Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-08-08

to eharactsrize every iudl sidual romance
and lyric of England, is to suspect nam Oh
wish to appear thoroughly r'dicu,eas.
But the para graph is intended to portray
English literature, since on every priec'
pie of logick or common sense the lh'e'-
ence is fair that he meant to designate ies
predominating qualities. On the most IN,
dulgent supposition, he must be viewed
as describing the English writings SINGS
the Declaration of Independence. Con
fining this description, for one moment
to poetry and fictitious history, let us COM
mare it with the following statement.
There have appeared IN Great britain
since the Declaration of American lnde-
pendence the works of CowPer, the Re.
viver of the true English dlctlon; OF
Burns, the poet Of nature and passion; OF
Chattetton whose brilliant precoclty VIII
be the marvel of more ages than his own;
and of Mickle, whose version OF the Lu-
siad procured for that poem fame which
had been denied to the original, and IS
excelled only by the TRANSACTIONS OF Dry
den and Pope. The reader needs not to
be reminded of contemporary poetry-of
the glowing energy of Byron, the terse
purity of Campbell, or the elegant coplous-
ness of Scott. With regard to fictitious
history, it is sufficient for us to recollect
that during the prescribed PERIOD were
published the novels Of Miss Burney,
Mrs, West, and DIR Moore: to say nothing
of the humber but useful labours OF
Charlotte Smith, Mrs. Brunton, Miss
Edgeworth and Mrs. Opie Within this
interval too, Mrs. Radcliffe embellished
the literature of her country with the
exquisite {" Italian" and the other roman
ces which so endear her memoryto every
lover of genius. There is, perhaps, but
one individual of the reading world whom
it is necessary to remind of those wonder
full performances, the Edinburgh Novels,
But enlarging the narrow limits which
have hitherto voluntarily occupied, re-
vert to the declaration that the & dpostro-
phe~ must be considered as portrait of
English literature With this view OF 1T,
who can restrain his Indignation or his
laughter, when he reflects that since the
Declaration of Independence appeared the
greater part of the g Decline and FoH,"
several of Robertson's histories, beside
those of Ferguson, GiIlies and Roscoe?
Let it be remarked too that after this
epoch was published the greatest critical
performance which mankind ever saw
"the Lives of the poets" as these refer
ences are made chiefly from memory. they
are not designed to indicate completely
the progress of literature in England since
the year l776. TO the coeval advance
ment of science have not even alluded;
but let the reader compare this imperfect
statement with the +" 1fddresS' general y,
and specially with the mad apostrophe
which again insert
6. Stand forth, We champions of Britannia, ruler
9. of the waves Stand forth We chivalroua knights
8. ofthe chartered liberties and the rotten borough
" Enter the lists We boastcrs of inventive Genius
{. We mighty masters OF the palette and the brush!
&" Yc improvers upon the sculpture OF the Elsin
90 marbles Ye spQ,t ner; OF fustian romance and
| 9. lasciviors lylics! Come and enquire what has
.. America done for the benefit of mankind! In
.. the half century which has elapsed since the
90 declaration Of American indie. endcnce, what
:. nave YOU done for the benefit Of mankind 20
The Secretary vacila,es between the en-.
deayour 10 discourage literature among h's
couutrymep, aud he desire to render Eng
lish literature an ohjec,sit contempt. A;ier
sconfuliy remark 'pafTwe shall not conleud
:. with you Tor tNs. fsiize Of music, painting,
e" or poeIy,' he forthwith claims Mr. West
| az an American; aud so IN many similar m
stauCes. alter depressing All arr or science
because It's most successful Cuitivators have
| been Engiishmen, be e!evates II again when
one o, our coun,rymtn is IT. voiary. WIN
| he logic of this course | shall not now con-
Germ. lis radical wee is a tendency. to ~.
| fate popular vanity, aud 10 relax The efforts
| necessary to excellence, by minimizing That
excellence has been alrt ady obtained That
! the elements of every species OF excellence
exis, in The American character. cannot be
questioned, but their diversified combIna-
ton, are to result from time and circumssn-
ces. Whenever eXigency or even conye-
nence has prompted any particular direction
of mind in this country, as tor example IN
poincs, eioqueBce and mechanics, her
achievements may lie confidently compared
with those OF any nation, or any age. bul
by far he greater portion of the liberia! arts
is uE... Tor young community, aud The
era OF criticism, history and poetry in Ame
RIGA must be postponed Till her population
becomes richer and more leisurable. ln
this dilatoIy system there IS nothing remark
able; it expresse, the experience OF every
civilized nation from ancien, Egypt to Eng
land. The literature of this Union must one
day be as glorious as her polity:-palriotlsm
may prophesy that on our omn shores some
johnson will yet arise to institute the Law S
of western rhetoric, and some Hume TO ell
cit philosophy from our annals. Perhaps the
dreamer i. not too fond who looks through
the vista OF centuries for natal Homer to
consign to deathless song the exploits Of ouI
heroes.