Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-29
LITERARY NOTICES.

taUly Library, WHICH Sone'lue o'e H''' W.
lumes of the dramatic series of this truly useful
work. Massinger's Plays are included in the
present three volumes, and we are happy 10 state.
that, true to the principles laid down in the COIN
meneement of the work, the publishers have caus-
ed such an expurgation Of the different plays, as
will allow them to be read in the family circle,
and entitle them TO place in the Family Libra
~. Perhaps no part of the whole series will be
more truly acceptable, than this Of the ancient
dramatist, inasmuch as without this erasure oil
objectionable passages, the plays would not. as
certainly they ought not, have passed into the
hands Of young readers.
We have pleasure in renewing our commenha-
lions upon the Family Library as whole, and
expressing our appreciation OF the dramatic
series, as far as it is advanced. We shall look
with Impotence for the further development oil
Of the solid bullion of the English dramatist,
p,rted from its dross, aud in the mean time, pre-
sent our readers with the very happily conceived
and properly expressed introduction to the work,
as illustrative of the plans OF the publishers, and
Of the course which they will pursue u. y. Gaz.
.s-rhe Old English Dramatists, the friends and
cootemporaries OF Shakespeare, have contributed
nne Of she most valuable portions to the poetic
literature Of our country. But-abOunding as
,hey do in wit and fancy, in force and coPious-
moss nf EXPRESSION, in truth and variety Ct charac
,rr. in rand change of incidents, in striking and
interesting situations, and, above all, in justice
and elevation of standardization works are to-
,,lIy unknown to the generality Ut readers, and
ONLY found IN the haads OK an adventurous lew.
who have deyiated from the beaten path U! study,
20 EXPLORE for themselves less familiar and ex-
hausted tracts Of literary amusement. The ne
elect of these authors, IN an age so favorable To
works Of imagination as the present, can only be
.scr;hsd 70 that occasional coarseness of language
which interrni1es with and Pollutes the beauty OF
ths;r most exquisite scenes. For what may be
Famed the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the stage, for immo-
caIity of principle, for that offence which was
transpanted from France to England WITH the
court of Charles the Second, our old dramatists'
do not require the aid Of any apologist.
They are innocent OF attempting TO contound
,bs nations uf right and wrong, or OF seeking to
;nSusnce the bad passions of our nature against
the first great principles OF morals. These were
,ts cnrnn,;ons of a later and more vicious age.
with the earlier plav-writers, the bent OF the
s,orv and the interest of the spectator are always
directed IN the side Of virtue; but the objection
a,ainst them is, that though they armed them
selves in her cause, they were too little scrupu-
ious what kind of weapon they employed
The worst things are always called oy the worst
names. Nothing is sacrificed to delicacy. The
arassest subjects are treated whenever they nap
non IN occuI-and no care is taken TO avoid them
~, the orossest terms. Vice loses none OF her
ororm;tv Inv any dninution of her coarseness.
If tba wicked are introduced, they are painted
with perfect truth OF nature; they are repre-
sen,ed as loathsome in language as they are de-
,es,ahIe in conduct; and are rendered offensive
20 the reader Of refined taste and vrtuous habits,
"a they would be in the actual intercourse o.
T6. However we'll It may have suited the less
nolshed are Of Elizabeth aud James thus to III
rulcate purty by exhibiting all the corruptlons OF
The d.prayed, and to fortiiy the moral principle
by portraying wickednes., with all It's hateful &C
comn.n;ments. as an object Of disgust as well as
.hhnrrence and contempt, such strong pictures
are NO lopger tolerable at the resent day. and
ths recurrence of them, initiates against that ge'
neral circulation aud approval which is otherwise
due to the great merit Of the works in which they
occur.
Life of Robert Burns; by J. G.. L0ckhart.-
VIM stodart, Broadway.--We had marked
manv passages for observation in this well
written life of one, who, though as happy
in his biographers as unfortunate in his lite has
never fallen into better hands than the last: the
nressure of foreign news, however, compels US
IN forero most of our selections, and connect
,hoss that remain together with as few obserNa-
lions as possible. The first interesting stage in
tbe life Of the poet, is that when the maturity of
his passions gave the first earnest of the poetic
FIRE that thrilled in his veins In regard to this
critical period of Burns life, his excellent bro
Their writes as folows--N. T. I'm.
The 7 years we lived at Tarbolton parish (ex-
tending from the 18th to the cath year of my bro
Tiers age were not marked by much literary
;m u but, during this time, the Wanda
tom was laid Of certain habits in my brothers cha
racter, which afterwards became Dus too Prsmi'