Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-05-13
communication.

edited by Mr.. PHILIP BATTELL, which
wish to introduce 10 the notice of such o
your readers as have not had the rare GOO
fortune to fall in with it. From the loft,
character it claims for itself at the outset, w
poor Vermonters should expect great thing
Of it for our enligl,tenng; and certainly th
number gives us great things, though no
perhaps exactly in the way we were led tt
expect. In his prospectus, Mr. Battell, afte
discussing the pressing need of such pape
in Vermont, and the fitness of Middlebur,
as its location, speaks of his paper as intend
cd to be tho "organ in taste and science o
the portion Of the country to which II looks
for maintenance, and OF whose educationa
and business interests il may be the repro.
sentative abroad" Now if, as would appear
from the connection, the editor means to de.
note the State of Vermont, by the phrase
"tte portion of the country to which it looks
for maintenance" must beg leave for one
10 enter my protest against accepting the
"TopAz" as our "organ in taste and sci.
once" or our representative abroad" esq
peciay as the editor has with praiseworthy
candor declared that /" the present number
may be taken as a specimen Of its style OF
execution, and perhaps in some measure OF
its ability" AT least, before giving Mr. Bat
tell licence 10 act in that capacity, pro-
DOSE briefly to examine the character Of this
specimen number.
The first and longest original article in
this " literary newspaper" purpors to be a
REVIEW Of certain poems by Mrs. Mary S.
B. Dana. With what proprioty this is en-
titled Review" we are unable to see, for
in the space of two columns and half, hard
~ as many lines are devoted to reUiecing
Mrs Dana or her works. Once indeed the
Reriewer very profoundly and originally ex-
claims, after quoting verse or two, S. Here
is a delicacy of sympathy and power the
ocean itsel might not disdain in womann'
We were not before aware that the ocean
was noted for nicely approaching "dclIcacy
ef sympathy and power" in a noman, or
elsewhere; but this is only one of the many
new things which Mr. Battell has taught US
in the first number of the "TorAz.' The
entire article, except few extracts from the
poems mentioned, is composed Of such stuff
as the following:-
"Shall we forever desidera,c representation of the
mind equal the objects tina! profess feed it, suit
able the aims with which its works should profess
to be elaborated"
"The stigma Of provlncalism is welcomed to the
national heart. 1ti> proclaimed by the power Of EN-
bodied voices. Through borrowed trumpet of in
fanny whose voice might soonest strike the shores Of
she debased whom we initiate, the enseaing of our
shame is declared with embruted confus and haste.
The frippery of polluted school of1mnds, nourished
upon the combings of the of the late agitn,ons
ofinteect is doized a the embodiment of universal
genius and its least masculine disciple is seized and
toasted as if messenger from sphere h CHER than
MS lmirers, except in their stains upon the palm of
his condescenson, could hope 10 reach"
He formed himself Ivy no standard of foreign COM
mendation, but in elevation of principle, in finish of
ability in fitness of effort to the scene and the time
no cmuletcd the cxccence which have most dis in
eulshed others who hitherto have been most highly
guished His character lent lusre his life his
genius reclaimed it of his skill of express ON
"Thc chea, of kingship is not tolerated before the
eye ofLibery the more, han honors paid to It's worth
less representative due to the contingencies Of pos
sbilities to come
Whether these piles Of words mean any
thing, and if they 90, what connection they
have with Mrs. D. and her poems, the reader
must decide. Certain it is that in the COR
RICHNESS Of his literary opinions, and the
clearness with which they are expressed, Mr.
BArrELL has but one equal, the renowned
Mrs MALArRop.
Next in order comes an original poem, the
6rst verse of which is as folows:-
"Ah! who will sit
A, Reasons feet
Whose heart with love is warm!