New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-03-17
THE TRIBU N E.
Hebiem.
THE NOCeES AMBRosIANs. OF BLACKwooDn
Complete in Four Volumes. philadelphia Carey l. |
Hart; New-york Wiley / Putnam.
SECOND NOTICE

iHE SHEPHERO, as be Is represented IN these
pages, s glorious character, surpassed By few in
the range of fction--for the skill, we mean, with
which he is sketched and the distinct indiyiduali-
ty, the truth, which marks the portrayal, Pre-
tending to scorn classical learning and the accom-
plishments Of the schools-not as worthless or un-
desirabie but merely because he knows LITTLE or
nothing of them, he exhibits the most marked
keenness of insight, delicate constituencies to
every thing that is beautiful-in the words he
hears from the lips of his friends, in the sounds
which meet his ears from the world around, in the
flowers of the fields, in art and natures reaching
his heart from the glance of en- eye, spread out
upon the calm face of the Earth, or wherever else
it may exist and the finest, richest words that
man could utter seem to flow from hisps like their
native music, rough but not harsh, full and swell
ling, to give ulterance to the feelings awakened
within. Tradition tells that HoGG often became
very angry, and had many quarrel with his friend
W1LsoN for the strange things he sometimes made
him utter; but surely he mil ht nave been appeased
by the fine flashes Of eoquence and poetry which
so often made amends for the awkward sayings
the bes against friends whom HoGG for the
world would not have offended, which NORTH SO
often put into his mouth; for could the Ettrick
Shepherd claim these truly his words his
fame would be still brighter than his delightful
Tales have made it. HoGG is decidedly the Hero
of the book ! we like him better even than NORTH
though this seems an absurdity for NORTH made
him, and is certainly entitled to whatever credit
attaches to his handiwork. But looking at both
as poetic creations, (and in this character they are
among the finest in recent literature, there Is
bold burHess, & hearty, wholesouled honesty IN
the SHEPHERp's character, which, joined to the
splendid genius and grace that shine upon them,
give him greater favor in our eyes than even the
Msnarch Christopher enjoys.
But leaving the takers let us 60 on with what
they said for wide as is the wilderness OF choice
things spread out in the four volumes, the first OF
which we have not yet finished determined
not to leave it without bringing forth at least some
few more clusters of the grapes wherewith the land
abounds. We are not attempting to criticise the
book-for we bear in mind this saying of Ticker
worth remembering, if we mistake not:
L care not a single CURSE said he, on the
twenty first Anbrosian Night, for all the criticism
that ever was canted, or decanted, or recanted.
Neither does the world. The world takes poet
rs it finds him, and seats him accordingly above or
below the salt The world is as obstinate as
million mules, and will not turn its head on one
side or another for all the shouting of the critical
population that ever was shouted. 1t is very pos
sble tf,at the world is a bad judge. Well then
appeal 10 posterity, and be hanged to you-and
posterity will affirm the judgement with costs.
did YOU ever meet any OF the Lake Poets in
private society 2 asks North-and many reader,
we doubt net, would be most glad to learn his an
swer. Hear it first of the sole survivor-one spo-
Ken of now contemptuousiy nowhere, but venera-
ted by the world
Five or six times. WORDSWORTH has grave,
solemn. pedan,ic, awkward, out-of-the- worldlsh
look about him that rather puzzles you as to his
probable profession till he begins to speak-and
then to be sure YOU set him down at once Tor a
Methodist preacher.
Unsatisfactory after all-and yet it gives good
hint of WORDSWORTH personnel Hear Ticker yet
again:
.Chantry's bust fatters his head, which is not
intellectual. The forehead is narrow, and the skull
altogether 100 scanty Yet the baldness, the grav-
ity and the composure, are Impressive, ana, on
the whole, not unpoelical The eyes are dim and
thoughtful and certain sweetness OF smile occa-
sionally lightens up the strong lines OF his coun.
1enance with an expression OF courtcousness ana
philanthropy
And what will they say Of CoLERl GE-ef whom
dicniied Professor of Moral Philosophy in Co
lumbia College once complained that he would not
allow him. in a conversation which he reported,
to edge in word (though by his published report
he managed to gctiH three to Colerldges two)
whom the Editors of our own monthly hnicker.
booker, under the advice of distinguished gen
,,eman from ABROAD once solenny voted a por-
tentons bore; CoLERIDaE-of whom the gentle
ELLA. waxing enthusiastic. exclaimed, " 6y
B,open! his talk IS as ftne as an angel
whom HAzL1rr, as he boasts, once walked ten
miles through mud and seet to hear Preach-ana
then wished that he would never stop VI MI"
we have this short but expressive sentence:
.NoRrU. have heard Coieridge That man
is entitled to speak on till Doomsday-or ra.ne9
the Genius within him, for he Is inspired. VIVA
him up, and away he goes, dlscoursing hoss eA'
cellcnt music-without discord-iuls, ample, III
exhaustible, serious, and divine.
Here i. a bit Of Table-Talk about man at TINS
day Of great fame, of unques,ionable ard h'sn
ability Christopher North's rampant loryls m
evidently lends yigor to his eloquent and sturdySi
,upera,ion:
.T1cKLKR. Brougham is . volcano-an erup
tion-a deyouring iaine--a storm-a whitlwind
"a cataract-a torrent-a sea-thunder and earth
quake. You might apply the same terms, with
The same truth, to Billngsgate hshwiie.
NORTH Broughssns invectiye Is formidable
chiefly for its vuIgarity One hates loathes, fears
TO be pelted with the mud and missiles OF an lnia