Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-11-30
From the New York American.

American Authors in E0glaHd-lrving
--Channing--C oope7-8ancroft--Bry.
ant--(Thomas CampbelD American
Tourists ilis--Mrs. Sgourney-
Miss. Sedgwick-Daniel Webster, &c.
Ny dear c.
You request me 10 tel you how the
writings of Irving, Cooper, Bryant, and
Wills are regarded in the Father Land.
hardly dare give you the results of my
brief and hasty obse vatons on SO delicate
a topic. Before whispering few words
in your friendly ear, tolerate two or thee
preliminary observations-like your 10.
quacious old frienC, deacon D., in
the Massachusetts Legislature, who com.
menced his maiden effort with "Mr. Spea.
ker! | wish to say a few words before
begin to speak,"
You will not expect ne to deny that the
standard of literary excellence is loftier in
Great Britain than in the United States.
To dispute this truth wi h the air and tone
Of "A braggar,, establishes, IN the eStima-
ton ofdisiuterested and candid observers,
The very position 1t seeks 10 disapprove -
Such vaporing is too often dignfed by
American editors, with tine name of patri.
otsm, when it is the mere pufIings and
Swellings ola offended national pride,t
most offensive form in which piqae and
vanity can make themselves ridiculous.
DESTITUTE alike Of common sense and can
dor, it is equally removed from high-min-
ded love OF countryside strutting off
spring of narrow prejudice against eve.
ry thing not Of domestic growth. That
man may BE The wiser who is yet 10 learr
that the terms, eminent lawyer, eloquent
orator, brilliant poet, ripe scholar, pro
fund philosopher mean something more
in London than in Lexington. Tina
equal talent aud more knowledge are diff
fused through our population. from the St
Johns TO the Sabine, than exist between
John O'Groat's House and Lands End
is true; bot, these intellectual treasure
IRE not cnngregated in such heaps IF
may so speak, in America as in England
Tn s Is our glory and her shame; on
Blessing and her blame. And do VIC en-
w foreigners their curses, even? Knowl
: edge and talent with US are diffused viii
{ sunshine prodigality--.lke rights aEt
= wealth. Not so in England. They ceutr
, in the few We are not only all create,
equal, but are born quasi orators. poet:
and philosophers. The universal Van
kee Nation has "a gift that way; Will
> nine-tenths other Maiesty's subjects, Xix
hump backed Richard. enter the world nc
! half made up; or, at all events, leave it i
: that sorry plight. Then, in asserting thu
prodigiois EngEshman absorbs int
! himself the intelligence of whole par
ish of poor jewellers, let US not in tn
same breath deny that he is a prodigy
But, methinks hear you say, enoua
, of these un-American truths-io III
point.
= Among the mere Essayisis-the lighte
E portion of the lierati-those who writ
e much and pretllly, but never profoundly
r Washington Irving, of all our prose al
thors, carries the English palm. B,
among the thinking, learned, original POI
tons Of the literary circles, DR.. Channin
stands unrivalled. Greater numbers al
: mire Mr.. Irving; more intellect asser
e the superiority Of DIR. Channing. HIS r.
4 putation is established with those suffr,
q ges cannot be won by sentimental lall
: however charmingIy told, or a super6ci
!, eassay, though its every limo be a threa
: of gold.
e Misunderstanding is almost as great
e hero in Britain, as in America. A note
G barrsler, who is alike conversant wi
n Coke and the Classics, SAID to me, 'tyol
,f Cooper is a charming wriIer--the Watt
!, Scott;of He was proud, pr
r. JUDGED Englishman, and perhaps Il
:, remark was meant quite as much
: an equivocal compliment to mr. cou
$, try, as to praise the author Of the Pi
L neerE.
3. Think William Cullen Bryant stan
y at tho head Of the English list Of Anne
If can poets. speak with difference, no
A. ever, when remember that Halleck, d
= IN, perpoiut, and other stars IN orr bes
- tiful constellation, have.ihei admirlng !
;, trologers in the Old World. Wien &
my Thomas Campbell a hasty extemp'
as sketch ofsome of our poets, as mentls
e. ed the name of Bryant, he suddenly
bi turrupied me, and with great empha
le said, "Ah! Bryant he is glorious
~ ett"