Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-09-15
COMMUNICATIONS.
poETRY-AMERICAN POETS.

That the poetical productions of the present
day. taken as a whole, are inferior in point OF
excellence to the works Of the same description
which in the last century contributed so much to
elevate the literary character of Great Britain,
will scarcelv be doubted Authors appear to
look more particularly at wat Is likely 20 be
.,-o6toble than ~ sfa.A..-. "a E.,oo-JO
regard the present more than the future. and,
like the merchant, to send into the market, only
those productions which will suit the prevailing
taste of the times without much caring for their
intrinsic value. But we must look still further
If we would come at the true cause of the de-
cline of poetry. and if we mistake not, ii will be
found 10 some measure, at least, to be the ne
cessary effect Of the state of modern society,
arising from the division Of labor-from the at
tention which is devoted to the Improvement of
the arts, and to the accumulation Of wealth
Reason has taken the place of mag nation, and
Judgment now directs and governs Us, where, In
the earlier ayes Of society, we would have been
urged TO action by the IMPULSE Of feeling. Men
have learned TO deliberate, to control the cur
rent Of generous passion, and to measure every
thing by the standard simply Of utility. Hence
Il that the man of genius dares not give him.
self up TO the influence of his natural feeling,
and hence the ardor aud enthusiasm of his mind
is repressed In view Of these things we are al
most led to believe, that the May of life" when
m enlirening freshness and verdure are thrown
around every object. is now 'falen into the scar,
the yellow leaf'-that the conduIts Of passion and
sentiment are now froze Up, and that the world
"through length Of years" is brought 10 soon
temptible old age obscure" However all this NAV
be, il is true. that man Of talent, by devotRg
himself to pursuits connected with the daily con-
Germs of men. enjoys many advantages above
the urofessed author. The first speedily acquires
fame. influence and wealth. because his merits
are practically felt aud acknowledged by all
alssses Of the community. But the poet labors
silently and alone and 100 frequently pours forth
MS Laws to an inattentive aud forgetful multi
tude. Too often is it the case, that not one
word Of encouragement reaches his ear, till his
spirit is broken by neglect and disappointment.
Other causes, besides these, might be men,
toned, as peculiar to our country, whose infiu-
enc. upon elegant literature, must be regarded as
highly unfayorable. Thus we hight mention the
attention, to the exclusion Of almost every thing
else, which is devoted to party politics; and
that money-gefting spirit which pervades every
class Of the community. But our design is not
so much to eRdeayor to account fer the decline
Of Poetry, as to speak more particularly Of the
actual merits Of American writers, with view
Of pointing out the most prominent defects in
their productions. And here we cannot forbear
saving few words touching the state Of Ameri-
can literature generally Were we to look at it
in all its breadth and depth, including not only
works Of fancy, bat also our theological and poll
tcal writings. the opinion would beexpressed with
confidence, that as much has been accomplish
ed as could have been reasonably expected in the
short period in which we have existed afee nation.
The snarling critics upon the other side of the
Atlantic may say what they please, lhe.r Op'a,
which they are governed solely by a narrow pre-
;udice unworthy Of a generous mind. We have
not been idle-we have made many additions to
every branch Of knowledge, and in one class Of
writing at least have sent forth productions
whose sP,rit is beginning to BE caught ia 0shs: