Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-09-20

il indeed they should be deserved Of the literary world, for
whose favour he is candidate but he has to breast the
OF political denuncaton, which has swept fear
fully against the position OF the President IL should how
be remembered that the literary world has s rights
and its jurisdiction equally with, and yet entirely distinct
from, the political; and the subjects of the first
strained and take against any encroachmsnt
made upon them by the fierce and reckless combaan OF
the latter IT, then, Mr. Tyler to be tried for his offences
against the laws OF the first let his sins against the
bury mandates of the latter be remembered in Judgment
against him. Let the corrective, which has always been
successful in checking nacons of tho laws OF literature
be applied by its officers, whose terrible is
found in Ridcuc To the youthful nsprants, its
has been severe but kindly.
ltmakos-
Satire o act faithful surgeons part
Generous and kind tho painful is her art"
Mr. Tyler has enough place his reputation
Poet beyond cavi and is, therefore, doubly unfair
TO test his compositions by standard other than by their
intrinsic merits. 1t would certainly have been
polite, Mr. Tyler had desired mere popular applause for
him to have selected popular and attractive
theme, than he has chosen for his Poem. But
the Poem is which belongs the highest order
ct intellectual compositions presumed he neither in.
tended minister the popular tasc expected general
applause. The difficulties, obstacles and preudices which
uI has 10 encounter who ventures TO examine Its merits
fairly and canddly, TO be dcspised easily sur
mounted. The forcgonc determination which the po,i
cal press has arrived, to condemn the Poem, renders his
task neither grateful. lie expect with ubso
lutte certainty have his criticized aud derded, his
sincerity questioned and his suspected. The clam
and uneelng pack OF those who square every mans
conduct social moral by the rule OF his political faith
will not be slow in rdcung his stupidity, and censuring his
supposed political prostitution.
To anticipate, and if possible prevent this OF
Indignation and OF sncerng permit the writer to
remark lin limine) that he is neither Tyler-man Of
flee seeker, politician. But that he is ready
pay his humble tribute genius, whether it be found IN
the palacc-hal, peasants hOve. His willingness
cord his feeble sanction the poem under review,
ther increased by the recollection that has cmana,ed om
n Nirsnian.
The history OF literature abundany shows that il has
ever been more To than 10 praise, efforts OF
the mind and have high authority for the opinion tina,
"NTen their time a every trade,
Save critics, they are ready made"
slashing review is always popular and well received
1t is characteristic Of nature, that few object hear
their ncighbOrs abused In addition, taken indicate
boldncss OF thought originality, vigour OF style and ed
ton, and mpcSSes rresistby with the idea, that the
Critic Is infinitely superior IN mental endowment the
thor. Oit-times too leaves n feeling OF regret in the
breast OF the reader that such Of mind
infested by this scsing and pcrplcncous writer should
be permitted 70 lie dormant, thus denying the public the
pleasure aud benefit which might result from the exercise
OF them Again, occasionally obliges the reader he
has already formed favorable opinion of the work under
review reconsider and doubt the soundncsS his
judgment, when lecturcd EEK cathedral" by who
far above the pucreS of the author and ashes
his want OF talent and OF genius with such unsparng
y lie Is apt, unless assured 10y who points
him again the beauties of the work. adopt the opinion
OF the Critic, aud unite with him in his depreciation of
the author.
The most mastery productions which have eyor been
conceived by the sons OF genius have escaped the fiery
ordeal The sentence of eternal condemnation and speedy
oblivion has been denounced against all Of them by those
seltconstuted arbers of taste, and Of letter., who do
give, unfortunately for the author, and bias
puar taste and opinion From earliest days era.
it, champions have been wantonly assaied cause
cssly denounced Those immortal works OF the mighty
minds OF former days which flashed upon and startled the
literary world, have been the prominent objects
the aim OF those wilings who always point their paper
pellets of iIe brain" at the most shining marks.
Tins malignant but generally harmless fire, has been
borne with quiet indifference by the vOtares OF Apollo
unless goaded fury by the assaults of their insignificant
and yet veSa'ous foes they have like Byron turned upo
and torn them 10 pieces.
Except the unhappy Keats who said Ia have died of
view no instance recorded OF the fatal effect of poison
which supposed uTk upon the shafts o these critics
Nor are the numerous in which, the author submis.
sEey yielding to the Storm has repcned his folly and
Hiy m sackcloh and ashes" and humby deprecated
wrath OF these Pussant champions OF photography and
position.
Mr.. Tyler doubtless feels that sustaining conscious
ness OF mental superiority authors should always
iain which will bear him triumphany through the
tempest OF criticism he las provoked his audabe and
selisacriicing effort, To contribute To the pOeca literature
OF The country lie supported in his task by his enthu
husasm for the good and the beautiful Tor all that Is noble
and generous IN the soul of man. lie possibly may
graduate HIMSELF that he has received censure rather
than their praise and would be disposed to excla should
they oer their aid to assist him in his efforts for attaining
the ennence which is before him; in the language Of
ther''non tall auxio, nee defcnsonbus istis.
These few and desultoy reflections been suggested
Oy lbera and meagre cnque upon the poem I'M
der consideration which appeared in the "Whig" of the
l3th ut There Is no difficulty in perceiving from the I'M
measured viruenco Of that cquc that the writer had be-
taken himself to the book with no desire or intention
to be satisfied pleased, whatever might its character or
ITS merits critic be Just himself and generous tn
Tie author should make wit always subordinate 4, truth
and ought not 10 permit his oagerness display causcy
or erseness OF STYLE TO betay him into unjust dcerlou
ton Of the author he reviews.
LET matches wit but win the second praise
Lost noby lost in truths superior baze;"
is the maxim furnished by the best satiris, i, tho Io
forgouu oil s however, critic has been hurried into
unnenuonal severity perhaps by desire to exhibit his
powers Of rdicule and donunciation Without one cpJeo
vor to indicate the gaTng faults and unequal defects of the
pJcm hc Is conentunsuppOrtod by example or enforced
by ilusraton-to publish his condemnation of the work
and to consgn IT, his mere dctum could avail for that pur
pose 10 hopeless Obscuriy, libel upon literature The
much enduring public have right require more from
those who volunteer enghcn them upon the merits of
BOOK than the mere dogmasm which itself with
expressing an unayOrablc opinion formed in this case
by one who nnocenty concssos lie did not understand
what he read Tho violent and elaborate severity
which marks the crquo defeats the purpose Of the writer
his intention ridcue nlonc and the reader must e
For
"Why dart on folly an indignant eye!
Whoer discharged artillery at ilyl"
fhis poem deserve the condc
iuon received The writer does pose acr
Mr. Tyler 20 place him IN the category with Milton
and Young the other veterans Of the sublime I'm the
style Of composition which he has cssaycd-tho most diff
cult to perfect aud the most sublnoy boauufuI-hc stands
without ri'al upon this shore Of the Atlantic. The mo
del upon which he has formed his poctcal taste is not Of
the popular ORDER 10 H neither lyrical or epic II belongs
10 that louer aud moro imaginative strain Of poetry which
has been walked by Shelly with n mnsters touch Poetry
Of this character has been but little cultivated in this ult1
an country Of ours and though the onbarru sscns and
obstacles numbercss Mr. Tyler has proved that the
absence OF such poetry is rclcrabo Of aud
leisure ~ the reading public and proceeds from doah Of
nIuvo talent