The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-09-19

aIuced 20. INo' HPS'
For the Massachusetts Spy.
We have read with much pleas
ure a Poem, called LOGAN, lately writ
ten by Mr.. Samuel IFebber, and pub
lished at Cambridge. The subject
of the poem is taken from the story of
Logan. AN Indian Chief, and is related
in Jefferson's Notes on Virginia. 1t is in
substance as follows Logan was the
chief of an Indian tribe living within the
borders of Virginia, and was ever re-
markabIe among the neighbouring saw
ages for his friendship and attachment
to the whites; from which Circumstance
he was frequently pointed at in scorn, as
the white mans friend, and never would
Join the ether tribes in their wars a.
gainst the English. 1t happened, unfor-
, tunafely, that his family, as they were
passing down the river kanhawa, IN
their canoe, were mistaken, by some
whites, in ambush upon the banks, for
party belonging to hostile tribe They
were uovvrtiiusiy fired upon, and all in
the canoe were killed. Revenge, the
darling passion of the Indians, was. upon
the news of this murder, kmdled in the
breast Of Logan. lie pursued desolat-
ing war against the whites, and destroy
ed many of their number; but, at last,
though overpowered by the superiour
strength of his foes, and obliged to de-
sist from hestilities, he scorned to join
the other Indian tribes in their treaty
with the whites.
Excepting his famous speech, we hear
nothing more of him afterwards. The
poem opens with description of the
hero, which we do not think coloured
beyond the life, however few there
may be, in these degenerate days Of the
savage, in whom we may trace the re-
semblance either in the noble fern, the
active and powerful mind, the daring
spirit, or the honorable and manly feel
ings. All this is told in strain of very
good poetry but finer passages come at
forwards. Therapid decay ofthe Indians,
and the more rapid advances of cultIVat-
ed life, are well portrayed.
t'The race who once the wilds possessed,
Is vanished, as from oceans breast
Fades the white mist of early day
Before the SUMS enliVening ray"
e
S'Year after year, with ceaseless change,
Still narrower grew their forest range;
The summers air, with gentle gale,
Still breath'd along the greenwood vale !;
And summers sun, with cheering ray,
Smil'd on the landscape rich and gay.
But not, as wont, did now that breeze
Whisper but through the forest trees.
That summer-beam did not behold
What once it saw in days of old
The scenes of nature, wild and rude,
Lovely, but still in solitude.
That breeze DER cluster'd hamlets swept,
On culaur'd fields that sunbeam slept;
But white men there bestowed the toll,
And reap'd the produce Of the soil.''-
2. IT,
The natives, brooding over these
things, and 1oreseeing their gradual but
ultimate and certain destruction, are
naturally enough wrought up to great
degree of frenzy and evaporation a.
gainst the whites
-" all we claim
For that attachment, unsubdu'd,
To shores however waste and rude
Where first we drew the breath of life+
And every scene around is rife
With thoughts that dwell upon the mind
When other thoughts are left behind
All dwelt within the Indians heart.s
&c. &C. PIG.
This is feeingly told. Logan still re-
mains faithful TO the whites. In the
depth of winter some of them are attack
ed and murdered by the natives. The
whites silently await the return Of
spring to take vengeance on the enemy.
And here we cannot but remark that
abe author has given us, In a few words,
description of Spring, glowing and
beautiful, though we were not led to
expect any novelty of thought or ex-
preston in subjects like the Seasons,
which have been set forth before us in all
the yividncss of life, almost from the
creation to the present time.-During
the Spring, Logan grants his wife her
request, that she, with her children,
might visit some friends from whom she
had long been separate. At nighthe has
dream of his fanily's being exposed
to imminent danger; and in his agony a.
wakes. In the morning he goes forth
to the chase, and meets with an Indian
warriour hostile to the whites. The
warriour endeavours to inspire him with
some portion of his own deadly hate, by