The London _Leader_ speaks of a new work by Harriet Martineau and Mr. Atkinson which is likely to excite attention. It is entitled "Letters on Man's Nature and Development." The _Leader_ having read a few of the proof sheets, says that for boldness of outspeaking on subjects usually glozed over, and for power of philosophic exposition, it has few equals. The marvels of mesmerism and clairvoyance are stated with unflinching plainness, as facts admitting of no dispute. Materialism is unequivocally and even eloquently avowed; and phrenology assumes quite a new aspect from the observations and discoveries here recorded. The London _Critic_ contains an interesting paraagraph giving an account of the payments made to authors in France. It is said that Lamartine, for the single volume of his _Confidences_, received 8000 dollars. Chauteaubriand, a few years before his death, contracted with a company to sell them, at the price of 4000 dollars per volume, any new works he might write and desire to print. Victor Hugo, by contract with the publishers, is paid 3000 dollars for each new volume with which he may furnish them. De Balzac, in 1837, entered into a contract with his publisher, Delloye, by which the publisher acquired the property for fifteen years of the works of De Balzac at that time published. The pecuniary consideration paid to the author, was 12,000 dollars cash, and an annuity of 3000 dollars. Eugene Sue sold for 9600 dollars the right of publishing and selling, during five years only, his novel called _Martin the Foundling, or the Memoirs of a Valet de Chambre_. The work was already in course of publication in the _feuilleton_ of _The Constitutionnel_, and the purchaser's rights were confined to France. It was the _Mystères de Paris_ that made the great literary name and fortune of Eugene Sue. Previously the remuneration of his literary labors was much more modest. _La Salamandre_ was disposed of at 300 dollars per volume. _The Wandering Jew_, and _Les Mystères de Paris_, were sold at 20,000 dollars the volume: and the purchaser made 12,000 by the operation. In August, 1845, _The Constitutionnel_, wishing to secure M. Sue exclusively to itself, made with him a contract which was to last for thirteen years and a half. By its terms the author bound himself to furnish for publication in the _feuilleton_ of _The Constitutionnel_ not less than four, nor more than six volumes of novels per annum, for which he was to be paid 2000 dollars per volume on delivery of the manuscript.