Page:The Cambridge History of American Literature, v3.djvu/326

 3o8 Later Magazines Brothers, publishers, of New York. It was founded, as a member of the firm said, as a "tender" to the pubUshing busi- ness. At first the contents were taken from English journals. The prospectus, issued in 1850, announced: The Publishers of the New Monthly Magazine intend ... to place everything of the periodical literature of the day, which has permanent value and commanding interest, in the hands of all who have the slightest desire to become acquainted with it. . . . The magazine will transfer to its pages as rapidly as they may be issued all the continuous tales of Dickens, Bulwer, Croly, Lever, Warren, and other distinguished contributors to British Periodicals: articles of commanding interest from all the leading Quarterly Reviews of both Great Britain and the United States: Critical Notices of the current publications of the day: Speeches and Addresses. ... A carefully prepared Fashion Plate, and other pictorial illustrations will also accompany each number. Borrowings were for a time credited to their original sovirces, but soon this credit was omitted. In a business way the venture was immediately successful, the circulation being given as fifty thousand after six months, and one hundred and thirty thousand after three years. Other magazines, especially those which published chiefly the work of American authors, re- sented this new competition and the attitude of Harper and Brothers toward international copyright. The American Whig Review for July, 1852, prints a long Letter to the Publishers of Harper's Magazine signed "An American Writer," which ex- presses with some show of temper sentiments that were not infrequently uttered. After asking, ' ' Is such a publication cal- culated to benefit American literature? and secondly, is it just ? " the writer continues : Your publication, gentlemen, with all others of the same nature, is simply a monstrosity; and the more widely it is diffused, the more clearly is its moral ugliness revealed. It is an ever-present, ever- living insult to the brains of Americans, and its indignity is every day increasing in intensity. Heading a select band of English re- publications, it comes into oiu- literary market month by month, offering a show of matter which no other magazine could present were it fairly paid for, and effectually shutting out the attempts of American pubhshers from even the chances of a sale. Its contents are often attractive, although, considering the unbounded range of