Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-07

These are, we acknowledge, tribes, but like !
sfiu,es they show which way the wind blows /
and before we finish this examination, our read |
ers may find that it ,ciU 6io,c q gaze from that |
quarter. +
We have pointed out some of the errors of the |
work, and are aware that in the eyes of many, |
these may be redecmable by its beauties. lis !
descriptions we have acknowledged TO be glow |
ing and rich, and wanting only faithulncss and |
applicability while IL the strain Of praise |
we may as well refer to the characters-'rhesc
seldom do any thing unworthy of their Gloss
and Mike and Annie Brown stand in good re-
Ief--thcy are nearly finished, certainly well
kept up--and there are scenes, in which these
persons are actors, that would become the pages
OF the Great Unknown-nor should the wild
impassioned grief of Mrs. Lackbrain be forgot
ten. The death of MIKE is worth reading; vet
IT IS not all that the author could have made of
it. Such situations have been seized upon by
modern writers, as calculated to bring into use,
their talents, which may have slumbered ti.ro'
whole preceding pages: this style of writing and
acting Is In vogue at present, and if awritcr or
actor does not mean to excel in the old line, Inc
would better seize on the advantages of the
new.
Mike ShuCk and Annie Brown, we rcpcai
are characters-all of the others are embryos.
The minister who might have headed well
drawn flock, is nottnS-and his son and daueh-
ter, legitimate descendants-yct this was care
lessness, for the pen that drew Shuck, the
Witch, and Mrs. I4ackbran, could not have
lost its nib entirely, when directed towards other
Characters. There is sweetness and artcss
delicacy in IIameda, that leads the reader TO
wish, that She should not have been so neglected.
we come now TO an examination OF a few
scenes that we would gladly cxpunge from the
worh-and we blush for an .3s,e,Ica,a author
VINO can think so mcanly of an American com
IMMUNITY, as to store the pages Of novel with
descriptions that are TO he found Oh the forms
Oh almost every common school i'll New Eng.
land.
Charles, Edward and Uncas. these consider
able personagcs of the book, are hunting a wolf
winch is pursued 10 den, into which a dog re-
fuses 70 enter second lime, being badly " ound-
ed IN lis first attempt. Charles after cursiisr his
Jog FOR a coward, prepares TO enter the cave
himself, with his rifle, which, Notwithstanding
the eXpostulation of Edward, he actually eGec-
ted. Arrived at the extremity of the den, he
discovers the wolf lii position TO spring upon
hin, he discharges his rifle, waits the dispersion
OF the s''oke, ascertains that his enemy is dead
and draas her out by the ears.
Now TO one not acquainted with New Eng
iand history, this story might procure the author
OF the switch" some credit; bat who that has
read the life of Putnam, does not see that the
whole affair is borrowed frc,n Ire account of the
Generals descent into the den in Pomfrct now
j
sionaiiy, literally copied from Humphreys life
OF Putnam; and the author in his laudatle at
tention to facts has not even omitted the sex oc
the wolf.
The same expedition furnishes the author
with another opportunity OF bor7o,c;nc: and on
finding some mao,moh bones, (some thing strange
IN New England) lucas relates two Indian le
gends, one which is borrowed from "Air. JEFF
ieisoA' Notes on Virginia" the other we reco!-
tn rct 4. h,,, IL; IL,
contain its originality.
WIN these sins upon his head, with what face
can an autaor come before reading communi
y. who that reads the work will have. the
least confidence N the narration. Every man.
even OF >siendcr attainmcnts, will probably be
asie to point out some PLAGIARISM, and This
'h'nS OF ''Shreds s. oacics,n is t5 be hung I'D ae
neh'cnto OF its parents piifering habits. We
regret the appearance Of this work. because we
know that the scenery prciudiccs. and events IN
Hew England, furnish The most ample materials
or tie novelist rs well as the dranatist: but if
ne grass is troddcn down by ponche,,s il,, man
OF talents viii venture TO thrust in his scylhe
Let no man touch the Snpersfition or the ,cisches
ol oiden tiinH, who Is ignorant of The scenery and
ieelings OF the New Engianders
we have, as we proposed, referred 10 This
,rr w,,at mating ourselves pur readers
ted things rs they are If The autI,or cf Ito
IVY itch" IS New EBeJnl man, he must have
'oF9otten, or never hive known the events
Wh!ch transpircd in the scvcnteent, century
u he Is not yankee, his absolute E,ilz,re s,ou
be warning to al! aoreiist and ;5ia,ro,5ghis to
AVOID tie rocks and shoals upon which he has
wrecked himself. IL is ouly by a New Fnr!and
cr' that Few England scenes and feelings can
be described.
Wv Gt.r,