Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-09-29
Meeting OF the Friends Of Samuel Wood
worth at the City Hotel.

"OEu0 ~ the OAy f1Otcks
Last night, at seven O'clock highly respectable
meeting of the friends of the poor poet took place
the City Hotel. The Hon. Aaron Clark was called
to the chair, and Gen. GeorgeP. Morris and Col De
Witt Clinton were chosen secretaries.
The meeting was addressed by his Honor the Re-
corder, j. N. Reynolds Esq, Col Samuel L. Knapp,
and S. Browne, Esq
high need of praise was awarded the Poet by
Reynoldsn Review of Woodwork life. His best
days, he stated, were when the great with Brit
ain broke out. He then took conspicuous part, not
with the sword but with his pen. He was moral
| champion of his country's cause.
Mr.. Reynolds then alluded TO his songs and odes
devoted to his native land He stated that they were
all pure-often elevated, and net few impershable
He spoke of the fate of genius and said If twentieth
part of the money employed in the erection of raonu-
ment in the celebration Of the birth day of Burns
had been given to him in life, il would have rendered
his last years comfortable. Abiding TO the calamity
which has Frustrated the energies of the poor poet,
Reynolds said that he not impoverished by
idleness ruined by dissipation, but fell with the
harness on his back struggling for fame. The object
of this meeting to enable him to rise.
| Col. Samuel l.. Knapp then addressed the meeting
He stated tina; it had been said, that talent was not
rewarded in this country. II was not the case. 1t
had been said that puppet parrot could move us
to ecstacies and that could not appreciate talent.
The foreigners who had been received by us with ad-
ulatlon, and sent back with showers of gold, would
falsely the assertion although would be questiona-
BILE whether il would not have been better bestowed
upon native talent. He stated that soldiers had
at length been paid. After a struggle, act had been
passed that had smoothed the latter days of the vee
ransbut regards literary TALENT nothing had been
done. He would advert TO the names Of Paine,
Prentss, Lathrop Allen, and many others. Not even
a stone had been erected TO their memories. This
was not because sympathy was not felt-bu for want
of proper direction
| Never had more proper direction evlnced itself
than in this case, and he thought and believed that
an institution might grow out Of this very meeting,
which should prevent similar occurrences. This was
an occasion when all could unite without the slightest
conjunction of conscience. Burns had been men,
toned 1t was no parallel case objections might
have been raised that he would spend it in drunken
ness and revelry; but as regarded Woodwork no
man could lay his hand upon $40 note that he had
spent improperly
S. Browne, Esq then spoke. He dwelt upon the
merits of Woodwork as poet. They were so great
that his illusions had been taken for and published
Worssworlh's from the similarity Of names-but
q
mediocre character. Hc had known Woodworlh's
family for II years, and could bear testimony what
had been said of ten dollars never having been MIS-
appropriated Mrs. Woodwork was an excellent, an
estimable woman, preferring her husband name 10
the god of earth. He compared him in his struggles
to Franklin, and of the consideration in which he
held, said that the students of the universities in
his prime would come to this city for the honor of
seeing him and shaking him by the hand. He finally
hoped that it would never be said that New York
would snfier him TO die under the paralysis with
which he was afflicted, without comforting lasting
| benefit upon him.
his Honor the Recorder congratulated the Mayor
upon the number and responsibility Of the meeting,
and bore rich testimony 10 the virtues of the poet.
Resolutions were then passed 10 carry out the pro-
jec,ed benefit curious dialogue occurred.
MAYoR-The price of admission is not put in
| GEN. MoRaIs-I move that il be two dellars
Mr.. REyNoLps-I should think, 9Th all due defer.
ence 10 those WAC know more of such matters than
myself, tina, three dollars would no, be too small
sum.
| GEN. MoRRIs.-Ths has been often tried before
bit has not been found to answer speak from ex-
perience; So will be found to be better.
| J. KEEsE.-Mr Woodwork has many friends
among the Printers. They could give rea lily
two than three dollars. think two would be better.
Mn. JoSEs.-Gen. Morris will be so good as TO tell
me whether John Howard Payne's complimentary
benefit was not IS ticket.
GEs. MonnIs.--It was.
BIN. JoSEs.-Thcn / think at least three dollars
should be given.
GEN. MoaRs.-Mr Payne's benefit was very up
hill work. Tive days before it occurred there were
not fifty tickets sold. 1t took incredible exertions
dispose of tickets All benefits at 50 have been found
10 answer-Pacidc's and others Payne's and Ham.
bins have failed. attribute their failure to the high
prices.
| IWhat! General was there no other cause, think
| you, for tho failure OF the Hamblin benefit u
| Finally two dollars agreed upon.
Resolutions were passed, and the meeting adjourn
ed. Success attend IT, Ii will. The cause is good
and virtuous, holy and pure. Angels themselves leok
down upon the act with approving sme-and
register il in heavens sacred chancery. Successive
| cess-suc cess-suecess.
u We have received a very handsome and richly
colored engraving of Van Tasse House, the resdenc,
of Washington Irving. II is taken from painting
by George Harvey, A. N. A. 1t is published BY
Lewis p. Glover, 294 Broadway. We wish poo
Sammy Woodwork had such residence, in which
to rest his lfe's decline Van Tassel House is stu