The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-19


member that HALLEcK, DANA, PIERpoNT, anC
other stars in our beautiful constellation. have
their admlrIng astrcllogers in the Old World
When giving Thomas Campbell hasty extern
pore sketch Of some of our poets, as mention
ed the name Of Bryant, he suddenly interrupted
me, and with great emphasis said, "Ah! Bry-
ant! he is glorious poetff
Apropos Of Campbell He is getting old and
nervous have met him two or three times
and either he is exceedingly conceited and very
irritable, the poets license) or was excited with
wine Probably all three $50 said his intimate
acquaintance. His person is short and rather
stout; his eye dark and vivid his countenance
downcast and care-worn and the sparse hair
which covers his well formed head is losing its
black, glossy hue, and showing the silver tints
OF declining age. He paid an enthusiastic tri-
butte TO the talents of Dr. Charming, declaring
MS productions to pc unsurpassed by any author
IN either country. He was very caustc on many
OF our poets, and delighted in holding them up
TO ridicule. tYou Americans" said he, 9 write
splendid prose; butyour poetry is d--ble stun. F"
Campbell is excessively vain and by fiattery
you can initiate his balloon even TO bursring.-
| Thy it, G., if he ever derides American poets in
your presence; and my word for il, his ridiculous
antics will give you ample revenge.
| The books OF our tourists are read more gene
rally in Great Britain than any other portion Of
our current literature. John Bull, though bless
ed with an enormous organ of self-esteem Is
not exempt from the common frailty Of our ma
ture--an itching ear to hear all that is said about
himself When we tell unwecome truths about
the Bull family, John losses his head, and calls
US the prying, scandal loring Yankees. But
he never gets mad and cores himself. True, a
nerve twinges now and then. Ihavein my eye
Dublin barrster, who lost his balance and
quite boiled over with rage, when pointing out
TO me "a libel on the Irish character" penned
by one of my countrymen. The leaves ofthe book
which he held in his excited hand shiyered with
fear, while he poured food Of fiery maledic-
ton on the head of the author. Though join
ed issue with him on several of his counts,
was ready TO confess that it required less effron-
terry for an American TO quarter himself 10
Dukes castle for couple of weeks than to re-
TAIL through the agency of bookseller, his
Grace's night-cap gossip after he got home.
WILLIS is on every body's table Portions Of
his Pencngs, lettings, &c, have been illustra-
ted with splendid folio engravngs, and the ira
weller meets them at every turn. His delinea-
tons of American scenery, illustrated by beau
liul plates, are common Wishing TO consult
his +" Pencillings," | went into a circulating IL
brary in Londor, and inquired for the work
The shopman handed il out, saying, "A spright-
ly book; but you must not believe mere than
half Of it," | laughed, and told him Willis was
my countryman. "Clever-clever-cleve wri-
ter" said he, " but full Of mistakes" smiled
al the bibloihecary's graceful curve.
Mrs. SIGouRNEy has large bevy Of English
admirers | think she is more generally known
than any other of our auhoresses. Her poetry
is well esteemed by the religious part of the
lterati. A lady whose works have been widely
read in this country, said TO me, I" | have been
delighted with Mrs Sigourney's writings. She
is the American Felicia Hemans."
The combinations Of SPARKS are read by n
select few, and Marshall's Washington, the Ora
tons of Governor Everett, and the Forensic
Arguments Of Daniel Webster, are often found
in gentlemen's libraries.
or WEBSTER, in passing. Our great citizen
left deep impression on English society-shall
say, deeper than any other American who ever
visited the land of our sres 2 The influence
he exerted here was eminently favorable TO our
country. His name is quite a household word
in all classes. l have been amused, as well as
gratlhed, hundred times, in hearing him spoken
of. The lawyers clerk would describe his inn
posing appearance the day he visited the Court
Of Chancery, attended by Lord Brougham, and
sat beside Chancello r Cottonham. The phreno.
logist would talk enthusiastically of his ample
forehead, and the painter, Of his piercing eye
and eloquent mouth. The agriculturist remem-
bered his intelligent remarks, about seeds and
crops, and the coachman on the Dover route
tells OF his shrewd criticisms of his blood-tea
while the cockney who had heard Of Dr. John
son, would talk of Webster's great dictionary |!
Not merely the circle in which he moved knew
Mr.. Webster as the profound and comprehen-
sive lawyer and eloquent Senator, but the mass
es heard of ''the distinguished American" from
the land of praires and wild Indians
Though will not stay to speak Of the hea-
rier class of authors, living and dead-the
Edwards the Dwights. tie Sillimans, the Noah
Websters, Ell ed genus onne-I cannot forbear
saying that our religious literature, current and
past bears wide sway in Great Britain, and
that the American Dictionary Of the English
Language" is esteemed the best standard ex-
tant both at Cambridge and Oxford. And
know you will rejoice to hear me add, that an
American lawyer, treading the walks of Lin
coins Inn, or the Temple, or treadng the vene.
rable mazes OF " estminster Hall, will find the
name OF Story ready passport TO favors and at
tenions which he could not otherwise easily OBJ
| tain
| MANHATTAN.
/