Text: Edgar Allan Poe and Thomas Ollive Mabbott, “Geoge B. Cheever” The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Vol. IV: The Literati of New York City (2026), pp. 37-38 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 37:]

GEORGE B. CHEEVER.(1)

The Reverend George B. Cheever created at one time something of an excitement by the publication of a little brochure entitled “Deacon Giles’ Distillery.” He is much better known, however, as the editor of “The Commonplace Book of American Poetry,” a work which has at least the merit of not belying its title, and is exceedingly commonplace.(2) I am ashamed to say that for several years this compilation afforded to Europeans the only material from which it was possible to form an estimate of the poetical ability of Americans. The selections appear to me exceedingly injudicious, and have all a marked leaning to the didactic. Dr. Cheever is not without a certain sort of negative ability as critic, but works of this character should be undertaken by poets or not at all. The verses which I have seen attributed to him are undeniably médiocres.

His principal publications, in addition to those mentioned above, are “God's Hand in America,”(3) “Wanderings of a Pilgrim under the Shadow of Mont Blanc,” “Wanderings of a Pilgrim under the Shadow of Jungfrau,”(4) and, lately, a “Defence of Capital Punishment.”(5) This “Defence” is at many points well reasoned, and as a clear resumé of all that has been already said on its own side of the question, may be considered as commendable. Its premises, however, (as well as those of all reasoners   pro or con on this vexed topic,) are admitted only very partially by the world at large — a fact of which the author affects to be ignorant. Neither does he make the slightest attempt at bringing forward one novel argument. Any man of ordinary invention might have adduced and maintained a dozen.

The two series of “Wanderings” are, perhaps, the best works of their writer. They are what is called “eloquent;” a little too much in that way, perhaps, but nevertheless entertaining.

Dr. Cheever is rather small in stature, and his countenance is vivacious; in other respects there is nothing very observable about his personal appearance. He has been recently married.(6)

[[Notes]]

[page 38:]

1. George Barrell Cheever (April 17, 1807 - October 1, 1890) published an article called “Inquire at Amos Giles’ Distillery” in the Salem Landmark, January 31, 1835. Deacon John Stone, a Unitarian, sued for libel, since Cheever had been very severe against that sect. Meanwhile, on February 7, certain lesser zealots assaulted Cheever with a cowhide. Much of this is taken from the Cincinnati Journal of March 13, 1835. The Essex Institute has several broadsides about the affair. Pamphlet editions of The Dream; or, the True History of Deacon Giles’ Distillery, New York, 1846, 1848, and 1849 have been seen.

2. The Commonplace Book appeared in Boston, 1831, and was several times reprinted.

3. God's Hand in America came out at 1841 [[New York: M. Dood — JAS]].

4. The two books of Wanderings were issued in one volume by Wiley and Putnam, 1846.

5. Cheever published Capital Punishment, New York, 1843, an argument in reply to J. L. O'Sullivan, later incorporated in A Defence of Capital Punishment, New York, 1846, to which Poe refers. His grounds are largely Scripture and Precedent. J. R. Lowell's comment in “A fable for Critics,” 488f may be quoted,

6. Cheever married Elizabeth Hoppin Wetmore, November 2, 1845.