The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-05-28
MISCELLANY.
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From the Northern Whig.1
b YR o N.


It is therefore worth while to know the
opinion of sound heads, aud correct
hearts, in estimating the moral charac-
ter of this great poet.
The genius of the man, and the ias-
cination Of the verse are widely felt
And pity it is, that one so highly gifted,
should be found on the side of immoral
ity. 1t is vain, however, to try for the
suppression of any book, in acountry
where the jealousy of what is called
the liberty of the press, protects even
its widest excuses, and shields the
most scandalous abuses of that ali-pow-
erful engine.
Something may be done, however,
by employing the only antidote within
our reach. II was well said, that & err
Tor of opinion may be safely tolerated,
where reason is left free TO combat it,"
And in such case, the full and free ex-
position of truth, in terms at once Sc
ductive and convincing, is a service
rendered 10 the community which moth
ing but gratitude can repay.
OF this character do we hold the fol-
lowing exposition of Lord Byron's poe
try. His wonderful genius is ackuowl-
eyed, as indeed it must be by every
pretender to taste, while at the same
time fearless and frank denunciation
is made of the evil tendency Of the
work.
Such criticism, it is to be hoped, will
have the effect intended
Z" The charge we bring against Lord
Byron, in short, is, that his writings have
a tendency to destroy all belief in the
reality Of virtue-and TO make all en-
thusiasm and constancy of affection
ridiculous and that this is effected, not
merely by direct maxims and examples,
of an imposing or seducing kind, but by
the constant exhibition of the most
proaigate heartlessness in the persons
of those who had been transientIy rep
resented as actuated by the purest and
ypost exalted emotions-and in the les
sons of that very teacher who had been,
but moment before, so beautifully pa
thetick in the expression of the l0ftiest
conceptions. When rash and gay yo-
luptuary descants, somewh at TOO freely,
on the intoxications Of love and wine,
we ascribe his excuses TO the efEerves-
cence of youthful spirits, and do not
consider him as seriously impeaching
either the value or the reality of the
seyerer virtues; and in the same way,
when the satirist deals out his sarcasms
against the sincerity of human profess
sions, and unmasks the secret in6rmities
of our bosoms, we consider this as aim
ed at hypocrisy, and not at mankind
or, at all events, and in either case, we
consider the sensualist and misantb rope
as wandering, each in bis own delusion,
and pity those who have never known
the charms Of a tender or generous af-
fiction. The true antidote to such seduc-
five or revolving views of human nature,
is to turn TO the scenes Of lis nobleness
and attraction and to reconcile our
selves again 10 our kind, by listening to
the accents of pure affection and incor-
.ruptible honour. But if those accents
have flowed in all their sweetness, from
the very lips that instantly open again
to mock and blaspheme them, the anti
dole is mingled with the poison, and
the draught is the more deadly for the
mixture
"The reveller may pursue bis orgies,
and the wantou display her enchant-
ments with comparative safety to those
around them, while they know or be-
lieve that there are purer enjoyments,
and teachers and followers Of happier
way. Bot if the priest pass from the
altar, with persuasive exhortations 10
peace and purity still trembling on bis