Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-23
COMMUNICATIONS.
AMERICAN POETRY.

more pleasing 100, al this time, 10 observe her
rapid progress in the ascent 10 high rank
arnong The states of the earth. Great allow
ances should be made for our imperfec tions
and our failmgs-we are but an infant Reprb-
lic-the genius Of our people is not fully deVe>
loprd. Yet We have done much, very much,
for our opportunities. The military art has
proven. by the successes which attended its
cultiSation during our conies, for freedom, to
have been brought TO perfection. Commerce,
since our political regeneration, has been car
ried on with an energy and assidui,y which be-
Sspeak The determination OF our counirymen 20
FfAise il TO that importance which II IL rapidly
y assuming. Manufactures, under the fostering
: Influence of great statesman, we hope TO see,
AZ some future day, one Of the chief Supports
of our fiscal concerns. Nor have we been back
ward in our culture Of the Fine Arts;--we have
our West, oni Bowman, our Ailston, and many
WONG artists who, We hope, will reap rich
s,harvest, not only Of the donors, bu, the profit,
&of the pencil. There are many great names
recorded in the Scientific annals Of America.
Among them, Franklin, Rittrnbouse, Fulton,
and Siman, hold conspicuous place. We
need say nothinzs stesmen, and ora ors, and
lawyers.
Young aswe are as people, and just emery
ing from the many difficulties which we have
had to contend with, our lighter literary rxer-
lions are far from contemplate. For proof of
this, with regard 20 prose compositions, We
refer 10 the several ably conducted periodicals
Of the day, the numerous works OF meri, which
have tome from the American press, and to
the host of talented editors of which our coun-
ssan boast In rssrs5pef SPEAK more a arg
- Their are those who almost deny that we
Fave accomplished any thing in this depart
g is.a atn nh
enjoyment of their sneers, and their opinions.
We are among the admirers Of American talent,
so far as il hes been developed; and we think
that the laure,s OF American Poetry. in proper
ton TO the care and cultivation they have re-
ceived, flourish as green as could be wished -
II is true. and we regret 1t, that we have pro-
duced no Shakespeare, whose noble and daring
fights will astoHish; whose plainIive sweetness
will chamn; and whose comic sketches will
tickle the fsncies OF pos;erity. We have had
no Milton who has recorded the deeds Of other
worlds in the hntes Of his Tyre. We have had
no Pope, whose moral and melodipus numbers
will float down he stream Of time, pleasing and
ins,tuctipg. But we have Halleek, 10 whose
fervent and high souled lays ale
Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.
A Bryant, in whose simple, tho deep wrought
lines, we may con lessons Of benevolencc, and
in the reading Of which our very souls are lost
in ihtir own tranquility. Aud oeicIval,
whose verses, though At times overshadowed by
the flirIings of dark spiri', yet TEEN with the
oulpoutings OF a richly cultivated and often
sublime fancy. And then we have others IN
whom we confde for additions TO our poe zeal
fame Charles Sprague has written some po-
-e,ry, which might bear contrast with me Ell
forls Of Ihe bright spirits of England's Angus
tan age. There, TOO, Is b. aiuard, who can sup
,por, riva lship wi b Kirk White. and The rest
Of he ethical poets OF Great Britain. We
could evomsrste nore--for We have anumbrr OF
young writers able TO obt,in golden opinions"
from men. Blu. in mentioning those names
which have con srihuted 20 build up the struc-
ture OF our poettcaI fame, we -a"not but pro-
bate severely the dsadeuing influence which an
unconQgera5le propensity TO irritation has -x>
er,ised upon the minds o: naive writers-snd
limitations, too, cf the worst psr's OF Byron, the
frothy and vapi6 lays Of he Lake Poets, and the
eternal sunny things and hspny things and fair
es, things of Mrs. Hemans, e i'd oaane .genus.-1
Our writers should be more independent-they
should strike on, path for themselses-they
should cut through all obstacles, and obtain
reputation based OF their own original exer-
tions.
We can mention barrier to The success OF |
American poetry that should be oyerthrown |
/, is the deeply rooted insetera'e prejudice
winch is so prevalent in this counuy-le, 2eo>
PIE say what they please TO the contrary
against native productions. Is it not an admit
ted fact, tina, English books are sought aftes,
and read more eagerly than those produced al
D. me! And does no, every hing from Eng.
land go down as sterling with our infatuated peo-
pie? What, then, are the incentives for the learn.
ed s. the gifted among US, 10 usher the offspring
Of heir research or their fancy into The world!
Neglect and scorn. THIS spirit. this suicidal
spirit mus, be routed out, before we can do
what we may wish 70 do, and what we ought
10 do. We 'hink, though, there is observable
! more generous feeling beginning 10 take place;
IA h. lullx nj shed-