The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-11-23
FROM THE NEW YORK LITERARY GAZETTE.
LITERARY HOURS.

hceen men of genius Uad their age.
The world has known but few great men.
Its generations have lived, and passed n
way from tho place of the prefane and the
holy, while the record OF their obsequics
has mouldered beneath the oblivious dark
ness Of other ages. Nearly in proportion
TO the number Of eminently great men,
have been the strongly marked eras Of
this worlds history. To these luminous
eras, the eye of philosophy looks as bea-
con. lights amidst the ocean of the past
They occur in the earlier, as well as the
latter periods ofsocial and political combin-
ations, exhibiting no less manifestly the
powerful efficiency of moral than ofphysi-
cal causes. Hence genius, that wonderful
g. mystcriou cndowments of nature, claims
even among the barbarous and the savage
kind ofdivlne prerogative. The bard who
pours his soul into the war, or the death
ng,the prophet g. the orator, who infame
to deeds of martial daring at the council.
firS the warrior, who leads OH searlessly to
victcty or death, are the chief, g. the noble,
and t6cApld of their age, the "viri sancti''
who live b long g. cherished remembrance.
Thus while we plough among the bones
of tho mighty ones who persuaded in the
language Of natures eloquence, and fought
with the heroism Of nature's inspiration, the
voice Of Philip, and Logan, and Malaanthe,
tells in the spirit. stirring echoes Of depart
ed glory upon the hearts Of the feeble and
scattered remnants ofther once noble race.
II is such men as these, who under circum
stances more favourable TO the dcvelope-
ment and exertion Of their powers have
commanded the worlds homage and ad-
miration. Some Of them have indeed been
thrown upon nges ofintellectuul darkness
but like the sun beaming from the clouds
in his strength, and careering through the
heavens to animate and to bless, they have
gone forth in their generation, casting of
the sackcloth OF mind, and arruying it in
'ae majesty and beauty Of its appropriate
attributes. Such, in word, have been the
trumphs Of geniue. Hence the more re-
fined ethical systems of antiquity, as well
as the sacred ,cord Of the eastern nations,
recognize mind rs an enanation from the
spiritual fountain Of light, and those few Of
its extraordinary displays, whose illumi-
nation, still plays around the mouldering
battlements Of the cities and empires that
were--but are not---as the incarations Of
Deity. They have features Of the godlike,
that awe us into reverence. A purcr than
the atmosphere Of this worlds contamina-
tions seem to breathe upon them--a no.
lier than the laurel Of this worlds glory, to
chcirclc and adorn them.
1t is the part of rational philosophy to
correct this extravagant estimate ofgenius
Ito contemplate it in its true attitude and
relations-magnifcent indeed, and spirit
ual and heaven born--yet rs modified and
developed by circumstance and occasion.
In the most powerful minds there are la-
tent energies, which only great occasions
can elicit. The lightning may sleep long
in the bosom Of tho tempest, just mantling
at intervals the skirts Of the storm-cloud ;
but it is only upon the ronciission ofthe cl-
ements that il breaks forth from the hiding
place Of its power, to purify, while it aston
ishes and confounds. No doubt many
genius Of the first order, denied by nature
o congenial sphere ofoperation, has taken
his solitary way TO the sepulchfe unheod-
ed--unremembered.
Il is fact too which looks proudly, yet
pitfulIy from the intellectual history Of
man, that the most exalted MINIS. while
the circumstances of their age excite their
creative power, are often known but in
succeeding times, when their coinage cnn
be recognized, and their eternal chaplet
woven by kindred natures. The slumber-
ing energies of the highly gifted, may BE-
walked but slowly, or they may be rui fort
in circumstances too Obscure, or their re
suits may be too profound, or abstrI'se, o.
imposing, for the intelligence ofthe age
A Homer may moisten with his tears the
cboiscst flowers Of Helcon, or sit weep
ing for neglect, upon the banks Of his be-
loved Hippocrcne, or like the divine Dam
te. solace the bitter hours ofcxilc and con.
finemcnt. by the brilliant visions ofprophe-
tic fancy. or die iu solitude upon the rocks
y Cbios--and the majestic stream Of his
song flow ON TO bless the genius Of other