It is with great
pleasure that we have found our
anticipations fulfilled, in respect to the
popularity of these
chapters
— our individual claim to merit is so trivial that we may be permitted
to say so much — but we confess it was with no less surprise than
pleasure
that we observed so little discrepancy of opinion manifested in
relation
to the hasty critical, or rather gossiping observations which
accompanied
the signatures. Where the subject was so wide and so necessarily
personal
— where the claims of more than one hundred
literati, summarily
disposed of, were turned over for re-adjudication to a press so
intricately
bound up in their interest as is ours — it is really surprising how
little
of dissent was mingled with so much of general comment. The fact,
however,
speaks loudly to one point: — to the
unity of truth. It
assures
us that the differences which exist among us, are differences not of
real,
but of affected opinion, and that the voice of him who maintains
fearlessly
what he believes honestly, is pretty sure to find an echo (if the
speaker
be not mad) in the vast heart of the world at large.
Chas. Sprague
The writings of
CHARLES SPRAGUE were first
collected
and published about nine months ago by Mr. Charles S. Francis, of New
York.
At the time of the issue of the book, we expressed our opinion frankly,
in respect to the general merits of the author — an opinion with which
one or two members of the Boston press did not see fit to agree — but
which,
as yet, we have found no reason for modifying. What we say now is, in
spirit,
merely a repetition of what we said then. Mr. Sprague is an
accomplished
belles-lettres scholar,
so far as the usual ideas of scholarship extend. He is a very correct
rhetorician
of the old school. His versification has not been equalled by that of
any
American — has been surpassed by no one, living or dead. In this regard
there are to be found finer passages in his poems than any elsewhere.
These
are his chief merits. In the
essentials of poetry he is
excelled
by twenty of our countrymen whom we could name. Except in a very few
instances
he gives no evidence of the loftier ideality. His "Winged Worshippers "
and " Lines on the Death of M. S. C." are
beautifal poems —
but
he has written nothing else which should be called so. His " Shakspeare
Ode," upon which his high reputation mainly depended, is quite a
second-hand
affair — with no merit whatever beyond that of a
polished and
vigorous
versification. Its imitation of "Collins' Ode to the Passions" is
obvious.
Its allegorical conduct is mawkish,
passe, and absurd. The
poem,
upon the whole, is just such a one as would have obtained its author an
Etonian prize some forty or fifty years ago. It is an exquisite
specimen
of mannerism without meaning and without merit — of an artificial, but
most inartistical style of composition, of which conventionality is the
sou], — taste, nature and reason the antipodes. A man may be a clever
financier
without being a genius.
It requires but
little
effort to see in Mr.
Sprague's
MS. all the idiosyncrasy of his intellect. Here are distinctness,
precision,
and vigor — but vigor employed upon
"rare rather than upon its
legitimate
functions. The signature fully indicates the general hand — in which
the
spirit of elegant imitation and conservatism may be seen reflected as
in
a mirror.
[page 45:]
Cornelius Mathews
Mr. CORNELIUS MATHEWS
is one of the editors of
"Arcturus,"
a monthly journal which has attained much reputation during the brief
period
of its existence He is the author of " Puffer Hopkins," a clever
satirical
tale somewhat given to excess in caricature, and also of the
well-written
retrospective criticisms which appear in his Magazine. He is better
known,
however, by " The Motley Book," published some years ago — a work which
we had no opportunity of reading. He is a gentleman of taste and
judgment,
unquestionably.
His MS. is much to
our
liking — bold, distinct
and
picturesque — such a hand as no one destitute oftalent indites. The
signature
conveys the hand.
C. Fenno Hoffman
Mr. CHARLES FENNO
HOFFMAN is the author of "A
Winter
in the West," "Greyslaer," and other productions of merit. At one time
he edited, with much ability, the "American Monthly Magazine" in
conjunction
with Mr. Benjamin, and, subsequently, with Dr. Bird. He is a gentleman
of talent.
His chirography is
not
unlike that of Mr.
Mathews.
It has the same boldness, strength, and picturesqueness, but is more
diffuse,
more ornamented and less legible. Our
fac-simile is from a
somewhat
hurried signature, which fails in giving a correct idea of the general
hand.
Horace Greeley
Mr. HORACE GREELEY,
present editor of " The
Tribune,"
and formerly of the "New-Yorker," has for many years been remarked as
one
of the most able and honest of American editors. He has written much
and
invariably well. His political knowledge is equal to that of any of his
contemporaries — his general information extensive. As a
belles-lettres
critic
he is entitled to high respect.
His MS. is a
remarkable one — having about it a
peculiarity
which we know not how better to designate than as a
ronverse of
the picturesque. His characters are scratchy and irregular, ending with
an
airapt taper — if we may be allowed this contradiction in
terms,
where we have
the far-simile to prove that there is no
contradiction
in fact. All abrupt MSS., save this, have square or
ronrise terminations
of the letters. The whole chirography puts us in mind of a jig. We can
fancy the writer jerking up his hand from the paper at the end of each
word, and, indeed, of each letter. What mental idiosyncrasy lies
perda
beneath
all this, is more than we can say, but we will venture to assert that
Mr.
Greeley (whom we do not know personally)
is, personal!', a
very
remarkable man.
Prosper M. Wetmore
The name of Mr.
PROSPER M. WETMORE jS familiar to
all readers of American light literature. He has written a great deal,
at various periods, both in prose and poetry, (but principally in the
latter)
for our Papers, Magazines, and Annuals. Of late days we have seen but
little,
comparatively speaking, from his pen.
His MS. is not unlike
that of Fitz-Greene
Halleck,
but is by no means so good. Its clerky flourishes indicate a love of
the
beautiful with an undue straining for effect — qualities which are
distinctly
traceable in his poetic efforts. As many as five or sis words are
occasionally
run together; and no man who writes thus will be noted for
finish
of style. Mr. Wetmore is sometimes very slovenly in his best
compositions.
Henry W.
PROFESSOR WARE, of
Harvard, has written some very
excellent poetry, but is chiefly known by his " Life of the Saviour," "
Hints on Extemporaneous Preaching," and other religious works.
His MS. is fully
shown
in the signature. It
evinces
the direct, unpretending strength and simplicity which characterize the
man, not less than his general compositions.
[page 46:]
William B. O. Peabody
The name of WILLIAM
B.
O. PEABODY, like that of
Mr.
Wetmore, is known chiefly to the readers of our light literature, and
much
more 6miliarly to Northern than to Southern readers. He is a resident
of
Springfield, Mass. His occasional poems have been much admired.
His chirography is
what would be called beautiful
by the ladies universally, and, perhaps, by a large majority of the
bolder
sex. Individually, we think it a miserable one — too careful,
undecided,
tapering, and effeminate. It is not unlike Mr. Paulding's, but is more
regular and more legible, with less force. We hold it as undeniable
that
no man of
genius ever wrote such a hand.
Epes Sargent
EPES SARGENT, Esq.,
has acquired high reputation
as the author of " Velasco," a tragedy full of beauty as a poem, but
not
adapted — perhaps not intended — for representation. He has written,
besides,
many very excellent poems — "The Missing Ship," for example, published
in the "Knickerbocker" — the " Night Storm at Sea " — and, especially,
a fine production entitled "Shells and Sea-Weeds." One or two
Theatrical
Addresses from his pen are very creditable in
their way — but
the
way itself is, as we have before said, execrable. As an editor, Mr.
Sargent
has also distinguished himself. He is a gentleman of taste and high
talent.
His MS. is too much
in
the usual clerk style to
be
either vigorous, graceful, or easily read. It resembles Mr. Wetmore's,
but has somewhat more force. The signature is better than the general
hand,
but conveys its idea very well.
W. Allston
The name of
"Washington Allston," the poet and
painter,
is one that has been long before the public. Of his paintings we have
here
nothing to say — except brieiy, that the most noted of them are not to
our taste. His poems are not all of a high order of merit; and, in
truth
the faults of his pencil and of his pen are identical. Yet every reader
will remember his " Spanish Maid " with pleasure, and the "Address to
Great
Britain," first published in Coleridge's "Sibylline Leaves," and
attributed
to an English author, is a production of which Mr. Allston may be
proud.
His MS.,
notwithstanding an exceedingly simple
and
even boyish air, is one which we particularly admire. It is forcible,
picturesque
and legible, without ornament of any description. Each letter is formed
with a thorough distinctness and individuality. Such a MS. indicates
caution
and precision, most unquestionably — but we say of it as we say of Mr.
Peabody's (a very different MS.) that no man of original genius ever
did
or could habitually indite it under any circumstances whatever. The
signature
conveys the general hand with accuracy.
Alfred B. Street
MR. ALFRED B. STREET
has been long before the
public
as a poet. At as early an age as fifteen, some of his pieces were
published
by Mr. Bryant in the "Evening Post" — among these was one of much
merit,
entitled a " Winter Scene." In the " New York Book," and in the
collections
of American poetry by Messieurs Keese and Bryant, will be found many
excellent
specimens of his maturer powers. "The Willewemoc," "The Forest Tree,"
"The
Indian's Vigil," "The Lost Hunter," and "White Lake" we prefer to any
of
his other productions which have met our eye. Mr. Street has fine
taste,
and a keen sense of the beautiful. He writes carefully, elaborately,
end
correctly. He has made Mr. Bryant his model, and in all Mr. Bryant's
good
points would be nearly his equal, were it not for the sad and too
perceptible
stain of the imitation. That he has imitated at all — or rather that,
in
mature age, he has persevered in his imitations — is sufficient
warranty
for placing him among the men of talent rather than among the men of
genius.
His MS. is full
corroboration of this warranty.
It
is a very pretty chirography, graceful, legible, and neat. By most
persons
it would be called beautiful. The fact is, it is without fault — but
its
merits, like those of his poems, are chiefly negative.
[page
47:]
R. Penn Smith
MR. RICHARD PENN
SMITH, although, perhaps, better
known in Philadelphia than elsewhere, has acquired much literary
reputation.
His chief works are "The Forsaken," a novel; a pseudo-auto-biography
called
"Colonel Crocket's Tour in Texas;" the tragedy of "Caius Marius," and
two
domestic dramas entitled "The Disowned" and "The Deformed." He has also
published two volumes of miscellanies under the title of " The Actress
of Padua and other Tales," besides occasional poetry. We are not
sufficiently
cognisant of any- of these works to speak with decision respecting
their
merits. In a biography of Mr. Smith, however, very well written by his
friend Mr. McMichael of this city, we are informed of "The Forsaken"
that
"a large edition of it was speedily exhausted" — - of "The Actress of
Padua,"
that it "had an extensive sale and was much commended" — of the "Tour
in
Texas," that "few books attained an equal popularity " — of "Caius
Marius,"
that " it has great capabilities for an acting play " _ of "The
Disowned"
and "The Deformed," that they "were performed at the London theatres,
where
they both made a favorable impression" — and of his poetry in general,
" that it will be found superior to the average quality of that
commodity."
" It is by his dramatic efforts," says the biographer, " that his
merits
as a poet must be determined, and judged by these he will be assigned a
place in the foremost rank of American writers." We have only to add
that
we have the highest respect for the judgment of Mr. McMichael.
Mr. Smith's MS. is
clear, graceful, and legible,
and would generally be called a fine hand, but is somewhat too clerky
for
our taste.
O. W. Holmes
DR. OLIVER WENDELL
HOLMES, of Boston, late
Professor
of Anatomy and Physiology at Dartmouth College, has written many
productions
of merit, and has been pronounced, by a very high authority, the best
of
the humorous poets of the day.
His chirography is
remarkably fine, and a quick
fancy
might easily detect, in its graceful yet picturesque quaintness, an
analogy
with the vivid drollery of his style. The signature is a fair specimen
of the general MS.
G. W. Doane
BISHOP DOANE, of New
Jersey, is somewhat more
extensively
known in his clerical than in a literary capacity, but has accomplished
much more than sufficient in the world of books to entitle him to a
place
among the most noted of our living men of letters. The compositions by
which he is best known were published, we believe, during his
professorship
of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in Washington College, Hartford.
His MS. has some
resemblance to that of Mr.
Greeley
of "The Tribune." The signature is far bolder and altogether better
than
the general hand.
Albert Pike
We believe that Mr.
ALBERT PIKE has never
published
his poems in book form; nor has he written anything since 1834. His
"Hymns
to the Gods," and "Ode to the Mocking Bird," being printed in
Blackwood,
are the chief basis of his reputation. His lines "To Spring" are,
however,
much better in every respect, and a little poem from his pen, entitled
"Ariel," and originally published in the " Boston Pearl," is one of the
finest of American compositions. Mr. Pike has unquestionably merit, and
that of a high order. His ideality is rich and well-disciplined. He is
the most
classic of our poets in the best sense of the term,
and
of course his classicism is very different from that of Mr. Sprague —
to
whom, nevertheless, he bears much resemblance in other respects. Upon
the
whole, there are few of our native writers to whom we consider him
inferior.
His MS. shows clearly
the spirit of his
intellect.
We observe in it a keen sense not only of the beautiful and graceful
but
of the picturesque — neatness, precision and general finish, verging
upon
effeminacy. In force it is deficient. The signature fails to convey the
entire MS. which depends upon masses for its peculiar character.
[page
48:]
James McHenry
DR. JAMES MCHENRY, of
Philadelphia, is well known
to the literary world as the writer of numerous articles in our Reviews
and lighter journals, but more especially as the author of "The
Antediluvians,"
an epic poem which has been the victim of a most shameful cabal in this
country, and the subject of a very disgraceful pasquinade on the part
of
Professor Wilson Whatever may be the demerits, in some regard, of this
poem, there can be no question of the utter want of fairness and even
of
common decency which distinguished the Philippic in question. The
writer
of a
just review of the "Antediluvians " — the only tolerable
American
epic — would render an important service to the literature of his
country.
Dr. McHenry's MS. is
distinct, bold and simple,
without
ornament or superfluity. The signature well conveys the idea of the
general
hand.
R. S. Nichols
MRS. R. S. NICHOLS
has
acquired much reputation
of
late years by frequent and excellent contributions to the Magazines and
Annuals. Many of her compositions will be found in our pages.
Her MS. is fair, neat
and legible, but formed
somewhat
too much upon the ordinary boarding-school model to afford any
indication
of character. The signature is a good specimen of the hand.
Richa. A. Locke
MR. RICHARD ADAMS
LOCKE is one among the few men
of
unquestionable genius whom the country possesses. Of the
"Moon
Hoax " it is supererogatory to say one word — not to know
that argues
one's self unknown. Its rich imagination will long dwell in the memory
of every one who read it, and surely if
the worth of any thing
Is just so much as it will bring —
if, in short, we are to judge of the
value of a literary composition
in any degree by its
effect — then was the "Hoax" most
precious.
But Mr. Locke is also
a poet of high order. We
have
seen — nay more — we have heard him read — verses of his own which
would
make the fortune of two-thirds of our poetasters; and he is yet so
modest
as never to have published a volume of poems. As an editor — as a
political
writer — as a writer in general — we think that he has scarcely a
superior
in America. There is no man among us to whose sleeve we would rather
pin
— not
our faith (of that we say nothing) — but our
judgment.
His MS. is clear,
bold, and forcible — somewhat
modified,
no doubt, by the circumstances of his editorial position — but still
sufficiently
indicative of his fine intellect.
R. W. Emerson
MR. RALPH WALDO
EMERSON belongs to a class of
gentlemen
with whom we have no patience whatever — the mystics for mysticism's
sake.
Quintilian mentions a pedant who taught obscurity, and who once said to
a pupil "this is excellent, for I do not understand it myself." How the
good man would have chuckled over Mr. E. ! His present
role seems
to be the outCarlyling Carlyle.
Lyrophron Teneirosas is a fool
to
him. The best answer to his twaddle is
cui bono? — a very
little
Latin phrase very generally mistranslated and misunderstood —
cui
bono?
— to whom is it a benefit ? If not to Mr. Emerson individually,
then
surely to no man living.
His love of the
obscure does not prevent him,
nevertheless,
from the composition of occasional poems in which beauty is apparent
by
flashes. Several of his effusions appeared in the " Western
Messenger"
— more in the "Dial," of which he is the soul — or the sun — or the
shadow.
We remember the "Sphynx," the "Problem," the "Snow Storm," and some
fine
old-fashioned verses entitled "Oh fair and stately maid whose eye."
His MS. is bad,
sprawling, illegible and
irregular
— although sufficiently bold. This latter trait may be, and no doubt
is,
only a portion of his general affectation.
[page 49:]
G. C. Verplanck
The name of GULIAN C.
VERPLANCK has long been
familiar
to all American readers, and it is scarcely necessary to say more than
that we coincide in the general view of his merits. His orations,
reviews,
and other compositions all evince the cultivated belles-lettres
scholar,
and man of intellect and taste. To high genius he has about the same
claim
as Mr. Sprague, whom in many respects he closely resembles.
His chirography is
unusually rambling and
schoolboyish
— but has vigor and precision. It has no doubt been greatly modified by
adventitious circumstances, so that it would be impossible to predicate
anything respecting it.