Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-11-10
Tus PorrrcAL WoRKs OF THE Rev. GEORGE
CRABBE, NTH his Letters and Journals and ms
Life, by his Son, Vol. VII

Life, By his Son, Vol. IlH
This volume includes the new and full edl-
tion of Crabbe's poems, and contains NUMBER
OF oosthumous tales now printed Tor the nrst
time These pieces were lett oy the poet as
legacy 20 his son. as the following touching pas
maze in a letter dated in Oct, 1881, informs us:
There are, in nv recess at home where they |
have been long undisturbed, another series OF
stories in number and quantity sufficient TOR |
a volume; and as | suppose they are much IKE
the former in execution, and sufhclentiy diner
emf in events and characters, they may hereafter,
in neaceabIe times, be worth something to you;
and the more because shall, whatever is NOR
tal of me- be at restin the chancel OF Irow-
bridge church; for the works OF authors de-
nartsd are generally received with some favor,
nartly as they are old acquaintances, and IN
part because they can be no more OF them."
II appears, however, that Notwithstanding the
recommendation of the poet himself, who thought
thew were much like his former poems, his exc
cutors, when they saw the first few printed pages
entertained some misgvings as to their va
lue, and
"Because very sensible that, had he himself
lived to edit the compositions, he would have
considered it necessary to bestow on them a
rood deal more of revision and correction be-
fore finally submitting them to the eye OF the
world. They perceived that his language had
not always effected the complete development
ofhis ideas; that images were here and there
left imperfeCt-nay, trains OF reflection rather
limited than expressed; and that, in many pla-
ces, thoughts in themselves valuable could not
have failed TO derive much additional weight
and point from the last touches OF his own pen.
Under such circumstances, it was very
GREAT relief to their minds to learn that several
persons of the highest eminence in literature
had read these poetcal remains before any
mart of them was committed TO the printer; and
that the verdict ofsuch judges was on the whole,
mJre favorable than they themselves had begun
10 antCipate-that in the opinion OF those
whose esteem had formed the highest honor OF
.',rr fathers life, his fame would not be tarnsh-
- W their compliance with the terms OF his IL
-s.tiy b,qurSt that though not so uniformly
puf.,s-d - some of his previous performances,
tnr~e PoSthumous Essays would still be found
10 preserve. in the main, the same characters
tics on which his reputation had been establish
ed; much of the same quiet humor and keen oo'
servaton the same brief and vivid description,
the same unobtrusive pathos, the same prevailing
reverence for moral truth and rational religion
and in word not few = things which the
the volume Is n9H IF let dis lucy
upon its contents, and because they form a part
of the literary history Of its production. The
poems themselves are fortunately unaffected by
the timid doubts of Mr.. Crabbe's executors,
whose position and responsibility in the matter
interfered, probably, with the freedom of their
opinions. They were afraid to take step that
might possibly hurt the reputation ofthe deceas-
ed but they may rest assured that this book will
extend and exat his name.
The poems emphaticay belong to the class
which may be said to derive its origin from MIR.
Crabbe; for much as has been said of the re-
sembance that exists between him and Gold
smith, we think it can scarcely be questioned
that as the moral poet of the poor, as the den-
Gator in detail Of the miSeries and ignorance
the habits and employments of the lower clas-
sand as the eXpounder offeelngs which have
Tnl pY in
before in language so homey so true, and so
NATURAL Crabbe NUT be permitted to stand by
himself As poet, he yields to the exquisite
music and almost unapproachable simplicity Of
Goldsmith; but the drama of humble life, with
all its passions its hopes and fears its struggles
against temptations, its triumphs and its crimes
which he has created, entities him to place far
out of the way of imitation, and worthy of sep
ate and distinct niche. His resemblance to Gold
smith is more accidental than premeditated-
more apparent than real. Goldsmith was more
refnedin his simplicity-hs purity was more pal
pable, hisverse more highly polished and his pic
lures more tasteful and complete, and the whole
breathed an air of nature like an atmosphere OF
Claude'S. Crabbe is more plain, hcmebred
and familiar. He talks verse to you while Gold
smith recites it, He tells you in the very words
ofthe rustic what he felt. and why and wherefore
it was that he could no longer pay his rent, and
was compelled to resort to the workhouSe: he
describes the whole family, one after another
tells you how long Jenny went to school, and
what she learned there and that Tom after |
voyage to China, returned home with six |
pounds in his pocket which he wanted to spend |
on dress for his mother, but that the tax-co- |
iector intercepted the generous boys intention |
and put down the six pounds to the Kings &C
count.
In all this you feel nothing more Of the poetry
than its truth You have the very essence Of
the heart distilled into natural words and you
cd in ipli OH @kot
forget to reflect for a moment on the medium
through which tits conveyed. With Goldsmith.
pure as ne is, you cannot help thinking of the
beauty of his lines.
The subjects of the tales are similar to their
predecessors, but tnged all through with some
thing more OF the gravity of years The first
tale" Silford Hall; or the Happy Dayn-re- {
lates the visit of rustic boy to neighborinq
mansion on an errand, with description of the
wonderful sights lie saw, and the delightful i'm /
pressions the grandeur of the place made upon G
his mind. The little story was suggested by the a
no.t,S recollsctionS of his own visits wban "a, ! /