The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-08-17
SC0rcestrr:
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST II, 1925.
LITERARY.

IRE charlottesville author of Waiver.
ly has again made his appearance before the
public. The present production is cer,ainlv
much superior to several Of the last of the same
author. s. 81. Ronan's Wep' ami "Rs1-
gauntlet" though by no mems destitute Of
interest, do not possess that degrte of it. which
we were entitled to expect from the pen that
PRODUCED Guy .Mannering and Iuanhos. la.
deed, we had began to think that the prolific
genius which had produced 50 many match
less romances, and SO long held the literary
world in establishment, had exhausted ;ts
stores. But we are now convinced tina. tbe
mighty magician has only BE- en- slnmbering, to
awe us by his waking effort.
The present work consists of two distinct
tales. The scene Of the first is laid upon the
borders of Wales and England, in tn, time or
Henry the second The wild manners and
rough bearing of the WEIGH are finely con-
trasted with the polished department and chr
valrous conduit Of their Norman enemies
while the selfish and bargain-drlving charac-
ter Of the Flemish settlers is thrown in. asa
relief, TO Gil up those parts the picture which
could not be occupied with more interesting
bgures. The author, however, has evidently
reserved his strength for the second piece
This is indeed a tale of chivalry-and he that
can read It without emotion, without that
thrilling sense produced by glowing descrip-
tons OF magnificent objects, and deeds Of no.
BILE daring, Can have but little romance in his
composition.-The scene of this tale is Pales-
tue, at the time when Richard of he 50 hon
heart" accompanied BY the mightiest and the
bravest of Christendor, led on the host of the
cross to : do battle'' for the holy sepulchre.
and TO break a lance for God and for fame, be-
fore the walls of em-The king of Eng.
land, who is the first parsonage in the work,
though not the nominal hero of the tale, ap-
pears in character somewhat different from
that he sustained in lvanhoe. There we saw
him after defeat had darkt ned his fortune, and
imprisonment had shaded, though not quelled
his naughty spirit, returning 10 his rebellous
Kingdom in the garb of an unknown and a
friendess knight.-Here we see The proud
monarch, the leader of the chivalry of Flu.
rope, the chosen champion of the faith, press
ing forward in the full possession of glory, to
win new laurels by encouuteriDg saladin, " the
scourge ofGod." We have too the charac-
ter of this great Turkish prince portrayed 10
, vivid colours, forming, by his cautious policy
and cool disposition, a striking contrast to the
fiery and impctuous Richard.-The broad OUT
line Of the whole is filed up with train ofin-
cidents calculated to give interest TO the mar
rative, and to display in favourable light the
manners of the age.-lt may, Of course, be
supposed that the shield and the spear are not
left TO rust for lack of work, and that g. ladie
love" is not wanting to reward the victor in
the lists. We have them al-and all are
thrown into SO agreeable an assemblage, as
to be surpassed but by few Of the productions
of this wonderful author.
We have seen the first number OF periodi-
cal work entitled "The Garland" edited by
G. A. Carnage, and published in Auburn, N Y.
the object Of which is TO collect portion Of
the best specimens Of American poetry, to-
gether with occasional selections from English
publications.--We approve of the plan ands
from the present specimen, are inclined TO think
| favourably of ito execution. The best of A.
meriCan poetry is found in the fugitive pieces
which appear in our newspapers, the circum-
stances of our country and the encouragement
given to the lighter departments of literatures
not permitting resort to the writing of poetry
as profession. Unless, therefore, some such
method is resorted to as the one proposed to
preserve from oblivion these occasional produo-
lions, the coming generation will have ut'Iit-
tie knowledge of the poetry of this. For this
reason we are glad to see the proposals Of a
work of this description, and trust it will meet
with encouragement and success.
l