Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-12-02

| IT. and breathes the feelings Of friendship. srati-
| tude and 10, e, which we may well suppose ever
animated the bosom of the second father Of Amer
can Independence. The volume concludes with
several Odes adapted TO the subject extracts from
which would be made in this place, did we not IN
tend to publish them at length, on some future oc-
cason. They are entitled Latayettes DEPART
urc," "Layfayettes Jubilee" "The Birth Day of
Laiayette,' :" Lines written alter the Departure of
Lafayette" and The Bow and Smile" we
know not when we have read Poem with more
satisfaction than We have this, and We recommend
it to the perusal of such Of our readers as are fond
| of encouraging the bards of their native country;
are disposed to while away an hour agreeably,
over u work Of rare merit
We do not deem it expedicnt to enter into an
elaborate analysis of this excellent production
since it has already stood the test of ADLER criticism
and received the warmest encomium at the hands OF
those, whose taste and whose judgment we esteem
far superior to ours and with few more remarks,
we sha bid adieu to Mr.. BRYAN and his Poem.
Some of the critics have however, objected to the
Lay Of Gratitude and urged, in defence of their
objections that the theme which it celebrates has
become somewhat won out if not positively stale
that it j. of character occasional 10 excite
an enduring interest Whilst We admit, that the
subject OF Gen. LAFAYE1TEs visit to this country,
has been oyer-done 10y the mere poeldsters oil the
times, we think there is little force in such kind OF
criticism A. well nigh, denounce the subject
If the annunclation OF the Savior o Mankind, az
| common place, over strained and over-done, be-
cause it has, for the last eighteen hundred years.
cen sung by poets OF every rank and description
and has been eloquently, well stupidity deciai-
| med upon by fanatics and enthusiasts. General
LArAYErTE's whole history forms bright track
| in the march of that glorious Revolution, which,
since the hour when his sword va first unsheathed
on the shores OF this continent, been az ancng
| towards the CONTAMINATION of national and lndivid-
| ual happiness, until tha present moment. The SUBJ
| ect of This Poem embraces principles, and cele-
brates actions and virtues, which must be dear
| to the bosom of every independent freeman, who
| feels veneration for the founders of our indepen-
dence, and orsbits that liberty for which our fa-
| thers grappled with the ninions Of despotism.--
| Every sentiment which animates Mr. BRYAN's Po-
EN-, has reference TO the great cause of human free
| dom. The principles it intends to commemorate.
| can never become stale or wearisone-the more
they are scrutinized, and the familiar they be-
| come, their lustre will be the more brilliant,
and the liveer must be the interest they excite in
| the breast OF virtue aud refinement. They are
| ke those sterling metals whose spendor and beau-
| " enhanced by attrtiop, and which last. for
p ;es. The theme which the Lay of Gratitude
is .ounded, differs very materially from those tenn
porar, and merely occasional subjects, which have
local relation, and are as evanescent in their ma
ture, as they are limited in the extent Of their ope.
| rations.
| All ofthe prominent events, in the history of the
| life of Gen. LAFAYETTE, are intimately blended
with the mperishabe interests of universal LIBER.
TY, and will remain as fresh and as brilliant as
the chaplet off glory that surrounds his brow.
| To say that Mr.. BRYAN has done justice to his
subject, 10 say but little he has, throughout the
whole, evinced those feelings which the patriot
might worship, and which the poet might, and has
sung, in his loftiest and sweetest straios-strains
that partake Of the spirit OF inspiration, AMI
auu uiTnNy ana peauty 10 the mlnstrels song.
| Mr.. BRYAN, we esteem as a man ofno ordinary
| talents-and .hough the Lay Of Gratitude undouot-
edly possesses defects, to which rigid criti-
cism would not cheerfully accede, it s iftaken as
| whole, one of the most finished productions we
have had the pleasure Of reading, since The days of
BARLOW, PAINE, aud their cotemporaties
Mr.. BRYAN has been for some time before the
public, and has succeeded in acquiring fame, rare
| ly attained by the Of modern song. His lays
have been distinguished by purity of thought,
correctness Of into il and felicity of expression;
and TO borrow the language of another (whose
commentaries on the performances of this Singular
ly gifted bard, lar deserving of attention
than ours)" if it were necessary, or expedient to
honor Mr.. BRYAN, we should refer rather to his
own works than TO our comment; but we must be
permitted to say, in passing, that even the ver-
dant laurel his brow, is surpassed by the living
sympathy Of his bosom. His heart, like his Tyre re-
ponds to all that good beautiful; he deserve,
success
Conessing ourselves incapable of doing justice TO
NIr. Bryan and his poem, we have barely made
incidental extracts for the qualification Of our
readers, aud to give them specimen o(the rare tai