Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-09-18
From tie .Nefr lOrk Courier.
DECLINE OF POETRY,

Ne admire Mrs. Fcnlans much VERY mucl.--none
norc and her power is douhly great, inasmuch as
II Is that which belongs peculiarly to her When
woman stands forth the gnler ofnations, the wiling
instrument of destruction and death when SIC min
giles in the dssimuiaon, the chcancry the intri ale,
:he sullicd faith of Misunderstanding over the right
and shrouding truth in error till the brightest vision is
blinded, and the piaincst path grows dm-she may
gain fame and name -hVt what is it? we feel that
other sounds than the opprcssoTs Shout and the wall
Of the vanq1isied should be- music to hex heart. And
ives sigh as she links with sRtcsmen for The shade
that is creeping the fe's purest altar. Retire
92nt in her place, and when III its bosom sotness min
giles with more lofty strains se holds power which
nothing else power which only should he
her ambition to hold. Hail to caci asp7art n the
paths OF Literature
We know Mrs. II. to be most conspicuous and most
sPlendid-bu while admire the genius, we regret
the direction in which it points, and the peculiar
it has given to the productions of the day-and
strange asst may SEEM see in the powerful touch
cS OF her pen, hastenln5 CT the hour when poetry
sh.u! he no The most Of her themes things
which have actually occurrcd--maters of fact vcrs-
hed--somc good story told IN musical numbers,
observation eXpaadad-t is the bird the rock
tapping his wings, and pouring forth is true, the
full exquisite tide of song, nevertheless chained
earth, dull earth Why not spread his pinion the
houD ilessness Of space, to the invisible worl--whv
forever lettering fancy to cold reality? In proportion
her light is bright who leads the way the crowd
will be slov oIlow-and beautiful though that
intellectual ray has made it, it path which has LETT
the wild flash, and the deep gloom the may laby-
rinths where thought delights to wander, for the
cvenncSs of every day life. And in another age,
reason and Philosophy may triumph Science Inoy
boast stars far brilliant than the snnguine pre-
dict: but poetry, beautiful poetry, with its thrilling
chords-Poetry genuine poetry, that chilled with hor
f@, or melted into tears, or burned with rapture
poetry will have passed away forever. We
are well aware that from the nature of thinqs
all this coHd only be retarded. Its aspect has long
been altering At first its machinery was oil super
natural, spirits of good ana evil, who, if they held
any intercourse with earth, chose the dark forest and
the misty mountain and above all the witching hour
OF midnight. Death warnings the breeze of
summer and the blast of winter. Many lonely spot
vas hailoWed by the reVelS Of unearhes and era
tic imagination delighted o ion them as they swept
through the clouds tathomed the ocean, or traver-
sed space which before time or that which will
be after lt.-Such the themes that first warmed
10 song.
The next age saw it located on Garth, With hu-
nan agents and events within the sphere OF possib-
Ivy, but still the nascian creative fancy uniting and
TGn1g the terrific, the great, and the beautiful of
Ten bcygud nature 1t is true, bet in that only gratify-
.ng the intellectual thirst which seeks things the
3Td cannot give.
another change has brought it down 20 real life
nc plot, The very actors, things in actual exis-
.encc Fancy has farther office, except to dress
y sentiment The poet need seek 10 longer the
auu:ei 'ie eloudcapt hiil--be viii take us no
moro to i'e mighty Things that mny behe has left
lis sp,a-ouUHd fields foe the every day occurrences
VI !..i. ~. us may give new ChoFm To household
pleasures. 1t may brighten the calm current of do
mcslc bliss, bHt It clips the eagle wing Of tiorrht;
II IS the FFaIyzpg Of imagination; it is the grave of
poetry.
'Iha agc Of passion is indeed past. A material
change IS creeping over the mental world.--NaD has
become cool, calculating, reasoning being no lon
ger appalled, or ostonishcd at phenomena that once
wrought on his most powerful feelings. Science has
let, nothing Notwithstanding unexplained. The
rcd bolt of Heaven is gathered IN bottle, and the
thunder rolls aud cracks and crashes over ~ without
making a thrill because we arc taught that il j.
harmless. The lights Of the charnol house. the
Jns tlAt bCYcT round the mountain top the voices
battile blast mi sigh hro the cavern Of heaven
afe nothing. We sbd f3n the breast of supers-
"itfon, and when wo fam would gather inspiration
isotn :ho hem Of icr garment jajtt is wanting.
EsAestW BoTt.-Thc hofk of DO cAceant frco
contains twice much tahninr fhattef as oak bark
and nearly twce much colUting matter as IorwooP
The coioring substance Of chesnu bark ia to that 81
Cam2eachy logwood exactly ne ,257 TO l. L6athci
prepared with THE substance is more firm and solid
and vet more supple. This bark is the best sub.
s'aacc for making ink; mixed with iron Il becomes a
oiue black. JiciIguor drawn from this barb appears
blue at the outside like indigo; but gives on paper
the finest black. In dying it has greater ar.
fin'y for wool than sumack and gnll nuts. TIL, co