[M12] “Pickings of a Plagiarist,” The Citizen Soldier, July 19, 1843

“PICKINGS OF A PLAGIARIST.”—Some time since, Graham published in his Magazine, certain stories entitled “Leaves from a Lawyer’s Portfolio,” which attracted some attention throughout the country, and were generally confessed to possess some sparks of merit.  We have been at some pains to analyze these “Leaves.”  “Sheets from Select Authors,” or “Pickings of a Plagiarist,” would have been much prettier titles for these papers.  Last Saturday, being in a dozing mood, we picked up the volume (loaned to us by a commisserating friend,) containing ”the Avenger.”  Do you remember Pelham?  D’ye remember Reginald Glanville, and his untiring pursuit of the wretch and seducer, Sir John Tyrrel?  Here you have the same thing, over again, beautifully cut and carved, we grant you, but still retaining the plot and incidents of that thrilling episode of “Pelham.”  Did you ever read “the Diary of a Late London Physician?”  D’ye remember the story of “the Duel?”  Well, turn to Graham for 1841, and in the tale of “the Avenger,” that same “Duel,” or a twin-sister, forms the denouement.  Stealing bodily is in bad taste; but stealing artfully, and as one might say, dove-tailedly, is almost as good as originality, for it requires a vast fund of cunning, and a fair share of industry, leaving the labor of the scissors out of the case.  We must look over these “Leaves,” and make some further investigations with regard to their paternity—Graham is a good fellow; he has been shamefully imposed upon in this matter.