Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-06-19

Tragedy is ono OF the highes, presumed orders !
Hughes has written a tragedy, aud very success I
full Que; Fcnton another; and Pope none. Did /
any man, hcwevcr,--will even MIR. Bowlcs himself.
rank Hughes and Fenton as poets above. Pore |
Was even Addison, (thc author Of Cato,) or Rowe
Zone OF the higher order of dramaisis far sue
cess goes or Young, or ercn Otway and Soutlernc
even raised for moment the same rank with
Pope in the estimation of the reader or tho critic
before his death or since IL MIR. Bowles will con-
tend for classiicaons of this kind let him rccollect
that descriptive poetry has been ranked as among
the lowest branches of the art, and description MS n
mere ornament but which should never form 90 the
subject Oft poem. The Italians with the most
roetical language, and the most fastidous in
Europe, possess now five great poets, they say,
Dante, Pctrarch, Ariosto, Tasso and lastly Alicri
and whom do they esteem one of the highest of
these, and some of them the very highest Perarch
the sos,jhtcer II is true that some of his Canzoni
| are not less esteemed, but mot more who ever
| dreams OF his Latin Africa
| Were Petrach to be ranked according 10 the " or
| der OF his compositions, where would the hest of
sonnets place him with Dante and the others.
no. but, N have before said, the poet who erecuies
best, is the highest whatever his department, and
will ever be SO rated in the worlds esteem.
Had Gray written nothing hut his Elegy, high as
| lie stands, am not sure that he would not stand
higher; II is the corner stone of his glory without
II, his odes would be insufficient for his fame The
depreciation of Pope is partly founded upon false
uea OF the dignity oil his order OF poetry, TO which
|
| That no, in fancy's maze he wandered long,
| >, hut Hocpd TO truth, and moralized his song."
lie should have written " rose 10 truth" In nv
mind the highest of all poetry is ethical poetry as
the highest ofall earthly objects must be moral truth
, Religion does not make apart Of nv subject ; Il is
something beyond human powers and has failed in
| all human hands except Millions and Dantc's, and
even Dantes powers are involved in his dclineation
OF human passions, though in supernatural circum-
| stances. What made Socrates the greatest of mon
tiis moral Iruth--hs ethics. What proved Jesus
fnp ,f,f( ,nIk ILL.,
His moral precepts And if ethics have made a
philosopher the first of men, and have not been dis
dained as adjunct to his Gospel by the Deity
hpse, are we to be told that ethical poetry, di
dacuc poetry, or by Whatever yen term it
whose object is to make men better aud wiser is
not the rer first order of poetry and arc we TO be
told this too by one of the priesthood II requires
more mind, more wisdom, more power, than all the
g forests that ever were "a walked" for their lcs
crphon, and all the epics that ever were founded
upon helds OF battle The Georges are indsputa-
bly,, and, believe, nndispmediy even finer poem
than the Ened Virgil knew this; he did no, or
der tlrm To be burnt
"rhe proper study of mankind isman.r
IL rs the fashion OF the day To lay great stress up
on what they call - imagination and Z" invention -
the two commoncst of qualities: an Irish peasant
with little whiskey in his head will imagine and
invent more than would furnish forth a modern po-
EN-. III Lucrctus had not been spoiled by the Epi-
curean system, we should have had a far supcror
poem 10 any now in existence. As mere poetry, it
IS the first of Latin poems. What then has ruined
t' His cities Pope has not this defect: his mo-
raj is as pure as his poetry is glorious
To be continued
SECOND DAY OF THE CATTLE SHOW AND aGR1-
CULTURAL FAIR.
The Maryland horticultural Society on the I'd day
ol inc show and FAIR agreealy TO adjournment, award
the premiums offered by the Society exhibition of
the best animals of several species the report OF
Tue committee appointed TO examine the Agricultural I'm
pecnts offered public views for the transaction of
the annual business of the Society.
The committees gave in their reports earv in the dav
late and t;sf,
marks to the owners Of ;c stock, the premiums were de-
ivecd TO the gratifc aud successful competitors The
society then proceeded TO the election of officers and The
consideration Of several measures intended to pcmoe m
objects, aud preparatory TO a future show We nv, ~,
yet received an official report ofthe nor shall
we probably obnin il for few days but understand
and may in the meanwhile remark, that Robert Smith,
Esq was reelected President, Jno. e. Howard Jr ESQ
Secretary Ino % skinner Esq Corresponding Secretary
and James Cox Esq Treasurer. Further tina: il is intend
cd 10 convene members OF The sccicv fror,
each county in The state September for the purpose
orevising the constitution, and digesiin the plans OF f
| ture exhibitions. " "
After the society had disposed these proceedings they
sat down excellent dinner which had been prepared
for them by Mr.. Stone whose arrangements for the rccen
ton of so large company cntiie hI. 10 very great
credit for we understand that the members present a
mounted to about hundred exclusive Of many visitors
and large concoursc of spectators.
After dinner The discretionary premiums were riven h
the society the of animals of great mer
it, but of foreign blood bad been recommended by the
committee on neat caitlemany of the animals were then
ohered at public sale and very prices bid for
several of the most approved The parties however being
personally known to each other, andthe competition owing
TO the duness Of the times not being animated proa
bic that most of the sales which occasion has led
| will have been privately effected.
The Committee of Implements made very satisfactory
oral report TO the society, in terms ofmerited conmena-
ton oil the ingenuity and skin displayed their workman
ship by the several makers and took particular notice of
several rery voluabc implements Their official return
WIZ DE made to the corresponding secretary, who
structed TO deliver several premiums provided the COM
| nlttec detected them TO be bcSto1 ed.
The society then adjourned again at the call of
the convention and the company before dispersed at
tended public sale of the Agricultural Implements the
makers OF which viii generally have ample cause 10 be s
usnsd with the effects of the display.
The Show and Fair has pas cd 6y in the most nst;fvn
manner to its friends ard in creditable manner 10
this vicinity. Perhaps there never was so LARGE CON
harmony and order prevailed when efforts was made
nor required TO preserve institute police equations.
tBatt. Pat.
The u s. ship Peacock in coming into the harbor on
Monday afternoon, from Hampton Roads, excited the adj
mraon OF every beholder at her extraordinary neatnes
and good appearance, though just from long Atlantic
voyage, and after absence of nearly ropths
during which she constantly engaged upon the most
active and arduous services
Imay he small evidence Of uncea sing DILIGENCE
with which the Peacock has been employ eli in the led
erIanean, TO sta te that in her passages TO and from the
various ports embraced in her orders rayered over
space OF upwards OF tI0ent5i-seVel thousand miles,
Inc period within which she has performed her late
voyage by the longest Southern route gives her tho
highest reputation fast aileT and bears the most fat
erng testimony TO the vigilance activity her COM
mander aud officers and TO the very excellent discipline
OF Che ships company.