeley, born February 3rd, 1811, died November 29th 1872. Founder of the New York Tribune."