Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-09-17

From the .Ne,O York Courier

We admire Mrs. Hemans much---very much-.o-o
more and her power is doubly great, inasmuci as
tito tLat usLisls bolou 20 peculiarly to her When
stands forth the guider ofnaons the willing
instrument Of destruction and death when she min
giles in the dssimuaiion the chcanery, the intrigue
the sullied faith Of cabinetsquibbng the right
ard houdpg truth in error, till the brightest vision
blinded, and the planest path grows dim--she may
gain fame and q nane-but what is it? we feel that
other sounds than the oppressors shout and the wall
OF the ganquished should be music to her heart And
We sigh she links with statesmen, for the shade
that is creeping over the LIES purest altar Retire
TreA III her place. and when in its bosom, soltness min
giles with more lofty strains, she holds power which
nothing else cana power which only it should be
her ambition to hold. Hail to each aspirapt in the
paths of Literature!
We know Mrs. II. to DC most conspicuous and mos;
sYlendid-but while we admire the genius, we regret
the direction in which points, and the peculiar tone
it has given to the productions of the dny-and
strange as may seem, we IN the powerful touch
cs of her pen, fastening OF the hour when poetry
shall be more. The most of her themes are things
which have actually occurred-matters OF fact versi
fed-some good story told in musical numbers OF
some observation expandedt is the bird the rock
tapping his WINGS and pouring forth, il is true the
full exquisite tide of sony, nevertheless chained
Garth. dull earth. Why spread his pnion To the
boundlessness of space, to the invisible world-why
forever lettering fancy TO cold reality? In proportion
"a her light IS bright who leads the way, the crowd
will not be slow to ionow--and beautiful thou Oh that
intellectual ray hos made il, il is path which has left
TIC wild fash, and the deep gloom, the May laby-
IIntDS WneTe Thought delights To- wander, tor the
evenness Of every day life. And in another age,
Reason and Philosophy may triumph, Science may
roast stars far more brilliant than he sanpune pre-
DICT; but poetry, beautiful poetry, with its thrilling
choEdzpoery, genuine poetry, that chilled with hor-
rn, or melted into tears, or burned with rapture
--Poctry will have passed away forever. We
arc well aware that from the nature Of thinvs
oil this coHld only be retarded Its aspect has long
been altering At first its chnery was all SUPER
natural, spiTg Of good and evil WHO, if they held
any intercourse with earth, chose the dark forest and
the misty mountain and above ell the witching hour
OF midnight. Death warnings came on the breeze Of
summer endth blast Of winter. Many lonely spot
was halowed by the reycls Of nnearhlies and ERIN
tic Inauguration delighted TO join them as they gwcot
through the clouds fathomed the ocean or travcr
sed space which was before time oE that which will
be ar or h-Such were the themes tbai first warmed
20 sony.
Fhe next agn saw i located on Garth. ,yi.h bp-
mnn agents and cycUts within the sphere Of posshil
Iiy, but still the magcian creative fancy uniting md
refining the terrific, the great and the beautiful Of
ten beyond nature 1t is true, but in that only graf fv
ing the intellectual thirst winch seeks things he
wO.I& cannot give.
Aaoihei cSange las brought il down TO real life
thc pot, the very actors thiags IN actual cxis
fence Fancy has no farther Office except 10 dress
Sentiment. The poet need seek no longer the
h7unted cave, the cloudcapt hillhe will tako Us nc
more to TIE mighty things that may 6e--hc lfas efi
~ spei-3ound fields for tho every day occnrroBccs
o. life. an this may give 4 charm to household
pfasures; u may brighten the calm current Of do
moslc bliss bot u clips ths eagle wing of thought;
It Is the Parolyzng Of iras nson; Il IS tie crave I'll
p'c'V,