Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-10-17
REVIEW.

ipxton, kentucky. devoted to the cause Of
General Andrew Jackson, and published by
ALsxar G. MKNRIwBArHER, and edited
wdh more than usual ability by WILLIAM
HUNTER, Esquire. we cast our eyes upon
yrseioxs poem, and the which, wo propose to
aotice, for tho want of better employment.
Tho poem is entitled the Battle Of .Netc-
Orieaas," by FRANCIS FLovRNor, and was
writton to bo rectod at tho opening OF the
American Theatre in Now-Orleans; and al
though ir i, but little inferior to tho ono which
vas successful in obtaining the prize at the
fremont Theatre, Boston, it seom'. j: did not
sicccsd in winning tho reward, which was
easred by Mt Caldwell. tho Now-orleans
Manager.
Preceding tho poom. there is column or
moro Of prose. by tho way Of introduction in
which the poet gives n minute history OF his
early life and fortunes; and As it will bo we'll
to furnish specimens Of his prose. as we'll as OF
his poetry. we will make an occasional extract
Tor the particular edifcation and gratifica ton
Sf our readers.
A. specimen fMr Flournoy's prose man
oer and matter. and as an evidence Of his er-
ess,ivs modosty. vs copy tho irst sentence Of
his suiogium'
"Like tho return Of comet which has not
revisited tho Wow of the earth's inhabitants
during tho lapse Of many years; re-6|aSe
upon the public in the following short epic po-
ON on tho THn BATTLE or NEw-ORLEANs,
which | wrote, and whose original forwarded
10 Now Orleans 40 q candidate with bb more
candidates, for tho prize offered some time ago
by the Managers Of the Orleans Theatre, tor
,ho best poem TO consist Of hut fifty lines) on
that brilliant victory and celebrated battle;
when I. with others. missed the aim'd at pre-
mium."
Like the return Of a COMET, tho gentleman,
according TO his own story "re-b!azes' upon
che world. in short epic poem From this
We are led to infer that MIR. Francis Flournoy,
10 no ordinary comet, and has moro than once
"blared' upon the world. and is about to
"biase" again, for the especial edilication Of
tho world. and for the especial benefit Of Gen.
oral Jackson, to promote whose private ends'
it seoms the poem was published. II his mod
esty would but blaze. equally to the blazing
Of his conceit and folly. he might be set down
for right modes. and proper kind of a man.
After having q" blaxed" away for while,
I ike comet, the Honorable Francis Flournoy
and he is an honorable man. and SO was
Bru.us-with the utmost modesty OF manner
aud action. speaks Of work of his. published
some twenty years ego. and entitled the
q W.,t.rn Rerie,r, >. in the following swords
and figures"
"Empires have risen and fallen. since pub
lished my first WESTERN AMERICAN, which
rssounded not only through the United States;
but through Europe, as republishcd in oil their
prints Of celebrity: but which here in Ken
lucky. set tho wooers Of Presidential notice
and favor. to growing, barking, and cutting
Up Dirt"
Although we cannot we'll look backward,
and scan tho space Of twonty years, it is
iittle remarkable that a work, which has re-
sounded through tho world. and set the
woocrs Of Presidential notice and favor, to
growing and barking and " cutting up dirt"
has not run through an hundred editions, and
been handed down to postsrity. 1t may be,
however. that the production was considered
% very choice and valuable, that the whole Of
It was purchased up BY one Bookseller, for tho
purpose Of keeping it twenty years, as We do
wine, and thon, throwing it into tho market,
command for it, an extravagant price.
Mr.. Flournoy also deals little in the style
Biogaphical," in tho course Of his production;
and after saying many pretty things about him
self, and his father and grandfather, and
great-grand-father, pounces upon his humble
self, and IN less than minute, informs us, that
he has boen successfully, a clerk Of a court,
mercantile accountant, Attorney at Law. and
poet and politician.
But before he proceeds to give q biograph-
cal sketch of himself, he very condesccnding-
ly iaforms tho world, in what way it SO hap
pensd. that he found the poem under eonsid-
Grafton, the which.had, for number Of years,
bsen laid sstis, and buried in obscurity:
"And under such impressions, I sat mo down
to rummage amongst my papers FOR the copy
Of The BATTLE OF ORLEANs, which soon
found and re-copied with considerable addi-
tons (not being as heretofore circumscribed
% to the number Of lincs;) and the renovated
and enlarged production, such as it 10, is now
offered to your and my countrymen's tympa-
nums."
And then sans eeyemonie. he lights upon his
biography. which is as follows:
Although poetry is good deal out Of
ny line; a. having been first bred a clerk Of
court; and next mercantile accountant; asd
afterwards having studied and praetised iap.
which profession have almost entirely relin-
nushAd. from nv ofaaf avsraion Ia L.. -. ~