Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-11
Notwithstanding

vehicle of her sentiments. Notwithstanding
,rr>e ubject,ops, i, e,inces much talent and in
for NATION, and is written in an engaging spirit
of { tristan philanthropy.
The 'Skeioh of Connecticut Forty Years
Since is written in prose, & appea'ed In 1874
II was designed TO paurtray, with an allowable
degree # mhelishmen, from fiction, the char
ac'er of the authors earles, benefac'ress, Il the
manners Of the period IN which she lived
Judged by the elevated standard of fictitious
composition which has been established In out
day, fiul,s and Deficiencies will be discovered
Such Judgment ofits merits, towever, w"oio
be unfair. 1t processes to be no more than
Sketch and ,hough the pa is may not always
be in perfec, keeping, nor the details toucheu
with the exquisite deilc acy Of miniature, there
is spirit and holdness in the outline, and fidelity
in the coloring. A biog' aphical notice OF Han
nah More written for the new American edi-
ton of her works, in two volumes, oclavo o:
which i, is sufficient 10 say, that II is worthy
OF its subject, and If its author, and volume
entitled Poems by the Author Of 'Morai Pie
ces,' complete the Catalogue OF Mrs. Sigour
news publications..
Upon none Of the volumes, however, which
have been the subject Of our remarks, does the
literary reputation OF our author depend Our
specimens, the frs, ex' eped, have all been
written since 1924. Wrhin that period, she
has exhibited a rapid improvement, and we e.
oice TO say, that this improvement is YET In TOLL
career. Il is in the department OF fugitive poe
try-au appela ion, certainly, most inapproprl'
ate. when applied to much which has been writ
ten under that name in this, Tvs golden age,
that Mrs. Sigournsy has reaped her NOS: en-
during Iau,els. II is no disparagement 10 her
H., I'll Err
they are best adapted. The highest living la
lent has been ex -r,ed in it, and found its recon-
pense. To be CHASED with Watts, and Hervey,
and Bryan, and Haleck, and Mrs. Hema"s, Is
an assoc ia,iou, OF which the most successful
70 ary Of hr muse, in any age, might justly
asst. Only less popular than the st OF these
gifted minds, the produc ions Of our author
have been widely wsfIed with hers on The wings
of he periodical press. There is indeed, no
o,hcr shape, in which The wid.s ST popularity
may so well be- combined with the most perma-
nent ndu ance. We trust. therefore that Mrs.
Sigourney will not spffer this rich vein OF her
genus 20 lie unworked. he circulation which
In HI, re fined age, it, treasures have enjoyed,
is he b, 81 evidence IF their sterling VALUE
And 81 far from being exhausted, we venture
to predict, thai a, she digs more deeply, the
golden ore will be found more rich. and more
abund ant
Tie prevailing attributes Of Mrs Sigournry's
poetry are tenderness and religious ieelIng.-
She is an ardent lover, an accurate observer,
and an eloquv mt revea-r nf the harms of ma
ture. A ms captivating tone Of plaintVeness
minelcs with every brea hing Of her harp but
is pla,utivenrss WIFI h we msy safely ad-
nire aud chcri,h, for i never sinks into sad
ness She loves To sing Of decay and death
buI il is hat she may mngIr with The mourn
full SIT AIMS which they awaken the cheering
promise of r-no,a ted lie and auty,
We confidently refer the read r, for ample
conf, ma ion If Ill hat have ,oid, 10 he last
olume Of poems Had Mrs Sigour"ey WI
ten more IMAM our Specimens 'xhibi', she
would sill possess undoubred CLAIMS to the
proud Il lie Of me American Hemans.