Besides the “Curiosities of Literature,” and “Flim-Flams,” the last a volume not mentioned by Lord Beaconsfield in the “Life” of his father prefixed to the 1865 edition of the “Curiosities of Literature,” Mr. D’Israeli published through Murray, in 1803, a small volume of “Narrative Poems” in 4to.  They consisted of “An Ode to his Favourite Critic”; “The Carder and the Currier, a Story of Amorous Florence”; “Cominge, a Story of La Trappe”; and “A Tale addressed to a Sybarite.”  The verses in these poems run smoothly, but they contain no wit, no poetry, nor even any story.  They were never reprinted.

The following letter is of especial interest, as fixing the date of an event which has given rise to much discussion—­the birth of Benjamin Disraeli.

Mr. Isaac D’Israeli to John Murray.

December 22, 1804. [Footnote:  Mr. D’Israeli was living at this time in King’s Road (now 1, John Street), Bedford Row, in a corner house overlooking Gray’s Inn Gardens.]

MY DEAR SIR,

Mrs. D’Israeli will receive particular gratification from the interesting note you have sent us on the birth of our boy—­when she shall have read it.  In the meanwhile accept my thanks, and my best compliments to your sister.  The mother and infant are both doing well.

Ever yours.

I. D’I.

Some extracts from their correspondence will afford an insight into the nature of the friendship and business relations which existed between Isaac D’Israeli and his young publisher as well as into the characters of the two men themselves.

From a letter dated Brighton, August 5, 1805, from Mr. D’Israeli to John Murray: 

“Your letter is one of the repeated specimens I have seen of your happy art of giving interest even to commonplace correspondence, and I, who am so feelingly alive to the ‘pains and penalties’ of postage, must acknowledge that such letters, ten times repeated, would please me as often.

We should have been very happy to see you here, provided it occasioned no intermission in your more serious occupations, and could have added to your amusements.

With respect to the projected ‘Institute,’ [Footnote:  This was a work at one time projected by Mr. Murray, but other more pressing literary arrangements prevented the scheme being carried into effect.] if that title be English—­doubtless the times are highly favourable to patronize a work skilfully executed, whose periodical pages would be at once useful information, and delightful for elegant composition, embellished by plates, such as have never yet been given, both for their subjects and their execution.  Literature is a perpetual source opened to us; but the Fine Arts present an unploughed field, and an originality of character ...  But Money, Money must not be spared in respect to rich, beautiful, and interesting Engravings.  On this I have something to communicate.  Encourage Dagley, [Footnote:  The engraver of the