The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1832-09-08
w!ARREN.


"a go ht.r. IiNf.e fl-EOR the o4AR.
CRITICKS. ,S,s
Among tho illerati Of the ago none fir-
ure more conspicuously than the class
denominatsd criticks. Greece could
boast Oft Diony.ias, If Halicaruassus,
an ArissotlS and . Lonsinus /; Rome Of !
Quintilian Great Britain and Europe
id later times Of IN illustrious few who
did honor 70 this department Of literature,
but for our age was reserved the honor Of
giving birth to criticks numberless and
nameless. Criticism when conducted on
right principles when il conveys the
productions Of an author with On impar-
tial eye, faithfully pointing out his OK.
cellsncies a. we'll a. defects-when with
nice disesrnmsnt and unbiased judgment
Il ssparatesths beautiful from the deform-
ed, the {" wheat from the tares;'' and culls
samples for the public, alike from the beau
tifdl Of the flowers and the noxious Of the
weeds, ollen found among them-whea
in fine, while, with q vigilant eye, il
guards onr literature from the introduct-
ion Of whatever i spurious, il gives to
what 10 praisewonhy its just sommenda-
tion, TO merit and genius their just re-
ward-s0ch criticism justly claims q high
rank in the literature Of any country, and
b equally necessary to it, purity and vig-
or. Happy the author who finds such
criticks !! Happy the Country whose lit
erature iinds such esardians Such were
Longinus, Diouysias; Of Halicarnassus,
Aristotle and Quintilian and such were
some who have Aourished in modern
times. But alas (! "tempord masanssr."
These Iuminariss Of the world have pass
ed away-and their works have remained
and been admired BY the great, the Iesrn-
I'd and the wise Of all, succeeding agss,
and viii continue 10 bs, % long a. correct
taste, nice discernfnent and sound judg-
inent shali in any degree, influence the
human mind. But III their stead have
risen Up those aspiring to be triticks, In
Vulnerable as the locusts Of Egypt, dark
ming The literary horizon and fastning up
on every green tree, and plant, and Aows
er Of the Elysian fields Of literature. And
like tho ffogs Of Egypt; they leave no a.
partmeht Of the temple Of Literature tin-
visited |; no nook OF niche; from the lowest
basement 10 The highest pinnacle Of this
beautiful md justly proud ediice, thpol-
luted with their vile earcases; They
stand ready 10 infiict the castigation Of
criticism; which is now but another name
for unjust Sensure, from the learned and
sarcastick reviewer TO the most ignorant,
seleconcehed and despicabls snattefins
critick Of a village gazette. Where once
the bold and manly critick stood forth the
fearless champion Of virtue and truth
the boast as we'll a. the guardian Of liter
ature, are now found hoardes Of tehaI,
selfish, envious smatters ready fot gain,
to Sringe to the basest Aattert I; or to
pounc4 tpoh what is excellees, hoping to|
ride into public notice on the back Of some
distinguished author, (whers probably
they would be a. conspicuots Ss fhs fly
upon the back ofthe OF, and thus to i'm
mortalize their names by associating them
with those Of the great ; OF repining at
,uperior talents, unable to prcduce any|
hing Of their own, hey are ever ready tol
:ensure what they |" may never hope to
mitate,'' - and like the tabled fox, cry sour
Rrapes 1t what il above their reach.
This last class are BY far the most mum
srous, q we'll asths most despieable and
DdiouS ; and only deserve notice % they
lse the most troublesome q well o. num-
srous. They swarm around every press
md printing Office, not for tho purpose of
sop.ribusing useful or entertaining matter
|er 10 soIumss, but ior the scle purpose
n er;xe;sisg every thing mat may b pub
|ishsd and while hey have not The eoa'-
Y IN q Il