Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-10-07
Tuesday. Oct. s

NR EpIToR-P-rhaps the subjec, on which
i intend saving few words NAV br considered
BY manv as almost threadoare; never heess /,
Is pleasing one, and enc which, l doub' not,
will be Interesting To that pnr ion IF your Re ad
err who ar fond Of he vag ,ries of the Muse.
II an estimate 6 the diffrreut degrees of -x-
cell e il Lord BYRoN's writings were C BE-
made bv IN imp JUDGED person. Don Juan
would undoubtedly hold higher rank thar
DOW is anted l. ny the gener aIi,y of readers.
Pars here are which we could readily see *
plunged; but rh-re are likewise parts which we
would as readily see placed in the hiehes, orr
der Of poetry In il are 10 he me wi manv
of hose expressions for which BYRON has obs
tanned he name Of basphrmer; IN il is IAN
gusgp which would crimson the cheek Of beau
"; hut at the same time we mus not fnrger
th,t in il are stored up many OF the brigh' esq
p,ms from the mine of his leviathan in,eNe T.,
and that there we NAV fnd passages whie can
thrill the bosom of virtue, and are fraagh' wi h
scn,irnrn e the pur'sl swee'nes, and abb
nifty BYRON is a, all times, tn mas'er over
the feelings aud The passions OF his re ,ders; but
there were moments when hr poured t'r'h MS
imaginings with such a fervor-such god
like in.pira,ion = tina, he seemed 10 have over
s.. pped the limits prescribed Tor human ee-
Mus, and ~ b We fashioned worlds aud suns,
aud sy> Ems aud made hinsF their lord and
ruler VIII all the ra' os and de!icacy Of
son iInrnt which are often ( .un6 in this great
P1et's o. oductipns. there rs such a reckless
ness Of ~,rrv thing sacred md such an apps-
rent lrvify Of fe ling omnined with his flights
uuon the most solemn aud nurr subjects, thai
W. cannoi slwsvs 'elirve tina, his Strains had
their origin in 4 e b-at A grea' deal OF Bv
RoS's character. the Character b 4 shines for h
L. his writings we mean, we are free % tonfrss
tina, we believe assumed. bu, then not near in
rs eres, a degree as mos, persons think. With
all his bitterness against holy hing wth all
hi, misan hropy all HI, dissipation, BYRON had
. cart aud feeling one; bu, j. was " seat
ed, and the warm springs OF his young fec
lions were rafly polluted and perverted e. m
Their original source Blu, W, az f,ing e. IN
our purpose We intend d to speak Of Don
Jsan, though when we upon the So bjeot Of
is author, there is kind OF ,2ell which ea6s
us impercep,,bly TO Talk much oil him
Although we confess thai any cutting up or
mu ils,ion Of Don Juan, would derog4te very
mu h FROM is spiri' and interest, yet We could
sooner see that done, than we it remain, as
il is, seized volume to the Girer pc, ion of
the community. We would be glad to see this
accomplished by skilful hand. There is sue h
a variety Of subjects touched up N, and in such
av4rieiy Of style aud manner; so many glorious
see es aud situations for The penc'l Of III pain
te,; such exquisite pic ures to delight III, pne's
fancv; = vein Of 8, ire which oftrntime> runs
into Excellence; nsmonr, wit, ridicUle srbimi-
ty, snd beauty, tba one would be a, loss what
o" estimate, taken together, % make of all
these.
Notwithstanding the general topics in this