The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-01-21

POETS MAGAZINE :.
n Moqihiy Work, erclusireiy derOiea 10 the cur.
rent POciiCai Literature 0fMe day

Perhaps there Is no people on the globe among
which there exists more genuine poetic Keeling
than the American. The great quantity of poelr,
good bad and indifferent, yeary-we may say
dan y-wrltten and published, attest the fact; and
though Is Qaite probable that an opinion, if pas
ed upon the merits of the greater portion, would
be far from llalterng; yet ''thcre have been occa-
sIonal pieces thrown Oft in heat, which no art or
skill could improve, and which have never been
surpassed; 10. Instance, PaiesiiHe,hy WHITTIER,
The UlaiS, by Bryant, and Ea{ymi0n by
LoNGf Elbow, etc. On such fugitive pieces our
poc,lca reputation almost entirely rests, and must
rest for the present; or at least, ill the brigh, fan
ccS OF the poet and glimpses IN lhci'Fairy Land ,
are no longer terminated, in the dim perspective,
by The gaunt figure of Poverty, or disturbed hy the
lnonorl wagglngs ofhls 5ony finger; until his fan
cy Is no longer recalled from her araI rQyngs, BY
the intrusive queries" What shall be my meat
aud drink, and whercwthal shall be clothcd:"-
The Poct IN these degenerate days is no longer
respected and Tevcred, as the baIds of oldcu time.
but Is held IN utter a5ominaon by wel-to-do pa
pas and mdulgcnt manas as fit candidate for the
vagran,' cell. Alas, that the good old DAYS are
gone! II Is for these reasons alone that we lack Il
national, standard poetry; for soolhlo say absolute
starvation would he the sole rewards our poets
would reap iorany great care OF time bestowed
upon their productions Hence it is thll so much
Of our poetry is obnoxious to severe criticism, il
not 10 rljIcuo; and hence the low estimate with
which IL Is generally regarded Al that is lacking
Is refinement OF taste 10 place America in the
tfst grade OF poelcal nations; and Just apprcca-
ton, to place her poets IN their proper rank
amongst their tUnriul brethren of other hnds,-
To elect desirable end, it is proposed TO publish
III the cIlv oil Albany, monthly work with The
tile Ol the PoEr 5 MAGAZINE, as II repository
Of the various loctical articles olmer which ma,
appear IN the American Periodicals, together will
occasional origina, poems, the excellence of which
Irrespective Of their origin, will be the test Of nd
mission.
TERMs, cct.--'rhe work viii be issued il
monthly numbers of IS plges, ROYAL ducdccino
(sizc Of Francis edition of Scots pocnl4) on the
finest quality olpapar, with clear new type, form
ins Volume Of $40 pages for 1vo aoiius pc,
dRHam, pugablc on The reception Of The sccOAd
@um5er. THIS low price will place 1t within thu
reach Of every person III the lind, who may be
dcshons OF keeping pace with the pOulcal ilcru
'nrc OF our country. SN page, OF each monthly
number will he devoted TO notices aud announce
ments Of works Of poetry; in which manner al
books, sent to the rub,hcr, will be promptly uc
kn0wl,dged. The c.v yer viii be- devoted to adycr
lI'emenlN OF poolcaI works exclusively, aud vii
orn II proper medium for that purpose. Person,
disposed To assist IN The enterprise will be aowcc
to retain every fourth subscription, on renting tn,
balance, 80, 10 the Publisher No single nun,
Der viii he sold for less than the price of the wear,
subscription, H. but limited edition viii be- print
cd, and the loss Of single number will spoil
! whuIC set
| n b. The frsi numhc, VIII he issued on OF
'Nort the 'n,t If itIt # lghrury, I"I2 Al